CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Agenda Date: July 20, 2020 Action Required: Discussion/Direction Staff Contacts: Alex Ikefuna, Director of Neighborhood Development Services John Blair, City Attorney Presenters: Alex Ikefuna, Director of Neighborhood Development Services John Blair, City Attorney Title: Honorary Street Naming Requests Background: The City of Charlottesville adopted an Honorary Street Name Policy on September 19, 2011. The policy limits honorary street name designations to individuals or events that have made an important and lasting contribution to the City of Charlottesville or represent a key part of its history. There have been approximately nine honorary street naming designations pursuant to the 2011 Policy. Those honored include: George Ferguson, Franklin Delano Gibson, Preston Coiner, the Reverend R.A. Johnson, the Reverend Rufus Hayes, Heather Heyer, Rue De Besançon, Winneba Way, and Asalie Preston. Discussion: In the month of June 2020, the Council received two applications for Honorary Street Name Designations pursuant to its 2011 Policy. It also received an Honorary Street Name request via email. All three requests are attached to this Council Memorandum. Two of the requests are very similar. Don Gathers requests that the portion of Market Street between 1st Street NE and 9th Street NE received the honorary street name designation, “Black Lives Matter Boulevard.” Myra Anderson is requesting that 7th Street between Market Street and 7th Street receive the honorary street name designation “Black Lives Matter Avenue.” Tanesha Hudson’s email requests that the portion of Main Street between the Ridge and McIntire intersection and the 10th Street/Roosevelt Brown Boulevard intersection received the honorary street name designation, “Black Excellence Way.” Neighborhood Development Services (NDS) staff members have reviewed the requests, and their recommendation is that the Council combine Mr. Gathers’ and Ms. Anderson’s requests and approve one honorary street naming. Both of their requests are located in the same area and their requests also ask the streets to be named for the same organization of individuals: Black Lives Matter. The 2011 Policy prohibits duplicative honorary street naming designations. Ms. Hudson has not presented an application to the Clerk of Council. Additionally, her request does not conform with the 2011 Policy’s requirement that the honorary street name designation be for an individual or event. While Ms. Hudson’s request is not for an individual or event, Charlottesville City Code Section 28-4 provides that the City Council has the ultimate authority to name City streets. If Council wishes to grant Ms. Hudson’s request, a resolution can be prepared that notes the Council is making an exception to its policy. The purpose of this item is for Council to discuss the three requests and provide their feedback to staff. Staff will present the appropriate resolution(s) at the Council’s August 3, 2020 meeting. Budgetary Impact: If Council approves this request, the cost estimates are: $374.30 for the 7th Street request between Market and 7th; $748.60 for Market Street, from 1st Street, North to 9th Street, NE.; and $748.60 for Main Street, from Ridge/McIntire to 10th Street/Roosevelt Brown. Attachments: 2011 Honorary Street Name Policy Gathers Request Anderson Request Hudson Request Honorary Street Name Policy 1. The following restrictions and process for honorary street name designations shall apply. a. Honorary street name designations should be limited to individuals, or events that have made an important and lasting contribution to the City of Charlottesville or represent a key part of its histo1·y. •The street to be designated should have a connection to the individual/event and his/its contribution. •This designation should not be used for an individual or event already recognized in some significant manner. b. The application form (see Attachment 1) should be submitted directly to the Clerk of City Council. c. The application can be completed and submitted by any individual or group in Charlottesville. d. The completed application will be circulated to Council before formal Council action is taken. e. A Council Resolution will be prepared, outlining the proposed designation and providing an estimate of cost impacts including sign manufacture and installation and any other costs that might be incurred. NDS will prepare the appropriate staff memo. f. Upon approval, the Public Works Depa1tment will implement the honorary street name designation. 2. Application Form. Attachment 1 is a proposed application form for requesting honorary street name designation. The forms will be made available at City Hall and can be downloaded from the City's website. The forms require submission directly to the Clerk of City Council. 