Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
Cultural Street Name Signs at Four Intersections in Little Saigon.
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From: Christine Cordon, City Manager
Requested by: Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen
Prepared by*: Adolfo Ozaeta, Assistant City Manager
*Staff reports prepared by staff on behalf of members of the City Council do not reflect the opinions of staff and are generated in collaboration with the requesting council member(s).
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
Consider the request and provide direction.
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BACKGROUND
At the October 25, 2023 City Council meeting, Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen placed an item on the agenda requesting that street name signs be redesignated on Bishop Place between Magnolia Street and Brookhurst Street, Weststate Street between Bolsa Avenue and Bishop Place, and Moran Street between Bolsa Avenue and Bishop Place in Little Saigon, to highlight significant cultural references in the Vietnamese community. The item was approved on a 4-1 vote.
The redesignation of street name signs did not alter the official street name. However, existing street name signs were replaced with new signs that included an additional line of text with three special name designations in Vietnamese. There is one special name designation for each street, as follows:
• Bishop Place - "Đường Nguyễn Trãi," honoring a Vietnamese scholar.
• Weststate Street - "’Đường Lê Lợi," honoring a Vietnamese king.
• Moran Street - "Đường Tự Do," in honor of freedom and liberty.
The new signs were installed in February 2024. These special designations did not cause any disruption for the businesses or property owners in the area and were funded by a non-profit organization.
Attachment 1 illustrates an area map that identifies the location and quantity of the replaced street name signs by sign type.
Mayor Nguyen has received feedback that, due to the unique characters of the Vietnamese alphabet, the signs are currently hard to read. Therefore, he would like to add additional signage at four key intersections in Little Saigon to further enhance the cultural identity of the area. These signs would be single-sided reflectorized signs mounted on the signal poles as follows:
• “Đường Tự Do” - on Bolsa Avenue at Moran Street.
• “Đường Nguyễn Trãi” - on Magnolia Street, Bushard Street, and Brookhurst Street at Bishop Place.
Attachment 2 illustrates an area map that identifies the location and quantity of the proposed street name signs.
The cost of the new signs will be funded by a non-profit organization without any cost to the City or the residents.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost of the new signs is approximately $3,500. The funding for this project will be raised through a non--profit organization. There will be no fiscal impact to the City.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
The City Council is requested to consider this item and provide direction to staff on next steps.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Previously Approved and Installed Signs
2. Proposed Signs
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
City Attorney’s Office
Christine Cordon, City Manager