REPORT OF THE CHIEF LEGISLATIVE ANALYST

DATE:

TO:

FROM:

July 30 , 2010

Honorable Members ofthe Information Technology and Government Affairs Committee

Gerry F. Miller (3. Jh#y f~ Chief Legislative Analyst

Assignment No.: 1 0-07-064 7 Council File No.: 1 0-0002-S69

SUBJECT: Resolution to SUPPORT ACR 126 (Davis) Naming of the El Salvador Community Corridor

CLA RECOMMENDATION: Adopt attached Resolution to include in the City's 2009-2010 State Legislative Program SUPPORT for ACR 126 (Davis) if amended to support and engage in a local process to create a community designation that conforms to City policy on the naming of a community.

SUMMARY On June 30, 2010, a Resolution (Reyes-Rosendahl) was introduced stating the following:

• Los Angeles now has the largest Salvadoran population in the United States, and is the largest Salvadoran metropolis outside ofEl Salvador with an estimated 900,000 to 1 ,000,000 Salvadorans living in Los Angeles County;

• A large majority of the City ' s El Salvadoran population resides in the Pico Union area of Los Angeles and the California Legislature is currently considering adoption of ACR 126 which would recognize the area between Adams Boulevard and 11th Street on Vermont A venue in the City of Los Angeles as the El Salvador Community Corridor;

• With approval of ACR 126, the Depmtment of Transportation would prepare and install appropriate signage showing this special designation to recognize the contribution ofthe Salvadoran community in the City; and

• Our communities are deeply involved in the process to create special designations such as this; City policies have been put in place to ensure a thorough review by local residents; and it is essential that local input and agreement is in place before the final details of such a designation are approved.

The Resolution therefore recommends support of ACR 126 if amended to support and engage in a local process, as prescribed by City of Los Angeles law, to create a community designation relative to this project. The attached Resolution contains teclmical corrections.

BACKGROUND Existing law, which was established after AB 516 (Cedillo) was enacted, authorizes Cal trans to erect signs directing motorists to specific communities that are "culturally unique and historically significant," provided there is local support of such an effort.

On February 16, 2010, ACR 126 was introduced to the State legislature to: 1) recognize the area along Vermont A venue between Adams Boulevard and 11th Street, in the City of Los Angeles, as the El Salvador Community Corridor; and 2) direct Caltrans to install signs, upon receiving sufficient non-state donations to cover its costs, on the eastbound and westbound exits to Vermont A venue from State Route 10.

The City Council adopted a policy on January 31, 2006 (Council File 02-0 196), which provides a process for an advocate seeking the naming or renaming of a community. The naming policy entails the submission of a naming application to the City Clerk, including a petition which must have 500 signatures with addresses of residents and/or businesses, both profit and nonprofit, that reside or are located in the neighborhood being named. If the population of the neighborhood is under 2,500 people, then 20 percent of the population of the area being named or renamed is required. All addresses will be confirmed as to their location within the boundaries of the community. The completed application is circulated to the Depmiment ofNeighborhood Empowerment (DONE), Department of Transportation, City Planning, Community Redevelopment Agency and the Board of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering for notification and review.

The policy includes consideration of a neighborhood's original name and the tract of a community, as well as, an appeals process. As pmi of the process, the application for naming will be forwarded to the certified Neighborhood Councils in their subject area for consideration. The Neighborhood Councils, with the assistance of DONE, are requested to: review the contents of the application; advertise the proposal in the affected community and abutting neighborhoods; schedule and conduct a public hearing on the matter; and after the public hearing, submit the findings and a community impact statement to the City Clerk for Council consideration.

On August 10, 2010, the Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider ACR 126. City support of ACR 126 should be contingent upon revision of the measure to recognize the full role of local input and approval in the naming of any community. ACR 126 does not currently ensure that local community approval or local laws regarding community naming be implemented prior to the approval of a state designation.

DEPARTMENT NOTIFIED Transpmiation

BILL STATUS

02116/10 02/25/10 04/07/10

ARC 126 Introduced. Refened to Committee on Transportation. 1st Amendment and re-referred to Committee on Transpotiation.

GFM:JG :dp

04113/10 04/26110 04/26110 07/10/10

Attachmenl: Revised Resolution

Re-referred to Committee on Appropriations with recommendations. Adopted and to Senate. In Senate. To Committee on Rules. Scheduled in Committee on Appropriations.

ul)N~(~ Darrell Powell Analyst

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, any official position of the City of Los Ange les with respect to legislation, rules, regulations, or policies proposed to or pending before a local, state, or federal govemmental body or agency must first have been adopted in the form of a Resolution by the City Council with the concurrence of the Mayor; and

WHEREAS, the City of Los Angeles, which represents nearly four million residents and prides itself in cultural diversity, aims to include all of its citizens in community affairs; and

WHEREAS, Los Angeles now has the largest Salvadoran population in the United States, and is the largest Salvadoran metropolis outside of El Salvador with an estimated 900,000 to 1,000,000 Salvadorans living in Los Angeles County; and

WHEREAS, despite a difficult past and a troubling civi l war behind them, many members of the Salvadoran commun ity in Los Angeles, and countrywide, are succeeding and contributing to their comm unities; and

WHEREAS, Salvadorans throughout the City of Los Angeles have become U.S. c itizens and professionals holding important positions in government offices and private industry, they participate in civic activities and are involved in community organizations; and

WHEREAS, a large majority of the City's El Salvadoran population resides in the Pico Union area ofLos Angeles and the California Legislature is currently considering adoption of ACR 126 which would recognize the area between Adams Boulevard and ll'h Street on Vermont A venue in the City of Los Angeles as the E1 Salvador Community Corridor; and

WHEREAS, with approval of ACR 126, the Department of Transportation would prepare and install appropriate signage showing this special designation to recognize the contribution of the Salvadoran comm unity in the City;

WHEREAS, our communities are deeply involved in the process to create special designations such as this, City policies have been put in place to ensure a thorough review by local residents, and it is essential that local input and agreement is in place before the final detai Is of such a designation are approved;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, with the concurrence of the Mayor, that by the adoption of this Resolution, the City of Los Ange les hereby includes in its 2009-2010 State Legislative Program SUPPORT for ACR 126, if amended, to support and engage a local process, as prescribed by City of Los Angeles law, to create a community designation relative to this project.

jw