City OKs honorary sign policy

SANDPOINT — Honorary street signs are now an option to recognize those who have made historically significant contributions to the Sandpoint community.

City Council members approved the honorary street sign policy brought forth by the Sandpoint Historic Preservation Commission last week.

“We realize that there are many ways of honoring these contributions, such as naming parks or facilities, providing plaques, as well as honorary street signs,” said commission member Sue Graves. “We recommended that each process have its own policy.”

As a result of recent requests, Graves said the first policy the commission looked at was the honorary street signs. The topic dates back to a request in October 2018 to recognize former Sandpoint High School Bulldog, Green Bay Packer and NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Kramer with an honorary “Jerry Kramer Way” on Ontario. While the request was not approved at that time, Mayor Shelby Rognstad asked the commission to look at establishing a policy for such requests.

The policy, Graves said, provides a means to honor current and past Sandpoint residents, groups, organizations, events and sights that have made civic, charitable, educational, cultural or business contributions to the community by identifying a Sandpoint street, or portion of a street, with the name of an honoree. The honorary street name would supplement the permanent street name — and would not change the permanent street name — nor would it require residents or businesses on the street to change their addresses, she said.

The commission listed several criteria within the policy, the first of which states that a site, event or individual of known historic, geographic or cultural importance to the city would be considered. Those who are of local, regional, national or international significance would be considered, as well as an individual with a distinguished career that has been brought to the city, or noteable humanitarian achievement made while a resident of the city, Graves said.

The city will also consider whether there is a clear geographical relationship of the street to the area of interest of the nomineed, she said, as well as a clearly defined record of local community or public service made by the nominee.

In addition, Graves said the commission recommended that the honorary street signs be allowed for a maximum of five years, though they can be renewed with a new application.

The applicant must obtain approval of at least 50 percent of the property owners abutting the sign locations. Honorary signs will be brown with white text, which Graves said is consistent with other historic signage, and placed either above or below the official street name sign.

“We also felt that putting the word ‘honorary’ on the sign above the name was important, because it would help further differentiate from the existing street sign,” she said.

All costs will be the responsibility of the applicant, including maintenance and replacing stolen or defaced signs.

The commission was unanimous in encouraging the approval of the policy, Graves said, and council members followed suit as they unanimously approved the policy last week.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.