Thursday, April 18, 2024
Gatesville city staff members are working on an ordinance for the Gatesville City Council regarding policies and procedures for renaming streets in Gatesville and presented the draft of a nine-section document to address future name changes.
The idea for the ordinance came about earlier this year when council member Claude Williams suggested that a portion of Mill Street be renamed for Carver School -- which served members of the Black community for decades.
"This is a big deal," said council member Barbara Burrow. "When we rename a street, it should be very purposeful, and there should be a strong cultural or historical reason." She suggested a city proclamation recognizing the occasion should accompany any name change.
"It would be good to do that if we're renaming something," said council member Greg Casey. "It's important to reflect a little history behind the renaming."
Williams said he had no issues with that suggestion, but did have questions about other parts of the proposed ordinance.
"I don't see anything wrong with adding a proclamation," he said. "I have more questions about steps involved. I want a little more clarification on the process where only residents and landowners can make that recommendation."
Gatesville City Manager Parry noted that council members or other community members can be involved in the process and added that cities "usually allow a response from people who live on a street (proposed for a name change). The process would involve people who own property (on the street)."
Williams took exception to that requirement.
"I consider that biased," he said. "If the Black community wants to give homage and an area has been gentrified (a process where one group moves into an area that was once primarily occupied by a different group) ... how does that work for people of color who have had ties to that area for so long, and now people of a different color own land there?
"In that process, who does it tie into a community that we could also request a name change to something significant to us?"
Parry said the council is welcome to make changes to the proposed policy before it is adopted.
"Can I request the street name be changed?" Williams asked. "I do not live on that street."
Parry said via the ordinance once it is adopted, Williams could request the street name be changed.
"With the predominantly Black community, where do we stand in the process?" Williams asked.
"Do you have to reside on a street to recommend a name change?" Burrow asked.
"No," Parry said. "The property owners will be notified because they have the potential to be most impacted (regarding address changes)."
The ordinance originally suggested 50% of property owners on a street would be required to proceed with a name change, but that number was reduced to 25%.
"Why did you reduce the percentage?" Burrow asked.
"Because of the high number of renters," Parry said. "Many renters don't care one way or another (about renaming streets)."
Williams noted that if "six homeowners who moved into that area who are not Black and there's one or two who are, could it be a community decision?"
Burrow said telling property owners about the important historical and cultural relevance of an area should be part of the petition process.
Williams said since Burrow represents the property owners and residents of that area, she should be involved in that process.
"That may not be a bad idea," Burrow said.
Parry asked if the council wanted a poll of property owners as part of the process.
"Yes, but I don't want to put too many restrictions on it," Williams said. "We want something in honor of a school that's no longer there."
Parry said if council approves the ordinance at a future meeting (which would require multiple readings and publication of the proposed ordinance in advance), "the staff would develop a petition and send it out so there's accountability for who to send it to."
Asked about a cost for renaming streets, Parry said there is no specific fee attached to that yet.
"If the city initiates it, there's not a fee," Casey said. "If you want to rename a street, there's a movement behind that."
Williams said he thought the ordinance was well written, but added, "let's acknowledge there's not been a policy until I brought it up. Should there be such red tape involved in wanting to honor the community's heritage?"
“The red tape is a letter to the city manager," Parry said.
"As part of that community, I will bring it up to the council," Williams said. "It's something for me, my culture, nieces and nephews and my family. It (recognition to the Carver School) should be there. It's significant."
Burrow said she looked forward to the renaming request being presented to the council.
"Councilman Williams, I think it's a wonderful idea, but we've got to have a standard," council member John Westbrook said. "If it's a city council initiative, that does away with the fees.”
Williams asked the council to support his efforts to honor Carver School through the renaming process.
Parry said he will work to bring the council a draft of the ordinance by the Dec. 13 council meeting.
