yjr,ly STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: February 21, 2017 To: From: Subject: Honorable Mayor & City Council Therese Kosterman, Public Information Manager Policies and Procedures for Honorary Street Name Changes Attachments: 1. Los Angeles Times article 2. Examples of cities policies 3. Photos of honorary street signs 4. Letter requesting street sign for silent movie star Buster Keaton INTRODUCTION Mayor John Mirisch has asked that information on policies for honorary street name changes be transmitted and shared with the City Council. DISCUSSION Background Cities and counties throughout the United States often have sought to recognize distinguished citizens by renaming streets in their honor. At times, this entails the complete renaming of a street. For example in 1983, the entire length of Santa Barbara Avenue in Los Angeles was renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, reportedly one of more than 900 streets in the United States named for Dr. King. In other cases, the agency chooses to make an honorary name change for a limited portion of a street. Beverly Hills Examples of Street Name Changes Merv Griffin Way - Entertainer Merv Griffin owned the Beverly Hilton Hotel for 16 years. Mr. Griffin agreed to allow the public to use a private road between Wilshire Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard on the hotel property. At a dedication ceremony on Jan. 17, 2002 the City named that private road Merv Griffin Way. S. Santa Monica Boulevard - In 2009 and 2010, the City Council considered a proposal to permanently rename S. Santa Monica Boulevard, possibly in honor of Will Rogers. At the request of the City Council, staff conducted a survey of the businesses on S. Santa
Meeting Date: February 21, 2017 Monica. The survey revealed that the merchants 87% to 13% were not in favor of the change, largely because of the expense of purchasing new marketing materials and confusion for their customers. The City did not move forward with the change. In 2013, the City Council at the request of a resident again considered a proposal to rename S. Santa Monica Boulevard, this time to Burton Way. The resident felt that having two Santa Monica Boulevards was confusing and it would be appropriate to further honor one of the City s founders Burton Greene. The City Council did not approve the change. Herzl Way - In 2010 the City, in cooperation with Temple Emanuel, symbolically designated the 300 block of North Clark Drive as Herzl Way to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Theodor Herzl, the man who first envisioned a modern Jewish state. To begin the process, City staff met with representatives from the local post office, but officials there opposed the name change and the City decided to pursue an honorary name change. The proposal for an honorary street name change was brought to the City Council by then Mayor Jimmy Delshad and was unanimously approved. City staff met with representatives from Temple Emmanuel and the Israeli Consulate to coordinate the placement of the new sign and the details for a dedication and celebration. Current City Policies The City does not have an ordinance for honorary street name changes. However, in the City Council Policy and Operations Manual it states: Street and sidewalk recognition It is the City á policy not to formally rename streets in recognition of an individual or business. On a case-by-case basis, the City Council may consider informal recognition of outstanding individuals and businesses with street and sidewalk plaques and signage. The only ordinance regulating street names in Beverly Hills is the following: 10-2-307: STREET NAMES: Any street which is a prolongation or approximately a prolongation of an existing street shall be given the same name; otherwise no street shall be designated by the same name as that borne by any other street in the city, irrespective of the use of any suffix such as street, avenue, boulevard, drive, way, Iace, court, or other similar term. The planning official may recommend to the planning commission a change of the name of any street shown on a subdivision map or to designate a name when no name is shown. lithe planning commission approves such recommendation or makes a different recommendation, any such recommendation shall be transmitted to the council for approval or disapproval. (7962 Code 10-903; amd, Ord. 75-0-1561, eli 3-4-1975) Policy Considerations Issues to be addressed when developing a policy for honorary street names include the method for deciding who should be honored. For example common requirements include the local, national or international prominence of the honoree, residency in the jurisdiction and contributions to his or her community. Other consideration are length of street segment to be renamed, duration of the name change, design and placement of honorary street signs and how to propose honorary street name changes. Page 2 of 3 2/16/2017
