Current as of July 15, 2025
City of Fairfield
POLICY FOR NAMING CITY FACILITIES, DONATIONS, SPONSORSHIPS, AND CAPITAL
CAMPAIGNS
POLICY PURPOSE
This Policy establishes the process and criteria for the consideration of requests for naming of City facilities, the process and criteria for the consideration and acceptance of donations, the process and criteria associated with sponsorships, and the establishment of capital campaigns.
POLICY STATEMENT – NAMING OF CITY FACILITIES
It is the policy of the City to provide a process for consideration of the naming of City facilities. As used in this policy and for the purposes of naming, “facility” or “facilities” shall include all City-owned infrastructure such as streets, parks, buildings, or portions of those facilities.
New facilities, additions to existing facilities, or facilities that have been or are to be restored /repaired substantially are eligible for naming.
The City shall review naming rights on all its facilities every ten (10) years.
The type, design, size, font, wording, placement, and other similar components of plaques, monuments, signs, etc. installed or placed at City facilities shall be approved by the City Manager (or designee) and align with the City’s style guide.
Pursuant to Government Code §34092, whenever the name of any street, park, or place is adopted or established by City authority, the City Clerk shall promptly forward a copy of the resolution, order, or other instrument providing for such new name or change of name or house number to the Sol ano County Board of Supervisors.
Naming Process
The process for naming a public facility will be as follows:
A. Timing of Naming. Facilities may be named at any time that the City Council declares by resolution an application period is open; these periods may be aligned to a capital campaign, the receipt of a donation, the City receiving correspondence of a pending donation, or at any other time at the discretion of the City Council. For specific projects, the Council may approve a prescribed donation amount required for a naming to be approved.
B. Application Submittal. A naming application shall be submitted to the City Manager’s Office. The City Manager’s Office may prescribe the form and necessary components of the application, which may change over time or to best match each particular request.
C. Application Review. The City Manager’s Office shall review the application and determine if it is complete and consistent with this Policy. Applications determined by the City Manager’s Office to be incomplete, without sufficient support, without sufficient justification, or that are otherwise
EXHIBIT A
Current as of July 15, 2025
inconsistent with this Policy will be returned to the applicant together with a written explanation for the return. An applicant may submit a new application with each naming application period.
D. Review by City Council. If an application is determined to be complete and consistent with the City Council’s stated goals for a facility naming, the application materials will be given to the City Council Honors Committee for its review. Should the Honors Committee decide the application has its recommendation for City Council approval, staff will prepare a report and City Council will give final approval for City facility naming. All naming decisions shall be at the sole discretion of City Council.
Naming Criteria
Priorities in order of importance to be considered in naming City Facilities shall be as follows:
A. Historic Names. Names of historic events, groups, organizations, or persons at the local, regional, national, or global level of major significance with special consideration given to Fairfield’s own history.
B. Places and Feature Names.
1. Recognizable area of neighborhood, e.g. “Rolling Hills.” Names that aid in locating a facility are acceptable. If the facility is located on a park or school site the facility need not share the name of the park or school site.
2. Assumed Names. Assumed names should be used only if the area has been known by that assumed name for an extended period of time, e.g. the “Cordelia” area.
3. Theme Names. If a facility is located in an area with a specific theme, due consideration should be given to that theme.
4. Natural Phenomena. Natural phenomena, such as rivers, creeks, and terrain.
5. Horticultural Features. Horticultural features characteristics of a particular area.
6. Combination of the above.
C. Individuals, Groups, or Organizations. The following criteria will be used in evaluating the use of names of persons (whether living or deceased), groups, and organizations.
1. General Criteria. Names of groups, organizations, or persons, having a longstanding affiliation with the City of not less than ten (10) or more years of significant community service, involvement, investment, or contributions beyond the ordinary interest level where efforts have:
a. Enhanced the quality of life and well-being of City residents; b. Contributed to the preservation of the City’s history or culture; c. Made exemplary or meritorious contributions to the City or its residents; and/or d. Contributed to the acquisition, development, or conveyance of land, buildings, structures, or other amenities to the City or community.
2. Groups or Organizations. Facilities may be named after groups or organizations pursuant to the General Criteria.
3. Deceased Persons. To be considered for a naming opportunity, the individual must have been deceased for at least twenty-four (24) months. Such individuals may include:
a. Historic persons.
b. National and/or local heroes. Those who have given outstanding service to humankind or who have worked over and above any ordinary interest level. A resident of Fairfield who has attained local, state, national, or global recognition for work in parks and recreation, public safety, public health, or other public service endeavor, as appropriate to the facility, would be highly acceptable.
Current as of July 15, 2025
c. City facilities may be named for former employees, former City Council members, or former City Council appointees to City Boards or Commissions. d. Only one facility may be named in honor of an individual. City Council has the discretion to grant an exception to this clause.
