HomeMy WebLinkAbout19 OFFICIAL CITY BIRD 03-16-98)
DATE:
MARCH 16, 1998
NO. 19
3-16-98
i nter-Comt e/
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
REQUEST FOR AN OFFICIAL CITY BIRD
ISUMMARYz The Tustin Pride Committee is recommending that the City CoUncil designate the!
HoOded OriOle~ the official City bird
RECOMMENDATION
Pleasure of the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Tustin Pride has idemified thru the designation of an official city bird will not have a fiscal
impact on the City's General Fund.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
In November 1997, Tustin Pride formed a Committee to research an appropriate bird which had
significance to the City of Tustin and coUld be designated as the official city bird. The Tustin'Pride
Committee is recommending that the City Council designate the Hooded Oriole as the City bird,
joining the Eucalyptus Tree and the Camellia flower as official City symbols. Attached is a copy of
the Tustin Pride Report.
Assistant Director, Community Development
~l'~~'eth A. Bins'ack'
Director, Community Development
Attachments: Photograph of Hooded Oriole
Tustin Pride Report
Tustin
Pride
March 3, 1998
City-of Tustin
Subject: Request for an Official City Bird
1.
Dear'Mayor Thomas and Members of the Council:
Tustin Pride is recommending the Hooded Oriole as Tustin's City Bird. The Pride has been
working on the City Bird Project since August 1997, when we discovered that Tustin only has a
city flower and tree. According to the City Clerk the official tree and the flower were named over
30 years ago.
The council meeting minutes of June 16, 1969 indicate a initial request by the Orange County
Bicentennial Committee fOr an official tree followed by a recommendation from the Parks and
Recreation Commission and Tustin Area Women's Club naming the Red Flowering Gum,
Eucalyptus Ficif°lia. The tree symbolized Tustin's rural past and was chosen since it is clean
and not unduly subject to wind, soil conditions or frost. The flower is the Camellia.
In November, 1997, Kathy Windsor was chosen by Tustin Pride to head a committee to research a
city bird. The Committee contacted the Historical Society, Orange County City Clerks, and local
naturalist Margaret Henke of the Audubon Society. A few neighboring cities have official birds.
Villa Park has the Hummingbird and Costa Mesa has the Western Meadowlark. The committee
felt that naminga bird would distinguish Tustin, and differentiate us from neighboring cities.
Tustin Pride's mission is to expand community pride through projects and community action to
promote a cleaner, healthier, safer and more beautiful Tustin. The Hooded Oriole adds beauty to
our city.
In a recent bird-watching study the Hooded Oriole was noted as one of the most frequently spotted
colorful birds in Tustin yards. The beautiful golden orioles have visited the area for many years,
stopping off in Tustin from April to October. They nest here, raising their offspring in palm trees.
The Hooded Oriole was selected by Tustin Pride by balloting at the January and February 1998
meetings. First we considered a long list of 33 local birds then narrowed that down to six. The
other f'malists were Anna's Hummingbird, Western Bluebird, American Crow, Yellow Warbler,
and Goldfinch. The Hooded Oriole was chosen by a majority of the Tustin Pride membership
because it is easy to spot with its flashy gold and black coloring and its interesting song of
whistles, trills and rattles.
Tustin Pride urges the Council to designate the Hooded Oriole as the official city bird. We don't
expect any fiscal impact because we are not suggesting adoption as a logo, but merely to add a
dimension of wildlife to identify Tustin along with the Eucalyptus and Camellia.
Thank you for your consideration of this request to enhance Tustin's image.
Sincerely,
Carol Bone "Expand community pride through projects and community
Chair action to promote a cleane~; healthier, safer, more beautiful Tustin."
(714) 573-3000
300 Centennial Way, Tustin, California 92680