ARTICLE 18.05 NAMING OF CITY FACILITIES POLICY

To establish a systematic and consistent approach for the official naming of city facilities.

To establish a policy that considers community tradition and continuity of name, while utilizing established criteria that emphasize geography, local history, community values and character, civics and service to the city in the naming or renaming of municipal facilities.

(Resolution 2018-02-17 adopted 2/26/18)

§ 18.05.003 Scope.

All city property and publicly owned rights-of-way.

(Resolution 2018-02-17 adopted 2/26/18)

§ 18.05.004 Policy.

The primary function of naming development areas, parks, municipal facilities, streets and honorary streets is to recognize and commemorate noteworthy persons associated with the city, reflect the city's heritage, and to recognize the flora, fauna, and natural features of the community. Streets and facilities should generally be named after people, places and events having made a significant impact on the quality of life within the city, and/or events of significance to the city's development.

Naming criteria:

Proposed names should generally met one of the following criteria:

To honor and commemorate noteworthy persons or organizations who made exceptional contributions to the city, including one or more of the following:

(i)

Demonstrated excellence, courage or exceptional service to the citizens of the city (sustained, continuous public service over a period of 25 years or two-thirds of the person's life space);

(ii)

Volunteered and gave extraordinary help or care to individuals, families or groups, or supported community services or humanitarian causes;

(iii)

Worked to foster equality and reduce discrimination;

(iv)

Risked his or her life to save or protect others;

(v)

Achieved a deed or activity performed in an outstanding professional manner or of an uncommonly high standard that brought considerable benefit or great honor to the city;

(vi)

Made an outstanding contribution to the city;

(vii)

Made a significant financial contribution to the city;

(viii)

Public service as an elected official; and

(ix)

Public service as a community volunteer.

To commemorate local history, places, events, culture, ethnic or gender diversity of the community, including early pioneers who have contributed significantly to the city.

To strengthen neighborhood identity;

To recognize native wildlife, natural features, or flora and fauna of the geographical or topographical features related to the city.

The following names shall not be used:

When renaming a street, names of living persons for streets, other than a recognized national figure;

Duplicative names of streets already existing within the city;

Names that are similar to existing parks, properties, or facilities in the city system (or other systems in the region) should not be considered in order to minimize confusion;

Names which are, and could be considered discriminatory or derogatory, or that express a particular political affiliation; and

(E)

Names that could be considered advertising.

This policy shall not affect the platting or designation of new city streets.

Requests will not be considered when submitted by an individual or a group for self-nomination. The only exception to this policy is when a significant financial contribution is made and the naming is a condition of the gift.

There must be a well-defined connection associated with the contributions of the individuals or community organization and the city facility.

The significance of the contribution from the individual/organization needs to be evaluated in terms of the service impact of the city facility. Programs and projects must be described in specific quantifiable terms.

Individuals and organizations that have made contributions of regional or community wide significance may be considered for naming of facilities that serve the region or community.

Individuals and organizations that have made contributions of area or neighborhood wide significance may be considered for naming facilities that serve areas or neighborhoods within the city.

The city reserves the right to change the name to maintain consistency with these policies. However, the city must review prior documentation for initial naming or renaming of public property or right-of-way. Names that have become ingrained or widely accepted in the community should not be abandoned unless council has amended current policy or there are compelling reasons and strong public sentiment for doing so. Historical or commonly used place names should be preserved wherever possible.

(10)

When city property is named for an individual/organization, this action in no way gives the individual, family members or organization naming rights over other features on the property. Features within the facility or on the property will remain eligible for naming without the consent of the individual or family members for which the property is currently named.

(Resolution 2018-02-17 adopted 2/26/18)

§ 18.05.005 Municipal facilities.

Procedures.

A city council subcommittee will be formed and be responsible for recommending a name for city facilities to the entire city council for consideration.

The subcommittee will be made up five (5) individuals. Two (2) councilmembers, at least one representative from a board or commission which oversees the city function of the city facility, and two (2) members at-large representing the public. If a relevant advisory board or commission does not exist, then the subcommittee will be made up of three (3) councilmembers.

The appointments shall be made by the mayor subject to city council approval.

