SR 01-26-2016 8A
City Council
Report
City Council Regular and Special Joint Meeting: January 26, 2016
Agenda Item: 8.A
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Karen Ginsberg, Director, Community & Cultural Services
Subject: Recommendation to Name Buffer Park
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council consider recommendations from the Recreation
and Parks Commission for a permanent name for Buffer Park and move forward with
the name Gandara Park.
Executive Summary
A 2.35 acre park will be developed on Exposition Boulevard between Stewart Street and
Dorchester Avenue. Community outreach was conducted during the month of October
2014 to solicit formal name recommendations for this park, which has been nicknamed
Buffer Park. The Recreation and Parks Commission considered survey results and
public comment at their November 20, 2014 meeting and recommended the name
Gandara Park with an alternative suggestion of Heroes Park. Staff recommends that
Council accept the Commission’s proposed name of Gandara Park.
Background
Council adopted a policy for naming City-owned land, buildings and facilities on July 9,
2002 (Attachment A) which established formal guidelines and a procedure for
considering appropriate names (Attachment B for a summary of these guidelines). As
required by policy, Council seeks recommendations from “related advisory bodies such
as the Recreation and Parks Commission, the Library Board and the Landmarks
Commission.” Council then makes its determination at a regularly scheduled meeting at
which staff, representatives of advisory bodies and civic organizations, and the general
public may offer testimony. Since the Recreation and Parks Commission has purview
over parks, it is appropriate that the Council consider the Commission’s
recommendations for a proposed permanent name for Buffer Park, a 2.35 acre site
located on Exposition Boulevard between Stewart Street and Dorchester Avenue.
On November 23, 2010 (Attachment C), Council directed staff to work with the
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community to create a buffer area facing the residential neighborhood along Exposition
Boulevard, adjacent to and south of the new Expo Maintenance Facility. On January 24,
2012 (Attachment D), Council approved use of the buffer site as open space and
directed staff to issue a Request for Proposals for design services. On September 11,
2012 (Attachment E), Council awarded an agreement to Mia Lehrer + Associates to
provide design services for the park. Council approved the proposed design of Buffer
Park on April 22, 2014 (Attachment F), which included a plan for conducting community
outreach to name the park.
Discussion
Public Outreach
Staff met with the Pico Neighborhood Association on September 11, 2014 to discuss
proposed outreach strategies and received additional input from the membership,
including a suggestion to reach out to local churches in the neighborhood. Staff
launched a survey that was available the entire month of October 2014 to solicit name
suggestions for Buffer Park. Surveys in English and Spanish were available online and
paper surveys were available at Virginia Avenue Park and the Pico Branch Library
(Attachment G). Additionally, staff hosted a table at the Pico Farmers’ Market each
Saturday in October 2014 to speak to residents about the project and to solicit name
suggestions.
Staff conducted further outreach by sending email campaigns in the first and fourth
weeks of October 2014 to those on the Buffer Park interest list as a reminder to submit
their recommendations for a formal park name. Furthermore, emails containing general
project information and links to the park naming survey were sent to seven churches in
the Pico Neighborhood, and surveys in English and Spanish were sent home with all
Edison Language Academy students.
The community submitted a total of 135 park name suggestions. The full list of
recommended names is quite divergent (Attachment H). The most commonly suggested
names were as follows:
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Toypurina Park (16 submissions)
Exposition Park (or similar variation; 9 submissions)
George Ishihara Memorial Park (or similar variation; 6 submissions)
Santa Monica Park (5 submissions)
People’s Park (4 submissions)
Hachi Park (3 submissions)
Nisei Park (3 submissions)
Vida Park (3 submissions)
Subsequent to the survey closing, a few community members sent emails to the
Recreation and Parks Commission recommending an additional name, Gandara Park.
Further information regarding each of the aforementioned suggested names is available
in Attachment I.
Commission Action
The Recreation and Parks Commission considered the full list of Buffer Park name
recommendations at its regularly scheduled meeting on November 20, 2014
(Attachment J). Following public comment and discussion, the Commission adopted a
motion to recommend to Council the consideration of two potential names for the park
currently known as Buffer Park: Gandara Park and Heroes Park.
The name Gandara Park is recommended by the Recreation and Parks Commission to
memorialize and honor Private Joe Gandara, a Santa Monica native who was fatally
wounded by enemy fire in World War II at the age of 20. Although hailed a war hero, he
was passed over for awards and medals at the time of his death due to his Hispanic
heritage. In March 2014, Private Joe Gandara was posthumously awarded the Medal of
Honor by President Obama in recognition of his heroism and valor.
