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Parks staff ask committee to streamline city naming process; Resolution 6537 under review
Summary
Parks and facilities staff presented recommendations to revise Resolution 6537 — the city policy governing naming and renaming of buildings, parks and public places — and proposed an abbreviated process for small assets such as stages, rooms or small park features.
Assistant Parks Director Kimberly Moore and Parks and Facilities Director Bob Leonard briefed the Parks and Built Environment Committee Oct. 8 on proposed updates to the city’s naming policy, Resolution 6537.
Moore said Resolution 6537 governs naming of city buildings, parks, public places and streets, was last revised in September 2012 and sets the process for submitting and reviewing naming requests. “The current structure requires that an interested party put their request for naming or renaming in writing to the mayor, highlighting how the named individual has met the eligibility requirements,” Moore said. She listed eligibility criteria cited in the resolution, including leadership in civic or historic groups, contributions to disadvantaged communities, community betterment and significant financial contributions toward those efforts.
Why it matters: Committee members said naming policy affects how the city recognizes community leaders and shapes public memory. Several members urged streamlining to reduce staff burden while preserving public review for larger decisions.
Recommendations presented
- Update code references and remove obsolete cross-references in the resolution (staff noted some EMC chapters cited are no longer active).
- Streamline notifications: staff proposed reducing duplicative notifications now required to the mayor, council and advisory boards at multiple steps in the process.
- Abbreviated process for small assets: staff proposed a shorter process for small facilities or amenities (examples discussed included a room, a small stage or art installation). Moore suggested thresholds such as facilities under about 2,000 square feet or natural features under 5,000 square feet could qualify for an expedited path to reduce staff time.
- Role of historical commission and public hearings: under the existing resolution, the mayor forwards eligible requests to the historical commission for primary public-review coordination; recommendations then go to council, which holds a public hearing and adopts a resolution to name or rename the asset.
- Time limits after death: the existing resolution includes a rule that an honoree must have been deceased for at least one year before naming; committee members discussed whether to remove or modify that restriction. One member said they would “be okay with removing any time restrictions.”
Next steps and context
Staff said the Black Heritage Committee has informally inquired about naming a small concrete stage at Forest Park and that staff are waiting for a formal request. Staff proposed returning with a draft amendment that would (1) streamline process steps for larger assets and (2) propose an abbreviated route for smaller assets, and to circulate a draft to committee members in advance of the next discussion.
Ending: Committee members supported creating an abbreviated, lower-burden process for small assets while retaining public-review safeguards for larger namings; staff agreed to prepare proposed language and return with formal recommendations.
