HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff ReportRequest by the Boys & Girls Club of Greater San Diego to Re -Name the
National City Branch in Recognition of a Prospective Donor Willing to
Contribute $1 Million to the National City Branch
The Boys & Girls Club of Greater San Diego has identified a prospective donor willing to
contribute $1,000,000 to the National City Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs. In
recognition of this contribution, on behalf of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San
Diego, Mr. Danny Sherlock, President & CEO is requesting the National City Branch be
re -named in honor of this donor.
Background
Over the years, the City Council has initiated and received requests to name new and
existing City facilities in honor of individuals who have made significant contributions to
the community. Although National City has no formal policy for naming public facilities
and sites in honor of persons, there are precedents.
• Kimball Park is named for a City founder;
• Morgan Towers, the George H. Waters Nutrition Center and the Camacho
Gymnasium were all named for former Mayors and/or Councilmembers;
• The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center was named for a national civil
rights leader;
• Robles Field was dedicated in memory of Junior Robles who died tragically in a
plane crash;
• The Kimball Park score shack on the major's field was dedicated in 1975 in
memory of Ray Hernandez, the father of Benito Hernandez;
• More recently, the Portillo Recreation Center was named in honor of Manuel
Portillo who dedicated many years of service to the recreation center.
The request by the Boys and Girls Club currently before the City Council differs from the
examples cited above for the following reasons:
• Although the land and building is owned by the City of National City, the Boys &
Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego maintains a 20-year lease through August 16,
2031.
• The National City Boys & Girls Club originally constructed and maintained the
building and improvements on the City parkland for many years with private
funds raised from the community by the Boys' and Girls' Clubs.
• The Boys & Girls Clubs of San Diego is a California non-profit corporation.
The current lease with the Boys & Girls Club is silent on naming rights associated with
the National City Branch. The City Attorney has reviewed the current lease and has
opined that any change in name to the local branch would require either an amendment
to the current lease or a separate naming rights agreement, and that any name
attached to the facility be limited to the life of the lease. In addition, to the extent
signage is sought to be attached to the exterior of the building, Section 18 of the lease
addresses signage and states as follows:
"Lessee agrees that no sign, advertisement, or notices shall be inscribed, painted or
affixed on or to any part or portion of the outside of the Leased Premises except to be
of such type and color, size and style, and in such place as may be approved by Lessor.
Any additional signage or changes to existing signage after the Commencement Date
will require Lessee to pay for and obtain all regulatory approvals (permits) for the
Leased Premises "
Accordingly, any change in the signage to the City -owned building requires City Council
approval.
The selling of naming rights to public facilities is a more recent mechanism developed
as a way to raise municipal revenue. It can be seen locally in public facilities, such as
sporting events or concerts that are operated for profit. For example, the City of San
Diego's sports arena has been recently renamed the Valley View Casino Center. Other
cities name their sports facilities after those who have paid for such naming rights.
While such facilities may be operated by a third party, the public entity retains the
naming rights to the facility.
In this instance, as stated earlier, the City does not have an adopted Council Policy, but
does have the historical practice of having named public facilities after individuals of
historical significance, locally or nationally.
Discussion:
This matter is before the City Council to seek their direction on whether to allow a name
change to the building, and if so, whether such name change can be reflected on the
signage of the building. Any such change will require appropriate legal documents to be
prepared and returned for approval by the Council.