Santa Ana Municipal Code § 33-265 Authority of the director

The purpose of this article is to commemorate the service, lives, and achievements of individuals, philanthropic groups of individuals, or a landmark event, affiliated with the City of Santa Ana where the individual(s) or event has had significant and clearly defined cultural, humanitarian or historic impact on the City by recognizing them with a ceremonial street name that does not cause any disruption of the existing legal street names and abutting uses. Nothing in this article shall pertain to the method by which recognized neighborhood associations place their neighborhood street designations.

(Ord. No. NS-3024, § 2, 8-2-22)

(a) Only entire blocks of public streets or intersections may be granted ceremonial street names.

(b) A ceremonial street naming application may only be initiated by:

(1) A resident or owner of a property abutting the street; or

(2) Neighborhood or community groups; or

(3) A current City Councilmember.

(c) Candidates for ceremonial street names shall be limited to the name of an individual, philanthropic organization, significant event or landmark.

(d) Ceremonial street names shall be in the form of a "Sign Topper," which is a sheet metal sign that is placed on top of the standard City street sign identification and shall adhere to the following specifications:

(1) Ceremonial street naming cannot contain a product name or be used for a commercial purpose.

(2) Ceremonial street naming must be a name of an individual, philanthropic organization, landmarks or an event.

(3) A ceremonial street Sign Topper must include the word "Honorary."

(4) Only one (1) Sign Topper may be placed on any pole.

(5) Sign Toppers shall not be attached to traffic signal mast arms.

(6) Ceremonial names shall not duplicate any currently existing official street names.

(7) Up to five (5) Sign Toppers may be located at any one intersection, coincident with existing street name signs.

(8) Sign Toppers may not be attached to traffic signal poles.

(9) No one (1) candidate may receive City Council approval for a Sign Topper recognition on more than one (1) street or intersection.

(10) Each ceremonial street name shall cover a street section comprising a maximum of two (2) contiguous blocks and shall be applied to a single street, where no more than two (2) Sign Toppers shall be installed on existing poles at either end of the designated street section.

(Ord. No. NS-3024, § 2, 8-2-22; Ord. No. NS-3042, § 2, 6-6-23)

(a) Candidates for ceremonial street names must exhibit a minimum of ten (10) years of community involvement or demonstrated an extraordinary, consistent and voluntary commitment to the community, or have had contributed significantly to the City of Santa Ana. Significant historic events or City of Santa Ana landmarks may also be considered if supported by significant and clearly defined cultural, humanitarian, or historical impact to the City.

(b) An individual to be honored must have been dead for at least two (2) years prior to the date of application.

(c) Candidates, who have already been honored on one (1) street, whether ceremonial or official, may not be honored on another street.

(d) Ceremonial street names cannot be an ideology or a commercial interest.

(Ord. No. NS-3024, § 2, 8-2-22)

(a) Application. An application for a ceremonial street naming must be filed with the Public Works Agency on an application form furnished by the Agency. The application must include all of the following:

(1) A statement addressing the criteria for ceremonial street naming set forth in this article.

(2) A map showing the proposed location of the entire street block(s) receiving the ceremonial street name. No fractions of a street block may receive the ceremonial street name.

(3) If a ceremonial name is proposed for an intersection, a map showing the proposed intersection. No more than five (5) locations at an intersection may receive the ceremonial name.

(4) Documentation indicating that two-thirds of the residents or owners of the lots abutting the street or intersection are in support of the ceremonial street name.

A. For the purposes of this section, only one (1) adult signature per address, either owner or renter, will be counted.

B. Documentation shall be within sixty (60) days from the date of the application.

C. Documentation shall be submitted on a form provided by the Director of Public Works.

(b) Notice of Application. Within ten (10) calendar days of acceptance by the City of the ceremonial street application, the applicant must provide written notice to the legal owners of the property abutting the proposed ceremonial street or intersection by depositing the notice, properly addressed and postage paid in the United States mail to such owners.

(1) The written notice shall include the following:

A. The proposed name of the street or intersection; and

B. The location of the proposed street or intersection.

(2) The City shall provide the addresses of the owners of record of the properties abutting the proposed ceremonial street block(s) or intersection.

(3) Applicant will be responsible for paying postage and mailing such notices using the United States mail system.

(c) Fees. The following fees are required for a ceremonial street naming.

(1) An application fee, as established by resolution of the City Council, must be paid at the time the application is submitted.

(2) If approved by the City Council, fees for sign production, hardware costs and installation fees, as established by resolution of the City Council, must be paid prior to sign installation.

(d) Public Hearing. The City Council shall consider the application based on the testimony presented at a public hearing and a determination that the application meets the ceremonial street naming criteria standards.

(1) If a written protest against the ceremonial street naming has been signed by the residents or owners of twenty (20) percent of all lots abutting the street, then a favorable vote of three-fourths of all City Councilmembers is required.

(2) Otherwise, a ceremonial street application may be approved by a majority vote of City Councilmembers.

(e) Waiver. If application is initiated by a current City Councilmember, the requirements of subsections (a) through (c) may be waived by a majority vote of the City Council.

(f) Resolution. Approval of the ceremonial street naming shall be made by City Council resolution.

(Ord. No. NS-3024, § 2, 8-2-22)

(a) The ceremonial street name shall end ten (10) years after the date of the resolution approving the ceremonial street name, provided that the City Council at its sole discretion may select a longer or indefinite period.

(b) An applicant may re-apply for the ceremonial street name by the same process detailed in this article.

(Ord. No. NS-3024, § 2, 8-2-22)

(a) Installation. The Director of the Public Works Agency, or his or her designee, is responsible for the fabrication and installation of the ceremonial Sign Toppers.

(b) Replacement and removal. Any ceremonial Sign Topper that has become torn, damaged, defaced, or destroyed shall be repaired, replaced, or removed by the City at the sole cost of applicant following written notice to applicant.

(Ord. No. NS-3024, § 2, 8-2-22)

The Director of Public Works is authorized to establish rules and procedures and to produce signs, forms and other materials necessary or appropriate to implement the provisions of this article.

(Ord. No. NS-3024, § 2, 8-2-22)