COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

COUNTY MANAGER’S OFFICE

DATE:

May 30, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 17, 2008

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

4/5^ths

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

John L. Maltbie, County Manager

SUBJECT:

Naming the Half Moon Bay Airport Terminal and the Access Road in Honor of Mr. Frank Sylvestri

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution:

A)

Naming the terminal at the Half Moon Bay Airport in honor of Mr. Frank L. Sylvestri

B)

Renaming the access road to the airport in honor of Mr. Frank L. Sylvestri

C)

Directing staff to develop and install a display in the terminal that commemorates Mr. Sylvestri’s accomplishments and contributions to aviation in San Mateo County

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Realize the potential of our diverse population and provide equal access to educational opportunity

Goal(s) 1 and 4 : Our diverse population works well together to build strong communities and residents have many educational and training opportunities

BACKGROUND:

On February 12, 2007, over 40 members of the Sylvestri Naming Project, headed by Col. Forrest Storz, sent a letter to Supervisor Gordon requesting that the Half Moon Bay airport be renamed in honor of Mr. Frank Sylvestri. County Counsel replied to Col. Storz on May 7, 2007, advising that the County Ordinance covering naming was in the process of being revised, and that the request would be reviewed after the changes were adopted. The Board adopted the revisions to the naming ordinance on February 26, 2008 and the new language became effective March 26, 2008.

DISCUSSION:

Chapter 2.52 of the Ordinance Code specifies that in order to be considered for recognition by the naming of a facility, an individual must have made a significant contribution to public service or the betterment of San Mateo County, and that particular consideration should be given to the period of time over which the individual made a significant contribution, the number of people that were directly or indirectly impacted by the contribution; and the extent to which the actions of the individual bettered the lives of those impacted by the contribution.

The County Manager’s staff has reviewed the list of Mr. Sylvestri’s many contributions to San Mateo County aviation provided by Col. Storz and concluded that the request meets the three naming criteria. Highlights of Mr. Sylvestri’s contributions include:

•

Mr. Sylvestri has been associated with the Half Moon Bay Airport for almost 60 years. He established his aircraft maintenance and repair business, West Coast Aviation, in 1949 and opened a flight school in 1955. For 23 years, from 1956 to 1979, he was the fixed base operator responsible for all airport activities at Half Moon Bay. Today, at the age of 85, he remains active in both his maintenance business and the Half Moon Bay aviation community.

•

Through his flight school business, Mr. Sylvestri supervised the training of over 4,000 pilot candidates between 1955 and 1985. He personally certified over 2,000 candidates for pilot licenses as an FAA designated Flight Examiner and many of his former students have served in the military and the private aviation industry.

•

Mr. Sylvestri was one of the original founders of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Air Squadron, and flew search and rescue missions for over 20 years. He also worked with the community surrounding the Half Moon Bay airport to resolve noise and other airport issues.

•

He also brought recognition to San Mateo County as the stunt pilot in the movie the “Spirit of St. Louis” and when he won the Grand National Antique Aircraft restoration award for WACO UPF-7.

In the past, to honor prominent County residents, the Board has chosen not to rename the county airport, but rather to rename the terminal. At the San Carlos Airport, the terminal is named in honor of former Supervisor Mary Griffin. Therefore, the recommendation is to rename the terminal at the Half Moon Bay Airport and the access road in honor of Mr. Sylvestri. In addition, a special display that includes pictures, a plaque and other mementoes of Mr. Sylvestri’s contributions and aviation accomplishments will be installed in the terminal. Airport staff will work with Mr. Storz and other airport users to develop a suitable plaque and display.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There will be a small cost for the exterior plaque, the new “Frank L. Sylvestri Way” road sign and the interior display. There will also be a special event at the airport to commemorate the new terminal and road name and the unveiling of the display. The cost of the signs and the events will be covered by the airport fund.