APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
_________
__________________
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OA
KLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. ______________ C.M.S.
INT
RODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER CARROLL FIFE
RES
OLUTION TO (1) COMMEMORATIVELY RENAME 21ST STREET
BETWEEN BROADWAY AND TELEGRAPH AVENUE AS ‘MICHAEL
MORGAN WAY’ AND (2) AUTHORIZE THE INSTALLATION OF
PLAQUES HONORING MICHAEL MORGAN, PURSUANT TO THE
POLICY AND CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY RESOLUTION NO. 77967 C.M.S.
WH
EREAS, California Government Code Section 34091.1 allows a jurisdiction by resolution to name a new public street or to rename an existing public street; and WH
EREAS, the naming of a new public street or the renaming of an existing public street is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970; and WH
EREAS, the City Council will occasionally honor the contributions of an outstanding individual with commemorative street names or by the renaming of a public street such as with Joe Morgan Way, Herbert Guice Way, Peter Van Kleef Way, Dr. Huey P. Newton Way, Deontae Bush Way, Dorothy King Way, and Tupac Shakur Way; and
WH
EREAS, the City Council in 2003 established procedures for commemorative street naming through Resolution No. 77967 C.M.S. under which the City Council may, by its own motion, consider the renaming of a public street as a tribute to an individual, or as a result of a significant event or activity if one of the following conditions is met:
The
individual has positively impacted the lives of a nation or the world; or The name change is related to an economic development or redevelopment activity; or The renaming commemorates a significant historical event; and WH
EREAS, the City Council may commemorate a nominee either by: 1) retaining the existing street name and installing commemorative plaques or signs; or 2) renaming the existing street for the individual and installing new street signs; and WH
EREAS, the City Council finds that Michael Morgan’s contributions to Oakland and the greater Bay Area community eminently merit commemoration; and WH
EREAS, Michael Morgan (1957–2021), a trailblazing conductor and visionary artistic leader, positively impacted the lives of people in Oakland, the Bay Area, and beyond through his 2 e
xtraordinary musical contributions, leadership, and commitment to social justice, diversity, and education; and
WH
EREAS, born in Washington, D.C., Michael Morgan began piano at age 8 and conducting at age 12, studied at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, and won the international Hans Swarowsky conducting competition at age 22, which launched a distinguished international career; and
WH
EREAS, Morgan became Assistant Conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1986, later conducting major American orchestras, opera companies, and in 1992, becoming only the fifth Black conductor to lead the New York Philharmonic; and WH
EREAS, beginning in 1991, Michael Morgan served as Music Director of the Oakland Symphony for 30 years, transforming the orchestra into a vibrant cultural institution that championed diversity, community, and innovative programming, while also leading the Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra, Bear Valley Music Festival, Gateways Music Festival, and serving as Music Director Emeritus of the Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera; and WH
EREAS, Morgan’s programming courageously engaged issues of race, equity, and social justice, uplifted underrepresented composers, and featured innovative series such as “Playlist,” “Notes From,” and the beloved community holiday concert “Let Us Break Bread Together”; and
WH
EREAS, during the COVID -19 pandemic, Morgan spearheaded the San Francisco Symphony “Currents” series, fostering cross-genre collaborations with Mexican, Chinese, Blues, and Hip-Hop artists, and his final performance in July 2020 with the San Francisco Symphony was hailed by critics as “a burst of vitality from across the Bay”; and WH
EREAS, Michael Morgan was equally committed to music education and outreach, ensuring that each year more than 16,000 Oakland and East Bay students participated in the Symphony’s nationally recognized MUSE (Music for Excellence) program, bringing orchestral music directly into schools and communities; and
WH
EREAS, Michael Morgan’s legacy as a conductor, educator, and community leader has left an indelible impact on Oakland’s cultural life, inspiring generations of musicians, audiences, and young people; and
WH
EREAS, the City Council intends to honor Michael Morgan’s enduring contributions to the City of Oakland by retaining the existing street name, adding an additional honorary street name and installing commemorative plaques or signs and intends that the costs associated with such a commemorative act will be borne by the Oakland Symphony Board; now, therefore, be it RES
OLVED: That the Council of the City of Oakland hereby approves the commemorative renaming of 21st Street between Broadway and Telegraph Avenue as ‘Michael Morgan Way’; and be it
3 FURT
HER RESOLVED: That the City Council directs the City Administrator to proceed with the commemorative designation of ‘Michael Morgan Way’ and placement of sign(s) or plaque(s) to that effect on 21st Street between Broadway and Telegraph Avenue.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED B
Y THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES
- BROWN, FIFE, GALLO, HOUSTON, RAMACHANDRAN, UNGER, WANG, AND
PRESIDENT JENKINS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California
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