HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08131985 - IO.6 TO: , r BOARD OF SIORVISORS •
` FROM: Contra
INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE Costa
DATE: County
August 12 , 1985
SUBJECT:
Naming of County Buildings
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Adopt the following criteria for the naming of County buildings:
1 . Buildings will normally be named to reflect location and/or
function; e.g. , Martinez Detention Facility;
2 . Buildings may be named for living persons who contribute the
major funding for the facility; and
3 . Buildings may be named after County officials, or other
public officials , but only after that person no longer holds
public office.
Remove this item as a referral to our Committee.
BACKGROUND:
On July 16, 1985, the Board considered and referred to our
Committee for further consideration the policy suggested in the
County Administrator ' s memorandum dated July 3 , 1985, regarding
the naming of County buildings. An Additional copy of this
report is attached for the Board' s ready reference. During its
deliberations, the Board determined that it favored a
modification of the proposed policy which would allow for the
naming of buildings after prominent public officials who are no
longer in office, but are still alive. Revised policy criteria
to reflect this, along with the other criteria originally
proposed, are reflected in the above recommendations, and we
recommend their adoption.
X
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR X RECOMMENDATION D COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
l�T-
SIGNATURE(S) Tofi l a'kson T m Powers—
l
ACTION OF BOARD ON Augij-,t 1.1, 19RS APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
X
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
County Administrator OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: County Counsel ATTESTEDgu�7�
Public Works Director — -- - ----- -- - — - —
PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
M382/7-83 BY J DEPUTY
N.
TO.- BOARD OF SUAVISORS
FROM Phil Batchelor, County Administrator Cwtra
Cx)sta
Of ATE July 3, 1985 C*O^
SUBJECT: Naming of County Buildings
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
-"RECOMMENDATION
jAdopt the following criteria for the naming of county buildings:
1. Buildings will normally be named to reflect location and/or
function, e.g. , Martinez Detention Facility.
2. Buildings will not be named for living persons unless the
person contributed the major funding for the facility.
111V3 . Buildings may be named for county officials closely
identified with a facility or program but only as a
Memorial.
BACKGROUND
*,On May 14, 1985 the Board requested a review of current practice, and
submittal of a recommended county policy, regarding the naming of county
buildings. In this review, the name given to county facilities in the
category of Office buildings, Institutional buildings, Special purpose
facilities, Libraries and Educational buildings was examined. The naming
of well known roads, bridges, and topographic features, was also checked
out in conjunction with this review. it was determined that there is a
lack of consistency in past practice with respect to naming of county
�.facilities, some facilities have been named for still active county
officials, or other prominent persons, and others have been named as a
memorial to someone who was closely identified with the facility. The
following building facilities were determined to have been named after
particular individuals:
Building Named After
Edgar Children' s Shelter Former County Pr6bation Officer
George Miller Centers Former State Senator
Kenny Conference Room Ex-County Supervisor
(Room 105 in County
Administration Building)
Baldwin Reference Room Former Congressman
(Room in Pleasant Hill
Library Building)
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENTt - YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
S I GRATUR E S 1:
CTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS (ASSENT AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES' NOES AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ASSENT: . ABSTAINt OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC' County Administrator ATTESTED
Public Works Director PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
County Counsel SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
M382/7-83 BY DEPUTY
Davi Memorial Library Former Prominent Pittsburg Citizen
(Pittsburg)
Casey Memorial Library Former Prominent Walnut Creek Citizen
(Ygnacio Valley area)
Buchanan Field Former County Supervisor
41 (County Airport)
George Gordon Education Center* Long-time President of Junior College
District
Merrithew Hospital Former County Medical Director
In addition, several county roads developed as a result of the 1952 Road
Bond issue were named for members of the Board of Supervisors at the
time, e.g. Cummings Skyway, Taylor Boulevard, Buchanan Road.
Additionally, the major bridges across the bay, components of the State
Highway system, have been named for for State Senators, George Miller,
Jr. and John Nejedly, and the Stockton Ship Channel Project for former
County Congressman John Baldwin. Naming of a considerable number of
these facilities results from the fact that the person named either
provided, or was instrumental in obtaining the required funding at the
federal and/or state levels. Additionally, Kennedy Grove in El Sobrante
was named as a memorial to former President John F. Kennedy, and certain
roads for prominent persons, e.g. "Sally Ride Drive" at Buchanan Field.
In considering the naming of facilities, particularly buildings, it has
been determined that buildings are most commonly identified by location,
or function, e.g. , Martinez Detention Facility and- Richmond Health
Building. These criteria have lasting value in that they immediately
assist citizens in identifying the location and nature of a facility. It
has been determined also that over a long period of time the significance
of the names of persons is obscured as the memory of the person and their
contribution fades. We also found that problems can exist in naming
facilities for persons who are still alive. This option opens up the
possibility of "deals" of various kinds, or community or political
pressures, for naming of facilities; and as such can be divisive.
