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To designate the north side of the 300 block of West Main Street in honor of the late Shawn Joseph Soares. (2nd District)
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WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, Shawn Joseph Soares was fatally injured on May 4, 2023, after being struck by a vehicle on the north side of the 300 block of West Main Street; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, Shawn Joseph Soares was born in Goa, India on March 19, 1997 to Alec and Nimmi Soares, and moved to Florida in 2005 and then to Virginia in 2010; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, Shawn Joseph Soares began a career in public service, serving in former Governor Ralph Northam’s administration as the Director of Asian American Pacific Islander Outreach and Deputy Director of Appointments, working with the late Congressman Donald McEachin as Director of Outreach, and most recently working with the Virginia Conservation Network; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to memorialize the life of Shawn Joseph Soares for his contributions to the civic life of the city of Richmond and the Commonwealth of Virginia by designating the north side of the 300 block of West Main Street in his honor; and
WHEREAS, because this designation is honorary only, the provisions of sections 8-7 through 8-10 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, do not apply to the designation made hereby or to any signs erected pursuant to this ordinance;
NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. Designation of Street Block for Honorary Name. The north side of the 300 block of West Main Street shall be designated in honor of Shawn Joseph Soares pursuant to this ordinance.
§ 2. Effect of Designation. The designation of the portion of the street made pursuant to this ordinance shall be honorary only, shall not replace the existing name of the street, and shall have no effect on the address of any property with an address on the designated street blocks. The sole effect of designation pursuant to this ordinance shall be to authorize the placement of commemorative signs in accordance with this ordinance memorializing the designation in honor of the named person.
§ 3. Administration of Ordinance. The Department of Public Works shall implement this ordinance by installing, as soon as practicable after the adoption of this ordinance, and maintaining commemorative signs in accordance with this section. The commemorative signs shall be clearly distinct from the street signs used to identify the portion of the street in question such that a reasonable person could not conclude that the commemorative signs reflect the actual name of the street. The commemorative signs (i) shall be affixed to a sign pole installed at each end of the portion of the street designated in section 1 of this ordinance for the purpose of fulfilling the requirements of this section or to any existing sign identifying the portion of the street designated in section 1 of this ordinance located at each end of the portion of the street designated in section 1 of this ordinance and (ii) shall bear the name of the person set forth in section 1 of this ordinance.
§ 4. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.