REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Oliver Chi, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Chris Slama, Director of Community & Library Services
Subject:
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Approve Memorial Plaque Recognition for Rick “Rockin’ Fig” Fignetti
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Statement of Issue:
At the September 7, 2021 City Council meeting, City Council directed staff to work with the Community & Library Services Commission to make a recommendation for the concept and placement of a public memorial honoring Rick “Rockin’ Fig” Fignetti.
Financial Impact:
Not applicable. Design and purchase of the plaque will be funded by the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Approve recommendation by the Community & Library Services Commission to approve the design concept of a memorial plaque honoring Rick “Rockin’ Fig” Fignetti to be placed at Tower Zero on the Huntington Beach Municipal Pier; and, authorize staff to work with the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council to have the plaque manufactured and installed as proposed.
end
Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve the recommended action, and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
Fignetti was a beloved member of the City and the surfing community. Due to the recent passing of this prominent resident, surfer, business owner, and celebrity, Mayor Kim Carr and Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Delgleize introduced Item 21-664 (Attachment 1) in response to community recommendations to honor Fignetti’s contributions to the City. The request was approved by City Council on September 7, 2021, which directed the Community & Library Services staff and Community & Library Services Commission (Commission) to work with the surfing community, the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council, and to keep the Fignetti family informed regarding the proposed public memorial to honor Fignetti.
The City Council item also asked for the inclusion of the Historic Resources Board (HRB) in the proposal process. Staff reached out to Kathie Schey, Chair of the HRB, who indicated that since this item was not of historical significance, formal review by the HRB was not necessary.
The Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council has also come forward in support of a memorial honoring Fignetti. They have committed funds to purchase a memorial plaque to include information and an image of Rick “Rockin’ Fig” Fignetti.
Fignetti had been referred to as the “Voice of Surfing” for over 25 years. Calling in the day’s surf conditions to local FM radio station, KROQ from 1984-2010, surfers all over Southern California knew his voice.
In addition to his love for surf, Fignetti became a celebrated announcer for local and legendary surf events, including the US Pro Tour (1987-2002), OP Pro, The US Open of Surfing (16 years) and the NSSA Nationals (20 years) to name a few. According to Fignetti’s friend and long-time Huntington Beach resident, Don Ramsey, “Figgy also announced the Jacks Pro, and the Surf City Splash. [He] was also the announcer for the Int’l Surfboard Builders Hall of Fame since it moved to HB, and was the main speaker at all of the Memorial Paddle Outs for the last 10 to 15 years.” Fignetti was a surf journalist as well with over 20 years of writing columns such as Wet n Wild for the HB Independent, and O.C. Live for the Los Angeles Times.
Before announcing, Fignetti’s love for surfing competitively began in 1978, when he entered his first contest, and it continued for 40 years. Fignetti was a ten-time West Coast Surfing Champion, two-time National Surf Champion, and inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame in 2010.
Additionally, Fignetti was a well-known business owner of Rockin’ Fig Surf Shop Headquarters on Main Street for many years. Over the years, Fignetti employed hundreds of youth to work in his shop to learn the art and discipline of shaping boards.
As part of City Council’s action item discussion, Tower Zero was mentioned as a location for the memorial plaque. There are two existing plaques located in the proposed location on Tower Zero. One plaque honors former Marine Safety Chief and Community Services Director, Max Bowman, and in 2018, a second plaque was added to the Tower in honor of Father Mondor and Pastor Sumo.
Resolution 2017-25 states that all recommendations for memorial recognition on public facilities be processed through the Community & Library Services Commission, which shall make recommendation to the City Council for final approval. At their November 10, 2021 meeting, the Commission recommended that the memorial plaque for Rockin’ Fig be placed adjacent to the Max Bowman plaque and above the Mondor/Sumo plaque.
Environmental Status:
Not applicable.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Community Engagement
Attachment(s):
1) Councilmember Item 21-664 from September 7, 2021 City Council Meeting
2) Proposed plaque design
3) Proposed plaque location