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Council amends public‑facility naming policy, adds explicit council authority to revoke names
Summary
The Common Council approved cleanup revisions to the city’s public facility naming policy, clarifying use of full names and restoring earlier language removing the restriction against naming facilities after living persons; it also added an explicit clause that the Common Council may revoke or rename facilities at any time.
The Common Council on July 1 amended the city’s public‑facility naming policy to clarify procedures and to add an explicit council authority to revoke facility names.
City staff member Mark Fryer explained that an earlier 2012 amendment had already removed a prior prohibition on naming facilities for living persons; the July 1 action was a policy cleanup to align language and allow clearer options for future naming requests. Council members also discussed whether the policy should explicitly state that the city may remove or rename a facility if circumstances warrant. Council moved and approved an amendment inserting language that the Common Council can revoke a naming at any time.
The policy changes also clarified that full names may be used and left room for the council to adopt naming forms on a case‑by‑case basis. The item passed on roll call with ayes recorded from Aldermen Spiegelberg, Mulder, Shellpepper, McConnell, Rosick, Altman Kloth and Ellis.
Council members said the change is intended as procedural cleanup and not tied to any specific pending naming request; staff affirmed the policy work will guide future naming requests.
