This measure would designate specified exits on State Route 15 in the County of San Diego for reaching the cultural landmark, the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District. The measure would request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost for appropriate cultural landmark signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.

This measure would designate specified exits on State Route 15 in the County of San Diego for reaching the cultural landmark, the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District. The measure would request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost for appropriate cultural landmark signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.

This measure would designate specified exits on State Route 15 and Interstate 8 in the County of San Diego for reaching the cultural landmark, the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District. The measure would request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost for appropriate cultural landmark signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.

This measure would designate specified exits on State Route 15 and Interstate 8 in the County of San Diego for reaching the cultural landmark, the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District. The measure would request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost for appropriate cultural landmark signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.

WHEREAS, The fall of Saigon in 1975 led to the eventual relocation of hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese to the United States, many of whom immigrated to San Diego and the City Heights Community, and today over 55,000 Vietnamese Americans reside throughout the San Diego region; and

WHEREAS, City Heights continues to be a hub of substantial Vietnamese American cultural and commercial activity with a recognized concentration along the six-block commercial corridor of El Cajon Boulevard between Euclid and Highland Avenues, where over 70 percent of the businesses are owned by Vietnamese Americans; and

WHEREAS, In November 2008, the local business community and other community leaders established the Little Saigon Foundation of San Diego, a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing the economy of City Heights through branding a Little Saigon cultural and commercial district along El Cajon Boulevard; and

WHEREAS, In June, 2013, the San Diego City Council approved a resolution designating the six blocks of the El Cajon Boulevard Corridor from Euclid Avenue to Highland Avenue as the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District promotes community revitalization, which is intrinsically tied with economic improvement, especially for the existing small businesses in the district; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District serves as a center of Vietnamese art, music, food, and culture in San Diego, and by becoming a tourist destination, brings money into the community to spur commercial reinvestment; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District highlights the unique cultural character of the district and attracts investment, thereby improving standards of living while decreasing violence, theft, and crime, and creates a safe space for local students to go to and from school, to eat, and to play; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District follows in the footsteps of other designated cultural and business districts to create a sense of space for San Diegos Vietnamese community; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District is guided by representatives of the San Diego community of business owners, residents, local nonprofits, and government entities; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District is participating in the transformation of El Cajon Boulevard into an attractive center for culture, commerce, and tourism while honoring the hard work and contributions of the members of the Vietnamese community in San Diego who have lived in the area for over four decades; and

WHEREAS, The recognition of the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District as a cultural destination through the placement of freeway signs will encourage the continued growth and redevelopment of this important component of the cultural diversity of the City of San Diego; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the El Cajon Boulevard north and south exits on State Route 15, as the defined routes for reaching the cultural landmark, the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District; and be it further

Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to determine the cost of the appropriate cultural landmark signs, consistent with the signing requirements of the state highway system, showing this designation, and upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect the cultural landmark signs; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Director of Transportation and to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, The fall of Saigon in 1975 led to the eventual relocation of hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese to the United States, many of whom immigrated to San Diego and the City Heights Community, and today over 55,000 Vietnamese Americans reside throughout the San Diego region; and

WHEREAS, City Heights continues to be a hub of substantial Vietnamese American cultural and commercial activity with a recognized concentration along the six-block commercial corridor of El Cajon Boulevard between Euclid and Highland Avenues, where over 70 percent of the businesses are owned by Vietnamese Americans; and

WHEREAS, In November 2008, the local business community and other community leaders established the Little Saigon Foundation of San Diego, a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing the economy of City Heights through branding a Little Saigon cultural and commercial district along El Cajon Boulevard; and

WHEREAS, In June, 2013, the San Diego City Council approved a resolution designating the six blocks of the El Cajon Boulevard Corridor from Euclid Avenue to Highland Avenue as the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District promotes community revitalization, which is intrinsically tied with economic improvement, especially for the existing small businesses in the district; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District serves as a center of Vietnamese art, music, food, and culture in San Diego, and by becoming a tourist destination, brings money into the community to spur commercial reinvestment; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District highlights the unique cultural character of the district and attracts investment, thereby improving standards of living while decreasing violence, theft, and crime, and creates a safe space for local students to go to and from school, to eat, and to play; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District follows in the footsteps of other designated cultural and business districts to create a sense of space for San Diegos Vietnamese community; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District is guided by representatives of the San Diego community of business owners, residents, local nonprofits, and government entities; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District is participating in the transformation of El Cajon Boulevard into an attractive center for culture, commerce, and tourism while honoring the hard work and contributions of the members of the Vietnamese community in San Diego who have lived in the area for over four decades; and

