Chapter 12.10
PARK, OPEN SPACE, AND MUNICIPAL FACILITY NAMING POLICY
Sections:
12.10.020 Park and open space naming policies.
12.10.030 Naming of other city facilities.
12.10.040 Name plates for minor ancillary features.
12.10.050 Administration of policy.
12.10.010 Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
A. “Naming” for the purpose of this chapter means the intention of permanently identifying a human created object, open space, waterway, or other feature occurring in the natural environment.
B. “Deceased” means a person or persons who have been dead for more than two years.
C. “Elected official” means any person who acquires local, regional, or national office though an election.
D. “Family member or relative” means any person having a current or past familial relationship including natural born, adopted, or legally connected persons.
E. “Ancillary feature” means individual exterior or interior features and/or facilities within the larger park or facility, including, but not limited to, meeting rooms, landscaped grounds, flower gardens, sculptures, picnic shelters, play lots, ball fields, and other similar items. (Ord. 1320 § 1, 2009).
12.10.020 Park and open space naming policies.
Parks, open spaces, waterways, and other elements of the natural environment shall fall under the policies outlined in this section.
A. Council to Name City Parks. The city council shall designate the names of public parks and recreation facilities. The city council will not make its selection until after receiving written recommendations from the Bonney Lake parks board. Such recommendations shall state how the proposed name(s) meet the naming criteria. If a contest or competition is held to help determine the name of a park or recreation facility, the parks board shall establish guidelines and rules for the contest. No city funds shall be used for any contest prizes.
B. Naming Criteria. The naming of public parks and recreation facilities shall be made upon one or more of the following criteria:
1. The proposed name fits a neighborhood or geographical identification (e.g., Lake Bonney);
2. The proposed name fits a natural or geological feature (e.g., Fennel Creek);
3. The proposed name is a Bonney Lake historical figure or of local cultural or historical significance (e.g., Naches);
4. The proposed name is for a deceased individual who has made a significant land and/or monetary contribution to the park system that is commensurate with the value of the recognition;
5. The proposed name is to recognize a contribution made “in memoriam” for the donor or entity, when the name has been stipulated as a condition of the donation;
6. The proposed name is for a civic group or corporation whose mission statement is compatible with city goals and objectives and that has made a significant land and/or monetary contribution to the park system;
7. The proposed name is for a city employee who has made extraordinary and significant contributions to the park system, and held a position with the city for at least 12 years;
8. A proposed name using the name of an elected official, family members, or relatives shall only be considered under extraordinary circumstances and shall require six members of the city council voting in the affirmative.
C. Naming of Ancillary Features.
1. Generally. A park’s or open space’s individual ancillary features and/or facilities may have names designated other than that of the entire park or open space. These names shall be subject to the same general criteria designated in subsection B of this section, but may be more generously applied commensurate with the value of the feature so named.
2. Naming through Fundraisers. The city council may authorize a feature of a park or open space to be developed or established through a fundraising effort that may include naming. It is not the intent of this policy to prohibit such fundraising activities that involve naming as part of the fundraising effort. Examples may include: a “named bricks” fundraiser to pave a path; “named seats” to fundraise for a bleacher; “named bushes” to fundraise for a rose garden, etc.
D. Naming of Donated Property – Conditions. The naming of donated public park property, facility, or ancillary feature should ordinarily be with the intent for it to be a perpetual recognition of the individual, family, corporation, foundation, association or other entity for which the donated facility has been named. The naming should be commensurate with the value of the donation. The renaming of a donated facility is generally discouraged. Rescinding the name of a donated facility shall occur only under extraordinary circumstances and after thorough study and the receipt of written recommendations from the mayor and the park board. The city council may rescind the naming of a facility donated after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter only under the following circumstances:
1. The individual, family, corporation, foundation, association or other entity for which the facility has been named has been convicted of a felony, a crime involving moral turpitude, or participated in any other illegal or disreputable behavior which would bring discredit to the city and do substantial harm to the reputation and mission and vision of the city and the facility; or
2. The useful life of the facility has expired and the facility must be replaced or substantially renovated; or
3. The specific agreed upon period of time for the retention of the name has expired; or
4. The donor, or their legally authorized representative, has requested or consented to a renaming action by the city.
E. Signage. Following selection of a name, the department shall identify the specific facility with appropriate signage specifying the name. (Ord. 1320 § 1, 2009).
12.10.030 Naming of other city facilities.
Other city facilities, such as City Hall, police stations, annexes, maintenance buildings, community centers, senior centers, and related manmade structures shall fall under the policies outlined in this section. As a general policy, public building names shall be named to reflect the functionality of the facility by simply stating its purpose without further description (example: Bonney Lake Senior Center, Bonney Lake Performing Arts Center, Public Safety Building).
A. Council to Name City Facilities. The city council shall designate the names of city facilities, including ancillary features. The city council will make its selection only after receiving a written recommendation from the mayor. Such recommendations shall state how the proposed name(s) meet the naming criteria outlined below. If a contest or competition is held to help determine the name of a facility, the mayor shall establish guidelines and rules for the contest. No city funds shall be used for any contest prizes.
B. Naming Criteria. The naming of general city facilities shall be made upon one or more of the following criteria:
1. The building name simply reflects the functionality of the facility without further description;
2. The proposed name fits a neighborhood or geographical identification (e.g., Lake Bonney);
3. The proposed name is for an individual deceased who has made a significant financial contribution to the city that is commensurate with the value of the recognition;
4. The proposed name is to recognize a contribution made “in memoriam” for an individual, when the name has been stipulated as a condition of a significant donation.
C. Naming of Ancillary Features.
1. Generally. A facility’s significant individual interior or exterior features and/or rooms may have names designated other than that of the general facility. These names shall be subject to the same general criteria designated in subsection B of this section, but may be lessened or modified to include living persons and commensurate with the value of the ancillary feature so named.
2. Naming through Fundraisers. The city council may authorize a feature of a building to be developed or established through a fundraising effort that may include naming. It is not the intent of this policy to prohibit such fundraising activities that involve naming as part of the fundraising effort. Examples may include: “named bricks” to fundraise for a floor, path, or sidewalk; “named bushes” to fundraise for a garden, etc. (Ord. 1320 § 1, 2009).
12.10.040 Name plates for minor ancillary features.
Nothing in this policy shall be construed to prohibit the mayor from fixing a name plate or providing similar recognition to a minor feature in a park or other city facility. Such recognition shall be made only for those persons who have made a significant contribution to the city or otherwise donated the feature to the city. Examples include trees, bushes, flower beds, park benches, kiosks, play toys, water fountains, and similar items. (Ord. 1320 § 1, 2009).
12.10.050 Administration of policy.
The city shall provide a good faith, discretionary administration of this chapter for the benefit of the public in general, but the city makes no promise for the specific application of any part or the whole of this chapter to any individual. This chapter is not intended to provide an enforceable right, expectation, or property interest to any third party providing donations or bequests to the city. (Ord. 1320 § 1, 2009).