HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR 25108: AUTHORIZING THE CEREMONIAL STREET RENAMING OF AUSTIN AVENUE FROM STATE HIGHWAY 87 (A.K.A. GULFWAY DRIVE) TO THOMAS BOULEVARD AS “REV. DR. LUTHER B. WADE WAY” �-T
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ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER - OPERATIONS
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
Date: August 16, 2026
To: The Honorable Mayor and City Council
Through: Ronald "Ron" Burton, City Manager, CPM
From: Pamela D. Langford, CPM, Assistant City Manager— Operations/
Director of Development Services
RE: P.R. NO. 25108—Ceremonial Street Naming of Austin Avenue from State
Highway 87 (A.K.A. Gulfway Drive)to Thomas Boulevard in Honor of Rev.
Dr. Luther B. Wade.
INTRODUCTION:
The Port Arthur City Council is being asked to consider the approval of Proposed
Resolution No. 25108, authorizing the ceremonial street naming of a portion of
Austin Avenue, from State Highway 87 (A.K.A. Gulfway Drive) to Thomas
Boulevard, as "Rev. Dr. Luther B. Wade Way."
This resolution is being presented as an alternative to the family's pending request
to permanently rename Austin Avenue, generally from the 300 Block through the
2000 Block, to Rev. Dr. Luther B. Wade Avenue.
The family continues to seek a permanent street renaming. Staff is not proposing the
ceremonial designation as a replacement for the family's stated preference; rather, the
ceremonial option is being presented for City Council consideration in light of the written
opposition received during the public review process for the permanent street renaming
request.
BACKGROUND:
The family of the late Rev. Dr. Luther B. Wade submitted a request to permanently
rename a portion of Austin Avenue in recognition of his ministry, civic leadership, public
service, and longstanding contributions to the City of Port Arthur.
"Remember,Ise are here to serve the Citizens of Port Arthur"
P.O. Box 1089 X Port Arthur,Texas 77641-1089 X 409.983.8101 X FAX 409.982.6743
The permanent street renaming request was processed in accordance with the City's
Street Renaming Policy adopted by Resolution No. 87-220. Staff reviewed the
application, evaluated the affected properties, prepared an impact analysis, coordinated
with City departments and utility providers, provided public notice, and presented the
matter for a public hearing before the Port Arthur City Council.
The proposed permanent renaming area includes approximately seventy-six (76)
platted tracts immediately adjacent to Austin Avenue, of which approximately fourteen
(14) developed properties containing structures are presently addressed along Austin
Avenue.
PUBLIC NOTICE AND PUBLIC HEARING:
As part of the permanent street renaming process, the City provided notice of the
request and scheduled a public hearing.
A total of one hundred sixteen (116) notices were mailed to property owners located
within a 200-foot radius of the proposed permanent street name change.
As of August 14, 2026, twenty-seven (27) notices had been returned as
undeliverable.
The Port Arthur City Council conducted a duly noticed Public Hearing on August 11,
2026, providing affected property owners, residents, and other interested persons an
opportunity to comment on the proposed permanent renaming.
During the notification and public review process, the City received one (1) written
letter of opposition from a concerned Port Arthur resident regarding the proposed
permanent street name change. The written opposition is included as part of the
administrative record associated with the request.
UTILITY AND DEPARTMENTAL NOTIFICATION:
On Wednesday, July 29, 2026, City staff forwarded a request for evaluation and
comments regarding the permanent street renaming to utility companies, City
departments, and other service entities serving the affected area, including: Entergy,
Texas Gas, Charter Cable, AT&T, City of Port Arthur Water Utilities, City of Port Arthur
Public Works, and Jefferson County Drainage District No. 7.
Each entity was requested to provide comments or objections no later than Friday,
August 7, 2026. The correspondence further advised that if no response was received
by the established deadline, the City would assume that the organization had no
comments or objections to the proposed street renaming.
The City of Port Arthur Public Works Department responded with no objection.
No comments or objections were received from the remaining utility or service entities
by the stated deadline.
