To Poopenaut, that is the question: Rancho Cordova to change street name

City leaders in Rancho Cordova have voted to change a street name they didn't even want a city clerk to say aloud during last week's City Council meeting. 

The name of the street is Poopenaut Court, pronounced “POOP-eh-not.” When the clerk asked if they could read the name for those attending Tuesday’s City Council meeting virtually, the council firmly said, “No!”

"When this came up we were all kind of … 'there's a street named that?',” Council member Donald Terry said Tuesday.

It was named for Poopenaut Valley near Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park. City staff came up with a list of half-a-dozen alternative names and Terry said he was open to any of them.  

"Towering Rock sounds fine or Artist Point Court sounds fine,” Terry said. “I'd be fine with honestly any of the ones on this list aside from what it's named now, which I don't really want to say.”

Council members eventually voted to support Artist Point Court as a new name. Next up, the city must post a notice on the street for at least 10 days prior to a public hearing where they will formally adopt the new name. 

If accepted, the city must notify in writing all affected property owners and service providers of the change and then put up the new street signs. Street names in Sacramento County must be unique and not more than 13 characters. Artist Point has already been approved for use by the county.

No residents live on Poopenaut — a dead-end street near an electrical substation — and council members said that no one has come forward to ask for the name to remain.