Spokane County staff ask commissioners to OK distinct brand for 2046 comprehensive plan update

Scott (staff member) asked the Spokane County Board of County Commissioners on April 22 to allow a supplemental brand identity for the county's comprehensive plan update, saying the policy allows additional visual elements when used alongside the official logo.

The request came during the board's 9 a.m. briefing session. Scott said the new mark would be used on a dedicated comprehensive plan webpage, outreach materials and some illustration boards; the county courthouse logo would remain on formal documents to show they are official Spokane County records. "We're not asking to replace the logo. We're asking to have a stock of branding piece to add to that," Scott said.

Why it matters: County staff said a distinctive brand can help public outreach and engagement for a multi-year comprehensive-plan update. Commissioners and communications staff urged adherence to the county's existing logo policy so the public can still recognize materials as county-produced.

Board members and communications staff questioned visual complexity and placement. Commissioner Holder noted the draft mark reads as a future county logo rather than an identifier for the plan and suggested adding a word such as "Plan" or "Vision" to clarify the mark's purpose. Charissa (staff member) and Sharissa (staff member) repeatedly referenced the county's adopted logo policy, citing language that the official county logo must be prominently displayed on county information and assets and that other marks may be used as secondary or marketing visuals.

Commissioners asked staff to work with Public Information/Communications personnel and the risk/branding resources (Pat and Charissa were named as internal contacts) and return with a refined approach. One commissioner recommended the team bring back the revised art and an integration mock-up showing the county logo plus the new plan brand; another asked staff to confirm a black-and-white version for print materials. Several commissioners asked for a short review by the PIO/comms team before the issue returns to the board.

Next steps: Staff said they will work with communications and present revised options at a future briefing. No formal change to policy or code was proposed at the meeting and no board vote was taken.