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November 24, 2014 <br />STAFF REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL <br />On the Proposal to Name the Bluff Northwest of American Legion Memorial Park <br />"llibulb Lookout" <br />Findings: <br />1. In September 2012 City Council adopted Resolution No. 6537, "A Resolution <br />Establishing a Policy on Public Place Names and Name Changes," which authorizes City <br />Council to designate the names of city buildings, streets, public places, facilities and <br />natural features by resolution. <br />2. The policy specifies that the Mayor, a City Council member or any citizen or <br />interested group may request the naming of a public building or facility, and the <br />Historical Commission shall coordinate with other advisory bodies within the City, <br />provide a public review process, and forward a recommendation to the City Council. <br />3. Directly below the bluff northwest of American Legion Memorial Park lies the site of <br />the village of Hibulb, a historic settlement of the Snohomish Tribe for centuries before it <br />was abandoned after the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855, when its inhabitants were removed <br />to the Tulalip Reservation. "Hibulb" means "place where the water boils out of the <br />ground." <br />4. The bluff has never been officially named by the City of Everett. <br />5. On May 16, 2014, Mayor Stephanson received a proposal from Annie Lyman, Bill <br />and Mary Belshaw, Ed and Betty Morrow, Margaret Riddle, Shelley Weyer, Andrea <br />Tucker, and Deanne and John Lindstrom proposing to name the bluff "Hibulb Overlook" <br />to honor the historical and cultural significance of the early settlement. <br />6. The City's naming policy states that " portions of a City...park...may have another <br />name than that of the entire location, for example, the "Mark Nesse Reading Room" at <br />the Everett Public Library. <br />7. Per the naming policy, the criteria to be used by City Council in making a decision <br />include criterion I, which states, "{A} proposed name...may reflect the geographical <br />location, historical or cultural significance.... <br />8. The Historical Commission forwarded the proposal to the Park board for <br />consideration on September 9, 2014, which moved to support naming the bluff "Hibulb <br />Overlook." <br />9. The Tulalip Tribes submitted a letter to the Historical Commission supporting the <br />concept of naming the bluff a name consistent with the Native American significance of <br />the area, but expressing a preference for the name "Hibulb Lookout" which is more <br />consistent with historic use of the bluff as a "lookout for warring Tribes coming from as <br />3 <br />