A Pocatello advisory committee working to rename a street near Idaho State University has narrowed its list of candidates to two finalists, with a vote scheduled for early July to determine which name it will formally recommend.
The Street Renaming Ad Hoc Committee is focused on finding a replacement name for Cesar Chavez Avenue. After reviewing candidates, the group settled on two options with deep local roots: Paz Avenue and Gutierrez Avenue, each honoring a prominent figure from Pocatello’s Hispanic community.
The Two Finalists
Paz Avenue would pay tribute to Art Paz, a longtime Pocatello businessman who arrived in the area as a migrant farmworker and went on to become one of the city’s first licensed hairstylists. Paz built a career and life in Pocatello before his death in 2015, and supporters of the name see his story as emblematic of hard work and community contribution.
Gutierrez Avenue would honor retired Judge Sergio Gutierrez, whose life story is equally compelling. Gutierrez immigrated from Mexico as a young child, later earned his GED and went on to obtain a law degree. In 1993, Governor Cecil Andrus appointed him as Idaho’s first Hispanic judge — a historic milestone for the state. Governor Dirk Kempthorne then elevated him to the Idaho Court of Appeals in 1999, where he served until retiring in 2018.
Both names represent individuals who overcame significant obstacles and achieved distinction in Pocatello and across Idaho, giving the committee two strong but distinct options as it moves toward a final recommendation.
What Happens Next
The committee is scheduled to cast its deciding vote on Monday, July 6, at 6:15 p.m. Whichever name receives the recommendation will then be presented to the full Pocatello City Council during a work session on August 13. The formal vote on the new street name is expected to take place at the council’s regular meeting on August 20.
Residents interested in the outcome have several opportunities to weigh in before a final decision is made. The committee’s July 6 meeting offers the most immediate avenue for public input ahead of the council process. Community members following other recent Pocatello city decisions will recognize this as part of a broader effort by local officials to balance community identity with practical governance.
The renaming process has moved methodically, with the ad hoc committee serving as a deliberate buffer between public discussion and formal legislative action. City leaders appear committed to ensuring the final name reflects genuine community significance rather than a hasty choice.
Both Art Paz and Sergio Gutierrez represent chapters of Pocatello’s history that many residents may not know well. Whichever name the council ultimately adopts, the renaming effort has already succeeded in bringing two remarkable local legacies into broader public view. The August 20 City Council meeting will mark the conclusion of a process that began with a contentious name and ends with a choice between two figures who made lasting contributions to southeast Idaho.