BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: ACR 36
SENATOR ALAN LOWENTHAL, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: conway
VERSION: 2/25/09
Analysis by: Carrie Cornwell FISCAL: yes
Hearing date: June 9, 2009
SUBJECT:
Greatest Generation Memorial Highway
DESCRIPTION:
This resolution designates a segment of State Highway Route (SR)
63 in the City of Visalia as the "Greatest Generation Memorial
Highway."
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 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 proposed designation must reflect a community consensus
and be without local opposition.
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
ACR 36 (CONWAY) Page 2
designation.
This resolution designates the 1.6 mile portion of SR 63 between
West Visalia Parkway and Avenue 264 in the City of Visalia as
the Greatest Generation 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 . According to the author, "The 'Greatest Generation
Memorial Highway' is meant to commemorate and honor Visalia's
World War II Veterans while recognizing the common values,
duty, honor, and courage that united this generation of
Visalians during World War II. The City of Visalia itself
played an important role, with the Visalia Municipal Airport
being leased by the Army as the 'Visalia Army Air Field'
during this time where important activities such as air
submarine patrols were active."
In honor of those efforts, a 1368 square-foot "Greatest
Generation World War II" mural, depicting and symbolizing
events and people throughout the war, is located on Visalia's
South Mooney Boulevard, which is the local designation for SR
63.
2.Consistent with committee's policy . This resolution is
consistent with all the provisions of the committee's policy
on highway designations.
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 79 - 0
Appr: 16 - 0
Trans: 10 - 0
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the Committee before noon on
Wednesday,
June 3, 2009)
SUPPORT: American Legion
OPPOSED: None received.