• Key Changes:
o Add Section 10.24 (Naming of Public Facilities and Streets) to Chapter 10 (General Provisions) of Title 1 (General Provisions).
o Codification of clear procedures for naming and renaming. o Inclusion of community input and structured nomination processes. o Limitations on duplicative names for better distinction. o Defined roles for the Department of Parks and Recreation, advisory committees, and City Council in the decision-making process.
ANALYSIS
The proposed Ordinance will create local standards for the naming of public facilities and streets. This Ordinance aims to establish a process for naming municipal properties.
ENVIRONMENTAL
This Ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to the common sense CEQA exemption (CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3)) which provides that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential to have a “significant effect on the environment,” as defined in Public Resources Code Section 21068 and in CEQA Guidelines Section 15382.
The amendments to the City’s Municipal Code will not have a significant effect on the environment.
DISCUSSION
The City of Santa Fe Springs has introduced Ordinance No. 1154, establishing a structured and equitable policy for naming public facilities and streets. This ordinance ensures that the naming process reflects community values, history, and culture while maintaining consistency and transparency.
Key Features:
1. Scope of Applicability:
a. Applies to parks, facilities, streets, and other municipal properties. b. Excludes minor items such as benches and other similar amenities.
2. Eligibility Criteria:
a. Names may reflect:
i. Geographical locations or natural features.
ii. Historical events, landmarks, or cultural identities. iii. Notable city themes, flora, or fauna.
b. Duplicative names are prohibited.
c. Names must be free of offensive or politically charged language.
3. Naming After Individuals:
a. Requires the individual to be deceased for at least two years unless a significant contribution warrants an exception.
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT – MEETING OF JANUARY 21, 2025 Ordinance No. 1154
b. Individual contributions considered include:
i. Donations of land or funds.
ii. Voluntary or civic service improving the city's quality of life.
4. Procedural Framework:
a. Nomination Process:
i. Nominations submitted to the Department of Parks and Recreation with required documentation.
b. Review Process:
i. Recommendations from the Historical and Community Preservation Advisory Committee.
ii. Final approval by the City Council.
c. City Council members may initiate nominations directly, subject to unanimous approval.
5. Renaming Guidelines:
a. Renaming only under exceptional circumstances (e.g., correcting inaccuracies or addressing public safety concerns).
b. Community-backed requests require substantial support.
SUMMARY
Staff is recommending that the City Council approve and adopt Ordinance No. 1154 to effectuate the proposed amendments to the text of the City’s Municipal Code and determine that the Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
ATTACHMENT(S):
A. Ordinance No. 1154
ITEM STATUS:
APPROVED:
DENIED:
TABLED:
DIRECTION GIVEN:
ORDINANCE NO. 1154
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SANTA FE SPRINGS
ADDING SECTION 10.24 (NAMING OF PUBLIC FACILITIES
AND STREETS) TO CHAPTER 10 (GENERAL PROVISIONS)
OF TITLE I (GENERAL PROVISIONS) OF THE SANTA FE
SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE NAMING OF
PUBLIC FACILITIES AND STREETS
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to establish a uniform and equitable policy and procedure for considering names for City parks, facilities and streets; and
WHEREAS, these policies and procedures shall apply to parks, buildings, plazas, streets, and other eligible municipal property; and WHEREAS, the names implemented through this process shall aim to foster a shared sense of pride and belonging, while recognizing the unique attributes of these public spaces.
NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Santa Fe Springs does ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 10.24 is hereby added to Chapter 10 of Title I of the Municipal Code of Santa Fe Springs to read as follows:
§ 10.24 NAMING OF PUBLIC FACILITIES AND STREETS
(A) Eligibility.
(1) City owned parks including recreational or open space sites and trails. (2) City owned facilities including but not limited to athletic fields, large amenities, community centers, and recreational and sporting facilities. (3) Public city streets.
(4) There shall be no duplicative naming of facilities or streets. (5) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the application of donor recognition of minor items such as benches, trees, water fountains, or similar items.
(6) Private streets shall not be subject to provisions of this section. (B) General Naming Criteria. The following may be deemed as appropriate naming nominations:
(1) Geographical locations or natural features.
(2) Adjoining subdivisions or streets.
(3) Names of historical significance, such as an event, group, culture, landmark or place.
(4) Names representative of the City’s ethnic or cultural identity. 2 (5) Outstanding features, design, or themes.
(6) Native flora or fauna.
(7) Appropriate Language. All nominations shall be free of vulgar, offensive, or politically charged language.
