The City Council on Monday voted to honor and recognize the R&B group TROOP in a meaningful way, but they stopped short of voting to change the name of Dayton Street to honor the group on Monday.
The item will go to the Legislative Policy Committee next month.
The City Council voted 5-3 to oppose the staff recommendation and adopt a substitute motion. The original motion called for the City to rename Dayton Street after the group, but the Vice Mayor made a counter motion that took Dayton Street off the table on Monday and called for City staff to develop policy for renaming streets.
That motion failed 4-4, but the item eventually passed after the policy was removed and another substitute motion was put forth.
Mayor Victor Gordo, Vice Mayor Steve Madison and Councilmembers Felicia Williams, Jessica Rivas and Jason Lyon voted in favor of the replacement motion.
The proposal to rename Dayton Street could come back when City staff makes a recommendation on commemorating the group.
Troop, originally named “Five of A Kind,” was formed in Pasadena in 1984 and had three number one hits and several top 10 singles.
“We should all be proud,” said Steve Madison. “But I’m troubled that it’s the promoter that is asking us to do this. Is there a commercial aspect to this?”
The City has no policy on changing street names and uses a state policy.
That policy requires a public hearing and advance notice of the hearing. Signatures must be collected from impacted residents, since there are no residents in that section of the Dayton, signatures were not required. Local public safety departments must be notified also.
The City has a monument policy which was discussed when Eddie Van Halen died. At that time, local residents wanted to rename a street after Van Halen, but City officials said it conflicted with the policy.
That caused some confusion among City Council members on Monday.
“I think people will come to embrace a street called Total Respect for Other People [TROOP],” said Tyron Hampton, who supported renaming Dayton Street.
Supporters originally wanted to change a segment of Catalina Street to honor the group.
One of the members lived on that street, where the group practiced, to honor the group. Residents living there opposed renaming their street.
The group performed at local high school talent shows and attended Pasadena High School.
“I certainly understand the history. I do think that naming public rights and streets is different from naming a space, building or fountain,” said Mayor Victor Gordo. “It doesn’t just impact the City and one street and beyond that I think there is a distinction to be drawn.”
Despite the opposition, local residents living on Dayton Street said they do not oppose honoring the group, but urged the City Council to preserve Dayton Street.
“Our homegrown R&B phenom Troop should be recognized but not with renaming Dayton next to a historical landmark. Let’s find another location that suits the fans and the Castle Green historical interests,” said Tom McGovern.
The plan to change the street name to honor the group has faced opposition from the Castle Green Homeowners Association, among others, which argued that Dayton Street’s historic significance should be preserved.
In a letter addressed to the City Council, the Castle Green Homeowners Association emphasized the importance of Dayton Street as part of the historic landmark block that includes Castle Green and Hotel Green and its inclusion in the historic Old Pasadena landmark area.
Dayton Street is also home to Pasadena’s first firehouse, first library, and many other historically significant venues over the years, noted the Castle Green Homeowners Association.
The Castle Green Homeowners Association suggested that the City consider alternative ways to honor Troop, such as installing a plaque referencing the part of Pasadena where the group members were born, lived, or created their work.
The HOA also highlighted the City’s Public Monument Policy, which states that such citywide honors should be bestowed posthumously and only after a thorough review of their significance.
“The Castle Green’s constituency has no issue with honoring Troop or anyone else, but the standard to change a street name, particularly one as historic as Dayton, should be very high,” the Homeowners Association wrote in their letter.
Get our daily Pasadena newspaper in your email box. Free.
Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m.
