Willows City commission adopts final wayfinding sign design by consensus

The Willows City Planning Commission agreed by consensus to proceed with a final wayfinding sign design at its Jan. 21 special meeting, choosing the mock-up with a thicker "swoosh" and a blended tree design.

Community Development Services Director Joe Betancourt presented two revised mock-ups developed from feedback at a Dec. 2 meeting. The designs combined the base of one tree with leaves from another; one option used a thicker curved element (described repeatedly in the meeting as a "swoosh") and a gold shimmer on the lower panel.

Commissioners voiced concerns about visibility from the road and the clarity of the tree artwork. Several commissioners said the thicker swoosh would be more eye-catching for drivers and better preserve root-line detail. By consensus, the commission directed staff to move forward with mock-up No. 1; staff said it would obtain revised quotes for antique-style poles and matching downtown parking signs, and would determine appropriate sign sizes (10, 12 or 14 feet) and font legibility before procurement.

Staff also said the finish will likely use a gloss sheen for visibility rather than high-grade prismatic reflectivity used on regulatory signs. The commission requested that staff balance legibility with aesthetic scale and confirmed that final fabrication details (pole finish, exact dimensions and minor blended adjustments) would be resolved before ordering.

The decision clears the way for staff to finalize quotes, select materials and proceed with installation in the downtown area and at two locations on Tehama Street where historic '99' signs will be replaced.