Council reviews draft city asset naming policy; public calls for indigenous recognition and limits on commercial naming
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Summary
Council considered a draft City Asset Naming and Renaming policy that would standardize how parks, facilities and ceremonial street names are proposed and approved. Staff recommended a formal application, petition thresholds and an authority for council to remove names; council directed further off-line review after wide public comment.
City staff presented a draft policy to govern naming and renaming of city assets including parks, facilities and ceremonial street names. Assistant City Manager Jason Nutt said the city previously relied on a simple park-naming policy and needs a broader, standardized approach that sets criteria, a public application process and steps for board and council review.
Key aspects of the draft policy
- Scope: Applies to named city assets (parks, recreation facilities, plazas, open space and ancillary components); street naming procedures already exist separately for official address changes.
- Criteria: Location, historical significance, outstanding individuals (the draft requires individuals to be deceased for more than five years to receive permanent name recognition), major donations, themed assets and the possibility of naming-rights agreements subject to council approval.
- Process: A required application and petition (the draft suggested a petition threshold of 1,000 signatures or 50% of adjacent property owners for some requests), review by relevant boards or commissions, public outreach and a final council decision. Applicants would pay renaming costs; the draft allows the city manager to consolidate review steps in straightforward cases.
Nut graf: The draft aims to bring consistency and public input to a process that councilmembers and staff said has produced ad hoc outcomes. Staff recommended adopting the policy and rescinding the prior 1989 Park Naming Policy, but councilmembers asked for additional off-line discussion on equity and the treatment of donor-funded namings.
Public reaction and points of contention
Speakers offered strong views. Several indigenous advocates urged the city to proactively rename parks with Pomo and other tribal names and to remove colonial-era names; they said a high petition threshold or requirement that honorees be deceased would disadvantage native recognition. At least one resident seeking to honor a fallen civilian described being told renaming would cost tens of thousands of dollars for compliant signage and said that burden effectively prohibits community-led requests. Councilmembers said the draft is a good framework but requested further council-led discussion to refine thresholds, costs and donor-related language.
Ending: Council did not adopt the policy at this meeting. Members directed staff to circulate the draft for more feedback and to hold off on formal adoption until additional off-line discussions and refinements occur.
