Laserfiche WebLink
File Number: 19-566 <br />He was a champion for those living near the Oakland International Airport who were impacted by <br />aircraft noise and helped create the Airport Noise Forum in coordination with the Port of Oakland. <br />He was also a tireless advocate for diversity calling for reform in City Hall to better represent the <br />City’s changing demographics and promoting Asian and Latino representation on the City <br />Council. <br />Mayor Santos dedicated his time as the President of the East Bay Division of the League of <br />California Cities, and was on the League of California Cities Environmental Quality Policy <br />Committee. He served on a variety of internal City committees including the San Leandro Unified <br />School District Liaison Committee, the Civic and Cultural Committee, the Disaster Council, the <br />Joint Oakland/San Leandro City Council Committee, and the Shoreline-Marina Committee, <br />among others. <br />One of the efforts he was most proud of, as retold by Mayor Emeritus Sheila Young and City <br />Manager Emeritus John Jermanis, was his effort to create Grover Cleveland Park. This is <br />discussed in more detail below. <br />There are several possible ways to honor Mayor Santos they include: <br />Rename Grover Cleveland Park <br />Grover Cleveland Park is located at the south end of O’Donnell Avenue within the East <br />shore-Davis Street neighborhood. The site was originally two parcels, one owned by Mr. and <br />Mrs. Bevilacqua and the other by the State Division of Highways (now known as Caltrans). The <br />City acquired the first parcel in 1950 and the second in 1958. It is unclear the original intent of <br />these purchases; however, records show a discussion in early 1985 by the City Council of <br />potentially moving four housing units onto the vacant property. Shortly thereafter, on September <br />16, 1985, then Councilmember Tony Santos recommended that the City Council look into <br />developing a mini-park on the property, which was located in his District. By December 1991, a <br />contract was awarded to build the park, the first phase of which was completed in 1992. It was <br />during this time that the “O’Donnell Property” was formally named Grover Cleveland Park, to <br />recognize the old Grover Cleveland School, which had been located in the neighborhood and had <br />been demolished to build homes. <br />While Mayor Santos made many contributions during and after his tenure in office, his advocacy <br />for creating the park at the foot of O’Donnell Street was one about which he was most proud. <br />According to those closest to him, he felt a strong connection to the park, and in his last days <br />expressed a desire to have the park named after him. <br />In discussions with long-time resident Ms. Esther Collier, who lives in the neighborhood and not <br />only worked with Mayor Santos to create the park but also walked the neighborhood to garner <br />support, she expressed the desire to keep the name Grover Cleveland Park because it is the last <br />vestige of the old school, but re-dedicate the park in Mayor Santos’ memory. <br />After discussions at the Rules Committee, the Facilities and Transportation Committee, and the <br />Library-Historical Committee (discussed below), staff believes it is possible to rename the park <br />after Mayor Santos while at the same time acknowledging the history of the school and the work <br />Page 3 City of San Leandro Printed on 10/16/2019 <br />381