Title
Discuss and Make Recommendations on the City Facility Naming Policy, Particularly Regarding Parks and Recreation Facilities
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To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Discuss and Make Recommendations on the City Facility Naming Policy, Particularly Regarding Parks and Recreation Facilities.
BACKGROUND
Naming public spaces and parks is meaningful and powerful. This was evident during 2020 in the discussion of removing monuments of people with histories of racism and discrimination as well as through the City of Alameda's (City) renaming of Jackson Park to Chochenyo Park.
The existing City Facility Naming Policy (Naming Policy), Exhibit 1, addresses naming new 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.
On February 16, 2021, the City Council discussed changes to the Naming Policy and provided direction to staff. Commissions and Boards are now reviewing revisions to the Naming Policy and these recommendations will...
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