Laguna Grande JPA narrows logo options and maps out April 19 50th‑anniversary event

Dan M., introduced as assistant city manager, told the Laguna Grande Joint Powers Agency on March 9 that the 50th‑anniversary celebration is scheduled for Saturday, April 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Laguna Grande Park. Staff presented two logo options and a tentative timeline that includes opening remarks, a community cleanup, nature walks with the Audubon Society, recreational stations, a scavenger hunt and closing remarks.

The board and public commenters debated branding and format. Several board members said they preferred the simpler egret design shown in staff materials and urged that the graphic emphasize “Laguna Grande Park” rather than the phrase “Joint Powers Agency,” which many attendees said would mean little to the public. One board member suggested designing an alternate version that drops the “50” after the anniversary year so the logo can be reused later.

On event format, staff proposed a brief set of opening remarks from the three partner agencies and a map showing stations around the lake so visitors would circulate between activities on the Seaside and Monterey sides. Public commenters and board members urged reserving the term “groundbreaking” for when physical construction begins, and several suggested a very short ribbon cutting or photo opportunity for mayors if leaders want a quick commemorative moment. Jim Hulkin, president of the Laguna Grande Neighborhood Association, asked that the event foreground the anniversary and the park name and save any full groundbreaking for a later date when construction actually starts.

Staff said the Park District will take the lead on promotion once the logo is finalized and that Seaside would handle cleanup logistics, promotional items and sound at the main area. The agencies reported a draft budget and said Monterey and Seaside have committed funds; staff asked for board direction on logo tweaks and promotional items and said it will return with final materials at the April 13 meeting.

The meeting record shows a mix of practical suggestions: favoring hat giveaways over t‑shirts to avoid sizing issues, keeping the design simple so it reproduces cleanly on printed materials, and including the names of the three partner agencies or an icon that signals collaboration without crowding the primary park name. Staff confirmed a site map will be printed for the Let’s Go Outdoors guide and promised to follow the board’s direction on logo text and the level of formality for any ribbon cutting.

The board did not take a formal vote; staff recorded direction to favor the egret/simpler logo, prioritize Laguna Grande Park prominently in copy, and return with final artwork and logistics at the April meeting.