Item B - Naming Policies - Laserfiche WebLink

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Policy lssues There are no council policies in place related to naming city-owned facilities at the present time. The primary issue is to determine if there should be a unified policy for naming, and if so, whether there should be parameters related to naming in recognition and naming in commemoration. Council Goals There is no current council goal related to this matter. Financial and/or Resource Considerations At this time, this is a discussion of issues and possible options. Should the council decide to implement a policy and procedure to suggest names for facilities, there may be resource requirements. Other Background Information The community abounds with city-owned facilities named within all three major categories of naming opportunities: 1) people, 2) places, and 3) themes. In the "people" category are the Hult Center, the Jacobs Gallery, the Silva Concert Hall, the Celeste Campbell Senior Center, Alton Baker Park, and Mahlon Sweet Field. Facilities named after places or locations include Amazon Community Center, Sheldon Community Center, Whitaker Public Safety Station, Bethel Public Safety Station and Washington Park. In the theme category are the Peterson Barn Community Center, the States Ballfield, Whilamut Natural Area, the Atrium Building, and many streets in the city such as those named after trees, flowers and other fauna. Most of the internal city-facility conference rooms have been named in similar manner. For example, conference rooms in the Atrium Building, Public Works Building, and the Hult Center have been named in honor of long-term city employees who are now deceased. Conference rooms on the 4th floor of the library have been named using a "rocks and gemstones of Oregon" theme. There one will find conference rooms such as Agate, Obsidian, Sunstone and Quartz. Other conference rooms have been named by geographical landmarks or location, such as the East Wing Conference Room or the Activity Room. In addition, for internally used facilities there is another division in naming that should be considered. For lack of better terms, these are "naming in recognition" and "naming in commemoration." "Naming in recognition" refers to the practices previously noted by the Library and the Parks and Open Space Division; that is, naming to recognize monetary gifts. Both groups have been successful in offering naming opportunities for donations and sponsorship to facilities. The Library offered named gift opportunities ranging from gifts of $1,000,000 to $100. The Parks and Open Space draft document offers naming recognition ranging from newly acquired parkland and park amenities to sponsorship of park events. "Naming in commemoration" refers to the practice of naming a city facility after a person who has made substantial contributions to the United States, Oregon or the community without any monetary gift to the city itself. Examples of this are the Knickerbocker Bridge, Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, and streets named after U.S. Presidents. This second category, that is, naming in commemoration, is the process for which there is little policy or procedure, and the one for which there tends to be the most controversy. This is the area which would benefit from a more detailed and thoughtful process. Contacts with other cities and Internet research L:\CMO\2004 Council Agendas\M040712\S040712B.DOC