Puyallup Rethinks Welcome Sign Redesign Following Feedback

PUYALLUP, WA — The City of Puyallup is rethinking a plan to redesign the city's welcome signs following an outpouring of feedback from community members.

Under Puyallup's original plan, proposed by the City's Arts and Cultural Commission, the City of Puyallup would contract artist CJ Rench to build a brand-new City welcome sign at the intersection of Meridian and SR 512.

According to organizers, the goal had simply been to create a pleasant, welcoming sign to replace the worn or damaged signs around the city.

"They [City Council] wanted something that celebrated the community, they wanted something that was family oriented, welcoming, produced positive feelings from both visitors and residents," said Scott Tkach, Senior Civil Engineer for the City of Puyallup.

The current welcome sign at that location depicts Mt. Rainier, but damage over the years has knocked the top of the mountain away.

Unfortunately, the replacement sign that Rench and the Arts Commission landed on didn't resonate with many local residents. The proposed sign, entitled "Happy Humans" would have been between 16 to 18 feet long and 12 feet tall. It depicts two colorful humanoid figures, one standing in the outreached palm of the other. A similar design from Rench can be seen at the local library's courtyard, next to the Spray Park.

When the City unveiled the proposed sign last month, they received an outpouring of public comment, which city leaders say was almost universally negative. The City's Facebook post showing off the new sign received 337 comments alone, and several council members say they have received emails from constituents on the issue.

Many commenters shared concerns that the sign did not convey Puyallup's identity, suggesting instead that it should contain local elements like Mt. Rainier, the Washington State Fair, or celebrate Native American heritage and history.

"We had lots of opinions from the public," said Tkach.

KING 5 spoke with several members from the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, who said a different sign could help solidify the relationship between the City and Tribe.

“We need to get our members on the city councils around us, and actually get representation there so someone can say, 'Hey, the Puyallup people are still here,'” Tribe member Dakota Case told KING.

Following the outcry, the City Council says it's time to go back to the drawing board. At the City Council's meeting last week, council members elected voted 4 - 3 to send the proposal back to the Arts and Cultural Commission, who will have until January to present several new options to City Council members for their approval.

Following the outcry over this incident, city leaders say: next time the public will be a greater part of the conversation.

"We had pretty strong feedback from the community, and we serve our citizens," said Deputy Mayor John Palmer. "They voted us in to represent them, so when we hear that kind of feedback we need to listen."