BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: scr 54
SENATOR ALAN LOWENTHAL, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: Cogdill
VERSION: 8/17/09
Analysis by: Art Bauer FISCAL: yes
Hearing date: April 6, 2010
SUBJECT:
Kirk Lindsey Memorial Highway
DESCRIPTION:
This resolution would name a 28-mile segment of State Route (SR)
108 in honor of Kirk Lindsey, a former member of the California
Transportation Commission (CTC).
ANALYSIS:
The committee has adopted a policy regarding the naming of state
highways or structures. Under the policy, the committee will
consider only those resolutions that meet all of the following
criteria:
a. The person being honored must have provided
extraordinary public service or some exemplary contribution
to the public good and have a connection to the community
where the highway is located.
b. The naming must be done without cost to the state.
Costs for signs and plaques must be paid by local or
private sources.
c. The author or co-author of the resolution must represent
the district in which the facility is located, and the
resolution must identify the specific highway segment or
structure being named.
d. The proposed designation must reflect a community
consensus and be without local opposition.
SCR 54 (COGDILL) Page 2
e. The proposed designation may not supersede an existing
designation unless the sponsor can document that a good
faith effort has uncovered no opposition to rescinding the
prior designation.
This resolution dedicates SR 108 from Five Points (the
intersection of J Street, Needham Street, Downey Avenue, McHenry
Avenue, and 17th Street) in Modesto to the Stanislaus and
Tuolumne County line as the Kirk Lindsey Memorial Highway. The
resolution further requests the Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) to erect appropriate signs upon receiving donations
from non-state sources to cover the costs.
COMMENTS:
1) Purpose of resolution . By naming this segment of SR 108
in honor of Kirk Lindsey, this resolution seeks to
memorialize the life of Mr. Lindsey, who spent his adult
life in Stanislaus County as a family man, business owner,
an activist in civic affairs, and a two-term member of the
CTC.
2) Summary of Mr. Lindsey's life . Kirk Lindsey was
president of a Stanislaus agricultural trucking firm since
1971 and active in several business related groups,
including the California Trucking Association, the
California Chamber of Commerce, and the Modesto Chamber of
Commerce. Mr. Lindsey's vision of the relationship between
business and the local economy extended beyond trade
groups. He was active with the Stanislaus Economic
Development and Workforce Alliance, the Stanislaus Partners
in Education, the California Workforce Investment Board,
and the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley.
Throughout his business and community life, he made time to
coach Beyer High School swimming and water polo teams for
the past 20 years, a commitment that friends said he valued
even more than his work in business and government. As a
member of the CTC, Mr. Lindsey successfully balanced his
interest in advocating the needs of the San Joaquin Valley
and other rural communities with the statewide
responsibilities of the CTC.
Mr. Lindsey was appointed to the CTC by Governor Gray Davis
in 2000 and reappointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
in 2004. In addition, Governor Schwarzenegger appointed him
to the California High-Speed Rail Authority. He also
SCR 54 (COGDILL) Page 3
served in U.S. Army for three years as a first lieutenant
from 1969 to 1971.
Mr. Lindsey's indomitable spirit, forthright and honest
demeanor, and fine personal example were an inspiration to
all those who knew him. He is survived by his wife, four
children, and one grandson.
Mr. Lindsey died of cancer in June 2009.
3) Recommend amendments . As proposed in this bill, the
segment of SR 108 being named to memorialize Kirk Lindsey
is 28-miles. Because of the number of request for naming
segments of state highways for deserving individuals, the
committee has sought to limit the length of a segment to a
reasonable distance, depending on the type of highway,
freeway or primary highway, and whether it is an urban or
rural highway. In light of these conditions, it is
recommended that the segment of SR 108 memorizing Kirk
Lindsey be between SR 108 from Five Points (the
intersection of J Street, Needham Street, Downey Avenue,
McHenry Avenue, and 17th Street) in Modesto to the City of
Riverbank, a distance of about ten miles. The author has
agreed to this amendment.
4) Conforms to committee policy . This resolution conforms
with the committee's policies pertaining to naming
resolutions, including the cost of signs being paid for by
non-state sources.
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the Committee before noon on
Wednesday,
March 31, 2010)
SUPPORT: Supervisor Jeff Grover of Stanislaus County
California Transportation Commission
OPPOSED: None received.