City Council
MEETING DATE: 8/26/2015
TITLE:
Title
Citywide Sign Program Update
End
FROM:
Leisa Lukes, Economic Development Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council receive the presentation and provide direction to staff.
Body
BACKGROUND:
On June 22, 2015, staff presented to the City Council several options for unifying and consolidating the city's public signs, including entryway signs, wayfaring signs and downtown directory signs. The Council directed staff to obtain input on the proposed sign designs from the Planning Commission, Public Arts Commission, and the Parks and Community Events Commission. Their input has been received and will be presented for Council consideration.
DISCUSSION:
Wayfaring signs guide pedestrian and vehicular traffic to existing businesses and other points of interest throughout the city and as a result, serve as an economic generator for the city. There are three types of public signs that, due to their quantity and strategic placement throughout Cathedral City, would produce the greatest benefit from a uniform sign program. These include the city's entryway signs, vehicular wayfaring signs, and downtown pedestrian directory signs.
City staff has been working with the design team at Graphic Solutions, a well-established sign design firm specializing in identity and brand development, to develop a sign program for Cathedral City. The results of that effort are two design options that were presented to the City Council on June 22. Both options, the "Town Square" design and the "Palms" design, include standards for all three sign types (Attachments 1 and 2).
The Council concurred that standardizing the city's public signs through a Citywide sign program would benefit the community by improving the city's overall appearance and provide residents and visitors with readily identifiable information in a recognizable format. The design options were favorably received, although neither option was a clear favorite of the majority. The Council supported elements of both depending on the sign's proposed location within the city. Mayor Henry and Councilman Aguilar stated their preference for the Town Square design in the city's downtown location. The contemporary Palms design received support as being appropriate for the broader community. Councilman Kaplan suggested that the design have "pizzazz. . .and stand out from the crowd."
The City Council directed staff to obtain input from members of the Planning Commission, Public Arts Commission, and the Parks and Community Events Commission.
Both design options were presented to all three commissions in July. In addition, Graphic Solutions prepared alternative color options for the "Palms" design, which was also presented to the three Commissions (Attachment 3). The Planning Commissioners were generally divided between the two design options. Two of the Commissioners, however, suggested a compromise recommending that the contemporary Palms design be used throughout the city and that the traditional downtown theme be maintained by having Town Square be the design for the pedestrian directory signs in that area.
Similarly, the Public Arts Commissioners' comments were equally divided but two of the Commissioners, led by Simeon Den, also recommended the Town Square design be used for downtown and the Palms design applied elsewhere in the city. The comments received from the Parks and Community Events Commissioners replicated the desire to see both designs used in that same manner. With regard to sign color, one Commissioner preferred the blue background with white lettering for the Palms design and another recommended that the Town Square design for downtown not incorporate the purple color.
For reference, comparative sign graphics from the June 22 Council report are included as attachment 4.
Next Steps:
Once a design concept is determined, construction documents will be prepared for the final design and notice provided to local sign companies to submit bids to manufacture and construct the signs. Staff will also finalize the location and text detail for each sign. The production and installation of the signs is anticipated to be completed prior to year- end.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The approved Capital Improvement Plan includes $250,000 for manufacturing and installation of the citywide entryway, wayfaring, and directory signs. Final design configuration will determine the total number of signs included in this budgeted amount.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. "Town Square" Design
2. "Palms" Design
3. "Palms" Design - Color Alternatives
4. Comparative Sign Designs: Entryway, Wayfaring, and Directional Signs