Residents criticize new Fairborn logo; City Manager defends rebranding and $20,000 consultant

During Citizens Comments at the May 16 meeting, Jean Strand of 2 N. Second Street criticized the city's new logo and the process that led to its adoption. Strand read earlier meeting comments and quoted the city's public relations messaging, then said the new logo "does none of those things," arguing it fails to communicate the qualities the consultant said the brand should reflect. Strand also raised concerns about the decision-making process and the use of consultant funds.

Teri Perkins followed, asking how much additional cost the logo rollout would incur and whether the community would be informed about the source and amount of spending. City Manager Deborah McDonnell replied that regular replacements (employee shirts, vehicle decals and similar items) are included in budgeted replacement cycles and that the City "did spend the $20,000 to hire a company that could really put us on the right path for marketing and rebranding the community." McDonnell also outlined the timeline for the draft land use code: Planning Board review and public hearing on June 14, 2016, with a potential Council submission on July 5, 2016.