May 27, 2025
Agenda Item No. 3
TO:
HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director - 949-717-3801, [email protected] PREPARED BY:
Rebecca Lightfoot, Library Services Manager - 949-717-3819 [email protected] TITLE:
Resolution No. 2025-24: Establishing the Position of Historian Laureate ABSTRACT:
If adopted, Resolution No. 2025-24 would establish a volunteer City of Newport Beach Historian Laureate position.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
a) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and b) Adopt Resolution No. 2025-24, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Newport Beach, California, Establishing the Position of Historian Laureate.
DISCUSSION:
At the City Council’s April 15, 2025 meeting, Mayor Joe Stapleton and Councilmember Robyn Grant requested, pursuant to City Council Policy A-1, information on creating a historian laureate program. The City Council voted unanimously, via a straw poll, in favor of staff returning with an item.
The role of the historian laureate would be to increase public awareness of the history of the City of Newport Beach. The historian laureate would interpret past events in the city and provide thoughtful, educational and enjoyable narratives and presentations when required. The historian laureate would also carefully document current events for the benefit of future generations.
If adopted, Resolution No. 2025-24 would create the Newport Beach historian laureate position. The proposed term, qualifications, selection process and responsibilities of the position are included as Attachment A to the resolution and are summarized below.
The historian laureate would be a volunteer position, nominated by the Mayor and appointed by the City Council to a four-year term with no term limits. The position’s responsibilities would be to:
Acquire, prepare, record and report facts of historical significance to the City of Newport Beach; Collaborate with the city’s historical societies;
Collaborate with City departments and the Cultural Arts Division of the Library Services Department, to identify meaningful event opportunities; Provide presentations to organizations;
Develop activities to help raise awareness of the City’s history; Respond to inquiries regarding the city’s history;
Participate in civic and patriotic events;
Coordinate historical research;
Report to the City Council annually and as required on history-related issues.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact related to this item as it will be an unpaid volunteer position.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section [insert exemption section number (short description of section)] of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential to have a significant effect on the environment.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment A – Resolution No. 2025-24
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Resolution No. 2025-24: Establishing the Position of Historian Laureate May 27, 2025
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