HomeMy WebLinkAbout26 - Declaring July 6 as Benjamin M. Carlson DayTO:
FROM:
CITY OF
NEWPORT BEACH
City Council Staff Report
June 25, 2019
Agenda Item No. 26
HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Grace K. Leung, City Manager - 949-644-3001,
gleung@newportbeachca.gov
PREPARED BY: Carol Jacobs, Assistant City Manager,
cjacobs@newportbeachca.gov
PHONE: 949-644-3313
TITLE: Resolution No. 2019-65: Declaring July 6 as Benjamin M. Carlson
Day
ABSTRACT:
The City Council is requested to declare July 6 as Benjamin M. Carlson Day in the City
of Newport Beach in honor of his ultimate service to the City.
RECOMMENDATION:
a) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because
this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly;
and
b) Adopt Resolution No. 2019-65, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Newport
Beach, California, Recognizing July 6 as Benjamin M. Carlson Day.
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
There is no fiscal impact related to this item.
DISCUSSION:
Ben Carlson was hired as a Newport Beach Lifeguard on March 26, 1999. During
his tenure as a lifeguard he served the community with pride and professionalism.
On July 6, 2014, at 5:15 pm Ben Carlson responded from the Lifeguard Rescue
boat in large surf to rescue a swimmer in distress and jumped from the boat and
rescued the swimmer. A large set of waves crashed over the men, causing Ben
to go missing as the distressed swimmer surfaced. Following a heartbreaking
three-hour search, Ben was located by his fellow lifeguards.
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Resolution No. 2019-65: Declaring July 6 as Benjamin M. Carlson Day
June 25, 2019
Page 2
Ben Carlson was the first and only Newport Beach Lifeguard to die in the line of
duty since the service was formed in 1923.
2019 would have been Ben's 20th anniversary with the City and marks five years
since his last rescue. Ben's impact on the community continues with the Ben
Carlson Memorial & Scholarship Foundation and the Benjamin M. Carlson
Lifeguard Headquarters and statue, symbolic of his bravery and commitment to
the community. The Newport Beach Fire Department has also established the
annual Pier -Wedge -Pier workout on July 6th to remember and recognize Ben's
heroism which inspires future generations for a life of service.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action 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.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENT:
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ATTACHMENT A
RESOLUTION NO. 2019-65
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA, RECOGNIZING
JULY 6 AS BENJAMIN M. CARLSON DAY
WHEREAS, at 5:15 pm on July 6, 2014, Newport Beach Lifeguard Benjamin M.
Carlson ("Ben") responded from the Lifeguard Rescue boat in large surf to rescue a
swimmer in distress;
WHEREAS, Ben jumped from the boat and rescued the distressed swimmer and
began towing the man back to the rescue boat. A large set of waves crashed over both
men, causing Ben to go missing as the distressed swimmer surfaced. Following a
heartbreaking three-hour search, Ben was located by his fellow lifeguards;
WHEREAS, Ben was the first and only Newport Beach Lifeguard to die in the line
of duty since the service was formed in 1923;
WHEREAS, five years have passed since his last rescue, and Ben continues to
serve the community, visitors and the lifeguards of Newport Beach with his example of
sacrifice and service of his fellow man;
WHEREAS, Ben's family, friends, coworkers and the community have rallied to
remember Ben by creating the Ben Carlson Memorial & Scholarship Foundation,
building a statue symbolic of his bravery, and naming the Benjamin M. Carlson
Lifeguard Headquarters in his honor;
WHEREAS, the Newport Beach Fire Department has established July 6th as a
day for remembering and recognizing Ben's ultimate sacrifice, including an event that
was Ben's favorite workout - the "Pier -Wedge -Pier" - so that Ben's heroism inspires
future generations of lifesavers and others to a life of service; and
WHEREAS, Ben Did Go.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Newport Beach resolves as
follows:
Section 1: The City Council hereby recognizes July 6 as Benjamin M. Carlson
Day in the City of Newport Beach.
Section 2: The recitals provided in this resolution are true and correct and are
incorporated into the substantive portion of this resolution.
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Resolution No. 2019-65
Page 2 of 2
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, Division 6,
Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the
environment, directly or indirectly.
Section 5: This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the
City Council, and the City Clerk shall certify the vote adopting the resolution_
ADOPTED this 25th day of June, 2019,
ATTEST:
Leilani I. Brown
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
A7&
aron C. Harp
City Attorney
Diane B. Dixon,
Mayor
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