Cathedral City Municipal Code Ch. 14.07 Street Name System

The purpose and intent of this chapter is to provide uniform standards for adopting and changing street names. A uniform system is necessary to provide control and coordination for the selection of street names so as to prevent delayed emergency response time, delayed postal and commercial delivery service and inconvenience to the general public.

(Ord. 534 § 3, 2000)

For the purposes of this chapter, the term "street" means any public street, thoroughfare, road, right-of-way, easement or other such means of moving vehicular traffic located within the city limits, whether paved or unpaved.

(Ord. 534 § 3, 2000)

The planning department shall create and maintain the following street name lists:

A. Existing Street Name List. This list shall contain each dedicated street name on record with the city.

B. Tentative Street Name List. This list shall contain street names which have been assigned to proposed new streets, but which streets either have not yet been recorded or, if recorded, have not yet been constructed. The purpose of this list is to provide a reference to ensure that there is no subsequent approval of the same street name for a different location in situations where a name has already been tentatively approved for a particular location, but the name has not yet been put to use.

C. Preaprroved Street Names List. This list shall contain those street names which have been approved for use by the city council in accordance with this chapter, but which have not yet been assigned to a particular street for use. The purpose of this list is to aid developers who are seeking to name new streets by providing them with a list of presumptively valid names from which to chose.

(Ord. 534 § 3, 2000)

The following standards shall be applied when considering a street name:

A. Favorable Qualities. The following characteristics shall be viewed favorably when considering a proposed street name:

1. A name that reflects the natural physical characteristics of the environment in and surrounding the city;

2. A name that is associated with persons or events that have made a significant contribution to the history or cultural heritage of the city;

3. A name that relates to a stated development theme.

B. Disqualifying Factors. No street name shall be approved which possesses any one of the following disqualifying characteristics:

1. A name that duplicates or has a close phonetic approximation of another name of a street in the city or in close proximity thereto;

2. A name that possesses characteristics that make it reasonably likely the name will be incorrectly read, pronounced or spelled by children or other members of the general public;

3. A name that is grammatically incorrect, whether in English or in a foreign language;

4. A name that is inconsistent with the general plan;

5. A name that does not comply with all of the provisions of subsections (C) through (E) of this section;

6. A name that conflicts with an established pattern or theme for naming streets in a particular area of the city.

C. Use of Same Name for Street Continuations. Streets which are a continuation of, or approximately the continuation of, any existing street shall be given the same name as such existing street.

D. Street Classifications. All street names shall reflect their characteristic, classification and function in accordance with the criteria below:

1. For streets measuring sixty-six feet wide or less:

a. West to east axis shall have the designation "road"

b. North to south axis shall have the designation "street."

2. For streets measuring sixty-six feet wide or less which terminate at intersections at both ends and which have no other intersections:

a. West to east axis shall have the designation "way"

b. North to south axis shall have the designation "lane."

3. For streets measuring more than sixty-six feet wide but less than one hundred ten feet wide:

a. West to east axis shall have the designation "avenue"

b. North to south axis shall have the designation "drive."

4. Streets measuring one hundred ten feet wide or greater shall be designated as "boulevard" regardless of axis.

5. Cul-de-sac streets:

a. West to east axis shall have the designation "court"

b. North to south axis shall have the designation "place."

6. Streets which form a loop and having both ends terminating in intersections on the same street shall be designated as "circle" regardless of axis.

E. Street Naming Using Spanish. In order to allow for uniformity in the naming of streets using Spanish names, street names shall be substituted for English in the manner set forth below and in accordance with this chapter:

Any development project or other application that includes a proposed name for a street that has not previously been named shall conform to all of the standards set forth in Section 14.07.040 for purposes of determining the appropriateness of any proposed name.

(Ord. 534 § 3, 2000)

A. Purpose of Creating Preapproved Street Names List. The purpose of the preapproved street names list is set forth in Section 14.07.030(C) of this chapter.

B. Nominating Persons and Application Procedures. Any person, including the city council or any council member, may nominate a street name to be considered for inclusion on the preapproved street names list by submitting to the planning department a completed application on a form to be provided by the city. Such application shall be referred to herein as a "nominating application." At the time of the filing of the nominating application, the applicant, except where the applicant is the city council, shall be required to pay a filing fee, established by the city council by resolution, for the purpose of defraying the administrative costs incidental to the proceedings. An application submitted without the required filing fee shall be deemed incomplete.

C. Planning Department Review. The planning department shall review a nominating application for compliance with the street naming standards set forth in this chapter and shall make a written recommendation as to the suitability of the proposed name to the city's development services committee.

D. Development Services Committee Review. As needed, but no more than biannually, the development services committee shall meet to consider all complete nominating applications. The committee may consider the planning department's recommendations, but shall make its own independent findings regarding the suitability of each of the proposed names based upon the street name standards set forth in this chapter. The development services committee shall then make its written recommendation to the city council as to the suitability of each of the proposed street names.

E. Consideration by City Council. As needed, but no more than bi-annually, the city planner shall place all complete nominating applications on the agenda of a regularly scheduled city council meeting for council's consideration. No public hearing is required on such applications; however, each applicant or other party requesting written notice of the meeting shall receive written notice from the city by first-class mail at least ten days prior to the meeting.