The naming of Buffer Park was postponed until this time as Private Gandara’s family
preferred to wait until Metro considered a request to name the 26th Street/Bergamot
Station in his honor. On September 24, 2015 (Attachment K), the Metro Board of
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Directors voted unanimously to dedicate the station in memory of Private Gandara, by
placing a plaque at the station recognizing his heroism and sacrifice for our country.
Subsequently, on October 27, 2015, Private Gandara’s niece, Miriam Adams, formally
expressed her support for naming Buffer Park in honor of her uncle (Attachment L).
Staff recommends supporting the Commission’s recommendation to name the park
Gandara Park.
As an alternative to Gandara Park, the Recreation and Parks Commission recommends
considering the name Heroes Park to honor all Santa Monica military servicemembers,
war heroes, and veterans, with the possibility of certain areas of the park being
separately named in honor of individuals (e.g. Private Gandara and George Ishihara).
Alternatives
Council could reject both name options suggested by the Recreation and Parks
Commission and choose an alternative name for Buffer Park or seek additional public
input.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the
recommended action.
Prepared By: Melissa Spagnuolo, Senior Administrative Analyst
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. July 9, 2002 Staff Report (Web Link)
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B. Summary of Naming Guidelines
C. November 23, 2010 Staff Report (Web Link)
D. January 4, 2012 Staff Report (Web Link)
E. September 11, 2012 Staff Report (Web Link)
F. April 22, 2014 Staff Report (Web Link)
G. Buffer Park Naming Surveys
H. Survey Results
I. Attachment I - Additional Background on Suggested Names
J. November 20, 2014 Recreation & Parks Commission Agenda and Staff Report
(Web Link)
K. September 24, 2015 Metro Board of Directors Meeting Reports/Items (Web Link)
L. October 27, 2015 Email letter of support from Miriam Adams
M. Written comments
N. Powerpoint
Attachment B
Summary of Naming Guidelines
Adopted July 9, 2002
In naming public land and buildings, the City Council and its advisory bodies shall consider the
following:
•Incorporating “Santa Monica” in the name where it is important for civic or other reasons
for a building or facility to be identified with the City;
•Recognizing geographic, topographic or historical features or events associated with
Santa Monica;
•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; and
•Avoiding recognition of those whose contribution has been appropriately recognized in
other city venues or by other means.
The City Council will not name any buildings, land or facilities after current office holders.
“buffer park”
Name Your Neighborhood’s Newest Park!
2.35 Acres on Exposition Blvd., between Stewart St. and Dorchester Ave.
Timeline: Construction starts early summer 2015.
Landscape Architect: Mia Lehrer + Associates
Submit your survey by October 31, 2014
Community and Cultural Services | 1685 Main Street, Room 210 | (310) 458-8310 | ccs@smgov.net
You are invited to submit your ideas for the name of Santa Monica’s
newest park! Please recommend a name below . This survey can also
be completed online at www.smgov.net/bufferparksurvey.
Park name suggestion(s):
Mia Lehrer + Associates provided the examples below as possible names, based on the
design of the park:
Bosque Park
Ramble Park
Suggested names will be presented to the Recreation and Parks Commission and then forwarded to the City Council for considera tion.
Your name: __________________________________ Zip code: _______________
Your email address to receive notice of park opening and events: ___________________
Attachment G
“buffer park”
¡Nombre el parque más nuevo de su vecindad!
2.35 Acres por la Exposition Blvd., entre Stewart St. y Dorchester Ave.
Cronologia: Construcción comienza a principios de verano 2015.
Architecto paisajista: Mia Lehrer + Associates
Entregue su respuesta por el 31 de octubre del 2014
Community and Cultural Services | 1685 Main Street, Room 210 | (310) 458-8310 | ccs@smgov.net
Usted esta invitado a presentar sus ideas sobre el nombre del
parque Nuevo de Santa Monica! Por favor recomendar un nombre mas
abajo. Esta encuesta también se puede completarse en línea en
www.smgov.net/bufferparksurvey.
Sugerencia(s) para el nombre del parque:
Mia Lehrer + Associates proporcionan los ejemplos abajo como posibles nombres,
basados en el diseño del parque :
Bosque Park
Ramble Park
Nombres sugeridos se presentaran a la Comisión de Parques y Recreación y luego remitidos al Concejo Municipal para su conside ración.