3. Proposed Process. The proposed procedure includes the following steps. a. Individuals or groups wishing to propose honorary street name designation will complete application form and submit it to the Clerk of City Council. b. The Clerk will determine if there is sufficient support on Council for the request to be considered by Council. c. NDS will prepare a brief memo to Council that identifies any cost impacts associated with the request and background on the individual nominated for the honor. d. A Council .Resolution will be prepared. e. Upon final approval by City Council, the Public Works Depattment will install the sign. f. Upon approval, NDS staff will send notice to all impacted propetties and to public safety agencies. Approved by Council September 19, 2011 Clerk of Council My reason for proposing an honorary street name "Black Lives Matter" is greatly influenced by recent local and national events. The past several months has exposed racial disparities and inequalities (once again), inspiring people all across the county to condemn acts of racism, discrimination and senseless violence, particularly against African Americans. This includes numerous protest and rallies right here in Charlottesville; a city that has its own dark history of racism and discrimination dating all the way back from slavery, to Jim crow, to Robert E statue debate, to August 12 th -the Summer of Hate, to Black Lives Matter protest the past several weeks. I believe the most recent protest in the city are part of the biggest collective demonstration of civil unrest around police violence that my generation has.witness across the whole entire country. The unifying theme, for the first time in our country's long, ugly and dark history, is BLACK LIVES MATTER. This is extremely important, because currently there are still institutions and systems right here in Charlottesville that act as if black lives don't matter. The city made 4 th street and honorary street named after one woman (Heather Heyer) to honor her fallen life. It's in that same spirt that I submit this proposal to you to honor the over 10, 000 Black lives in Charlottesville, who remain disproportionately impacted by structural and racism (overt and covert) and still live under an entire social structure centered around white privilege and disproportionate minority contact with the police. Due to the latter, I also propose the honorary street be one closest to the Charlottesville Police Department (or another area that is impactful the African American community) Naming an honorary street of "Black Lives Matter" is NOT saying that other lives don't matter, but rather affirming that Black lives should matter as much as all (other) lives. Furthermore, a Black Lives Matter honorary street naming has already occurred in our nation's capital, so Charlottesville would not be the first. However, it would be the first time our city names to street to serve as acknowledgment of the historical racism, racial terror and trauma, and racial injustices Africans Americans have endured past and present. Finally and most importantly, an honorary street would send strong, resounding, powerful, validating message to African Americans city-wide who have been disproportionately impacted by police violence and systematic racism .... that we see you, we hear you, and we are committed to ensuring our city becomes more fair and more just. Submitted by-Myra N Anderson The Starr Hill area was a prominent and thriving community for black people during the 1900's. In 1977 there was a Starr Hill Neighborhood association made up of mostly blacks at the time. Former Mayor Huja at the time was a city planner back then and was part responsible for applying for a federal grant that was supposed to be intended to help the Starr Hill neighborhood association get more black businesses but it didn't work that way due to bank discriminating in lending. The Starr Hill Grant in 1977 was for Minority Economic development in Starr Hill. They were not successful getting more black businesses there because of lack of capital/ money problems. Blacks didn't have any money to use for collateral. So Banks didn't take a risk on black businesses at the time because of that. The Banking discrimination then played a vital role in how Starr Hill area was taken from Black people and it's no different today in how neighborhoods become gentrified or blacks are priced / bought out. With Blacks having no capital and no power at the time to fight these kinds of issues from the inside because no one black was on city council at the time. The first Black to run for City Council was Dr. Bernard Coles then after him came George Harding and Charles Johnson but they did not win the election. Then we had our first elected black council member named Charles Barbour. Ray Bell was the first black elected to the School Board in 1963. The Ridge/ McIntire intersection of Main on down to 10th Street Intersection of Main was a vibrant and often frequented route for people of color to grocery shop, get to work, go to the doctor or to simply go home. It also surrounds many of the historical black businesses from the past to present. Then: Inge's Store Bell Funeral Home, Dr. Jackson's Office (The corner of 4 th and Commerce) Mt. Zion Baptist Church (The Original Church) Now: Mel's Cafe The Drewary Brown memorial Bridge. First Baptist Church Ebenezer Church Far too often we don't hear and we're definitely not taught the Black history or Black excellence that we once had and still have in our community. I would like Main Street from the Ridge and McIntire Intersection corner up until the 10th Street/ Roosevelt Brown intersection named Black Excellence Way. Each street that intersects on Main Street between these 2 intersections lead to a deep and telling story. I would hope that Charlottesville would honor those often left behind and make this happen. Acknowledging the Black Excellence Way is a small step in acknowledging the role we've played in making this city what it is. Thank you for your time, Tanesha Hudson (434) 806-8952