REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on the Ad Hoc Facilities Naming and Honorary Committee Recommendation to Name the Central Park Annex Park as the “Bill Wilson, Jr. Park”
Report
BACKGROUND
The Central Park Annex Park site, located at 2902 Miles Drive, is a new, 1.91 acre neighborhood park that was dedicated for public use on March 22, 2018. The park features a large grass area, natural and drought tolerant landscaping, picnic area, age appropriate playgrounds for ages 2-5 and 6-12, a restroom building, pathways, picnic area, and pathway lighting. It connects to a separate 0.81 acre pedestrian trail easement. The park site is located between Miles Drive and Kiely Blvd. across from Central Park and adjacent to the Saratoga Creek.
Under Council Policy No. 035 (Attachment 1), the Parks & Recreation Commission makes recommendations to the Council for names of facilities relating to the commission’s purview. Naming recommendations are typically referred to the Ad-Hoc Facility Naming and Honorary Recognition Committee. The Committee reviews all naming proposals and makes its recommendation to the full Council for final review and approval.
On February 20, 2018, the Parks & Recreation Commission discussed potential names for new park sites. Due to his dedication and public service to the Santa Clara community, William A. “Bill” Wilson, Jr. was considered.
On October 2, 2018, Council referred the Parks & Recreation Commission recommendation to name the Central Park Annex Park site as the “Bill Wilson, Jr. Park” to the Council Ad-Hoc Facility Naming and Honorary Recognition Committee.
On October 11, 2018, the Ad-Hoc Facility Naming and Honorary Recognition Committee (Attachment 2) discussed and approved recommending the naming of the Central Park Annex Park site as the “Bill Wilson, Jr. Park.”
DISCUSSION
This report transmits the Ad-Hoc Facility Naming and Honorary Recognition Committee recommendation to rename the Central Park Annex Park site as the “Bill Wilson, Jr. Park” for Council consideration.
Mr. Wilson was a second-generation Santa Claran, graduate of University of California at Berkeley, and received a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University in 1974. He worked in his parent’s bakery from 1959 to 1977, and served on the Santa Clara Library Board for a number of years. He was a passionate advocate for assisting “at risk” youth in the community. He was elected to the Santa Clara City Council in 1963, serving until 1971, served as Mayor Pro Tem in 1964, and as Mayor of Santa Clara in 1965. In addition to his public service, he supported the move of the Triton Museum from San Jose to Santa Clara where he served on the Board of Trustees. He assisted in the founding of the Webster Center for counseling in 1973, where he served on the Board of Directors and volunteered as counselor positively affecting many lives in the community. Bill Wilson died after a brief illness in 1977 at age 41. After consideration of various names, the Commission recommended that Council refer the Commission’s recommendation to the Ad Hoc Facilities Naming and Honorary Recognition Committee to consider naming the Central Park Annex Park site as the “Bill Wilson, Jr. Park”.
Once a Council decision is made, the family and community will be notified, a park sign will be installed with the name, and the City Parkland Inventory will be updated to reflect the name of the park. An unveiling of the sign will be scheduled at a later date.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact for the current action. If the change in park name is approved by Council, the cost for purchase and installation of a new park sign would be approximately $5,000 and accounted in the Parks & Recreation Miscellaneous Park Improvement Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budget.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Recommend that Council approve naming the Central Park Annex Park as the “Bill Wilson, Jr. Park”.
Staff
Reviewed by: James Teixeira, Director of Parks & Recreation
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Council Policy No. 035
2. DRAFT 10-11-18 Meeting Minutes