Exempt certain code requirements under City Code Chapter 17.93 Renaming City Streets for the proposed renaming of a portion of SW Jackson Street to SW Rose Hill Street
The City of Portland ordains.
Section 1. The Council finds:
- On October 30, 2024, the Council unanimously passed Resolution 37682 declaring support to rename SW Jackson Street, from SW 5th Avenue to SW Park Avenue, to SW Rose Hill Street after respected Portland Native American community leader and Elder, and former Portland State University (PSU) Native American Student & Community Center (NASCC) Student Coordinator, Rose Hill.
- Rose Hill was the driving force behind the establishment of PSU's NASCC in 2003, a gathering space to empower and celebrate student success through culturally relevant programming, academic support, and inter-generational community engagement. Rose mentored and advocated for countless Native students during her 15-year tenure at the university and is highly regarded among Native alumni. The NASCC is located on SW Jackson Street, named after former U.S. President Andrew Jackson, who signed the Indian Removal Act of 1830 that led to the displacement and death of thousands of Native Americans.
- Several speakers testified in support of Resolution 37682 including Native American community leaders, Native American PSU students and staff, a Downtown Neighborhood Association representative, and Rose Hill herself.
- Due to ongoing resource constraints, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has a moratorium on processing street renaming applications. Given the unique circumstances of PSU's proposal to rename the specific portion of SW Jackson Street to SW Rose Hill, Resolution 37682 directed the Public Works Service Area to dedicate the necessary resources to process PSU's application.
- On July 11, 2025, PSU submitted part one of their application to PBOT seeking to rename SW Jackson Street to SW Rose Hill Street from SW 5th Avenue to SW Park Avenue. These three city blocks are located entirely on PSU's campus and do not represent the entire length of SW Jackson Street in Portland city limits.
- PSU's request does not conform to all of the code requirements set forth in Chapter 17.93 Renaming City Streets. This ordinance waives certain code requirements.
- Code Subsection 17.93.010.A.3 provides that City streets may only be renamed after a prominent person who has been deceased for at least five years. Because Rose Hill does not meet this criterion, this Code Subsection must be waived.
- Code Subsection 17.93.020.C provides that renaming only portions of a street is not permitted. There are non-contiguous portions of SW Jackson Street that are not proposed to be renamed. Because the applicant for this proposed street renaming is only pursuing a renaming of SW Jackson Street from SW 5th Avenue to SW Park Avenue (refer to Exhibit A), this Code Subsection must be waived.
- Code Subsection 17.93.060.A requires that the existing street name sign and new street name sign be posted and maintained for five years following approval of the street renamingunless a petition is submitted to the City Administrator from a majority of abutting property occupants requesting that the dual signage period be shortened. PSU proposes shortening this dual street name sign posting requirement to six months which is supported by City public safety and emergency service bureaus, and the U.S. Postal Service.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:
- The requirements in Code Subsection 17.93.010.A.3 are hereby waived for the proposed renaming of a portion of SW Jackson Street to SW Rose Hill Street.
- The requirements in Code Subsection 17.93.020.C are hereby waived for the proposed renaming of a portion of SW Jackson Street to SW Rose Hill Street.
- The requirements in Code Subsection 17.93.060.A are hereby waived for the proposed renaming of a portion of SW Jackson Street to SW Rose Hill Street. Instead, the existing street name sign and proposed new street name sign shall both be posted and maintained for six months following approval for the proposed renaming of a portion of SW Jackson Street to SW Rose Hill Street.
Exhibits and Attachments
An ordinance when passed by the Council shall be signed by the Auditor. It shall be carefully filed and preserved
in the custody of the Auditor (City Charter Chapter 2 Article 1 Section 2-122)
Passed by Council
Auditor of the City of Portland
Simone Rede
Impact Statement
Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information
On October 30, 2024, the Council unanimously passed Resolution 37682 declaring support to rename SW Jackson Street (from SW 5th Avenue to SW Park Avenue) to SW Rose Hill Street after respected Portland Native American community leader and Elder Rose Hill. Rose was the driving force behind the establishment of Portland State University's (PSU) Native American Student & Community Center (NASCC) in 2003, a gathering space to celebrate and empower Native PSU student success through culturally relevant programming, academic support, and community engagement. Rose mentored and advocated for countless students as a former PSU NASCC Student Coordinator, she served as the executive director for the American Indian Associations of Portland, and as a student advisor for the Portland Public Schools Title VII Indian Education Program. Rose was also a Culture Keeper at the Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest.
