Administrative Policy
ARTICLE I - PURPOSE
Section 1.1 General Purpose
The purpose of this Policy is to:
Address and promote naming or renaming of City Property by means of Naming Rights or Honorary Naming.
Establish new clear and consistent criteria and procedures for Naming Rights and Honorary Naming while maintaining the current general criteria for naming City Property outside of this policy. preserving the City’s existing general naming criteria and ensuring that all previously named properties remain unaffected by this policy.
Encourage philanthropic giving, while acknowledging public investments and safeguarding against the unwanted commercialization of the public realm. providing opportunities for organizations, businesses, and community members individuals, and entities to support public projects.
Recognize substantial personal and financial contributions that have been made to the community and the well-being of the residents, businesses and other City stakeholders.
Title: City Property Naming Rights and Honorary Naming
Administered By: Community Services
Policy No. Issue
Date
Revision
Date
Department Head
Approved
City Manager
Approved
06400.001 11/16/2016 3/4/2026
Administrative Policy 06400.001 (3/4/2026)
City Property Naming Rights and Honorary Naming
Administered by Community Services
Ensure that no vested, perpetual or unconditional rights are conferred or received as a result of this policy.
Encourage public participation and input in order to assist in making decisions that reflect the best interest of the community.
Section 1.2 Superseded Policies
This policy supersedes and replaces the following policies, which are hereby eliminated in their entirety and are of no further force and effect:
Resolution 98-24 (Adopting a Policy to Establish Formal Criteria for Naming City Parks and/or City Recreational Facilities)
Section 1.3 Designated Facilities
This policy applies to:
New Assets under development or renovation large enough to bear a naming right, including Amenities as defined below.
Existing Assets proposed for naming or renaming.
ARTICLE II – DEFINITIONS AND SCOPE
Section 2.1 Definitions
For purposes of this policy, the following definitions shall apply:
A. City. The term "City" shall mean the City of Ccorona.
B. City Property. The term "City property" shall mean City parks and recreational facilities, as well as significant amenities within those parks and facilities.
C. Department. The term "Department" shall mean the Recreation Division of the Library and Recreation Community Services Department.
D. Eligible Name Source. The term "Eligible Name Source" shall mean an individual, family, business, non-profit organization or other community group or organization that has made a significant, positive contribution to the City, as evidenced by one or more examples of any of the following:
Enhancing the quality of life and well-being of the City and its residents. Contributing to the historical or cultural preservation of the City.
Administrative Policy 06400.001 (3/4/2026)
City Property Naming Rights and Honorary Naming
Administered by Community Services
Significant cContributing to the acquisition, development or conveyance of the City property to the city.
The City property is located on the site of an individual's or family's former residence or the former site of a business, organization or group.
E. Honorary Naming. The term "Honorary Naming" shall mean the naming or renaming of City property for memorial or other honorary reasons, as further described in this policy.
F. Naming Rights. The term "Naming Rights" shall mean the naming or renaming of City Property in exchange for financial consideration, as further described in this policy.
G. Proposed Name. The term "Proposed Name" shall mean the proposed new name for the City Property which is the subject of an application pursuant to this policy and which includes the Eligible Name Source.
H. Significant Amenities. The term "Significant Amenities" shall mean aquatic centers, splash pads, playgrounds, skate parks, pump tracks, gymnasiums, banquet rooms, conference rooms, classrooms, game rooms, playgrounds, event space, fitness rooms, basketball courts, restrooms, concessions facilities, trails, sports fields or courts, playgrounds, picnic shelters, gardens, water features, trees, benches, and other significant indoor and outdoor amenities rooms within City facilitiesparks and recreation facilities.
Section 2.2 General Scope
Unless otherwise stipulated herein, this policy applies to all City Property and all employees shall comply with the provisions outlined in this policy. It is the responsibility of all supervision to ensure that the provisions outlined in this policy are enforced for those City employees under their authority.
