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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1203 - Park Facilities Naming PolicyCITY OF REDDING, CALIFORNIA COUNCIL POLICY SUBJECT Park Facilities Naming Policy RESOLUTION NUMBER POLICY NUMBER EFFECTIVE DATE PAGE 2023-016 1203 02/07/2023 1 BACKGROUND The act of naming park facilities is significant and meaningful. A name can invoke powerful emotions, create images and help to recall history. The naming of a park facility which includes parks, trails, park buildings, and facilities or open spaces, is intended to be a permanent act and, therefore, should be approached in a thoughtful manner. The naming of a park facility should take into consideration the past, present, and future history of the land, its use, and our relationship to it. PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to provide a systematic and consistent approach to naming our park facilities. POLICY A. It is the policy of the Redding City Council that the naming or renaming of parks and/or recreational facilities will serve the interests of the City and provide a worthy and enduring legacy for the City's parks and recreation system. B. The City of Redding strives to name parks, natural areas, recreational facilities, and trails to best reflect the significance of the facility or individual feature and the community it serves while also providing a worthy and enduring legacy for the City of Redding's parks and recreation system. The name of park assets must be appropriate to the location and remain relevant as the community grows and changes. C. To this end, the City supports the consideration of naming requests within the following broad categories: 1. Events, People, and Places The history of a major event, place, or person may play an important role in the naming or renaming of a park, as communities often wish to preserve and honor the history of a city. This history may include its founders, other historical figures, its Native American heritage, local landmarks, prominent geographical locations, and natural and geological features. 2. Extraordinary Individuals The City has benefited, through the years, from the contributions made by many outstanding individuals. This category is designed to acknowledge the sustained contribution that has been made by such individuals to the City and the development and CITY OF REDDING, CALIFORNIA COUNCIL POLICY SUBJECT Park Facilities Naming Policy RESOLUTION NUMBER POLICY NUMBER EFFECTIVE DATE PAGE 2023-016 1203 02/07/2023 2 management of the City's park and recreation system. 3. Major Gifts Over the years, the Redding community has benefited from the generosity of residents, businesses, and foundations. On occasion, the significance of such donations may warrant consideration being given to requests from either the donor or another party to acknowledge such a gift by naming. DEFINITIONS A. Naming: The permanent name assigned by the City of Redding to a given park facility. B. Park Facility: Any body of water, land, trail, open space, archeological site, skate park, building, structure, recreational facility, or other appurtenance owned by the City. C. Director: In this policy, shall refer to the Director of Community Services. D. Commission: In this policy shall refer to the Community Services Advisory Commission. E. Donation: The giving, to the City of Redding, of property, goods, or cash, generally with no expectation of return. F. Sponsorship: The giving of financial or in-kind support from an individual or corporation for a specific service, program, facility, park, or event in return for certain benefits. GUIDING PRINCIPLES A. In considering proposals for the naming or renaming of park facilities, one or more of the following general principles will be considered. When naming a park asset, the proposed name will: 1. Engender a strong positive image 2. Be appropriate, having regard to the park asset's location and/or history 3. Have historical, cultural, or social significance for future generations 4. Commemorate places, people, or events that are of continued importance to the City, region, State, and/or nation 5. Honor and respect native and tribal communities 6. Have symbolic value that transcends its ordinary meaning or use and enhances the character and identity of the park and/or recreational facility 7. Have broad public support 8. Avoid undue commercialization of the park and/or recreational facility 9. Be associated with the respective street or subdivision where located CITY OF REDDING, CALIFORNIA COUNCIL POLICY SUBJECT Park Facilities Naming Policy RESOLUTION NUMBER POLICY NUMBER EFFECTIVE DATE PAGE 2023-016 1203 02/07/2023 3 PROCEDURES & GUIDELINES A. Review Committee An ad hoc park naming advisory committee will be convened by the Director and will review naming suggestions submitted by the community and staff. The committee will consider names based on the criteria outlined below and with consideration of public comment. B. Naming Categories In general, the naming of park facilities will fall into one of the following categories: 1. Naming for Events, People, and Places When a Park Facility is associated with or located near events, people, and places of historical, cultural, or social significance, consideration will be given to naming that Park Facility after such events, people, and places. In considering such proposals, the relationship of the event, person, or place to the park and/or recreational facility must be demonstrated through research and documentation, including consideration of impacts on disadvantaged communities. 