October 13, 2026
4:00 p.m.
In Chambers
Council Chambers
99 E. Ramsey Street
Banning, CA 92220
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. WORKSHOP
2.1 Workshop Discussion on "Stagecoach Town USA"
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS - Agenda Items Only
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL - SPECIAL MEETING (WORKSHOP)
CITY OF BANNING, CALIFORNIA
The following information comprises the agenda for the special meeting of the Banning City Council, a joint meeting of the City Council and Banning Utility Authority, and the Banning City Council sitting in its capacity as the Banning Successor Agency Board.
This meeting is being held via Zoom so that members of the public may observe and participate in this meeting electronically. If you participate in this meeting via Zoom, you are agreeing to abide by the City's Zoom Community Standards for Public Meetings (provided in full on the last page of the agenda). Esta reunión se lleva a cabo en la Cámara y a través de Video/Teleconferencia en Zoom para que los miembros del público puedan observar y participar en esta reunión de manera electrónica. Si elige participar en esta reunión a través de Zoom, acepta cumplir con los Estándares comunitarios de Zoom para reuniones públicas de la ciudad (que se proporcionan en su totalidad en la última página de la agenda).
To observe and participate in the online video portion of the meeting through your personal computer or device, follow this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82012644588?pwd=GwdLNir0X6fHkhlgVjAjRUQf1C6yoz.1 Dial in: +1 669 900 9128
Meeting ID: 820 1264 4588
Password: 1913-92220
Join Via Audio/Passcode: 8464147627 - *9 raise hand
Per the City of Banning Manual of Procedural Guidelines, matters taken up by the Council before 10 p.m. may be concluded, but no new matters shall be taken up except upon a majority vote of the council members present and voting. Such an extension shall only be valid for one hour and each hour thereafter shall require a renewed action for the meeting to continue.
Recommendation: Discussion and direction on the history of the City's branding, including the "Stagecoach Town USA" slogan. No formal action is required at this workshop.
City Council - Special Meeting (Workshop) Agenda
October 13, 2026
1 4. ADJOURNMENT
Zoom Community Standards for Public Meetings
By participating in this meeting on Zoom, you are agreeing to abide by the City of Banning’s Community Standards for Public Meetings. Zoom attendees that fail to adhere to these standards may be removed from the meeting room.
Your microphone must remain on mute, and you may only unmute your microphone when/if you are recognized by the Mayor.
Your camera must be turned off unless/until you are recognized by the Mayor.
To indicate a desire to make Public Comment, you must use the Raise Hand function. The Mayor will not recognize those who have not used the Raise Hand function.
Public Comment from Zoom attendees will immediately follow in-person comment from members of the public in Council Chambers.
If you fail to adhere to these community guidelines, you may be removed for disrupting the meeting occurring in Council Chambers. You may rejoin the meeting but may be removed for each violation of these community standards.
The chat function will be disabled for all City Council meetings on Zoom.
Estándares comunitarios de Zoom para Reuniones Públicas Al participar en esta reunión en Zoom, usted acepta cumplir con los Estándares Comunitarios para Reuniones Públicas de la ciudad de Banning. Los que atienden por Zoom que no cumplan con estos estándares pueden ser retirados de la sala de reuniones.
Su micrófono debe permanecer en silencio, y solo puede reactivar su micrófono cuando / si es reconocido por el alcalde.
Su cámara debe estar apagada a menos que sea reconocido por el alcalde.
Para indicar el deseo de hacer un Comentario Público, debe utilizar la función Levantar la mano. El alcalde no reconocerá a quienes no hayan utilizado la función Levantar la mano.
Los comentarios públicos de lo que atienden por Zoom seguirán inmediatamente los comentarios en persona de los miembros del público en las Cámaras del Consejo.
Si no cumple con estas pautas de la comunidad, es posible que lo destituyan por interrumpir la reunión que tiene lugar en las Cámaras del Consejo. Puede volver a unirse a la reunión, pero es posible que lo eliminen por cada violación de estos estándares de la comunidad.
La función de chat estará deshabilitada para todas las Reuniones del Ayuntamiento en Zoom.
AFFIDAVIT • DECLARACIÓN JURADA
IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED under the laws of the State of California that the above agenda was posted on the City's website (www.banningca.gov) as well as the Bulletin Board at Banning City Hall, located at 99 E Ramsey Street, Banning, CA 92220, at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.
_________________________
Vickie Sellers, Elected City Clerk
Secretaria Municipal Electa
City Council - Special Meeting (Workshop) Agenda
October 13, 2026
2 PUBLIC NOTICE • NOTICIA PÚBLICA
Meeting Agendas and Notices
Interested in receiving email and/or text notifications of upcoming City Council meetings? Sign up for meeting notifications through the City's website. Pursuant to amended Government Code §54957.5(b), staff reports and other public records related to open session agenda items are available on the City's website (www.banningca.gov/).
Public Comment
Agenda Items
Any member of the public may address this meeting of the City Council on any item appearing on the agenda. A five-minute limitation shall apply to each member of the public and no member of the public shall be permitted to share their time with any other person.
