Commission affirms 'Somi' town‑center branding direction after consultant review

The commission affirmed its prior direction on a town‑center branding package that features the name "Somi" and a bird‑style logo after a presentation by the consultant and staff summarizing public outreach and Town Center Advisory Board recommendations.

Deputy Manager and the consultant summarized the process used in late 2023–2024, public open‑house feedback and an online vote in which one option received more than 51 percent of the public's support. Commissioners discussed concerns raised by advisory‑board members about the scale of the bird icon and whether the town‑center avatar should differ from the city's primary bird logo.

Several commissioners said they supported using a distinct town‑center mark to create a separate sense of place for the district; others urged flexible application guidelines so the bird element can be scaled down or paired with textual branding. The consultant said a 20–30 page guideline is being prepared to show permitted orientations, sizes and color options.

The mayor and other commissioners noted that the decision follows public input and recommended that staff proceed, using the published guidelines to ensure consistent application across signage, digital headers and event branding. The commission did not hold a formal vote on an ordinance but directed staff to finalize the guidelines and proceed with implementation consistent with the earlier November decision.

The city manager said the team will return with the branding guidelines and that public outreach sessions on related Sunset Drive alternatives are scheduled for Jan. 28.