STATE OF LOUISIANA
PARISH OF WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
ORDINANCE No. 09-500
Introduced on August 24, 2009
Introduced by Councilman
Johnson
Public Hearing held on September 14, 2009
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND RESTATING ORDINANCE NO. 06-377 ENTITLED "AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE WASHINGTON PARISH COMMUNICATIONS DISTRICT TO IDENTIFY ALL STREETS, ROADS, HIGHWAYS AND DWELLING PLACES IN THE DISTRICT WHICH ARE NOT OTHERWISE DESIGNATED BY NAME AND NUMBER AND TO CHANGE EXISTING NAMES WHERE NECESSARY DUE TO DUPLICATION, ALL IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF THE WASHINGTON PARISH COMMUNICATIONS DISTRICT"
WHEREAS, the Washington Parish Government by Ordinance adopted on February 27, 2006 being Ordinance No. 06-377, provided the procedure for identification of streets, roads, highways, dwellings and other structures through the Washington Parish Communications District as required and authorized by La. R.S. 33:9103, et seq.; and
WHEREAS, in the interest of public health, safety and welfare, the need exists for revisions in this procedure to be followed by the Washington Parish Communications District and the Washington Parish Government;
THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED THAT Ordinance No. 06-377, entitled, AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE WASHINGTON PARISH COMMUNICATIONS DISTRICT TO IDENTIFY ALL STREETS, ROADS, HIGHWAYS AND DWELLING PLACES IN THE DISTRICT WHICH ARE NOT OTHERWISE DESIGNATED BY NAME AND NUMBER AND TO CHANGE EXISTING NAMES WHERE NECESSARY DUE TO DUPLICATION, ALL IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF THE WASHINGTON PARISH COMMUNICATIONS DISTRICT” is hereby amended and restated as follows, to-wit:
SECTION 1. Authority.
A. The Washington Parish Communications District shall be authorized to provide the appropriate five-digit number to applicants requesting a new address within Washington Parish.
B. Where appropriate, the Washington Parish Communications District shall approve a name for any street, road, highway or dwelling place not otherwise named.
C. When appropriate, the Washington Parish Communications District shall provide a name for any street, road, highway or dwelling place not otherwise named.
D. When necessary, the Washington Parish Communications District shall change an existing road name or numerical address.
E. For the purpose of definition, the word “necessary” in Section 1, Paragraph D, as related to road name changes refers to changes which relate to one of the following conditions being present:
a. The existing road name duplicates or is deceptively similar to an existing road name and is therefore confusing to emergency responders.
b. The existing road name may be deemed offensive, vulgar or derogatory to the public.
c. The existing road name is difficult to pronounce and therefore may be misunderstood by public safety dispatchers.
d. The existing road name is geographically misleading.
e. A municipal annexation has crated a road name conflict.
f. The existing road name was issued or is being used in error or contains errors in spelling.
g. Public health and safety is at risk due to the inherent nature of the name.
SECTION 2. Address required for each location.
A. Every applicant for a new address must provide to the Washington Parish Communications District a road name or propose a name for any un-named street, road, highway or dwelling place not otherwise named.
B. The property to be addressed must be contiguous to an existing named road to be addressed to that named road. Any driveway, right-of-way, or servitude that passes over an existing addressed property must be named as provided under Section 3, below.
SECTION 3. Method to provide road names.
A. It shall be the practice of the Washington Parish Communications District to approve a new road name requested by an applicant, provided:
a. The road name does not duplicate nor is deceptively similar to an existing road name and could therefore be confusing to emergency responders.
b. The road name is not deemed offensive, vulgar or derogatory to the public.
c. The road name is not difficult to pronounce or spell and therefore may be misunderstood by public safety dispatchers.
d. The road name is not geographically misleading.
e. The road name does not replace a previous honorary designation.
f. Public health and safety is not placed at risk due to the inherent nature of the name.
B. Where multiple dwellings are located on an un-named road, the Washington Parish Communications District will seek a consensus from those affected residents located on such road. Should affected residents located on such road not agree within thirty (30) days after request, the Washington Parish Communications District shall provide a name by which to address the affected locations.
C. Where a current address is located on an extension of an existing named road, the word “extension” may be added to the address in order to differentiate the roads, or the Washington Parish Communications District may, at its determination, provide a new name by either means designated under Section 2 B.
SECTION 4. Application.
A. Any person seeking a new address shall request the same at the offices of the Washington Parish Communications District.
B. The applicant will provide a legal description, map or plat to identify the proposed new address.
C. There shall be no fee for application for a new address. However, the Washington Parish Communications District reserves the right to set an appropriate fee should costs to the District for this service require such in the future.
SECTION 5. Special
provisions.
A. The Washington Parish Communications District, by exercising the authority granted under this ordinance, shall not be deemed as having created or established new streets, roads, highways or dwelling places within Washington Parish; and further, any action taken by the Washington Parish Communications District with respect to the naming of streets, roads, highways or dwelling places shall not be deemed as granting any status with regards to road maintenance by the Washington Parish Government.
B. In general, public requests for changes of names for existing named roads shall not be granted in order to avoid potential confusion with the Emergency Response System. However, the Washington Parish Government grants the authority to make publicly requested road name changes to the Washington Parish Communications District. Road name changes may only be granted by the Washington Parish Communications District if one of the following criteria is met and if public health, safety and welfare will be maintained by the change:
a. The existing road name duplicates or is deceptively similar to an existing road name and is therefore be confusing to emergency responders.
b. The road name may be deemed offensive, vulgar or derogatory to the public.
c. The road name is difficult to pronounce and therefore may be misunderstood by public safety dispatchers.
d. The road name is geographically misleading.
e. The existing road name is to be changed to that which will honor a deceased, publicly known figure who has made a significant contribution to the community and does not replace a previous honorary designation.
f. A municipal annexation has created a road name conflict.
g. The existing road name was issued or is being used in error or contains errors in spelling.
C. Following a review and determination of road name changes as described in Section 5, Paragraph B, the Washington Parish Government will consider appeals of the Washington Parish Communications District’s decisions during the month of January of each year. In such event, the Washington Parish Council may uphold, reverse or modify any decision of the Washington Parish Communications District. The Washington Parish Council can only reverse or modify a decision of the Washington Parish Communications District involving naming of roads or changing the names of roads, if the Washington Parish Council finds the decision of the Washington Parish Communications District was erroneous, arbitrary or capricious.
The above and foregoing having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereupon resulted as follows:
YEAS: ____________
NAYS: ____________
ABSENT: __________
ABSTAINED: ____________
The ordinance was declared adopted on the _____________day of ___________, 2009.
By: ____________________________
Dr. Charles A. Nassauer, Chairman
Delivered to the Parish President on the ________________of ______________, 2009.
By: ________________________________
Richard N. Thomas, Jr., President
Returned to the Clerk of the Parish Council on the ________ day of ____________, 2009.
ATTEST:
____________________________
Sharon Lyons, Clerk to the Council