"Remember,we are here to serve the Citizens of Port Arthur"
P.O. Box 1089 X Port Arthur,Texas 77641-1089 X 409.983.8101 X FAX 409.982.6743
PERMANENT STREET RENAMING IMPACT:
The permanent renaming of Austin Avenue would officially replace the existing street
name within the approved limits and would require corresponding administrative and
operational changes.
Staffs impact analysis identified approximately twenty-six (26) street name signs that
would require replacement, with an estimated total municipal cost of approximately
$1,996.32, including materials, printing, and in-house labor.
Permanent renaming would also require updates and coordination involving City GIS
and addressing systems, emergency-response and 9-1-1 databases, USPS, utility and
telecommunications providers, governmental records, mapping systems, and other
service providers.
In addition, affected property owners and occupants could be required to update mailing
addresses, identification records, financial and insurance records, utility accounts,
business records, licenses, legal documents, delivery information, and other records
associated with their Austin Avenue addresses.
CEREMONIAL STREET NAMING ALTERNATIVE:
In light of the opposition encountered during the permanent renaming process, the staff
is providing the City Council with a ceremonial street-naming alternative for
consideration.
Pursuant to the City's ceremonial street naming policy, a ceremonial designation allows
the City to honor an individual while retaining the roadway's official name. Under this
alternative, Austin Avenue would remain the official and legal street name, and
existing property addresses would not be changed.
The proposed resolution would ceremonially designate the portion of Austin Avenue
from State Highway 87 (A.K.A. Gulfway Drive) to Thomas Boulevard as "REV. DR.
LUTHER B. WADE WAY."
The ceremonial designation would be reflected through appropriately designed
honorary street signs while preserving Austin Avenue for addressing, emergency
response, postal delivery, utility service, legal descriptions, GIS, navigation, and other
official purposes.
STAFF RECOMMENDED CEREMONIAL LIMITS:
Should the City Council determine that a ceremonial designation is preferable to the
requested permanent street renaming, Staff recommends that the ceremonial
designation be limited to Austin Avenue between State Highway 87 (A.K.A. Gulfway
Drive) and Thomas Boulevard.
Staff recommends these limits because they encompass the vicinity of Eastern Star
Baptist Church, the congregation Rev. Dr. Luther B. Wade pastored for twenty-nine
(29) years.
"Remember, we are here to serve the Citizens of Port Arthur"
P.O. Box 1089 X Port Arthur,Texas 77641-1089 X 409.983.8101 X FAX 409.982.6743
Limiting the ceremonial designation to this area provides a meaningful geographic
connection between Rev. Dr. Wade's legacy and the institution where he served for
decades as a pastor and community leader. It also allows the City to establish a clearly
defined honorary segment that is directly associated with his service to the community.
COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVES:
The permanent renaming option remains the Wade family's request and, if
approved, would officially change the designated portion of Austin Avenue to Rev.
Dr. Luther B. Wade Avenue. Implementation would require replacing official street
signs, updating affected addresses, updating governmental and private databases, and
coordinating with service providers.
The ceremonial naming option would honor Rev. Dr. Wade through honorary street
signage while maintaining Austin Avenue as the official street name. Existing
addresses, legal descriptions, USPS records, utility addresses, emergency-response
addressing, and official City addressing systems would remain unchanged.
The ceremonial alternative, therefore, provides the City Council with an opportunity to
recognize Rev. Dr. Wade's legacy while substantially reducing the administrative,
financial, and property-owner impacts associated with a permanent street name
change.
Budget Impact:
The City's Traffic Division has identified approximately twenty-six (26) street name
signs.
The estimated cost is as follows:
Description Estimated Cost
Materials and printing — 26 street name signs $1,495.52
Sign & Painting Technician No. 1 — 10 hours @ $25.04/hour $250.40
Sign & Painting Technician No. 2 — 10 hours @ $25.04/hour $250.40
Total Estimated Budgetary Impact $1,996.32
Installation will be performed in-house by two City Sign and Painting Technicians. The
estimated cost does not include indirect administrative staff time associated with GIS
modifications, addressing changes, database updates, public notification, or
coordination with outside agencies.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the City Council consider approving Proposed Resolution No.
