City of Lancaster, PA Chapter 112 Buildings, Naming of

[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Lancaster as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]

Article I Public Facilities

[Adopted 11-27-2007 by Ord. No. 17-2007]

§ 112-1 Title.

This article shall be known and may be cited as the "City of Lancaster Building-Naming Ordinance."

§ 112-2 Written request and evidence of local support required.

A. An individual, group of individuals, or entity which wishes to name a public building, park or public space ("public facility") owned by the City must submit their or its request, in writing, both to City Council and the Mayor. For purposes of this article, streets shall not be considered a public facility. The written request shall:

(1) Contain background information explaining the rationale for the request;

(2) Include biographical information if the public facility is to be named after a person; and

(3) If applicable, provide an explanation of how the name or individual is or has been associated with the public facility or the City of Lancaster.

B. With each such written request, the individual, group of individuals or entity submitting the request shall submit, along with the request, written evidence of substantial local support for the proposal, which written evidence may include letters of support, petitions or other similar items.

§ 112-3 Criteria considered; City Council vote and approval of Mayor required.

A. Council and the Mayor may consider the following criteria in acting upon a petition submitted to name a public facility:

(1) The contributions the individual made to improving the lives of the residents of the City of Lancaster;

(2) The financial contributions made by the individual to the City and its residents and the exceptional quality or significance of such contributions; and

(3) Such other criteria as Council and the Mayor deem appropriate.

B. Naming of a public facility shall be accomplished by the vote of a super-majority of City Council (five members in favor) and the approval of the Mayor thereto for the adoption of the petition by resolution of City Council.

§ 112-4 Duration; effect on existing names; selection.

A. Once a public facility is named, the name of the public facility shall not be changed for a period of 100 years.

B. To preserve the City's heritage and for the sake of convenience, existing names of public facilities may be changed only in exceptional circumstances and only when compelling reasons for such change are evident.

C. In selecting names for public facilities, priority shall be given to names reflecting the City's cultural diversity and the contributions of groups under represented in the existing nomenclature.

§ 112-5 Costs.

All costs associated with the naming of public facilities, including the cost of any necessary recording and the cost of signage, shall be paid by the person, group of persons or entities submitting the request. These costs may, however, be waived by a majority vote of City Council.