The group plans to launch a public survey this month to gather community feedback before finalizing a suggestion, he said.
The discussion comes in the wake of sexual abuse allegations against Chavez and a national reckoning with his legacy. Chavez, who died in 1993, has been accused of grooming and sexually abusing women and girls as young as 12.
Bazaldua is one of six council members who in March pushed for the city to consider renaming the street, which has carried Chavez’s name since 2010.
Those council members also urged the city to consider removing all references to Chavez from the city calendar and instead honor civil rights icon Dolores Huerta, who is among those who have accused Chavez of sexual abuse.
“Because of the dynamic of what has occurred, we don’t believe it would be right to just take his name off and slap her name on,” Bazaldua said. “It could potentially be a slap in the face to her. We’re thinking of new names that speak more to the movement rather than one individual.”
As of Friday, no formal application to rename Cesar Chavez Boulevard has been submitted to the city, according to the Planning and Development Department.
Once an application is filed, nearby residents must be notified, and the proposal will go through review by the City Plan Commission before reaching the council for a vote. Bazaldua hopes the council can discuss the renaming during the summer.