Su nombre: __________________________________ Código postal: ____________
Su dirección de correo electrónico para recibir notificación de la apertura de parque y eventos :
Attachment H
Survey Results
Name suggestions: Name suggestions (cont.):
A la Fresco Park Happy Park
Abundance Park HideAway Park
Arcadia Park Hobo Junction East
Arcadia Park Hope Park
Back Yard, The Hub Park
Barrio Park Japanese American Memorial Park
Bergamot Park Jay Adams
Blossom Park Leaf Park
Bosque Park (2) Learning Gardens, The
Branches Park Little Park
Breeze Path Park Menagerie Park
Buffer Park (2) Nachochan Park
Cecilito Park Nature Gardens, The
Celo Park Nature Park (2)
Colibrí Neighbors Park
Conrad Park New Life Park (2)
Cookies and Cupcake (2) Nisei Park (3)
Creative Park Oasis Park
East Edge Park Oasis, The
East Park O'conner Park
Eco Park Oscar de la Torre Park
Eden Pacific Electric Park
Edge Park Pacific Gateway Park
Encounter Park Parque de los Amigos
Expo Park (3) Paseo Verde
Expo Trail Park Pavilion Park
Exposition Park (4) Peace Gardens, The
Exposition Park West Peace Park
Flow Park Peace Square, The
Freedom Park Pebble Park
Friends & Family Park People's Park (4)
Friendship Park Permaculture Park
Gardens, The Pocket Park
George Ishihara Memorial Park (6) Quarter Mile Park (2)
George Whitefield Park Relaxation Gardens, The
Great Pacific Park Renaissance Park
Green Gardens, The Reverie Park
Green Meadow Park Santa Monica Park (5)
Green Path Park Serenity Park
Green Strip Park Serra Park
Hachi Park (3) Sky Park
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Attachment C
Survey Results (cont.)
Name suggestions (cont.):
So Cal Park
Stroll, The
Superior Park
Thickest
Too close to the building park
Too damn close to the sidewalk
park
Toyp urina Park (16)
Vida Park (3)
Walking Together Park
Vida Park (3)
Walking Together Park
Note: Names suggested more than once are denoted with the total number of submissions in
parentheses.
Attachment I
Supplemental Information for the Most Commonly Suggested Names for Buffer Park
Toypurina Park (16 submissions)
Toypurina (1760-1799) was a Tongva/Gabrieliño Native American medicine woman who
opposed the rule of colonization by Spanish missionaries in California, and led an unsuccessful
rebellion against them. (Source: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toypurina)
Toypurina and the San Gabriel Mission, 1785
Few details survive about the life of the Gabrielino medicine woman Toypurina, but she is
undoubtedly best remembered for her direct involvement in a planned revolt against Spanish
colonial rule in 1785. Born into the Kumivit tribe of Southern California from the area around
Mission San Gabriel, Toypurina’s tribe became known as the Gabrielino (today, their
descendants also refer to themselves as the Tongva people) after Spanish contact in the late
eighteenth century. Franciscan missionaries at the time had founded more than twenty missions
from San Diego to Sonoma between 1769 and 1823. These missions encroached on the lands
of numerous tribal nations in the area, exploited the labor of their people, and proselytized for
their conversion to the Roman Catholic Faith. From the perspective of the colonists, these
missions were intended to act as a chain of defense around the Spanish empire in the north.
It was in this context that Mission San Gabriel was established, near the banks of the Río
Hondo on the southern edge of the San Gabriel Valley in September 1771. The mission
remained at its original site for half a decade, until May 1775, when it was moved several miles
north to its present site, which is located on Gabrielino land. Historians estimate that in 1770,
the Gabrielino numbered about five thousand, and their territory encompassed about 1,500
square miles of the Los Angeles Basin. This land included the watersheds of the Los Angeles,
San Gabriel, Santa Ana, and Río Hondo rivers, and it extended west to the islands off present-
day Los Angeles. Within that territory were more than fifty independent and competing
communities, whose populations ranged from 50 to 150. By the time Toypurina became
involved in the rebellion against the Mission in 1785, the missionaries at San Gabriel had
baptized well over 1,200 Indians, counting approximately 843 Gabrielinos among these
baptisms.
In an effort to protect the self-sufficiency of their communities, retain their tribal cultures, and
uphold their religious practices and beliefs, many Native people at this time had long been
actively resisting the imposed Spanish rule and attempts at acculturation. Toypurina emerged
as one such individual. In October 1785, she joined a group of Gabrielino neophytes from
Mission San Gabriel in their plot against the mission. Most prominent among the instigators of
this rebellion was the discontented neophyte Nicolás José, who not only initiated talk of the plan
among other Gabrielinos inside the Mission, but also rallied key individuals, including Toypurina,
from as many as eight Indian villages in the surrounding area.
