Background:
On June 7, 2017, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board approved Resolution 2017-208 (Resolution Supporting the Renaming of Lake Calhoun Within the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Regional Park to Bde Maka Ska, and Directing Staff to Circulate and Forward to the County Auditor a Petition to be Signed by at Least 15 Registered Voters of Hennepin County, Minnesota).
On August 21, 2017, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board delivered to the County Auditor a petition signed by more than 200 individuals. The petition requests Lake Calhoun be renamed “Bde Maka Ska.” The County Auditor confirmed that the petition was signed by at least 15 persons that are registered to vote, which is what Minnesota Statutes require.
On September 7, 2017, the County Auditor was served with a separate petition seeking to change the name of Lake Calhoun to “Lake Maka Ska.” The County Auditor confirmed that the petition was signed by 18 persons that are registered to vote and therefore complies with state statute.
The naming and renaming of geographic features within Minnesota is governed by chapter 83A of Minnesota Statutes. This Board Action Request sets a public hearing to take testimony on the proposed name change, directs the County Board Clerk to publish notice of the hearing, and directs the County Board Clerk to receive written comments, in addition to public testimony, which will be submitted to the County Board.
Minnesota law authorizes two separate ways for water bodies to be renamed.
First, Minnesota Statutes Sections 83A.02-.04 vest the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (“DNR”) with certain authority and duties with respect to the naming and renaming of geographic features in the state. Under Section 83A.02(3) of Minnesota Statutes, the DNR shall “in cooperation with the county boards and with their approval, change the names of lakes, streams, places, and other geographic features, with the end in view of eliminating, as far as possible, duplication of names within the state.” In addition, the DNR is required to provide written approval of any county board resolution requesting a change to the name of a water body within the county. See Minn. Stat. § 83A.04.
Second, Sections 83A.05-.07 provide a separate mechanism whereby county boards may rename water bodies within the state upon petition and with DNR approval, but does not permit this process to be used to change a named that has been in existence for more than 40 years. The DNR has advised that the procedural aspects of this second process is an appropriate method for counties to collect public input, even when the ultimate request to change a water body falls under the first process because the lake name has been in existence for more than 40 years.
The name Lake Calhoun has been in existence for more than 40 years. The DNR has informed the County in these instances that it should follow the process outlined in Minn. Stat. §§ 83A.05-.07 to gather appropriate public input for the proposed name change. The procedures include a petition to rename the lake being presented to the county auditor, the county auditor communicating this request to the county board, the county board setting a date and publishing notice of a public hearing, holding the public hearing, and ultimately consideration of a resolution requesting the DNR to change the name of the water body.
Following the public hearing on Tuesday, October 17, 2017, the department will prepare a Board Action Request to enable the board to take formal action on this request.
The County Auditor will provide legal notifications, as required by law, including the Mayor of Minneapolis and Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources.