City Council approves policy for renaming streets after prominent citizens

By a unanimous vote, the South Lake Tahoe City Council approved a new policy and set of procedures that will allow for the rare occasions where a street can be renamed after a prominent person who has achieved prominence as a result of their significant, positive contribution to the county or community.

With Mrs. Lisa Maloff's significant financial contributions to the community over the past few years in mind, the Council was asked to look into a policy that would pave the way for street name changes requests in special circumstances.

A street name change may now occur if initiated by action of the City Council, action of the Planning Commission, request of adjoining local government, agencies or entities, or by petition of not less than 20 percent of the households on the street to be renamed.

For 18-months after a name change, the new and former names of the street will stay on the sign.

The name of the street proposed for renaming shall not be changed if the existing name is of historic significance, or the street is significant in its own right. The street must start and end in the South Lake Tahoe city limits.

If a street name change is proposed, public notices will be issued for the public to be able to give their opinion in a hearing.

This policy is intended to be used in rare occasions. The policy had to be approved to allow for those instances, even if rare.

- South Tahoe Now staff report