AN ORDINANCE BY COUNCILMEMBER IVORY LEE YOUNG JR., AUTHORIZING THE RENAMING OF MOREHOUSE DRIVE, N. W. FROM MORRIS BROWN AVENUE TO SPELLMAN STREET TO REVEREND R.B. SUTTON PLACE BY AND THROUGH ACTIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS OR HIS DESIGNEE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

(Held 4/26/16) (Held for a Public Hearing)

WHEREAS, an application by the  Dixie Hills First Baptist Church (the "Applicant") will be filed with the Commissioner of the  Department of Public Works (the "Application") requesting that Morehouse Drive, N.W from Morris Brown Avenue to Spellman Street be renamed to Reverend R.B. Sutton Place in honor of the religious leader of Dixie Hills First Baptist Church, Reverend. R.B. Sutton (the "Honoree"); and

WHEREAS, Section 138-8 of the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances requires that living honorees must have  reached the  age of 75  at the  time  of the Application; and

WHEREAS, Section 138-8 of the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances requires that the Application meet certain criteria, such as including the signatures of 75%  of the  residents residing on  the  street to which the  street renaming applies, before it can be further processed; and

WHEREAS, the  Application will be submitted with  signatures of residents residing on the street to which the street renaming applies and purports to meet the 75% requirement; and

WHEREAS, the  Commissioner of the  Department of Public Works  or  his designee (the "Commissioner'') must verify the validity of the petition and its accompanying signatures and must fulfill the remaining requirements of Code Section 138-8, including but not limited to notifications to the Atlanta Police and              Fire  Rescue Departments, Neighborhood Planning Units, and other affected public agencies; and

WHEREAS, the  Commissioner and other City agencies must ensure the Application is complete and  that all conditions of Section 138-8 have  been satisfied by the Applicant where such actions are required to be taken by the Applicant; and

WHEREAS, the authority of the City and its governing body to rename streets has been tested in Goodman v. City of Atlanta, 246 Ga. 79 (1980) and found to be within the authority granted to the City under its Charter;

NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Atlanta Georgia, hereby ordains as follows:

Section 1:    That Morehouse Drive,  N.W.   from  Morris  Brown  Avenue to Spellman Street, be renamed to Reverend R.B Sutton Place upon a finding by the Commissioner of the Department of Public Works or his designee that the Application fully meets the requirements of City Code Section 138-8.

Section 2:  That the Office of Transportation and other City agencies be and are  authorized to  ensure that the  Application is  complete and that all conditions of Section 138-8 have been satisfied by the Applicant where such actions are required to be taken by the Applicant.

Section 3:  That the Office of Transportation and other City agencies be and are authorized to make such notifications of the passage of this Ordinance as required by City Code Section 138-8 or as otherwise necessary to implement the renaming of Morehouse Drive, N.W. from Morris Brown Avenue to Spellman Street, to Reverend R.B. Sutton Place.

Section 4:  That the Office of Transportation and other City agencies be and are  authorized to take  such steps as are  required by Section 138-8 or as otherwise necessary to implement the renaming Morehouse Drive, N.W., to Reverend R.B. Sutton Place.

Section 5:    That this Ordinance will become effective  upon the  Mayor's signature or as specified by City Charter Section 2-403.