Livermore Celebrates New Civic Center Additions

LIVERMORE, CA — Dr. John Shirley is unforgettable in Livermore, and anyone who visits the city's new Civic Center Meeting Hall will be reminded because the facility now includes the Dr. John Shirley City Council Chamber.

Invited dignitaries, community partners, and friends and family of Dr. John Shirley attended a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony at the new chamber Saturday to honor him. The event recognized Shirley for his dedication, commitment, and service to his community and his country.

According to the city, Shirley is a WWII veteran who earned a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and a Purple Heart. He is a former Livermore council member and mayor who served from 1958 to 1966. He also opened Livermore’s first veterinary hospital.

"When we held the groundbreaking last year, John Shirley told me that the old library was the only building in town that had a plaque with his name on it," said current Livermore Mayor John Marchand. "It is fitting that his name is included in this building. Dr. Shirley has served this community for decades as a veteran, mayor, statesman and civil servant, and he continues to serve. Livermore is a better place because of his compassion and his caring for our community. The Dr. John Shirley City Council Chamber is where the people and the council will plan Livermore’s future together. Together, we will keep Livermore a great place to live."

This September, the city will hold a community-wide open house and emergency preparedness fair at the new Civic Center Meeting Hall. The event will include tours of the Dr. John Shirley City Council Chamber as well as tours of the city’s new Emergency Operations Center. Although complete details have yet to be released, the city said attendees will see hands-on activities and presentations.

Marchand is hopeful the event will attract a good turnout, and said the city's number-one priority is public safety.

"This Emergency Operations Center is a testament to how seriously we take that commitment," he said. "One need only look back to the quakes in Napa or the fires in Santa Rosa and Paradise to understand the importance of planning ahead for the emergencies that will come. I have learned that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail."

The new Civic Center Meeting Hall is located at 1016 S. Livermore Avenue.