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CC- Consideration of a Recommendation of the City Council Ad Hoc Naming Policy Subcommittee to Name a Portion of the Parkway located at 4130 Overland Avenue the Judge Harold I. Cherness Memorial Parkway.
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Meeting Date: December 10, 2018
Contact Person/Dept: Shelly Wolfberg/City Manager’s Office
Phone Number: (310) 253-6000
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 (12/04/18) and (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (12/05/18);
Department Approval: John M. Nachbar, City Manager (12/05/18)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council consider the City Council Ad Hoc Naming Policy Subcommittee’s recommendation to name a portion of the parkway located at 4130 Overland Avenue the Judge Harold I. Cherness Memorial Parkway.
BACKGROUND
At the City Council meeting of March 27, 2017, Darryl Cherness, requested that City Council consider naming an area near the former Municipal Courthouse, which became the Mayme Clayton Library and Museum (at 4130 Overland Avenue) in 2006, after his late father Judge Harold I. Cherness. A veteran of World War II, Judge Cherness graduated with a Degree from UCLA and attended USC Law School. He 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. He was also an involved member of the community. Judge Cherness died on March 10, 2016, at age 93, and his biography can be found in Attachment No. 1.
At the November 6, 2017 City Council Meeting, the City Council approved a Resolution adopting an updated City Council Policy entitled “Naming of City Property, Facilities, and Events” with modifications as discussed to clarify language in the policy. Further discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding the request of the Cherness family to grandfather in their application, noting the Judge’s passing in 2016.
Subsequently, the City Council approved grandfathering in the application of the Cherness family in regard to the timeframe, but all other criteria in the Policy must be met. Further discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding City Council discretion; having the Cherness family proceed as though it is a two-year process; the level 3 designation; the petition process; and different designation levels. 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.
At the July 23, 2018 City Council Meeting, the City Council appointed Vice Mayor Sahli-Wells and Council Member Fisch to the City Council Ad-Hoc Naming Policy Subcommittee to review the Harold I. Cherness naming request.
DISCUSSION
The Subcommittee has met to discuss Mr. Cherness’s memorial naming request, which is to place a memorial sign to name a portion of the parkway in front of the Mayme Clayton Library and Museum. The Subcommittee recommends grandfathering in the Cherness application under the 2006 policy (Attachment 3), based on the date of submittal being prior to the November 2017 policy revisions. The Subcommittee further recommends the placement of a sign measuring 18” high by 24” wide, mounted on a pole in the parkway at 4130 Overland Avenue, and resembling the mockup of the sign in Attachment 4, would be appropriate.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The costs to purchase the sign and pole in addition to the City staff time to install the sign are estimated not to exceed $300. Darryl Cherness has offered to pay these costs. Therefore, there is no fiscal impact to the City, if the City Council approves Judge Harold I. Cherness Naming Request.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2018-12-10_ATT 1_Judge Harold I. Cherness Biography
2. 2018-12-10_ATT 2_Resolution No. 2018-R021, City Council Adopted Policy on Commemorative Naming of City Property and Facilities
3. 2018-12-10_ATT 3_Council Policy 2006-01_Naming Policy
4. 2018-12-10_ATT 4_ Example of Commemorative Sign and Location
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Approve the City Council Ad Hoc Naming Policy Subcommittee’s recommendation to name a portion of the parkway located at 4130 Overland Avenue the Judge Harold I. Cherness Memorial Parkway; or
2. Provide other direction as deemed appropriate.