(a) General Guidelines.
(1) The applicant will submit suggested name(s) to City Council for outdoor spaces (including parks), buildings, and other structures owned by the City where there is a strong possibility that signs for the public will be used and references to such spaces and structures will become the common name for them.
(2) The City will not name interior spaces in buildings, small individual structures within a larger named complex that are generally not viewed by the public except upon entry, or programs of the City that are generally not viewed by the public except upon entry. City departments may use naming opportunities for these interior and non-public spaces or programs.
(3) While the general process may be to emphasize names of local importance, the possibility of using a non-local person, event, or feature should not be overlooked. These categories might include explorers, astronauts, sportsmen, political leaders, rivers, states, etc. There should be no name duplication to existing City-owned assets. If the asset is to be named after a person, the full name should be used unless the public persona of said person was otherwise.
(b) Criteria for Naming City-owned Assets After Deceased Individuals.
(1) It is strongly recommended that City-owned assets be named for deceased, not living, individuals and only after a sufficient period of time has passed to assure that the person’s achievements, reputation and contributions are above reproach.
(2) The name of any sworn public safety employee of the City of London killed in the line of duty is eligible after the employee has been deceased for six months.
(3) All other proposed names under this category shall meet the first criterion below as well as at least one of the second and third criteria.
A. When the individual has been deceased for at least twelve months.
B. When the individual has served as a community role model or shown exemplary leadership.
C. When the individual has had a positive impact on the City of London.
(c) Criteria for Naming City-owned Assets After Living Individuals or Current Organizations.
(1) It is strongly recommended that a City-owned asset not be named after a living individual. An individual’s name will affect the community for a long time; therefore, the use of an individual’s name shall carry in-depth scrutiny. That scrutiny is often aided by the passage of time and should be viewed from many perspectives within the community.
(2) Proposed name(s) will be considered only after extensive review and the proposed name meets the first two criteria and at least one of the remaining criteria set forth below:
A. When the person's achievements, reputation, and contributions are above reproach and either:
1. Has served as a community role model or shown exemplary leadership; or
2. Has had a positive impact on the City of London.
B. When the proposal is accompanied by evidence of local support for the proposed name and such support is consistent with the purposes propounded by the nominee. Such evidence may be in the form of letters from local residents and administrative agencies and/or petitions containing original signatures of local citizens.
C. When the nominated individual is a former employee or elected official of the City or any of its agencies, departments, or enterprises, the individual has been retired from active service or office for a minimum of two years.
D. When private funding is involved in the acquisition, construction, or development of the asset and 50% or more of the value of the property is donated or contributed in-kind by the individual or organization.
E. When a significant amount of monetary contribution is made toward the acquisition, construction, or development of the asset, the naming is appropriate to the nature and prominence of the asset.
F. When a major contribution has been made by the individual or organization to the enhancement of the quality of life of the community.
(d) Criteria for Renaming a City-owned Asset.
(1) Names perform an important function as they identify a particular geographic feature, place, or area providing a high degree of stability. Changing or renaming a City-owned asset is strongly discouraged so as not to diminish the original name or discount the value of prior contributors. It is recommended that efforts to change a name be subject to the most critical examination so as not to diminish the original justification.
(2) Proposed name change(s) must meet all of the following three criteria.
A. A history of the City-owned asset shall be included with the application.
B. An economic impact review including costs, to the City and the public, associated with a name change shall be included with the application.
C. When the criteria for naming a City-owned asset after a deceased, living individual, or current organization can be applied.
(e) Criteria for Naming Streets.
(1) Streets should generally be named after people, places, events, and things related to the City and citizens of London. When naming new streets, strong consideration should be given to the continuation of any existing street name to maintain street name alignment. Note however, that naming of street(s) shall come within the purview of these criteria only in extraordinary circumstances. General naming of streets and roads in the City are managed through the City development review process.
(2) Proposed name(s) must meet one or more of the following five criteria.
A. To honor and commemorate noteworthy persons associated with the City of London.
B. To commemorate local and significant history, places, or culture.
C. To strengthen neighborhood identity.
D. To recognize native wildlife, flora, fauna, or natural features related to the City of London.
E. To recognize communities that contribute to the diversity of the City of London.
(f) Criteria for Naming Parks. Consideration should be given to names describing the park, its geographical location and its historical or ecological relationship indigenous to the City or County, making it easy for persons outside the neighborhood to identify the park. While historical and natural features should be used for parks, individuals could be recognized by naming features within the parks, i.e. Smith Field, Jones Shelter House, subject to approval by the Playground and Public Recreation Commission. The use of foreign words or phrases shall be avoided if unfamiliar to the general public.
(Ord. 149-12. Passed 9-20-12.)