SAN FERNANDO : City to Rename Street for Late Civic Leader

Following the lead of the city of Los Angeles, the city of San Fernando will rename part of 1st Street near the San Fernando/Sylmar Metrolink station after the late civic leader Frank Modugno.

In May, the Los Angeles City Council approved renaming a section of 1st Street in front of the station Frank Modugno Drive at the suggestion of Councilman Richard Alarcon.

And on Monday, the San Fernando City Council approved the renaming of a 90-foot section of the street just north of Hubbard Street after Modugno, who died in an auto accident in April.

Modugno, a lifelong San Fernando resident, led a variety of community organizations and service groups, serving at various times as president of the San Fernando Chamber of Commerce, a member of the city Parks and Recreation Commission and president of the Mission College Foundation.

In 1966, Modugno was named the city of San Fernando’s Man of the Year.

A separate motion to rename the remainder of 1st Street in San Fernando after Modugno failed to win the votes of a majority of the City Council.

Introduced by Councilman Raul Godinez and supported by Mayor Pro Tem Rosa Chacon, the motion was rejected by Mayor Joanne Baltierrez, Ray Ojeda and Doude Wysbeek.

“The other motion, the part about renaming the whole street, was denied,” Wysbeek said. “It would affect too many businesses.”