City leaders consider street name change ordinance

The city of Gatesville is a step closer to having a uniform procedure for renaming city streets, although the Gatesville City Council won't take official action until a potential ordinance is presented for approval at a future date.

"The city does not have a policy regarding renaming streets," said City Manager Bill Parry. "I've looked at some policies of other cities and also consulted with TML (the Texas Municipal League)."

The idea first arose when City Council member Claude Williams asked the city to consider naming Mill Street in honor of the historic Carver School, which had been recently demolished.

City staff presented sample procedures for renaming streets from other Texas communities, including Georgetown, Austin, Houston and Buda. Each community has a different policy in place, including the way community members are notified of the potential change. Property owners of the impacted area are then given the opportunity to voice their opinion on the matter.

"It would be prudent for us to have a policy, and I will work with the city attorney to craft a document to be considered at a future meeting," Parry said.

Williams said he made his suggestion because that section of Mill Street "is a historically Black community, and it's a way to honor that community by naming (the street) for Carver to preserve the heritage of the neighborhood.

Williams asked how streets are named in new subdivisions.

"With new subdivisions, we typically allow the developers to pick the names of streets," Parry said.

With a renaming process, "most cities do have a public hearing," Parry said.

Mayor Gary Chumley and Mayor Pro Tem Meredith Rainer both said they are in favor of having an ordinance that would address any future renaming proposals.

Council member Greg Casey voiced his agreement.

"I think it needs to be an ordinance," he said, adding that whether the cost of renaming the street (including placing new signs at the location) would be paid for by those proposing the name change or by the city could be considered on a case-by-case basis.

"We'll eventually come up with an ordinance and there will be three public hearings," Parry said.