BILL NUMBER: SCR 23 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
RESOLUTION CHAPTER 141
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE AUGUST 26, 2015
ADOPTED IN SENATE AUGUST 20, 2015
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 13, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 11, 2015
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 6, 2015
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 21, 2015
INTRODUCED BY Senator Gaines
FEBRUARY 27, 2015
Relative to the Senator Paul J. Lunardi Memorial Highway.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 23, Gaines. Senator Paul J. Lunardi Memorial Highway.
This measure would designate a specified portion of State Highway
Route 267 in the County of Placer as the Senator 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.
WHEREAS, Paul J. Lunardi was born 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 Senator 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, Senator 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 Assembly Member John Williamson and is now known as
the Williamson Act; and
WHEREAS, Skiers and mountain residents still benefit from one of
Senator 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. Senator Lunardi's legislation enabled
the road to remain open year-round, worth millions of dollars to the
area's tourism and ski industries, and allowed for the development of
Northstar Ski Resort; and
WHEREAS, Senator Lunardi was honored in 2008 when his hometown of
Roseville dedicated a park in his name, to honor his civic
achievements and his dedication to the community where he lived his
entire life; and
WHEREAS, Senator Lunardi passed away peacefully on January 11,
2013, at 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, as the Senator Paul J.
Lunardi Memorial 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
five-mile portion of State Highway Route 267 from postmile 4.898 to
the end of State Highway Route 267 at postmile 9.898 in the County of
Placer, as the Senator Paul J. Lunardi Memorial 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.