Memorandum
Date: December 10, 2024
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Susan Parker, County Administrative Officer
Stephen L. Carter, Jr., Assistant County Administrative Officer
Matthew Rothstein, Chief Deputy County Administrative Officer
Subject: (a) Consideration of a Draft Response to the United States Board on Geographic Names’ Domestic Names Committee Regarding Citizens for Healing’s Proposal to Change the Name of Kelseyville to Konocti; (b) Modify and Approve the BGN’s Standard Recommendation Form, for Submittal with Your Board’s Response
Executive Summary:
On Tuesday, July 30, 2024, your Board held a Special Meeting, and acted to place an Advisory Measure on the November Ballot, seeking non-binding input on the following question: “Shall the Board of Supervisors recommend approval of the proposal to change the name of the town of ‘Kelseyville’ to Konocti?’”
Lake County Registered Voters (Countywide) opposed the proposal by a margin of 70.58% to 29.42%.
Staff has prepared a Draft Letter that provides background and potential options for your Response to the United States Board on Geographic Names’ Domestic Names Committee:
Option 1 (Reject the proposed Name Change, adopting the result of the Advisory Measure): In response to Advisory Measure U, Lake County residents demonstrated their Opposition to the proposed Name Change. Members of this Board remain concerned moral questions raised by this matter are not resolved by either option. However, it is our collective Recommendation your Committee Reject the proposed Name Change.
Option 2 (Approve the proposed Name Change): In response to Advisory Measure U, Lake County residents demonstrated their Opposition to the proposed Name Change, and members of our Board have concern changing a longstanding and valued town name is a non-trivial matter. However, our collective awareness of the violent acts committed by Kelsey and Stone demand change. Therefore, it is our collective Recommendation your Committee Approve the proposed Name Change.
Option 3 (no Formal Recommendation): In response to Advisory Measure U, Lake County residents demonstrated their Opposition to the proposed Name Change, and members of our Board have concern changing a longstanding and valued town name is a non-trivial matter. However, our Board is also aware of the violent acts committed by Kelsey and Stone, and cannot endorse keeping the name. Therefore, our Board will not be making a formal Recommendation in this federal process.
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Recommended Action: (a) Modify, as needed, and Approve the Letter. Authorize the Chair to Sign. (b) Modify, as needed, and Approve the BGN’s Standard Recommendation Form.