Historians have concluded that their plan was provoked in the final instance when Spanish
officials forbade the practice of traditional dances. Up until this point, the Padres had shown
some degree of leniency, permitting a number of Indians to maintain their roles in traditional
ceremonies. José in particular is said to have been accustomed to living in ways that allowed
him to equally balance commitments in both of his cultural worlds. The authoritarian decision to
suddenly ban all traditional dances among the Mission Indians was thus the latest in a long
string of ongoing affronts and atrocities (violence, rapes, forced religious conversions, and slave
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labor) committed against the Gabrielinos since the beginning of the Spanish invasion. José and
his allies therefore set out to destroy the San Gabriel Mission.
Toypurina’s support of this effort is believed to have been crucial, due to her extraordinary
powers as a medicine woman. It was intended that she would use her divine influence to
immobilize the Catholic priests during the revolt, while her male counterparts would eliminate
the Spanish soldiers. On the night of October 25th, 1785, Toypurina and the other insurgents
attacked the mission as planned, but unbeknownst to them, a corporal of the guard had been
informed of the revolt ahead of time, allowing the Spanish to mount an ambush. W hen
Toypurina arrived, she and several others were arrested. Spanish officials held a trial,
sentencing five people to twenty-f ive lashes, and another twelve to receive fifteen or twenty
lashes. Rather than torture or kill the offenders behind closed doors, these floggings were
carried out in public, so the entire mission population would see the consequences of the rebels’
actions.
Likewise, the Spanish officials found Toypurina, José, and two other men (Temejasaquichí and
Alijivit) guilty of leading the attack. As punishment, Toypurina was exiled from Mission San
Gabriel after being held there as a prisoner for the duration of her trial, and in which time she
was also baptized into the Catholic Faith. She was sent to live out her lif e further north, first
at Mission San Carlos Borromeo, located near Monterey in present-day Carmel. There, she
remarried, to a Spanish soldier named Manuel Montera. Between 1789 (the year of their
marriage) and 1794, Toypurina and Montera had three children: Cesario, Juana de Dios
Montero, and Maria Clementina. In 1799, Toypurina passed away at Mission San Juan Bautista,
and was buried there.
(Source: South El Monte Arts Posse; Tropics of Meta,
http://tropicsofmeta.wordpress.com/2014/01/23/toypurina-a-legend-etched-in-the-landscape)
Exposition Park (or similar variation; 10 submissions)
Buffer Park will be constructed on Exposition Boulevard. Staff recommends against considering
this suggestion as a well-known park currently exists by this name in the City of Los Angeles.
George Ishihara Memorial Park (or similar variation; 6 submissions)
George Ishihara was born on February 22, 1921 and died at his home in Santa Monica on
March 17, 2009. Mr. Ishihara was a Japanese-American who grew up in W ashington and
Northern California, and relocated to Santa Monica’s Pico Neighborhood in 1958. He enlisted in
the United States Army and served in W orld W ar II in the most decorated unit, the 442nd
Regimental Combat Team, and also was part of the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion that liberated
the Jewish people from the Dachau Germany Internment Camp and other surrounding camps.
During W orld W ar II, Mr. Ishihara’s f amily was interned in two relocation camps. Given his
enlistment in the US Army, he was able to negotiate his f amily being reunited in the Minidoka
Relocation Camp. Mr. Ishihara’s daughter currently lives in the Pico Neighborhood with her
family.
The Japanese-American people played a significant role in the history of W est Los Angeles and
in Santa Monica, first as farmers and then as homeowners in the area. Many were displaced
from the neighborhood when Interstate 10 was constructed.
(Source: Christel Andersen, Pico Neighborhood resident)
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Santa Monica Park (5 submissions) and People’s Park (4 submissions)
These names were also suggested for what is now known as Tongva Park.
Hachi Park (3 submissions)
Hachi refers to a Japanese dog known for his loyalty to his owner. In 1924, Hidesaburō Ueno, a
professor in the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo, took in Hachikō, a golden
brown Akita, as a pet. During his owner's lif e, Hachikō greeted him at the end of each day at the
nearby Shibuya Station. The pair continued their daily routine until May 1925, when Professor
Ueno did not return. The professor had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died, never
returning to the train station where Hachikō was waiting. Each day for the next nine years
Hachikō awaited Ueno's return, appearing precisely when the train was due at the station.
