REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Eric G. Parra, Interim City Manager
VIA: Ashley Wysocki, Director of Community & Library Services
PREPARED BY: Ashley Wysocki, Director of Community & Library Services
Subject:
title
Approve the naming of the Shipley Nature Center Interpretive Center located at 17851 Goldenwest Street as the "Shirley Dettloff Interpretive Center," as recommended by the Community & Library Services Commission
body
Statement of Issue:
There is a need to formally name the Shipley Nature Center Interpretive Center located at 17851 Goldenwest Street.
Financial Impact:
Not applicable.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Approve the naming of the Shipley Nature Center Interpretive Center located at 17851 Goldenwest Street, "Shirley Dettloff Interpretive Center," in honor of Shirley Dettloff, as recommended by the Community & Library Services Commission.
end
Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve the recommended action and direct staff according.
Analysis:
Named after former Mayor, Donald D. Shipley, the Shipley Nature Center (Nature Center), was opened in 1974. Dr. Shipley's vision was to have a place which reflected what California was like 100 years before.
On Wednesday, June 12, 2024, the Community & Library Services Commission voted to name the Interpretive Center (contained within the Shipley Nature Center), the "Shirley Dettloff Interpretive Center," due to her longstanding impacts and efforts related to the unique space in Huntington Central Park.
After years of neglect, the Nature Center became overrun with invasive, exotic plant species that crowded out more desirable native plants on which local native wildlife depended. In addition to non-native plant life, giant reeds were depleting the ground water and causing trees to die off and become fire hazards, which also caused Blackbird Pond to suffer from lack of oxygen.
In 2001, the City considered closing ...
Click here for full text