RESOLUTION NO. 6707

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GARDENA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE POLICY FOR NAMING OF CITY OWNED FACILITIES

1. Purpose

   • The City Council finds that it is in the best interests of the City to update its process for the naming, including renaming, City parks and City Facilities and other buildings or rights-of-way used by the public. This policy will provide guidelines and procedures for persons to follow in requesting the naming/renaming of such facilities.

2. Scope

   • This regulation is applicable to all City departments and offices responsible directly to the City Manager. It is also requested that elective offices and other independent offices and departments of the City comply with these procedures in the interest of administrative uniformity.

3. Policy Considerations

   1. City Facilities which have already been named for an individual generally should not be considered for renaming absent a compelling reason for so doing.
   2. City Facilities may be named to honor individuals or families who are Gardena residents and/or deserving individuals or families who have contributed to the betterment of the City.
   3. The naming of recreation facilities in honor of a deceased person shall generally not take place until after a minimum of a one-year waiting period unless the City Council determines that there are overriding considerations deviating from this policy guideline. This particular policy guideline is not intended in any way to reflect on the merits of any deceased individual who may have been a prominent civic leader. However, it is felt appropriate to establish some type of waiting period to ensure that an individual’s accomplishments or contributions will stand the test of time; and that a decision shall not be made on an emotional basis immediately following a person’s death.
   4. City Facilities may be named after recognizable geographic, topographic, or historical significance associated with Gardena or to recognize sister cities.
   5. City Facilities may be named after individuals or families who have donated the land or a majority of the funds for the capital project, particularly if such naming is set forth as a condition of the donation.
   6. If a person or family donates an amenity, a plaque of no more than 10“ by 14” inches may be affixed to such amenity with the name of a person or family and a phrase such as “donated by,” “in honor of,” “in memoriam of.”
   7. A right-of-way shall only be renamed if there are no buildings with existing addresses facing the right-of-way which would cause an address change if the right-of-way were to be renamed.

4. Procedure

   1. A request to name/rename a recreation facility or right-of-way shall be submitted to the City Clerk’s office. Names may be submitted by:
      1. City departments;
      2. City commissions and committees or civic organizations when accompanied by a resolution making such recommendation; or
      3. The general public, when accompanied by a petition in support signed by at least three residents of the City. Alternatively, a request may also be made by a member of the City Council during a regular City Council meeting.
   2. The request shall be accompanied by a statement summarizing the justification for the recommended name. If the  request is made by a City Council member at a meeting, the justification shall be set forth with the request.
   3. The City Clerk’s office shall forward such request to the City Manager’s office which shall review and make a recommendation on the request.
   4. If there is a related Commission, i.e., the Recreation and Parks Commission for the renaming of a facility used for recreation, or the Senior Citizens Commission for a facility used by the senior citizens, the matter shall first be referred to such commission for recommendation, after which the matter shall be heard by the City Council. The renaming of rights-of-way shall proceed directly to the City Council.
   5. The matter shall be scheduled for a City Council meeting at least 30 days after the providing of notice required by Section 5 below.

5. Notice

   • In order to receive community input, the City shall provide notice as follows at least 30 days before the meeting at which the matter is to be considered:
     1. Notice shall be mailed at least 30 days ahead of the City Council hearing where the matter will be considered to property owners and occupants within a 300 foot radius; and
     2. Notices shall be posted as follows:
        1. 1. At least two notices along the boundaries of a recreational facility which faces a street or sidewalk.
        2. 2. At any entrance to or upon a building or structure which is to be renamed.
        3. 3. At 300 foot intervals along both sides of a right-of-way to be renamed.
        4. 4. The signs shall be a minimum of 18” by 24” and lettering shall be a minimum of 2 inches in size.