Chapter 12.20 — STREET/FACILITY NAMING AND PROPERTY NUMBERING

Because of the confusion that has resulted by the use of two property numbering systems and the lack of a street-naming program, which has adversely affected the delivery of mail, the provision of emergency services, and the ability of visitors and residents alike to find a certain address, there is established a program and procedure for the naming of streets and the numbering of properties within the city.

(Code 1969, § 12.20.010; Ord. No. 429, § 1(part), 1977; Ord. No. 914-2013, § 1(12.20.010), 9-16-2013)

Main Street shall constitute the base line for the numbering of properties along all streets running northerly and southerly and First Avenue shall constitute the base line for the numbering of properties along all streets running easterly and westerly. The base point shall be the intersection formed by the two base lines mentioned herein.

(1)

Each building north of Main Street and facing a street running in a northerly direction shall carry a number, address and the prefix "North (N)" indicating a location north of the base street.

(2)

Each building south of Main Street and facing a street running in a southerly direction shall carry a number, address and the prefix "South (S)" indicating a location south of the base street.

(3)

Each building east of First Avenue and facing a street running in an easterly direction shall carry a number, address and the prefix "East (E)" indicating a location east of the base street.

(4)

Each building west of First Avenue and facing a street running in a westerly direction shall carry a number, address and the prefix "West (W)" indicating a location west of the base street.

(Code 1969, § 12.20.020; Ord. No. 429, § 1(part), 1977; Ord. No. 914-2013, § 1(12.20.020), 9-16-2013)

The city shall initiate a street and avenue system as follows:

(1)

All streets running for the greater course of their length north and south shall carry the new suffix "avenue."

(2)

All streets running for the greater course of their length east and west shall carry the new suffix "street."

(Code 1969, § 12.20.030; Ord. No. 429, § 1(part), 1977; Ord. No. 914-2013, § 1(12.20.030), 9-16-2013)

All buildings on the north and east side of a street running from the base point shall bear odd numbers. All buildings on the south and west side of a street running from the base point shall bear even numbers.

(Code 1969, § 12.20.040; Ord. No. 429, § 1(part), 1977; Ord. No. 914-2013, § 1(12.20.040), 9-16-2013)

All buildings within the corporate limits of the city shall carry a city property number consistent with a city numbering system. Existing buildings utilizing a county property number for addressing purposes shall be renumbered consistent with the city numbering system.

(Code 1969, § 12.20.050; Ord. No. 429, § 1(part), 1977; Ord. No. 914-2013, § 1(12.20.050), 9-16-2013)

(a)

The property identification (address) shall be limited to numerals and letters that depict the numeric address, apartment or unit designation (A, B, C, etc.), and building designation (such as BLDG A, B, C, etc.) only.

(b)

All buildings within the city shall bear a set of numerals/letters for the purpose of property identification (address). The numerals/letters used shall be approved by the Barstow Fire Protection District and shall be made of a durable and clearly visible material.

(c)

The numerals/letters described in subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be conspicuously placed as approved by the Barstow Fire Protection District.

(d)

As part of any new construction, or when significant remodeling is conducted in the general area of the location for the address, an illuminated address shall be installed. To minimize electrical usage, a photo sensor may be incorporated into the power supply to illuminate the address only when dark. As an alternative, and only when electrical power is not available, a solar powered illuminated address shall be utilized, and as approved by the Barstow Fire Protection District. Illuminated addresses shall be continuously maintained and functional. The size of the address numbering shall be approved by the Barstow Fire Protection District.

(e)

Painting of curb address for each corresponding property shall require written permission of the owner or occupant of the property.

(1)

Paint shall be water base latex or equal with black numbers and white background. Paint may be reflective.

(2)

The closest portion of the numeric address shall be one of the following:

a.

Within five feet, but not less than two feet, of the highest portion of any driveway approach, and immediately in front of the applicable property;

b.

Within two feet of any portion of another authorized address for the same property or center;

c.

If there is no curb ramp, set in at least ten feet from both sides of the property lines; or

d.

Approved by the city engineer.

(3)

No logo or other marking shall be included with the address.

(4)

The address shall be black and four inches tall for eight-inch curbs, and three inches tall for six-inch curbs. The stroke of the numerals/letters shall be three-quarters inch in width. For curb sizes not listed, the city engineer shall review and approve the numeral/letter size provided that the stroke of the numerals/letters does not exceed four inches in height.

