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Council takes first look at ordinance to formalize naming, renaming of city properties
Summary
City parks director Kimberly Marr briefed council on a proposed ordinance (Council Bill 2603-20) to codify procedures for naming and renaming city properties, including a fast-track for small properties and removal of a one-year posthumous naming requirement; council asked clarifying questions and the ordinance moves toward final reading.
Kimberly Marr, the city's parks and facilities director, briefed the Everett City Council on April 8 about a proposed ordinance to add a new chapter (EMC 2.138) establishing formal procedures for naming and renaming city properties.
Marr said the mayor's office would screen requests and forward them to the appropriate advisory body (for example, the historical commission, parks board, transportation advisory committee or cultural arts commission) for review; the advisory body's comments would be provided to council before a public hearing and a council resolution. She said a fast-track review would apply to small properties (facilities under 2,000 square feet and natural features 5,000 square feet or smaller) that could be sent directly to council.
"A city property can be named after a geographical feature or a person, and the, ordinance does outline, caution when naming, something after a person," Marr said on the record, and she added that renaming procedures are included in the proposal. She also said the updated ordinance removes a prior requirement that a person be deceased for a full year before being eligible for a name.
Council member Bader asked whether the city gives guidance or bias toward geographical names rather than personal names and cited the recent controversies in other jurisdictions over well-known activists' names; Marr said the ordinance includes caution and also covers renaming. Council member Weir sought clarification on the one-year rule and whether a living person could be named if council supports the action; Marr confirmed council retains final authority to approve a name.
The item was introduced as a first reading (Council Bill 2603-20). Council may take final action at the third and final reading scheduled for April 29, 2026.
