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Plan commission to review application to honorarily name Post Street Bridge for Dr. John Moyer and Friends of the Falls
Summary
An application to honorarily name the Post Street Bridge after Senator Dr. John Moyer and Friends of the Falls was presented; staff outlined the administrative policy, plan commission rules and SMC 18.10 and said the commission will hold a public hearing and send a recommendation to City Council.
Tim Thompson, speaking for staff, told the commission the city received an application on Dec. 2 proposing an honorary name for the Post Street Bridge: Senator Dr. John Moyer and Friends of the Falls. Rick Hastings, the applicant, attended the meeting to offer background on the group’s work to protect the Spokane River gorge and to explain why the name was proposed.
Staff reviewed three governing documents that will guide the review: a City administrative policy on naming city‑owned property (adopted April 2014), the Plan Commission’s resolution on rules of procedure for naming (adopted July 9, 2014) and Spokane Municipal Code chapter 18.10 (Process for Review of Institutional Statements, Names, and Monuments on City Property), adopted in early 2024. Thompson said the new SMC chapter appears to focus on community concerns about existing names and monuments and does not directly change the naming process for a new honorary name, but that section 18.10.050 should be considered during deliberations.
Thompson described the request as an honorary naming that would not change the street name. “The proposal is not to rename Post Street. And so it will remain Post Street Bridge,” Thompson said. Staff indicated the likely implementation would involve signage or plaques acknowledging the honoree and Friends of the Falls rather than a legal renaming of the street.
Rick Hastings described the history of Friends of the Falls and Dr. Moyer’s role in coalition building and the Spokane River Gorge master plan. Hastings said the group helped secure state support and community involvement for a master plan published in 2006; he told the commission that the plan produced many priority projects that have since been implemented. Hastings said the group’s work created broad community consensus about protecting the gorge and connecting trails and parks.
Commissioners discussed process and cautioned that naming memorials after people can raise later controversies; staff said the plan commission’s role is advisory and procedural and that the next steps would include a workshop on proposed whereas statements followed by a public hearing and a council decision. Staff said they would coordinate a hearing schedule and bring a proposed whereas statement for commissioner review before a hearing. No recommendation or vote was taken at the Feb. 12 meeting.