Meeting Date: February 21, 2017 FISCAL IMPACT Fiscal impacts include the design, manufacture and installation of honorary street signs and costs for a dedication ceremony. Estimated cost of manufacturing current street signs is $200 per sign for manufacturing and installation. The total cost of the honorary Herzl Way street name change was approx. $8,000. However, that was an elaborate dedication ceremony with a live satellite hook-up. RECOMMENDATION This item is for information only. At a future time, if directed to pursue the Keating or other request, staff will return with options for developing criteria and procedures for creating a policy for honorary street name designations. Therese Kosterman Approved By Page 3 of 3 2/16/2017
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211412017 Not quite a full tribute: San Diego officiais streamline honorary naming of streets - LAlimes Not quite a full tribute: San Diego officials streamline honorary naming of streets,._i;_ City Council President Myrtle Cole says the new policy for naming honorary streets will eliminate red tape. (John Gastaldo / San Diego Union-Tribune) By David Garrick DECEMBER 27, 2016, 3:45 PM I REPORTING FROM SAN DIEGO S an Diego is making it easier to name portions of city streets after prominent people and organizations by creating a streamlined honorary policy. Instead of changing the name of a street, San Diego will post a second sign at affected intersections identifying it also as an honorary street. The policy is modeled after similar approaches in New York City, Chicago and Memphis, Tenn. Officials said the change will allow San Diego to honor more people more quickly because the process will be much easier, while also avoiding the hassles faced by residents and businesses when the name of their street gets officially changed. hftp:llwwwjatimes.comfloca)ilanowlla-me-san-diego-street-names-20161227-story.html 1/2
2/1412017 Not quite a full tribute: San Diego offlcais streamline honorary naming of streets - LATimes Individuals and organizations with full support of the public deserve to have a streamlined process without the red tape, City Council President Myrtle Cole said when the policy was unanimously approved this month. Cole said she proposed the change after it took seven years for the city to rename a small residential street in southeastern San Diego after Lakiba Palmer, who was killed in action i6 years ago when terrorists attacked the Navy s guided-missile destroyer Cole in Yemen. Councilman Scott Sherman said the change would be welcomed by residents and businesses on affected streets. It s a big hassle to change billing addresses, mailing addresses, business cards = all said. those things, Sherman Officials said the policy doesn t eliminate the opportunity to officially change a street name, but it creates a less formal way to honor people when that seems like the appropriate move. The honorary street name signs will have brown backgrounds and a white border, in contrast to San Diego s official street signs with green or blue backgrounds. They will be placed either above or below the official street sign. The policy also limits honorary name changes to one block and requires support from community leaders and the council member representing the district where the street is located. Each council member will be limited to two honorary name changes per four-year term in office, and money for the signs will come from the budget of their council offices. The signs are expected to cost between $120 and $285, depending on various factors. The policy also stipulates that an organization must have been operating in San Diego for at least 25 years to be honored. david.garrick@sduniontribune.com Garrick writesfor the San Diego Union-1ibune. Copvrighl 2017, Los Angeles Times hup:/!www.taumescomflocau1anow1a-me-san-diego-street-names-20161227-storyhbnl 2/2
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j ft.i1sa ANevKindof&ieçy Streets & Stormwater Department Traffic Engineering Division HONORARY STREET NAME SIGN POLICY Definition: Honorary street name signs are signs posted above standard city street name signs which are intended to recognize and honor individuals or groups for a period of time without changing the official name of the street or the official addresses of residences and businesses on the street. Description: The honorary sign is of a similar size and shape as a standard street name sign. The honorary signs will be white legend on a blue background to meet federal standards, Only one honorary sign will be allowed at an intersection. Public vs Private Streets This policy applies to all public streets in the city of Tulsa. It does not attempt to regulate honorary street names on private streets and driveways. Requests for Honorary Signs Requests shall be made in writing (letter form) to the City s Traffic Engineer describing the details of the intersection location and the honorary name desired. A justification for the honorary designation shall also be provided. qualifications for Honorary Recognition This method of honoring individuals or groups is reserved for those having city wide impact or fame. Individual honorees will only be considered posthumously. Individual family tribute or commercial and corporate related recognition does not qualify. Cost A fmancial sponsor for each and every sign must be identified in the sign application request. Each sign approved shall be charged a fee of $200.00 which will cover the cost of design, fabrication, installation, and maintenance over the ten-year expected life of the sign. If multiple sign locations are requested and approved, each individual sign location shall be charged a fee of $200.00. This fee shall be payable to the City of Tulsa and will be deposited in the City s General Fund. CITY HALL AT ONE TECHNOLOGY CENTER 175 E. 2d s Tulsa, OK 74103. Office 98.596.7411 fax 918.596.9010 www.cityoftulsa.org