2. Naming for Extraordinary Individuals Naming a Park Facility for an outstanding individual is allowed posthumously (at least three years from the date of passing), and where that person's significance and good reputation have been reviewed and acknowledged in the City's, State's, and/or nation's history. When considering the naming of a Park Facility after a person, consideration will be given when: a. The person was exceptionally dedicated or demonstrated excellence in service in ways that made a significant contribution to the land, community, City of Redding, State of California, or the United States; b. The person volunteered and gave extraordinary help or care to individuals, families, or groups, or support to the community; c. The person risked his or her life to save or protect others; or d. The person demonstrated a commitment to equity, inclusion, and justice. 3. Naming for Donations A significant donation made to the City of Redding that adds considerable value to the parks and recreation system may be recognized through naming. As a guideline, the threshold for considering the naming of a Park Facility will include one or more of the following: CITY OF REDDING, CALIFORNIA COUNCIL POLICY SUBJECT Park Facilities Naming Policy RESOLUTION NUMBER POLICY NUMBER EFFECTIVE DATE PAGE 2023-016 1203 02/07/2023 4 a. Land for the majority of the park was deeded to the City by the donor without fee credit. b. Contribution of a minimum of 60% of the capital construction costs associated with developing the park/recreational facility. c. Provision of a minimum 20-year endowment for the continued maintenance, operation, and/or programming of the park asset. Donors seeking to name an asset associated with major donations in honor of an individual must follow the principles and process that apply to naming a park for an outstanding person. Exceptions will be considered by the Director and the park naming advisory committee. Naming park facilities with a company name is prohibited. Corporate logos, insignias, brands, or direct advertising text shall not be used in the City of Redding facility naming. Corporate sponsorship and naming rights may be negotiated outside of this policy. 4. Renaming The renaming of Park Facilities is discouraged. Name changes will be subject to an examination that includes consideration of the original justification for the current name, the value of prior contributors, and the rationale for changing the name. C. Naming Conventions 1. Names that are currently in use in the City will not be considered. 2. Names that are discriminatory or derogatory will not be considered. D. Naming Application Process Any person, group, or organization may submit an application to name or rename a Park Facility. The application should be submitted to the Director. Applications should contain the following minimum information: 1. Name of applicant 2. Proposed name for the park facility 3. Background/support for the proposed name 4. Demonstrated community support for the proposed name 5. Identification of interested/impacted stakeholders 6. Description/map showing the location 7. If proposing to name a recreation facility within a park, include a description/map showing the location of the facility within the park 8. If proposing to name a park asset after an outstanding person, documentation of that person’s contribution to the City’s, State’s, or Nation’s history 9. If proposing to rename a facility, the application should also include background CITY OF REDDING, CALIFORNIA COUNCIL POLICY SUBJECT Park Facilities Naming Policy RESOLUTION NUMBER POLICY NUMBER EFFECTIVE DATE PAGE 2023-016 1203 02/07/2023 5 information on the current name and the rationale for requesting a new name. E. Naming Approval Process A detailed step-by-step process is listed at the end of this document. What follows is a summary of that process. Upon receipt of a naming application, the Director will convene the park naming advisory committee. The park naming advisory committee may suggest modification of the name proposed by an applicant, with the agreement of the applicant. Once the park naming advisory committee has identified a preferred name, the recommendation will be presented to the Director in writing by the supporting staff person. A recommendation from the committee must have either the consensus of the committee or a 2/3 majority vote in support of the name. The Director will take a recommendation to the