(C)Naming After Individuals. There may be instances in which a community member has demonstrated extraordinary contributions towards a specific municipal project or the City at large and is eligible for nomination. (1) To be considered for a naming opportunity, the individual must have been deceased for at least two years, unless the City Council deems it appropriate to take such action on the basis of a significant contribution, which warrants deviation from this guideline.
(2) Individuals may only have one eligible facility and one street named after them.
(3) Considerations:
(a) Donation of land or financial contributions to a specific facility. (b) Contributed substantially and improved the quality of life in the City through:
(i) Voluntary work of outstanding contribution.
(ii) Service to local school, community, elected or appointed positions, nonprofit groups, or other community
organizations.
(4) Individual’s legacy would be reviewed to ensure alignment of their character with the city’s values.
(D)Procedures.
(1) Nomination Filing. Any person, group, organization may submit a nomination for the consideration of naming a public facility or street.
Nominations shall be filed to the Department of Parks and Recreation and must include the following:
(a) Completed nomination form.
(b) Supplemental documentation in support of the nomination. (i) Supplemental documentation may include letters of
support, resident signed petitions, newspaper clippings, maps, or any other significant evidence of eligibility. (2) Department of Parks and Recreation Review. Upon receipt of a nomination request, the Department of Parks and Recreation shall review the request as follows:
(a) Confirm completion of the appropriate nomination form and supplemental documentation submitted.
(b) Assess compliance with the Naming Criteria of subsections 10.24 (B) and 10.24 (C).
(c) Make a recommendation to the Historical and Community Preservation Advisory Committee for their review.
(3) Historical and Community Preservation Advisory Committee Review.
Upon receipt of a nomination from the Department of Parks and 3 Recreation the Historical and Community Preservation Advisory Committee shall review the request as follows:
(a) Hold a public hearing considering the nomination request and providing a recommendation to the City Council.
(b) Consideration of nomination material:
(i) Compliance with the Naming Criteria of subsections 10.24 (B) and 10.24 (C).
(ii) Assessment of the supplemental documentation.
(iii) Input of public comments received.
(c) Provide a recommendation to the City Council to approve or deny the nomination or direct the Department of Parks and Recreation to provide further justification of the nomination.
(4) City Council Action. Upon receipt of a recommendation by the Historical and Community Preservation Advisory Committee, the City Council shall consider the nomination at a public meeting and approve or deny the nomination or direct the Historical and Community Preservation Advisory Committee to provide further justification of the nomination.
The City Council decision is final.
(E) City Council Initiated Nominations.
(1) Notwithstanding subsection 10.24 (D) of this section, an active city council member may initiate a name nomination during a city council meeting and shall be exempt from the nomination filing, staff review and recommendation of the Historical and Community Preservation Advisory Committee. Nominations shall be compliant with subsections 10.24 (A),
10.24 (B), and 10.24 (C).
(2) A city council initiated nomination shall be approved by unanimous decision.
(F) Renaming of Public Facilities and Streets.
(1) Renaming Criteria. The renaming of public facilities and streets shall only be considered under exceptional circumstances such as:
(a) Correction of historical inaccuracies or removal of inappropriate and offensive language.
(b) Recognition of significant contributions.
(c) Public safety or operational concerns.
(d) Alignment with modernization or rebranding.
(e) Requests from the community with substantial support. (2) Renaming Process. The renaming process shall be the same procedures as those outlined in subsection 10.24 (D).
SECTION 2. Any provision of the Code of Santa Fe Springs inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, to the extent of such inconsistencies and no further, is hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary to affect the provision of this Ordinance.
4 SECTION 3. In any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, phrase, or clause of this Ordinance, or any part thereof, is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision will not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, phrase, or clause thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, phrases, or clauses may be declared unconstitutional or invalid.
SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify the passage and adoption of this ordinance and shall cause the same to be published in the same manner required by law. In accordance with Government Code 36937, this ordinance shall take full force and effect thirty (30) days from its passage and adoption.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Santa Fe Springs at a regular meeting on this 21st day of January, 2025. ________________________
ATTEST: William K. Rounds, Mayor
_____________________________
Fernando Muñoz, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
____________________________
Rick R. Olivarez, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS.
CITY OF SANTA FE SPRINGS )
I, Fernando Muñoz, City Clerk of the City of Santa Fe Springs, do hereby certify that the foregoing Urgency Ordinance was adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 21st day of January, 2025, and was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
5 ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
_________________________
Fernando Muñoz, City Clerk