Lake City Picks Interim Logo – Councilwoman Moses Ready to Move Without Public Input
Posted December 6, 2016 06:30 am | (2 comments)
The City did not ask for other designer's
ideas. Instead, Justin Simmons provided four
ideas on his theme. The Council chose the
upper left.
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LAKE CITY, FL – Last night, Mayor Steve Witt began the City Council logo discussion: "I think this is something the City needs to get out there and get some feedback. This is for discussion tonight. It is not necessarily to do anything permanent." Councilwoman Moses didn't agree: "I love this. It's simple. It's our fountain that everybody can relate to. I really don't know why we're waiting. If anybody likes it as well, why we wouldn't go ahead?"
After Mayor Witt's opening remarks City Manager Johnson explained that the City retired the old logo last year and that he "initiated the logo with the dark blue square."
Mr. Johnson said that after using the Johnson logo for a couple of months, he met with graphic designer Justin Simmons, Assistant City Manager Grayson Cason and his administrate assistant Joyce Burner.
"We came up with this logo," he said.
In 2010, Lake City was the "Gateway to
Florida."
Mr. Johnson continued, "Lake City has been designated as Florida's Gateway and has been for many, many years."
A Google search has not located anything to substantiate Mr. Johnson's statement.
In recent times the slogan, "Florida's Gateway" appeared simultaneously with Mr. Simmons.
City Manager: said he was open to another design
Mr. Johnson told the Council, "I asked the Mayor to discuss this tonight for consideration... The staff is just asking for consideration to give official sanction of the City to use this on an interim basis until a final seal or logo has been crafted and approved officially by the City Council."
Mr. Johnson did not explain why it took so long to come up with the recent logo proposals.
Mr. Johnson said, "Most cities show the date of incorporation on their logos." A Google check using the search term – images: florida city logos – shows that most cities do not show the date of incorporation.
Councilwoman Moses: Why wait?
Melinda Moses, who just began her second term as councilwoman, unopposed said, "I love this. It's simple. It's our fountain that everybody can relate to. I really don't know why we're waiting. If anybody likes it as well, why we wouldn't go ahead?"
Mayor Witt questioned whether the gold would show up when copied.
Mr. Simmons' design is problematic when
copying to black and white.
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Mr. Johnson said, "Justin can provide a design in a very high resolution format."
High resolution will not help the gold's fidelity when reproduced in black and white.
Mr. Johnson said the logo had been distributed to the Council prior to last night's meeting.
It was not made available with last night's agenda material.
Mr. Johnson opined, "There is no reason for people to view it negative in any way."
Councilman Ward said, "Put it out there and see what kind of feedback we get."
One Month
The Council moved to establish the logo as the interim logo for one month pending feedback from the public.
The Council will be acting on the Simmons design, the only design, at its first meeting in January.
The Council did not ask for additional submissions, nor did it explain how to comment on the now official interim logo.
Your reporter asked if there might be a branding issue with Columbia County being the "Gateway to Florida" and Lake City being "Florida's Gateway."
Mr. Johnson asked, "What's your point, Stew? I don't understand."
Ms. Moses said, "They're both the 'Gateway.'"