Sunnyside commission to assemble funding request for wayfinding and downtown beautification

Members of the Sunnyside City Economic Development Commission discussed next steps to fund downtown wayfinding and other implementation items from a prior Roger Brooks downtown study, and agreed to prepare a formal funding request for City Council consideration.

Commissioners said the Roger Brooks review provided a blueprint of actions — including consolidated directional signage, clearer free-parking signs and window treatments for vacant storefronts — that the committee wants to move from plan to implementation. Members said they previously made progress under former economic development staff but now need formal funding and council authorization to proceed with installation and vendor contracts.

The commission outlined immediate tasks: obtain cost estimates and vendor quotes for signage and other wayfinding work, assign members to gather exact cost estimates and projected outcomes, and finalize a funding request package to bring to City Council. The group discussed including data and projected community and economic impacts in the packet to justify the requested amount. Members asked staff (Corey and other city staff) to help assemble the package and to place the request on a future council agenda; the commission noted a resolution may be required at council to authorize spending or to include the item on consent or discussion calendar.

No dollar amount was specified at the meeting; commissioners agreed to seek quotes and gather data before naming a total request. The item will return to a future commission meeting for a vote to finalize the funding request and direct staff to present it to council.