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Port Richey Gives Go-Ahead To New 'Welcome' Signs

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By KLINT LOWRY | The Suncoast News

Published: February 17, 2009

Updated:

PORT RICHEY - City Council gave the go-ahead last week on a project to build and install new signage on major entrances throughout the city.

The three signs, each approximately 4 by 8 feet, will greet motorists as they enter the city limits from the north and south on U.S. 19 and from the east on Ridge Road. The three signs represent the first phase of a signage replacement project that will include all the parks in the city, as well.

The job of making and installing the signs was awarded to Port Richey-based Signs Unlimited, which was the low bidder, at $10,500.

These three signs represent the first phase of a larger plan to replace worn signs throughout the city, including at all municipal parks. Last year, as the project was being formulated, the Community Redevelopment Authority earmarked $100,000 for the signs and surrounding landscaping.

Over the summer, the city held an online vote in which residents could choose the design of the new signs from several prototypes. Prior to last Tuesday's vote Mike Rupp, co-owner of Signs Unlimited, presented renderings closely based on the winning contest entry.

The surface area of the signs will be made from high-density foam.

"It's the same material that's used on the Space Shuttle nosecone," Rupp said. "It's very resilient to weather."

Rupp explained he plans on positioning the lettering, masking it off, and then sandblasting the foam. When the masking is removed, what's left is a sign with smooth, raised lettering and a textured surface made from a single piece of material.

The lettering and background will then be hand painted in contrasting colors that will produce something highly visible to passing traffic.

While there was a general consensus to move ahead with the project, a couple of design issues had to be settled once and for all on Tuesday.

Last March, in anticipation of the new signs, the Car's Citizen Advisory Committee successfully lobbied to officially change the city's slogan from "Little City by the River" to "Pasco's Gateway to the Gulf." But on Tuesday, with the specter of dissolution and absorption into the county once again hovering over the city, there was strong political sentiment to remove "Pasco" from the slogan.

After several alternatives were discussed, the slogan was changed to "Our Gateway to the Gulf," and will read as such on the three signs.

There had also been some question whether to include the traditional city insignia or to go with an image of a sailboat set within an orange circle reminiscent of a setting sun. It was finally decided to go with the boat, based on the argument that the image can be better seen by passing motorists, and it enhances the city's new slogan.

The council also considered whether a metal arch that tops the sign, one of the more distinguishing features of the design, should be eliminated. The arch was intended to give the signs a modern Key West motif and is vaguely in keeping with the nautical theme.

There have, however, been concerns ever since the design won whether the arch would be able to withstand hurricane-force winds or if they were installing something that would one day become a dangerous projectile in a storm. This concern gained some steam when it was noted that while it was a nice aesthetic touch on paper, in real life the arch might barely be visible to drivers.

"Of course, you have to meet the state code," Rupp told the council. He wasn't concerned with the arch being able to sustain 135-mph winds. He did note that his design called for thicker signposts than originally envisioned for that same reason.

With that, the council decided to keep the arch, as Mayor Richard Rober put it, to stay as close as possible to the design residents voted for.

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