4. Living Persons. Facilities will not be named after living persons unless associated with a capital campaign or allowed by City Council when accepting naming rights applications. City Council has the discretion to grant an exception to this clause.
5. Private Enterprise. Facilities will not be named after a private enterprise unless associated with a capital campaign or allowed by City Council when accepting naming rights applications.
In addition, the following names should be avoided:
- Cumbersome, corrupted or modified names, profane, discriminatory or derogatory names relating to age, race, religion, creed, national origin, sex, color, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or similar categories.
- Names that cause confusion due to duplication or that sound too similar to existing named locations within the City or surrounding areas.
- Names of businesses whose business is substantially derived from the sale of tobacco, firearms, pornography, products or services illegal in the state of California, or other products and services considered unsuitable or inappropriate.
- The re-use of former facility names other than for a reconstruction of the same facility in the same location.
- Names that would result in the overt commercialization of City facilities unless in conjunction with a substantial subsidy of construction and/or improvement costs. - Names that are overly recognized, either within the City or region.
Naming Costs
All costs of plaques, monuments, signs and the like resulting from naming will be borne by the individual, group, or organization requesting the name. The City may require a deposit of funds if the object being named will need sustained and/or significant maintenance during its useful lifespan.
POLICY STATEMENT – DONATIONS
It is the policy of the City to provide a process of consideration of donations. As used in this policy, “donations” refer to certain tangible objects such as benches, trees, cars, or artwork and/or the financial means for the city to acquire, maintain, restore, and/or renovate such objects as well as the maintenance, restoration, and/or renovation of City facilities. There is no expectation of an equal exchange of recognition or benefits commensurate with the value of the donation and there are no naming opportunities associated with the donation, although the City as its sole discretion may wish to recognize the donor or donor’s honoree at a City Council meeting and/or with a commem orative plaque at the location of the donation.
Donation Process
A. Application. A donation application shall be submitted to the City Manager’s Office. The City Manager’s Office may prescribe the form and necessary components of the applic ation, which may change over time or to best match each particular request.
B. Review of Application. The City Manager’s Office shall review the application and determine if it is complete and consistent with this Policy. The City Manager’s Office will coordinate such review with or through another city department or departments benefitting from the donation. The City
Current as of July 15, 2025
Manager’s Office will return applications determined to be incomplete or inconsistent with this Policy together with written explanation. The applicant may resubmit the application at any time up to a total of two times with new or additional information or correct the insufficiencies.
C. Acceptance of Donations. The City Manager’s Office may accept the donation if it is determined to be in compliance with this Policy and as long as the donation also complies with other applicable city or state laws governing gifts and donations. At the City Manager’s discretion, staff may present a recommendation about a particular donation to the City Council to make the final determination to accept or reject a donation. The City reserves the right to reject any offer of donation, if, upon review, acceptance of the donation is determined not to be in the best interest of the City.
Donation Acceptance Criteria
Appropriate City staff will review the acceptability of any donation and determine if the benefits to be derived warrant acceptance of the donation. Criteria for evaluation may include but are no limited to:
- The desirability or need for the donation.
- An analysis of any visual, functional, or land use impact of the donation. - An analysis of the make, model, or proposed use and/or location of the donation. - Consideration of any immediate or initial expenditure required of the City in order to accept the donation.
- The potential and extent of the City’s obligation to maintain the property or item donated, and the City’s available resources to do so now and in the future. - Whether the donation includes sufficient funding for installation and/or maintenance. - The community benefit derived from the donation.
Donations will not be accepted from:
- Companies that substantially derived from the sale of tobacco, firearms, pornography, products or services illegal in the state of California, or other products and services considered unsuitable or inappropriate.
- Companies that substantially derive their income from the sale of alcohol and/or legal cannabis products when the donation is primarily for programs, events, or similar settings or occasions where the target audience is youth.
- Any entity that will create a conflict of interest with the City. - Any entity that is involved in a lawsuit/litigation with the City or an instrumentality thereof. - Any entity that is engaged in any state of negotiation with the City which might otherwise conflict with the donation process.
Following the Acceptance of Donations
Upon acceptance of donations, the City will assume ownership, control, and maintenance of any donation unless otherwise specified in a written agreement between the City and the donor. The City shall not be obligated to retain, repair, or replace any donated object that is damaged or destroyed for any reason, such as by vandalism, theft, the effects of weather or time, or, in the case of live plants, if they die. The City reserves the right to remove and/or relocate any donated object at any time. However, if a donated object(s) needs to be removed and is in acceptable condition, the City will mak e a reasonable attempt to relocate the object(s), if a need for such object(s) exists at another City facility or, if no City facility is appropriate, the City will make a reasonable attempt to return it. When acknowledging donations, the acknowledgement language and signage shall conform to the relevant portions of the Naming of City Facilities section of this Policy. Additionally, plaques, benches, trees, and other donated objects are not intended to be a place of worship or an official gathering place.
