CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
March 18, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Anita Gutierrez, City Manager
Submitted By: Beverly Johnson, Acting Neighborhood Services Director SUBJECT: RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO RE-NAME VEHICLE PARKING DISTRICT (VPD) LOT 13 TO MANUEL CASTILLEJOS PLAZA RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Consider the re-naming of the Vehicle Parking District (VPD) Lot 13 to “Manuel Castillejos Plaza”, or other alternatives Authorize the City Manager to execute any and all documents on behalf of the City, subject to review by the City Attorney.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
On September 11, 2023, former City Councilmember Cristina Carrizosa submitted a request to rename the Vehicle Parking District (VPD) Lot 13 to Manuel Castillejos Plaza in honor and memory of his musical and historical contribution to Pomona and the Regional Latino Community (Attachment No. 1 – Brief Bio). The process by which to name/re-name a City facility is stipulated by a uniform policy adopted by the City, which states that the action must be considered at a publicly noticed meeting of the Community Life Commission. That Commission shall then forward its recommendations for approval to the Pomona City Council, which shall exercise final authority to name all facilities. Lot 13 is unique as it operates and is managed by the VPD, subsequently compelling the VPD Commission to review and provide a recommendation to the Community Life Commission on re-naming the Lot.
SB1439/GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLICABILITY:
☐ When this box is checked, it indicates the agenda item is subject to the Levine Act SB1439 requirements. Councilmembers are reminded to check their campaign contributions and determine whether they have received a campaign contribution of $250 or more that would require disclosure and/or recusal from discussing or acting on this agenda item. Campaign contributions of $250 or more made 1) by any person or entity who is identified in the agenda report as the applicant or proposer or 2) on behalf of the applicant or participant, including a parent, subsidiary or otherwise related business entity, or 3) by any person who has a financial interest in the agenda item requires a councilmember to comply with SB1439.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Re-naming Lot 13 may have a minimal fiscal impact on the VPD associated with manufacturing and replacing the current parking lot signs to reflect the new name. The estimated cost is approximately $2,500 to $5,500 to replace the identification sign adjacent to the parking payment kiosks. Funds are available in the VPD Fund (230-9200-52583-00000) for the manufacturing and replacement of the current sign. Approval or funding of any additional signage, plaque, or monument is not included in this request.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL RELATED ACTION:
On September 11, 2023, former Councilmember Cristina Carrizosa submitted a request to re-name VPD Lot 13 to Manuel Castillejos Plaza in honor and memory of his musical and historical contribution to Pomona and the Regional Latino Community. Lot 13 is unique as it operates and is managed by the VPD, subsequently compelling the VPD Commission to review and recommend renaming the Lot to the Community Life Commission.
On February 26, 2024, a publicly noticed meeting was held, during which the Community Life Commission reviewed the recommended proposal submitted by the Vehicle Parking District (VPD) to re-name Lot 13 to Manuel Castillejos Plaza. Action to move forward was unanimously voted upon, advancing their recommendation to the Pomona City Council for approval.
DISCUSSION:
Former Councilmember Carrizosa submitted a request to re-name VPD Lot 13 at the southeast corner of Garey Avenue and Second Street to Manuel Castillejos Plaza. This is a unique and unprecedented request in that the City has not previously named a parking lot after any individual.
Mr. Castillejos founded the School of Fine Arts, located at 242 South Garey Avenue adjacent to Lots 13 and 14. He also taught at San Antonio and Rio Hondo Community Colleges and was a member and contributor to the Pomona Arts Community.
The former Redevelopment Agency acquired lot 13 to remove blight and develop the site to its highest and best use. In the interim, the Lot is utilized as a "temporary" replacement parking. The 27 parking spaces in Lot 13 were established to help offset the parking displaced by the creation of Centennial Park (formerly Lot 18). Upon the dissolution of the Redevelopment Agency by the State, vesting was transferred to the City from the Redevelopment Agency as a public use (public parking lot) via a quit claim deed. As such, the VPD Commission's recommendation to re-name the parking lot includes the stipulation to allow future development of the Lot as it was the original intent for the property. Additionally, the VPD recommended to the Community Life Commission that all additional expenditures, such as plaques, signs, or monuments, and maintenance of these items, are not to be the responsibility of the Vehicle Parking District.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council has the following alternatives:
Direct staff to explore other methods of honoring Manual Castillejos; or Consider other locations to name/rename in honor of Manual Castillejos.
Prepared by:
Tracy Byl
Management Analyst
Re-Naming of Vehicle Parking District (VPD) Lot 13 to
Manuel Castillejos Plaza