TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Discussion and Possible Action to Rename Stauffenberg Lane
Recommended Action
Discussion and possible action to rename Stauffenberg Lane.
Background Information
Commissioner McDowell has submitted this information for discussion.
The existing City Code on naming streets has been virtually unchanged for over 30 years. On April 11, 2017, the commission discussed amending City Code, Chapter 70, Article III. At the meeting, the commission directed staff to move forward with creating an ordinance based on the discussion points. As of this writing no ordinance has been adopted changing this code. Over time, this was supposed to addressed with the ULDC rewrite; however, City Code is not associated with the ULDC rewrite. Although, our existing code is silent on the process or criteria for renaming streets, there have been two successful street name changes in the past 6 1/2 years, that I could find.
• July 26, 2016, Ordinance #2016-25 was adopted to rename North Main Street to Rue S. Berryman Street
• October 28, 2018, Ordinance #2018-16 was adopted to rename a portion of South West Villages Parkway to Playmore Road
In early September, a citizen contacted me about changing the street name, Stauffenberg Lane. This request evolved into a history lesson on Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg. This is my quick synopsis from the link provided.
In 1930, Stauffenberg joined the German Army and rose through the ranks before and during World War 2. For many years, Stauffenberg was loyal to Hitler and Germany. As a decorated Nazi German leader, Colonel Stauffenberg is responsible for atrocities to civilians and various invasions during the war. In the fall of 1943, after recovering from a disabling injury, Stauffenberg was appointed as Chief of Staff of the General Army. While serving in this role, which gave him close proximity to Hitler, he secretly became part of the resistance. The resistance plan was to overthrow Hitler in effort to take control of Germany, knowing defeat was imminent. Stauffenberg and his co-conspirators made the unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Hitler in July 1944. Stauffenberg and his co-conspirators were ultimately killed by firing squad for their attempt.
Our code does not give guidelines or criteria to honor anyone with a street name. Therefore, should our city retain Stauffenberg Lane, knowing this history?
Currently, there are no businesses that will be impacted by a name change since there no existing businesses who use this street name for its address. Although there is silt fencing up along a parcel which abuts this street, it is unknown if there is an active building permit or if future businesses could use this street name for its address. If a street name change is successful, it will allow time to adopt the new name and make the necessary notifications.
Staff has provided the following additional information for consideration.
The City Commission may initiate changes to the names of public streets. These changes must be adopted by ordinance.
A developer or owner of a platted subdivision may request changes to a private street name per Unified Land Development Code Section 37-46 - Street names and addressing, which states:
E. If a plat has been recorded with the approved street names, any change to the street names shall be changed by ordinance only and the applicant shall submit in accordance with D above.
Stauffenberg Lane is a private street, owned by the developer of the property. As such, the City does not have the authority to initiate a name change for this street.
Strategic Plan
Not applicable.
Financial Impact
Not applicable.
Procurement
Not applicable.
Attachments:
1. City Code Chapter 70, Article III
2. Legislative Text for Item 17-0763, April 11, 2017
3. Draft Ordinance 2017-03 Amending Chapter 70, Article III
4. Minutes from April 11, 2017 Commission Meeting
5. Ordinance 2016-25
6. Ordinance 2018-16
7. Map of Stauffenberg Lane Area
8. Spartacus Educational Article on Claus von Staffenberg
Prepared by: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager, on behalf of
Commissioner Debbie McDowell
Department Director: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager