2012/05/09 Council Agenda Packet

1 _ Tacoma policy. The goal of the current review was to make changes to the policy to clarify it and also to give flexibility to Council to name places as they choose. The goal tonight is for the Historical Commission to make comments tonight on the proposed changes which will be passed on to City Council. Jim Staniford: Is this discussion only on the policy or is it on a specific proposal to name a building? Dave Koenig: It is just on the policy this evening. Sue Walsh: Can you give us some background on how the original naming policy Resolution was adopted? Dave Koenig: As I understand it,before there was a policy, someone could come before City Council with a naming proposal, and if they had four Council votes at a Council meeting, a building or place could be named. There was no formal process or opportunity for public comment on a proposal. City Council wanted to have a policy and procedure for naming which gave an opportunity for public review. The policy establishes a 30-day public comment period. Sue Walsh: And the referral of this policy to the Historical Commission is from City Council? Dave Koenig: Yes, at their last meeting, City Council was presented with proposed changes to the original naming policy, Resolution 5865, suggested by City staff. Council asked that these proposed changes be reviewed and discussed by the Historical Commission. That is what you received in your meeting packet. Dave Ramstad: This isn't a public hearing, but is this the appropriate time for us to hear from the public if they wish to comment? Neil Anderson: Does anyone from the public have any comments? Michael Papadimitrio: I am against any building on a historic register having its name changed. That's the reason I came tonight. Jim Staniford: Old City Hall does not have a name on it imbedded in the structure. It only says "City of Everett"over the door. The same with the Wall Street Building,the name is on the outside of the building. It would be very difficult to change the name of some buildings, like the Culmback Building, because the name is imbedded in the building. The old City Hall building has never had a name on it as far as I can remember. Sue Walsh: Criteria number 13 or"M" does open the door to renaming buildings on historic registers in exceptional circumstances. I would recommend that that be taken out. Dave Ramstad: Criterion K reinforces that by allowing the names of street names,plats, specific sites and places and natural features indicated on general usage maps for fifty years or more to be changed under exceptional circumstances. Barb Hardman: Criterion M also says a building with a more general name like "Fire Station#3"or City Hall can be renamed. So it opens the door for some changes under ordinary circumstances. 8 16