The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About090 - 09/01/2015 - AMENDING CHAPTER 23 OF CITY CODE WITH REGARDS TO FACILITY AND PROPERTY NAMING POLICIES ORDINANCE NO. 090, 2015 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AMENDING CHAPTER 23 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS WITH REGARDS TO FACILITY AND PROPERTY NAMING POLICIES WHEREAS. in November 2011, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 134, 2011, amending Chapter 23, Article V to add new provisions to the Naming of City Properties and Facilities; and WHEREAS, the purpose of the City's naming policy is to establish a systematic and consistent approach to selecting official names for city amenities in a manner that is fair and appropriate, easily identifies city facilities, and encourages donation of public lands, facilities, and funds by individuals and entities; and WHEREAS, Section 23-141 of the City Code, entitled "Naming of properties and facilities for persons or entities", as adopted under Ordinance No. 134, 2011, creates a process whereby a City Council ad hoc committee is convened to identify names of persons or entities appropriate for naming City real property and facilities; and WHEREAS, Section 23-142 of the City Code, entitled "Naming of properties and facilities for other than persons or entities", as adopted under Ordinance No. 134, 2011, provides guidance in delegating to the City Manager authority to develop administrative provisions to select names appropriate for City real property and facilities other than for persons or entities; and WHEREAS, naming of arterial and collector streets in the Fort Collins street system is based on procedures set forth at Section 24-91 of the City Code, which distills public input from local historians, neighbors, and the community into a list of acceptable names, approved by Council, from which names are selected as streets are added to the public road system; and WHEREAS, following recent instances where an ad hoc City Council naming committee was convened to select a name for a new natural area and trail, pursuant to Section 23-141, staff has identified an opportunity to improve transparency and timeliness in the City's naming practices under that Code section; and WHEREAS, based on feedback from the community and City Council, staff has recommended the naming of City property and facilities, whether for persons or entities or non- persons or non-entities, be aligned under a common set of procedures, beginning with public outreach under administrative guidelines; and WHEREAS, staff has further recommended discontinuation of naming city property or facilities for living persons, other than donors making contributions greater than seventy five percent of the cost of a facility or portion thereof; and - 1 - WHEREAS, the City Council had determined that amending Chapter 23 of the City Code to align and create additional transparency in the processes for naming city property and facilities is in the best interest of the City and its residents. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the City Council finds that updating the procedures and conditions followed in the naming of City properties and facilities for persons or entities in Chapter 23, Article V of the City Code, is in the best interest of the City and its residents. Section 2. That Section 23-141 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby repealed in its entirely and re-adopted to read as follows: Sec. 23-141. Naming of properties and facilities for persons or entities. (a) The requirements of this Section shall apply to the naming of City-owned or - operated properties or facilities for persons or entities, including, but not limited to, individuals, families, designated groups of persons, and for-profit and not-for- profit organizations and associations. Any property assets under the City's ownership and control, including parks, recreational and cultural facilities, civic buildings, natural areas, trails or any portions of such properties or facilities, shall be named in accordance with this Section or § 23-142, except that the naming of streets and alleys, to the extent carried out by the City, shall be governed by § 24- 91 of this Code. (b) The City Manager is authorized to establish administrative rules and procedures for the consideration and recommendation to City Council of names for City- owned or -operated properties or facilities or portions thereof, except as specified in § 24-91 of this Code. All administrative consideration of names for properties and facilities, and portions thereof, shall be in accordance with such rules and procedures. Names for City-owned or -operated properties or facilities shall be adopted and amended by the City Council by resolution. (c) (c) Except as set forth in Subsection (e) below, the City Manager shall not recommend naming City-owned or -operated properties or facilities, or portions thereof, for living persons, and shall not offer for sale or auction the name or naming rights of any such property, facility or portion thereof. (d) A resolution adopted by City Council approving a City property or facility name pursuant to this Section shall include a description of the donation or other significant service, benefit or significance to the community that is the basis for the designation of the name approved. The resolution shall further provide that the City may modify or remove the approved name in the future in the event the City Council determines such modification or removal to be appropriate in light of changed circumstances or other matters of public interest or convenience. Examples of such grounds for modification of an approved name include, but are - 2 - not limited to, a change of use of the facility, a change in public perception of the name, or development of a new purpose or priority for the property named. (e) In the event a significant financial donation has been made for the acquisition, construction or improvement of a property or facility, the property or facility or a portion thereof may be named either for the donor or in consideration of the wishes of the donor, which name may be that of a person living or deceased. Donations shall be for no less than seventy-five (75) percent of the total value or cost of the property or facility or portion thereof to be named. If such a donation is received from an individual, family or entity, the City Council will give significant weight to a naming or recognition request from the donor, but will consider such a request in light of other policy or practical priorities and concerns and the public interest in general. In some instances, the naming of a portion of a property or facility or a specific feature of the property or facility for a donor may be an appropriate alternative to naming the entire property or facility. (f) A property or facility or a portion thereof may be named for a deceased community member or other significant contributor to the community, as set forth in this Subsection. To be eligible for naming consideration under this Subsection, a person must be deceased for no less than twelve (12) months at the time of nomination, and be a former City officer, employee, or volunteer, another person important in the history of the City or a former citizen of exemplary character deserving of special recognition. Persons or entities for which a property or facility or portion thereof is named hereunder shall be.determined to have provided significant service or direct benefit to the community, or to have achieved historical significance, that has endured, or will endure, over many years. (g) Prior to City Council approval of a resolution naming a property or facility named for a person, the City shall make reasonable efforts to identify, locate and obtain the consent of the next of kin of such person. (h) If a name is approved pursuant to this Section that also appears on the list maintained under § 24-91 of this Code, the Director of Community Development and Neighborhood Services shall strike the name from the street name list and promptly update that list as required by § 24-91. (i) When an existing named property or facility is being added to or augmented, the name of the existing facility may be attached to the new acreage or facility without the requirement of additional City Council action. Section 3. That Subsection 23-142(c) of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 23-142. - Naming of properties and facilities for other than persons or entities. - 3 - (c) In connection with the naming of such properties and facilities, the City Manager shall generally give preference to the use of names associated with geographic location, unique natural, historical or cultural features or significance, and the specific purposes of the property or facility, and the avoidance of confusion with existing facilities or locations. When naming natural areas specifically, as such areas are defined in Section 23-192 of this Code, the City Manager shall give preference to names associated with unique or significant natural attributes or natural history of the property over other characteristics or purposes of such properties. Section 4. That Section 23-142 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby amended by the adoption of a new Subsection (d) to read as follows: (d) When an existing named property or facility is being added to or augmented, the name of the existing facility may be attached to the new acreage or facility without the requirement of additional City Council action. Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 18th day of August, A.D. 2015, and to be presented for final passage on the 1st day of September, A.D. 2015. ayor ATTEST: oFPORN, SEAL y City Clerk o'' ••••• 'o OGORA° Passed and adopted on final reading on the 1 st day of September, A.D. 2015. OR oF•ppOC `. C SEAL N Mayor ATTEST: °OtORA°o City Clerk - 4 -