CITY OF MENIFEE
SUBJECT: Squaw Valley Drive Street Name Change
MEETING DATE: August 7, 2024
TO: Mayor and City Council
PREPARED BY: Laura Sportelli, Management Analyst
REVIEWED BY: Cheryl Kitzerow, Community Development Director APPROVED BY: Armando G. Villa, City Manager
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Adopt a resolution approving the street name change from Squaw Valley Drive to Sun Valley Drive to be in compliance with Assembly Bill 2022.
DISCUSSION
On November 19, 2021, the Secretary of the Interior issued Secretarial Order 3404 declaring “Squaw” (Sq.) to be derogatory and mandating its removal from geographic features. On September 23, 2022, Assembly Bill (AB) 2022 was signed into California law and declared Sq. an offensive ethnic, racial, and sexist slur towards indigenous women, and mandated the removal of this derogatory term from all California geographic features and place names. The City of Menifee identified Sq. Valley Drive in 2023 when public agencies were required to identify and report all instances of the use of Sq. under their jurisdiction. The California Committee on Geographic Names (CACGN), a liaison to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, is coordinating the state- wide implementation of AB 2022 and requires proposed replacement name(s) to be submitted to the Committee by August 20, 2024, and implemented by January 1, 2025.
On March 7, 2024, staff mailed consultation requests to 14 tribes, and allotted 90 days for tribal consultations. Responses were received from the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians who deferred to the Pechanga Band of Mission Indians and the Luiseño Indians respectively. Staff consulted with the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians and the Pechanga Band of Mission Indians in April and May, and both tribes deferred to the City of Menifee to select a respectful replacement name.
On June 3, 2024, upon researching the surrounding community, City staff determined that the street names nearest to Sq. Valley Drive reflect the names of ski resorts and, with the goal to continue the existing neighborhood theme, selected Sun Valley Drive as the proposed replacement name. On June 4, 2024, the proposed name was approved by the City Manager.
City of Menifee Staff Report
Street Name Change
August 7, 2024
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A letter and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document were mailed to impacted residents and property owners on June 11, 2024 to provide background and information on AB 2022, as well as provide notification of the proposed replacement name. A Community Engagement Workshop was held on June 27, 2024. City staff members were on site to answer questions and provide residents with information and resources to support and assist in simplifying the address change process. Three residents were in attendance with no objections to the proposed replacement name.
On July 25, 2024, the City received correspondence from the Morongo Band of Mission Indians with a proposed street name of “Munipka Drive”, a name inspired by the local indigenous heritage of the Serrano people. In order to allow for timely processing of the proposed name change, the deadline for tribal consultations was June 7, 2024.
Government Code § 34091.1 designates authority to the City Council to amend existing names of city streets by adoption of a resolution. Adoption of the attached resolution approving the street name change from Sq. Valley Drive to Sun Valley Drive for the 35 lots located north of Snow Creek Drive, south of Baldy Peak Drive, east of Mount Bachelor Way, and west of McGalliard Road is the first step.
If adopted and approved by CACGN, the City would send a letter of notification to the residents providing the date that the City’s maintenance crew would complete the installation of a new street sign. The Building Official would submit an address verification document to Menifee Geographic Information System (GIS), Riverside County GIS, 911 Emergency Services, and the United States Post Office (USPS). Residents would need to ensure the correct mailing address has been submitted to all residential service providers and is reflected on all legal documentation.
STRATEGIC PLAN OBJECTIVE
Safe and Vibrant Community / Community Engagement and Social Infrastructure
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact of changing the street signage will not result in additional costs beyond the installation cost. The estimated material cost of replacing each street sign is $150. No additional budget appropriation(s) action is required to accommodate this cost.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution
2. Exhibit A - Map
3. CACGN AB2022 Implementation Letter
4. Public Hearing Notice