Staff is seeking Council direction.

Louis Agassiz was a Harvard zoology professor who conducted studies to try to scientifically prove a theory of racial superiority of certain groups. He was also part of fossil study that crossed Northern Arizona in the late 1800s and subsequently, Agassiz Peak was named after him. The purpose of this agenda item is to obtain Council direction on the potential re-naming of things named after Agassiz. 

Louis Agassiz conducted studies to scientifically prove the theory of polygenism, a belief that “races” of people could be ranked by levels of development, with white Europeans being at the top level of development and African people being at the bottom. Polygenism was used by proponents of slavery to justify enslaving people who they sought to prove were genetically inferior. Agassiz also participated in a fossil study that traveled through the Northern Arizona area and subsequently, Agassiz peak was named after him.
 
The Agassiz name appears frequently in Flagstaff and the surrounding area. While Agassiz Peak and Agassiz Lodge/ lift at Snowbowl are outside of the City’s jurisdiction, Agassiz street is a prominent street in the downtown and Southside areas which Council has the authority to rename.
 
The renaming process contains numerous steps and impacts multiple stakeholders, including property and business owners, City residents, emergency response services, Coconino County and the US Postal Service. Renaming Agassiz street would also include costs, such as new street signs, map updating and reprinting, potential compensation for affected property and business owners, advertisement of the new name and staff time.