GALT, CA (MPG) - Galt City Council members stuck to a historical theme in selecting names from the past for two of three new parks being built in the city.

At its July 1 meeting, following recommendations from Galt Parks and Recreation Director Armando Solis, the council picked Galt and Sacramento civic leader Don Nottoli Jr. as the name for a new park in the Liberty Ranch subdivision, currently designated Liberty Ranch 1; and Goncalves, after area dairy farmer Jack Goncalves, as the name for a new park in the Elliott Ranch subdivision.

In naming the third park, currently designated Liberty Ranch 2, council followed the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Commission and selected Liberty Park for a second, smaller park in the Liberty Ranch subdivision. 

The park name aligns with the city’s facility-naming policy since it is near a proposed elementary school.

Both Don Nottoli Jr. and Goncalves follow the policy that parks not near schools be named for either geographical features, events or persons of historical significance or “individuals or organizations of local significance bearing a relationship to the City of Galt or its parks and recreation system.”

The Parks and Recreation Department solicited names for the parks from the community, receiving 38 submissions, with many proposing names for each of the three parks. Those names ranged from those submitted to council to other historical figures or groups and even some whimsical suggestions, such as “The Not-so-scenic park” for the smaller, Liberty Ranch site.

Solis said he whittled the list down to a selection of qualified names using city criteria, made a list of duplicate names already selected for other city facilities, then a list of his recommendations for each park, with the top names being Don Nottoli for Liberty Ranch 1, Marengo Park for Liberty Ranch 2 and Goncalves for Elliott Ranch. 

The Parks and Recreation Commission maintained the Don Nottoli pick, adding “Jr.” to differentiate it from a similar park in Elk Grove but selected Liberty and Freedom for Liberty Ranch 2 and Elliott, respectively.

Solis told the council that they had discretion in picking the names of these parks and could follow the recommendations or pick other names, including from the duplicate list.

Several individuals spoke during the public comment period in support of naming the Elliott site after Jack Goncalves. The first was his daughter, Solange Goncalves Altman, who also submitted written comments about the contributions her father made to the Galt community and the dairy industry.

Goncalves noted that the family sold 99 acres in 2019 of the former dairy’s 119 total acres to the developer, Elliott Homes, for construction of homes and seven acres for construction of the park. She said that the family had arranged with Elliott to have the park built and named after her father, something Elliott Homes Vice-President Price Walker reiterated in his comments.

“I think it’s an important opportunity you have tonight and I hope you take the opportunity and do what I think is the right thing and name it after Solange’s family,” Walker said.

Council members unanimously agreed with Walker during their discussions. Councilmember Bonnie Rodriguez asked if the Elliott site could also have some historical markers and/or displays incorporated into its design so that others could learn about the city’s history, especially its dairy industry.

“As each generation comes and goes, we lose that touch with our history,” Rodriguez added.

Since park design was about 35% complete, Solis said, there was time to incorporate some historical aspects. 

In voicing support for the Goncalves name, Councilmember Matthew Pratton asked if there might be the opportunity to use one of the other names suggested, Miwok, for a future park as that referred to the Native American tribe that occupied the Galt-area land.

Solis said that a fourth new park was in the works for Liberty Ranch but not yet under design. The park is planned as a “passive” park and would incorporate a possible orchard.

“That might be more appropriate for that one at that point in time,” Solis said of the Miwok name.

City Council unanimously approved the three names. City staff will prepare an official resolution naming the parks and present it at a future council meeting.

Also at the July 1 meeting, the council unanimously approved a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the city and the Galt Police Officers Association that provided a salary increase, additional benefits and creation of a corporal’s classification within the department. Galt Human Resources director Tricia Cobey said the latter did not create a new, full-time position.

The two-year memorandum of understanding, which began July 1, provides a 1% increase for positions “already within median base salary” and market adjustments for officer and sergeant classifications over the two years. It provides a $50 increase toward the health retirement account, $50 increase in bilingual pay for certified employees, an increase in vacation accrual to the equivalent of six weeks after 22 years of service and continuation of the city’s 80% contribution toward the Kaiser medical plan.

The salary and benefits increases will cost the city an additional $213,848.28 annually, with $164,781.64 coming from the General Fund. Council members praised the cooperation of the association in reaching an agreement.

“We do appreciate everything Galt PD does for us,” Mayor Shawn Farmer said.