SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING
Senator Jim Beall, Chair
2017 - 2018 Regular
Bill No:
Author:
Version:
Urgency:
Consultant:

ACR 173
Gloria
4/24/2018
No
Howard Posner

Hearing Date: 7/3/2018

Fiscal:

Yes

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.

 ACR 173 (Gloria)

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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.: Yes

Local: No

POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on Wednesday,
June 27, 2018.)

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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.

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