Welland Commemorative Street Naming: Policy Statement: Commemorative Street Naming refers to the naming of a street to provide recognition, based upon historical content, community involvement or other significant contribution by providing commemorative street name signage while still retaining the legal street name. The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on process when considering Commemorative Street Naming proposals while ensuring legal street names are maintained. Process/Procedures: 1) Any citizen, group of citizens, entity or organization may submit a written request to the City to supplement an existing street name by the Commemorative Naming of Streets. 2) The contributions of individuals, groups, entities or organizations must be well documented and acknowledged within the community. As part of the request, such documentation shall be provided. 3) Commemorative Street naming requests will be considered and approved by Council. 4) Commemorative Street naming signs shall be decorative, distinctive in both lettering and colour and posted above/below the legal street name to indicate the significance of the community contribution. 5) To signify the commemorative signage, the nomenclature "Way" will be used in all instances. 6) The citizen, group of citizens, entity or organization making such request shall accept financial responsibility relative to the preparation of signs and installation thereof on a cost recovery basis. 7) Upon approval of a Commemorative Street Name, Infrastructure Services will be involved in the procurement and installation of the signage.
Municipal Naming/Renaming: Policy Statement: The intent of this policy is to:
• continue the traditional practice of naming/renaming municipal facilities, parks, properties, features and other amenities after significant geographical or historical elements.
• recognize on an exceptional basis, significant contributions that organizations or individuals have made to public life and the well-being of the City of Welland.
• provide direction on how to apply for approval to name, rename or dedicate municipal facilities, parks, properties, features and other amenities. Names given to municipal facilities, parks, properties, features and other amenities in the City of Welland will cease through the expiration of the life cycle of the above-mentioned entity, unless a renaming initiative is commenced and approved in accordance with the requirements of this policy. In such cases, the renaming, when approved, will cease at the expiration of the life cycle of the entity. The application of this policy includes four main types of naming situations:
• the opening of a new municipal facility, park, property or feature.
• the re-opening of a municipal facility, park, property or feature following renovation or refurbishment.
• the renaming of an existing facility, park, property or feature to recognize significant contributions that organizations or individuals have made to the public and well-being of the City of Welland.
• providing recognition of gifts generously given or donated to the City. This policy is not intended to address naming situations related to sponsorships or naming rights sold, usually for a specific term, as part of a naming partnership involving agreements normally comprised of a variety of benefits and opportunities for both the sponsor and the municipality.
NAMING CRITERIA AND GUIDELINES All proposed names for any municipal facilities, property, features and amenities shall conform to the majority of the following guidelines;
• Names should give a sense of place, continuity, belonging and celebrate distinguishing characteristics and uniqueness of Welland.
• Names should maintain a long-standing local area identification with residents of Welland.
• Names should be consistent with any other applicable City of Welland policies and standards
• Names which reflect and/or imply a reference to any of the following WILL NOT be eligible; names of living individuals unless by exception approved by Council or as a result of a significant financial contribution made by a donor; political affiliation; derogatory or offensive terms or references; discrimination against race, gender, ethnicity, or creed; duplication; tobacco or alcoholic products; names considered inappropriate for a civic amenity or inconsistent with the Corporate Strategic Directions and/or Vision for the City. In addition to the previously mentioned restrictions and guidelines, the City of Welland has three accepted categories for the selection of names for municipal facilities, properties, features and amenities. The three accepted categories do not apply to naming requests acknowledging significant financial gifts. The three accepted categories are geographic, historic and prominent individuals and/or organizations. GEOGRAPHIC - Names having a geographical affiliation, which may include but are not limited to the following references;
• a neighborhood, community, or subdivision .
• an adjacent street
• a noteworthy physical, environmental or scenic quality
• an unique site characteristic or scenic quality
• proximity to a recognized facility or area
• topographical or ecological characteristics HISTORIC - Names having a historical affiliation, which may include but are not limited to the following references;
• a local or national historical event
• a heritage event PROMINENT INDIVIDUALS AND/OR ORGANIZATIONS - Names affiliated with individuals and/or organizations, the following criteria will be used to weigh the suitability of the name being proposed;
• individuals or families having a historical connection to the site (such as a previous landowner)
• individuals and/or organizations having a significant contribution to the community/City in one or more of the following areas; 1) Service as an elected representative to the municipal, provincial or federal government for at least two terms 2) Service as a member of a public board, committee or commission 3) Service in a voluntary capacity in community organizations such as service clubs, cultural groups, unions, ethnic organizations, community associations, professional organizations, etc. 4) Service in a voluntary or philanthropic capacity or having made a significant contribution in the areas of agriculture, arts and culture, co-operatives, education, business or industry, journalism, medicine, politics, religion, science, public service, recreation or sports on a local, provincial, national or international scale. In those cases where names are affiliated with individuals and/or organizations, the following criteria must be met;
• The contributions of the individual and/or organization must be well documented and broadly acknowledged within the community
• To the extent where possible, a direct relationship should exist between the individual and/or organization and the amenity being considered for naming/renaming.
• The reputation of the individual and/or organization must be honorable, as the term implies, to be considered for naming/renaming.
• Where an amenity is to be named/renamed after someone who is deceased, permission and agreement must be obtained from the next of kin or legal representative involved prior to consideration and review by the City. Where the names of deceased individuals are being considered, a five year waiting period after the death of the individual must be observed before considering the name for commemoration in naming such amenity. The rationale for this is to ensure that amenities are not precipitously named/renamed in the initial emotional outpourings after the death of a public figure or prominent individual. The names of living persons shall not be permitted unless used in the recognition of a significant financial contribution or by exception approved by Council. DONOR RECOGNITION - SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL GIFTS The City of Welland will consider naming a public amenity as a means of providing recognition for significant financial gifts to the City, in accordance with this and other applicable city policies. The guidelines under the NAMING CRITERIA - GENERAL GUIDELINES section will apply. The term "SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL GIFT" implies a minimum monetary donation of 35% of the total real or capital cost or appraised value, whichever is greater, of the amenity being considered for naming/renaming. The names of living individuals may be used in recognition of significant financial gifts. The City of Welland reserves the right to immediately withdraw a name from an amenity should that name come into disrepute in the City or in the general community. RENAMING OF EXISTING MUNICIPAL AMENITIES Recognizing that established names contribute significantly to community identity and pride, proposals to rename existing municipal amenities must be predicated by exceptional circumstances. Accordingly, existing names will not be changed without the considering the historical significance of the existing name; the impact on the individual and/or organization associated with the existing name or; the cost and impact of changing the existing signage, rebuilding community recognition and updating records (data bases, letterhead, promotional materials, etc.). All renaming requests must be submitted in the same format as listed in the section SUBMISSION PROCESS. Where a name/renaming change is recommended, a communication strategy will be initiated by advertising the proposed change on the City’s website and Civic Corner for a period of 30 days during which time, public comments will be received and considered. Additionally, the costs associated with the naming/renaming initiative will be the responsibility of the City when the naming/renaming has been initiated by the City and will be the responsibility of the individual and/or organization when the naming/renaming has been initiated by the individual and/or organization.
