Redding planning commissioners recommend renaming Squaw Creek Court to Mem Court under state law

The Redding Planning Commission on Jan. 14 recommended that the City Council approve a street-renaming application to change Squaw Creek Court to Mem Court, a change staff said is required by California Assembly Bill 2022.

Planning staff told the commission that AB 2022 requires jurisdictions to identify and remove the term “SQ” from geographic features and place names. Staff said the city consulted with local tribes on possible replacement names, submitted the tribal suggestion to the California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names, and received approval in December for Mem Court as the replacement.

Planning staff described the city process for renaming a street under the municipal code and explained why staff was initiating the item: although renames normally are started by a property-owner petition, a motion from the commission, or a council motion, this change follows a state-mandated replacement list and is being brought forward by staff for a Planning Commission recommendation to council. Staff also said the project is exempt from CEQA under the "common-sense" exemption because changing a street name has no effect on the environment.

On outreach and notifications, staff said neighbors were noticed earlier in the process and that staff received informal questions but no formal written comments from residents. Staff said the city has routed the proposed name to affected agencies to check for duplications and will route the council resolution to agencies, including the U.S. Postal Service, if council approves the change. Staff also said the city will notify individual property owners.

When commissioners opened the public hearing there were no public speakers. A commissioner moved to recommend that City Council approve the street-renaming application with a resolution to rename Squaw Creek Court to Mem Court; another commissioner seconded the motion. The commission voted in favor with no recorded opposition and closed the public hearing.

Planning staff noted two tribal-language alternatives that were considered: “Mem,” which staff said "means water in Wintu," and another suggested name, "Coo," which staff said means "little" in Wintu. Staff said only one other suggestion (Coo Court) was received and that the California advisory committee approved Mem Court.

Next steps: the Planning Commission’s recommendation will go to the City Council. Staff said the council would pass a resolution that would put the name change into effect and that staff would notify affected agencies and property owners upon that resolution.