Title
Discuss and Make Recommendations on the City Facility Naming Policy, Particularly Regarding Parks and Recreation Facilities
Body
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 be compiled into a final draft Naming Policy for final City Council approval.
DISCUSSION
Draft Policy and Procedures for Naming and Renaming New City Facilities
This draft Naming Policy requires a three-step public process and meetings of the appropriate City commission/board. Each meeting and its purpose would be broadly marketed through print, social media, and email to encourage residents to attend and provide input. This would be an effort to extend beyond the standard meeting notifications as required by the Sunshine Ordinance and to involve a diverse group of stakeholders in the community, including residents who are historically underrepresented in City public discussions.
Meeting #1: Initial presentation on the City facility and confirm naming criteria
• Present the City facility to be named, its location and any identifying features.
• Discuss and finalize naming criteria for the facility. Examples could include a maritime or naval reference if the facility is located at Alameda Point, a community value, a natural or other theme.
• After the criteria are confirmed, staff would conduct an outreach campaign to solicit name ideas.
Meeting #2: Review a list of names that meet the criteria
• Staff provides the full list of available names including the existing names list and new names generated from outreach.
• Staff recommends a shorter list of names that meets the criteria for commission/board review. The names on this list will be previously researched and vetted, particularly names of people.
• Commission discusses and narrows down to short list of names.
Meeting #3: Final name choice to recommend to City Council
• Commission discusses a short list of names and recommends a name to City Council for final approval.
Application Process for Renaming a City Facility
Staff recommends an application process for renaming a City facility as described below.
• A request to rename a City facility would be initiated by one or more City resident(s), business owner(s), or property owner(s) using a City Facility Renaming Request Application (Application), which would be submitted to the City Manager. The Application would include reasons and/or justifications on why the name should be changed as well as letters of support, articles, documents, and other evidence demonstrating broad-based community support for the Application.
• The Application must include a petition with at least 500 Alameda resident signatories.
• City Street Renaming: Application required along with a petition of at least 50% plus one signatories of the resident and business property owners on that street.
• City Manager reviews the Application to ensure it is complete.
• City Council reviews and has final authority on whether the City facility will be renamed.
• The appropriate Commission or Board then utilizes the naming procedure as outlined in the approved Naming Policy and, following that procedure, recommends a new name to City Council. City Council has final authority on City facility names.
City Facility Name Criteria
• Standing criteria that is written into the Naming Policy will reflect diversity, equity and inclusion. It’s important that City facilities reflect everyone in the Alameda community. New names should intentionally broaden the representation of people in our community.
• Maintain the requirement that if naming after a person they must be deceased for at least three years.
• Focus on local Alameda significance but leave an option for names that reflect California or a national lens when appropriate.
• Require consultation of any affected group of the name and include research on names.
• Respective Commission or Board reviews its name lists biennially.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact from this recommendation. If a park is renamed, there is a financial impact in the amount of approximately $15,000 to remove and replace each park sign.
RECOMMENDATION
To discuss and provide direction on the City Facility Naming Policy, particularly regarding parks and recreation facilities.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Exhibits:
1. City Facility Naming Policy