Transmittal - 8/23/2021
ERIN MENDENHALL
Mayor
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
P.O. BOX 145474
451 SOUTH STATE STREET, ROOM 306
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84114-5474
WWW.SLCMAYOR.COM
TEL 801-535-7704
CITY COUNCIL TRANSMITTAL
______________________________ Date Received:
Lisa Shaffer, Chief Administrative Officer
Date Sent to Council:
TO: Salt Lake City Council DATE: July 19, 2021
Amy Fowler, Chair
FROM: Rachel Otto, Chief of Staff
SUBJECT: Honorary Street Name “France Davis Way”
STAFF CONTACTS: Rachel Otto, Chief of Staff, Rachel.otto@slcgov.com
Hailey Leek, Special Projects & Equity Coordinator,
hailey.leek@slcgov.com
DOCUMENT TYPE: Information Item
RECOMMENDATION: The congregation of the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church along with the
Office of the Mayor proposes adding the honorary street name “France Davis Way” on the block of 1050 S
between State Street and Main Street, south of Calvary Baptist Church. This honorary street name would
recognize Reverend France A. Davis, who served as the Pastor of Calvary Missionary Baptist Churc h, a
predominately African American congregation, for over forty years.
BUDGET IMPACT: Estimated minimum of $506.00 will be needed.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION: Reverend France A. Davis, a native of Georgia, has resided in the
state of Utah since 1972. He earned a Master’s degree in Communications from the University of Utah,
Master of Ministry Degree from The Nazarene University Nampa , Idaho, and for over forty years served
as the Pastor of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, a predominately African American congregation. This
is especially remarkable given the fact that Calvary Baptist Church was established 122 years ago.
In addition to meeting the spiritual needs of his congregants, Reverend Davis was and still is actively
involved in community affairs, serving on numerous state and local boards, providing counsel to
community leaders, and serving as a bridge builder to the various entities that make up the community.
He is one of the Core Commission Members of the City’s Commission on Racial Equity in Policing.
Reverend Davis was an adjunct faculty member in the University of Utah’s Ethnic Studies Program and
the Honors program for more than four decades. He was awarded Emeritus Professor status at the en d of
spring semester 2014.
Lisa Shaffer (Jul 19, 2021 16:39 MDT)
07/19/2021
07/19/2021
ERIN MENDENHALL
Mayor
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
P.O. BOX 145474
451 SOUTH STATE STREET, ROOM 306
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84114-5474
WWW.SLCMAYOR.COM
TEL 801-535-7704
Included among the many awards given to Reverend Davis over the years is the Utah Humanities
Council’s Governors Award for contributions in the Humanities, the Days of ’47 Committee’s Pioneers of
Progress Award, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters and Degrees from Salt Lake Community College,
Dixie State University and the University of Utah, Honorary Degrees from the University Utah, Southern
Utah University, UVU, Dixie, Weber and Snow College.
Reverend Davis has also contributed to the community as a Member of the Board of Corrections and later
Chairman. Reverend Davis served as a member of the Utah State Board of Regents for 10 years serving as
Vice Chair the last year of his tenure, Founding Chair of UOIC (Utah Opportunities Indu strialization
Training Center).
In recognition of his dedicated service to humanity and his ongoing work as an educator, social justice
advocate, and religious leader in the state of Utah, the Pastor France A. Davis Scholarship was established
to aid deserving Utah students pursue their educational goals.
In the tradition of ministerial leaders such as Benjamin Mays, Howard Thurman , and Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., Pastor Davis has been actively involved in the in the quest for social justice for all of hum ankind.
Although Pastor Davis wears many hats and is well recognized in the community, he has always striven to
further improve his knowledge and skills in human relationships and providing guidance for others.
