CITY of
Item No. 22
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: June 9, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Megan Wolfe, Director of Community Services
SUBJECT: Recognition of Detective Jeremiah MacKay at the "Honor Walk" RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider the Honor Walk Nomination submitted by the Park and Recreation Commission and if approved, direct staff to install a bronze plaque, on a boulder at the "Honor Walk" between Tooker Park and the Police Station to honor Detective Jeremiah MacKay.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
On February 12, 2013, Detective Jeremiah MacKay gave his life bravely protecting the people of this County. Detective MacKay was a 15-year veteran of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department with a large amount of his career spent in the City of Yucaipa. He was killed during a standoff in the manhunt.
On May 29, 2013, City Council considered several options to honor Detective MacKay's memory (Attachment 1) and directed staff to rename and dedicate the portion of 6th Street extending from Yucaipa Boulevard to its north in honor of Detective MacKay.
On March 26, 2025, at the request of a Park and Recreation Commissioner, City staff presented information on the Honor Walk Program. The Park and Recreation Commission passed a motion, to nominate Detective Jeremiah MacKay for the Honor Walk. Subsequently a Honor Walk Nomination Form and letter was submitted, Attachment 3, for Council consideration.
The manufacturing and installation cost of a 17" x 17" bronze plaque is approximately $3,000.
Adequate funding is available in the Public Works operating budget for this project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with the recommendation are included in the FY25 Budget.
Attachments:
1. May 29, 2013, City Council Agenda item and minutes — Jeremiah MacKay Recognition
2. April 13, 2015, Honor Walk Policy
3. Honor Walk Nomination
Approved by: J� err
ATTACHMENT 1
Agenda Item No. 1
CITY OF YUCAIPA
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Joseph M. Lambert, Director of Development Service&J-- FOR: City Council Meeting of May 29, 2013
SUBJECT: Jeremiah MacKay Recognition
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council direct staff to initiate one of the options (A, B, or C) as indicated in this report to honor fallen Detective Jeremiah MacKay.
BACKGROUND
On February 12, 2013, San Bernardino County Detective Jeremiah MacKay was killed in the line of duty while pursuing fugitive Detective MacKay served the residents of Yucaipa and San Bernardino County as a Sheriffs Deputy for almost 15 years. He was 35 year old at the time of his death and is survived by his wife and family. Detective MacKay was held in the highest regard by his peers and the community in which he served.
DISCUSSION:
Staff proposes the following options to honor Detective MacKay's memory:
A. Rename and dedicate the portion of 6th Street extending from Yucaipa Boulevard to its northern in honor of Detective Jeremiah MacKay (preferred option); B. Dedicate and name the internal (private) driveway within the proposed Yucaipa Police Station in honor of Detective Jeremiah MacKay; or
C. Designate a monument, open space, or feature on the grounds of the facility in honor of Detective Jeremiah MacKay.
If option "A" is preferred by the City Council, staff will initiate the process of renaming the aforementioned portion of 6th Street to honor Detective MacKay. The City of Yucaipa currently does not have a codified process for street name changes; however, past practice has involved notifying and discussing the proposed change(s) with all affected property owners prior to memorializing the name change. In this case, the only affected property owners are the City of Yucaipa and the owner of the property located on the northwest corner of Yucaipa Boulevard and 6th Street. Once the matter has been adequately noticed, the process involves adoption of a resolution by the City Council to formalize the name change. The only anticipated cost would be for the installation of one new street name sign at the intersection of Yucaipa Boulevard and 6th Street.
42 City Council Meeting of May 29, 2013
Study Session Regarding Jeremiah MacKay Recognition
It should also be noted that Sheriff Department staff is currently working on a shadowbox to be located in the lobby of the proposed Yucaipa Police Station to honor Detective MacKay.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The re -naming of 6th Street will require the installation of one new dual sided reflective street sign. Total cost for materials and labor is estimated at $1,000.
Approved by:
43 CITY COUNCIL MINUTE EXCERPT
A Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Yucaipa was called to order in the City Hall Council Chambers, located at 34272 Yucaipa Boulevard, Yucaipa, California, at the hour of 6:00 PM., on the 29th day of May 2013 with Denise Hoyt presiding.
ROLL CALL PRESENT: Denise Hoyt, Mayor
Tom Masner, Mayor Pro Tem
Greg Bogh, Councilmember
Bob Duncan, Councilmember
Dick Ridell, Councilmember
ABSENT: None
A quorum of the City Council was present.
STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEM NO. 7
SUBJECT: JEREMIAH MACKAY RECOGNITION
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council conduct direct staff to initiate one of the options (A, B, or C) as indicated in this report to honor fallen Detective Jeremiah Mackay.
ACTION: MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER DUNCAN, SECOND BY
COUNCILMEMBER BOGH, CARRIED 5-0, TO DIRECT STAFF TO INITIATE OPTION A AS INDICATED IN THE STAFF REPORT.
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
CITY OF YUCAIPA
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I, Tara Davis, Administrative Assistant of the City of Yucaipa, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a full and correct excerpt of the Minutes of a Regular meeting of the Yucaipa City Council held on the 29th day of May 2013.
Tara Davis
Administrative Assistant
ATTACHMENT 2
TO:
FROM:
FOR:
SUBJECT:
CITY OF YUCAIPA
AGENDA REPORT
Honorable Mayor and City Council
Bill Hemsley, Director of Public Works 73-7f"-
City Council Meeting of April 13, 2015
Honor Walk Policy
Agenda item No. 14
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council conduct a study session to review the proposed "Honor Walk" selection criteria for the City of Yucaipa, and direct staff as appropriate.
