Des Plaines keeps motto, logo still in limbo
Des Plaines will remain the "City of Destiny," aldermen decided Tuesday night, but whether a controversial city marketing logo will be used in the future is still unknown.
The city council unanimously decided as part of its consent agenda to make the motto, developed in the 1950s, official. That means "Good Move," developed last year as part of a $88,000 rebranding effort by Nashville-based NorthStar Destination Strategies, won't be used.
But post-Fourth of July fireworks exploded between Alderman Jim Brookman and Mayor Matt Bogusz during an hourlong debate on whether to proceed with the city marketing campaign that would include the interlocking "d" and "P" logo the consultant also developed.
Brookman continued to argue that he and other aldermen were kept in the dark during the development of the logo, chosen by a committee made up of the mayor, the city manager, the city director of media services, and a representative of the Des Plaines Public Library.
Brookman favors the current logo on the city flag, which "hasn't gone out of style," he said.
"I don't think we need a marketing tool on the shoulder of our police and firemen," Brookman said of the "dP" logo that's already been stitched on some patches and placed on city vehicles, street banners and business cards.
Aldermen voted last December to halt additional spending on the rebranding effort in response to increasing backlash from residents. An ad hoc committee of residents recommended "City of Destiny" be made the official motto but had mixed feelings on the "dP" logo.
Bogusz and Alderman Denise Rodd pushed for a vote Tuesday to release the funds so the marketing efforts could resume - with the new "dP" logo.
"We need to move the city forward and we need to talk positively about ourselves to the outside communities," Bogusz said. "Somewhere in Des Plaines a family is eating dinner and watching this meeting (on TV) and asking how is this group of elected officials elected to serve the constituents of Des Plaines, and eight months later the alderman of the 5th Ward is still talking about the logo?"
Aldermen voted 5-3 to postpone a decision on the logo until July 18, when city officials are expected to present a report on how much money has been spent so far on the rebranding campaign.