Section 2.3 Exemptions from Scope
This policy shall not apply to water, sewer or electrical facilities or real property owned, operated or maintained by the water, sewer or electrical divisions of the Department of Water and PowerUtilities Department.
ARTICLE III – CRITERIA AND PROCEDURE
Section 3.1 Naming and Dedicating City Property Outside of this Policy A. Current General Criteria. Absent an application to name or rename City Property or a significant contribution to the acquisition, development, or Administrative Policy 06400.001 (3/4/2026)
City Property Naming Rights and Honorary Naming
Administered by Community Services
conveyance of City property pursuant to this policy, the following current general criteria shall continue to be used when naming City Property:
1. Street names on which the City Property is located.
2. Spanish surnames.
3.2. Names of early Corona settlers.
4.3. Names of deceased war veterans of Corona.
5.4. Names that reflect Corona's heritage.
B. Honorary Dedication of Trees and Park Benches. The Department shall be delegated authority to establish, implement and maintain a program for the honorary dedication of new City trees and park benches, in accordance with the following criteria:
1. The Department shall establish the financial contribution for such dedications.
2. The Department shall develop all program policies, agreements and other documentation in a form acceptable to the City Manager, City Attorney and Risk Manager. At a minimum, the program shall include the City rights and agreement terms provided for in sub-sections (C)(2), (C)(3), (C)(4), (D)(4)(B) and (D)(4)(C) of Section 3.3 of this policy.
3. The cost of such dedications shall not be subject to the Mitigation Fee Act (California Government Code §§ 66000 et seq.) or any other state or federal law concerning fees or charges that may not exceed the reasonable cost of providing the service for which the fee or charge is imposed, because the City is establishing the cost recovery payment schedule in its proprietary, as opposed to regulatory, capacity as the owner of the trees and benches. Moreover, the consideration is not charged or imposed for a specific government service or product provided directly to the applicant.
Section 3.2 New Criteria for Applications Under this Policy A. Criteria for Naming Rights & Honorary Naming. All applications for Naming Rights and Honorary Naming shall meet all of the following criteria, as determined by the City Council in its sole discretion:
1. The Proposed Name shall meet at least one of the following:
Administrative Policy 06400.001 (3/4/2026)
City Property Naming Rights and Honorary Naming
Administered by Community Services
A. Provide a sense of place, continuity and belonging reflecting the geographic location, community, neighborhood or street where the City Property is located.
B. Recognize the natural, historical and/or cultural significance of the area.
C. Reflect the unique characteristics or intended use of the site.
D. Consistent with the mission, vision and values of the City.
2. The person(s) executing the application documents and agreement on behalf of the Eligible Name Source shall agree to be bound by all terms and conditions of this policy, as written at the time of the application and as may be modified from time to time by the City Council.
B. Criteria for Naming Rights. All applications for Naming Rights shall also meet the following criteria, as determined by the City Council in its sole discretion:
1. The financial contribution provided for the Naming Rights shall be commensurate with the size, significance and total cost of the City Property being named or renamed. For these purposes, the term "total cost" shall mean any and all land acquisition, design, engineering, development, and construction, replacement, renovation, maintenance and operation costs for the City Property contemplated or incurred in connection with the Naming Rights application and through the term of the Naming Rights agreement. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the financial contribution shall equal or exceed the cost to the City to process and approve the Naming Rights application, plus at least fifty percent (50%), or such other amount as approved by City Council, of the City's estimate of the total cost incurred for the City Property through the term of the Naming Rights agreement.
2. The financial contribution provided for the Naming Rights shall be commensurate with the duration of the naming.
3. The financial contribution provided for the Naming Rights shall be negotiated and established according to a market value assessment conducted by the Department. The market value assessment shall be a current assessment of the potential property value within the marketplace for the Naming Rights.
