California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 65

Introduced by Assembly Member Brough

May 6, 2015

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 65—Relative to the James Mitchell “Mitch” Waller Memorial Highway.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 65, as introduced, Brough. James Mitchell “Mitch” Waller Memorial Highway.

This measure would designate a specified portion of State Highway Route 405 (Interstate 405) in the County of Orange as the James Mitchell “Mitch” Waller Memorial Highway. The measure would request the Department of Transportation to determine the costs of erecting the appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.

Fiscal committee: yes.

WHEREAS, James Mitchell “Mitch” Waller was born on
September 12, 1959, in Dallas, Texas, to James Russell Waller,
Jr. and Elizabeth Ann Waller. In 1965, Mitch Waller and his family
moved to Huntington Beach, California, where Mitch began his
education; and

WHEREAS, Mitch Waller joined the Boy Scouts of America
as a Cub Scout in his early school years and continued to participate
in the organization as a Boy Scout through high school, earning
the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout; and

WHEREAS, Mitch Waller graduated from Edison High School
in 1977. He continued his education at the University of California,
San Diego, and graduated in 1983 with a bachelor of arts degree
in Biochemistry and Cellular Biology and a minor in Economics;
and

WHEREAS, Mitch Waller attended the Criminal Justice
Training Center at Golden West College, after which he began his
career in law enforcement with the City of Westminster Police
Department in 1984; and

WHEREAS, Mitch Waller married Sally Gouveia in 1994,
settled in Mission Viejo, and started his family; and

WHEREAS, While continuing his duties with the City of
Westminster Police Department, Mitch Waller attended Chapman
University School of Law in 1995. He completed his juris doctor
degree and passed the California Bar in 1999. In 2003, he was
selected to attend the Federal Bureau of Investigation National
Academy in Quantico, Virginia; and

WHEREAS, As a community leader, Mitch Waller rose through
the ranks to become Chief of Police for the Westminster Police
Department. He served the law enforcement and safety
communities for 27 years; and

WHEREAS, Mitch Waller remained committed to the
Westminster community and worked to develop positive staff
relations, communications, and infrastructure. Under his direction,
the new Westminster Police Department building was completed
in 2011, on time and under budget--an accomplishment of which
he was very proud; and

WHEREAS, Mitch Waller accepted an appointment to the office
of the Westminster City Manager in 2011, and he retired in 2012.
Throughout his exceptional career, Mitch had an impact on many
lives; and

WHEREAS, In his neighborhood in the community of Mission
Viejo, Mitch Waller was known for generosity with both his time
and talents. He was very active in his daughter Kiana’s softball
teams, supporting them with everything from coaching assistance
to first aid. For his son, Chase, Mitch assisted with his training for
the high school cross-country and track teams, always there to
offer his encouragement and support; and

WHEREAS, The exemplary life of Mitch Waller ended
tragically in an accident on the morning of Friday, June 28, 2013,
at 53 years of age, while he was cycling with his good friend,
Kevin Beach, in the bike lane on State Highway Route 133,
heading toward Laguna Beach--a favorite destination; and

WHEREAS, The loss to the Waller family, his friends, and his
colleagues is immeasurable. Mitch Waller was an adviser, a
problem solver, and a hero to all; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the
portion of State Highway Route 405 (Interstate 405) between
postmiles 1.525 and 6.459 in the County of Orange as the James
Mitchell “Mitch” Waller Memorial Highway; and be it further

Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested
to determine the costs of erecting the appropriate signs, consistent
with the signing requirements for the state highway system,
showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations
from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs; and
be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the Director of Transportation and to the author
for appropriate distribution.