BILL NUMBER: SCR 23 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 21, 2015
INTRODUCED BY Senator Gaines
FEBRUARY 27, 2015
Relative to the Paul J. Lunardi Memorial Highway.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 23, as amended, Gaines. Paul J. Lunardi Memorial Highway.
This measure would designate a specified portion of
State Highway Route 267 in the Counties of Nevada and
County of Placer as the Paul J. Lunardi Memorial
Highway. The measure would also request the Department of
Transportation to determine the cost of appropriate signs showing
this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate
sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.
Fiscal committee: yes.
WHEREAS, Paul J. Lunardi was born Sept. on
September 30, 1921, in Roseville, California, and lived his
entire life at the family home on Earl Avenue; and
WHEREAS, Upon his graduation from Roseville High School, Lunardi
enlisted in the United States Coast Guard during World War II. After
the war, he was elected to the Roseville City Council in 1950 and
1954, winning the mayoral seat in the latter year; and
WHEREAS, During his tenure on the city council, Lunardi was
instrumental in the adoption of a city charter for the
council-manager form of government and successfully established a
community hospital, developed a municipal fire department,
established an updated street lighting system, obtained central
valley federal power for the city, and expanded sewage, water, and
electric distribution systems. His outstanding record of achievement
earned Lunardi a highly coveted "Outstanding Young Men of California"
award presented by the State Junior Chamber of Commerce on January
8, 1955; and
WHEREAS, Lunardi's entry into politics "was just sort of
accidental," and as he used to say, "I just kind of expressed myself
about what was happening in Roseville"; and
WHEREAS, Lunardi was elected to the State Assembly in 1958,
representing the 6th Assembly District, which spanned 11 mountain
counties. He served in the Assembly until 1963 when he was elected to
the State Senate to represent the 7th Senate District, which
included the Counties of Sierra, Nevada, and Placer. He retired in
1966 due to redistricting; and
WHEREAS, One of Lunardi's proudest accomplishments was his
legislation designating the ghost town of Bodie as a State Historic
Park. Bodie is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places
and is one of the best preserved and most visited (200,000 people a
year) ghost towns in the nation; and
WHEREAS, Lunardi introduced the first bill in the state's history
to assess farmland at a lower tax rate. The bill later passed with
the help of Assemblyman Assembly Member
John Williamson and is now known as the Williamson Act; and
WHEREAS, Skiers and mountain residents still benefit from one of
Lunardi's major legislative accomplishments that designated the
"Truckee shortcut" as State Highway Route 267, that links the City of
Truckee to Kings Beach. Prior to 1965, the road was regularly closed
by snow in the winter. Lunardi's legislation enabled the road to
remain open year-round, worth millions of dollars to the area's
tourism and ski industries, and allowing
allowed for the development of Northstar Ski Resort; and
WHEREAS, Lunardi was honored in 2008 when his hometown of
Roseville dedicated a park in his name, to honor his civic
achievements, achievements and his dedication to
the community where he lived his entire life; and
WHEREAS, Lunardi passed away peacefully on January 11, 2013, at
the age of 91, 91 years of age and was
laid to rest in his beloved Roseville, California; and
WHEREAS, Designating a portion of State Highway Route
267, that links the City of Truckee to Kings Beach
Beach, as the "Paul Paul J.
Lunardi Memorial Highway" Highway
would be an appropriate honor for this visionary leader who fought to
develop this highway; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the
approximately 4.2 mile portion of State Highway Route
267, 267 that links the City of Truckee
to ends at Kings Beach, in the
Counties of Nevada and County of Placer, as the
"Paul Paul J. Lunardi Memorial
Highway"; Highway; and be it further
Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to
determine the cost of erecting appropriate signs, consistent with the
signing requirements of 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 Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the Director of Transportation and to the author for
appropriate distribution.