Letter to the Editor: Leaders Should Have Kept Branding Local

Editor's note: This letter was sent to Patch in response to the recent unveiling of a proposed logo for the city. It is part of a $73,000 branding project with an outside consulting agency that was . The city solicited feedback to help shape Dunedin's brand via a survey in the summer. A logo based on the feedback was . The city is now asking for community . This is what one community member had to say:

Dear Editor,

It’s easy to be a Monday morning quarterback and voice opinions after the fact. We all had the opportunity to get involved while the process was taking place. I have a few suggestions to our city leaders, should a similar situation present itself. 

1. No need to keep contracting with outside consultants. Dunedin has citizens who are qualified and talented. Maybe it’s too easy to put the blame on consultants if things go bad. City leaders in Dunedin seem to rely too much, and pay too much for outside advice. 

2. If Dunedin feels I has to shell out big bucks for advertising advice, keep it local. Our business community has many qualified advertising companies who could do the job, plus it keeps the monies here at home. 

3. The city could hold a contest for the best branding and logo design. 
Confine the contest to Pinellas County with the winner receiving $5,000; thus saving a whopping $68,000. 

I’ll keep the rest of my opinions to myself! 
Bill Coleman