HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09211999 - C238 IOC-Q4 °
TO. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Contra
INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
FROM:
Costa
Sib �•• v�4y
County
September 13, 1999
ca.c�cri..
DATE:
SUBJECT: REPORT ON NAMING COUNTY BUILDINGS AFTER PUBLIC OFFICIALS
ANIS OTHER II CSI DUALS
SPECIFIC REQUEST{S;OR FIVCCiMI MENDATIOWS)8 BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS:
I ADOPT the attached policy on naming county buildings after public officials
and other individuals.
2. DETERMINE that the attached policy supercedes in all respects the policy
on this subject adopted by the Beard on August 13, 1985.
3. DIRECT the County Administrator to distribute this policy to all County
Department Heads.
BACKGROUND:
Can July 20, 1999, the Board of Supervisors referred the subject of developing a
policy on the naming of County buildings to our Committee. In researching this
subject, staff discovered that there is an existing policy which was adopted by the
Board of Supervisors on August 13; 1935. We also surveyed several urban
counties throughout California. Our Committee was particularly impressed with the
policy adopted by the Beata Clara County Board of Supervisors and have borrowed
liberally from that policy in formulating the revised policy we are recommending to
the Board today. The policy can perhaps best be summarized as follows;
Generally buildings should not be named after individuals but for the location
and primary function of the building.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: --YES SIGNATURE:
RECi:dJMENDATtON OF COUNTY ADMI'4iSTRATOR .PECC:MMENDATIC}N OF BOARD COMMITTEE
-APPROVE 0 R
J "
ACTION OF BOARD ON SepterlTbSTg,99m� A AS RECf2MMENDED _ OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
XX UNANIMOUS(ABSENT m m - ) ANIS CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOSES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DAT E SHOWN,
ATTESTED September 21 , 1999
Contact: PH!L BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
cc: County Administrator SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADM.:NESTRATOR
All County Department Heads (ilia CAO) �
BY aEFi}TY
IOC-04
If a building is to be named after an individual, the individual should either
have donated a majority of the funds for the building and lard or be
deceased. An exception requires a unanimous vote of the Board.
No building may be named after an elected public official while that official is
in office.
Naming a building after a private individual should only be done to honor
outstanding, meritorious service to the County. if the individual is alive and
did not contribute the majority of the funds for the building and land, a
unanimous vote of the Board would be required.
Rooms in buildings may be named after an individualwith a 4/5 vote of the
Board.
All other naming of buildings after individuals that do not require a unanimous
vote will require a 4/5 vote,
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POLICY ON NAMING COUNTY BUILDINGS
The naming of County-owned buildings and other County-owned facilitiesshall be
authorized by the County Board of Supervisors pursuant to a public'hearing on the
action that is considered and following the public adoption of a resolution affirming
the Board's action. Said resolution shall not be adopted with less than a four-fifths
affirmative vote of the Board.
The following policy guidelines shall be adhered to by the Board when it considers
action to name or rename a County-owned building:
1 Generally, County-owned buildings and facilities shall be named to reflect
their location and primary function.
2. No building shall be named for a private individual unless that individual
contributed' a majority of the funding that was used to construct the facility
and acquire the land upon which the building is situated. This includes the
donation of the land by the individual.
3. In the event multiple donors contribute funds toward the construction and
acquisition of a County-owned facility, the Board of Supervisors shall favor
a functional title for the facility with plaques honoring those who contributed
to the facility.
4. A room within a County-owned building may be named'to honor an individual
for that person's service to the community even though that individual may
not have contributed funds toward the construction or acquisitions of the
building. The naming of a room to honor an individual shall occur by
resolution of the Board of Supervisors and require at least a four-fifths
affirmative vote to approve it.
b, leo County-owned facility shall be named for an elected public official while
that official remains in public office.
6. Generally, a facility shall not be named after an elected public official unless
that person is deceased or falls under the provisions of#2 above, A decision
to name a facility after an elected public official when that individual no longer
holds elected office but is not deceased shall require a unanimous vote of
approval by the Board of Supervisors.
7, When existing facilities or rooms within facilities are named after individuals,
they shall not be renamed without a unanimous vote of the Board of
Supervisors.