Renewals Renewals, if desired at the end of the ten year period, will be handled like new requests with all applicable rules and fees in effect at that time. If a renewal is not arranged the honorary designation will be discontinued at the end of the ten years. Appeals Decisions made by the Traffic Engineer in the process of administering and interpreting this policy may be appealed in writing to the Streets and Stormwater Director. Traffic Engineer Date Director Streets & Stormwater Date CITY HALL AT ONE TECHNOLOGY CENTER 175 E. 2 St. a Tulsa, OK 74103 a Office 918.5967411 a Fax 918.596.9010 www.cityoftulsa.org
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department 2100 Ridge Avenue Evanston, Illinois 60201 T847.866.2914 Cftyot m 847.448.8064 Evanston www.cityofevanston.org City of Evanston Honorary Street Name Sign Application Form PURPOSE OF PROGRAM: The Honorary Street Name Sign Program allows citizens the opportunity to honor people who have made significant contributions to the City. The program is administered by the Citizen s Advisory Committee on Public Place Names through the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services. Street names will be displayed for a period of ten-years. No more than one designation may be awarded in each ward per year. The portion of a street so designated will be one block long. Final approval is granted by the Evanston City Council. PLEASE FILL OUT THE APPLICATION BELOW: NAME OF HONOREE: (as it would appear on the street sign) PROPER STREET NAME: INTERSECTING STREETS AT EACH END OF THE ONE BLOCK AREA: PLEASE CHECK ALL THAT APPLY, AND GIVE A BRIEF EXPLANATION FOR EACH OF THE APPLICABLE CRITERIA. A STREET CAN BE NAMED FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, OR GROUP/DESIGNATION. CULTURAL IMPACT TO CITY: HISTORICAL IMPACT TO CITY:
HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS: CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH EVANSTON: GEOGRAPHICAL RELATIONSHIP OF STREET TO FOCUS OF INTEREST A LIVING INDIVIDUAL (EXCLUSIVE OF CITY OF EVANSTON STAFF) Signature of Applicant: Applicant s Address: Email: Signature of Applicant: Applicant s Address: Email: (Alderperson) Phone Phone Date: Date: Submit completed form to: City of Evanston Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department 2100 Ridge Ave., Evanston, IL 60201 Fax: 847-448$051 Phone: 847-866-2914 pbelehercityofevanston org
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- 4. Th 1nttnoonoI BUSTER KEATON Socty Date: February 13, 2017 To: The Beverly Hills City Council From: Alek Lev, Director of Special Projects The International Buster Keaton Society Re: Honorary Street sign for Buster Keaton To Whom it May Concern, For many years, film legend Buster Keaton lived on what is now called Pamela Drive in Beverly Hills. The street was named for Pamela Mason, James Mason s wife, when the Masons owned the estate. But it was Buster who originally had the 10,000 square foot Mediterranean palazzo built; he called it his Italian Villa. The International Buster Keaton Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, would like to have the location marked with the honorary street sign: Keaton Court. The Italian Villa is one of the few remaining movie star mansions from the 1 920s. Keaton not only lived here, beginning in 1926, but he also edited his films (in particular, his masterpiece, The General) in a specially designed vault behind the house. Keaton also filmed in and around the Villa, and his movies reflect the Hollywood of the 1920s and 30s. Buster Keaton s first appearance on screen was in 19 17 s The Butcher Bo The Keaton society is marking the occasion by hosting a year-long celebration, BK100: A Century of Buster Keaton in film. As a part of this celebration, we are commemorating Keaton s life and work in and around Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. We will be setting a new plaque in the concrete at the former location of Keaton s studio in Hollywood. We are working with the L.A. City Council to declare October 4th, 2017 (his birthday) Buster Keaton Day in Los Angeles. And we hope the addition of Keaton Court can be a part of this celebration as well. Buster Keaton has legions of fans around the world, and we hope that this will be one of many ways that we help remember his contribution to Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and the history of cinema in this centennial year of Keaton s entrance into the movie industry. Thank you for your consideration, Alek 1ev DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS Alek Lev 12747 Pacific Avenue Unit 1 LA,, CA 90066 (917) 355-9423 alck(bustcrkeaton.com