Approve the following names for the noted new parks, and forward your recommendation to the City Council for formal approval.

• WB-50 School/Park: Solaire or Galaxy Park (The park is located on Solaire Drive and some elements in the park design are about the solar system)

• CO-62: Phil Ozenick, Audrey Huisking or Crimson Ridge Park (Crimson Ridge is the road the which the park is located)

• CO-64/HP: Campus Oaks Park (Campus Oaks is the development where the park is located and is also the largest park in this development)

• W-50D Neighborhood Park: Audrey Huisking, Phil Ozenick or Mt. Evans park

• F-51 School/Park: Riego Creek Park (This park is adjacent to Riego Creek Elementary School)

• F-94 Pocket Park: Kay Sakamoto Park

• JM-50 School Park: John Byouk or Upland Park (The park is located on Upland Drive)

The Park Naming policy was updated and approved in June 2021. Changes included a new make-up of participants as the Park Naming Subcommittee.  This included:

• Parks, Recreation & Libraries Director

• Park Planning and Development Superintendent

• Park Development Project Manager (one representative serving a two-year term, to be rotated among Park Development Project Managers)

• PRL Superintendent from the Parks Division (one representative serving a two-year term, to be rotated among PRL Superintendents from the Parks Division)

• PRL staff member chosen “at-large”, who shall serve a two-year term

• Staff member from the Development Services Department (one representative serving a two-year term, to be rotated among Development Services staff)

With the exception of the Director and Park Planning & Development Superintendent, committee members will serve a two year term.

The Name Selection Process is as follows:

1. The Subcommittee shall review all names and recommend up to three names for each new park or facility to the Parks & Recreation Commission.
2.  The recommended names, along with the full list of submissions (including the “active” names from the previous year), shall be reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Commission for consideration at a formal meeting. The Parks and Recreation Commission shall recommend up to three names for each new park or facility to the City Council.
3. The recommended names, along with the full list of submissions (including the “active” names from the previous year), shall be reviewed by the City Council for approval at a formal meeting.
4. Family members of any potential namesakes shall be contacted by PRL staff prior to final approval by City Council, to ensure their support of the recommendation.
5. The Annual Park Naming Process shall conclude upon City Council’s final approval of the park or facility name.

Advertisement for names for the above parks occurred in July through August 2021.  The advertisement period was four (4) weeks.  The Park Naming Subcommittee, consisting of Jill Geller - Parks Recreation & Libraries Director, Mike Isom – Development Services Director, Tara Gee – Park Planning & Development Superintendent, Eric Dexter – Parks, Recreation & Libraries Superintendent, Joel De Jong – Park Planning Project Manager, and Patrick Daly – Parks Supervisor, met virtually on October 4, 2021 to review the name submissions along with names on the “active” list from last year. “Active” are those names received the year prior and not selected.

Consistent with the policy, a short list of names is being presented as recommendations to the Parks & Recreation Commission. Upon review and approval by the Parks & Recreation Commission, recommendations will be forwarded to the City Council for final review and approval.

Names from the 2021 submission period and not selected for recommendation will remain on the “active” list for one year.  Please see the attachments for a summary of names and the submissions received during this latest advertisement.

Fiscal Impact

Park identification signs for new parks will be included in the construction budgets of each park. 

Environmental Review

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) does not apply to activities that will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, or is otherwise not considered a project as defined by CEQA Statute §21065 and CEQA State Guidelines §15060(c)(3) and §15378.  The park naming meets the above criteria and is not subject to CEQA. No additional environmental review is required.