(a) General policy. Generally, a public facility or a public right-of-way should be named after its principal function, its location or historic reference. However, it may be named after an important community event, organization or a well-known person whose contribution to the community, state or nation is related to the public facility or public right-of-way. A public facility is defined as a building, structure, park, site, or any portion thereof that is owned by the city and open to the public. A public right-of-way is defined as a dedicated street, highway, alley, bridge, or other access route used as an official address and located with the City of Middletown.
(b) Procedure.
(1) A public facility or public right-of-way may be considered for an honorary designation upon the filing of an application, approval by the appropriate City Board or Commission, and final approval by City Council.
(2) To apply for the honorary designation of a public right-of-way or facility, an application must be filed with the Clerk of City Council and shall include the following:
A. An endorsement by a member of City Council, the City Manager, a member of the City Park Board (for an application relating to a park) or a member of the City Planning Commission (for an application relating to any facility or right-of-way other than a park). This endorsement is part of the application and must be obtained prior to being filed with the Clerk of City Council.
B. If the right-of-way or facility being requested is located within a neighborhood homeowners association or organization, then the application shall also include a statement of support from that association or organization.
C. A statement citing the reasons for the designation and detailing the significant contributions or significance of the designation.
D. A statement as to the length of time the designation is requested to be in effect. This shall be no longer than two years.
E. A statement detailing the attempts to use other methods of honoring a person, event or organization (such as donations to programs and projects, proclamations, naming of neighborhood or community festivals, planting trees or other living memorials, placement of pieces of art, benches, and similar objects in public or private spaces, creation of community service awards or scholarships, and other memorial methods) and the reasons why these other methods are inappropriate.
F. A petition supporting the designation signed by 51% of the abutting property owners.
G. A non-refundable application fee of $500.00 is required with the filing of an application.
(3) If the proposed designation is for less than 90 days per year, and is consistent with the general policy, the Clerk of City Council shall forward the information to the Law Division of the Administrative Services Department to prepare a resolution to be presented to City Council for adoption.
(4) If the proposed designation is for more than 90 days per year, the Clerk of City Council shall forward the nomination to the staff liaison of either the Park Board or Planning Commission. The associated Board or Commission shall hold a public hearing and the staff liaison of the Board or Commission shall provide a recommendation regarding approval or denial of the application. The Board or Commission may recommend the original proposal as listed in the application or any alternate proposal, so long as any recommended proposal is consistent with the general policy. A copy of the Board or Commission Minutes indicating the approval or denial of the application shall be forwarded to City Council. The Clerk of City Council will provide the application to the Law Division of the Administrative Services Department to prepare a resolution to be presented to City Council for adoption.
(5) Upon approval by City Council, the Public Works & Utilities Department shall prepare and install the appropriate signage. All design considerations as to signage shall be at the discretion of the city. Upon expiration of the honorary designation, the Public Works & Utilities Department shall remove the signage and make the sign available to the applicant.
(c) Rules and regulations. All honorary designations shall be in compliance with the following rules and regulations:
(1) The designation shall be confined to the right-of-way within the vicinity of the home, business, or location associated with the person or event being honored.
(2) The designation shall not be an arterial road or right-of-way.
(3) There shall be only one honorary designation per facility or right-of-way.
(4) An important community event, organization or well-known person is further described as:
A. A person or entity 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.
B. A person who has made specific and sustained contributions to an organization located in or in proximity to the facility or right-of-way.
C. A person who has made specific and sustained contributions to an organization located in or in proximity to the facility.
D. A person or entity that has demonstrated vigilance in changing the nature and characteristics of the specific neighborhood, community, or city.
E. An event which is recognized statewide or nationwide.
(5) The important community event, organization, or well-known person shall be related to the public facility or the public right-of-way. For example, the person lived, worked, went to school, etc. at the location specified. Only one honorary designation shall be permitted for each person or community event.
(6) For right-of-way designations, the location shall be limited to three blocks.
(7) A public right-of-way shall not be named after a living person or an existing company or corporation.
(d) Application. The application form shall be in a form similar to Exhibit "A", attached to Ordinance No. O2019-19.
(e) Amendments to this policy must be approved by City Council.
(Ord. O2019-19, passed 4-16-2019)