WHEREAS, The recognition of the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District as a cultural destination through the placement of freeway signs will encourage the continued growth and redevelopment of this important component of the cultural diversity of the City of San Diego; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the El Cajon Boulevard north and south exits on State Route 15, as the defined routes for reaching the cultural landmark, the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District; and be it further

Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to determine the cost of the appropriate cultural landmark signs, consistent with the signing requirements of the state highway system, showing this designation, and upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect the cultural landmark signs; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Director of Transportation and to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, The fall of Saigon in 1975 led to the eventual relocation of hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese to the United States, many of whom immigrated to San Diego and the City Heights Community, and today over 55,000 Vietnamese Americans reside throughout the San Diego region; and

WHEREAS, City Heights continues to be a hub of substantial Vietnamese American cultural and commercial activity with a recognized concentration along the six-block commercial corridor of El Cajon Boulevard between Euclid and Highland Avenues, where over 70 percent of the businesses are owned by Vietnamese Americans; and

WHEREAS, In November 2008, the local business community and other community leaders established the Little Saigon Foundation of San Diego, a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing the economy of City Heights through branding a Little Saigon cultural and commercial district along El Cajon Boulevard; and

WHEREAS, In June, 2013, the San Diego City Council approved a resolution designating the six blocks of the El Cajon Boulevard Corridor from Euclid Avenue to Highland Avenue as the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District promotes community revitalization, which is intrinsically tied with economic improvement, especially for the existing small businesses in the district; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District serves as a center of Vietnamese art, music, food, and culture in San Diego, and by becoming a tourist destination, brings money into the community to spur commercial reinvestment; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District highlights the unique cultural character of the district and attracts investment, thereby improving standards of living while decreasing violence, theft, and crime, and creates a safe space for local students to go to and from school, to eat, and to play; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District follows in the footsteps of other designated cultural and business districts to create a sense of space for San Diegos Vietnamese community; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District is guided by representatives of the San Diego community of business owners, residents, local nonprofits, and government entities; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District is participating in the transformation of El Cajon Boulevard into an attractive center for culture, commerce, and tourism while honoring the hard work and contributions of the members of the Vietnamese community in San Diego who have lived in the area for over four decades; and

WHEREAS, The recognition of the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District as a cultural destination through the placement of freeway signs will encourage the continued growth and redevelopment of this important component of the cultural diversity of the City of San Diego; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the El Cajon Boulevard north and south exits on State Route 15, as well as the Mission Gorge Road exits on Interstate 8, 15, as the defined routes for reaching the cultural landmark, the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District; and be it further

Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to determine the cost of the appropriate cultural landmark signs, consistent with the signing requirements of the state highway system, showing this designation, and upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect the cultural landmark signs; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Director of Transportation and to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, The fall of Saigon in 1975 led to the eventual relocation of hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese to the United States, many of whom immigrated to San Diego and the City Heights Community, and today over 55,000 Vietnamese Americans reside throughout the San Diego region; and

WHEREAS, City Heights continues to be a hub of substantial Vietnamese American cultural and commercial activity with a recognized concentration along the six-block commercial corridor of El Cajon Boulevard between Euclid and Highland Avenues, where over 70 percent of the businesses are owned by Vietnamese Americans; and

WHEREAS, In November 2008, the local business community and other community leaders established the Little Saigon Foundation of San Diego, a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing the economy of City Heights through branding a Little Saigon cultural and commercial district along El Cajon Boulevard; and

WHEREAS, In June, 2013, the San Diego City Council approved a resolution designating the six blocks of the El Cajon Boulevard Corridor from Euclid Avenue to Highland Avenue as the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District promotes community revitalization, which is intrinsically tied with economic improvement, especially for the existing small businesses in the district; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District serves as a center of Vietnamese art, music, food, and culture in San Diego, and by becoming a tourist destination, brings money into the community to spur commercial reinvestment; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District highlights the unique cultural character of the district and attracts investment, thereby improving standards of living while decreasing violence, theft, and crime, and creates a safe space for local students to go to and from school, to eat, and to play; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District follows in the footsteps of other designated cultural and business districts to create a sense of space for San Diegos Vietnamese community; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District is guided by representatives of the San Diego community of business owners, residents, local nonprofits, and government entities; and

WHEREAS, The Little Saigon District is participating in the transformation of El Cajon Boulevard into an attractive center for culture, commerce, and tourism while honoring the hard work and contributions of the members of the Vietnamese community in San Diego who have lived in the area for over four decades; and

WHEREAS, The recognition of the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District as a cultural destination through the placement of freeway signs will encourage the continued growth and redevelopment of this important component of the cultural diversity of the City of San Diego; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the El Cajon Boulevard exits on State Route 15, as well as the Mission Gorge Road exits on Interstate 8, as the defined routes for reaching the cultural landmark, the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District; and be it further

Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to determine the cost of the appropriate cultural landmark signs, consistent with the signing requirements of the state highway system, showing this designation, and upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect the cultural landmark signs; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Director of Transportation and to the author for appropriate distribution.

CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS

CSA1 Bill Id:ACR 173

Author:(Gloria)

As Amended Ver:August 20, 2018

Majority vote

Original Committee Reference: TRANS.

SUMMARY: Designates specific exits on State Route 15 (SR 15) in San Diego County for reaching the cultural landmark, the "Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District."

The Senate amendments delete the Mission Gorge exits on Interstate 8 from the resolution and clarify the north and south exits on SR 15 as those to be designated for reaching the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District.

EXISTING LAW: Assigns Caltrans the responsibility of operating and maintaining state highways. This includes the installation and maintenance of highway signs.

AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY, this resolution:

1. Recounted the virtuous nature and substantial Vietnamese American cultural and commercial activity along the six-block commercial corridor of El Cajon Boulevard between Euclid and Highland Avenues in San Diego.
2. Designated the El Cajon Boulevard exits on SR 15, as well as the Mission Gorge Road exits on I-8, as the defined routes for reaching the cultural landmark, the "Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District".
3. Requested that the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) determine the cost of appropriate cultural landmark signs, consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing this designation and, upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering that cost, to erect the cultural landmark signs.

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown, but this resolution requests that Caltrans only erect the appropriate signage upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering the cost.

COMMENTS: Existing law assigns Caltrans the responsibility of operating and maintaining the state highway system, including the installation and maintenance of highway signs. In administering its duties, Caltrans developed guidelines to use when considering whether to erect non-required signage along the state's highways, in this case for "culturally unique and historically significant communities." In 2004, the Legislature codified these guidelines in order to ensure consensus and that state, local, and community interests all are represented and respected.

Under existing law, Caltrans erects signs directing motorists to these communities if all the following conditions are satisfied:

1. The name of the community has resulted from the influence of a culture over a significant period of time;
2. The general public and media commonly recognize the name of the community;
3. Signs are consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system;
4. The geographical boundary of the community is within three miles of the state highway exit;
5. Directional signs are installed on the local streets or roads prior to installation of signs on the state highway;
6. The local jurisdiction provides funds from non-state sources that cover all costs; and,
7. The local jurisdiction's governing body adopts a resolution designating the name and geographical boundaries of the community and requesting Caltrans to post the signs.

On June 18, 2013, the City of San Diego passed an ordinance designating the name and geographical boundaries of the community. With that ordinance, it appears all of the conditions in existing law for Caltrans' erection of signs directing motorists to the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District have been met. Given this, it is unclear why Caltrans has not fulfilled its responsibility or why this resolution is necessary.

Analysis Prepared by: Eric Thronson / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093 FN: 0004565

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: ACR 173

Author:

:

Vote: 21

SENATE TRANS. & HOUSING COMMITTEE: 12-0, 7/3/18

AYES: Beall, Cannella, Allen, Dodd, Gaines, Galgiani, McGuire, Morrell, Roth, Vidak, Wieckowski, Wiener

NO VOTE RECORDED: Skinner

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 74-0, 4/26/18 (Consent) - See last page for vote

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This resolution designates specified exits on State Route (SR) 15 and Interstate 8 (I-8) in San Diego County for reaching the cultural landmark known as the "Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District".

Senate Floor Amendments of 8/20/18 clarify this naming resolution to more specifically identify the freeway exits to which it applies.

