Dozens of ideas considered for Merced’s new slogans - is yours one?

How about “There are no strangers here, just friends that haven’t met,” or “Love for all, hatred for none”? If you didn’t like those, there are still 75 other options for Merced’s potential new city slogan.

City leaders will take a look at ideas submitted for new welcome signs, including 77 ideas for slogans that could be emblazoned at major highway entries into town. The council will discuss them during the meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 678 W. 18th St.

Council members have said they are open to signs that have a new slogan, but stressed they don’t intend to completely shed Merced’s traditional motto of “Gateway to Yosemite.”

The council voted to set up a Welcome Sign and City Slogan subcommittee to research the costs, designs, funding and other aspects of the signs that would mark the entrances on highways 99, 140 and 59. The committee received the slogan proposals, as well as 56 sign designs and three archway design entries, according to city staff.

The council could select designs for the entrances to the city and a downtown sign during the meeting. Staffers have also been asked to get cost estimates for the designs and a preliminary approval from the state Department of Transportation.

Here are some other slogans:

-- “The Valley’s bloom”

-- “Home of the Bobcats – UC Merced”

-- “The jewel of the Central Valley since 1889”

-- “Small town, big dreams”

A complete list of slogan ideas and a few more artist rendered signs can be seen online in the council's agenda. (The item starts on pages 250).

This story was originally published November 5, 2017 at 2:53 PM with the headline "Dozens of ideas considered for Merced’s new slogans - is yours one?."