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Home My WebLink About2017-30 - Changing the Name of Ensign View Park to John Wayne Park to Honor the Former ResidentRESOLUTION NO. 2017-30 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA, CHANGING THE NAME OF ENSIGN VIEW PARK TO JOHN WAYNE PARK TO HONOR THE FORMER RESIDENT WHEREAS, John Wayne was the consummate American hero, symbolizing self- reliance, an exemplary work ethic, grace under pressure, resolve, grit, and patriotism; WHEREAS, born Marion Robert Morrison on May 26, 1907, in Winterset, Iowa, he moved with his parents as a young boy to California; in 1916, while the family was living in Glendale, the nickname "Duke" was bestowed upon him and stuck the rest of his life; WHEREAS, in 1925, he began attending the University of Southern California on a football scholarship, playing offensive lineman, and was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity; after sustaining a shoulder injury from a bodysurfing accident near the Balboa Pier just prior to his junior year, he withdrew from the university and began working at Fox Film Corporation as a laborer moving set props and as an occasional extra in movies; WHEREAS, while working at the studio, he met Wyatt Earp, who was a consultant to Western film director John Ford, and he would adopt some of Earp's mannerisms for his roles as a cowboy; WHEREAS, the first film in which he had a leading role, "The Big Trail" (1930), led to his name being changed to "John Wayne," a moniker he would use for the remainder of his acting career; WHEREAS, starring in classic Western films such as "Stagecoach," "Red River," "The Searchers," and "True Grit," Wayne personified the archetypal cowboy who is rough -edged and plainspoken, but also capable of great bravery, warmth, kindness, and generosity; he won an Oscar in 1970 for Best Actor for his role as Rooster Cogburn in "True Grit;" WHEREAS, in "The Alamo," his first film as a director, John Wayne played the role of Davy Crockett; the film won an Oscar nomination in 1961 for Best Picture; Wayne also directed and starred in a Vietnam -based movie, "The Green Berets," which was released in 1968; WHEREAS, Wayne was an avid supporter of the United States military and toured bases and hospitals throughout the South Pacific in 1943 and 1944 with the United Service Organizations (USO) and visited American troops fighting in Vietnam in the 1960's; he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1979, engraved with the words "John Wayne, American" encapsulating his entire life; WHEREAS, John Wayne moved to a bayfront home in Newport Beach in the 1960s and was one of Newport Beach's most famous residents; he loved the area and was known as a regular guy around town, frequently hosting other Hollywood personalities and other important visitors to the area. His beloved yacht, the Wild Goose, a converted Navy minesweeper now owned and operated by Hornblower Yachts, is available for tours and charters to share Newport Beach with its visitors; Resolution No. 2017-30 Page 2 of 3 WHEREAS, in 1968, the University of Southern California established The John Wayne Scholarship Fund in his honor; and, upon his passing, in 1979, the John Wayne airport located in Orange County then named Orange County Airport, was renamed John Wayne Airport in honor of his achievements and influence, and a nine -foot -tall statute of him was raised at John Wayne Airport; WHEREAS, John Wayne was laid to rest in 1979 at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona del Mar with a western -theme plaque depicting a cowboy on horseback; WHEREAS, John Wayne was a founder and supporter of the John Wayne Cancer Institute, which went on to develop many innovations in cancer research and treatment. Such innovations include the sentinel node biopsy technique - an established best practice today; WHEREAS, John Wayne's Foundation continues its legacy of fighting cancer through its continued support to more than 150 John Wayne Alumni surgical oncologists practicing throughout the country, caring for more than 100,000 patients each year; WHEREAS, John Wayne's love for Newport Beach inspired the creation of the foundation's skin cancer prevention program, Block The Blaze, which started with the Junior Lifeguards in Newport Beach, and has now expanded to eight states and has cumulatively educated nearly 200,000 youth in sun safety and melanoma prevention; WHEREAS, every day, John Wayne's name continues to inspire individuals to join him in the fight against cancer and his quest to find a cure; and WHEREAS, John Wayne was inducted into the California Hall of Fame by then Governor Schwarzenegger in 2007. NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Newport Beach resolves as follows: Section 1: The City Council hereby changes the name of "Ensign View Park" to "John Wayne Park" in honor of the former resident and his accomplishments. Section 2: The recitals provided in this resolution are true and correct and are incorporated into the substantive portion of this resolution. Section 3: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this resolution is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this resolution. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this resolution and each section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional. Section 4: The City Council finds the adoption of this resolution is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly. Resolution No. 2017-30 Page 3 of 3 Section 5: This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council, and the City Clerk shall certify the vote adopting this resolution. ADOPTED this 25th day of April, 2017. ATTEST: QymC' Leilani I. Brown City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Attorney's Office Aaron C. Harp City Attorney STATE OF CALIFORNIA } COUNTY OF ORANGE } ss. CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH } I, Leilani I. Brown, City Clerk of the City of Newport Beach, California, do hereby certify that the whole number of members of the City Council is seven; that the foregoing resolution, being Resolution No. 2017-30 was duly introduced before and adopted by the City Council of said City at a regular meeting of said Council held on the 251h day of April, 2017, and that the same was so passed and adopted by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Council Member Jeff Herdman, Council Member Scott Peotter, Council Member Will O'Neill, Mayor Pro Tem Duffy Duffield, Mayor Kevin Muldoon NAYS: Council Member Brad Avery, Council Member Diane Dixon IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the official seal of said City this 261h day of April, 2017. au�4NW�- Leilani I. Brown City Clerk Newport Beach, California (Seal)