HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-65 - Recognizing July 6 as Benjamin M. Carlson DayRESOLUTION NO. 2019-65
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA, RECOGNIZING
JULY 6 AS BENJAMIN M. CARLSON DAY
WHEREAS, at 5:15 pm on July 6, 2014, Newport Beach Lifeguard Benjamin M.
Carlson ("Ben") responded from the Lifeguard Rescue boat in large surf to rescue a
swimmer in distress;
WHEREAS, Ben jumped from the boat and rescued the distressed swimmer and
began towing the man back to the rescue boat. A large set of waves crashed over both
men, causing Ben to go missing as the distressed swimmer surfaced. Following a
heartbreaking three-hour search, Ben was located by his fellow lifeguards;
WHEREAS, Ben was the first and only Newport Beach Lifeguard to die in the line
of duty since the service was formed in 1923;
WHEREAS, five years have passed since his last rescue, and Ben continues to
serve the community, visitors and the lifeguards of Newport Beach with his example of
sacrifice and service of his fellow man;
WHEREAS, Ben's family, friends, coworkers and the community have rallied to
remember Ben by creating the Ben Carlson Memorial & Scholarship Foundation,
building a statue symbolic of his bravery, and naming the Benjamin M. Carlson
Lifeguard Headquarters in his honor;
WHEREAS, the Newport Beach Fire Department has established July 6th as a
day for remembering and recognizing Ben's ultimate sacrifice, including an event that
was Ben's favorite workout - the "Pier -Wedge -Pier" - so that Ben's heroism inspires
future generations of lifesavers and others to a life of service; and
WHEREAS, Ben Did Go.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Newport Beach resolves as
follows:
Section 1: The City Council hereby recognizes July 6 as Benjamin M. Carlson
Day in the City of Newport Beach.
Section 2: The recitals provided in this resolution are true and correct and are
incorporated into the substantive portion of this resolution.
Resolution No. 2019-65
Page 2 of 2
Section 3: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this
resolution is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall
not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this resolution. The
City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this resolution, and each
section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any
one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid
or unconstitutional.
Section 4: The City Council finds the adoption of this resolution is not subject to
the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the
activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in
the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section
15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 6,
Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the
environment, directly or indirectly.
Section 5: This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the
City Council, and the City Clerk shall certify the vote adopting the resolution.
ADOPTED this 25th day of June, 2019.
Diane B. Dixon,
Mayor
ATTEST:
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Leilani
I. Brown
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Aaron C. Harp
City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA }
COUNTY OF ORANGE } ss.
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH }
I, Leilani I. Brown, City Clerk of the City of Newport Beach, California, do hereby certify that the
whole number of members of the City Council is seven; the foregoing resolution, being Resolution
No. 2019-65 was duly introduced before and adopted by the City Council of said City at a regular meeting
of said Council held on the 25th day of June, 2019; and the same was so passed and adopted by the
following vote, to wit:
AYES: Mayor Diane Dixon, Mayor Pro Tem Will O'Neill, Council Member Brad Avery, Council
Member Joy Brenner, Council Member Duffy Duffield, Council Member Jeff Herdman,
Council Member Kevin Muldoon
NAYS: None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the official seal of
said City this 261h day of June, 2019.
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Leilani I. Brown
City Clerk
Newport Beach, California