F. Standards for Consideration by City Council. At the public meeting to consider adding street names to the preapproved street names list, the city council may consider the recommendations of the planning department and the development services committee, but shall make its own independent determination as to the suitability of each of the nominated street names based upon the street name standards set forth in this chapter.

G. Form and Finality of Council Decision. The decision of the city council to accept or reject proposed street names for inclusion on the preapproved street names list shall be by resolution and shall be final.

H. Effect of Inclusion on Preapproved Street Names List—Presumption of Validity. Any street name included on the list shall, for purposes of any subsequent application to use that name for a particular street, enjoy the presumption of compliance with all of the street name standards set forth in this chapter. Absent an express finding by the reviewing authority in the subsequent application that because of a change in circumstances the use of such name for the particular street no longer complies with the street naming standards set forth in this chapter, the reviewing authority shall approve the use of the street name for the particular street in question.

(Ord. 534 § 3, 2000)

A. Initiating Persons. Street name changes for streets that already have an existing name may only be initiated by either the city council or by petition of owners of at least sixty percent of the properties fronting upon the affected street. The procedures for changing street names shall be as set forth in this section.

B. Application Procedures. An application shall be submitted to the planning department on a form provided by the city, upon which the applicant may list his or her first choice for the proposed street name and two alternative choices. The application shall be referred to herein as a "name change application." At the time of the filing of the name change application, the applicant shall be required to submit the signed petition, and, except where the applicant is the city council, pay a filing fee, established by the city council by resolution, for the purpose of defraying the costs incidental to the proceedings. Except for applications submitted by the city council, a name change application submitted without the signed petition or the required filing fee shall be deemed incomplete.

C. Planning Department Review. Within ten business days of receipt of a completed name change application, the planning department shall review the petition submitted with the application and shall verify the validity of the signatures. The city planner may reject any application which he or she deems to be incomplete for lack of verified signatures of at least sixty percent of the properties fronting upon the affected public street.

D. Planning Department Recommendation. Within ten business days following verification of petition signatures, the planning department shall review the name change application for compliance with the street naming standards set forth in this chapter and shall make a written recommendation as to the suitability of the proposed names to the city's development services committee.

E. Development Services Committee Review. At the request of the city planner, but no later than thirty days from the date of receipt of the completed name change application by the planning department, the development services committee shall meet to consider the application. The committee may consider the planning department's recommendation, but shall make its own independent findings regarding the suitability of the proposed names based upon the street name standards set forth in this chapter. The development services committee shall then make its written recommendation to the city council as to the suitability of each of the proposed street names.

F. Public Hearing Before City Council. Upon completion of the development services committee's recommendation to the city council, the city planner shall schedule the name change application for a public hearing at the next regularly scheduled city council meeting. The city planner shall provide the applicant with at least ten day's written notice of the date and time of the public hearing; at lease ten day's written notice shall also be provided to the owners and tenants of properties fronting upon the affected street. Notice of the public hearing shall be posted in the agenda and published in the newspaper in accordance with existing city policies for publishing and noticing of public hearing items.

G. Standards for Consideration at the Public Hearing. At the public hearing to consider the name change application, the city council may consider the recommendations of the planning department and the development services committee, but shall make its own independent determination as to whether the name of the street should be changed and as to the suitability of the applicant's proposed street names based upon the street name standards set forth in this chapter. If the city council rejects the applicant's first choice, it may consider the alternative choices.

H. Form and Finality of Decision. The city council's determination as to whether to approve the change of the street name and its determination to approve or reject the proposed names shall be by resolution and shall be final.

I. Deposit and Fees as Condition of Approval. Except where the applicant is the city council, any decision of the city council to approve a name change application shall be conditioned upon the applicant's full payment of the street sign deposit and any other fees and costs required by this chapter. Failure to pay the deposit or other fees and costs within the time specified in the resolution of approval shall render the approval null and void.

J. Forwarding of Decision. Pursuant to Government Code Sections 34091.1 and 34092, a copy of the city council resolution approving any name change application shall, upon adoption, be promptly forwarded to the board of supervisors for the county of Riverside.

(Ord. 534 § 3, 2000)

A. Preparation of Schedule. The planning department shall prepare and maintain a schedule of the following fees and costs:

1. The estimated cost to the city to construct, install and light street signs. This estimated cost shall be used to compute the street sign deposit required by Section 14.07.070(I) of this chapter.

2. The amount of the fees and costs necessary to cover the city's administrative expenses to be incurred in implementing a street name change following the approval of a name change application.

B. Council Approval of Schedule. The city council shall adopt a resolution approving such schedule of fees and costs. The resolution may provide for the periodic adjustment of the amount of the fees and costs which may be imposed upon applications pursuant to this chapter.

C. Requirement of Payment of Deposit and Fees and Costs. Based upon such schedule, and as a condition of approval of any name change application, the applicant, except where the applicant is the city council, shall be required to make full payment to the city of: (1) a street sign deposit comprised of the estimated cost to the city under this section to construct, install and light the street signs necessitated by the approval; and (2) the fees and costs under this section to cover the city's administrative expenses to be incurred in implementin the approval. The required deposit and fee amounts to be paid shall be set forth in the resolution of approval.

(Ord. 534 § 3, 2000)