Opinion: And So The Great Park Name Change Process Begins But We Are Still Left Wondering Why

Great Park Name Change
So now we are beginning the tasks needed to complete the Orange County Great Park name change that was approved by the City Council on August 10, 2021, by a vote of 4 to 1, with Council Member Larry Agran dissenting. At the September 16, 2021 (agenda item 3) the Planning Commission is being asked to approve the zoning change and the General Plan amendment, which is the first of many steps required to officially change the park’s name from the “Orange County Great Park” to the “Great Park”.
The decision to remove the words “Orange County” from the name of the Great Park brings up several issues that I hope will be addressed by the City Attorney, the Acting City Manager, and City Staff before proceeding with the name change process:
1. Is the name change consistent with the will and intent of the voters who passed Measure W in 2001 to create the Orange County Great Park?
The County voters were promised a park with museums, gardens, and recreational facilities affordable to people from all walks of life. The voters’ intent was for the County, not Irvine, to be world renown for having a park comparable to New York City’s Central Park.
2. Is removing the words “Orange County” from the park name worth its cost in time, effort, and taxpayer money?
The agenda documents do not outline the actions that must be taken to change the name. The process includes amending the General Plan and zoning codes and includes changes to park signage, uniforms, maps, and handouts. In addition, this name change will require amendments to the Great Park Articles of Incorporation and the Great Park Bylaws, which will require attorney and staff time resulting in the use of hundreds of thousands in taxpayer money.
Couldn’t the attorney and staff time and taxpayer money be put to better use in the Great Park development process?
3. In the interest of public transparency, members of the public, whose interests the City Council Members have sworn to represent, should be informed of the real reason for the park’s name change and of how the name change will benefit Irvine residents.
Removing the words “Orange County” from the name of the park because the county does not contribute to the costs of the park’s development cannot possibly be the real reason for the name change. The County of Orange has not contributed to the costs of the development of the Great Park for decades, if ever. The Park has always been referred to as “the Great Park,” yet, Mayor Farrah Khan is reported to have stated that removing the words “Orange County” from the park’s official name would make Irvine known throughout the world. Even if this were true, how would Irvine being world-renowned be a benefit to Irvine residents?
The City of Irvine’s decision-making system is a democratic process. It is to be by Irvine residents for Irvine residents, with decisions being made on their behalf by their elected representatives who make up our City Council. Our City Council members have sworn to be honest and transparent representatives of the interests of Irvine residents.
California’s Brown Act was enacted to promote transparency and public participation in the decision-making process. Without transparency, honesty, and full disclosure of city issues and related facts, the constituents are left in the dark and made irrelevant.
5 Comments
Branda Lin
September 14, 2021 at 9:29 amTransparency promotes accountability and provides information for citizens about what their Government is doing. This is how Government is supposed to work.
It appears that this City Council does not believe this name change issue, among many others, should be openly and honestly explained to the public. The Council is not supposed to work everything out behind the public eye, then state to the public a disingenuous reason for their actions, and deliberately keep us in the dark.
If action is being taken for the public interest, why not explain it? What are they trying to hide? Why is everything related to the Great Park decision making process fast-tracked and lacking in transparency?
Fivepoint is one of the largest campaign contributors in Irvine politics and they control our City Council. That is why.
Doug Elliott
September 14, 2021 at 1:00 pmWell said, Branda!
Dee Fox
September 16, 2021 at 9:02 pm“To prevent confusion on park ownership?” Look at Irvine Regional Park…it’s in Orange. Maybe they should change their name after all these years to Orange Regional Park. And what about UCI? The City of Irvine doesn’t own UCI. In fact UCI wasn’t even named after the City, so maybe UCI should change their name after all these years so “people are not confused about ownership”. What a ridiculously lame excuse to give. But that’s Mike Carroll and Farrah Khan for you. Doesn’t matter the cost, the time, or even when everyone that voiced their opinion about it was opposed, they go right ahead and do it anyway. Honestly, why does Irvine even hold City Council Meetings? The four of them might as well sit behind closed doors and make up their laws and then inform us afterwards.
I say we all ban together and just refuse to accept their motions and all their ridiculous resolutions that don’t mount to anything. As an example, Tammy Kim and Farrah Khan made a resolution to stop the Asian Hate that they perceive as a problem in Irvine. And in the resolution they state that in order to do this, help is needed from … and they list all these groups of people. However, they conveniently leave out the White and Jewish communities. When Tammy Kim was asked specifically about this, TWICE, she finally answered and said it was INTENTIONAL. Now, if anyone doesn’t think she is a racist, then they don’t know the meaning of the word. And she is sitting on OUR CITY COUNCIL!
Dee Fox
September 16, 2021 at 9:16 pmHey Woofy, what is your real name? You see all our real names, yet you hide behind a … what is that, a pet name? If I would have to guess, I would say you are, or are close with, the four council majority … otherwise why are you incognito? You seem to be defending people who really have no defense.
Dee Fox
September 17, 2021 at 4:52 pmTheir answer is NOT an answer….why, well I just gave you some examples. But talking to you is like talking to a hole in the wall. So stop being a coward and state your name otherwise I will join the rest of them and ignore you!
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