MEETING DATE:
JUNE 24, 2025
SUBJECT:
Title
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-9461 - ADOPT AN UPDATED AND REVISED STREET NAMING AND RENAMING POLICY
Body
Recommendation
Recommendation
ADOPT resolution to update and revise the Street Naming and Renaming Policy
Body
Executive Summary
The City’s Engineering Division developed a policy in 2015 for the submittal and processing of new street names in conjunction with the development entitlement process. The existing policy does not address the renaming of existing streets. The Development Services Department desires to obtain City Council approval of a revision to and update of the existing policy for naming new public and private streets to include a procedure for the renaming of existing streets. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Street Naming and Renaming Policy.
Discussion
As development occurs, it is common for new public or private streets to be created. In addition to the creation of new streets requiring new street names, on occasion there are requests to rename private streets. The Development Services Department desires to update and revise the 2015 policy to create a proposed Street Naming and Renaming Policy (“New Policy”) and to incorporate a policy for the renaming of existing streets.
In circumstances in which a street name change is needed due to overriding emergency response, safety, or other significant and compelling circumstances, the City Council may directly approve via resolution a street name change without strict adherence to the Street Naming and Renaming Policy.
Naming of New Streets
For the naming of a new street, the New Policy generally continues the practices and procedures of the existing administrative policy. The developer must follow the specific guidelines for choosing potential street names and provide the required documentation. The City’s Street Naming Committee, which is composed of the Building Official, Fire Marshal, City Engineer, Planning Director, and the local U.S. Postal Service Postmaster, will review the potential street names and select the final street name.
Re-Addressing of Existing Property Addresses
Occasionally a new development will affect the addresses of existing properties, requiring them to be re-addressed to facilitate emergency response. In these cases, the developer will be required to contact affected property owners during the entitlement application process and to obtain consent from at least 50% of these affected owners. The developer would then follow the street name approval process as described above. Once a street name is chosen, the City will set a time and date for an administrative hearing and notify all affected property owners and relevant agencies at least 30 calendar days in advance of the administrative hearing date, at the developer’s cost. The City Engineer will be the approving body for purposes of street renaming, and the decision will be made by administrative resolution. There will be an opportunity to appeal the decision made by the City Engineer to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission decision will constitute the final City determination with respect to name changes.
Renaming of Private Streets
For the renaming of an existing private street initiated by a property owner on the street, the affected property owners must be notified and at least 50% of the affected property owners must give their consent to the street renaming. The proposed street names will be reviewed by the City Street Naming Committee, an administrative hearing date set, and the City Engineer’s decision issued via administrative resolution will be appealable to Planning Commission, with the Planning Commission decision constituting the final City determination.
Renaming of Public Streets
When a public street is renamed, Planning Commission will be the approving body of the renaming, and their decision will be the final City determination.
Environmental Review
The proposed Resolution has been reviewed by the Development Services Department for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Staff recommends a finding of no physical effect and/or an exemption under CEQA, as the proposed Policy is not a project within the meaning of Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines because there is no potential for it to result in a physical change in the environment, either directly or indirectly. Additionally, even if the proposed Policy was considered a project subject to CEQA, it would be exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility it would have a significant effect on the environment.
Fiscal Impact
There is no direct fiscal impact due to the adoption of this policy.
Attachment(s)
1. Resolution
2. Street Naming and Renaming Policy
Prepared by: Punam Prahalad, Deputy City Attorney
Submitted by: Kyrenne Chua, Principal Civil Engineer
Reviewed by: Stephanie Kellar, Deputy City Engineer
Reviewed by: Isaac Etchamendy, City Engineer and Development Services Director
Approved by: Michelle Bender, City Manager