Red Bluff to create policy for naming alleys.

RED BLUFF Dec 24, 2021 — (George Johnston/Daily News) - Everything needs a name, even alleys in Red Bluff, so the City Council Tuesday directed city staff to create a policy to name those alleys.

This comes after Jessica Casas reached out to the city, inquiring how alleys are named. Descending from one of Bluff’s five original Chinese families, Casas wants to name the alley between Main and Rio streets and between Walnut and Hickory streets Historic Chinatown.

“What we are looking for is just really to give a name to an area that had such a strong private presence in the 1800s,” Casas said.

Community Development Director Tom Westbrook said Casas reached out to the business owners within that stretch of Main Street that have access to the alley. They were supportive of its renaming.

After doing some research, staff determined the Red Bluff Municipal Code allows for the placement of monuments but not for the naming of alleys, public places, buildings or roadway renaming. Casas provided staff with Eureka’s policy and procedures for renaming.

“What that policy does for the city of Eureka is somebody makes a formal request to the planning department for the city and that request is taken to their city’s planning commission for consideration and approval,” Westbrook said.

Councilman Clay Parker said it was a good idea for the city to have a naming policy. He said if a person or group promises to do something in exchange for naming rights, those rights should be revoked if the promise is not kept.

Councilman JR Gonzales echoed Parker’s sentiments, adding the Chinese community has been a great influence in Red Bluff.

“I think this could be the beginning of something that could grow tremendously and honor that part of our heritage here in Red Bluff,” Gonzales said.

The council voted unanimously to create a policy.