Burbank Municipal Code Art. 18 Naming of Public Facilities

2-1-1801: PURPOSE:

It is the purpose of this ordinance to establish policies and procedures for identifying those public facilities within the City of Burbank which would be appropriate for dedication, naming or renaming in honor of individuals who have made significant contributions to society. [Added by Ord. No. 3306, eff. 9/25/92.]

2-1-1802: FACILITY NAME REQUESTS:

A. A request or proposal for the dedication, naming or renaming of a City facility may be made initiated by the City Council or any City board or commission by notifying the City Clerk of such proposal.

B. Any resident of the City may initiate requests or proposals for the dedication, naming or renaming of a City facility by completing an application/nominating form, filing such form in the City Clerk’s office, and paying a fee as established in the Burbank Fee Resolution. The application/nominating forms shall be available in the City Clerk’s office.

C. Nominations will only be accepted between the period of January 1 and March 31 of any year. A date stamped form must be secured from the City Clerk during the nomination period and returned no later than five o’clock (5:00) P.M. on March 31 of that year.

D. The time frame stated in subsection C of this section is not applicable to the naming of new facilities completed and/or dedicated during the second, third and fourth quarter of each calendar year or to requests or proposals initiated by the City Council or any City board or commission.

E. Those facilities which may be considered as a subject for dedication, naming or renaming under this ordinance are any public structure, building, park, park feature, reservoir, overpass, street, wall, mural, plant, lawn, garden, plaque, statue or historical document (such as a collection of biographies). Facilities ineligible for consideration under this ordinance include City Hall, veterans’ memorials, facilities under the jurisdiction of another governing body and streets20. [Added by Ord. No. 3306, eff. 9/25/92.]

2-1-1803: BOARD AND COUNCIL PROCEDURES:

A. The City Clerk shall submit all nominations concerning facilities under the administration of the Parks and Recreation Department to the Parks and Recreation Director who shall set the application for consideration by the Park, Recreation and Community Services Board. The City Clerk shall submit all other nominations to the City Planner who shall set the application for consideration by the Planning Commission, unless the City Planner determines that the nomination should be considered by another board, in which case the City Planner shall submit the nomination to the Secretary of that board.

B. Upon receipt of the report and recommendation of the appropriate board or commission, the City Clerk shall set the matter for City Council consideration. [Added by Ord. No. 3306; amended by Ord. No. 25-4,028, eff. 7/25/25; 22-3,983.]

2-1-1804: CRITERIA:

A. The reviewing body may recommend or approve the dedication, naming or renaming of a public facility for an individual where the reviewing body finds: 1) the individual has made a significant contribution to Burbank, the State of California, the United States or the world, in any area including, but not limited to health, education, civic involvement, housing, public service, employment, or the arts; and 2) such contribution has contributed to the general well being of society. The individual, whether living or dead, need not be or have been a resident of Burbank, the State of California or the United States.

B. The decision is purely within the reviewing body’s discretion. Even if the board and/or Council makes the findings detailed in subsection A of this section, the board and/or Council may choose not to recommend or approve the proposed dedication, naming or renaming of a public facility. The Council’s decision is final and not subject to review. [Added by Ord. No. 3306, eff. 9/25/92.]

2-1-1805: ADDITIONAL COUNCIL PROCEDURE:

In lieu of the procedures contained in Section 2-1-1802 through Section 2-1-1804 of this article, the Council may elect to dedicate, name or rename any public facility pursuant to the provisions of this section. When the Council finds that the circumstances so warrant, the Council may, upon making a motion suspending the naming procedures contained in Section 2-1-1802 through Section 2-1-1804 of this article, dedicate, name or rename any public facility or may establish any alternate procedure deemed appropriate by the Council for the dedication, naming or renaming of a public facility. The Council’s decision regarding the dedication, naming or renaming of a public facility is final and not subject to review. [Added by Ord. No. 3509, eff. 2/20/99.]

1 State law reference: As to boundaries, see Gov.C. §§ 50190-50200.

2 See Charter Section 105.

3 State law reference: As to delegation of powers to City with regard to state highways, see Str. & H.C. § 676. As to delegation of powers by municipal corporation, see Gov.C. § 34004.

4 State law reference: As to City classifications, see Gov.C. § 34100. See also Stats. 1955, Ch. 624, 53.

5 See also Charter Section 410.

6 See also Charter Sections 500

7 See also Charter Sections 500

8

State law reference: As to bond of City Treasurer see Gov.C. § 36518.

9 See also Charter Sections 315. State law reference: As to manager form of government in general law cities, see Gov.C. §§ 34851-34859, 36510.

10 See also Charter Section 320. State law reference: As to contracting for legal services, see Gov.C. § 53060. As to destruction of records as approved by the City Attorney, see Gov.C. § 34090.

11 See also Charter Section 320. State law reference: As to contracting for legal services, see Gov.C. § 53060. As to destruction of records as approved by the City Attorney, see Gov.C. § 34090.

12 See also Charter Section 19 (Repealed).

13 See also Charter Section 15 (Repealed).

14 Code reference: As to Civil Service Board, see Sections 2-1-504 and 2-1-505 of this Code.

15 See also Charter Section 35 (Repealed).

16 The number of members required to call a special meeting was erroneously changed to three in Ord. No. 25-4,032. This previous version of this sentence has been editorially retained per the city’s request.

17 See also Charter Sections 300, 385.

18 See also Charter Section 370.

19 See also Charter Section 1300.

20 State law reference: For the procedures governing the naming of streets, please see Sections 7-3-1001 through 7-3-1004 of this code.