HomeMy WebLinkAbout24791RESOLUTION NO. 24791
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA,
HONORING THE LEGACY OF LAWRENCE
CROSSLEY AND HIS POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS AND THE
GREATER COMMUNITY BY APPROVING THE
RENAMING OF CROSSLEY ROAD AND GOLF
CLUB DRIVE TO LAWRENCE CROSSLEY ROAD
BETWEEN EAST RAMON ROAD AND EAST PALM
CANYON DRIVE (CASE 5.1376 SNC).
THE CITY COUNCIL FINDS AND DETERMINES AS FOLLOWS:
A. On April 22, 2015, residents of the Lawrence Crossley Neighborhood
organization and the Palm Springs Black History Committee appeared before
the Planning Commission and submitted a petition requesting that the
Planning Commission consider renaming Crossley Road and Golf Club Drive
to Lawrence Crossley Road.
B. On May 13, 2015, the Planning Commission of the City of Palm Springs
("Planning Commission") received a report from the Department of Planning
Services regarding the number of property owners that would be impacted
and the costs associated with the street name change, and continued the
item to the May 27, 2015 meeting for further investigation.
C. On May 27, 2015, the Planning Commission voted to continue discussion of
the street name change to June 10, 2015, to allow Staff to report back with
the number of residents impacted by the name change along Golf Club Drive.
D. On June 10, 2015, the Planning Commission carefully reviewed and
considered all of the evidence including but not limited to the staff report,
supporting memos, and all written and oral testimony presented, and
approved a Resolution of Intention (Resolution No. 6507) to change the name
of Crossley Road and Golf Club Drive to Lawrence Crossley Road, directed
Director of Planning Services to publish and post Resolution of Intention, and
set a date for public hearing to consider the proposed street name change for
July 22, 2015 pursuant to the requirements of Palm Springs Municipal Code
(PSMC) Chapter 14.08.
E. On July 22, 2015, the Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider
changing the name of Crossley Road and Golf Club Drive to Lawrence
Crossley Road (Case No. 5.1376 SNC). After consider public testimony
provided in writing and verbally, the Planning Commission voted unanimously
to recommend approval of the street name change to the City Council subject
to placement of dual street name signs for a period of five years, and to
consider renaming the proposed Main Street in the downtown (subsequently
named Museum Way).
Resolution No. 24791
Page 2
F. On September 2, 2015, the City Council received a report on the Planning
Commission's recommendation of approval to change the name of Crossley
Road and Golf Club Drive to Lawrence Crossley Road.
G. On February 17, 2016, the City Council considered the Planning
Commission's recommendation of approval to change the name of Crossley
Road and Golf Club Drive to Lawrence Crossley Road and appointed an ad
hoc subcommittee to further consider it as well as other methods of honoring
Lawrence Crossley.
H. On July 23, 2020, the City Council requested Staff to schedule the City
Council's reconsideration of the Planning Commission's recommendation of
approval to change the name of Crossley Road and Golf Club Drive to
Lawrence Crossley Road.
I. On August 6, 2020, the City Council considered the Planning Commission's
recommendation of approval to change the name of Crossley Road and Golf
Club Drive to Lawrence Crossley Road.
J. As reported in Palm Springs Legends, (Greg Niemann, 2008, p. 1840186),
Lawrence Crossley, was a prominent African -American businessman and
developer who first came to Palm Springs in the mid-1920's to work as a
chauffeur for P.T. Stevens, developer of the El Mirador Hotel. Mr. Crossley
was one of Stevens' most trusted employees, and began managing many of
his projects. Mr. Crossley was responsible for the design of the El Mirador
golf course, and later managed the Whitewater Mutual Water Company.
Over time, Mr. Crossley became a successful businessman, and developed a
subdivision off 34th Avenue originally built for African -American families. Mr.
Crossley was a trusted friend of Chief Francisco Patencio of the Agua
Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, and became an advocate for Native
American rights. Mr. Crossley died in 1961 and is much deserved of formal
recognition by the City Council for his contributions to the City of Palm
Springs and the greater community.
K. The City Council retains sole discretion and legal authority to initiate and
consider the renaming of City streets in accordance with California
Government Code Section 34091.1 and may rename City streets to honor
Lawrence Crossley by adopting a Resolution declaring the action.
L. The action to rename a City street is not considered a "project" pursuant to
the terms of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"), and has been
determined to be Exempt pursuant to Section 15378(a) of the State
Guidelines, because the action is considered organizational or administrative
activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical
changes in the environment.
Resolution No. 24791
Page 3
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM
SPRINGS DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The findings and determinations are true and correct, and
are incorporated by this reference herein as the cause and foundation for the
action taken by and through this Resolution.
SECTION 2. The City Council hereby publicly recognizes Lawrence
Crossley and all his achievements for the City of Palm Springs and the greater
community by approving the renaming of Crossley Road and Golf Club Drive to
Lawrence Crossley Road extending from E. Ramon Road to E. Palm Canyon
Drive.
SECTION 3. The City Manager is hereby directed to place dual street
name signs identifying Crossley Road and Golf Club Drive as Lawrence Crossley
Road for a period of five (5) years, after which the original street name signs of
Crossley Road and Golf Club Drive shall be removed.
SECTION 4. This action approving the renaming of Crossley Road and
Golf Club Drive to Lawrence Crossley Road extending from E. Ramon Road to E.
Palm Canyon Drive, is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act
(Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.) pursuant to Section 15378(a) of
the State Guidelines, because the action taken by this Resolution is considered
organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in
direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of
this Resolution, and this Resolution shall take effect on January 1, 2021.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE PALM SPRINGS CITY
COUNCIL THIS 6th DAY OF AUGUST, 2020.
David H. Ready, Cit er
ATTEST:
ony J. ia, C t rk
Resolution No. 24791
Page 4
CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE) ss.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS)
I, ANTHONY J. MEJIA, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby
certify that Resolution No. 24791 is a full, true and correct copy, and was duly
adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs on
August 6, 2020, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Garner, Middleton, Woods, Mayor Pro Tern Holstege,
and Mayor Kors
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal
of the City of Palm Springs, California, this -z_n6 day of,,,1��
ony J. ia, M C
City Clerk