BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �






           SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE       BILL NO: SCR 44
          SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN              AUTHOR:  desaulnier
                                                         VERSION: 6/18/13
          Analysis by:  Eric Thronson                    FISCAL:  yes
          Hearing date:  June 25, 2013



          SUBJECT:

          Joe Eddy McDonald Memorial Overcrossing

          DESCRIPTION:

          This resolution names the Willow Avenue Overcrossing over State  
          Route 4 in Contra Costa County as the Joe Eddy McDonald Memorial  
          Overcrossing.

          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:

           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.

           The person being honored must be deceased.

           The naming must be done without cost to the state.  Costs for  
            signs and plaques must be paid by local or private sources.

           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.

           The segment of highway being named must not exceed five miles  
            in length.

           The proposed designation must reflect a community consensus  
            and be without local opposition.





          SCR 44 (DESAULNIER)                                    Page 2

                                                                       


           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  designates the Willow Avenue Overcrossing over  
          State Route (SR) 4 in Contra Costa County as the "Joe Eddy  
          McDonald Memorial Overcrossing."  The resolution further  
          requests that the Department of Transportation erect appropriate  
          signs upon receiving donations from non-state sources to cover  
          the costs.  
          COMMENTS:

           1.Purpose  .  The author introduced this resolution as a tribute  
            to the life of Joe Eddy McDonald, who spearheaded a campaign  
            to make SR 4 safer by widening and dividing the highway in  
            western Contra Costa County.

           2.Background on Joe Eddy McDonald  .  Joe Eddy McDonald  
            demonstrated a lifetime of public service and a commitment to  
            his community.    

            Mr. McDonald attended East Bay schools, graduating from  
            Richmond Union High School in 1964.  Subsequently, he enlisted  
            in the United States Navy and served for two years.  Mr.  
            McDonald received a degree in Business Administration from  
            Contra Costa College and completed professional development  
            courses offered by Duke and Harvard University's Schools of  
            Professional Studies.  In 1966, Mr. McDonald began his career  
            with the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier.   
            Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to Postal Clerk and  
            ultimately to Postmaster of Hercules and Rodeo, where he  
            served the last 19 years of his career, retiring in 2002.

            In 1994, Mr. McDonald lost his daughter and niece in a tragic  
            car accident on SR 4.  Mr. McDonald and his wife spearheaded a  
            campaign to widen and divide SR 4 in western Contra Costa  
            County to keep others from suffering the same tragic fate as  
            his family.  He collected signatures, made presentations to  
            governmental agencies, and organized a community walk to the  
            Hercules City Council meeting on behalf of the project.  Mr.  
            McDonald's advocacy resulted in securing $86 million for the  
            project, and SR 4 is safer today because of his efforts.

            Upon retirement from the U.S. Postal Service, Mr. McDonald  
            served on the Hercules Planning Commission from 2002 to 2006.   




          SCR 44 (DESAULNIER)                                    Page 3

                                                                       


            He was elected to the Hercules City Council in 2006, serving  
            as Vice Mayor in 2008 and Mayor in 2009.

            Mr. Whitehurst died at the age of 67 on June 9, 2012, at his  
            home in Hercules.  He is survived by his wife, daughter,  
            granddaughter, and a host of other extended family members and  
            friends.

           3.Consistent with the committee's policy  .  This resolution is  
            consistent with all of the provisions of the committee's  
            policy on highway designations.  
          
          POSITIONS:  (Communicated to the Committee before noon on  
          Wednesday,                                             June 19,  
          2013.)

               SUPPORT:  None received.
          
               OPPOSED:  None received.