HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 16-005 - Amending the Policy Pertaining to Naming City-Owned Land and FacilitiesAdopted Via Resolution 16-005, January 20, 2016
NAMING CITY-OWNED LAND AND FACILITIES
I. PURPOSE
The intent of this policy is to establish criteria and procedures for the naming and renaming of
City-owned land and facilities.
II. OVERVIEW
1. This policy provides a mechanism for citizens to suggest names they believe should be
considered for new City facilities, lands and/or portions of facilities (e.g. rooms, fields, etc.)
and for the renaming of existing facilities, lands and/or portions of facili ties (e.g. rooms,
fields, etc.).
2. This policy pertains to all City-owned lands and facilities with the exception of City streets.
The naming of streets is managed by the City’s Community Development Department under
a separate set of policies and procedures.
III. GENERAL POLICIES
1. The City Council shall have the authority to name and rename City-owned lands and
facilities.
NOTE: The City has a separate “Tree and Bench Dedication” Program. Information
about this program can be found on the City’s website at
http://www.saratoga.ca.us/pdf/treebenchapplication1.pdf, or by contacting the City Clerk.
2. The donation of land(s), facility(ies), or funds for the acquisition, renovation or maintenan ce
of land(s) or facilities, shall not constitute an obligation by the City to name the land(s) and/or
facility(ies) or any portion thereof after an individual, family or organization.
3. The cost of plaques, monuments and/or replacement of signs resulting from naming or
renaming of City-owned facilities, lands and/or portions of facilities will be borne by the
individual, group or organization sponsoring the request. An exception to this policy may be
made by the City Council in the case of economic hardship and if there are City funds
available to cover the costs.
IV. NAMING CRITERIA
1. The following criteria shall be used in selecting an appropriate name for City-owned lands
and facilities:
a. The name should, if possible, include or preserve the geographic, environmental (relating
to natural or physical features), historic or landmark connotation of particular
significance to the area in which the land or facility is located, or for the City as a whole.
Either connotation is equally valid.
b. Consideration may be given to naming a City-owned land or facility after an individual,
family or organization when the land, facility, or the money for its purchase,
construction, renovation or maintenance was donated by the individual, family or
organization.
c. A local non-profit organization operating City-owned land or facilities may offer naming
rights to major donor(s) as enticement to receive capital project contributions upon City
Adopted Via Resolution 16-005, January 20, 2016
Council approval of a fundraising plan. The proposed name of City-owned land or
facilities shall be taken to City Council for approval.
d. Consideration may also be given to naming a City-owned land or facility after an
individual, family or organization when warranted by some in-kind contribution or
service which is deemed to be of major and lasting significance to the purchase of the
piece of land, facility, or the planning, development, construction, renovation or
maintenance of a facility.
e. City-owned land(s) and/or park(s) may be named for benefactor organizations, groups or
businesses.
f. City-owned land(s) or facility(ies) may not be named after a seated elected or appointed
official.
g. City-owned land(s) or facility(ies) may be named after an employee, or former employee
of the City of Saratoga if three (3) or more of the following criteria are met:
The employee’s contributions were over and above the normal duties required by
his/her job;
The employee had a positive impact on the past and future development of
programs or facilities in the City of Saratoga;
The employee made significant volunteer contributions to the community outside
the scope of his/her job;
The employee had exceptionally long tenure with the City of Saratoga (i.e. over
25 years);
There is significant public support for a memorial to the employee on the
occasion of his/her death or retirement.
V. POLICY & CRITERIA REGARDING RENAMING
1. Existing place names are deemed to have historic recognition. City policy is to retain the
name of any existing land(s) and/or facility(ies) particularly when the name has City or
regional significance. The City Council may consider renaming the facility if there are
compelling reasons to do so, including, but not limited to when a facility has reached the end
of its normal lifespan.
a. A local non-profit organization operating City-owned land or facilities may offer naming
rights to major donor(s) as enticement to receive capital project contributions upon City
Council approval of a fundraising plan. The proposed name of City-owned land or
facilities shall be taken to City Council for approval.
