Report Prepared by: Steve Carrigan, City Manager
Title
SUBJECT: Report - Approval of Locations for Highway Entry Signs, a Downtown Archway, and Possible Next Steps for the Project
REPORT IN BRIEF
Staff will present proposed locations for highway entry signs and a downtown archway and seek direction on next steps.
RECOMMENDATION
Provide staff direction on next steps for the City of Merced Entry Signs.
Body
DISCUSSION
The City Council had discussions on the installation of entry signs at the gateways into the community to greet people as they cross the City limits. On November 6, 2017, the City Council created an ad hoc committee that held a Welcome Sign Contest within the community soliciting designs for gateways and slogans for the City. The ad hoc committee presented the results of the contest to the City Council on February 19, 2018. After reviewing the results of the contest, the City Council directed staff to begin working with a professional design firm tasked with combining the contest drawings into more formal concepts.
Graphic Solutions is a firm that is familiar with Merced, having designed the wayfinding signs that direct people to various locations in the City. On August 20, 2018, Graphic Solutions was retained by the City to meet with staff and conduct a site study, reviewing the Welcome Sign Contest results and developing three concept designs. The designs would include indications for sizes, materials, colors, lighting and locations. Over the next five months, staff worked with Mr. Simon Andrews of Graphic Solutions to complete the concept designs.
At the March 14, 2019 Arts and Culture Advisory Commission meeting, Staff presented designs from Simon Andrews for their input and direction. Simon Andrews made minor changes to the design from the direction and comments made by the Arts and Culture Commission.
At the May 6, 2019 City Council meeting, the City's consultant Simon Andrews and staff presented the refined design concepts to the C...
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