Approved Date

SUBJECT: Renaming of San José International Airport to Honor Norm Mineta

RECOMMENDATION

That the City Council dI request we place the matter of Council to directingirect staff to take the necessary actions, including review by the Airport Commission, to rename San José International Airport to the Norman Y Norman Y. . Mineta San José International Airport. on the City Council Agenda of September 4.

DISCUSSION

I am requestingrecommend that the Council rename the Airport as the Norman Y Norman Y. . Mineta San José International Airport in recognition of the honorable service and accomplishments of former San José Mayor, former United States Congressman, former United States Secretary of Commerce and current United States Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta.

Renaming our highest profile transportation facility for Norm Mineta is both proper and fitting recognition for a son of San José who has had a major impact on both local and national transportation policy and infrastructure. As I noted at the our recent runway dedication ceremony, Secretary Minetahe is a native son of San José who has dedicated nearly four decades of public service that has benefitedon behalf of not onlythe people of San José, but and the entire South Bay regionthe nation. In the course of effectively serving hishis long public career, community, Secretary Mineta has also broken barriers to diversity in political leadership at every level of government he has served.

There is no question that Norm Mineta has a long and distinguished record of honorable and effective service to San José. He has long been a key figure for addressing practical solutions for transportation and aviation issues on the national level, and he has also been an effective spokesman for issues important to the residents and the economy of San Jose and Silicon Valley throughout his career.

Secretary MinetaHe served on the San Jose City Council from 1967 to 1971 and as Mayor from 1971 to 1974, becoming. He was the first Asian-American to serve as mayor of a major U.S. city.

From 1975 to 1995 he Norm Mineta served as a member of U.S. House of RepresentativesCongress, where he was known for his effective consensus building among his colleagues and for forging public-private partnerships. He served as chairman of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee between 1992 and 1994, and . Hhe chaired the the committee’s aviation subcommittee between 1981 and 1988.

He was appointed Secretary of Commerce by President Clinton, becoming the first Asian-American to ever to hold a cabinet-level appointmentposition. Earlier this year, President Bush named Mr. Minetahim as Secretary of Transportation.

Although we will honor Norm Mineta with this action, it is he who has honored us. His has been an exemplary career that demonstrates the highest principles of public service, leadership, and effectiveness that are models for our community and the nation. I believe it is timely and appropriate to rename the airport now as our means to express our community’s appreciation.

After consulting with the United States Department of Transportation and Secretary Mineta, I recommend the specific name to be “Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport.” This follows the department’s preferred naming protocol and would therefore be consistent with other airport name changes. Although the name of the airport would change, its identification initials would remain SJC, which also is consistent with the Department of Transportation.

Secretary Mineta has long been a key figure for addressing practical solutions for transportation and aviation issues on the national level, and he has also been an effective spokesman for issues important to the residents and the economy of San Jose and Silicon Valley throughout his career. There is no question that he has a long and distinguished record of honorable and effective service to San José.

I believe renaming our highest profile transportation facility for Secretary Mineta is both proper and fitting recognition for a native son of San José who has had a major impact on both local and national transportation policy and infrastructure. I ask the Council to support this recommendation to rename the Airport to honor Secretary Mineta.

Mayor Ron Gonzales