Hinesville City Council members are likely to take up a new way for naming city streets and properties after people.

In the wake of South Main Extension getting renamed for the late longtime City Council member Charles Frasier, city staff have developed a guideline for renaming public properties, such as parks, streets and buildings.

City Manager Kenneth Howard asked council members to review the draft process and make changes and recommendations.

“There are precedents for this,” he said of a renaming process. “This is a good start.”

Along with the application process is a draft ordinance for council members.

“If you’re going to rename it,” Howard said, “there are some things you should consider.”

As part of the application process for residents seeking to rename a public property, those names need to: Honor and commemorate noteworthy persons associated with the City of Hinesville, Liberty County, the state or the U.S.; Commemorate local history, places, events or culture, or; Strengthen neighborhood identity.

Under the proposal, the renaming of public properties should be reserved for those who resided in the city for more than five years, other than a prominent national figure. The proposal also restricts using the name of existing public property in the city or the county where duplication of the name may lead to confusion.

Any request for renaming should take into consideration the following, according to the draft:

• The number of residents and businesses directly affected;

• Community diversity; • The historical significance of preexisting name or location;

• The appropriateness and compatibility of the request in relation to the existing area;

• The impact on emergency service delivery; and

• Continuity and stability.

Renaming requests also should be reserved those who are deceased, unless there are extraordinary or extenuating circumstances. Requests also should note a sustained contribution over time from the honoree who made efforts of benefit or significance to local, state or national affairs and/or demonstrated leadership in governmental, cultural or historical affairs, humanitarian efforts, or community development.

The proposal also asks requests demonstrate the contributions that changed the nature and characteristics of the community for the better or achievement by a Hinesville native of national or international acclaim that has reflected positively on Hinesville.

To rename a road, the proposal asks for 60% of all property owners abutting the right-of-way to sign the petition on behalf of renaming the road. Howard said the county’s benchmark is 60% of property owners, while some communities are as high as 75% and others as low as 51%.

There also must be an endorsement from the mayor and the council member representing the district where the renaming will take place. There are instances where it may involve multiple council members, such as a street that crosses into a number of districts. Howard asked council members for guidance on how to approach that circumstance.

Any renaming request, Howard pointed out, is still up to the mayor and council.

“That is why we established some criteria and some detailed information that will have to be vetted,” he said. “Once the vetting is complete, then the next step is to go to the respective district council member and the mayor. Once we get those checklist items done, then we can bring it to the mayor and council as a whole.”

Hinesville City Council meets today at 3 p.m. at City Hall.