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Street renaming tied to resident approval

The policy, in the wake of Sixth Avenue, requires the backing of 75 percent of the property owners.

By MOLLY MOORHEAD
Published September 27, 2005

ZEPHYRHILLS - Renaming city streets became more difficult Monday night after City Council members approved a detailed new policy.

The amendment, prompted by last year's protracted fight over the renaming of Sixth Avenue after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., now requires any name change proposed by petition to be approved by at least 75 percent of people who own property on the street.

The City Council still has the final say over changing street names.

Member Gina King, the most outspoken critic of city officials' handling of the Sixth Avenue affair, said she thinks 100 percent of property owners should have to approve.

"I think it needs to be difficult to change the name of a street," she said. While property owners are not the only stakeholders, she said, "they have the most stake."

Mayor Cliff McDuffie said a 100 percent threshold could never be achieved.

"I don't think you'll ever get anything done if you require 100 percent participation," McDuffie said.

Member Clyde Bracknell added that 75 percent is still a difficult requirement to meet.

The policy also requires that all costs associated with a name change be paid by the people seeking it, including street signs and certified letters to property owners.

"All that needs to be the burden of the applicant," King said.

In general, name changes, whether proposed by residents or by council members, will occur only "when determined to be in the public's best interest."

King questioned that clause: "Who's going to determine what's the public's best interest?"

The meeting stirred up some bitterness from the Sixth Avenue fight. At that time King said the ordinance on the books already required property owner approval, but council members voted for the name change despite a loud outcry from residents.

Upon King's election in April 2004, the board ultimately restored the original name.

King reiterated her point Monday about adhering to existing ordinances.

"All this doesn't matter if we're not going to follow it," she said.

The policy will be brought back before the council in ordinance form for three votes. It also will become part of the city's land development code.

In other news Tuesday:

Council members gave final approval to the 2005-06 city budget and set the property tax rate.

The rate remains the same it has been for the past 15 years, levying $1 in taxes for every $1,000 in taxable property value. Because of rising home values, property owners may still see increases to their tax bills even though the rate held steady.

The budget totals $45-million and takes effect Saturday.

The operating budget, roughly $15-million, includes a 4 percent pay increase for city employees, funds for a dog park in the Meadowood neighborhood and a walkable fountain in Zephyr Park that is partly funded by private donations.

The Police Department gained four new officer positions, two beginning in January and two in April.

The $900,000 the city expects to collect in Penny for Pasco revenues will buy six new police cars and a firetruck, among other projects. About $450,000 is set aside for contingency.

[Last modified September 27, 2005, 02:45:31]