AGENDA #16

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            Naming Committee (Council Member Sally Greene, Mayor Pro Tem Bill Strom, Council Member Jim Ward)

SUBJECT:      Naming of the Old Post Office Plaza

DATE:            June 12, 2006

PURPOSE

Adoption of the attached resolution would name the Post Office Plaza either Peace and Justice Plaza or Peace Plaza.

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

The Council Naming Committee met on March 9 to discuss a petition from Council Member Thorpe regarding naming the Old Post Office Plaza in honor of Joe and Lucy Straley and Charlotte Adams. The Straleys and Ms. Adams were active in civil justice issues and spent countless hours in front of the Old Post Office collecting signatures and holding demonstrations and vigils.

The Committee recommended naming the plaza for an ideal or value. The Committee further recommended that plaques could then be displayed in this space honoring Joe and Lucy Straley, Charlotte Adams, and other citizens with involvement in civil justice issues.

At the March 27, 2006 meeting, the Council resolved to hold a public forum at the April 10, 2006 business meeting, to receive public input on naming the plaza and honoring Joe and Lucy Straley and Charlotte Adams.

At the April 10, 2006 business meeting, a public forum was held on the naming of the plaza. Public input was received and the Council referred the comments to the Naming Committee.

It was the consensus of the Naming Committee at its May 22, 2006 meeting, to recommend to the Council that the Post Office Plaza be named either Peace and Justice Plaza or Peace Plaza. The Committee also requested that the Public Arts Commission and Historic District Commission confer to recommend a marker on which to display the names of those citizens to be honored. The Committee also recommended that the marker be low cost, low maintenance, and expandable.

RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends that the Council adopt the attached resolution naming the Post Office Plaza either Peace and Justice Plaza or Peace Plaza.

ATTACHMENTS

1.         Petition (p. 4).

2.         March 27, 2006 Memorandum (p. 5).

3.         Excerpt from April 10, 2006 Minutes (p. 6)

4.         May 22, 2006 Naming Committee Quick Report (p. 7).