Council approves craftsman‑style wayfinding design direction for Santa Paula, asks for color and icon refinements

After a presentation from Hunt Design, the City Council voted to advance a craftsman‑style wayfinding system for Santa Paula that emphasizes vertical gateway signs, tile motifs referencing citrus and local imagery, and coordinated parking and pedestrian signage.

"Our big goal is to understand what makes Santa Paula unique," said Brett Youngstone of Hunt Design during the presentation, outlining a layered sign program that ranges from large gateway gestures at key approaches to hanging banners and minimalist wayfinding posts in downtown.

Councilmembers praised the overall aesthetic but requested refinements: Vice Mayor Chavez asked that the design include locally recognizable icons (clock tower, train depot, airport SP motif) and requested a side‑by‑side comparison of the current yellow palette and alternate blue/gray tones. Designer Brett Youngstone and City staff agreed to refine color studies and return sample banners and monument mockups.

Council voted to approve the design recommendations and direct staff to proceed with implementation planning and phased installation options, starting with lower‑cost elements (banners, trash receptacle graphics) while pursuing funding and Caltrans coordination for highway approaches.

Why it matters: The approved design sets a visual identity the city will deploy over years; council emphasized a phased, budget‑aware rollout and the need to coordinate property owners when using imagery of private landmark buildings.

Next steps: Hunt Design and city staff will return with color alternatives, a more detailed implementation plan, and cost estimates for near‑term items (banners, parking signage, trash receptacles) and longer‑term monuments.