Oak Ridge staff outline proposed changes to facility-naming policy; mayor proposes naming new civic center meeting room for Edwina Crowe

City legal and administrative staff described proposed amendments to Oak Ridge's facility-naming policy during the March 18 council work session, and Mayor Warren Gooch announced his intent to bring a request to name the main meeting room of the new civic center in honor of the late Edwina Crowe.

City Manager Mr. Heeman and the city clerk summarized changes staff recommend to a policy last revised in February 2007. Key proposed changes discussed at the work session included: allowing public facilities "as a whole or a portion thereof" to be named for individuals; requiring that naming a public facility in someone's honor be posthumous; removing a requirement that sponsors must pay for monuments and plaques while allowing solicitation of donations; and giving the city manager or designee approval authority over proposed signage, monuments and inscriptions prior to council consideration.

Heeman told council the proposed approach would rescind the prior resolution and approve a new resolution that sets the updated policy. The policy, as discussed, would preserve athletic naming procedures under the Hall of Fame board for sport-related facilities.

Mayor Warren Gooch, joining by teleconference, said a long-time Oak Ridge resident and community leader, Edwina Crowe, recently died and that he intends to propose the naming of "the main meeting room, the main hall, in the new Civic Center, be named in honor of Edwina Crowe." Gooch said he has spoken with Crowe's family and friends and will coordinate with the city manager and staff under the draft policy before formally bringing the matter to council for a vote.

Council members discussed scope and exceptions. Councilwoman Smith asked that small memorial elements such as donor plaques on benches be excluded from the policy’s restriction so donors can place memorial plaques without triggering the full citywide naming process. Staff said properties owned by public schools are excluded and will remain under school board authority. The clerk indicated staff will work on making final resolutions and relevant policies more accessible on the city's website and suggested placing certain forward-facing policies on departmental pages for public visibility.

Heeman and staff said the draft resolution will be routed through the normal process and is expected to come to council for action in a future meeting; no vote was taken in the work session.

This discussion is informational and preparatory; council members signaled support for moving the draft forward for formal consideration and for Mayor Gooch to bring the Crowe naming proposal according to the policy steps outlined by staff.