DATE: September 2, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Parks and Recreation Department
TITLE: AMENDMENT OF City Council POLICY 100-55 concerning policies and procedures for naming City facilities.
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution amending City Council Policy 100-55 concerning policies and procedures for naming City facilities.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
On May 21, 2003, the City Council adopted City Council Policy 100-55 that established the policies and procedures for naming City facilities, including the timeline and priority categories (Attachment 1). At the time, the City had recently renamed two City parks in honor of individuals, and recognized the need for a policy to better define the process. The Parks and Recreation Commission formed an Ad hoc Committee to assist staff in drafting a naming policy as part of its 2002-03 Workplan. The existing Policy is intended to establish procedures to enhance the values and heritage of the City of Oceanside, and established specific criteria for the selection of names of individuals and groups. It does not apply to public buildings such as City administration buildings, police, fire, libraries, operation yards, water, and wastewater facilities.
In order to minimize fiscal impact to the City, the Policy requires that any individual, family, group, or organization donating money for a dedication or memorial has to provide sufficient funds to purchase, install, and maintain any plaque or other form of label associated with the recognition. Additionally, the Policy established guidelines for fundraising campaigns, and stipulates that a City facility can be named after a group if it contributes 75%, or an individual if they contribute 60%, of the development or maintenance costs of the City facility.
The current Council Policy has three categories for renaming in order of preference. The first priority is geographic location, and the Council Policy stipulates that whenever possible, all City facilities will be named for their geographic location. The second priority category for other considerations where a City facility may be named for the topography, prominent plants, and cultural or historical features. The last priority category is for extraordinary circumstances where the City can consider naming a new facility after a person or group.
Several parks and facilities have been named or renamed using the criteria in Council Policy 100-55. These have primarily been to honor an individual using one of the following criteria:
A. Given outstanding service, donation, or contribution to the facility or community over a period of years; or
B. Made a lifelong contribution to the quality of life of the community or facility and reached an age of sixty-five (65) at the time of consideration for naming; or
C. Posthumously, in memoriam for either outstanding service, donation or contribution, or lifelong contribution if the person has been deceased for at least two years; or
D. Contributed sixty (60) percent or more to the development costs or maintenance costs of the facility and agree to pay the cost of installing a plaque or other form of naming the facility.
There have been no parks or facilities named as part of a fundraising campaign, and the City has not recovered the cost of the purchase and installation of plaques or monuments when it has renamed existing park facilities.
On April 8, 2026, staff requested that City Council designate eligible City facilities for naming. One of the parks that was identified for renaming was Cesar Chavez Park. Given the circumstances surrounding the need to rename this park, and concerns raised about some of the other sites proposed to be renamed, City Council directed staff to revise Council Policy 100-55.
Staff recommends that Council Policy 100-55 be amended to remove the Extraordinary Circumstances Guideline, thereby eliminating the ability to name parks and City facilities after individuals or groups. Deciding who deserves to be recognized by having a park or facility named after them is difficult and subjective. Staff recommends transitioning to recognizing themes, activities, cultural, or historical contributions rather than the individual that promoted them. The provision for fundraising campaigns would also be removed since the park or facility would not be able to be named after an individual or group.
The proposed changes would more clearly prohibit the proliferation of names for different parts of the same park. Staff recommends eliminating the ability to rename tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, gazebos, and meeting rooms. The Policy would focus instead on naming and renaming parks, recreation centers, community centers, trails, beach property, and athletic facilities such as skate parks, and sports complexes.
Staff recommends preserving the existing process and timeline, which stipulates that no later than April of each year, City Council will designate which City facilities are eligible to be named or renamed. Nominations will be accepted by the Parks and Recreation Department until June 1, and the Department will determine whether the nominations are consistent with the Council Policy. The Parks and Recreation Commission will consider the nominations during a public hearing in September and will recommend no more than three proposed names to City Council. City Council will make the final selection no later than November.
Changes to Council Policy 100-55 do not preclude the Parks and Recreation Department from recognizing individuals and groups through a memorial bench program, or other similar recognition programs.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact at this time because the cost of the purchase and installation of a plaque or monument is incorporated in the construction costs of a new park or facility. Staff anticipates that there will be limited need to rename an existing park or facility if it can no longer be named after an individual or group.
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
The proposed updates to Council Policy 100-55 were presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission on July 14, 2026. The Commission voted 6 - 2 to recommend that the City Council approve the updated Council Policy 100-55. The majority Commission action approved recognizing themes, activities, cultural, or historical contributions rather than individuals as priorities when naming and renaming City facilities; the minority expressed a desire to retain the ability to name and rename parks after individuals. The Commission also expressed an interest in establishing a memorial bench program in City parks.
CITY ATTORNEY’S ANALYSIS
The referenced documents have been reviewed by the City Attorney and approved as to form.
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Prepared by: Manuel Gonzalez, Parks and Recreation Director
Reviewed by: Rob O’Brien, Deputy City Manager
Submitted by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Council Policy 100-55 Approved 5/21/03
2. Resolution
3. Exhibit A to Resolution - Amended Council Policy 100-55