(5)

The address shall be painted on a solid white background area that extends two inches beyond the address for eight-inch curb or 1½ inches for six-inch curb, except that the background shall be extended up to seven inches horizontally if a marking described in subsection (e)(4) of this section is also painted. For curb sizes not listed, the city engineer shall review and approve the size of the address provided that the size of the background area does not exceed eight inches in height.

(6)

The address shall be maintained in good quality. Should the address become faded or worn, the property owner shall cause the address to be repainted or removed within two weeks of notification.

(7)

Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, no address may be painted over any curb that a governmental agency has caused to have been painted, unless expressly authorized by the city engineer.

(Code 1969, § 12.20.070; Ord. No. 429, § 1(part), 1977; Ord. No. 914-2013, § 1(12.20.060), 9-16-2013)

All proposed streets, to the extent feasible, shall bear names that reflect a high desert environment. New street names may include, but shall not be limited to desert flora and fauna, desert Indian tribes, parks and monuments, historical figures and features, and desert geological and geographical names.

(1)

Names shall be unique and discernible. Similar sounding or duplicate street names shall not be considered.

(2)

Street names shall be selected to either recognize natural or historical features related to the Barstow community or to recognize individuals or families that have made a lasting and significant contribution to the betterment of the city.

(3)

Names with the same theme are suggested for naming streets in an entire subdivision, as a means of general identification.

(4)

Discriminatory or derogatory names shall not be allowed.

(5)

Names for public and private streets in a new subdivision shall be proposed by the developer, recommended by the planning commission, and approved by the city council. The street names shall be adopted by the city when the final subdivision map for the development is recorded.

(Code 1969, § 12.20.080; Ord. No. 429, § 1(part), 1977; Ord. No. 914-2013, § 1(12.20.070), 9-16-2013)

All building numbers and street names assigned under the provisions of this chapter shall become effective no later than one year from passage by the city council.

(Code 1969, § 12.20.090; Ord. No. 429, § 1(part), 1977; Ord. No. 914-2013, § 1(12.20.080), 9-16-2013)

The city shall have prepared a base map showing the revisions to street names and property numbering assigned under the provisions of this chapter. The base map or attachment thereto shall provide any additional information that will aid public and private agencies in the normal course of their daily communications.

(Code 1969, § 12.20.100; Ord. No. 429, § 1(part), 1977; Ord. No. 914-2013, § 1(12.20.090), 9-16-2013)

The city shall be responsible for the renaming of existing streets or the naming of all proposed streets that will serve the purpose of address clarification or otherwise benefit the general welfare of the city and its residents. The modernization or renaming of existing streets shall be pursuant to section 12.20.110.

(Code 1969, § 12.20.060; Ord. No. 429, § 1(part), 1977; Ord. No. 914-2013, § 1(12.20.100), 9-16-2013)

The city council shall have the final authority to name and rename all city streets, parks and facilities, and to designate commemorative street names and plaques.

(1)

Streets.

a.

The authority for street naming and renaming shall reside with the city council or as a result of an approval and recordation of a subdivision map.

b.

Under extraordinary circumstances, the city council may, with a super majority vote of at least four city council members, revoke the current name of any city street or city-owned facility.

c.

It is the intent of this policy to prohibit the changing of street names that have existing homes or businesses using the street name in their address, except under extraordinary circumstances with a super majority vote of at least four city council members and written approval of all impacted property owners.

d.

Any such change of name of a street shown on any map filed in the office of the county recorder shall be by resolution of the city council and the resolution shall be recorded with the county recorder.

(2)

Facilities.

a.

City facilities are defined as park, buildings or recreational facilities.

b.

For new facilities, the naming process shall begin as early in the project development process as possible.

c.

Facility names shall be selected to either recognize natural or historical features related to the Barstow community or to recognize individuals or families that have made a lasting and significant contribution to the betterment of the city.

d.

Areas within city facilities that can also be recognized include points of entry; rooms/patios within a city building; facility features (such as columns or fountains); walkways; bikeways; trails or recreational facilities (such as group picnic areas, sports fields or water features).

(3)

Commemorative street names and plaques.

a.

Commemorative street name signs are supplemental to the street name and will not change the street address. The existing street name shall be retained and a supplemental sign or plaque shall be installed beneath the existing street name signage.

b.

