TITLE:
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DONATION OF TREE AND PLAQUE AT CANYON PARK
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DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/MAINTENANCE SERVICES DIVISION
PRESENTED BY: ROBERT RYAN, MAINTENANCE SERVICES MANAGER
CONTACT INFORMATION: ROBERT RYAN, MAINTENANCE SERVICES MANAGER, (714) 327-7499
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Staff requests that the Parks and Community Services Commission provide direction regarding the donation of a memorial tree and plaque to be located in the “meadow area” of Canyon Park, in memory of Moses Wilbur Johnson.
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BACKGROUND:
The City is in receipt of a request from Eleanor M. Egan requesting permission from this Commission to donate a tree and a memorial plaque at Canyon Park, in memory of her colleague who passed away June 19, 2024 (Attachment 1). The request includes the following plaque language: “In Memory of Moses Wilbur Johnson”.
Moses Wilbur Johnson was born December 12, 1957, in Downey, California, the youngest child of three children. He attended Western High School, where he ran track and field for the Pioneers and was team captain in his senior year. Moses married his wife Genny in 1980 and have two children, a son, Perry, and daughter, Isabel. Moses attended law school and graduated from the University of San Diego in 1983.
Moses began his law career in Guam where after two years as a law clerk in the Superior Court of Guam, he was admitted to the Guam Bar. Moses and Genny moved back to Southern California, and he was admitted to the California Bar in 1985. In 1994, as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Anaheim, Ms. Egan had a role in hiring Moses as Deputy City Attorney for that city. According to Ms. Egan, it was one of the best decisions she made in her professional life. Moses was an excellent lawyer and an engaging personality whom all his colleagues respected and enjoyed working with. Years after Ms. Egan retired, Moses was promoted to Assistant City Attorney in 2007 and excelled in that position until retiring in 2023, after 29 years of dedicated public service.
Moses died on June 19, 2024, and is survived by his wife, Genny Johnson, and his son, Perry, and daughter, Isabel, and daughters-in-law, Liz Johnson and Elena Jaramillo and grandson, Theo Roth Johnson and numerous other loving family members.
Ms. Egan has lived in Costa Mesa since 1986 and served 8 years as Assistant City Attorney and two (2) terms as a Planning Commissioner. She would like to have a memorial tree near her home where she and others may enjoy it and gather to remember and honor a fine lawyer and a good man.
ANALYSIS:
The submitted request is in accordance with the requirements as set forth by City Council Policy 800-4 (Attachment 2). Staff has reviewed the suggested location in Canyon Park and determined that the location is suitable for the memorial tree and plaque (Attachment 3). There is an existing memorial tree and plaque approximately 170 feet northwest of the proposed location. Staff and the requestor agreed on planting a native Coast Live Oak, which matches the existing memorial tree and fits in with the existing mix of oaks and sycamores. If approved by the Parks and Community Services Commission, staff will work with the donor to schedule the installation.
The Applicant has been notified of the Parks and Community Services Commission meeting and has been sent a copy of this staff report.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Commission may deny the request for the donation of a tree and memorial plaque at Canyon Park or may suggest an alternate location.
FISCAL REVIEW:
Upon approval by this Commission, the installation of the plaque will have minimal fiscal impact on the City. The donor will incur the cost of the tree and memorial plaque
LEGAL REVIEW:
No legal review is required for this item.
CONCLUSION:
Staff requests that the Parks and Community Services Commission provide direction regarding the donation of the tree and plaque for installation at Canyon Park in memory of Mr. Moses Wilbur Johnson.