Hachikō attracted the attention of other commuters. Many of the people who frequented the
Shibuya train station had seen Hachikō and Professor Ueno together each day. Initial reactions
from the people, especially from those working at the station, were not necessarily f riendly.
However, af ter the first appearance of the article about him on October 4, 1932 in Asahi
Shimbun, people started to bring Hachikō treats and food to nourish him during his wait.
In 1932 one of Ueno's students (who developed expertise on the Akita breed) saw the dog at
the station and followed him to the Kobayashi home (the home of the former gardener of
Professor Ueno—Kikuzaboro Kobayashi) where he learned the history of Hachikō's life. Shortly
after this meeting, the former student published a documented census of Akitas in Japan. His
research f ound only 30 purebred Akitas remaining, including Hachikō from Shibuya Station.
He returned frequently to visit Hachikō and over the years published several articles about the
dog's remarkable loyalty. In 1932 one of these articles, published in the Tokyo Asahi Shimbun,
placed the dog in the national spotlight. Hachikō became a national sensation. His faithfulness
to his master's memory impressed the people of Japan as a spirit of family loyalty all should
strive to achieve. Teachers and parents used Hachikō's vigil as an example for children to
follow. A well-known Japanese artist rendered a sculpture of the dog, and throughout the
country a new awareness of the Akita breed grew.
Eventually, Hachikō's legendary faithfulness became a national symbol of loyalty, particularly to
the person and institution of the Emperor.
(Source: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachik%C5%8D)
Nisei Park (3 submissions)
“Nisei” refers to the generation of Japanese Americans that were interned during W orld W ar II,
and more specifically refers to Japanese Americans whose parents were immigrants from
Japan. The Pico Neighborhood has been home to people who identify as Nisei.
Vida Park (3 submissions)
Vida is the Spanish term for “lif e.”
Gandara Park (added by the Recreation and Parks Commission)
Medal of Honor recipient Joe Gandara was born in Santa Monica, Calif., April 25, 1924.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in between 1942-1943.
Gandara is being recognized for his heroic actions on June 9, 1944, in Amfreville, France. His
detachment came under devastating enemy fire from a strong German force, pinning the men to
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the ground for a period of four hours. Gandara advanced voluntarily and alone toward the enemy
position and destroyed three hostile machine-guns before he was fatally wounded.
Gandara received the Medal of Honor, March 18, 2014; Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army
Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one Bronze
Service Star and Bronze Arrowhead Device, Presidential Unit Citation, French Fourragere,
Combat Infantryman Badge and Parachutist Badge-Basic with one Bronze Service Star.
(Source: United States Army,
http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/valor24/recipients/gandara/?=recipient_list )
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Anne Deasey
From:Miriam Adams <mirth313@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, October 27, 2015 7:22 PM
To:Martin Pastucha
Subject:Private Joe Gandara / Buffer Park
Dear Martin,
I want to thank you for taking the time to meet with me last week and listen to my concerns regarding the
upcoming 26th St. Expo station dedication.
Secondly, I would like to say that it would be an honor to have Buffer Park named after my uncle, Private Joe
Gandara. Please consider this note as formal acceptance of that honor.
In closing, I want to send my heartfelt thanks once again to City officials, staff and community members who
have given and continue to give their support towards Private Joe Gandara and our family. My desire is that the
story of my uncle will continue to be an example of service, sacrifice and inspiration not just to the Pico
neighborhood, but to the City, our State, and our nation as well.
With gratitude,
Miriam Adams, niece of Private Joe Gandara , Santa Monica native, WWII Veteran, Medal of Honor recipient.
City Council
January 26, 2016
Buffer Park
•2.35 acre park to be constructed on Exposition Boulevard
between Dorchester Avenue and Stewart Street.
Community Outreach
•Online survey
•Virginia Ave.Park Outreach
•Email campaign
•Outreach to Neighborhood Churches
•Surveys sent home with Edison Language Academy students
Outreach Results
•135 total name suggestions
Hachi
Nisei
Vida
People's Park
Santa Monica
Ishihara
Exposition
Toypurina
All others
Recreation & Parks Commission
•The Recreation &Parks Commission adopted a motion on
November 20,2014 recommending Council consider:
•Gandara Park
•Heroes Park
Recommended Action
•Review name recommendations from the Recreation &
Parks Commission.
•Select Gandara Park as the official name for Buffer Park.