DATE: October 9, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: City Attorney's Office
TITLE: APPROVAL OF SPECIAL EXEMPTION TO CITY COUNCIL POLICY 100-55 AND DEDICATION OF THAT SEGMENT OF THE SAN LUIS RAY RIVER TRAIL FROM PACIFIC STREET TO BENET ROAD IN MEMORY OF JENSEN HUGHES WITH APPURTENANT MEMORIAL PLAQUES
RECOMMENDATION
title
The City Attorney recommends as follows:
1. That the City Council approve a special exemption to City Council Policy 100-55; and
2. That the City Council approve the dedication of that segment of the San Luis Ray River Trail from Pacific Street to Benet Road in memory of Jensen Hughes; and
3. That the City Council authorize staff to work with the Hughes family to coordinate the installation of memorial plaques at the Pacific Street and Benet Road entrances to the San Luis Rey River Trail.
body
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
On September 23, 2023, Oceanside resident Jensen Hughes lost her life in a cycling accident on the San Luis Rey River Trail. An Oceanside native and graduate of El Camino High School, Jensen attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, where she earned her degree in Political Science with an emphasis on International Relations, followed by a Master’s in Global Security. Jensen dedicated her life to making the world a better place. Her passion for service shone through her advocacy for environmental causes, mentoring students, and working with refugees. During her life, Jensen coordinated campaigns against hunger and homelessness, and promoted renewable energy and affordable education.
Since Jensen’s passing, the Hughes family has worked with City staff to develop certain maintenance and safety improvements along the stretch of the San Luis Rey River Trail between Pacific Street and Benet Road. In conjunction with these forthcoming improvements, staff recommends the City formally dedicate that segment of the San Luis Rey River Trail between Benet Road and Pacific Street in memory of Jensen Hughes as the Jensen Hughes Memorial Trail, and place memorial plaques at both the Benet Road and Pacific Street entrances to the trail.
Council Policy 100-55, adopted May 21, 2003, defines the typical process, timeline, and manner in which certain “Parks” and “Recreation Facilities” may be renamed or dedicated. Other City-owned facilities, including facilities that support maintenance operations, are excluded from this policy. This request for formal dedication is being brought forward by staff outside of the dedication policy based on the unique circumstances involving the City’s efforts to work with the Hughes family on various maintenance and safety improvements along the San Luis Rey River Trail following Jensen’s accident. Also, the San Luis Rey River Trail does not fit squarely within either the covered or exempt facilities, as it serves a dual purpose as a maintenance access road along the San Luis Rey River flood control levee and as a recreational trail for the public, and the proposed dedication relates only to the specified segment of the trail.
For the above reasons, staff recommends a special exemption to Council Policy 100-55 for this specific request and recommends the City Council approve the dedication of that segment of the San Luis Rey River Trail between Pacific Street and Benet Road in memory of Jensen Hughes. If approved, staff will work with the Hughes family on the specific details of the memorial plaques and monuments for the dedication, to be placed at both the Pacific Street and Benet Road entrances to the San Luis Rey River Trail.
end
Prepared by: T. Steven Burke, Jr., Assistant City Attorney
Reviewed by: Robert O’Brien, Deputy City Manager
Submitted by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager