HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTION 2025-055 N.C.S. 05/05/2025
Resolution No. 2025-055 N.C.S. Page 1
Resolution No. 2025-055 N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
RESOLUTION RENAMING CENTER PARK TO HISTORIC CHINATOWN PARK IN ACCORDING
WITH THE CITY’S FACILITIES NAMING POLICY AND PROCEDURE, AND IN RECOGNITION
OF GEOGRAPHIC SIGNIFICANCE AND HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma, through Council Resolution No. 89-304 N.C.S, adopted formal policies
and criteria to aid the City Council in exercising its final authority in naming all public parks and facilities within
its jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, the City’s adopted park naming policy and procedure provides the Council, community, and
staff with guidelines to evaluate recommendations to name or rename parks and/or facilities; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Public Facilities Naming Policy allows public facilities, when appropriate, to be
named in honor of a person, and further provides for the recognition of individuals, groups, or organizations that
have made significant, direct, and positive contributions to the community; and
WHEREAS, Center Park, located at 7 Petaluma Boulevard North, was originally part of Lower Main Street
Plaza—a central hub of commerce and community gathering prior to Petaluma’s incorporation in 1858—and
served as the heart of Petaluma’s historic Chinatown, where Chinese immigrants operated businesses, built
community institutions, and contributed to the local economy through labor, trade, and entrepreneurship; and
WHEREAS, despite facing forced displacement and systemic exclusion during the late 19th and early 20th
centuries, Petaluma’s Chinese American community made enduring contributions to the city’s agriculture,
brickmaking, river dredging, and railroads, which were critical to the early development of Petaluma; and
WHEREAS, although the physical remnants of Chinatown are no longer visible, its cultural and historical
legacy persists in the stories, experiences, and contributions of early Chinese American residents, whose memory
deserves meaningful recognition within the fabric of Petaluma’s civic identity; and
WHEREAS, in 2025, the Historic Chinatown Ad Hoc Committee - composed of Asian American and Pacific
Islander scholars, genealogists, artists, healers, storytellers, and community members - led a grassroots initiative
in partnership with the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum and with the support of the City of Petaluma to
honor and elevate the stories of Petaluma’s Chinese community through the renaming of Center Park to Historic
Chinatown Park; and
WHEREAS, on March 19, 2025, the Recreation, Music, and Parks Commission voted unanimously (7-0) in
support of staff’s recommendation to rename Center Park to Historic Chinatown Park; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Petaluma as follows:
1. Declares the above recitals to be true and correct and are incorporated herein as findings of this Resolution.
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Resolution No. 2025-055 N.C.S. Page 2
2. Finds that this resolution does not constitute a “project” pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
3. In accordance with the City of Petaluma’s Facilities Naming Policy and Procedure, the City Council
hereby adopts this Resolution to formally rename Center Park, located at 7 Petaluma Boulevard North, to
Historic Chinatown Park.
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
REFERENCE: I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the
Council of the City of Petaluma at a Regular meeting on the 05th day of May
2025, by the following vote:
Approved as to
form:
__________________________
City Attorney
AYES: McDonnell, Barnacle, Cader Thompson, DeCarli, Nau, Quint, Shribbs
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST: ______________________________________________
City Clerk ____________________________________________
Mayor
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