25108, ceremonially naming Austin Avenue from State Highway 87 (A.K.A. Gulfway
Drive) to Thomas Boulevard as Rev. Dr. Luther B. Wade Way, based upon the
segment's proximity to Eastern Star Baptist Church and its direct historical
connection to Rev. Dr. Wade's twenty-nine years of pastoral service.
"Remember,ww e are here to serve the Citizens of Port Arthur"
P.O. Box 1089 X Port Arthur,Texas 77641-1089 X 409.983.8101 X FAX 409.982.6743
P.R. NO. 25108
08/16/2026 PDL
PAGE 1 OF 7
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CEREMONIAL STREET
RENAMING OF AUSTIN AVENUE FROM STATE HIGHWAY 87 (A.K.A.
GULFWAY DRIVE) TO THOMAS BOULEVARD AS "REV. DR. LUTHER
B. WADE WAY" IN HONOR OF THE LATE REV. DR. LUTHER B. WADE;
PROVIDING THAT THE CEREMONIAL DESIGNATION SHALL NOT
CHANGE THE OFFICIAL STREET NAME OR ADDRESSES OF
ADJACENT RESIDENCES OR BUSINESSES; AND PROVIDING FOR
THE INSTALLATION OF CEREMONIAL STREET NAME SIGNS.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 09-033, the City Council of the City of
Port Arthur adopted a ceremonial street naming policy whereby a street or streets may
also have a ceremonial name, which does not require the change of addresses of
adjacent residences or businesses and provides the City an opportunity to honor persons
or events; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 22-377, the City Council amended the
ceremonial street renaming policy to provide that the requirements of a petition and public
hearing may be waived upon approval of the City Council by a majority vote; and
WHEREAS, the family of the late Rev. Dr. Luther B. Wade initially elected to
pursue a permanent street renaming of a portion of Austin Avenue in recognition of his
distinguished legacy of ministry, civic leadership, public service, and contributions to the
citizens of Port Arthur; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the City's Street Renaming Policy, City staff
processed the permanent street renaming request, conducted the applicable staff review,
provided public notice, and presented the matter for public hearing before the Port Arthur
City Council on August 11, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.; and
WHEREAS, during the public notification and review process associated with the
proposed permanent street renaming, the City received one (1) written letter of
P.R. NO. 25108
08/16/2026 PDL
PAGE 2 OF 7
opposition from a Port Arthur resident regarding the requested permanent change;
and
WHEREAS, a permanent street renaming would result in the official replacement
of the Austin Avenue street name within the affected area and would require
corresponding changes to property addresses, governmental records, emergency-
response and 9-1-1 databases, United States Postal Service records, utility and service-
provider records, City Geographic Information Systems, maps, street signage, and other
public and private records; and
WHEREAS, in consideration of the concerns expressed during the permanent
street renaming process and the administrative and property-owner impacts associated
with permanently changing an established street name, the City Council desires to
consider a ceremonial street designation as an alternative to the permanent street
renaming request; and
WHEREAS, a ceremonial street designation provides the City an opportunity to
appropriately recognize and commemorate the life, legacy, ministry, civic leadership, and
community contributions of Rev. Dr. Luther B. Wade while preserving the official name of
Austin Avenue and avoiding the necessity of changing the addresses of adjacent
residences and businesses; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Dr. Luther B. Wade was a respected religious and civic leader
whose service and leadership had a significant and lasting impact upon the City of Port
Arthur and its citizens; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Dr. Luther B. Wade served the Port Arthur community through
decades of ministry, leadership, and public service, including his long tenure as pastor of
P.R. NO. 25108
08/16/2026 PDL
PAGE 3 OF 7
Eastern Star Baptist Church, and was recognized for his contributions to the spiritual,
civic, and social development of the community, as delineated in Exhibit "A"; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that ceremonially designating Austin Avenue
from State Highway 87, also known as Gulfway Drive, to Thomas Boulevard, as "Rev. Dr.
