ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: August 13, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: New Business TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Christian Clegg
DATE: August 13, 2025
SUBJECT: Street Name Change of H Street to Cesar Chavez Boulevard
City Council to discuss street name change and provide direction to staff.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council provide direction for the renaming of a city street to Cesar Chavez Boulevard.
BACKGROUND:
In response to two Council referrals made in 2024, staff have conducted analysis and outline below the process for renaming a city street.
The street renaming process is governed by City Council policy, as adopted by Resolution. The most recent update to that policy was completed in 2021. The policy outlines three different categories for renaming consideration. The Council referral, for Cesa r Chavez Boulevard, falls within Category 1 of the policy, a renaming for an individual for which a federal or state holiday is observed. Category 1 renaming requires an application for consideration but does not require additional petitions or signatures from property owners. The costs for replacing street signs for Category 1 are also to be borne by the city.
The Planning Commission is the approval agency for street name changes. Decisions are final at the planning commission and are appealable to the City Council. The City of Bakersfield can act as an applicant for street renaming requests, as was the case in the most recent street renaming from Cottonwood Road to Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.
The 2024 referrals from the Council requested that staff analyze and develop a list of major thoroughfares to be considered for renaming. Staff analysis focused on arterials and considered the following:
Historical and local significance of existing street name Number of vehicle trips
Number of existing addresses (commercial and residential) Number of major intersections
Interchanges with state or federal highways
Length of street
Geographic location and orientation of the street
Staff considered both north/south and east/west arterials within the city. I t is worth noting that all east/west arterials reviewed have existing street names with local historical significance. Many north/south arterials also have names with local historical significance. Based on the criteria noted above, staff conducted additional analysis for H Street, Union Avenue, Mt. Vernon Avenue, and Monitor Street.
Staff determined that the street that aligns closest to the criteria outlined above is H Street. Staff seeks Council direction on the scope of the name change for H Street.
Pending Council direction, staff is prepared to take further action including:
Complete an application for a Category 1 street renaming on behalf of the City Submit the renaming application and present on a Planning Commission agenda Initiate community engagement for the renaming process ahead of Planning Commission determination
Identify fiscal impacts to businesses and recommend a cost mitigation program Finalize fiscal impact analysis for changing street name signs Finalize the location and scope of the street renaming proposal
FISCAL IMPACT:
Staff anticipate minimal costs to the General Fund for the replacement of street signs. The financial impact is anticipated to be greater for updating City maps and emergency operations system data. Potentially appropriating additional funds for a cost mitigation program for local businesses updating their addresses is the most costly aspect of the street renaming. As noted above, further analysis of both cost implications is included in the pending Council direction related to this item.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Community Character & Quality of Life
ATTACHMENTS:
Exhibit A – Street Renaming Resolution