HomeMy WebLinkAboutADM 110-006 City Property Naming ProcedureProcedure
Procedure Title: City Property Naming Procedure Number
ADM 110-006
Reference
Corporate Protocols Policy ADM
110
Date Originated (m/d/y)
May 2015
Date Revised (m/d/y)
June 2023
Pages
6
Approval: Chief Administrative Officer Point of Contact
City Clerk
Procedure Objective
This procedure establishes the process and criteria for naming or renaming properties owned by
The Corporation of the City of Pickering (City), including methods by which the public may
provide suggestions and comments. This procedure does not deal with street naming (ADM
220)or sponsorship of facilities and rooms (ADM 150).
Index
01 Definitions
02 Procedures
03 Naming Process for New and Unnamed City Property
04 Re-Naming a City Property
05 Naming Criteria
01 Definitions
01.01 For the purposes of this procedure, “City Property” refers to all properties
owned by the City including:
a)Parks, parkland and open spaces;
b)Structures within a park (i.e., bridges, pavilions, gazebos, splash pads,
outdoor ice rinks, off leash area);
c) Community centres, arenas, and other specialty buildings and rooms;
d)Multi-use trails;
e)Indoor recreation fields and courts;
f)Outdoor recreation fields and courts;
g)Libraries; and
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h) Community gardens.
01.02 This procedure does not apply to:
a) Valley lands not adjacent to parkland and open spaces;
b) Fire stations;
c) Stormwater management ponds;
d) W orks yards; and
e) Other properties owned by the City that do not allow for use by the
community.
02 Procedures
02.01 City Property is named after the neighbourhood, community or street in which it
is located or the unique geographical or historical characteristic of the
community. The naming of City Property must respect the community where it
is located and be a name that is sustainable as communities grow and change.
a) Geographical based names should be clear, descriptive and give a sense of
place. They may include:
i. The name of the street or adjacent street where the property resides.
ii. The neighbourhood, community or subdivision which the property
serves.
iii. A noteworthy physical, environmental, topographical, ecological or
scenic characteristic.
iv. Proximity to a recognizable City Property or area.
b) Historical based names would be appropriate for properties where there is a
common, recognizable connection between the City Property and the
historic object/event. They should reference:
i. A local, provincial or national historical/heritage object or event.
ii. A long standing and commonly used name associated with the City
Property.
02.02 City staff may name parks, open spaces and trails and shall not be required to
prepare a Report to Council if the naming of the City Property complies with
Section 02.01 of the Policy.
03 Naming Process for New or Unnamed City Property
03.01 Submission Process
03.01.01 A Pickering resident may propose a name for an unnamed City Property or a
new City Property, prior to the completion of the construction phase, by written
submission to the Clerk’s Office or by a Notice of Motion from a Member of
Council with the following information:
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a) name suggested;
b) rationale; and
c) civic/community, heritage/historical, geographic and/or cultural relevance.
03.01.02 Written submissions and/or an approved Notice of Motion will be directed to the
City Clerk to be processed.
03.01.03 Suggestions for names in honour of individuals must be accompanied by a
written biography of the individual, including a description of the individual’s
contribution to the City or the City Property, and an explanation of why the
honour should be given.
03.01.04 Where a person’s name or a group of people are being considered, it shall be
limited to persons who have:
a) Made a significant contribution to the municipality, or to a group or
association within the community, improving the lives of Pickering
residents (well documented and broadly acknowledged within the
community);
b) Have a historical connection to the site (i.e. previous land owner);
c) Contributed to the conveyance of lands or building and/or its subsequent
development or renovation (beyond legislative requirements);
d) Demonstrated excellence, courage or exceptional service to the citizens
of the City of Pickering, Province of Ontario, Canada or the world;
e) Promoted Pickering to the world; and
f) Demonstrated themselves to be a recognized national or international
figure and broadly acknowledged to have high standing.
03.01.05 In the case of a person’s name, the consent of the individual, or if deceased,
their next of kin (if the person is not a national or international public figure) is
required.
03.01.06 Naming a City Property on behalf of an event or organization requires the
written consent of the named party or party’s representative.
03.01.07 Proposed names of an Indigenous language or recognizing an Indigenous
individual, organization, event or concept will require consultation with
Indigenous communities.
03.02 Selection Process
03.02.01 Staff from the respective Department(s) will receive and review all names
submitted by the community and/or by a Notice of Motion.
03.02.02 The evaluation of all qualified submissions will include the following:
a) research and confirm civic/community, heritage/historical, geographic
and/or cultural relevance;
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b) review by internal staff to consider the merits of the submission and to
ensure compliance with the procedure; and
c) contact with those who submitted names, if more information is required.
