Chapter 43, Article 3, Division 3, Subdivision A: Generally

(a) A street may be assigned a secondary street sign that displays a different name than the official street name in accordance with this division.

(b) The assignment of a secondary street sign is for purposes of honorary recognition only and shall not replace the official street name or require changing official maps, surveys, or records.

(c) The assignment of a secondary street sign may be sought to recognize a person who meets the following criteria:

(1) The person has achieved prominence as a result of his or her significant positive, and extraordinary contributions to the City of Detroit, State of Michigan, the United States of America, or the international community:

(2) The person was a resident of the City for a cumulative time of not less than ten years; and

(3) The person has been deceased for a period of not less than five years, unless either:

a. The person is deceased, and:

1. 1. 1. Held a public office in the federal government:
      2. Died, or sustained an injury that caused death, while performing his or her duty as a police officer, firefighter, or member of the emergency medical services for the City; or
      3. Served as a member of the United States Armed Forces, including the reserve components, and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable, or died while on active duty in the United States Armed Forces: or

b. The person is either alive or deceased, and;

1. 1. 1. The secondary street sign is requested by a City Council Member pursuant to the procedure provided in Subdivision C of this division: and
      2. Separate letters of concurrence from at least three City Council Members, including the City Council Member who submitted the request, describing the particular circumstances that justify exempting the proposed honoree from the requirement that an honoree be deceased for a period of not less than five years are attached to the request at the time it is forwarded to the Legislative Policy Division pursuant to Section 43-3-61(b) of this Code, in addition to the other attachments required by Section 43-3-61(c) of this Code.

Codified by Ord. No. 2019-44 (JCC. 11/12/19, Pass. 11/26/19, App. 12/5/19, Pub. 12/23/19, Eff. 12/23/19).

(a) The secondary street sign shall be placed above the official street sign and be of a different color than the official street sign.

(b) A maximum of one secondary street sign shall be placed at only one identified intersection in the area significant to the honoree’s historical residence or the location of the honoree’s historical contribution. If a secondary street sign is assigned to the same intersection as another secondary street sign, the secondary street sign that was assigned earlier may be subject to removal for the purpose of installing the secondary street sign that was assigned more recently, pursuant to Section 43-3-44(d) of this Code.

Codified by Ord. No. 2019-44 (JCC. 11/12/19, Pass. 11/26/19, App. 12/5/19, Pub. 12/23/19, Eff. 12/23/19).

A missing or damaged secondary street sign shall be replaced by the Department of Public Works within 45 days from receipt of payment for the cost of replacement from the petitioner or City Council Member who requested the secondary street sign.

Codified by Ord. No. 2019-44 (JCC. 11/12/19, Pass. 11/26/19, App. 12/5/19, Pub. 12/23/19, Eff. 12/23/19).

(a) A secondary street sign may be subject to removal after a period of five years from the date of the sign’s installation pursuant to either of the following:

(1) Submission to the City Council of a written recommendation from the Department of Public Works that the secondary street sign should be removed pursuant to the following:

a. Upon receipt of the written recommendation, the City Council shall schedule a public hearing. Notice of the public hearing shall be:

1. 1. 1. Provided to the owners and occupants of real property within 300 linear feet of the intersection abutting such street that was assigned the secondary street sign;
      2. Published in a newspaper of general circulation at least five days prior to the date fixed for the hearing: and
      3. Provided to the original petitioner or City Council Member who requested the secondary street sign.

b. Following the public hearing, the City Council shall adopt a resolution approving or denying the recommendation submitted by the Department of Public Works.

c. Upon the City Council’s adoption of a resolution approving the recommendation submitted by the Department of Public Works in accordance with Subsection (a)(1)b of this section, said Department shall remove the secondary street sign within 45 days of the adoption of the resolution.

(2) The City Council may, on its own initiative, adopt a resolution to initiate the removal of a secondary street sign pursuant to the following:

a. Upon the City Council’s adoption of the resolution to initiate this procedure, the City Council shall schedule a public hearing. Notice of the public hearing shall be;

1. 1. 1. Provided to the owners and occupants of real property within 300 linear feet of the intersection abutting such street that was assigned the secondary street sign;
      2. Published in a newspaper of general circulation at least five days prior to the date fixed for the hearing; and
      3. Provided to the original petitioner or City Council Member who requested the secondary street sign.

b. Following the public hearing, the City Council shall adopt a resolution approving or denying the removal of the secondary street sign.

c. Upon the City Council’s adoption of a resolution to approve the removal of the secondary street sign in accordance with Subsection (a)(2)b of this section, the Department of Public Works shall remove the secondary street sign within 45 days of the adoption of the resolution.