3.4. Naming Rights shall be time-limited and shall not imply ownership, control, or endorsement by the City.
Administrative Policy 06400.001 (3/4/2026)
City Property Naming Rights and Honorary Naming
Administered by Community Services
C. Criteria for Honorarv Naming. All applications for Honorary Naming shall also meet the following criteria, as determined by the City Council in its sole discretion:
1. The personal contribution provided by the Eligible Name Source shall be commensurate with the size and significance of the City Property being named or renamed.
2. If the Eligible Name Source is a City elected official or public employee, he/she must be separated from service with the City for at least seven (7) years. an individual, he or she may either be deceased or living, but at least one of the following conditions shall apply before an application submitted on their behalf will be considered:described in section (5) below shall be met.
A. An individual must be deceased for at least five (5) years.
B. A City elected official or public employee must be separated from service with the City for at least seven (7) years.
3. If the Eligible Name Source is a business, organization or group, it may either be currently or formerly in business or operation.
4. The Eligible Name Source, or their duly recognized representative (if deceased or no longer in business or operation), shall consent to the Honorary Naming and execute any documentation required under this policy.
5. The Eligible Name Source shall have done at least one of the following:
A. Made a significant, positive contribution to the community without which the City Property to be named or renamed likely would not have otherwise existed.
B. Made an important contribution that enhanced in an
extraordinary way the City Property to be named or renamed.
C. Demonstrated continuous and longstanding exemplary public service or community volunteerism over a period of at least twenty- five (25) years.
D. Achieved such unique state, national, or international public distinction as to warrant recognition.
Administrative Policy 06400.001 (3/4/2026)
City Property Naming Rights and Honorary Naming
Administered by Community Services
E. Had a longstanding and beneficial affiliation with the City and maintained a continuous residence in the City for at least twentyfive (25) years.
D. Criteria for Renaming. All applications which involve the renaming of City Property (including the addition of a name to an existing name) shall also meet the following criteria, as determined by the City in its sole discretion:
1. City Property can be renamed if any of the following conditions apply:
A. If the City Property is being replaced or substantially renovated or developed for another use.
B. When an existing name is deemed by the City to be no longer befitting or in the City's best interests.
C. When an agreement involving the existing name has been breached.
2. The review process shall include due consideration and a comprehensive review of all reasonably available pertinent documents by the Department, as well as a review by the City Attorney's Office of any reasonably available legal documents governing the existing name.
3. Existing names may not be changed without consideration of:
A. Community input.
B. The historical significance of the existing name.
C. The impact on the individual, group or community organization after whom the existing name is based.
D. The cost and overall effect of changing existing signs, rebuilding community recognition and updating records.
E. The terms and conditions of any written agreements governing the existing name.
E. Marketing: The City will not permit corporate logos, insignias, or advertising slogans in a permanent naming or renaming of a City facility.
F. Visibility: The name will be displayed at the facility in a manner consistent with the facility’s design and branding.
Administrative Policy 06400.001 (3/4/2026)
City Property Naming Rights and Honorary Naming
Administered by Community Services
E.G. Ethics and Morals Provisions. Any legal impropriety or act which brings dishonor or disrepute to the City or community at large on the part of the individual bestowed in the honorific naming shall make the naming subject to reconsideration and potential reversal by City Council. All donationscontributions made to the City pursuant to this policythe naming rights agreement are nonrefundable at the time of donation.
Section 3.3 Procedure for Applications Under this Policy A. Application Packet.
1. All requests for Naming Rights and Honorary Naming shall commence with the submission of a written application on a form provided by the Department.
2. Honorary Naming application shall be accompanied by the payment of an application fee in thean amount of $350.00 as set by a Rresolution No. 2017-020 and adopted by the City Council.
3. The application shall clearly identify the City Property to be named or renamed, and shall include the applicant's suggestion for a Proposed Name. It is also incumbent upon the applicant to clearly illustrate and provide all necessary documentation supporting how the Eligible Name Source and Proposed Name satisfy the criteria provided for in this policy.
4. For requests for Honorary Naming, the application packet shall include supporting background information and/or biographical information (newspaper articles, photos, proclamations, awards, certificates, etc.), as well as at least three (3) and no more than five (5) letters of support.
