17 - Changing the Name of MLK, Jr. Park to Joan Mathis Park

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Item No. 17 TO: Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem & City Council FROM: Grayson Path, City Manager SUBJECT: CHANGING THE NAME OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. PARK TO JOAN MATHIS PARK DATE: June 28, 2021 BACKGROUND: At the City Council meeting of May 24, 2021, Marcus Yates spoke during Citizens' forum, and asked that the City Council consider honoring Joan Mathis by changing the name of Johnson Street Park to Joan Mathis Park. Mr. Yates explained that Joan Mathis was a long time teacher at Paris Jr. College and had contributed much over the years to the citizens and community of Paris. Council Member Stone requested an agenda item for City Council to consider this request. City staff subsequently located Resolution 89-015 approved February 13, 1989, whereby the City Council changed the name of Johnson Park to Martin Luther King, Jr. Park (see attached Resolution 89-015). This information was relatively unknown by many in the community and those present at the May 24th City Council meeting. At the City Council meeting of June 14, 2021, City Council discussed this item including the recently discovered Resolution 89-015 whereby Johnson Park had been renamed to MLK Jr. Park, and subsequently tabled it to allow Council Member Stone to meet with her constituents. STATUS OF ISSUE: Mayor Pro Tem Reginald Hughes, Council Member Renae Stone, City Manager Grayson Path, and Public Works Director Michael Smith took part in a community meeting on Sunday, June 20, 2021 at the St. Paul Baptist Church, to discuss this topic further. Approximately 30-40 individuals attended, many of whom voiced their thoughts and ideas regarding a wide range of opportunities to honor both Martin Luther King Jr. as well as Joan Mathis. Mayor Pro Tem Hughes and Council