HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 21-061 Point of interest marker -Immigrating to CARESOLUTION NO: 21-061
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SARATOGA AUTHORIZING THE INSTALLATION OF A POINT OF
INTEREST MARKER FOR "IMMIGRATING TO CALIFORNIA"
WHEREAS, on February 1, 2017, the City Council of the City of Saratoga adopted
Resolution No. 17- 007 which authorized a process for establishing Point of Interest Markers to
increase knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the City's past by commemorating events
and places that are identified with the region that are no longer in existence, and
WHEREAS, the City Council determined on February 1, 2017, that a site marked as a Point
of Interest does not signify the site as a cultural or historical resource, is not identifying a heritage
site nor is it to be associated with the Saratoga's Heritage Resources Inventory, and
WHEREAS, During the late 1880's the Chinese, like other immigrants, arrived in what was
once called the valley of hearts delight, and later Silicon Valley, looking for economic opportunity,
and
WHEREAS, the gold rush success brought many Chinese to California in search of work in
mining, building railroads, and working in agriculture. In Saratoga, the Chinese provided laundry,
groceries, and coordinated labor services for agriculture, and
WHEREAS, the Heritage Preservation Commission has recommended that a Point of
Interest Marker be installed on the seat/wall adjacent to the building at 14470 Big Basin way to
identify the site of the Chinese Laundry in Saratoga, and
WHEREAS, the text for the proposed marker was drafted, reviewed and edited by the
Heritage Preservation Commission and the Director of Community Development, and
WHEREAS, the Director of Public Works reviewed and recommended the marker location
on the seat/wall adjacent to 14470 Big Basin Way, in consultation with the Heritage Preservation
Commission and the Director of Community Development, and
WHEREAS, this action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act because
there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment
(CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3)).
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Saratoga
hereby: 1) Authorizes the final text shown in Exhibit F to the staff report for this resolution and
marker design described in the staff report for this resolution; 2) Authorizes the location to install
the Point of Interest Marker shown in Attachment H to the staff report for this resolution; and
3)Authorizes the Director of Community Development and the Director of Public Works to proceed
with contracting for the manufacturing and installation of the marker in cooperation with the property
owner.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Saratoga on this 21St day of July
2021 by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Yan Zhao, Vice Mayor Tina Walia, Council Members Mary -Lynne Bernald,
Kookie Fitzsimmons, Rishi Kumar
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Yan AKo, Mayor
Attest:
bie Bretschneider, City Clerk Date: % %c - %12-0L 1
2
IMMIGRATING TO CALIFORNIA
IN THE 1800'S
THE CHINESE, LIKE OTHER IMMIGRANTS, ARRIVED IN WHAT WAS ONCE CALLED THE
VALLEY OF HEART'S DELIGHT, AND LATER SILCON VALLEY, LOOKING FOR ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY. THE GOLD RUSH SUCCESS BROUGHT MANY CHINESE TO CALIFORNIA IN
SEARCH OF WORK IN MINING, BUILDING RAILROADS, AND WORKING IN AGRICULTURE.
IN SARATOGA, THE CHINESE PROVIDED LAUNDRY, GROCERIES, AND COORDINATED
LABOR SERVICES FOR AGRICULTURE. HOP KEE, ONE OF THE FIRST CHINESE TO COME
TO SARATOGA, ONCE HAD A LAUNDRY AND AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY IN A TWO-
STORY BUILDING.
THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT OF 1882 PROHIBITED ALL IMMIGRATION OF CHINESE
LABORERS. THIS LAW AND SUBSEQUENT EXTENSIONS ATTEMPTED TO STOP ALL
CHINESE IMMIGRATION INTO THE UNITED STATES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
DIPLOMATS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, MERCHANTS, AND TRAVELERS. CONGRESS
FINALLY REPEALED THE EXCLUSION ACT IN 1943.
ON JUNE 18, 2012, THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSED HR.683.
INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSWOMAN JUDY CHU, IT FORMALLY EXPRESSED THE REGRET
OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT, THE ACT
WHICH HAD IMPOSED RESTRICTIONS ON CHINESE IMMIGRATION AND
NATURALIZATION. IN 2014 THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE TOOK FORMAL ACTION TO
PASS MEASURES THAT RECOGNIZED THE MANY PROUD ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF
CHINESE-AMERICANS IN CALIFORNIA.