ANALYSIS:

This resolution:

1. Recounts the virtuous nature and substantial Vietnamese American cultural and commercial activity along the six-block commercial corridor of El Cajon Boulevard between Euclid and Highland Avenues in San Diego.
2. Designates the El Cajon Boulevard exits on SR 15, as well as the Mission Gorge Road exits on I-8, as the defined routes for reaching the cultural landmark known as the "Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District".
3. Requests the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to determine the cost of appropriate cultural landmark signs, consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing this designation and, upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering that cost, to erect the cultural landmark signs.

Comments

1. Purpose. On June 18, 2013, the City of San Diego passed an ordinance designating the name and geographical boundaries of the community. With that ordinance, it appears all of the conditions in existing law for Caltrans’ erection of signs directing motorists to the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District have been met. The author has received mixed messages from Caltrans over how to ensure the signs are erected. This resolution is the surest way.
2. Background. Similar signs adorn other state and local roads throughout the state, including on SR 101 in San Jose and in Orange County.
3. Senate Amendments of 8/20/18. These amendments clarify this naming resolution to more specifically identify the freeway exits to which it applies.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 8/21/18)

California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce

Cong Dong Viet-Nam San Diego

Little Saigon San Diego Foundation

Local Initiatives Support Corporation San Diego

OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/21/18)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 74-0, 4/26/18

AYES: Acosta, Aguiar-Curry, Arambula, Baker, Berman, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonta, Brough, Burke, Caballero, Calderon, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chávez, Chen, Chiu, Choi, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Cunningham, Dahle, Daly, Eggman, Flora, Frazier, Friedman, Gallagher, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez Fletcher, Gray, Grayson, Harper, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Kamlager-Dove, Kiley, Lackey, Levine, Limón, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Patterson, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Rubio, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Voepel, Waldron, Weber, Wood, Rendon

NO VOTE RECORDED: Travis Allen, Fong, Cristina Garcia, Rodriguez

Prepared by:

8/21/18 20:02:40

**** END ****

 THIRD READING 

Bill No: ACR 173

Author:

:

Vote: 21

SENATE TRANS. & HOUSING COMMITTEE: 12-0, 7/3/18

AYES: Beall, Cannella, Allen, Dodd, Gaines, Galgiani, McGuire, Morrell, Roth, Vidak, Wieckowski, Wiener

NO VOTE RECORDED: Skinner

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 74-0, 4/26/18 (Consent) - See last page for vote

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This resolution designates specified exits on State Route (SR) 15 and Interstate 8 (I-8) in San Diego County for reaching the cultural landmark known as the "Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District".

ANALYSIS:

This resolution:

1. Recounts the virtuous nature and substantial Vietnamese American cultural and commercial activity along the six-block commercial corridor of El Cajon Boulevard between Euclid and Highland Avenues in San Diego.
2. Designates the El Cajon Boulevard exits on SR 15, as well as the Mission Gorge Road exits on I-8, as the defined routes for reaching the cultural landmark known as the "Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District".
3. Requests the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to determine the cost of appropriate cultural landmark signs consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system showing this designation and, upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering that cost, to erect the cultural landmark signs.

Comments

1. Purpose. On June 18, 2013, the City of San Diego passed an ordinance designating the name and geographical boundaries of the community. With that ordinance, it appears all of the conditions in existing law for Caltrans’ erection of signs directing motorists to the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District have been met. The author has received mixed messages from Caltrans over how to ensure the signs are erected. This resolution is the surest way.
2. Similar signs adorn other state and local roads throughout the state, including on SR 101 in San Jose and in Orange County.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 8/6/18)

California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce

Cong Dong Viet-Nam San Diego

Little Saigon San Diego Foundation

Local Initiatives Support Corporation San Diego

OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/6/18)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 74-0, 4/26/18

AYES: Acosta, Aguiar-Curry, Arambula, Baker, Berman, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonta, Brough, Burke, Caballero, Calderon, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chávez, Chen, Chiu, Choi, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Cunningham, Dahle, Daly, Eggman, Flora, Frazier, Friedman, Gallagher, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez Fletcher, Gray, Grayson, Harper, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Kamlager-Dove, Kiley, Lackey, Levine, Limón, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Patterson, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Rubio, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Voepel, Waldron, Weber, Wood, Rendon

NO VOTE RECORDED: Travis Allen, Fong, Cristina Garcia, Rodriguez

Prepared by:

8/10/18 10:43:47

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING

Senator Jim Beall, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular

Bill No: ACR 173 Hearing Date: 7/3/2018

SUBJECT: Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District

DIGEST: This resolution designates specified exits on State Route (SR) 15 and Interstate 8 (I-8) in San Diego County for reaching the cultural landmark known as the "Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District".

