Council approves downtown wayfinding plan; directs priority funding for gateway and parking signs

The Puyallup City Council voted March 25 to adopt a comprehensive downtown wayfinding signage plan and directed staff to prioritize two components — gateway archways and parking signage — for early implementation, with the council recommending Tourism (LTAC) funds as the primary source for those initial phases.

Public Affairs Officer Eric Johnson and consultants from MIG presented a detailed sign family that includes vehicular directionals, parking identification and rules signs, pedestrian directionals, two‑ and four‑sided kiosks, and primary and secondary gateway treatments. Council discussion focused on priorities and budget: parking signage was widely described as a near‑term “low hanging fruit,” while the two large gateway archways would be the most visible and costly elements.

Councilmember Johnson proposed approving the plan and using LTAC funds to fast‑track gateway and parking work; the motion to adopt the plan passed, and a second motion to prioritize gateway and parking — funded by LTAC — also passed after discussion. Councilmembers raised concerns about sign clutter on some streets and asked staff in the next phase to audit existing signage and coordinate sign removal or consolidation before installing new elements.

Key technical notes from the consultant included: vehicular directionals are limited to three destinations per sign using four‑inch lettering; pedestrian directionals are limited to six entries with one‑inch lettering; pedestrian kiosks are designed to carry maps and rotating event or interpretive panels; and gateway options include illuminated letters and finials and will require structural and utility coordination. The consultants provided a cost range for the full signage family and estimated the gateway package could range from roughly $1.5 million to $2.2 million, depending on final design and site utilities.

Council members split on funding and sequencing. Supporters said LTAC is the appropriate funding source because the plan aims to draw visitors; critics urged caution to preserve LTAC reserves for other tourism projects. Several councilmembers emphasized the need for staff to develop an implementation phasing plan that ensures each phase is coherent (for example, completing a full set of vehicular directionals for a corridor rather than installing isolated signs).

Staff will proceed to phase 3 — final design, an audit of existing signs, and refined cost estimates — and return to council with a recommended implementation schedule and funding plan.