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CITY OF SAN LEANDRO STAFF REPORT Date: December 30, 1999 To: John J. Jermanis, City Manager From: Wandzia Grycz, Assistant City Manager Subject: El Camino Real Bell SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION APPROVED AND FORWARDED TO CITY COUNCIL J J. Jermanis Manager The City Council Facilities Committee recommends that the City Council approve the relocation of the El Camino Real Bell replacement to the landscaped flowerbed in front of the restaurant on the southwest corner of E. 14t' Street at Davis Street. This item has been placed on the agenda for January 18'', 2000 City Council meeting for Council action. BACKGROUND In 1909, the California Federation of Women's Clubs (CFWC) erected an El Camino Real Bell in San Leandro. For the past twenty years, it has been located in a planter box in Washington Plaza along E. 14'' Street near Davis. The trees next to the bell obscured it and the location had limited visibility. Throughout the state, the CFWC has been rededicating and replacing, if necessary, the bells along the El Camino Real. In late 1998, the Alta Mira Club contacted the City about placing our bell in a more visible location. After researching the bell's history, staff identified the bell to be the original bell of which there are approximately a dozen statewide. To safeguard the bell, it was removed and placed in storage by the Public Works Department. DISCUSSION The Library -Historical Commission reviewed this matter at the Commission's September 1999 meeting. The Commission directed staff to display the original bell in the History Room of the newly renovated Main Library. A replacement bell was ordered and has been received. The Commission also reviewed several options for a new location for the bell and forwarded their recommendation to the City Council Facilities Committee.