[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of
Brandon 9-13-2010 (Title 7, Ch. 11, of the 1998 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish standard procedures
and guidelines for the naming of public facilities and waterways owned
and/or operated by the Village of Brandon.
B. Policy. This chapter may not be consistent with existing names of
Village areas and facilities. No suggestion is made or intended that
existing names be changed. This chapter is a basis for future decisions.
A. Initiation. Any naming of public facilities and waterways shall require
initiation by the Village and approval by the Village Board.
B. Requests. Requests for the naming or renaming of public buildings,
parks, facilities and waterways shall be submitted in writing to the
Village Clerk or the Village President. The Village President may
forward the request to the appropriate committee for consideration.
C. Costs. All costs associated with the naming, including the cost of
any recording necessary and the cost of signage, shall be paid by
the person(s) submitting the request. This cost may be absorbed by
the Village if authorized by the Village Board.
A. Proposal. Each proposal shall include:
(1) The specific building, park, waterway or facility being proposed
for naming or renaming, including its address or a sketch showing
its location in the Village.
(2) All names that were considered.
(3) The full form of the name being recommended.
(4) The origin or meaning of the proposed name, if applicable.
(5) If the proposed name refers to an individual, a brief biography of
that individual.
(6) The rationale of naming or renaming the building, park, waterway
or facility and, if applicable, an explanation of how the name or
individual is or has been associated with the building, park, waterway
or facility or the area in which the building, park, waterway or facility
is located.
B. Evaluation. The Village Board shall evaluate the proposal based on
the information submitted and, if it was sent to a committee by the
Village President, that committee's recommendation.
C. Approval. The naming or renaming of a public building, park, waterway
or facility shall be approved by the adoption of a Village resolution.
In reviewing a proposed naming or renaming of a public building,
park, waterway or facility, Village committees and the Village Board
shall consider the following criteria:
A. Descriptive names are required. Examples include:
(6) Commonly recognized historical events.
(8) Outstanding features of the facility.
B. A name shall not be considered if it duplicates or sounds similar
to an existing name for the same type of public property.
C. In and of themselves, contributions of land or money for public facilities
shall not be considered ample justification for the naming or renaming
of a public building, park, waterway or facility after individuals,
corporations or civic groups.
D. Names that could be considered derogatory, obscene, blasphemous or
in poor taste shall not be considered.
E. The following guidelines shall apply to the naming or renaming of
a public building, park, waterway or facility after an individual:
(1) Names of living persons will not be considered. Individuals will
be considered posthumously.
(2) The name of an individual may only be given consideration if the
individual was of exemplary moral character and was historically significant
in the establishment or development of the Village of Brandon, State
of Wisconsin, or the United States of America.
F. Names of corporations or civic groups will be considered if they
had a significant impact in the establishment or development of the
Village of Brandon, State of Wisconsin or the United States of America.