DATE: September 23, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Paul Nerland, County Administrative Officer
SUBJECT: Resolution to Rename Squaw Valley Road to Bear Mountain Road in Compliance with Assembly Bill 2022
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Adopt Resolution approving the submission of Bear Mountain Road to the California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names for purposes of renaming Squaw Valley Road.
REPORT
This agenda item presents a resolution to formally rename the road currently known as Squaw Valley Road to Bear Mountain Road. This action is required under California Assembly Bill 2022 (AB 2022), which prohibits the use of derogatory terms for geographic features and place names within the state. Following extensive consultation with local Native American tribes and community stakeholders, the name Bear Mountain Road has been identified as a suitable replacement that honors the region's local heritage. This item pertains to a location in District 5.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
The alternative action is the denial of the resolution, which would prevent the name change and place the County out of compliance with Assembly Bill 2022.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact of this action will involve costs associated with replacing and updating all affected physical and digital assets. These costs have not yet been estimated, but they include, and are not limited to:
- Replacement of physical signage (e.g., road signs, park signs).
- Updates to printed and digital maps, including public-facing websites.
- Revision of official departmental stationery, forms, and documents.
A detailed cost analysis will be conducted by staff upon approval of the name change. A source of funding has yet to be identified. There are no anticipated ongoing costs beyond standard maintenance for new signage.
DISCUSSION:
California Assembly Bill 2022, which was passed during the 2021-22 legislative session mandates that all place and geographic features containing a specific offensive term be renamed. The law requires a formal process of consultation with Native American tribes and other relevant community groups to select a new name that reflects and honors tribal history and indigenous languages.
Beginning in March 2024, staff engaged in this required consultation process with relevant local tribes and other community groups. Through this collaborative effort, several alternative names were provided to the California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names (CACGN) with no preference or priority indicated from the local tribes and community.
On August 6, 2024, the County submitted a list of replacement names along with the required data gathered during the outreach process. On August 9, 2024, CACGN requested a preferred name from the County's submissions. The County responded three days later, reiterating that no preference or priority was determined as the CACGN did not provide direction to establish a ranking and it was not the will of the local tribes and communities.
Subsequently, the CACGN provided a list of approved names on December 9, 2024, which included: Sequoia Valley Road, Bear Valley Road, Bobcat Heights Road, Bear Mountain Road, Peoples Valley Road, Mountain Road, Mountain Valley Road, Sierra Road, and Summer Valley Road. However, the CACGN’s guidance was inconsistent; although they approved a single name for Squaw Leap Lane, they did not select a preferred name for Squaw Valley Road, despite having alternate options provided by the local tribes and community for both geographic features. The CACGN is now requiring the County to select a name for the remaining location from the approved list. Approval of this resolution is the next step in a multi-agency process that includes the CACGN and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Fine Nai