St. Paul City Council Member Anika Bowie announced the city’s first honoree under a newly restored practice of honorary street co-naming during a performance by Stokley at the Selby Avenue JazzFest on Saturday, Sept. 12: Elder Emeritus Professor Mahmoud El-Kati, a historian who has spent more than 60 years teaching the city about itself.
The announcement followed a 6-1 City Council vote Sept. 9 to restore honorary street co-naming, a practice the council had discontinued in 2017 “until further notice” over concerns that honorary street signs could confuse emergency responders, and to approve the designation honoring El-Kati. Council Member Saura Jost cast the lone opposing vote. The council had discontinued the co-naming practice in 2017 “until further notice,” citing concerns that honorary street signs could confuse emergency responders.
Council Member Anika Bowie sponsored both measures, leading the policy effort to restore co-naming and the resolution honoring El-Kati. Before bringing the resolution forward, Bowie said she checked directly with the police chief, fire chief and the director of public works, and none of the departments could produce records identifying emergency response incidents that had led to the 2017 discontinuation.
Rather than simply reinstating the old process, Bowie’s measure directs the council to modernize it, establishing clear standards for future co-naming requests, including eligibility, community support, geographic connection, application and review procedures, signage, public safety considerations and funding. That work will be taken up through the council’s policy committee, with Deputy Chief Hallstrom of the St. Paul Police Department and Assistant City Engineer Randy Newton on hand Sept. 9 to answer questions…