The subcommittee shall be responsible for research, study, and recommendation of a proposed name to the city council. Recommendations, including rationale for the recommendations shall be submitted to the entire city council in writing.

Any recommendation which involved the name of a person shall include the following:

Application;

A biographical or informational sketch;

Rationale supporting the nomination; and

The name(s) of the person(s) or supporting group(s) responsible for the nomination.

The subcommittee shall solicit and use public input during the formation of such recommendations.

The subcommittee may also solicit and use input from city staff during the formation of such recommendations.

The subcommittee must approve the recommendation by a simple majority.

The city council shall approve by resolution or disapprove the name recommended by the subcommittee.

(10)

If the recommendation(s) is disapproved by the city council, then the matter may be referred back to the subcommittee fur further action.

Guidelines.

City facilities shall be named at the earliest possible and most appropriate date.

Facilities such as a city hall, municipal court, police station, fire station, municipal service center, etc. shall include the name for the function that they serve to the public in order to prevent confusion and misrepresentation of the facility's mission (such as Jane Doe Municipal Airport or John Doe Memorial Fire Station).

The subcommittee may recommend that the facility may be dedicated in honor of an individual in lieu of naming.

City facility names shall be familiar to the majority of citizens, easy to recall, and unique and lasting.

Facilities may not be named for members of the city's staff, boards and commissions, city council, or any other official or employee (elected or otherwise) concerned with the functions and/or control of the city, for so long as such relationship exists.

Nothing herein shall be construed to require the city council to name every facility.

Individual rooms, such as a conference room, etc., may be given a name which is different from that of the overall facility. The procedure for naming such a room shall be the same as for naming an entire facility.

The subcommittee shall not contact any individuals whose names are under consideration. It shall also keep strictly confidential all information it has received or discussed, and any recommendation(s) it makes until such decision is taken to the entire city council for discussion and action.

Once a name has been established, the building services department will be responsible for the installation of appropriate signage and markers.

(c)

Renaming existing facilities.

Proposals to rename facilities are not encouraged and should be entertained only after fully investigating and considering potential impact of dropping the current. When appropriate, facilities may be renamed. The procedure for doing so shall be the same for originally naming the facility.

Public requests to rename existing facilities will be received by the city secretary's office and directed to the appropriate department for further investigation and evaluation against naming criteria.

(Resolution 2018-02-17 adopted 2/26/18)

§ 18.05.006 Parkland and facilities.

Procedures.

The parks and recreation advisory board ("parks board") may be notified of the need to name a park or facility by the city council, city manager.

The chairman of the parks board shall name a committee that will be responsible for recommending a name for all parklands and facilities to the board.

The committee shall be responsible for research, study, and recommendation of a proposed name to the board. Recommendations, including rationale for the selection of the recommended name shall be given in writing.

Any recommendation which involved the name of a person shall include the following:

Application;

A biographical or informational sketch;

Rationale supporting the nomination; and

The name(s) of the person(s) or supporting group(s) responsible for the nomination.

The committee shall solicit and use public input during the formation of such recommendations.

The committee may also solicit and use input from city staff during the formation of such recommendations.

The parks board shall also solicit and use public input during the formation of such recommendations.

The parks board shall confirm or reject the name recommended by the committee.

If the committee's recommendation is rejected by the parks board, then the matter may be referred back to the committee for further action.

(10)

All recommended names for such facilities must be confirmed by a majority vote of the members of the parks board.

(11)

Upon confirmation, the recommended name shall be forwarded to the city council for the consideration and final approval.

(12)

The city council shall approve by resolution or disapprove the name recommended by the parks board.

(13)

If the recommendation(s) is disapproved by the city council, then the matter may be referred back to the parks board for further action.

Guidelines.

Names for new parks shall typically be established within 90 days from the date of land acquisition or at the earliest possible time. The name of new facilities shall be established prior to the completion of construction. Names for parts or areas of parks and facilities may be established at any time.

The committee may recommend that the facility may be dedicated in honor of an individual in lieu of naming.

Parkland and facility names shall be familiar to the majority of citizens, easy to recall, and unique and lasting.

Nothing herein shall be construed to require the city council to name every facility.

