2.40.030(c) Naming of Public Places and Infrastructure

 

Policy:

It is the policy of the Gustavus City Council to name public places and infrastructure (herein called “places”) by resolution after appropriate deliberation and public discourse.  Recommendations on naming of places outside the City’s jurisdiction will be accomplished in a like way.  Changes to existing place names will be considered only under truly compelling and exceptional reasons

Procedure:

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Special Committee for Place Naming:

The Gustavus City Council will appoint a special committee of XXX members called the Place Naming Committee as needed to deliberate the naming or change of name to a place.  The committee will be appointed from a reasonable cross section of the community.  The committee will be appointed in the same manner as other committee members, having submitted an application to the City Clerk for discussion by the City Council.

The Place Naming Committee will take under consideration the naming and renaming of new and existing places and infrastructure as assigned by the City Council.

The Place Naming Committee will make recommendations on place names to the City Council after contacting adjacent land owners and other stakeholders and conducting public hearings according to City policy and procedur3e.

The naming of geographic features outside the boundaries or site control of the City of Gustavus is subject to approval by the U.S. Board of Geographic Names.  The City of Gustavus shall convey a written recommendation to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names only after following the protocol set in this procedure.

The naming of features or facilities inside the boundaries of the City of Gustavus, but not controlled by the City of Gustavus, such as NPS or State of Alaska facilities or places, or on private property, is subject to approval by the particular agency or owner.  The City of Gustavus shall convey a written recommendation to the appropriate owner or agency only after following the protocol set in this procedure.

Criteria for Place Naming:

Naming of new infrastructure or renaming existing places or infrastructure will be determined by the following criteria:

1.    Places will not be given the same or a confusingly similar name to an existing public place, facility, nature feature, building or street.

2.    Places may be named after a significant geographical location, historical or cultural event, or nature or geographical feature.

3.    Facilities may be names for an individual (alive or deceased) if that individual has made a significant direct financial grant to the City of Gustavus for purposes of developing that facility.

4.    Public places, facilities, natural features, buildings or streets may be named for an individual, either alive or deceased (at least one year), if that individual has significantly enhanced the quality of life in Gustavus in one of the following ways:

a.    Held a leadership role accomplishing community improvements,

b.    Assumed an active role in serving the community’s social, health, and/or safety needs,

c.    Assumed an active role in developing and improving community aesthetics,

d.    Assumed an active role in preserving the natural or historical heritage of the community,

e.    Other service of historical significance to the community.

NOTES TO COUNCIL:

The Planning Committee chose to not include the philosophical discussion about how the policy and procedure was arrived at, which was included in the City Council’s draft.  We thought it would be better to include that verbiage in a resolution that established the special committee on place naming.

It is unstated but assumed that people can ask the city to consider naming or renaming places at any time.

It is unstated but assumed that the city council can choose whether or not to act upon a request to name a place (Say the charter fishermen can ask to rename the dock to the Nipple and Dime.  Yu can decline to ask if you choose.)

The committee decided that it wasn’t necessary to state that replaced facilities would carry the name of the original facility, since naming or renaming are basically the same process.  If there were an original structure the new one would have a vernacular name…

Planning committee members will be available to discuss this at your work sessions at your request.  Note:  there is only one or two original members involved in creating this document at this time.  08.02.10

 

History:
Internal draft:7.17.08 Planning Committee Draft
Final draft presented at City Council meeting:
Adopted via resolution:
Reference to City of Gustavus Municipal Code:2.40.030
City of Gustavus, Alaska Policies and Procedures