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CC-(1) Consideration of a Naming Request to Name a Location near Culver Boulevard and Overland Avenue the Judge Harold I. Cherness Plaza; and (2) Direction to the City Manager as Deemed Appropriate.
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Meeting Date: November 13, 2017
Contact Person/Dept: Shelly Wolfberg/City Manager’s Office
Phone Number: (310) 253-6008
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Public Notification: Darryl Cherness and (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (11/09/17);
Department Approval: John M. Nachbar, City Manager (11/08/17)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council consider a Naming Request submitted by Darryl Cherness to name a location near Culver Boulevard and Overland Avenue the Judge Harold I. Cherness Plaza; and (2) provide direction to the City Manager as deemed appropriate.
BACKGROUND
At the City Council meeting of March 27, 2017, Darryl Cherness, son of Judge Harold Cherness, requested that City Council consider naming the intersection of Culver Boulevard and Overland Avenue the “Judge Harold I. Cherness Plaza.” This intersection is in close proximity to the former Municipal Courthouse, which became the Mayme Clayton Library and Museum in 2006.
A veteran of World War II, the Honorable Harold I. Cherness graduated with a Degree from UCLA and attended USC Law School. Judge Cherness was appointed to the Municipal Court for the Culver Judicial District by then-Governor Jerry Brown in 1975. He was subsequently appointed to the Superior Court, from which he retired in 2013 at age 90. Judge Cherness died on March 10, 2016, at age 93.
On November 6, 2017, the City Council adopted a Resolution adopting an updated City Council Policy entitled Naming of City Property, Facilities and Events, as recommended by the Ad Hoc City Council Policies Subcommittee (the “Naming Policy”) (Attachment No. 1). Pursuant to the Naming Policy, a person must be deceased for a minimum of two years before a City Property, Facility or Event may be named in honor of that individual. However, because Mr. Cherness’ request was made to the City Council prior to the adoption of the new City Council Policy, the City Council indicated it was amenable to waiving the two-year requirement, provided the request meets all of the other criteria set forth in the Naming Policy.
DISCUSSION
Pursuant to the General Provisions and Criteria, Section 2, of the Naming Policy:
“Commemorative naming should be rare and reserved as a means to honor those of substantial historical, cultural or civic significance, and should be considered only under the following circumstances:
A. The individual has been deceased for at least two years and has made, during his or her lifetime, extraordinary contributions to the community, which have been consistent and continuous over a considerable period of time. No City Property, Facility or Event shall be named to memorialize a living person. [Note: As stated earlier in the report, the City Council indicated a willingness to consider waiver of the two-year requirement in this case.]
B. There is a well-defined connection associated with the contributions of the individual or organization and the City.
C. The individual’s or organization’s contributions are of an extraordinary nature.
D. The significance of the individual’s or organization’s contributions is commensurate with the service impact of the associated City Property, Facility or Event. For example:
a. Individuals or organizations that have made regional contributions may be considered for the naming of regional facilities.
b. Individuals or organizations that have made local contributions may be considered for the naming of more local facilities, such as would serve neighborhoods within the City, including, but not limited to, recreational facilities, amenities and events.”
The Naming Policy provides four levels of recognition. The requested naming of an intersection qualifies as a Level Three Recognition pursuant to the Naming Policy, as it is a portion of a City Property or Facility (rather than the street itself); therefore, a petition of support is not required.
Staff, in consultation with Mr. Cherness, determined that, if the request is approved by the City Council, the best potential location for the sign would be at a location a short distance south of this intersection and close to the Mayme Clayton Library and Museum’s (former Courthouse) parking lot. If the City Council chooses to have this location named for Judge Cherness, one option would be to have a sign, bearing the name “Judge Harold I. Cherness Plaza”, installed on a pole at this location. (See Attachment No. 2)
If the naming is approved, and once the sign has been completed, City staff would work with the Cherness family to identify an appropriate time to unveil the sign and formally dedicate the Judge Harold I Cherness Plaza.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The cost for a sign is $100.00, and Public Works Department staff would install the street sign during regular business hours. In accordance with the Naming Policy, the cost for the purchase, installation and maintenance of the sign may be paid by the family being honored or by the City, or both, as determined by the City Council.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2017-11-13_ATT 1_Naming Policy
2. 2017-11-13_ATT 2_Proposed Location of Judge Harold I Cherness Plaza Sign
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Approve the request to name the designated location near Culver Boulevard and Overland Avenue the “Judge Harold I. Cherness Plaza”; OR
2. Deny the naming request; AND
3. If approved, determine whether the cost to fund the purchase, installation and maintenance of the sign is to be paid by the City, the Cherness family, or both; AND/OR
4. Provide other direction to the City Manager as deemed appropriate.