ORDINANCE O-2019-10

AN ORDINANCE CHANGING THE NAME OF SANTA RITA DRIVE TO LARRY VALDEZ WAY AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE

WHEREAS, in 2018 the family of Larry Valdez approached the with a proposal to rename Santa Rita Drive (which is the Colorado Department of Transportation road that connects Colorado HWY 3 with South Camino del Rio) to Larry Valdez Way; and

WHEREAS, Larry Valdez, a native, grew up in the area known as Santa Rita which is now home to the Santa Rita Water Reclamation facility and Santa Rita Park; and

WHEREAS, Larry Valdez was an Army veteran who served in Vietnam and was awarded 3 Bronze Stars for his heroism in a combat zone and also awarded a Silver Star for his gallantry in action; and

WHEREAS, City Council wishes to acknowledge Larry Valdez for his selfless service; and

WHEREAS, it is within the City Council’s authority to change the names of streets where it is deemed necessary or desired; and

WHEREAS, the Valdez family has raised the money needed to fabricate the new signage to designate Larry Valdez Way.

WHEREAS, The Colorado Department of Transportation has expressed support for the renaming proposal and will install the signs following the adoption of this ordinance; and

WHEREAS; a public hearing has heretofore been held before the City Council of the City of Durango, and the Council has determined, subsequent to said public hearing, that renaming Santa Rita Drive to Larry Valdez Way is in the best interest of the citizens of the City of Durango and recognizes the contributions of Larry Valdez to the City of Durango, the State of Colorado and the ; and

NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY OF DURANGO HEREBY ORDAINS:

Section 1. That City Council of the City of Durango approves changing the name of Santa Rita Drive to Larry Valdez Way.

Section 2. This ordinance shall become effective ten (10) days after its passage and final publication as provided by law.

1 CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DURANGO Attest:

______City Clerk Mayor

STATE OF COLORADO ) ) ss. COUNTY OF LA PLATA )

I, Amy Phillips, City Clerk of the City of Durango, La Plata County, Colorado, do hereby certify that Ordinance No. O-2019-10 was regularly introduced and read at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Durango, Colorado on the 2nd day of April, 2019, and was ordered published in accordance with the terms and conditions of the statutes in such cases made and provided, in the Durango Herald, a newspaper of general circulation, on the 6th day of April, 2019, prior to its final consideration by the City Council.

______City Clerk

I further certify that said Ordinance No. O-2019-10 was duly adopted by the Council on the 16th day of April, 2019, and that in accordance with instructions received from the Durango City Council, said ordinance was published by title only in the Durango Herald on the 20 th day of April, 2019.

______City Clerk

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