03.02.03 After consultation with the respective Ward Councillors and the Mayor, and
consistent with the procedure, Department staff will recommend to Council one
name and up to two alternatives.
03.02.04 Council may require staff to solicit public comment through appropriate media
or a public consultation meeting.
03.02.05 Department staff will provide a Report to Council to summarize public
comments. Council will consider both staff recommendations and the public
comments (as applicable) and decide to approve either one of the names or
propose an alternate.
03.02.06 When a name has been finalized through Council approval, then it will be
referred to the appropriate Department(s) for implementation.
03.02.07 If no submissions are received, staff will identify a name consistent with the
principles in this procedure and confer with Mayor and Members of Council to
recommend a name of the City Property.
03.02.08 Since the intent of naming a City Property after a person or group of persons is
meant to be a permanent recognition, staff will determine if a sponsorship or
naming rights opportunity exists before considering such names.
04 Re-Naming a City Property
04.01 Generally, changing the name of an existing City Property will not be
considered.
04.02 Renaming existing City Property will only proceed if the Regional or Ward
Councillor representing the area of the City Property brings a Notice of Motion
forward for Council approval.
04.03 The renaming of a City Property cannot be considered when that City Property
is currently within a term of a naming rights or sponsorship Agreement (ADM
150).
04.04 When a Notice of Motion for the renaming of a City Property is brought forward
by a Member of Council, the City Clerk will provide an Interested Party Sheet
for residents to sign for notification of any additional information regarding the
renaming of the City Property.
04.05 All Notices of Motion approved by Council for the renaming of a City Property
will be evaluated by City staff (from the respective Departments) as follows:
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a) research and confirm civic/community, heritage/historical, geographic
and/or cultural relevance;
b) The cost, borne by the City, and impact of changing existing signage and
rebuilding community recognition will be considered before City Property is
to be renamed;
c) notify all residents and ratepayer associations within a 120 metre radius of
the City Property of the proposed name change, by placing a notice in the
Community Page of the newspaper, a notice on the City’s website, a notice
at the City Property where the name change is being suggested, by
notifying all residents that sign the interested party sheet or any other
notification method deemed appropriate;
d) the public will have 30 days to comment on the proposed name change;
e) the City Clerk will receive all comments/submissions provided by the public,
and direct them to the appropriate department for consideration and a
recommendation report to Council; and
f) once the research and public comments have been completed, City staff
from the respective Department(s) will report back to Council with their
recommendations and Council may accept the recommended name
change, decline the name change, or refer to the community for further
comment through the appropriate media or a public meeting.
05. Naming Criteria
05.01 Proposed names for any City Property shall conform to one or more of the
guidelines below:
a) have a direct relationship with the City Property;
b) reflect the location of the City Property;
c) reflect the unique geographical or physical characteristic of the City
Property;
d) recognize the historical and cultural significance or theme of the area;
e) reflect unique characteristics of the site;
f) portray a positive image of the City;
g) recognize the contributions of organizations to a particular City Property
such as partnership with or without financial contributions;
h) honour the significant contribution of an individual to the community; or
i) other selection criteria as deemed appropriate by the Council of the City
of Pickering.
05.02 Under this procedure, names of City Property excluded from consideration
include those that:
a) Duplicate another named City Property or would be ambiguous, overly
similar to other property names or would otherwise cause confusion;
b) Detracts from the image of the City of Pickering;
c) Represent tobacco or alcohol companies, products or brands;
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d) Represents a commercial organization or entity (which instead can be
considered under the City’s Marketing Partnership or Naming Rights
Policy, ADM 150);
e) Indicate political affiliation;
f) Are considered or perceived to be discriminatory, derogatory or
offensive according to race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion
or similar factors;
g) Result in inappropriate abbreviations or acronyms; and
h) Place the City in conflict with any agreements established in the
acquisition or management of the City Property or under an existing
naming rights or sponsorship agreement (ADM 150).
05.03 City Property may not be named in honour of an elected official, unless it is in a
memorial capacity and/or the official has served the City as an elected official
for a minimum of 20 years.
05.04 City Property may not be named in honour of a current or former City
employee.
05.05 The naming of City Property is not intended to commemorate an individual’s
death (i.e., a memorial). Applications for memorials should be directed to the
City’s Commemorative Bench and Tree Program.
05.06 When a City Property is named after an individual, a plaque/signage describing
the significance of the individual may be installed at the site at the City’s
expense.