2009-60 AMENDING CITY CODE - CHAPTER 41 - MISCELLANEOUS STREET REGULATIONS

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COUNCIL MEMORANDUM 2009-16 DATE: August 12, 2009 TO: Honorable Mayor McElroy and City Council FROM: Ryan McCrady, City Manager Billy Tyus, Assistant City Manager SUBJECT: Honorary Street Signs SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Decatur City Council approve the attached resolution creating an honorary street sign program in the City of Decatur to formally honor residents who have made significant contributions to the city as determined by the Decatur City Council and staff. BACKGROUND: The city has been approached by two individuals/organizations looking to formally honor residents who have made significant contributions to the Decatur community. We've researched the subject and found that this is often accomplished through the use of honorary street signs. An honorary street naming program does not actually change the names of the streets so there would be no changes for emergency personnel, dispatch or others seeking the actual address of a location. In addition, notification would be given to individuals and businesses near the proposed honorary designation in advance notifying them that an honorary designation has been proposed for their area and that they should continue using the regular street name in all correspondence. We would also ask that they call us with any questions or concerns. As proposed the program would operate as follows: 1. Application Process - Honorary street name designation shall be limited to individuals, organizations, entities and events of local significance to the City of Decatur as determined by the Decatur City Council. Petitions signed by no less than 75 residents shall accompany requests. Said requests would then be forwarded to the Mayor and City Council and scheduled for a vote if a majority of the Decatur City Council calls for it either during the "other business" portion of a regular meeting or by contacting the city manager. The City Manager, mayor and/or two council members may also forward a request to the council in the absence of a petition and a majority of the council would have to call for the request to be voted upon for the issue to be considered. The request will be considered "denied" if a majority of the Decatur City Council does not call for it to be brought forward within 30 days of the submission of the request or if a majority of the council were to vote "no" when the request is brought forward for a vote. 2. Number of Signs - The Decatur City Council will designate a maximum of five (5) honorary streets per year. If there is a street, or portion of a street (except intersecting streets), that has been designated with an honorary street name, no other such name shall be given to the street or section of street. The city shall also have the ultimate authority to determine how many signs shall be placed in an area and how much of the street will be designated with an honorary name.