District 4 Councilmember Promotes Transparency and Inclusivity

Published on February 13, 2025

District 4 Councilmember Promotes Transparency and Inclusivity in Public Facility Naming Process

SAN ANTONIO (February 13, 2025) – To promote greater transparency and inclusivity in the naming process of public facilities, District 4 Councilmember Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia filed a Council Consideration Request outlining potential methods to enhance the current ordinance, last revised in 2011. 

“As we see construction for new public spaces and other facility renovations take place across the city, we need to consider how we can better engage with community members and gather more public input when thinking about potential names for these public places,” stated the District 4 Councilmember. “Libraries, parks, community centers, and other public facilities are important gathering places for residents, so we must do our best to be mindful and respectful as we revisit a policy that has not been updated in over a decade. There are always ways we can improve the process to ensure residents are well informed, feel included and heard throughout the naming process.”

The proposed revisions include:

• Increasing the notification distance from 200 to 500 feet, in addition to notifying registered neighborhood associations and community groups within 2 miles of the facility
• Increasing the required number of public meetings from one to two, if mail-out notice responses indicate a 50 percent or greater percentage of opposition to the requested name 
• Requiring public meetings to be held at the nearest possible location to the facility in question that is accessible to the public
• Stipulating an odd number of representatives to the naming committee, including a member of the San Antonio Parks Foundation if the facility is maintained by the City’s Parks and Recreation Department
• Allowing the naming committee to entertain additional names submitted by the community for recommendation to City Council, not just the name in the initial request
• Adding a clause clarifying that if a councilmember submits an initial naming request to honor an individual, said individual may not be related to the respective councilmember

When this item is discussed at a future Governance Committee, District 4 will invite residents to share their input in person, or submit their comments online or via phone.