ORDINANCE NO. 211122
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Amending Chapter 88, Code of Ordinances, by repealing Section 88-605-03, Street Naming Committee, and enacting in lieu thereof a new section of like number and subject matter for the purpose of requiring City Council approval for the renaming of streets.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That Chapter 88, Code of Ordinances, is hereby amended by repealing Section 88-605-03, Street Naming, and enacting in lieu thereof a new section of like number and subject matter, to read as follows:
88-605-03 - STREET NAMING COMMITTEE
88-605-03-A. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE
There is hereby established a street naming committee with the prime function of assigning names to the public and private streets.
88-605-03-B. MEMBERSHIP
The following individuals are members of the street naming committee:
1. city planning and development director;
2. public works director;
3. parks and recreation director;
4. fire chief;
5. police chief.
88-605-03-C. EX OFFICIO MEMBERS
The following are ex officio members of the street naming committee:
1. U.S. post office; and
2. other agencies as deemed necessary by the city planning and development director to render a complete and competent review of proposed street names.
88-605-03-D. PROCEDURES
The city planning and development director is the chairperson of the street naming committee. The chair's function is to coordinate committee activities. The committee shall review requests to rename streets and make recommendations to the city council when needed. The committee shall assign street names as part of the subdivision plat approval process. The chair must inform the developer of recommendations by the committee and must present recommendations to the city plan commission or the city council, as necessary.
88-605-03-E. HONORARY STREET NAMES
Honorary street names may be used to honor neighborhood and local leaders, community activists, and state and national figures. The following guidelines apply.
1. CONSIDERATION OF NOMINEES
The nominating person or organization must prepare an autobiography or historical statement of the proposed recipient of the honorary street name designation. The statement should outline the historical or cultural significance of the nominated person, place, or event to the community and to the city. Attached to the autobiography or historical statement should be a map indicating where the honorary street name is being requested and additional information as to why the identified section of street is appropriate.
2. PETITION OF SUPPORT
The nominating person or organization must include with the request package a petition of support for the proposed honorary street name. The petition must be signed by no fewer than 50 residents of the city, and must also include at least 75% of the property owners abutting that section of the street proposed to be honored. Special circumstances regarding street segment length or location, etc., will be considered by the city council on a case-by-case basis.
3. CONSIDERATION BY THE STREET NAMING COMMITTEE
The nomination request package must be referred to the street naming committee for review. After the street naming committee reviews the application, a report discussing the validity of the petition and the anticipated costs that will be incurred to carry out the request must be prepared and submitted to the city council. The city council may act to approve or deny the application. A simple majority vote is required by city council.
4. FINANCIAL BURDEN
The costs of fabrication and installation of the honorary signs as well as all future maintenance and replacement of the signs will be the responsibility of the nominating person or group.
5. PLACEMENT AND DESIGN OF SIGNS
Honorary street name signs may not exceed the regulatory size of a green guide street sign. The department of public works has sole authority for the fabrication and installation of honorary street name signs in the city.
6. TERMINATION OF AN HONORARY STREET NAME DESIGNATION
The city may choose at any time and for any reason to discontinue any honorary street name designation by approval of the city council. Should all of the signs become missing or vandalized and remain so for a period of one year with no remedy, the designation will be considered abandoned. The city will not replace or repair any honorary signs without compensation.
7. HONORARY STREET NAME AS ALIAS FOR OFFICIAL STREET NAME
The honorary street name must be logged as an alias in the city's emergency communications system and by the U.S. Postal Service for mail delivery purposes.
88-605-03-F. STREET RENAMING
Street renaming is a process to establish a new name for a street that has already been given a street name by an approved plat, by the street naming committee or by the city council.
1. CONSIDERATION OF RE-NAMING
The city council or the Parks Board in the case of streets under their jurisdiction may initiate renaming of a street. The city planning and development director may initiate renaming only in the instance of fixing an error. A statement outlining the need to rename a street and a map indicating where the street re-naming is being requested shall be provided.
2. CONSIDERATION BY THE STREET NAMING COMMITTEE
The application must be referred to the street naming committee for review. After the street naming committee reviews the application, a report discussing the impacts on the property owners, the anticipated costs that will be incurred to carry out the request and a recommendation must be prepared and submitted to the city council.
3. NOTICE OF HEARING
Notice of the city council public hearing must be sent by the initiator by U.S. mail, first class at least 13 days before the date of the hearing to all property owners adjacent to the section of street proposed to be renamed, any registered neighborhood organization and/or registered civic organization whose boundaries include the subject street, and all owners of property within 300 feet of the street to be renamed. Addresses must be based on the latest available, city-maintained property ownership information. The mailed notice shall indicate the date, time and place of the public hearing, describe the requested action to be taken, indicate where to obtain additional information, and provide contact or other information sufficient for those interested to determine when the city council will hold its hearing on the re-naming.
4. HEARING AND FINAL ACTION
Following the close of the public hearing, the city council may act to approve or deny the proposed renaming. A simple majority vote is required by city council.
Section 2. That the Council finds and declares that before taking any action on the proposed amendment hereinabove, all public notices and hearings required by law have been given and had.
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I hereby certify that as required by Chapter 88, Code of Ordinances, the foregoing ordinance was duly advertised and public hearings were held.
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Secretary, City Plan Commission
Approved as to form and legality:
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Sarah Baxter
Assistant City Attorney