The letters of support must evidence broad community support for the Honorary Naming request and no more than one (1) letter shall be from a family member of the Eligible Name Source.
B. Application Process.
1. Department staff shall review the application packet to determine if it is complete. An application packet shall be deemed to be complete only if it contains all information needed to assess the criteria provided for in this policy. Department staff shall solicit any needed input and assistance from other City departments or resources. Staff shall notify applicant if any additional information is needed before the application can be deemed to be complete.
Administrative Policy 06400.001 (3/4/2026)
City Property Naming Rights and Honorary Naming
Administered by Community Services
2. Once an application is deemed to be complete, Department staff shall prepare the request for consideration by the Public Services Committee City Council..
3. When City Property is requested to be renamed, a reasonable effort will be made to notify the individual, group or community organization after whom the existing name is based, or their duly recognized representative if they are deceased or no longer in business or operation.
4. The Department shall cause notice of the application to be published at least twice in a newspaper circulated within the City, once at least twenty- one (21) days and once at least seven (7) days before consideration by the Public Services CommitteeCity Council. The notice shall contain at least the following information: the affected City Property; the Proposed Name; a brief description of the applicant's reasons in support of the application; the date, time and location of the Public Services CommitteeCity Council meeting; and the manner in which the public can submit written comments in advance of the meeting.
5. The Public Services Committee shall receive public comment on the application, and shall thereafter make a recommendation to the City Council for approval, approval with modification or disapproval.
5. The City Council shall receive public comment on the application and consider the application and the Public Service Committee's recommendation at a regular or special City Council meeting.
6. C. City Rights. Each application for Naming Rights or Honorary Naming will be considered on a case-by-case basis and shall be subject to the following rights of the City:
1. Final approval or disapproval is at the sole and absolute discretion of the City Council.
2. The City Council reserves the right to reject any application without cause for any or no reason.
3. A Proposed Name will not be approved if its meets any of the following:
A. Causes confusion due to duplication or similar names already existing within the City.
Administrative Policy 06400.001 (3/4/2026)
City Property Naming Rights and Honorary Naming
Administered by Community Services
B. Includes the name of a business, organization or group which is substantially involved in the sale of alcohol, tobacco, firearms, pornography, cannabis or sexually explicit goods or services, or whose activities are such that they are not in the best interests of the City.
C. Is discriminatory or derogatory towards any classification protected under federal or state law.
D. Conflicts with any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation, or with any grant or other source of funds for the City Property to be named or renamed.
4. No vested rights shall be conferred or received by any individual or entity as a result of this policy or any action taken under this policy.
D. Agreement. The terms of each approved Naming Rights and Honorary Naming shall be memorialized in a legally binding agreement approved as to form by the City Attorney. In addition to any terms deemed necessary by the City Manager, City Attorney or Risk Manager, the agreement shall contain at least the following terms:
1. The duration of the agreement (specified commencement and expiration dates). Naming Rights and Honorary Naming shall never be granted in perpetuity.
2. Renewal options or right of first refusal, if any.
3. For Naming Rights, the financial contribution to be paid and the payment schedule.
4. Early termination rights for the City, including:
A. For Naming Rights, in addition to termination as a result of a breach of the agreement, the City shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate the agreement and Naming Rights if information is discovered or circumstances occur which would cause the Naming Rights to cast a negative image upon the City.
B. For Honorary Naming, in addition to termination as a result of a breach of the agreement, the City shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate the agreement and Honorary Naming without cause for any or no reason.
Administrative Policy 06400.001 (3/4/2026)
City Property Naming Rights and Honorary Naming
Administered by Community Services
C. In the event of such early termination, the City shall have the absolute right to retain any money or other consideration already paid or provided to the City, and no money or other consideration shall be owed to any person or entity as a result of or in any way related to the early termination.
5. Waiver and indemnity provisions related to the City's exercise of any rights, duties or obligations under the agreement.