Title
Recommendation to Provide Feedback on City Facility Naming Policy and Procedures. (Recreation 280)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Naming public spaces is meaningful and powerful. This has been evident during 2020 in the discussion of removing monuments of people with histories of racism and discrimination. The Policy for Naming City Property Facilities (Naming Policy) was last reviewed by City Council in 2016 and this discussion is intended to solicit City Council feedback on ways to improve the Naming Policy for increased clarity on process and to better reflect Alameda's values.
BACKGROUND
The Naming Policy (Exhibit 1) addresses naming new City of Alameda (City) facilities and renaming existing facilities. It was last updated and adopted by City Council on May 17, 2016.
During the process concerning the renaming of Jackson Park, the Recreation and Parks Commission and community-led Park Renaming Committee discussed the need to update the City's Naming Policy to reflect better current standards and values.
City facilities include, but are not limited to parks, recreation centers, streets, and libraries. The current Naming Policy identifies the following Commission/Board for making a recommendation to the City Council* for each facility type.
* Recreation and Parks Commission - parks and recreation facilities
* Golf Commission - golf facilities
* Public Utilities Board - Alameda Municipal Power facilities
* Library Board - Library facilities
* Housing Commission - Housing Authority facilities
* Planning Board - Streets and other city facilities not listed above
*The City Council has final authority regarding the naming of City facilities.
DISCUSSION
There are clear differences between naming a new, unnamed City facility as opposed to a request by community members to rename a City facility due to the existing name deemed, for example, offensive, discriminatory, or unjust. This discussio...
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