Names for commemorative street name signs shall be selected to either recognize natural or historical features related to the Barstow community or to recognize individuals or families that have made a lasting and significant contribution to the betterment of the city.

c.

Commemorative plaques shall be placed in common areas such as public benches or at public facilities.

d.

Names for commemorative plaques shall be selected to recognize individuals or families that have made a lasting and significant contribution to the betterment of the city.

(4)

Street and facility naming procedure. Requests for naming and/or changing the name of a city street or facility shall be submitted to the city manager's office in writing on the city's street and facility naming application form.

a.

If the proposed street or facility name is in recognition of an individual or family, the applicant is required to provide clear evidence that the individual to be honored has made a significant and lasting contribution to the betterment of the city.

b.

Upon receipt of the application, the city manager or his designee shall review the application and conduct any applicable research.

c.

Following that review, the city manager or his designee shall place the item on a future city council agenda for formal review and consideration by the city council.

(Code 1969, § 12.20.110; Ord. No. 429, § 1(part), 1977; Ord. No. 914-2013, § 1(12.20.110), 9-16-2013)

(a)

Street dedication for the purpose of this chapter shall mean the dedication of a street in honor of, or in memory of, an individual or family meeting the criteria identified in section 12.20.140. Streets may also be

dedicated in memory of or in honor of a prisoner of war, an individual killed in action, or other person who contributed to the city, community, or the United States through acts of benevolence or service.

(b)

Said dedications shall be approved by the city council by resolution. Dedications may be as follows:

By street: identified at a street intersection by a similar street sign, mounted beneath the existing street sign. Said dedication will not rename the street, but will identify "In Memory of" or "In Honor of." Said sign shall be similar in design, but shall have a brown background with white letters to further distinguish that it is not a street name sign. Street dedications shall be limited to one-block unless otherwise approved by the city council. The size of the sign shall be no larger than the size of the street sign and shall be the same or similar construction and materials.

(Ord. No. 914-2013, § 1(12.20.120), 9-16-2013)

(a)

The city council shall be the naming authority for all facilities owned by the city. Said naming shall be adopted by resolution. The resolution for the proposed facility name shall include, as applicable, the specific site, structure, field, etc., for which the proposed name pertains.

(b)

The city council shall be the naming authority for any park facility.

(c)

No site, structure, field, etc., shall be renamed when it has previously been named in honor of an individual or family unless it will serve the purpose of address clarification or otherwise benefit the general welfare of the city and its residents. Actual costs for the reproduction of said signs, placards, monument, etc., and staff time, labor and materials shall be borne by the applicant, group or organization sponsoring the request.

(Ord. No. 914-2013, § 1(12.20.130), 9-16-2013)

Qualification for any street name or renaming, dedication of a block, site, structure, field, etc., is limited to local residents who either died in the line of service (military, police or fire), who were detained as a prison of war, or who made significant contributions to the community. The qualifications will be reviewed by the agency responsible for the naming of the street or facilities as identified under sections 12.20.110, 12.20.120 and 12.20.130. Additional qualifying criteria include the following:

(1)

City-controlled property may be renamed in honor of local residents who died in the line of service (military, police or fire) or made significant contributions to the community.

(2)

For purposes of this section, the term "local resident" means a person who resided in the city for at least ten years, or resided in the city when taken prisoner of war or when he died in service.

(3)

When determining whether to rename city-controlled property pursuant to section 12.20.110, 12.20.120 or 12.20.130, the party making the determination shall consider all factors he deems relevant, including whether some or all of the following accurately describe the person for whom the city-controlled property is proposed to be renamed:

a.

The person made lasting and significant contributions to the protection of natural or cultural resources of the city;

b.

The person made substantial contributions to the betterment of a specific facility or park consistent with the established standards for the facility;

c.

The person made substantial contributions to the advancement of commensurate types of recreational opportunities with the city;

d.

The person is associated with an economic development or redevelopment activity;

e.

The person had a positive impact on the lives of the city's residents; and

f.

The person volunteered for ten or more years of service to the community.

(Ord. No. 914-2013, § 1(12.20.140), 9-16-2013)

Upon the dedication of a street, site, facility, field, etc., or renaming of a street, the name shall not be used for any other dedication or renaming.

(Ord. No. 914-2013, § 1(12.20.150), 9-16-2013)