Chapter 12.62
NAMING CITY-OWNED PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES, PARKS AND PARK FACILITIES
12.62.000 Chapter Contents
Sections:
ARTICLE I. NAMING OF CITY-OWNED PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND PROPERTIES (OTHER THAN PARKS AND PARK FACILITIES)
12.62.010 Naming of City-owned Public Buildings and Properties – Criteria.
12.62.020 Naming of City-owned Public Buildings and Properties – Procedure.
12.62.030 Naming of Interior Features.
12.62.040 Name Changes.
ARTICLE II. NAMING OF PARKS AND PARK FACILITIES
12.62.050 Naming of Parks and Park Facilities – Policy
12.62.060 Naming of Parks and Park Facilities – Procedure
(Ord. 6706 §1, 2010; Ord. 6650 §2, 2009)
ARTICLE I. NAMING OF CITY-OWNED PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND PROPERTIES (OTHER THAN PARKS AND PARK FACILITIES)
12.62.010 Naming of City-owned Public Buildings and Properties – Criteria.
The City will choose names for public buildings and property owned by the City of Olympia based on the building or property’s relationship to any of the following criteria:
A. Neighborhood, geographic or common usage identification.
B. Building or property’s purpose.
C. A natural or geological feature.
D. A historical figure or place.
E. An individual, living or deceased, who has made a significant land, building, or monetary contribution to the city for the building or property being named.
F. An individual, living or deceased, who has contributed outstanding civic service to the city and, if deceased, has been so for a period of at least one year.
(Ord. 6706 §1, 2010)
12.62.020 Naming of City-owned Public Buildings and Properties – Procedure.
A. Whenever the City Council wishes to consider naming a City-owned building or property, the issue shall be referred to the City Council’s Community Livability and Public Safety Committee to establish the specific process and to make a recommendation(s) to the full Council.
B. Before taking action, the City Council shall provide an opportunity for public comment on the recommendation(s) from the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee.
(Ord. 7313 §3, 2022; Ord. 6706 §1, 2010)
12.62.030 Naming of Interior Features.
The interior features of a City-owned building may be named separately from the main building subject to the criteria and procedures set forth in this Chapter.
(Ord. 6706 §1, 2010)
12.62.040 Name Changes.
A. Designation of a name shall not prohibit the renaming of the building or property at a future date, or the designation of a sunset for the name at the time of approval.
B. Name changes shall be subject to the criteria and procedures set forth in this Chapter.
(Ord. 6706 §1, 2010)
ARTICLE II. NAMING OF PARKS AND PARK FACILITIES
12.62.050 Naming of Parks and Park Facilities – Policy
A. It is the policy of the City to follow this procedure to establish names for parks and other park facilities.
B. A working name for the park or park facility will be assigned by the Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation staff at the time of land purchase. Suggested names will be historical, geographical, or the name of a boundary street.
C. A permanent name for the park or park facility will be assigned at the time of the approval of the Interim Use and Management Plan or final park development, whichever occurs first.
D. In naming parks and other park facilities, consideration shall be given primarily to:
1. Neighborhood, boundary roads, or common usage identification;
2. A natural or geographic feature;
3. Significant historical events or cultural attributes;
4. A historical figure;
5. A name chosen by an individual (living or deceased) who has made a significant land and/or monetary contribution to the park system;
6. An individual who has contributed outstanding civic service to the City or has been instrumental in acquiring or developing parks properties and who has been deceased for a period of at least one year;
7. Organizations having contributed to and influenced the betterment of the City.
E. Parks and park facilities shall not ordinarily be named for living persons unless they have stipulated the name as a condition of donation or unless the park or park facility is part of a regional facility that is named in conjunction with other governmental entities.
(Ord. 7093 §1, 2017; Ord. 6706 §1, 2010; Ord. 6650 §2, 2009. Formerly 12.62.010)
12.62.060 Naming of Parks and Park Facilities – Procedure
A. Suggestions for names for parks or park facilities shall be solicited from organizations, neighborhood residents, individuals and the media. All suggestions, solicited or not, shall be acknowledged and recorded for consideration by the Parks, Arts and Recreation Department.
B. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee shall host a public hearing to provide an opportunity for public comment on name recommendations.
C. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee will review names and make recommendations for the Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation Department to present to the City Council.
D. The department shall wait at least one year between receipt of a name proposal related to a current event before final recommendation of that name.
E. Facilities shall be identified by the established name, and signs shall be maintained as a source of identity and civic pride.
(Ord. 6706 §1, 2010; Ord. 6650 §2, 2009. Formerly 12.62.020)