Honorary street names are signs posted under official city street name signs, which are intended to honor and memorialize certain individuals or historic and community events for a period of time, not to exceed 5 years, without changing the official name of the street or the official addresses of residences and businesses on the street.
(A) Policy and Procedures. This policy applies to all public streets in the City of Lima. It does not attempt to regulate honorary street names on private streets and driveways. The intent is to provide opportunities to honor and memorialize citizens who have made outstanding contributions to the nation, state, city or community. Historic and community events may also be memorialized. For this purpose, certain public roadways may be designated. A public roadway is a dedicated street, alley, bridge or other access route used as an official address by properties abutting that roadway. In order for such opportunities to gain general public acceptance and proceed in a consistent and orderly manner, the following procedure is prescribed.
(1) Filing of Application. Any Lima city resident or organization based in the community of Lima-Allen County may file with the Traffic Commission an Application in the form approved by the Traffic Commission, and all supporting documentation required therein, which must include the following:
(a) The signatures of greater than 50% of the property owners on the street segment being requested for the honorary naming;
(i) the additional signatures of at least 5 residents from each ward;
(b) Non-refundable application fee of $450.00.
(2) Decision Criteria. Honorary designations shall meet the following criteria:
(a) The designation shall be confined to the roadway within the vicinity of the home, business or location associated with the person or event.
(b) The roadway may not be a State Highway or U.S. Highway, as determined by the City Engineer.
(c) There shall be only one honorary designation per public roadway, and only one honorary sign will be allowed at an intersection. There shall be a maximum of 3 signs total over a two block length of public roadway.
(d) Preference shall be given to intersections and no more than three blocks may be designated, such as the block where the person lived and two adjacent street segments associated with the recognition.
(e) A well-known person or an important community event is:
(i) A person who has made a sustained contribution, over a long period of time, above and beyond the call of duty and demonstrated leadership relating to governance, human relations and development, or neighborhood development.
(ii) A person who has made specific and sustained contributions to an organization of significant import to the city or community.
(iii) A person who has demonstrated vigilance in changing the nature and characteristics of the specific neighborhood, community or city.
(iv) An event which has historic significance to the city, state, or country.
(f) Only one honorary designation shall be permitted for each person, or event.
(g) No honorary designation shall be given to persons still alive.
(3) Staff Report. The City Engineer shall evaluate the merits of the Application and make a written report and recommendation to the Traffic Commission within 45 days of the date of the application.
(4) Traffic Commission Action. The Traffic Commission shall approve or reject the application within 30 days of receipt of the City Engineer's report, and forward its decision to Council. The Commission may require the applicant or City Engineer to submit any additional information the Commission determines to be appropriate for it to consider, and may extend the time for decision on the application if it determines it is necessary to do so.
(a) If the Commission denies a application, it shall specify its reasons for denial, in writing, and serve its decision on the applicant together with a notice of any rights to appeal the applicant may have.
(5) Appeals. In case of denial, the applicant may appeal the case to the Mayor who may, based on the merits of the case and with due regard to the deliberations of the Traffic Commission, uphold or reverse the decision. The Mayor shall forward his decision to Council.
(6) Public Notification. A public notice of a meeting by City Council on the matter shall be published in a daily newspaper of general circulation in the city, thirty (30) days prior to the time of the City Council meeting.
(7) City Council Action. Only applications approved by the Traffic Commission and the Mayor, by way of appeal, shall be considered by City Council. Adoption shall be by Resolution, approved by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members elected to Council.
(B) Honorary Sign Standards. In order to distinguish an official street name sign from an honorary street name sign, the following standards are prescribed (see also Attachment A for an illustration):
(1) The honorary sign shall be of the same shape as the adjacent official street name sign but of a size that is one (1) inch smaller in height and width than the adjacent official street name sign.
(2) The font markings will be the same as the adjacent street sign but of a height that is one (1) inch smaller than that of the adjacent street name sign.
(3) The color shall be green on white with green outline or the reverse of the official street name sign currently adopted.
(4) A logo or an iconic symbol may be allowed provided that it is related to the honoree's profession, trade, or legacy, and does not overwhelm the sign itself, as determined by the Traffic Commission.
(C) Cost of Signs. In addition to the application fee above the applicant shall pay, in advance, an amount to cover the cost of design, fabrication, installation, and maintenance over the 5 year period the signs would be in place, as determined by the City Engineer. This fee shall be payable to the City of Lima Treasurer for deposit into the General Fund.
(D) Renewals. Renewals, if desired at the end of the 5 year period, will be handled like new requests with all applicable rules and fees in effect at that time, and will require new signage. If a renewal is not arranged the honorary designation will be discontinued at the end of 5 years. Upon renewal or the expiration of the honorary designation the Department of Public Works shall remove the signage and make the signs available to the applicant.
(Ord. 132-14. Passed 5-19-14.)