COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Brett Fulgoni, Director of Public Works
DATE: June 16, 2026
SUBJECT: Consideration of Renaming Cesar E. Chavez Drive
Description:
The City Council will receive a summary of community input gathered following the May 13, 2026 , Town Hall meeting regarding the renaming of Cesar E. Chavez Drive and provide direction to staff on how to proceed.
Environmental Notice: The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive the community input summary for the renaming of Cesar E. Chavez Drive and provide direction to staff on next steps.
BACKGROUND:
On April 7, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-50 declaring its intent to consider renaming Cesar E. Chavez Drive and directing staff to return with recommended replacement name options, a summary of public input, and an implementation plan.
As part of the public outreach process, the City of Santa Maria conducted a community town hall meeting on May 13, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at Grogan Park, 1155 W. Rancho Verde, Santa Maria, California . The meeting was publicly noticed and provided residents, property owners, and stakeholders an opportunity to provide input regarding proposed replacement street names.
At the May 13, 2026 , Town Hall, attendees expressed opposition to renaming Cesar E.
Chavez Drive and requested an extended community input period. In response, the Public Works Engineering Department mailed a bilingual community input letter to affected property owners and residents on May 15, 2026. The letter provided background on the potential renaming, presented the eligible veteran replacement name options, included a write-in option, and included an option to indicate a preference for retaining the current street name. Responses were accepted through May 28, 2026.
2 DISCUSSION:
Government Code Section 34091.1 authorizes the City Council to name and rename public streets by resolution. Consistent with Resolution No. 2026 -50, staff facilitated public engagement prior to any final action by the Council.
Key outreach efforts included:
A publicly noticed town hall meeting held May 13, 2026, at Grogan Park Direct outreach to affected property owners and occupants along Cesar E. Chavez Drive
Collection of verbal and written comments during and following the meeting, including an extended written input period through May 28, 2026 Coordination with internal departments and external agencies regarding anticipated impacts
Following the Town Hall, the Public Works Engineering Department distributed a bilingual written preference form to residents and property owners along Cesar E. Chavez Drive.
The form offered the eligible veteran replacement name options, a write-in option, and an option to indicate a preference for retaining the current street name. The extended input period ran from May 15, 2026 through May 28, 2026. A total of 71 completed forms were received from residents along Cesar E. Chavez Drive; all respondents indicated a preference to retain the current street name.
Staff is presenting this information to the City Council for consideration and requests direction on how to proceed.
Alternative(s)
1. The City Council exercises its authority under Government Code Section 34091.1 and motio ns to rename Cesar E. Chavez Drive, selecting a replacement name from the previously approved list of eligible veteran names.
2. The City Council directs staff to conduct additional community outreach regarding the eligible veteran replacement names and return to the City Council with results for further consideration.
Fiscal Considerations
Costs associated with a street renaming would include signage replacement, administrative updates, mailing and notification efforts, and coordination with external agencies. These costs would be absorbed within existing departmental operating budgets where possible, with any incremental costs identified and tracked during implementation.
3 Impact on the Community
A street renaming would require residents, businesses, and property owners along the corridor to update addresses across mailing, utility, identification, and business records during a transition period. The City would coordinate with emergency services, the U.S.
Postal Service, utilities, and mapping providers to minimize disruption and maintain continuity of services.
ATTACHMENT(S)
A. Eligible Veteran Names List
B. Resolution No 2026-50