(b) A secondary street sign may be subject to removal any time after the installation of the secondary street sign pursuant to the following:

(1) Receipt of a petition for the removal of a secondary street sign from a resident of the City by the Office of the City Clerk. A petition for the removal of a secondary street sign shall contain the following:

a. A description of the secondary street sign that is sought to be removed, including the name and location of the secondary street sign:

b. A statement of the reason or reasons for why the secondary street sign should be removed; and

c. The signatures of at least 1/2 of all those who own or occupy property that abuts a street and is within 300 linear feet of the intersection where the secondary street sign is located, indicating their consent to the petition to remove the secondary street sign.

(2) Upon receipt of a petition for the removal of a secondary street sign, the Office of the City Clerk shall report receipt of the petition to the City Council and transmit the petition to the Legislative Policy Division.

(3) Within two weeks of receipt of a petition for the removal of a secondary street sign from the Office of the City Clerk, the Legislative Policy Division shall complete a review of the petition and determine whether at least 1/2 of all owners and occupants of real property that abuts a street and is within 300 linear feet of the intersection where the secondary street sign is located have signified, in writing, their consent to granting such petition. After completing its review, the Legislative Policy Division shall submit to the City Council a report of the Legislative Policy Division’s findings as to whether the petition contains the required number of verified signatures.

(4) Upon receipt of a report from the Legislative Policy Division indicating that the petition for the removal of a secondary street sign contains the required number of verified signatures, the City Council shall schedule a public hearing. Notice of the public hearing shall be;

a. Provided to the owners and occupants of real property that abuts a street and is within 300 linear feet of the intersection where the secondary street sign is located;

b. Published in a newspaper of general circulation at least five days prior to the date fixed for the hearing;

c. Provided to the original petitioner or City Council Member who requested the secondary street sign; and

d. Provided to the resident of the City who submitted the petition for the removal of a secondary street sign.

(5) Following the public hearing, the City Council shall adopt a resolution approving or denying the removal of the secondary street sign.

(6) Upon the City Council’s adoption of a resolution to approve the removal of the secondary street sign in accordance with Subsection (b)(4) of this section, the Department of Public Works shall remove the secondary street sign within 45 days of the adoption of the resolution.

(c) Petitions for the removal of a secondary street sign shall be provided by the Office of the City Clerk. The petition shall state in bold face type that the consent of at least 1/2 of all those who own or occupy property that abuts a street and is within 300 linear feet of the intersection where the secondary street sign is located is required. No form other than that referenced in this subsection shall be accepted as a valid petition for the removal of a secondary street sign.

(d) A secondary street sign may be subject to removal by the Department of Public Works for the purpose of installing a new secondary street sign that is assigned to the same intersection.

(e) The cost to remove a secondary street sign pursuant to a resolution that is adopted in accordance with Subsection (a) of this section shall be borne as follows;

(1) If a secondary street sign is removed in accordance with the procedure provided in Subsection (a)(1) of this section, the cost to remove the secondary street sign shall be borne by the Department of Public Works.

(2) If a secondary street sign is removed in accordance with the procedure provided in Subsection (a)(2) of this section, the cost to remove the secondary street sign shall be borne by the City Council.

(f) The cost to remove a secondary street sign pursuant to Subsection (b) of this section shall be borne by the resident who filed the petition for the removal of a secondary street sign with the Office of the City Clerk.

(g) The cost to remove a secondary street sign for the purpose of installing a new secondary street sign in accordance with Subsection (d) of this section shall be borne by the petitioner or City Council Member requesting the new sign.

Codified by Ord. No. 2019-44 (JCC. 11/12/19, Pass. 11/26/19, App. 12/5/19, Pub. 12/23/19, Eff. 12/23/19).

No more than five secondary street signs may be assigned by the City Council, whether through petition or City Council initiative, pursuant to this division, each calendar year.

Codified by Ord. No. 2019-44 (JCC. 11/12/19, Pass. 11/26/19, App. 12/5/19, Pub. 12/23/19, Eff. 12/23/19).

Codified by Ord. No. 2019-44 (JCC. 11/12/19, Pass. 11/26/19, App. 12/5/19, Pub. 12/23/19, Eff. 12/23/19).