Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names- Governing Documentation, Policies, and Procedures

Research Staff conducts comprehensive background research on each proposal, which includes:

• Downloading maps of the feature, to ensure accurate geographic location.
• Reviewing the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) national database, to check for other Arizona features with the same or similar name that may lead to conflict or confusion.
• Researching the history of the feature and the proposed name, to ensure a strong connection between the feature and the proposed name.

Applicants are not expected to provide additional information beyond what is requested in the application, but applicants may provide as much information as they would like.

Once Research Support staff has completed basic research on a proposal, the proposal is added to the Docket Review List.

The Docket Review List is a document that lists all the proposals that will be on the agenda for consideration by the Board at the next meeting.

The Docket Review List also provides details about each proposal, including the category (e.g. new name, rename, road designation), feature location, and the proponent's justification for the name.

The Docket Review List is posted on the Board's website monthly. The Docket Review List is updated as new proposals are received and when the Board votes to approve or reject proposals. Deferred proposals remain on the Docket Review List until the Board votes to approve or reject the proposal.

Please note that if a proposal is not listed on the latest Docket Review List, it will not be on the agenda at the next Board meeting. However, Research Support staff is still researching the proposal to get it listed on a Docket Review List as soon as possible.

The Docket Review List is sent to specific community stakeholders for their response, commentary, and recommendation.

In accordance with A.R.S. §41-835.04(B)(2), the Board must "give appropriate notice to persons and groups that are affected by the proposal or might have an interest in it.”

At minimum, Research Support staff sends a Docket Review List to the following stakeholders:

• All 22 federally recognized Native American Tribes in Arizona
• The Intertribal Council of Arizona
• The Board of Supervisors of each county the feature is located in
• The Arizona State Land Department
• The Arizona Department of Transportation, for all name proposals involving roads, highways, freeways, expressways, etc. 
• The Mayor’s Office and City Council of each city the feature is located in
• The Mayor’s Office and Town Council of each town the feature is located in
• Owner(s) of the parcel of land the feature is located on
• Any businesses that may be affected by the approval of a name or designation 
• Private and public organizations that may be affected by the approval of a name or designation
• For commemorative name proposals, family members or the estate of the person commemorated 
• Any additional parties deemed appropriate to the proposal
• The general public is informed of the dockets through Docket Review Lists posted on the Board's website.

The Board follows strict consultation periods to ensure that stakeholders have sufficient time to review proposals that may affect their community. Since the naming process is collaborative and involves coordination with local, municipal, county, federal, and Tribal governments, consultation periods vary depending on where the geographic or historical feature is located and who has jurisdiction. In many cases, the feature is located on land with multiple jurisdictions.

Please keep the following consultation periods in mind as the proposal makes its way through the naming process.

All Proposals: 60 calendar day consultation period for all identified stakeholders, beginning on the day Research Support Staff notifies stakeholders and publicly posts the Docket Review List in which the proposal first appears. For example, if the proposal first appears on a Docket Review List posted January 1, 2024 the 60 day consultation period ends on March 1, 2024.

Proposals Involving Federal Land: 120 calendar day Tribal consultation period, beginning on the day the Tribes are notified by the respective federal agency. For example, if the 120 day consultation period begins on January 1, 2024, the 120 day consultation period ends on April 30, 2024.

Please note that these are minimum consultation periods. It may take longer for the Board to receive a response from a stakeholder, which may delay a Board vote on the proposal.

The end of the consultation period does not mean that no more responses will be accepted after that date. The end of a consultation period means that the proposal becomes eligible to be placed on the agenda for the next Board meeting because it has satisfied the minimum period that stakeholders are allowed to provide a response.

Responses are also accepted at any time after the end of the consultation, but before the Board votes to either approve or reject a proposal at a meeting. If the Board defers a proposal, responses will still be accepted until the Board votes to approve or reject the proposal.

Anyone can submit feedback or comments to the Board about any proposal.

The preferred method for submitting feedback is the Proposed Name Response Form. This form allows stakeholders to comment on a name proposal with options to support, oppose, or register no comment or concerns. Stakeholders can also upload any supporting documentation such as resolutions or petitions.

Feedback can also be sent via email to aznames@azlibrary.gov or by mail to:

Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names
Research Support Staff
1901 W Madison
Phoenix, AZ 85009

Feedback submitted by email or mail will be entered into the Proposed Name Response Form by Research Support staff for consistency and reporting purposes.

All feedback will be presented to the Board at the meeting in which the proposal is on the agenda for consideration.