(a) In naming a city property, space or program the following process shall be followed:
(1) The requesting party shall submit an application or proposal to the Mayor that fulfills the requirements of § 212.03. The application or proposal shall specify the term, or length of time, the city property, space or program shall have the proposed name. The Mayor shall review the application or proposal and forward it to City Council with a recommendation for consideration at the next most convenient Council meeting.
(2) Upon notice and review of the application or proposal and the recommendation of the Mayor, City Council will, by majority vote, decide whether to forward the application or proposal to an appropriate committee of Council, to take no further action on the request, or to act on the application or proposal immediately. Approval of any application or proposal shall only be achieved by a majority vote of City Council members approving the application or proposal to name a city property, space or program.
(3) If, under division (a)(2) of this section, City Council forwards the application or proposal to a committee of Council, the following shall apply:
A. The committee may consult with or obtain the agreement of the parties involved in the naming of city property, space or program such as the individual, or next of kin in the case of a deceased individual, or the authorized representative of an entity, group or organization.
B. The committee must reach a decision and recommendation for naming within 90 days of City Council's transfer of the matter to the committee, or within such time provide notice to City Council of the committee's need for additional time.
C. City Council shall review the recommendation of the committee and determine, by majority vote, whether to approve the application or proposal.
(4) Approved applications, or proposals, shall be kept on file with the Clerk of Council as a permanent record.
(b) The size and design of any signs or plaques associated with the naming of city property, spaces or programs pursuant to this Policy shall comply with city codes and ordinances and, if applicable, must be approved by the appropriate city official, committee or City Council.
(c) It shall be the intent of this Policy that the naming of city property, spaces or programs pursuant to this Policy shall be for a specific term, or length of time, so specified in the application or proposal approved by City Council. If City Council shall determine that renaming city property, space or program, prior to the expiration of the term of the then present name of the property, space or program so designated pursuant to City Council approval, is in the best interest of the city, the following process and considerations shall be followed:
(1) Renaming of city property, space or program, when such is already named for a person, group, event or entity, shall only be undertaken when such person, group, event or entity for whom the name so recognizes is determined to be disreputable, immoral or otherwise undeserving of the honor of recognition in or on city property.
(2) Honorary dedications may be included and added as a secondary name to city property, space or program, rather than renaming the same, as long as the second name complements the existing name of such city property, space or program. It such case, the naming process of this section shall be followed to add a secondary name or dedication.
(Ord. 2022-220, passed 12-5-2022)