YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - Local opinion matters here.

So much so that city officials left it up to residents to redesign and name the town welcome sign and revamp the water tower and city mural.

Since March, Yuba City Senior Engineer Josh Wolffe has spoken about improvements on Plumas Street under the water tower and the murals adjacent to the water tower and along Center Street, funded by a 2022 Clean California grant for $2.2 million.

Each project called for committee formation.

The Territorial Dispatch has followed both the Welcome Sign and Plumas Water Tower Plaza competitions, most recently reporting on the winning artist and resident Raveena Sroya's use of color, wildlife, and agriculture to welcome and bid farewell to visitors.

This time, it's all about the Plumas Street Water Tower, which offers another chance for any local to reflect their brand with the city.

“Through our online poll, we received 94 separate submissions, containing about 64 different names,” Wolffe said. “We also received numerous suggestions via Facebook comments and one hard-copy name submission.”

Like the welcome sign mural, the water tower and mural project has a committee comprised of two council members and Planning, Senior, Youth, and Parks and Recreation Commission representatives.

“It is important to involve the various commissions listed above, as they represent many facets of our diverse community; their input will help guide the decision in the direction that represents the community's desires well,” Wolffe said.

Wolffe said the Water Tower Plaza Name and Mural Designs Ad Hoc Committee formed to ensure a fair and best-interest selection of the mural design and plaza name.

“It was important to include the business owners, Downtown Business Association, and Yuba Sutter Arts because they are directly adjacent to this plaza and, therefore, are direct stakeholders in this project,” Wolffe said.

Mayor Shon Haris and Vice-Mayor Dave Shaw sit on the committee, whose approval determines the permanent marking in the city. 

“I feel it is important as the council will be involved in final approval of the name,” Mayor Harris said. “Being engaged from the beginning allows us to be immersed in the process and work shoulder to shoulder with the community members involved in the process.”

The mayor said the process “allows us to hear their priorities, perspectives and desires directly from them.”

“The park, and its name, will become an instant staple in Yuba City for generations to come,” Harris said. “Accordingly, it is important that we understand that, take the decision seriously, and play an active role in the process.”

The senior engineer agreed. 

“We wanted to provide the entire community with the opportunity to submit ideas for names, such that we would name the plaza in alignment with the Community's desires,” Wolffe said, adding the name must comply with the City's Park Naming Policy.

Officials will consider the names at an upcoming meeting.