Current as of July 15, 2025
POLICY STATEMENT – SPONSORSHIPS
It is the policy of the City to provide a process for sponsorships. As used in this Policy, “sponsorships” are the financial, service, or in-kind contributions that will increase the City’s ability to deliver services, programs, scholarships, special events, other similar non-tangible elements, equipment, and/or infrastructure that further enhance, promote, and/or support the goals of the City.
The City may offer sponsorship opportunities from time-to-time and may offer a mutually agreeable exchange of benefits with exception that no Naming Rights of Facilities or tangible items covered by capital campaigns may result from sponsorships. With the approval of City Council, sponsorships may result in a named scholarship or program that is designed to last five or more years. For named scholarships or programs lasting fewer than five years, the process below may be followed without City Council approval.
Sponsorship Process
With the approval of the City Manager, City staff may enter into customized, written sponsorship agreements with willing sponsors and provide sponsors with a level of benefit that is commensurate with their contribution. Types of sponsor benefits may include but are not limited to:
- Publicity including the display of a sponsor’s logo through City publications, the website, newsletters, flyers, brochures, and/or media releases.
- Marketing opportunities at the special events or program sites. - Tangible benefits such as event admission or commemorative items such as plaques, a framed picture, or program or event shirts.
- Acknowledgement on printed materials such as event programs or recreation catalogues. - Signage including the possibility of the inclusion of an individual’s name of company name and logo on a fixed site for the period of time detailed in the sponsorship agreement. The following limitations apply to signage.
o Allowed signage and recognition displays details, including type, location, size, design, content and duration of display is at the sole discretion of the City and will be a component of the sponsorship agreement.
o Words or characters likely to interfere with or mislead pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic, i.e. “stop,” “drive,” and “danger” are prohibited.
o Reference or depiction of any obscene act, gesture, or word is prohibited. o Depictions of the use of drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and/or firearms are prohibited. o Decision for signage placement will be performed with input from the relevant program/facility manager.
Sponsorship Criteria
- The City reserves the right to reject or terminate sponsorship agreements if, upon review, acceptance or continuance of the sponsorship is determined not to be in the best interest of the City or if the sponsor violates any terms of the agreement. - Sponsorship agreements will be for a defined period of time. - The City shall not be obligated to continue a program, event, or scholarship beyond the parameters of any written agreement.
- Recognition of a sponsor shall not suggest in any way the endorsement of the sponsor’s goods or services.
- Sponsorships shall not be made conditional based on the City’s performance or actions or the performance of an event, program, etc.
Current as of July 15, 2025
- Individual sponsors will not limit the City’s ability to seek other sponsors unless mutually agreed upon by the City and the sponsor.
- Sponsors are prohibited from unauthorized use of the City’s name or brand. - Sponsorships will not be accepted from:
o Companies that substantially derived from the sale of tobacco, firearms, pornography, products or services illegal in the state of California, or other products and services considered unsuitable or inappropriate.
o Companies that substantially derive their income from the sale of alcohol and/or legal cannabis products when the sponsorship is primarily for programs, events, or similar settings or occasions where the target audience is youth. o Any entity that will create a conflict of interest with the City. o Any entity that is involved in a lawsuit/litigation with the City or an instrumentality thereof. o Any entity that is engaged in any state of negotiation with the City which might otherwise conflict with the donation process.
o Any religious and/or political organization.
POLICY STATEMENT – CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS
It is the policy of the City to provide a process for capital campaigns.
The City may conduct capital campaigns from time-to-time to raise funds for City facilities as defined in the Naming portion of this Policy or for tangible objects with City facilities such as furniture, fixtures, appliances, scoreboards, playground equipment, and the like.
Capital campaigns or portions of capital campaigns that will result in the naming of newly constructed, renovated, or to be renovated/repaired facilities as defined in the Naming portion of this Policy, portions of facilities newly constructed, renovated, or to be renovated such as definable spaces, rooms, and/or wings of a structure shall follow the Naming portion of this Policy at the conclusion of the capital campaign.
Capital campaigns or portions of capital campaigns that will result in the acquisition of tangible objects for City facilities will be designed and managed at staff level in accordance with all other State laws and City policies. Contributions may be accepted in accordance with all other components of this Policy including, but not limited to, limitations of allowed contributors and recognition of contributors.
The City reserves the right to reject or return funds offered during capital campaigns if, upon review, acceptance of the contribution is determined not to be in the best interest of the City.