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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd 2025-5016_Amends Ch. 2 revising guidelines for naming municipal facilitiesORDINANCE 2025-5016 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 2 "ADMINISTRATION" OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS, BY REVISING GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES FOR NAMING MUNICIPAL FACILITIES; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS: Section 1: That Chapter 2 "Administration", Article 1, "In General", Section 2-1 "Policy for Naming City Facilities", of the Code of Ordinances of the City of La Porte, Texas, is hereby amended in its entirety and shall hereinafter read as follows: "Sec. 2-1. - Policy for naming city facilities. (a) Purpose. To establish guidelines and procedures for the naming of municipal facilities or the placement of a memorial tree with a plaque. This policy shall not apply to the naming of city streets when initiated by the City Council. (b) Procedures. (1) A request is initiated by submitting a completed application to the city secretary's office. The city manager's office will review the application against the criteria for facility naming or memorial tree donation. If the application is insufficient, the city manager's office will promptly notify the applicant of the criteria not met. (2) An application sufficient on its face will cause the calling of a meeting of a standing committee of the City Council composed of councilmembers from the three at -large positions (mayor, at -large position A, and at -large position B), which will consider the application and provide a recommendation. (3) The council committee will present their recommendation to the full city council to consider the naming of the city facility. (c) Definitions. Municipal facility shall be any real property owned by the city of such as, but not limited to, public buildings, parks, streets, or any other city -owned structures or property. (d) General Guidelines. (1) Generally, municipal facilities will be named immediately prior to or during development of the facilities. (2) Renaming of a public street not initiated by the La Porte City Council shall require the concurrence of a minimum of seventy-five (75) percent of the individuals and/or entities owning property abutting the proposed street. Applicants for street names shall be required to: a) provide a list (this is not a petition) of signatures, printed names, addresses of the property owned, mailing addresses, and a phone number or email address of the concurring property owners, and b) defray the cost of at least sixty (60) percent of installing signs and other expenses (i.e. maps, plats, 911, etc.). The street proposed for renaming must start and terminate entirely within the city limits of La Porte unless the application is to rename a portion of a street to match the name of an existing extension at either end of the roadway. (3) A municipal facility may be named for an adjacent street and/or a street may be named for an adjacent facility. (4) A municipal facility housed within or adjacent to a subdivision may be named for the subdivision. (5) Municipal recreation centers that are a part of or lie within the boundaries of a park shall generally bear the name of that park unless the park name cannot be incorporated in the facility name. (6) A municipal facility may be given the same name as a school site, where the school site and municipal facility abut one another. (7) Renaming of a municipal facility may be considered if exceptional circumstances exist but should not be common practice. In such circumstances, care must be taken to avoid renaming because the purpose of the prior naming had become obscured over time and thus eliminating the appropriate recognition or honor. (8) Outstanding and/or predominant historical features of significance. Historical features will include the names of early residents or citizens and/or events of significance to the area's development. Predominant geographical characteristics or physical features of the land, such as streams, rivers, plant species, etc. Geographical and physical features will include those naturally occurring (i.e., vegetation materials, streams, rivers, creeks, lakes or forested areas) and those man-made (i.e., subdivisions, streets, office/industrial complexes or other commercial areas). (9) Planting of a tree for city park or facility. If more appropriate for the circumstances, application may be made to plant a tree in memoriam. A small plaque (no larger than 12 inches by 12 inches) will be placed at the foot of the tree with name, date(s), and brief reason for recognition. The plaque must be installed to grade. This memorial shall follow the same guidelines as for naming a facility. Should approval be given for a memorial tree with a plaque, the City Manager's Office and the Parks and Recreation Director will include a recommendation for placement with the information presented to the Committee. The City shall make the final decision as to the type of tree or other plant and its placement and maintenance. (e) Guidelines for naming municipal facilities after individuals. General categories prompting nomination for recognition or naming of municipal facilities after individuals. In general, naming is not anticipated for living individuals nor should nominations be made in the heat of emotional responses to illness, misfortune, or other significant event. (1) Civic support. Years of service to the community and consideration of an individual, family, organization, or entity's positive impact on the development and wellbeing of the entire community. Local community, state, or national leaders who provided outstanding personal service that has resulted in a significant and enduring contribution to the community might be recognized for this reason. (2) Financial patronage. Significant financial contribution toward a facility, measured by the impact the contribution makes toward the successful conclusion or continuing operation of the facility to be named. A minimum of 50 percent or more of the total funds or the equivalent in land or in -kind donations is considered to constitute a major portion. Depending on the impact, the naming could be for the entire facility or some portion (i.e., a room). (3) Historical/symbolic contribution. Character, service to the community, leadership, and/or inspiration to others by an individual, family, organization, or entity which, for historical or symbolic reasons, have contributed significantly to the community." Section 2: All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with the terms of this ordinance are hereby repealed; provided, however, that such repeal shall be only to the extent of such inconsistency and in all other respects this ordinance shall be cumulative of other ordinances regulating and governing the subject matter covered by this ordinance. Section 3: Should any section or part of this ordinance be held unconstitutional, illegal, or invalid, or the application to any person or circumstance for any reasons thereof ineffective or inapplicable, such unconstitutionality, illegality, invalidity, or ineffectiveness of such section or part shall in no way affect, impair or invalidate the remaining portions thereof; but as to such remaining portion or portions, the same shall be and remain in full force and effect and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable. Section 4: The City Council officially finds, determines, recites and declares that a sufficient written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of this meeting of the City Council is posted at a place convenient to the public at the City Hall of the city for the time required by law preceding this meeting, as required by Chapter 551, Tx. Gov't Code; and that this meeting has been open to the public as required by law at all times during which this ordinance and the subject matter thereof have been discussed, considered and formally acted upon. The City Council further ratifies, approves and confirms such written notice and the contents and posting thereof. Section 5: This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage and approval. PASSED AND APPROVED this, the 104 ATTEST: day of Rick Helton, Mayo APPROVED AS TO FORM: ee Woodwar ykedietary tl� Clark T. Askins, City Attorney i , 2025.