Due to ongoing resource constraints, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) instituted a moratorium on processing street renaming applications. Because of the unique circumstances of the proposal to rename a portion of SW Jackson Street to SW Rose Hill Street, Resolution 37682 directed the Public Works Service Area to dedicate the necessary resources to process PSU's application.
On July 11, 2025, PSU submitted part one of their application seeking this street renaming. There are certain code provisions that must be waived for this particular street renaming proposal. This ordinance proposes waiving the following code requirements:
- Code Subsection 17.93.010.A.3 provides that City streets may only be renamed after a prominent person who has been deceased for at least five years. Because Rose Hill does not meet this criterion, this Code Subsection must be waived.
- Code Subsection 17.93.020.C provides that renaming only portions of a street is not permitted. Because the applicant for this proposed street renaming is only pursuing a change to SW Jackson Street to SW Rose Hill Street from SW 5th Avenue to SW Park Avenue (refer to Exhibit A) and not the entire length of SW Jackson Street in Portland city limits, this Code Subsection must be waived.
- Code Subsection 17.93.060.A requires that the existing street name sign and proposed new street name sign both be posted and maintained for five years following approval of the street renamingunless a petition is submitted to the City Administrator from a majority of abutting property occupants requesting that the dual signage period be shortened. PSU proposes shortening this dual street name sign posting requirement to six months which is supported by City public safety and emergency service bureaus, and the U.S. Postal Service. Code Subsection 17.93.060.A must be waived to accommodate this shortened time period.
Financial and Budgetary Impacts
If the street renaming is approved through future action, PBOT Maintenance staff estimate the cost for new signs and installation to be approximately $1,672.88. This cost will be covered by PSU's application fee.
Economic and Real Estate Development Impacts
Not applicable
Community Impacts and Community Involvement
The Council held a public hearing on October 30, 2024, where they heard overwhelming support for Resolution 37682 to rename SW Jackson Street on PSU's campus to SW Rose Hill Street. Speakers in support of the resolution, which passed unanimously, included Native American community leaders, Native American PSU students and staff, a representative of the Downtown Neighborhood Association, and Rose Hill herself.
PSU's Native American Student and Community Center (NASCC) is located on SW Jackson Street, a street named after former United States President Andrew Jackson who signed the Indian Removal Act of 1830 that led to the displacement of Native Americans from their ancestral homes and resulted in the death of thousands of Native Americans. Since the NASCC opened in 2003, PSU and the surrounding community have been educating people about the current street name and thus determined to replace the street name Jackson following Indigenous and traditional protocols. Through their community-driven process, Rose Hill was selected as the new proposed street name. Rose was a respected Portland Native American Elder, a Culture Keeper and former PSU NASCC Student Coordinator who mentored and advocated for countless Native PSU students.
The Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) submitted a letter endorsing the street renaming, testified in support at the public hearing for Resolution 37682, and have continued to be a partner in advancing this street renaming proposal.
Following the passage of Resolution 37682, PSU established a workgroup to complete the street renaming application. They are currently gathering signatures as required by City Code and are doing outreach to impacted property owners.
There are still several steps in the street renaming process following Council passage of this ordinance, including convening a three-person historian panel and a Planning Commission public hearing.
100% Renewable Goal
Not applicable
Economic and Real Estate Development Analysis
Analysis provided by Prosper Portland
An Economic and Real Estate Development Impact Analysis was not submitted for this proposed action. Pursuant to City Council Resolution 37664, Prosper Portland staff has reviewed the action and agree that it does not require an Economic and Real Estate Development Impact Analysis.
Document History
Document number: 2026-008
President's referral: Transportation and Infrastructure Committee