City hall’s planning and development services department will now look after the master list of suggested names for new streets and neighbourhoods in the community, as part of a new policy.
The master list was formerly kept in the mayor’s office.
City council voted 6-1 to accept the new street and neighbourhood naming policy during its May 13 regular meeting. Coun. Brian Swanson was opposed.
There was no concrete policy in place before this one, explained Michelle Sanson, director of planning and development services. Instead, residents presented a letter to the mayor’s office with suggestions. Those letters were kept on file and city administration — but not city council — chose names from them.
“This will legitimize the process,” Sanson added.
Swanson thought there was a process in place for naming streets and neighbourhoods, pointing to Sunningdale as evidence. He added that it has been a long time since there was a new street named in the community.
Adopt-a-bench program
Council voted 6-1 to approve the Main Street Adopt-a-Bench Program. Swanson was opposed.
Two changes were made to the policy based on council’s feedback from April 8. One change is, individuals and organizations will be limited to sponsoring one bench. A second change would prohibit groups from placing logos on benches. Instead, they would be encouraged to pursue other creative and artistic means of displaying their brand.
The program is expected to be rolled out in the coming weeks.