Commission, which will take public comment prior to taking action on the request. The Commission may convene additional public meetings to gain additional information prior to making the naming recommendation. The Commission will forward its recommendation to the City Council. F. Research It is essential that any name, especially names referencing individuals and/or families, be thoroughly researched. Some suggestions for learning more about the history of a name include: 1. Historic Plat Maps and Sanborn Maps 2. California Archives: Available at https://oac.cdlib.org/ 3. Google search for online documents or references 4. Library search for documents or references (ask a research librarian for assistance) 5. Shasta Historical Society 6. US Census Archives 7. National Archives: http://www.archives.gov/index.html 8. Area tribes and native community groups 9. SHPO - State Historic Preservation Office 10. California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names: https://cacgn.ca.gov/ Communicating Naming Decisions Within two weeks, the Director will be responsible for communicating the meeting dates and outcomes to the applicants, the Commission, and the park naming advisory committee. When a new name has been chosen, the Director will publicize the name and direct its use CITY OF REDDING, CALIFORNIA COUNCIL POLICY SUBJECT Park Facilities Naming Policy RESOLUTION NUMBER POLICY NUMBER EFFECTIVE DATE PAGE 2023-016 1203 02/07/2023 6 thereafter. All graphical representations within the park system are subject to design standards and will be replaced over time. G. Appeals Any applicant whose proposal to name/rename a park facility is denied by the Commission may appeal to City Council by petition through the Director within 30 calendar days of the Commission's decision. The Director will schedule the appeal to City Council within 60 days of receipt of the appeal. INTERIM NAMES The City of Redding sometimes acquires land. The City of Redding will assign the new parcel a name temporarily following established data management systems. In general: 1. Parcels acquired contiguous to another that are intended to expand the site will be named for the original site. 2. New, free-standing parcels acquired for future development as a park will be named based on the street infrastructure or historical reference. (e.g. downtown plaza property). 3. Natural Area acquisitions will be named for prominent or significant geographic features, if present, and approved by the Director. NAMING PROCESS STEPS The naming process should be completed prior to the opening of a new park or facility. 1. Staff will review submitted proposals for completeness and adherence to the guidelines. 2. Within 60 days of receipt of a complete application for naming, the Director shall convene an ad hoc park naming advisory committee of up to seven members. Members will be recruited from relevant groups which may include but not limited to the Commission, the Planning Commission, the Shasta Historical Society, and other stakeholders relevant to the facility being discussed. 3. The park naming advisory committee reviews proposals, conducts additional research, and develops a written recommendation for the Community Services Advisory Commission. If none of the submitted proposals are acceptable to the committee, the committee may submit a new proposal based on their discussions and public input. All park naming advisory committee discussions will be held in open public meetings. Notes from meetings will include reasons for and against submitted names. The amount of time required to complete this work will depend on the number of proposals, amount of research, and level of controversy in the process. 4. The Community Services Advisory Commission reviews recommendations and either: a. Accepts the park naming advisory committee recommendation and forwards the recommendation to City Council, CITY OF REDDING, CALIFORNIA COUNCIL POLICY SUBJECT Park Facilities Naming Policy RESOLUTION NUMBER POLICY NUMBER EFFECTIVE DATE PAGE 2023-016 1203 02/07/2023 7 b. Declines the park naming advisory committee recommendation, in which case the park naming advisory committee may choose one of three options: i. The park naming advisory committee continues to review other submissions; or ii. The park naming advisory committee may suggest a new option based on their discussions and public input to date; or iii. The process starts over with a new solicitation of names. The Community Services Advisory Commission will respond to any park naming advisory committee recommendation within thirty days of receiving the recommendation. 5. If the naming recommendation is approved by the Commission, it is referred to the City Council for final action. 6. If the naming recommendation is approved by the City Council, the new name is implemented. The decision of the City Council is final. 7. Applicants will be notified of the City Council's decision within two weeks via email and/or mailed letter. Adopted – February 7, 2023 – Resolution No. 2023-016