Title
Discuss the Renaming of Throckmorton Street and Throckmorton Place
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Operational Excellence
(2E. Continuously Provide a High Level of Customer Service to our Citizens)
MEETING DATE: June 15, 2021
DEPARTMENT: Development Services/ Engineering
CONTACT: Robyn Root, P.E., P.T.O.E., Traffic Engineer
Tonya Fallis, GIS Analyst, Public Safety Addressing Coordinator
Thuan Huynh, P. E., Transportation Engineering Manager
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
• Discuss and provide direction to Staff.
ITEM SUMMARY:
• Discuss the possible renaming of Throckmorton Street which extends from US 380 to Greenville Road and Throckmorton Place which extends from Center Street to Broad Street.
• Throckmorton Street renaming was identified by the Throckmorton Statue Advisory Board as an item for further discussion.
§ The renaming of Throckmorton Street has also come up in recent conversations during Council meetings and in the EMPOC stakeholder group meetings.
• Street renaming can be beneficial, but also requires a lengthy process and time and investment by impacted parties (property owners, businesses and residents).
• Staff will provide data on Throckmorton Street/Place as well as information about the process and timing.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• In order to officially change a street name of an existing roadway, an Ordinance must be approved by City Council declaring the new street name of the roadway. Street names are evaluated using the guidelines in the City of McKinney’s Street Addressing Policy. New street names must be approved by Public Safety and the GIS Department Addressing.
• After an Ordinance is approved, McKinney GIS Staff will make all the necessary changes to the McKinney mapping system ARCMAP, City Utility Billing, and the City's 911 response system.
• McKinney GIS Staff will also update its governmental partner agencies, including:
o The US Postal Service
o Collin Country Elections Department
o Collin Country GIS Department
o Collin Country Central Appraisal District
o North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG)
• There are many challenges to renaming an existing roadway that has borne its name for multiple decades.
o The high number of residences and businesses impacted.
o Use of third-party mapping systems such as Google Maps, Apple Maps, WAZE, and proprietary systems from UPS or FedEx. Please note these databases are NOT the same as the US Postal Service database and often take months (or longer) to show updates.
o Disruption in mail, package delivery, and other services such as Amazon Delivery, Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, etc.
o Possible impact on Homeowner’s or business insurance held by a business, residential, or property owner.
o Possible impact on all licenses held by a business, a resident, or a property owner.
o Property owners communicating the address change to business or residential tenants.
o Overall financial impact to the businesses, residents, and property owners.
o Potential delay with emergency services response.
• There are 40 residential homes or duplexes, 10 commercial businesses, 2 churches and 13 multi-family residences that will be impacted by a name change of Throckmorton Street and Throckmorton Place. Historically significant properties include:
o E.S. Doty High School
o Throckmorton Street Church of Christ (new building, location is over a century year old)
• City Staff would inform all property owners of a name changed but many of these businesses operate under a lease agreement with the property owner of a building. Even in residential housing, there are only 16 owner-occupied homes; the rest are under a lease agreement. Notifying all tenants, business or residential, will be critical.
• Businesses, residents and/or property owners will be responsible for updating their own address with the following. (This is not an exhaustive list!)
o DMV for ID and Driver's License
o Car registration
o Electric Company
o Gas Company
o Cable Company
o Phone company (landline and mobile)
o Gun licenses (note: Texas laws may not require licensing, but some firearm owners choose to keep licenses current for reciprocity with other states)
o Insurance, particularly homeowner's, business, and renter's insurance
o State, federal or privately issued business or personal licenses (hunting license, daycare providers, medical specialists, beauticians, etc)
o Health insurance providers
o Pension providers
o Banks, and any financial Institutions
o Government agencies, such as:
1. Social Security and SS Disability
2. Medicare, including Medicare Advantage Plans
3. Medicaid
4. Unemployment
5. Veterans Administration
6. Law enforcement
7. Any other state, county, or federal agency where an address on file is critical
• The US Postal Service (USPS) normally takes approximately four weeks to change a street name in their database. The USPS will continue to deliver mail to Throckmorton Street and Throckmorton Place for one year after a street name change. McKinney GIS Staff will communicate closely with the USPS to ensure continuity of delivery. However, it is critical that all residents, businesses, and property owners change their records to the new street name as soon as possible.
• Many package delivery services and business customers use third-party mapping systems. City Staff will not have the ability to change the name of the street from Throckmorton Street or Throckmorton Place to their new name in any of these third-party mapping systems. Those using these package delivery services may have a disruption in package delivery until the third-party mapping systems are updated.
• Any business owner would also have to update any business marking, branding, a variety of shipping information, and any business customers at their own expense.
• Staff recommends a public engagement effort to inform and seek feedback from affected parties prior to initiating the formal street renaming process.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
• Funding for the street name signage along the corridors of Throckmorton Street and Throckmorton Place would be in the Engineering operating budget.
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
• N/A