City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: May 24, 2022
Agenda Item: 8.A
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: David White, City Manager, City Manager's Office
Rick Valte, Public Works Director, Public Works Department Subject: Approval to Rename Goose Egg Park Located at 600 Palisades Avenue to Bob Holbrook Park
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council consider the Recreation and Parks Commission's recommendation to officially rename Goose Egg Park to Bob Holbrook Park.
Summary
In honor of his many years of public service and contributions to the Santa Monica community, the Recreation and Parks Commission voted to recommend renaming Goose Egg Park to Bob Holbrook Park at its January 20, 2022 meeting (attachment A).
Former Santa Monica Mayor and Councilmember Bob Holbrook was the longest serving Councilmember, first elected in 1990 and retiring in 2014. Mayor Holbrook was a Santa Monica native who was particularly proud of his work to expand and invest in our City parks and who has a particular attachment to Goose Egg Park from when he was a child. In total, Mayor Holbrook dedicated 32 years to public service, serving both on the City Council and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District School Board. Mayor Holbrook passed away December 11, 2020, at the age of 79. Final decisions on naming parks rests with the City Council. Therefore, staff now presents this recommendation to Council for its consideration.
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Discussion
Bob Holbrook
A native son, Mayor Holbrook was born at St. Catherine’s Hospital on 4th Street and educated in Santa Monica schools: Roosevelt Elementary, John Muir Elementary, John Adams Middle, and Santa Monica High School. After graduating, Mayor Holbrook went on to study at Santa Monica College (SMC), while working at McCarthy Drug Store on Montana Avenue. After his time at SMC, Mayor Holbrook attended the University of Southern California and studied pharmacology. He later joined the California Air National Guard and returned to Santa Monica to work as a pharmacist at Thrifty Drug Store. In 1967, Mayor Holbrook married Jean Ann. Together, they raised three children in Santa Monica. As a lifelong Santa Monican who attended local schools, he remained a passionate advocate for education. He was also an ardent supporter of his alma mater, the USC Trojans.
Mayor Holbrook served on the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board from 1982 to 1990, when he was first elected to the Santa Monica City Council. He served as Mayor twice, first from December 1997 to December 1998 and then again from December 2005 to November 2006. During his tenure on the City Council, Mayor Holbrook sought ways to address homelessness and improve the quality of Santa Monica’s public spaces. He was particularly proud of his work to expand and improve the City’s parks. Mayor Holbrook was instrumental in building Tongva Park in the Civic Center, and a memorial at Woodlawn Cemetery to honor local veterans, many of whom sacrificed themselves in service of this nation. He retired from the City Council in 2014 after thirty-two years in service to this City.
In February 2018, the City Council contributed seed funding for the Mayor Bob Holbrook Scholarship in honor of Mayor Holbrook to support the education of young Santa Monicans pursuing a career in public service. Mayor Holbrook died December 11, 2020 after a long illness.
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Naming City Parks
In July 2002, the City Council approved a policy for naming City-owned land, buildings and facilities, including City parks (attachment B). The policy outlines the procedure to be taken and guidelines for naming.
Procedure
Requests for naming of City-owned land, buildings and facilities are to be submitted to the City Clerk and include a justification for the recommended name. All requests will be considered by staff and the appropriate Board(s) or Commission(s), who will evaluate the recommended name within six months following receipt of a request.
Upon completion of deliberations at a public hearing, the staff and advisory body will forward a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council will make its determination as to the naming or renaming of City-owned land, buildings and facilities at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Council.
Guidelines
Included in the adopted policies are a set of guidelines that Council, advisory bodies and staff should consider when naming City owned assets. These guidelines are:
• Commemorating persons who have served the City in an exceptional manner; • Commemorating persons who have served the State, Nation or World in an exceptional manner and who have an association with the City; • Commemorating persons who have served the State, Nation or World in an exceptional or distinguished manner where the contribution is of such major significance that a local association pales in importance; • Commemorating individuals or organizations who have made important donations of land, funds or materials, equipment and/ or facilities; • Avoiding recognition of those whose contribution has been appropriately recognized in other City venues or by other means.
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Staff have reviewed this policy and believes all steps have been followed to now present this for Council consideration. The Recreation and Parks Commission held a public meeting and discussion on the renaming of Goose Egg Park at its January 20, 2022 meeting. The Commission unanimously supported the recommendation and submitted a letter to the City Council following the meeting.
Following receipt of that letter, staff examined the City naming policy and found procedures were properly followed and complied with the spirit of the guidelines.
Renaming Goose Egg Park to Bob Holbrook Park complies with all of the above guidelines. Given his considerable contributions and length of public service, staff believes it is appropriate to move forward with renaming the park at this time.
Goose Egg Park
View of Goose Egg Park encircled by Palisades Avenue
Believed to be named because of its oval shape, Goose Egg Park is located within the center of Palisades Avenue between 4th and 7th Streets in the North of Montana Neighborhood. The park was included in the original 1905 neighborhood subdivision as an aesthetic feature. It is approximately 0.7 acres and features turf and trees. It is commonly used by residents to exercise, meditate, visit with neighbors, and enjoy Santa Monica’s beautiful weather. Goose Egg Park was selected as the most appropriate for renaming because of Mayor Holbrook’s personal childhood attachment and fondness for the park.
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Next Steps
Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 4.55.020 “Park and beach—Definitions” and Section 4.55.030 “Park and beach—Fitness or athletic instruction, classes or camps authorization” would be amended to reflect the change in park name, as would the City’s website. And the Community Services Department webpage with park information would be updated to reflect the new name. Replacement of the existing park rules sign to reflect the change in park name would cost $2,000-$3,500. Existing Public Works Department budget will be used to cover these nominal costs.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Description
7/9/2002
Attachment C
Adoption of a resolution establishing a policy regarding naming of City owned-land, buildings and facilities.
Financial Impacts
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of recommended action.
Prepared By: Christopher Smith, Assistant to the City Manager Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. RPC Letter to Council re Goose Egg Park
B. July 9, 2002 Staff Report on Naming City Public Facilities (Web Link) C. Resolution on Naming City Facilities
D. Written Comments