Guadalupe council to notify affected residents and solicit input on proposed renaming of Cali Cesar E. Chavez Court

The Guadalupe City Council directed staff May 12 to notify property owners and residents affected by a potential street renaming of Cali Cesar E. Chavez Court and to solicit written responses and further name options.

Planning staff explained the geography and impacts: the street provides direct access to Jack O'Connell City Park and directly affects roughly 83 addresses, including four single‑family homes and about 80 units at the Riverview Townhomes complex. "Those areas highlighted there — four homes on the lower side are addressed directly off Cali Cesar E. Chavez," planning staff Bill said, noting the need to avoid duplicate names for emergency‑services clarity.

Several residents, including Anna Cardenas, said they learned about the proposal only recently and urged the council to consider the burdens that a name change would impose on older residents and non‑English speakers who would need to update identification, deeds and other records. "What about the elderly? ... They do not understand the whole process," Anna Cardenas said.

Residents and council members discussed outreach: bilingual mailers to affected landowners, door‑to‑door flyers in Riverview, collaboration with local nonprofits and a delayed implementation option to give residents time to update documents. Council members also suggested adding a "no change" option on the notice along with a shortlist of replacement names (examples discussed included veterans' names such as Ernie Serrano and other community‑oriented suggestions).

Council directed staff to send a draft notice to affected residents and to report back with compiled responses and any suggested next steps at a future public hearing. Staff said the initial outreach will be in English and Spanish and that they will coordinate with local housing managers and community partners to reach non‑English speakers and residents who lack internet access.