Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Government topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council adopts street naming, renaming and co-naming policy after split vote
Summary
The council adopted Resolution R26-047 establishing a process and 75% affected-property-owner threshold for renaming streets and requiring applicants to bear signage and administrative costs; the measure passed 4-3 after council debate about process and urgency.
The El Mirage City Council adopted Resolution R26-047 on April 21 to establish a formal street naming, renaming and co-naming policy. The policy sets procedural requirements, a 75% affected-property-owner petition threshold for renaming, and places the cost of new signage and administrative updates on the applicant.
Staff said the item was prompted by requests to rename Cesar Chavez Drive and explained the existing code only governed naming of new streets; there was no formal policy for renaming existing streets. "The code only allows for naming new streets. So it doesn't allow for any... process to rename an existing street. This is the reason that we brought this in front of you," staff said.
Several council members urged additional study or a work session before adopting the policy, noting potential impacts on long-standing street names and costs to residents and businesses for changing addresses and signage. Councilmember Norton McDaniel called for more discussion: "I have a hard time understanding what the urgency is that this council must make a decision tonight on this without having a work session to explore this further." Councilmember Aldridge and others raised questions about applicant costs; staff estimated an average double-sided street sign at about $250 each and said mapping and administrative updates would be minimal.
After debate, Mayor Hermosillo moved to adopt Resolution R26-047; the motion passed on roll-call vote, 4-3 (aye: Mayor Hermosillo, Vice Mayor Parsons, Councilmember Dorsey, Councilmember Winston; nay: Councilmembers Aldridge, Gentry, Norton). The measure now provides city staff and residents a formal process for renaming and ceremonial naming of streets, including notification and cost-responsibility provisions.
Staff said they will publish application materials that include estimated costs so petitioners understand potential signage and mailing expenses before filing.
