" 'North Salt Lake' is confusing, misleading and unattractive," says Councilwoman Lisa Watts Baskin, whose proposal will go before the City Council tonight. "It doesn't say anything about us as a community."

Baskin, who took office in January, says the issue of the city's name came into play as the council struggled with ways to attract business and balance out the tax base in what is primarily a bedroom community.

"Attracting more retail businesses is vital to our community," she says. "Let's put up a flag and rally around it. Let's shout it out to the people on the other side of the hill and everywhere that they can have 'Salt Lake' all to themselves."

This isn't the first time the idea of a name change has been bounced around. Local historians have written that the notion dates back to the 1870s, at a time when there really were orchards along the hills. Most recently, the idea failed in a 1981 vote by a slim margin.

Now, the idea strikes some residents as something of an oxymoron.

"It's seems like false advertising, or like they are trying too hard to be something they are not," says Kevin Dillon, who is living in a relative's spacious home on the city's pricey east bench while they are away on a church mission. "I've loved living here because it's close to things I want in Salt Lake City."

Even Baskin, who has lived in the city since 1988, agrees that there are "only pockets of orchards" left in the city.

"That is because this is way overdue," she says. "This is the fairest name I could think of. It predates all of us, the cattle ranchers, the refineries, all of the development."

Her biggest challenge might be winning over of city employees who say changing every map and document on record is going to be too costly.

"This affects too many people not to have the public vote on it," says City Recorder LaRae Dillingham, who has lived in North Salt Lake for 55 years and worked in the city offices for 12.

Since the last attempt to change the name, new state laws allow city legislative bodies, such as city councils, to approve a name change. Residents who object would then have to get a petition to put it on the ballot.

"At this point, this may be the best way to get it to a point where people can vote on it," says Councilman Matt Hardy, who said he was voting for the measure.

Baskin says if people don't like the name she has chosen, she is also open to other suggestions.

"If someone thinks calling it Orchard Hills only represents the east half of the city, then call it Orchard City, I can easily amend it," she says. "For instance, I think Lakeview is very pretty, and no matter where you are in the city, you can see the [Great Salt] Lake."

lorib@sltrib.com

North Salt Lake

* Incorporated Oct. 4, 1946

* Population: 10,500

* The city was named after a railroad station that originally served some refineries and other industries north of Salt Lake City. Previous proposals to change the name to Orchard City and Orchard Hills were defeated by public vote in the 1960s and 1980s. State laws now only allow city and town councils to approve a name change.