Everett committee backs drafting parks naming policy as an ordinance; individual name changes to remain resolutions

Everett’s Parks and Built Environment Committee reviewed a drafted parks and park‑amenities naming policy on Dec. 10 and signaled support for elevating the policy into ordinance form while keeping individual facility name changes as resolutions.

Kimberly Moore, assistant parks director, introduced the item and turned the discussion to Lisonbee Wetzel, the city’s long range planning manager, who walked the committee through the proposed edits. Wetzel said the draft adds a clear scope (what properties are covered and not covered), a required information checklist for name proposals, and a process flow that routes proposals through the mayor’s office for completeness and — for projects larger than 2,000 square feet — solicits input from relevant advisory bodies (planning commission, historical commission, parks commission, transportation advisory committee and cultural arts commission) before forwarding a recommendation to the council.

Wetzel told the committee that historically the historical commission had primary review but the EMC no longer contains the referenced section (EMC §15.24), so the draft clarifies roles and recommends sharing proposals with whichever advisory groups best fit the subject matter. "That would go to them and request their input," Wetzel said of the advisory review; final naming actions would come to council as a resolution.

Council members debated whether the underlying naming policy should be a resolution or an ordinance. Several members, including Council Member Voguely and Council Member Ryan, expressed a preference for codifying the policy as an ordinance so it would be easier for future staff and advisory bodies to find and follow the process and to create a durable framework for any required bylaw changes among commissions. Wetzel and staff agreed to draft the policy as an ordinance and to return it to full council for readings; the committee noted that the discrete act of renaming a street, park or facility would still be implemented by resolution.

Committee members also asked staff to research paid naming rights or sponsorship mechanisms for fields, arenas or theaters and to clarify cost and implementation details. Staff said name change decisions for specific items would continue to be handled by council and that the proposed policy update aims to balance involvement from relevant commissions while keeping final authority with council.

The committee took no final vote but directed staff to proceed with drafting the ordinance and to circulate the draft to council for review and comment before formal introduction.