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D. 3

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Date:	May 21, 2019

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

PROPOSAL TO NAME THE BUILDING ADJACENT TO THE EL SOBRANTE LIBRARY AS "THE NANCY FAHDEN HOUSE"

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 05/21/2019

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	John Gioia (510) 231-8686
cc:	Public Works Director County Librarian CAO-Muni Svcs

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: May 21, 2019
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADOPT Resolution No. 2019/165 to name the current Friends of the El Sobrante Library Building that is adjacent to the El Sobrante Library at 4300 Garden Road, El Sobrante area, as "The Nancy Fahden House".

FISCAL IMPACT:

The nominal cost to affix a plaque to the building will be funded with Park Dedication Fees.

BACKGROUND:

Nancy Cardinalli Fahden has the distinction of being the first woman elected to County office in the history of Contra Costa County. She made her mark on County history in 1976 when she was elected to the District 2 seat on the Board of Supervisors at the age of 52, and also a grandmother at the time. She defeated a four-term incumbent for the District 2 seat, which covered northern Contra Costa County, including parts of West County (including El Sobrante).

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

At that time there were fewer than a handful of women on local city councils. She won her seat by walking much of the District and spending only $8,000 against long-time incumbent Al Dias. Her pioneering effort led to the election of other women on the Board of Supervisors, including Sunne McPeak who was elected two years later in 1978. She served from 1977 through 1992 and passed away in 2015.

30 boxes of her documents and records were donated to the Contra Costa Historical Society and are publicly available for research purposes. Many of her accomplishments are documented in those records.

The building (Friends of the El Sobrante Library Building) to be renamed in her honor was also her Supervisorial District Office for some of the time that she served on the Board of Supervisors. Currently, there are no buildings or landmarks named in her honor in Contra Costa County. It is appropriate to recognize her pioneering service at the building which once served as her local District Office in El Sobrante. This building will house the Friends of the El Sobrante Library and the El Sobrante Historical Society.