El Mirage staff unveils 75th-anniversary logo, outlines yearlong celebration and $100,000 budget for 2026

City staff presented a proposed 75th-anniversary logo and a preliminary plan for yearlong celebrations at a June 17 work session, and the City Council discussed a range of events and promotional ideas. Staff said the fiscal-year 2026 budget includes a $100,000 allocation to support the anniversary program, and that a small FY25 allocation has already been used to produce merchandise such as staff T-shirts.

Sean, a Parks and Recreation staff member, introduced the logo and said an internal team reviewed 48 design iterations before selecting the round format now shown to council. He described the logo as using the city’s established fonts and colors and said the beige curving lines represent the city’s agricultural heritage and the sun symbolizes the climate and “bright future.” Several council members praised the design.

Planned activities and budget - Staff said they anticipate a yearlong marketing campaign for the city’s 75th anniversary and proposed a multi-day fall “fiesta” in mid-October 2026 as a culminating event so activities avoid high summer heat. The fall event would include live bands, food vendors, and expanded space needs; staff said some larger elements may require additional staging or outside contractors. - The FY26 budget includes a $100,000 allocation for anniversary activities; staff said that figure is an estimate intended to cover larger-scale components such as concerts, potential drone shows, expanded vendor areas and other activations. A small FY25 allocation was used to order early merchandise (staff T-shirts) and other prep work. - Ideas under consideration include a drone light show as an alternative to fireworks (site and safety constraints noted), a tethered hot-air balloon element, a possible military flyover (subject to approval), 50 street-pole banners on El Mirage Road, a community scavenger hunt, public murals and a program to collect and display historical photos. - Staff proposed distributing 75 large and small decorative candles to community members and businesses for display and a physical exhibit, and producing giveaway items such as stickers, coins, lapel pins and decals for fleet vehicles.

Council reaction and suggestions Council members generally praised the logo and suggested additional community-focused elements. Some council members urged a daytime parade; others recommended more involvement by local schools and arts partners, photo exhibits or banner displays that trace El Mirage’s history by decade. One council member noted Bill Gentry Park as a potential location for larger elements but also referenced space limitations for very large shows.

Constraints and next steps Staff noted several constraints: summer heat makes a June celebration impractical, some large activations require open space or contractor services, and the $100,000 allocation will be consumed quickly if multiple large features are selected. Staff said they will convene a steering committee, seek sponsors and partners, and return to council with refined plans and cost estimates.

Ending Council members encouraged broad community involvement, including school art contests and historic photo solicitations. Staff asked council and the public to provide input as the city refines event concepts and logistics for 2026.