Non-Agenda Items
Any member of the public may address this meeting of the City Council on any item which does not appear on the regular meeting agenda but is of interest to the general public and is an item upon which the City Council may act. A three-minute limitation shall apply to each member of the public and no member shall be permitted to share their time with any other person. No action shall be taken, nor discussion held by the City Council, on any item which does not appear on the agenda, unless the action is otherwise authorized in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (b) of §54954.2 of the Government Code.
Special Assistance/Accessibility Requests
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, any member of the public may request that the agenda and agenda packet be mailed to them. If you need special assistance to participate in this meeting (such as translation services), please contact the City Clerk's Office. Advanced notification of at least 48 hours prior to the meeting will allow the city to make arrangements to ensure your accessibility.
¿Necesita servicios de traducción para participar? Contacto Oficina del Secretario de la Ciudad.
CONTACT • CONTACTO
City Clerk's Office | 951-922-3102 | [email protected] 99 East Ramsey Street, Banning, California 92220
City Council - Special Meeting (Workshop) Agenda
October 13, 2026
3 CITY OF BANNING
STAFF REPORT
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Elizabeth Gibbs, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Elizabeth Gibbs, City Manager
MEETING DATE: October 13, 2026
SUBJECT: Workshop Discussion on "Stagecoach Town USA"
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Discussion and direction on the history of the City's branding, including the "Stagecoach Town USA" slogan. No formal action is required at this workshop.
BACKGROUND:
Banning's identity has been tied to the stagecoach since before the City existed. At a recent meeting, Mr.
Bill Lamb asked during public comment that the City return to the "Stagecoach Town USA" branding, and the City Council directed staff to bring back the topic for discussion.
The San Gorgonio Pass was a key east-west route for wagons and stage traffic through the Pass, long before the railroad. In 1862, the Bradshaw Trail carried wagon and stage traffic through the Pass to the gold fields along the Colorado River, and the Gilman Ranch north of downtown served as a stage station. The town was named for Phineas Banning, a prominent Southern California stagecoach and freight operator. The Southern Pacific Railroad reached the town in 1876, and Banning incorporated on February 6, 1913.
The community has celebrated that history through Stagecoach Days since 1957. Today the event is run by the Stagecoach Days Association and includes a parade and PRCA rodeo at the Dysart Equestrian Center. A restored late-1800s Banning Stage Line coach is housed at the Gilman Historic Ranch and Wagon Museum, operated by Riverside County Parks.
In 1995, the City began using an unofficial logo reading "Stagecoach Town USA," with the slogan "Proud History, Prosperous Tomorrow."
Prior Council Actions
Staff found no resolution, ordinance or minute action that ever adopted "Stagecoach Town USA" as an official City slogan, logo or seal; it appears to have been used administratively.
In 2019, a Council Member requested an ad hoc committee to study redesigning the seal. The committee found the existing seal no longer reflected the City, and the City retained CV Strategies of Palm Desert to design a new one.
In 2020, Council adopted Resolution No. 2020-33 approved a new City seal by a 4-1 vote, and Ordinance No. 1561 updating the seal's description and restrictions on its use. The seal reads "The City of Banning," "Incorporated 1913" and "Endless Opportunities." 4 JUSTIFICATION:
This workshop responds directly to a resident who has asked, during public comment, that the City return to the "Stagecoach Town USA" branding, and to the City Council's request to discuss the topic. A workshop gives Council and the public a shared, factual understanding of how the City's seal, logo and slogans have changed over time before any decision is made.
The history matters to the decision. Staff's research shows that "Stagecoach Town USA" was never adopted by Council as an official seal, logo or slogan; it was used administratively from 1995 until the current seal was adopted in 2020. Returning to it would therefore not mean reversing a prior Council action. It would be a new policy choice, and Council can decide how formal that choice should be.
The timing also calls for care. The City is operating under a declared fiscal emergency, and branding changes can carry hidden costs in signage, vehicles, uniforms and printed materials. Discussing the options in a workshop, with no action requested, lets Council weigh community identity against cost, legal review and consistency, and give staff clear direction on whether and how to proceed. Any formal action would come back to Council at a future meeting with legal review and cost estimates.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact from this workshop discussion. Staff time to prepare this report is within the adopted FY 2026–27 budget.
Costs of any future direction would depend on its scope:
Tagline only, phased in: Digital updates (website, social media, email signatures) by staff; printed materials updated as current stock is used.
New or restored logo, phased in: Low to moderate. Staff or volunteer design time, City Attorney review, and gradual replacement of materials.
Full rebrand of seal and logo: Moderate to significant. Could include consultant design, Municipal Code amendment, and replacement of signage, vehicle graphics, uniforms and printed materials. Staff does not recommend this path during the fiscal emergency.
If Council gives direction, staff will return with cost estimates.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Mud Wagon on the Bradshaw Trail.JPG
2. Stagecoach Town USA Logo.png
3. Official City Seal 03102020.png
5 6
7 8