City takes economical approach to logo change

In an effort to capitalize on innovative thinking and economical options, Farmers Branch City staff has now set the projected cost for changing the City’s logo from old to new at a total of $177,253 during the next three years.

The new logo, illustrating the City’s reputation as the “City in a Park” with a mix of neighborhoods and commercial districts, depicts a large tree, spreading its branches over a mix of residential and business buildings. It was unveiled in October of 2007 and officially introduced on January 1, 2008.

  Farmers Branch City Manager Gary Greer said one original broad cost estimate of $960,000 was formulated to illustrate the impact if every aspect and item of the City’s brand were changed out immediately with new material. However, as that was judged to be too expensive, he instructed staff to prepare a plan to accomplish the change over time.

  “I asked that we not change out items of major expense until they were due for normal replacement, such as painting water towers, retiring equipment and the like,” he said. “I also asked staff not to reorder old logo items last year and to let supplies run down, such as stationery and consumable items.”

  Mr. Greer explained that he further sought innovative thinking on the change process. “An example is that we developed a way to place a sticker on old street signs rather than replacing all of the blades on every street pole,” he said. “The look is seamless, and this saved a considerable amount of money for the project.”

  The cost estimates include $157,253 during the next three years from the general fund with an additional $20,000 from the hotel/motel fund.

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