2. The following criteria shall be used in renaming City-owned lands and facilities:
a. The individual, family or organization has made lasting and significant contributions to
the protection of natural or cultural resources of the City; or
b. The individual, family or organization has made substantial contributions to the
betterment of a specific facility or park consistent with the established standards for the
facility; or
c. The individual, family or organization has made substantial contributions to the
advancement of commensurate types of recreational opportunities within the City.
VI. PROCEDURE FOR NAMING & RENAMING OF CITY-OWNED LAND(S) OR
FACILITY(IES)
1. A request to name or rename a City-owned land or facility shall be made in writing on
the standard application form attached to this policy.
Adopted Via Resolution 16-005, January 20, 2016
2. The application will be reviewed for completeness by staff in the City’s Recreation (and
Facilities) Department and forwarded to the Mayor.
3. The Mayor will designate an appropriate City Commission to review the application a nd
make a recommendation to the City Council.
4. The City Council shall have final approval of naming and renaming recommendations.
Adopted Via Resolution 16-005, January 20, 2016
CITY OF SARATOGA
APPLICATION FOR NAMING OR RENAMING
CITY-OWNED LAND(S) OR FACILITY(IES)
Applicant’s Contact Information:
Name:
Address:
E-mail:
Phone:
Naming/ Renaming Information for City-owned Land or Facility:
Suggested Name:
Location of Site or Facility:
Is the proposed name for only a portion of the site or facility? Yes No
If yes, please indicate portion suggested for naming/ renaming:
To name or rename a City-owned site or facility, certain criteria must be met. Please indicate below
which criteria will be met for the proposed name:
Sites or Facilities that DO NOT Currently Have a Name
Criteria for naming (please check all that apply):
The name preserves the geographic, environmental (relating to natural or physical features),
historic or landmark connotation of particular significance to the area in which the land or
facility is located, or for the City as a whole.
The land, facility, or the money for its purchase, construction, renovation or maintenance
was donated by the individual, family or organization.
An in-kind contribution or service of major and lasting significance was made to the
acquisition of the land, facility, or the planning, development, construction, renovation or
maintenance of a facility.
The name recognizes a benefactor organization, group or business that contributed to the site
or facility.
The name recognizes a current or former employee who has: (check at least 3 criteria below)
Made contributions over and above the normal duties required by his/her job;
Had a positive impact on the past and future development of programs or facilities in the
City of Saratoga;
Adopted Via Resolution 16-005, January 20, 2016
Made significant volunteer contributions to the community outside the scope of his/her
job;
Had exceptionally long tenure with the City of Saratoga (i.e. over 25 years);
Significant public support for a memorial to the employee on the occasion of his/her
death or retirement.
Sites or Facilities that Currently Have a Name
Criteria for naming (please check all that apply):
The individual, family or organization has made lasting and significant contributions to the
protection of natural or cultural resources of the City.
The individual, family or organization has made substantial contributions to the betterment
of a specific facility or park consistent with the established standards for the facility.
The individual, family or organization has made substantial contributions to the
advancement of commensurate types of recreational opportunities within the City.
For all facilities, please provide a detailed explanation that supports the criteria for which you are
requesting naming or renaming of the site or facility for this individual, family or organization: (If
needed, please attach additional pages in order to provide a thorough discussion of the merits of your
request.)
Adopted Via Resolution 16-005, January 20, 2016
PLEASE NOTE:
1. The City Council may consider renaming a facility if there are compelling reasons to do so,
including, but not limited to when a facility has reached the end of its normal lifespan.
2. The cost of plaques, monuments and/or replacement of signs resulting from naming or renaming
of City-owned facilities, lands and/or portions of facilities will be borne by the individual, group
or organization sponsoring the request. An exception to this policy may be made by the City
Council in the case of economic hardship and if there are City funds available to cover the costs.
City of Saratoga Use Only:
Date Received: _____________________________
Date Scheduled for Review by Commission: _____________________________