Parts or areas within the park or recreation facility may be given a name which is different than the park or building. Such parts or areas may include (but are not to be limited to) gardens, playgrounds, athletic fields, structures, swimming pools and meeting rooms. Names for such facilities shall be established by the same criteria and procedures.

The committee shall not contact any individuals whose names are under consideration. It shall also keep strictly confidential all information it has received or discussed, and any recommendation(s) it makes until such decision is taken to the entire city council for discussion and action.

Once a name has been established, the director of quality of life and cultural services will be responsible for the installation of appropriate signage and markers.

(c)

Renaming existing facilities.

(Resolution 2018-02-17 adopted 2/26/18)

§ 18.05.007 Street name changes.

Procedures.

Reasons for name change.

Applications for a street name change may be considered for any one (1) of the following reasons, which must be specified in the application:

To establish continuity of the street's name.

To eliminate name spelling duplication, phonetic duplication, or misspelling.

To bring coherence to the street numbering designation (east, west, north, south).

To provide a necessary roadway designation (street, road, lane, circle, drive, boulevard, and similar designations).

(E)

To honor a person, place, institution, group entity, event or similar subject, subject to naming criteria listed in this policy.

(F)

To enhance a neighborhood through association of the street name with its location, area characteristics, history, or similar factors, subject to the naming criteria listed in this policy.

Application by petition.

An application for a change of the name of a street may be filed by any person, group, firm or agency with the department of public works in the form of a petition signed by not fewer than eighty percent (80%) of all owners, or owner's attorney-in-fact, of property abutting the subject street. "Owners" of such abutting property shall be determined by the then-current city real property ad valorem tax roll. The applicant shall make a formal request for the official application form from the department of public works engineering division. The petition shall contain the following minimum information:

(i)

A detailed description of the request;

(ii)

The owner's address, printed name, signature, and whether they oppose or suppose the street name change.

The application shall state the present official name of the city street, the proposed new name, and a statement of the reason or reasons from among those listed above. The application shall also indicate the name and address of each person, group, agency, or entity requesting the street name change and responsible for payment of the associated costs for signage and installation.

City-initiated changes.

In all instances where it is the city's recommendation that a street name be changed, the department head shall file a request for a change of the name of a street with the department of public works. The written request shall state the present official name of the city street, the proposed new name, and a statement of reason or reasons, from among those listed above, claimed for such name change.

Processing; approvals or denials; installation of signs.

Upon receipt of a completed application form, the public works department shall confirm that the petition meets the requirements provided herein and the city-initiated request meets the requirements provided herein.

If a completed application form is not submitted to the public works department by the application within ninety (90) days of the date of the formal request for the application, the application is considered expired.

In all cases where the application by petition has expired or been rejected for not meeting any of the requirements provided herein, any applicant may submit a second formal request for application for the same street only after a period five (5) years from the date of the previous formal request for application.

Upon confirming that the petition or city-initiated request meets the requirements of this article, the public works department will determine the costs associated with the installation of new city street name signs.

(E)

The public works department will notify by mail all the property owners on the subject street to verify the petition. The letter will also notify the residents of the cost for the installation of new city street name signs and provide contact information for the collection of payments. If more than 20% of the property owners contact the city objecting to the street name change, in writing, the city will deny the street name change application.

(F)

If all cases where the application by petition has been approved such approval is contingent on the city's receipt of advance payment for the costs associated with the installation of new city street name signs by the person, group, agency, or entity designated on the application as responsible for such payment.

(G)

All approved street name changes shall be forwarded to the streets division for the ordering of and installation of the new street name signs.

(H)

The public works department shall provide a copy of each street name change to the local utility companies, all department directors, 911 administrators, Dallas Central Appraisals District, U.S. Postal Service, and county voter's registrar's office.

Street naming alternatives.

Individuals and organizations are encouraged to consider alternatives to street renaming for the commemoration of individuals or organizations. For example, interpretative plaques at key locations on buildings or sites, or where appropriate, in sidewalks or other visible pedestrian areas.

In some cases, an "honorary street" designation may be given to certain sections of existing streets to commemorate the lives of important community members. A commemorative street blade sign may be mounted below the official street name for a defined length of the street, if approved, at the expense of the applicants. "Honorary designations" of streets may be considered as requests for renaming facilities.