The people of Menifee want to know: What's in a sign?

One sample of proposed new signage is this giant replica of the City logo, which could be placed in a park.

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Does Menifee have an identity crisis?

Maybe not, but the question “Who are we?” was a big part of the discussion at last week’s City Council meeting regarding appropriate and consistent signage at key points in the city.

Menifee is in some ways like an adolescent child, wanting to grow up quickly but reluctant to give up the past. One of the fastest growing cities in the state – a “boom town”, as one council member referred to it last week – Menifee may be slowly losing its rural appeal, but to some its pioneer roots run deep.

So what does that mean when you’re talking about signage? You know, the “welcome” and “come back soon” kind of signs cities typically place along freeways and major streets, as well as indicators and branding at city buildings and parks. Does it really matter what they say and how they look? Should they all look the same? And what should that look be?

The discussion was regarding a “Signage and Wayfinding” study conducted by RSM Design that produced some sample signage suggested for major routes in the city. As shown at right, they have the modern look of cold steel with hard edges, at the same time showing a hint of wood and nature in a planter at the bottom.

Is that how Menifee should be represented? Council members have varying opinions, and Mayor Bill Zimmerman wants your input.

“I’m curious what the public’s view is,” Zimmerman said. “I remember when we went to the new logo, they had a lot to say.”

Granted, when the City of Menifee went to the slogan “New. Better. Best.” and a logo that looks like a giant M intertwined with a W (bottom photo), the critics came out of the woodwork. But what will they say about the modern/rustic combination of these signs and branding such as the giant M embedded in a grass park, as shown in the top photo?

The RMS Design study states that “the brand is the collection of memories your community will take away from their experiences with the City of Menifee.” A key factor of that is signage that will remain appropriate for years to come – otherwise, new signage might look like an unfinished wall, a vacant storefront, or a traffic jam.

Given those parameters, it might be a challenge to come up with signage designs that include both images of progress and legacy. After all, Menifee has no defined Old Town site, like Murrieta and Temecula do. Is there enough history left to portray it for the ages on a simple sign, while staying true to the New. Better. Best. theme?

“My initial thought was that they feel kind of sterile,” said Zimmerman, a member of the Menifee Valley Historical Society and a proponent of preserving the city’s heritage, from gold mines to wheat fields and horse trails. “I’d like to see a connection to nature, and I don’t know that a silver blade portrays that. I believe it’s our quality of life that attracts people who come here.

“Are we trying to say we’re business oriented so people will want to live here, or warm and welcoming? I liked the old logo because it had a tree and symbolized beauty in nature.

“Who are we?” Zimmerman continued. “How do we feel about our city? Maybe in 50 years it will feel like the Jetsons, but today, can we accomplish the mission of attracting business and showing the quality of life?”

Those are questions that might prompt different responses from each resident. Council member Matt Liesemeyer has a somewhat different view.

“I love the signage and how it represents the tech industry,” he said. “It has a corporate feel to it. We’re a bedroom community, and I’d like to see us find jobs here for our residents. It’s a drastic departure from where we’ve been and it might need tweaks, but the one with the planter has that look that speaks to both images.”

Council member Lesa Sobek suggested she wants more words and something that will pop.

“I question the lack of a slogan like ‘Thriving Community’,” she said. “I also want there to be a ‘wow’ factor with some color – something that says Menifee is moving forward.”

Liesemeyer had a question for Zimmerman after the major’s comments about “quality of life” and historical significance.

“I remind you of what you have said before, that you want biotech industry and as Silicon Valley feel,” Liesemeyer said, to which Zimmerman replied, “Maybe in different regions,” referring to his previous comments about structures in the Southern Gateway Economic Development Corridor.

“We do have acorns on the [freeway] bridges,” Sobek chimed in. “If you want that, why aren’t we using wheat? Well, because we’re a young city moving forward.”

Bottom line: There is no bottom line at this point. A representative of RMS Design was told to come up with some tweaks and other options. And that giant M sticking out of the ground? Well, maybe it could be a climbing structure for adventurous kids.

So we're looking for ideas here. Hey, how about a farmer riding a rocket ship? No? Well, what do you think? Either via Facebook comments or by email to doug.spoon@menifee247.com, let us know or send us your sample sketches. Why should you be left out of the fun?

Graphics courtesy of City of Menifee, RMS Design study.