Honorary Street Name Policy
1. Guidelines
- Honorary street name designations should be limited to individuals, organizations, and events that either had a significant lineage to the City or had a significant cultural, historical, or humanitarian impact on the City.
- The requested location should have a geographical relationship to the honoree (i.e., honoree lived or worked near the requested location) unless other locations are deemed acceptable due to the honoree having had a community wide or global impact. Individual letters of support are encouraged and should be attached to the application.
- Applications shall be reviewed by a five (5) member panel consisting of the mayor, one (1) member from the Engineering Division, one (1) member from the Economic & Community Development Department, and two (2) members from the community at large as assigned by the mayor. Applications will be forwarded to the Bloomington City Council and scheduled for a vote only upon an affirmative panel recommendation or if a majority of the Bloomington City Council calls for it. The request will be considered “denied” upon a negative panel recommendation or if the majority of the Bloomington City Council does not call for an application to be brought forward within 60 days of said panel recommendation being issued.
- Denied applications are eligible to be resubmitted after three years from date of denial.
- Honorary designations shall be limited to four per calendar year.
- Honorary designations shall be limited to one block in length and one designation per block.
- The honorary street name designation will be for 10 years and will not be eligible for renewal.
- Honorary street names for members of the military or any City employee who lost their life in the line of duty shall be assigned such blocks as designated by the City Council. Such designations shall be for an indefinite term and not be counted against the limitation of four designations per year.
- Sign lettering shall be white with brown background to comply with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- The cost of designating each block is $200. The fee covers a portion of the manufacturing and installation of four 1-faced signs mounted at two locations per block. Public Works shall install the signs.
- A commemorative sign shall be provided for each designation at no cost to the applicant.
- The City of Bloomington does not provide staff or resources to assist with the planning and execution of dedication ceremonies beyond permit coordination and sign installation.
- The 10-year duration of the honorary designation applies to all Honorary Street Signs, including those approved prior to this policy
2. Required Submittals
- Application and supporting documents shall be submitted online to Engineering Division. Paper applications will be available for those without internet access.
3. Approval Process
- Engineering Division determines if submitted application is complete.
- Honorary Street Name Panel reviews the application and approves or denies moving the application forward for City Council consideration.
- Engineering Division prepares a memorandum for City Council consideration
- City Council considers honorary street name designation request and approves or denies in accordance City Council rules.
- Applicant is notified of Council decision.
- Payment of the $200 fee to the City of Bloomington must be received before signs will be fabricated.
- Public Works installs signs for City Council approved designations.