Luther B. Wade Way" provides an appropriate means of honoring his legacy while
maintaining Austin Avenue as the official street name for addressing, navigation,
emergency response, postal delivery, utilities, legal descriptions, and all other
governmental and private purposes; and
WHEREAS, the City Council joins the citizens of Port Arthur in commemorating
the life, service, and enduring legacy of Rev. Dr. Luther B. Wade through the ceremonial
designation of this portion of Austin Avenue.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS:
Section 1. That the facts and opinions in the preamble are true and correct.
Section 2. That the City Council hereby authorizes the ceremonial street renaming
of Austin Avenue from State Highway 87 (A.K.A. Gulfway Drive) to Thomas Boulevard,
as depicted on the map attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit "B," as: REV.
DR. LUTHER B. WADE WAY.
Section 3. That the designation authorized by this Resolution is ceremonial only.
The official and legal name of the roadway shall remain Austin Avenue, and approval of
this Resolution shall not:
A. Change the official street name of Austin Avenue;
B. Require any residence, business, property owner, or occupant to change an
existing Austin Avenue address;
P.R. NO. 25108
08/16/2026 PDL
PAGE 4 OF 7
C. Require changes to deeds, plats, easements, legal descriptions, permits,
contracts, property records, or other recorded instruments;
D. Require changes to the United States Postal Service addressing;
E. Require changes to Jefferson County Emergency Communications District (9-1-1)
addressing or emergency-response databases;
F. Require changes to utility or telecommunications service addresses;
G. Require modification of City GIS street centerlines or official addressing databases
to replace the Austin Avenue designation; or
H. Otherwise affect the legal description, ownership, access, right-of-way, or physical
configuration of Austin Avenue.
Section 4. That the City Manager, or designee, is hereby authorized to coordinate
the design, fabrication, placement, and installation of appropriate ceremonial street name
signs identifying the designated portion of Austin Avenue as "Rev. Dr. Luther B. Wade
Way.,,
Section 5. That the ceremonial signage shall be designed and installed in a
manner that clearly distinguishes the honorary designation from the official Austin Avenue
street name and shall not obstruct or create confusion with official traffic-control or street-
name signage.
Section 6. That authorization of the ceremonial designation under this Resolution
is intended as an alternative to the requested permanent renaming of Austin Avenue and
provides for recognition of Rev. Dr. Luther B. Wade without imposing address changes or
other administrative requirements upon affected property owners, residents, businesses,
governmental agencies, utilities, or service providers.
Section 7. That the City Council hereby authorizes, to the extent necessary under
Resolution No. 22-377, the waiver of any petition or additional public-hearing requirement
applicable solely to the ceremonial street designation authorized by this Resolution.
Section 8. That a copy of the caption of this Resolution be spread upon the
Minutes of the City Council.
P.R. NO. 25108
08/16/2026 PDL
PAGE 5 OF 7
READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED this day of August, A.D., 2026, at a
Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, by the following vote:
AYES:
Mayor:
Council members:
Noes:
Charlotte M. Moses, Mayor
ATTEST:
Christe Whitley Ned, TRMC, City Secretary
APPRO RM:
Roxann Pais Cotroneo, City Attorney
APPROVED FO INISTRATION:
Ronald "Ron" Burto M, City Manager
P.R. NO. 25108
08/16/2026 PDL
PAGE 6 OF 7
EXHIBIT "A"
1959 - 1987
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1959
The Associate Pastor, Rev. Elijah Williams, served as acting Pastor from February 26
until Rev. Luther B. Wade was called to pastor on June 7, 1959.
1964
Under the leadership of Rev. Wade, a sanctuary was purchased at 548 East 15th Street
on July 26th
1979
Under the leadership of Rev. L. B. Wade, a vision to build a new sanctuary was given to
the congregation.
1988
On October 30th, after 31 years of faithful service, Rev. Wade retired due to failing
health. Associates' ministers: Rev. A.P. Thomas, Rev. Joseph Crook, Sr., the late Rev.
Jesse Jones, and Rev. David Godly served faithfully until the Lord sent Rev. L.W. Scott,
Sr.
P.R. NO. 25108
08/16/2026 PDL
PAGE 7 OF 7
EXHIBIT " B "
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