Burien Council considers dumping new logo; wants more warning on airport noise

By Jack Mayne The new proposed Burien logo was sent back to the drawing board as too complicated, not very inspiring,  and even boring at a study session Monday night, Oct. 24. Many Councilmembers even think the old logo should stay, perhaps with some refinements. A resident said abut the “one lone bird looks really lonely; the current logo has two,” and another said maybe too many fingers got involved in the job of coming up with a logo and some other designers should critique it. “There is a lot of just poor design in it,” she said. Trite trees, water, Rainier Maureen Hoffmann, a Burien resident and graphic designer for more than 40 years, said the proposed logo by consultant JayRay of Tacoma is not viable for many reasons. “A logo should not be illustrative, it is a symbol,” and using buildings or “environmental aspects is the wrong way to go with a logo.” “I think that showing Mt. Rainier and evergreen trees and water is very trite and could apply to many cities around the Puget Sound region on the waterfront,” she said. “We’ve seen that many times. It is not making a statement – it’s very safe.” The proposed logo as presented “is not a viable logo for a number of reasons. The concept is weak and we are missing this great opportunity to create something that is memorable and strong for Burien.” Plus, reasons why the proposed logo was executed “has huge problems that would be very costly because of its complexity and we don’t have the money to do that. …” “It is not too late to make a good decision and please don’t adopt the logo as it is presented right now,” Hoffmann said. Councilmembers who seemed more interested in the logo when it was first showed them a month ago they were Monday night. Keep the old logo Deputy Mayor Bob Edgar felt the proposal was too complicated to be used anywhere but on a white piece of paper. He said there was nothing wrong with city’s current logo but that the city has done little to use the logo to market Burien and also said he found various different versions in a search of the Internet. “I would be in favor of keeping our current logo, stopping any further spending of taxpayer money to fix something that was never broken and direct staff to feature our current logo in a proactive plan to market the City of Burien,” Edgar said. “I’m not happy with it and I don’t want it,” said Councilmember Debi Wagner. “B is B for Burien, whatever, not very imaginative. We need something very inspiring and interesting and I don’t think we are even close. “I am in favor of keeping our current logo,” she said, and added that she didn’t want a new logo when we have a “beautiful one already.” “It would be hard to recreate,” said Councilmember Austin Bell. “I am not happy with it at all,” said Councilmember Nancy Tosta. “I’d like to see us go back to the drawing board – I don’t like this at all.” She noted that 80 percent of the people who examined and commented on The B-Town Blog did not like it – “I don’t like it at all.” Tosta, and others, have noted it will cost more than the $95,000-plus so far to reprint all of the business cards, stationary and signs that would need to be changed with the updated logo. Rebranding more than logo The current logo “actually works,” said Mayor Krakowiak. “If there is a simple way to jazz it up, bring it forward to the 21st century, fabulous.” Interim City Manager Tony Piasecki, with Monday being his first day on the job, said he would look at the issue with a fresh set of eyes and talk with city staff, members of the public and others in an attempt to either come up with a refocused design or even a new design. “This is a rebranding exercise, it is much more than just a logo,” said Piasecki. Insist on FAA warnings The Burien Council added language to seek both federal and state support to watch and support legislation to “insist that the FAA communicate with surrounding communities when flight paths deviate or when other changes are made that affect aircraft noise or emissions.” The latest uproar over increased plane noise over west Burien was touched off when the FAA, without prior warning, changed takeoff paths in July. Public Works Director Maiya Andrews, who oversaw the revisions in the city’s lobbying agenda, said wording was added that Burien would “work with the FAA, the Port, and the Congressional delegation to reduce aircraft noise at SeaTac Airport,” and added that Burien will “work with the FAA to improve communications” regarding FAA actions that affect surrounding communities. Andrews also said revisions in the city’s legislative lobbying efforts previously made by the Council included providing $2.4 million in 2017-2018 biennial budget would enable the Criminal Justice Training Commission to add eight law enforcement academy classes to prevent an increase in wait times, thus allowing graduates to finish more quickly. And the Council approved a separation agreement was moved for agreement by Councilmember Nancy Tosta for fired former City Manager Kamuron Gurol and was unanimously (5-0) approved. No details were discussed at the meeting. Councilmembers Steve Armstrong and Lauren Berkowitz were excused absentees. The Blog has asked for a copy of the agreement under the state’s Freedom of Information statute.]]>