Council Favors Community-Driven Branding Approach
San Tan Valley residents will have the chance to design their new town’s official logo. The Town Council on Wednesday gave staff direction to proceed with a community logo design competition offering a proposed $2,500 prize. Under the proposed rules, only residents living within town boundaries may enter.
Town Manager Brent Billingsley presented the competition as an option, noting that hiring a professional branding firm typically takes six months to a year and can be expensive. The community competition, by contrast, would give residents three months to submit designs.
“I love the idea of including the public on this,” Councilmember Bryan Hunt said. “I think we’ve got enough talented people in our town.”
How the San Tan Valley Logo Competition Would Work
Under the proposed framework, residents who submit designs would retain no ownership rights. The town would own and copyright any submitted logo. Additionally, the review process would include multiple levels. Billingsley said it’s highly likely participants would receive comments asking them to further enhance their concepts.
“Could you soften the colors? Could you make the mountains more prominent?” Billingsley said, describing the type of feedback entrants might receive.
The town also intends to reserve the right to reject all submissions. Attorney Allen Quist confirmed this provision, stating the town “could elect to not go with any of the submitters.”
Residents interested in entering should review the official competition rules once the town releases them. The guidelines will include legal terms regarding intellectual property and submission requirements.
Theme Competition to Follow
After the logo competition concludes, a second contest would invite residents to propose a town theme. That competition would carry a $500 prize under the staff recommendation. Billingsley said that after discussing it with the mayor and vice mayor, the consensus was to do the logo first and let it influence the theme.
Councilmember Gia Jenkins suggested adding second and third place prizes. “There might be multiple entries that are great,” she said.
Council Members Emphasize Community Involvement
Several council members highlighted the importance of resident participation in shaping the town’s identity. Vice-Mayor Tyler Hudgins called the competition another example of a great way to bring people in.
“This is our town. It’s not just us, it’s all of us,” Hudgins said. He added that he looks forward to bringing it up at Poston Butte High School, which recently received an A rating. “Maybe we get an A-rated logo design from them,” he said.
Councilmember Rupert Wolfert noted the town has “creative and artistic young people” who could participate. He called it “a cool little exercise for them to design the logo for the newest town in America.”
Hybrid Approach Remains an Option
The council also discussed a potential hybrid solution. If a community-submitted logo shows promise but needs professional application, the town could hire a graphic design firm. That firm would then adapt the logo for letterhead, memos, email signatures, and other official materials.
However, no formal decision was made on this option. Staff received direction to proceed with the community competition first.
Resident Verification Expected
Under the proposed rules, participants would need to prove they live within San Tan Valley’s boundaries. Mayor Daren Schnepf emphasized this requirement during the meeting.
“That’s very important for us to keep it within the community and the people that… the residents that live here,” Schnepf said.
Entrants would need to provide their address as part of the submission process.
Competition Details Coming Soon
Staff will now develop the formal competition rules and launch timeline. Residents interested in participating should watch for announcements from the town. The three-month submission window would begin once the competition officially opens.
