Designs for Vernon entrance signs are being sent back to the drawing board.

Council members were not impressed Monday when staff presented options to replace the three Welcome to Greater Vernon signs.

“I find the front very bland,” said Coun. Catherine Lord of the portion facing the highway which would be white with the name Vernon and the city’s logo.

She also criticized the rear portion of the sign which staff proposed using to promote local scenery and activities.

“It seems odd to have art on the back of what to do in our city when they (visitors) are leaving the city.”

Coun. Juliette Cunningham also expressed concerns about the proposals.

“Sometimes things resonate and sometimes they don’t. I’m having a tough time with this,” she said.

“I feel really bad because a lot of effort has gone into this.”

Coun. Scott Anderson questioned why there was just the name Vernon on the sign and not further text.

“We have a logo statement, Activate life, which could be appropriate there,” he said.

City staff developed three options with assistance from a design consultant.

“The designs are intended to be highly visible and pop in all seasons,” said Cleo Corbett, long range planner, in a report.

“The word Vernon and the logo are proposed to be cut into the sign face, giving them a recessed depth. The logo would also extend beyond the sign face slightly to add visual variety.”

In terms of the lack of text, such as “Welcome to” or “Come again,” Corbett says the goal was to take a different approach.

“These designs are meant to communicate a welcoming, friendly, confident and playful community to reinforce the economic development, tourism and community branding initiatives without using text. This was seen as a stronger approach to communication,” she said.