8. Generally, a County-owned facility shall not be named after a private
individual unless that person is deceased or falls within the provisions of
above. A decision to name a County-owned facility after a private individual
not covered by#2 above and who is not deceased shall require a unanimous
affirmative vote of the Board of Supervisors and should only be done to
honor the individual for his or her outstanding, meritorious service to Contra
Costa County.
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Public Input on Facility-Naming
From time to time, a member of the public may ask one or more members of the
Board of Supervisors to consider a nominated name for a recently acquired or
newly constructed County building. Public nominations for this purpose'shall be
directed to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors with copies to the Supervisor who
is asked to sponsor the nomination. The nomination shall be submitted in writing
and contain the following information;
a. The name, address and telephone number of the person submitting
the nomination.
b. The location of the County building for which the .nomination is
submitted.
c. The basis under which the nomination qualifies ander tete criteria listed
on the Boards policies (numbers °I through 8 above).'
d. A. list of a minimum of three organizations in the community that are
familiar with the historical significance of the nominated name or the
public service record of an individual nominee.
e. A minimum of three written endorsements in support of the
nomination.
Said nomination cannot be acted on unless it is placed on the regularly scheduled
agenda of the Board of Supervisors and approval shall be conditioned upon the
resolution and voting requirements that are set forth in this policy.'
Considered by the Board of Supervisors on September 21, 1999
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6 e
,To; BOARD OF U.— A VISORS y"
Contra
INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
Costa
DATE: August 12, 1985 Courly
SUBJECT: Naming of County Buildings
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BAACICC:#td'3iJt+€D AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Adopt the following criteria for naming of County buildings
1 e
Buildings will normally ly be named to reflect location and/or
ftinCtion; 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 opced 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 A`€TeaCPMEN+E'TI YES SIGNATURES
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ACMINISTRATOR RI COMMMEIN£i `PIAN 0 COMMITTEE
APP'ROVE OTHER
02-�, (/
SIGNATURES) Te �`or`l a`kson M Pd-rers
ACTION OP BOARD OP€ A—I1QI€•' 1 9AS APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED MEI DED OTHER
VOTE of SUPERVISORS
x
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A 'T'RUE
.AYES: NOES. AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT— ABSTAIN* AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE LATE SHOWN,
County Administrator
cob County Counsel ATTESTED
Public Works Director
PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINiSTRATOR
To BOARD OF SUFLMSORS
I~ 4 Phil. Batchelor, County Administrator low qlklContra
costa
ATIZI Jmy 3 , 1985
SUBJECT: Naming of County Buildings
SpEC I p I C E `(S) OR RECOWENDAT I ON(S) & EAC ND AM JUSTIFICATION
fRECOMMEN2ATION
'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 retention Facility.
2. Buildings will, not be named for living persons unless the
person contributed the Major funding for the facility.
10. Buildings may be named: for county officials closely
identified with a facility or program but only as a
Memorial.
BACKGROUND
Vn 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 mane 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. 1t was determined that here 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
1� 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)
s l"6 S s B�dE{3 ON ATTACWffiNT a — YES SIGNATURE:
RECSMtd6C140AT I Std OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ftZCOM#a#XNDAT$SN Or BOARD COMMITTWE
APPROVE OTHER
SI�3�fA'I°tJREt>S :
ST ION Sr BOARD ON APPROVED AS "ECCBhR&3EN090 OTHER
VOTE OF SUP13WISORS
I HERVErY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
I INAN i WWS (ASSENT - j AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES'. NOES. AND ENTERED ON TIE M I N.JTES OF THE BOARD
AI Et T. - ABS`CA I N> OF SUPERVISORS ON TM DATE SIS a
cc: County Administrator
Public Works Director PHIL BATCHELOR. CLERK of THE BOARD of
County Counsel SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
By DE 'ry
�3�2dT��3
9
Dari Memorial Library Former Prominent Pittsburg Citizen
(Pittsburg)
Casey Memorial Library Former Prominent Walnut Creed. Citizen
(Ygnacio Valley area)
Buchanan field Former County Supervisor
(county Airport)
George Gordan Education Center* Long-time Presi.den of Junior College
District
Merrithew Hospital. � Former County Medical Director
In addition, several county reads 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 Mate
Highway System, have been named for for State Senators George Miller,
Jr. and John Ne edl.y, and. the Stockton Ships Channel project for farmer
County Congressman John Baldwin. laming of a considerable number of
these facilities results from the fact that the person named either
provided, or was instru :ental, 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 nates 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