Festival slogan dismissed by City Council

It looks like Orland will not become known as the “City of Festivals.”

A submission of the “branding” slogan to the City Council by the Orland Economic Development Commission fell flat Monday.

“It is tough,” Councilman Bruce Roundy said. “I have received more calls on this than any issue since I’ve been on the council. Almost 100 percent were against this.”

Roundy is involved the Cities/County Joint-Economic Development Steering Committee and noted it is working on a “brand” for Glenn County to draw tourists here.

That group, composed of both city and county officials and some business people, plans to hire a professional marketing person to advise it on what to use, Roundy said.

He added Orland might do the same.

“It is so important to our town,” he said. “We need professional help.”

Roundy said next year’s city budget might include some money for this purpose.

Orland could check with the League of California Cities to find a professional to come help it, he said.

“I don’t have an opinion,” Councilman Jim Paschall said. “I realize Helen (Duree) has worked hard on this. I feel badly for (the Economic Development) commissioners.”

Paschall said he had not talked with anyone in the community who agreed with the choice.

Councilman Dennis Hoffman added he was not comfortable with it and did not see the premise for it.

Orland businessman John Noffsinger said Orland does not have festivals, but it is the gateway to Black Butte Lake and does have an art center with local artists that could be promoted more.

Duree said she also got a lot of feedback on the slogan.

Many people asked, “What festivals do we have?” she said.

And while she is not opposed to using a different brand, Duree said she is opposed to people complaining something will not work, but not coming up with something better.

“If we don’t get an identity and get a whole package together, we won’t start an image,” she said.
Duree added she does not want to delay the branding another year and a half waiting on a professional to provide something.

She said a professionally done logo and slogan done for Corning did nothing to inspire her to visit that city.

“I want to be supportive, but I want to do it right,” Mayor Wade Elliott said. “I don’t know what that is (now).”

Elliott advised the EDC to continue working on the project and come back with a new idea in the future.