Council Approves Wayfinding Signs, Marketing Plan

The city will be dotted with blue directional, or wayfinding, signs to make it easier to find destinations like parks, schools, and the library. The Committee of the Whole met Tuesday and took little time in approving a slight change to the arrows, which some said looked easier to read.

and will include larger signs with multiple destinations, and smaller signs that will provide additional direction to a final destination. They will be posted on lightpoles through the downtown area, and stand-alone posts as they get closer to the destination.

The council members also approved , which was compiled by outside firm Verbicher/Voltedge. Despite a 7-0 vote in favor, Alderman Rob Wolfe complained that a requested change to the firm's recommendations could not be made.

The change would have deleted the recommendation for a park that would tie the downtown area to the lake. Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti and Alderman Eileen Madden stressed as others had in the past that the marketing recommendations were not binding, and that they were the result of a study the city paid an outside firm to do.

"This is not the comprehensive plan - this is not binding. It's just their opinion, and we shouldn't change it," Chiaverotti said.

However Wolfe was clearly frustrated, saying "I came onto the council with the promise of change. I don't like being told I can't do something. What am I here for, then?"

Ultimately Wolfe voted along with the others on the common council to accept the study without any further changes.