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:

1. 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 or structure is located.
2. The person being honored must be deceased.
3. The naming must be done without cost to the state. Costs for signs and plaques must be paid by local or private sources.
4. 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.
5. The segment of highway being named must not exceed five miles in length.
6. The proposed designation must reflect a community consensus and be without local opposition.
7. 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 designation.

This resolution:

1. Recounts the virtuous nature and substantial Vietnamese American cultural and commercial activity along the six-block commercial corridor of El Cajon Boulevard between Euclid and Highland Avenues in San Diego.
2. Designates the El Cajon Boulevard exits on SR 15, as well as the Mission Gorge Road exits on I-8, as the defined routes for reaching the cultural landmark known as the "Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District".
3. Requests the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to determine the cost of appropriate cultural landmark signs, consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing this designation and, upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering that cost, to erect the cultural landmark signs.

COMMENTS

1. Purpose. On June 18, 2013, the City of San Diego passed an ordinance designating the name and geographical boundaries of the community. With that ordinance, it appears all of the conditions in existing law for Caltrans’ erection of signs directing motorists to the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District have been met. The author has received mixed messages from Caltrans over how to ensure the signs are erected. This resolution is the surest way.
2. Background. Similar signs adorn other state and local roads throughout the state, including on SR 101 in San Jose and in Orange County.
3. Consistent with committee policy. This resolution is consistent with the provisions of the committee’s policy on highway designation.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Local: No

POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on Wednesday,

June 27, 2018.)

SUPPORT:

California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce

Cong Dong Viet-Nam San Diego

Little Saigon San Diego Foundation

Local Initiatives Support Corporation San Diego

OPPOSITION:

None received.

-- END --

Date of Hearing: April 23, 2018

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Jim Frazier, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:ACR 173 (

Author:Gloria) – As Introduced Ver:February 12, 2018

SUBJECT: Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District

SUMMARY: Designates specified exits on State Route (SR) 15 and Interstate 8 (I-8) in San Diego County for reaching the cultural landmark, the "Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District". Specifically, this resolution:

1. Recounts the virtuous nature and substantial Vietnamese American cultural and commercial activity along the six-block commercial corridor of El Cajon Boulevard between Euclid and Highland Avenues in San Diego.
2. Designates the El Cajon Boulevard exits on SR 15, as well as the Mission Gorge Road exits on I-8, as the defined routes for reaching the cultural landmark, the "Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District".
3. Requests that the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) determine the cost of appropriate cultural landmark signs, consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing this designation and, upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering that cost, to erect the cultural landmark signs.

EXISTING LAW: Assigns Caltrans the responsibility of operating and maintaining state highways. This includes the installation and maintenance of highway signs.

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown, but the resolution requests that Caltrans only erect the appropriate signage upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering the cost.

COMMENTS: Existing law assigns Caltrans the responsibility of operating and maintaining the state highway system, including the installation and maintenance of highway signs. In administering its duties, Caltrans developed guidelines to use when considering whether to erect non-required signage along the state’s highways, in this case for “culturally unique and historically significant communities.” In 2004, the Legislature codified these guidelines in order to ensure consensus and that state, local, and community interests all are represented and respected.

Under existing law, Caltrans erects signs directing motorists to these communities if all the following conditions are satisfied:

1. The name of the community has resulted from the influence of a culture over a significant period of time;
   
2. The general public and media commonly recognize the name of the community;
   
3. Signs are consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system;
   
4. The geographical boundary of the community is within three miles of the state highway exit;
5. Directional signs are installed on the local streets or roads prior to installation of signs on the state highway;
   
6. The local jurisdiction provides funds from non-state sources that cover all costs; and,
   
7. The local jurisdiction’s governing body adopts a resolution designating the name and geographical boundaries of the community and requesting Caltrans to post the signs.

On June 18, 2013, the City of San Diego passed an ordinance designating the name and geographical boundaries of the community. With that ordinance, it appears all of the conditions in existing law for Caltrans’ erection of signs directing motorists to the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District have been met. Given this, it is unclear why Caltrans has not fulfilled its responsibility or why this resolution is necessary.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce

Little Saigon San Diego Foundation

LISC San Diego

Vietnamese Community of San Diego

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Eric Thronson / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093