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CC- Appointment of a City Council Ad Hoc Naming Policy Subcommittee to Review the Judge Harold I. Cherness Naming Request in Accordance with City Council Policy for the Commemorative Naming of City Property and Facilities.
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Meeting Date: July 23, 2018
Contact Person/Dept: Shelly Wolfberg/City Manager’s Office
Phone Number: (310) 253-6008
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Public Notification: Darryl Cherness (07/13/18) and (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (07/18/18);
Department Approval: John M. Nachbar, City Manager (07/17/18)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council appoint a City Council Ad Hoc Naming Policy Subcommittee to review the Judge Harold I. Cherness Naming Request in accordance with the City Council Policy for the Commemorative Naming of City Property and Facilities adopted by Resolution No. 2018-R021.
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, and his biography can be found in Attachment No. 1.
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. Pursuant to such 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.
On November 13, 2017, the City Council considered Mr. Cherness’ request. The City Council discussed the matter which included tabling the item; providing time to meet with staff; putting together an application form; exploring alternative locations; the example of Syd Kronenthal; and evaluating the level of recognition.
On March 13, 2018, the City Council revisited the 2017 policy and adopted Resolution No. 2018-R021, adopting an updated City Council Policy entitled Commemorative Naming of City Property and Facilities (“Commemorative Naming Policy”) (Attachment No. 2).
On May 14, 2018, Mr. Cherness requested that the City Council agendize a discussion regarding the installation of a memorial sign in honor of Judge Harold I. Cherness. He reported taking preliminary steps regarding the installation of the sign; discussed previous work with staff to identify a location and design for the sign; the need for City Council approval. He stated that he had been working to get the sign installed since March 2016, before the current rules regarding the naming of public facilities had been established. Mr. Cherness requested that the City Council grant exemption from the current rules, since they were established after he began his request. Discussion ensued between Council Members regarding consensus to consider the request and clarification that his application had triggered questions, resulting in the examination of the naming process and eventual changes being made.
DISCUSSION
Pursuant to the General Provisions of the Commemorative Naming Policy:
1. Commemorative naming is rare and reserved as a means to honor those of substantial historical, cultural or civic significance.
2. Only one naming is permitted per honoree.
3. The proposed honoree has been deceased for at least one year for a Level One Recognition, and at least two years for Levels Two through Four Recognitions. No City Property or Facility shall be named to memorialize a living person.
4. The proposed honoree has made, during his or her lifetime, extraordinary contributions to the Culver City community, which have been consistent and continuous over a considerable period of time.
5. There is a well-defined connection associated with the contributions of the individual and the City.
6. The individual’s contributions are of an extraordinary nature.
The Naming Policy provides four levels of recognition (see Attachment 2).
Pursuant to the Application Procedure, Section 2, of the Commemorative Naming Policy, staff recommends the City Council consider appointing two Council Members (in this case the Mayor and Vice Mayor titles are included as “Council Members”) to an Ad Hoc Naming Policy Subcommittee to review the Judge Harold I. Cherness Naming Request in accordance with the Commemorative Naming Policy.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no Fiscal Impact, if the City Council appoints the Ad Hoc Naming Policy Subcommittee to review the Judge Harold I. Cherness Naming Request.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2018-07-23_ATT 1_Judge Harold I. Cherness Biography
2. 2018-07-23_ATT 2_Resolution No. 2018-R021, City Council Adopted Policy on Commemorative Naming of City Property and Facilities
MOTION
That the City Council:
Appoint Council Member________ ___________and Council Member _____________ to the City Council Ad Hoc Naming Policy Subcommittee to review the Judge Harold I. Cherness Naming Request.