City of Portland Street Renaming Process
Frequently Asked Questions
Updated June 19, 2009
1. What prescribes Portland’s street renaming process?
Portland City Code (PCC) Chapter 17.93 prescribes the City’s street renaming process. The City Auditor's memo to City Council, dated September 22, 2008, outlines the process for verifying signatures collected in the application process. The court case Foster v. Clark, 309 Or 464 (1990) establishes that a street renaming process is considered "administrative" as opposed to "legislative" and therefore not subject to the initiative and referendum process.
2. Has this street renaming process ever been used?
Not until now. Portland City Code Chapter 17.93 has never been used to rename a city street. The Portland City Council has the legal right to waive many provisions of the City Code. It waived PCC Chapter 17.93 when it renamed a portion of Front Avenue Naito Parkway and when Portland Boulevard was renamed Rosa Parks Way.
3. Which streets were considered by the Historian Panel and Portland Planning Commission for renaming for Cesar E. Chavez?
The petitioners submitted for consideration the renaming of Grand Avenue, Broadway, and 39th Avenue.
4. How can a single application provide a choice among three streets for possible renaming?
The Portland City Attorney states, "There is nothing in the City Code that prohibits a petition from including more than a single street for renaming," but only one street can be chosen for the actual street renaming.
5. Of the three street options, why was 39th Avenue chosen for renaming?
On April 20th, 2009 the Historian Panel determined that the names of Broadway and Grand Avenue have sufficient historical significance and that therefore should not be considered for renaming. The Historian Panel determined that the name 39th Avenue does not have sufficient historical significance to preclude its renaming. The Historian Panel hearing summaries are available here.
6. Who are the members of the Historian Panel?
The Commissioner in Charge of Transportation appoints a Historian Panel. Mayor Sam Adams, the Commissioner in charge of Transportation, appointed Professor Gilbert Paul Carrasco, Oregon Nation Guard Brigadier General Michael Caldwell and Kathy Fuerstenau, Chairwoman of the Cully Association of Neighbors to serve on the Historian Panel. They were chosen based on the following criteria: (a) Not involved in any prior effort to rename a city street; (b) Willing to serve for 12 months; (c) Hold community or professional leadership positions; (d) Expertise with public processes, neighborhood and community outreach; (e) Portland resident. The panel was advised by a group of professional historians and assisted by a team of independent consultants.
7. What were the findings of the Historian panel?
On April 20th 2009, the Historian Panel voted to recommend that Cesar E Chavez was an appropriate honoree to have a city street renamed in his honor. It also voted to recommend that 39th Avenue be named Cesar E Chavez Blvd.
8. With all the challenges currently facing the city, is now really the best time to consider a street renaming?
The City is required to consider street renaming petitions if the Code requirements are met.
9. How much will it cost to change street signs?
The estimated cost to manufacture, install new street signs and remove existing street signs on 39th Avenue is $86,000.
10. How do I voice my opinion about a proposed street renaming?
A public Council Hearing on the proposed street renaming will be held Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 at 6pm in Council Chambers at Portland City Hall. The City Council will take public testimony on the Planning Commission’s recommendation to rename 39th Street to Cesar E. Chavez Blvd. Sign up sheets will be available outside Council Chambers by 5:00pm.
If you are unable to attend, you can submit written testimony by:
Mail: Council Clerk’s Office, 1221 SW 4th Ave., Room 140, Portland OR 97204
Email: sparsons@ci.portland.or.us
Phone: Testimony is not accepted by phone.
11. How quickly will the new street name go into effect?
Both the old and new street names remain on street signs for five years.
12. Why not adopt twin names for a street, such as New York City's "Avenue of the Americas / Sixth Avenue?"
Both state statute and the City Code require that when a street is renamed, the new name must be recorded with Multnomah County. The County has indicated that it will accept only one name for a street.
13. Why not rename a park or a school or a library --- a facility that will have less disruption to the community?
The City is required to consider street renaming petitions if the Code requirements are met.
The process outlined in the Code applies only to street renaming and not to other "public spaces." Other public spaces may be renamed through a separate process.
14. Does a business need to get a new insurance policy because the street is renamed?
Business owners should check with their insurers. However, there is no reason to believe that the street renaming has any effect on insurance policies. The insurer should be notified of the change of name, but the street will carry both names for 5 years.
15. What are the legal implications to a business on a renamed street?
There may be notifications that should occur, such as notices to parties to a contract where an address was given for notification purposes. Things like filing taxes that are done annually should not be a problem. If the business is one that is subject to government regulation, such as a bank, notification of the new address might be expected. Documents filed with the Secretary of State may need to show the new street name. Again, there is at least a 5-year period in which both names will be applicable.
16. Will a business need to hire an attorney to write corporate documents when the street name is changed?
Each corporation is required to file an annual report. ORS 60.787(1). That report includes the address of the corporation’s principal office. Therefore it appears if a change is necessary it can be made as part of that report the corporation is already required to make. An attorney would only be required if the corporation uses an attorney to file its annual report.
17. Has the street renaming process been followed?
The City has closely monitored the renaming process to ensure that every step of the process has been followed and respected. The City is not aware of any deviation from the proscribed process.
18. Will businesses have time to prepare before the new street name goes into effect?
The street renaming process takes five years to give residents and businesses time to use their existing stock of stationary and other materials using the old address.
19. Will I still get my mail delivered to my home or business? How is the Post Office going to handle the new street name?
The USPS has said they would put in a number of aliases that recognized variations on the address to make sure they could deliver mail. They will add more aliases and variations as they see them occur.
