Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, December 04, 2018
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER RENAMING SCOTT PARK TO FOISIA PARK AND INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 18-1827 AMENDING THE CARSON MUNICIPAL CODE TO INCLUDE THE NAMES AND LOCATIONS OF ALL CITY PARKS (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
At its October 16, 2018 meeting, the City Council was asked to consider Councilmember Santarina’s proposal to rename Scott Park, Foisia Park. On October 16, 2018, the City Council directed the Parks and Recreation Commission to hold a meeting in an effort to gauge public sentiment on this proposal. This meeting has since taken place, with residents overwhelming in support of this endeavor. By a vote of 8 ayes with 1 absent, the Park and Recreation Commission is recommending that Scott Park be renamed Foisia Park.
Additionally, the Mayor is requesting an ordinance that will add the names and locations of all the City’s parks to the Municipal Code. Staff has attached draft Ordinance No. 18-1827 that reflects the requested name change, labeled Exhibit 7.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
TAKE the following actions.
1. APPROVE the Park and Recreation Commission’s recommendation to rename Scott Park, James Foisia Park; AND
2. WAIVE further reading, and INTRODUCE Ordinance No. 18-1827, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CARSON, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADD THE NAMES AND LOCATIONS OF ALL THE CITY’S PARKS.”
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
Scott Park is located on 23410 Catskill Avenue, in the southern portion of the City. The facility is bound by Catskill to the west, Ravenna to the east, 236th to the south and 232nd to the north (Exhibit No. 1). Scott Park is named after General Winfield Scott, the longest serving U.S. Army General in United States history. He is rated as one of the Army's most senior commissioned officers, and is ranked by many historians as the best American commander of his time. When the City was incorporated, the park had already been named.
At the October 16, 2018, City Council meeting, Councilmember Santarina proposed renaming Scott Park, Foisia Park in honor of James Foisia. Born in Hawaii, Mr. Foisia and his family relocated to Carson, where he attended Catskill Elementary School, Wilmington Jr. High School and Carson High School. He later went on to matriculate at the University of California, Los Angeles on a football scholarship. Mr. Foisia was a 30-year employee of the City, moving up the ranks at Scott Park from Recreation Leader to Senior Recreation Center Supervisor. During his tenure, he was a mentor to many young people, as well as a trusted staff advisor.
The City Council directed the Parks and Recreation Commission to hold two meetings to provide the public the opportunity to voice their thoughts on this plan. Two thousand letters were sent to residents living in the area surrounding Scott Park notifying them of two meeting dates, November 13, 2018, and November 26, 2018 (Exhibit No. 2). Forty-one (41) and sixty-eight (68) residents, respectively, attended the meetings, with the vast majority supporting this proposal (Exhibit Nos. 3 & 4). By a vote of 8 ayes with 1 absent, the Parks and Recreation Commission recommended changing the name of Scott Park to Foisia Park. In addition, email submissions were received supporting the park name change (Exhibit No. 6).
Standard Management Procedure (SMP) 1.8a (Exhibit No. 5) provides guidelines for renaming Parks and Recreation facilities. In summary, the SMP states the following:
• The proposed park to be renamed had to have been in existence for a minimum of 50 years.
• The surrounding community needs to be in favor of the change.
• The individual for which the park is being named after must be identified historically with the origin of Carson.
• The Parks and Recreation Commission is to review park renaming recommendations subsequent to the City Council.
These guidelines are subject to exceptions on a case-by-case basis, should the City Council deem it appropriate.
Should the City Council wish to move forward with this proposal, a motion approved with 2/3 in favor of the name change would need to take place. Costs for items such as new signage, both at the park and in the right-or-way, are estimated at $25,000.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
The FY 2018/19 budget will be amended at mid-year.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Scott Park Map. (pgs. 4)
2. Letter to Residents. (pg. 5)
3. November 13, 2018, Meeting Sign-in Sheet. (pgs. 6-8)
4. November 26, 2018, Meeting Sign-in Sheet. (pgs. 9-12)
5. Email Communications. (pgs. 13-26)
6. Standard Management Procedure No. 1.8a. (pgs. 27-28)
7. Ordinance No. 18-1827. (pgs. 29-30)
Prepared by: Kenneth C. Farfsing, City Manager