See Addendum A “Memorandum” dated July 6, 2021
ERIN MENDENHALL
Mayor
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
P.O. BOX 145474
451 SOUTH STATE STREET, ROOM 306
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84114-5474
WWW.SLCMAYOR.COM
TEL 801-535-7704
ADDENDUM A
ERIN MENDENHALL
Mayor
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
P.O. BOX 145474
451 SOUTH STATE STREET, ROOM 306
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84114-5474
WWW.SLCMAYOR.COM
TEL 801-535-7704
Memorandum
To: Salt Lake City Council
From:
Date: July 6, 2021
Re: France Davis Way
ISSUE AT-A-GLANCE
The congregation of the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church along with the Office of the Mayor proposes
adding the honorary street name “France Davis Way” on the block of 1050 S between State Street and
Main Street, south of Calvary Baptist Church. This honorary street name would recognize Reverend
France A. Davis, who served as the Pastor of Calvary Missionary Baptist Churc h, a predominately African
American congregation, for over forty years.
There are currently several City streets with honorary names (e.g., Martin Luther King, Jr. (600 South),
Cesar Chavez (500 South), Rosa Parks (200 East), John Stockton (300 West – a state road), Karl Malone
(100 South, and Harvey Milk Boulevard (900 South between 1100 East and 900 West)).
City crews would produce and install street signs in the impacted area, and the Mayor’s Office will notify
the surrounding businesses and residents of the proposed honorary street name .
Criteria for consideration of honorary naming
• Whether an individual is a city, state or nationally recognized person who has improved the
quality of life for the public.
• A significant historic feature or event.
• An individual or group who has made exceptional contributions to the city.
The City Attorney’s Office reported the C ity has considerable latitude on how to process honorary street
renaming petitions since they are not addressed in Salt Lake City Code. It was suggested the Council and
the Mayor’s Office follow steps in previous street renamings in order to be consistent.
Cost of signs
Administrative Staff provided information on the cost of street signs.
• Large signs 48” x 24” arterial signs $109.00/each
o signs on mast arms in larger intersections
• Since the City shop produces signs one at a time by cutting the lettering and applying them in
layers there is no economy of scale.
ERIN MENDENHALL
Mayor
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
P.O. BOX 145474
451 SOUTH STATE STREET, ROOM 306
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84114-5474
WWW.SLCMAYOR.COM
TEL 801-535-7704
• City Engineering stated there will need to be 2 large signs for the proposed area. Installation costs
are estimated to be $70 for a total cost of $288.00.
France Davis Background
Reverend France A. Davis, a native of Georgia, has resided in the state of Utah since 1972. He earned a
Master’s degree in Communications from the University of Utah, Master of Ministry Degree from The
Nazarene University Nampa, Idaho, and for over forty years served as the Pastor of Calvary Missionary
Baptist Church, a predominately African American congregation. This is especially remarkable given the
fact that Calvary Baptist Church was established 122 years ago.
In addition to meeting the spiritual needs of his congregants, Reverend Davis was and still is actively
involved in community affairs, serving on numerous state and local boards, providing counsel to
community leaders, and serving as a bridge builder to the various entities that make up the community.
He is one of the Core Commission Members of the City’s Commission on Racial Equity in Policing.
Reverend Davis was an adjunct faculty member in the University of Utah’s Ethnic Studies Program and
the Honors program for more than four decades. He was awarded Emeritus Professor status at the en d of
spring semester 2014.
Included among the many awards given to Reverend Davis over the years is the Utah Humanities
Council’s Governors Award for contributions in the Humanities, the Days of ’47 Committee’s Pioneers of
Progress Award, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters and Degrees from Salt Lake Community College,
Dixie State University and the University of Utah, Honorary Degrees from the University Utah, Southern
Utah University, UVU, Dixie, Weber and Snow College.
Reverend Davis has also contributed to the community as a Member of the Board of Corrections and later
Chairman. Reverend Davis served as a member of the Utah State Board of Regents for 10 years serving as
Vice Chair the last year of his tenure, Founding Chair of UOIC (Utah Opportunities Indu strialization
Training Center).
In recognition of his dedicated service to humanity and his ongoing work as an educator, social justice
advocate, and religious leader in the state of Utah, the Pastor France A. Davis Scholarship was established
to aid deserving Utah students pursue their educational goals.
In the tradition of ministerial leaders such as Benjamin Mays, Howard Thurman , and Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., Pastor Davis has been actively involved in the in the quest for social justice for all of hum ankind.
Although Pastor Davis wears many hats and is well recognized in the community, he has always striven to
further improve his knowledge and skills in human relationships and providing guidance for others.