Minutes 11-10-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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8 2. Orange County Property Naming Policy Bonnie Hammersley reviewed the background information below: BACKGROUND: On March 1, 2016 Commissioner Bernadette Pelissier petitioned that the Orange County Property Naming Policy be discussed at a BOCC work session. Specifically, Commissioner Pelissier as well as other Commissioners have requested that the naming policy discussion include clarification on the following issues: • Under what circumstances should a property be named? • What can be named? • Should a county property be named for a living person? • Definition of renaming a property? She said attached to the abstract are the three (3) previous abstracts to amend the policy, a list of County owned properties that have been named for an individual, and a benchmark analysis of organizational naming policies in the area. Commissioner Price said some schools were left off of the listing. Jeff Thompson, Director of Asset Management Services, said these buildings are not owned by Orange County. He said the facilities listed are ones that are deeded to the County. Commissioner Pelissier said her main interest is on 2.1.3 on page 13 of attachment one, which states: official names or titles for property belonging to the County shall only be changed by the Board of County Commissioners as it deems appropriate. She said this should be more thought out than "deems appropriate". She said the Board should be judicious in re-naming a facility, and there should be concrete reasons that mean something. Commissioner Pelissier said there should be a larger community consensus in re- naming a facility, and a more inclusive process such as a public hearing. Chair McKee agreed with Commissioner Pelissier as related to public input. He said the issue of naming brings up other issues and it can get"sticky". He suggested the language of "as it deems appropriate, after public input." Commissioner Burroughs said, in her experience, a committee is appointed for new buildings to address this process from the beginning. She said she preferred not naming a building after a living person, unless there are extraordinary circumstances and a public discussion is completed. Commissioner Price said if the Board wants to honor someone, then do so and do not wait until they pass away. She said she is in favor of naming buildings after living people. Commissioner Jacobs agreed with Commissioner Price. He said Commissioner Dorosin sent in an email, in which he also agreed. He said the recent re-naming of the farmer's market after Congressman Price was a good example, as he was able to attend the ceremony and appreciate the recognition. Commissioner Jacobs said he would like to name buildings after things other than people. Commissioner Pelissier said people have approached her asking why the Board re- named a facility after David Price, and she is adamant about re-naming a building without a public process. Commissioner Rich referred to page 13, section 2.1.2, and asked if rooms, within buildings, are currently being named. Commissioner Jacobs said yes, at the Orange County Library. He said a room was added after the library was built, for a collection of books that a resident donated.