TITLE
To designate Birdwood Road in honor of retired Fire Chief Ronald C. Lewis.
BODY
WHEREAS, Ronald C. Lewis was installed as the City’s first African-American Fire Chief in 1978, a post which he held until 1995 and through which he led the modernization of what is now the City’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services and advocated for equality in hiring and promotional opportunities for minority firefighters; and
WHEREAS, Ronald C. Lewis, as Fire Chief of the City for 17 years, oversaw the rebuilding of seven fire houses, secured funding for updated firefighting equipment and advanced protective gear, launched progressive firefighter training and development programs, and introduced successful fire safety education programs to the City’s citizens, resulting in a significant yearly decline in fire-related fatalities; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to memorialize Ronald C. Lewis’ contributions to the City of Richmond by designating Birdwood Road 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 (2015), 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. Birdwood Road shall be designated in honor of Ronald C. Lewis, pursuant to this ordinance.
§ 2. Effect of Designation. The designation of Birdwood Road made pursuant to this ordinance shall be honorary only, shall not replace the existing name of the road, and shall have no effect on the address of any property with an address on the designated road. 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 road in question such that a reasonable person could not conclude that the commemorative signs reflect the actual name of the road. The commemorative signs shall be affixed to any sign identifying the road designated in section 1 of this ordinance located at each end of the road designated in section 1 of this ordinance and 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 adoptio