An exception to the general rule on the naming of buildings is
recommended where a particular person contributes the major funding for a
structure. In such cases , it is a well established practice, here and
elsewhere, to name the building for the donor. This policy has
contributed to the construction of two County branch libraries.
Named by Contra Costa County Junior College District
OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECEIVED
CONTRA COSTA COUNTYG S
N. C. Fanden rm:L DATCN::O�
Administration Building CLERKAOAR Of SUPERVISORS
T. Powers oraTa COSTA CO
R I . Schroder Martinez, California sy oeputy
To: S. W. McPeak Date: July 5 , 1985
T. Torlakson
Phil a chelor, Naming of County
Cou nistrator Buildings
From: by and Subject
On May 14, 1985 , you referred to us the development of criteria
and policy on the naming of county buildings. Attached is a copy
of a proposed report on this subject which we plan to agendize in
the near future.
If you have comments , or other suggestions or criteria, please
let us know so they may be considered prior to official submittal
of the report.
CAH: lmj
Attachment
To' hOARR OF SUPERV •
ORS
FROM: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator Contra
Costa
DATE'. July 3 , 1985 Couqy
SUBJECT: Naming of County Buildings
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the following criteria for the naming of county buildings:
1 . Buildings will normally be named to reflect location and/or
function, e.g. , Martinez Detention Facility.
2 . Buildings will not be named for living persons unless the
person contributed the major funding for the facility.
3 . Buildings may be named for county officials closely
identified with a facility or program but only as a
Memorial.
BACKGROUND
On May 14 , 1985 the Board requested a review of current practice, and
submittal of a recommended county policy, regarding the naming of county
buildings. In this review, the name given to county facilities in the
category of Office buildings, Institutional buildings, Special purpose
facilities, Libraries and Educational buildings was examined. The naming
of well known roads, bridges, and topographic features, was also checked
out in conjunction with this review. It was determined that there is a
lack of consistency in past practice with respect to naming of county
facilities. Some facilities have been named for still active county
officials, or other prominent persons, and others have been named as a
memorial to someone who was closely identified with the facility. The
following building facilities were determined to have been named after
particular individuals:
Building Named After
Edgar Children' s Shelter Former County Probation Officer
George Miller Centers Former State Senator
Kenny Conference Room Ex-County Supervisor
(Room 105 in County
Administration Building)
Baldwin Reference Room Former Congressman
(Room in Pleasant Hill
Library Building)
4
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT; YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
_ 'APPROVE , OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)'
ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
i
Davi Memorial Library Former Prominent Pittsburg Citizen
( Pittsburg)
Casey Memorial Library Former Prominent Walnut Creek Citizen
(Ygnacio valley area)
Buchanan Field Former County Supervisor
(County Airport)
George Gordon Education Center* Long-time President of Junior College
District
Merrithew Hospital Former County Medical Director
In addition, several county roads developed as a result of the 1952 Road
Bond issue were named for members of the Board of Supervisors at the
time, e.g. Cummings Skyway, Taylor Boulevard, Buchanan Road.
Additionally, the major bridges across the bay, components of the State
Highway System, have been named for for State Senators, George Miller,
Jr. and John Nejedly, and the Stockton Ship Channel Project for former
County Congressman John Baldwin. Naming of a considerable number of
these facilities results from the fact that the person named either
provided, or was instrumental in obtaining the required funding at the
federal and/or state levels. Additionally, Kennedy Grove in El Sobrante
was named as a memorial to former President John F. Kennedy, and certain
roads for prominent persons, e.g. "Sally Ride Drive" at Buchanan Field.
In considering the naming of facilities, particularly buildings , it has
been determined that buildings are most commonly identified by location,
or function, e.g. , Martinez Detention Facility and Richmond Health
Building. These criteria have lasting value in that they immediately
assist citizens in identifying the location and nature of a facility. It
has been determined also that over a long period of time the significance
of the names of persons is obscured as the memory of the person and their
contribution fades. We also found that problems can exist in naming
facilities for persons who are still alive. This option opens up the
possibility of "deals" of various kinds, or community or political
pressures , for naming of facilities; and as such can be divisive.
An exception to the general rule on the naming of buildings is
recommended where a particular person contributes the major funding for a
structure. In such cases , it is a well established practice, here and
elsewhere, to name the building for the donor. This policy has
contributed to the construction of two County branch libraries.
* Named by. Contra Costa County Junior College District