Ordinance committee advances plan to make 900 block of S. Greenwood honorary 'Governor George H. and Laura Lynn Ryan Avenue'

Mayor Chris Curtis asked the ordinance committee to recommend that the city make the 900 block of South Greenwood Avenue an honorary street named “Governor George H. and Laura Lynn Ryan Avenue,” while keeping the legal street name as Greenwood Avenue.

The request matters because the city’s honorary-street code requires a petition signed by at least 60% of homeowners on the block and committee review before full council approval; the petitioner must pay for signage and installation.

Mayor Chris Curtis said the 900 block contains five homes and that one of those properties is the Ryan homestead; he said the Ryan family lived in the house for more than 60 years. “The petition must be signed by at least 60% of the homeowners,” Curtis said, and he said he expected to collect signatures well in excess of that threshold.

Curtis asked that the ordinance committee recommend placing the item on the city council agenda on July 7. Committee members discussed logistics of signage; Curtis said typically there is one sign placed at a prominent corner and suggested the Park Place corner as the most practical site.

Alderman Michael O'Brien moved to forward the petition to full city council on July 7 pending the remaining homeowner signatures; Alderman Tallied seconded. The committee approved the referral by roll call; recorded ayes included Alderman Tallied, Alderman Michael O'Brien, Honora Noble, Kelly Johnson and Conor Lewis and the motion carried.

Committee members said the petitioner will provide the required homeowner signatures and cover the cost of the designation sign and installation before the item goes to council. The ordinance committee will review the petition filings prior to the July 7 council meeting.