BACKGROUND:
On June 23, 2014, City Council named the sidewalk area with landscaping and boulders, between the John Tooker Civic Center Park and the Yucaipa Police Station, the "Honor Walk" and directed staff to install a bronze plaque on a boulder placed in the "Honor Walk" to honor Troy Cansler. Council directed that the plaque read as follows: "This Plaque is dedicated by the City of Yucaipa in honor of Troy Cansler for his Ultimate Sacrifice in Helping Another on April 27, 2014." The plaque was installed and placed on the first boulder adjacent to the City Hall drive aisle which is located at the north end of the "Honor Walk." In addition, Council directed staff to return to Council with selection criteria for recognition as part of the "Honor Walk" in the future.
DISCUSSION:
Staff recommends that Council consider the following selection criteria for recognition as part of the "Honor Walk" in the future:
1. The candidate should have done something worthy of honor that greatly benefited the community, such as an act of valor.
The person being honored shall have given his/her life or been injured to the point of disability as part of the act of valor.
3. A nomination form shall be completed and submitted to the City for consideration.
4. The nominee must either be a Yucaipa resident, or have been, or have served as an employee of the City or a business/agency in the City.
5. Council should select each candidate and determine the specific language to be placed on the plaque and approve the necessary funding.
6. On special occasion, Council may supersede these proposed selection criteria for special recognition not considered as part of this action.
-345-
Agenda
City Council Meeting of April 13, 2015
Honor Walk Policy
Staff believes that the honor recognition needs to be for an act of rare or extraordinary measure, like Troy Cansler or Jeremiah MacKay, whereby the consequence of that act resulted in death or lasting disability. Absent that distinction, the "Honor Walk" could be quickly filled with well - deserving recognition, such as the citizen who was recognized by City Council on March 9. 2015 when he risked his life to help arrest a felon trying to escape from law enforcement personnel.
Although it was certainly worthy of recognition, the act did not result in death or disability, and therefore would not meet the proposed criteria proposed to he recognized in the "Honor Walk." FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no current fiscal impact as a result of this City Council action. As each candidate is considered, staff will present a recommended funding option for the proposed method of honoring the candidate. Each plaque is estimated to cost approximately S2,500, including installation.
CONCLUSION:
That the City Council conduct a study session to review the proposed "Honor Walk" selection criteria for the City of Yucaipa, and direct staff as appropriate.
Approved by:
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ATTACHMENT 3
Honor Walk Nomination Form
And Policy
Submit your completed form along with any attachments via email to [email protected] or deliver by mail or in person to: The City of Yucaipa, City Manager's Department, 34272 Yucaipa Blvd., Yucaipa, CA 92399.
Please provide your contact information below. (Form must be Typed) Recommending
First and Last Name: Heather Placencia
Phone: 951.751.3925
Email: [email protected]
Please provide information about your nominee below.
Nominee
First and Last Name: Jeremiah MacKay
Selection Criteria:
Yucaipa Resident/Employee of the City/Agency Given life/injured to point of disability of the City
Worthy of Honor (Act of Valor): Employee of the Sheriff's Department/City of Yucaipa Police Department; Given Life
You may also attach a letter, further detailing the selection criteria toward the recognition.
Policy
The following selection criteria must be adhered to for future honoree recognition as part of the "Honor Walk".
1. The candidate should have done something worthy of honor that greatly benefited the community, such as an act of valor.
2. The person being honored shall have given his/her life or been injured to the point of disability as part of the act of valor.
3. A nomination form shall be completed and submitted to the City for consideration. 4. The nominee must either be a Yucaipa resident, or have been, or have served as an employee of the City or a business/agency in the City.
5. The council should select each candidate and determine the specific language to be placed on the
plaque and approve the necessary funding.
6. On special occasion, Council may supersede these proposed selection criteria for special recognition not considered as part of this action.
The Honor Walk Policy was adopted by the Yucaipa City Council at the April 13, 2015, City Council meeting.
On February 12, 2013, our community suffered a heartbreaking loss when Detective Jeremiah MacKay of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department/Yucaipa Police Department gave his life in the line of duty during the final standoff in the Christopher Dorner manhunt. Jeremiah was more than a law enforcement officer —he was a husband, a father, a friend, and a dedicated public servant. For many of us, including myself as a former Office Specialist at the Yucaipa Police Department, he was also a cherished colleague and family friend.
In the years since his passing, Jeremiah has been honored with the naming of a street and a portion of Highway 38 in his memory. While these designations are meaningful tributes to his service and sacrifice, they do not provide a safe or peaceful place for his family- both his loved ones and his law enforcement family —to reflect, grieve, or simply spend time in remembrance.
With full support from the City of Yucaipa Park and Recreation Commission and the Trail and Open Space Committee, we respectfully request to nominate Jeremiah for the Honor Walk. This space would serve as a sanctuary for reflection and remembrance, offering our community a way to honor Jeremiah's legacy in a setting that embodies the peace and safety he so courageously protected.
Detective MacKay made the ultimate sacrifice in service to others. It is only fitting that we, as a community, create a place of peace in his name, a place where his memory will continue to inspire courage, kindness, and service in generations to come.
With gratitude and respect,
Commissioner Heather Placencia
Park and Recreation Commission
Former Office Specialist, Yucaipa Police Department