City Council
July 22, 2025
Jason Nutt, Assistant City Manager
Bryce Aston, Community Outreach Specialist
1 AMENDING CHAPTER 1-04 OF THE
CITY CODE ENTITLED “CUSTODY AND
USE OF CITY SEAL AND OTHER
OFFICIAL INSIGNIA”
BACKGROUND
• The City Seal was adopted by Resolution 2910 on
February 1, 1949.
• On July 16, 2013, Council adopted Ordinance 4008
codifying the City Seal into City Code Section 1-04 as a trademark and personal property of the City giving City additional power to control how the City Seal and
preventing other parties from using it.
2 BACKGROUND
• Ordinance No. 4008 also prohibit modernized the City
logo with a new style and look while also trademarking
through incorporating into the City Code governing its
use and prohibiting unauthorized use of the City Logo or other official City Insignias.
• Replaced the prior logo
• Current City Logo
3 BACKGROUND
• On February 24, 2015, Council adopted Ordinance 4038, which adopted key modifications incorporating
additional modifications to the City logo, including:
• Standardized design options
• Modernized fonts and colors
• Addressing logo inconsistencies
• Incorporating a square logo format
• Incorporating additional colors
• Improving compatibility with electronic mediums and
media
4 BACKGROUND
• On December 4, 2024, CIRO and IT, launched a newly
revised website.
• Determined that additional updates to the Brand Book
and Code Section 1-04 were necessary to incorporate
additional colors and fonts as well as logo revisions that were not previously captured.
• In reviewing the trademarking concerns previously
expressed by the City Attorney, it was determined that all logos were not required to be included in the Code and
that adoption of the Brand Book by resolution,
referenced in the Code would provide the necessary
trademark authority.
5 ANALYSIS
Proposed Modifications to City Code Section 1-04.020
a) No changes
b) Remove detailed design information and multiple
versions of the logo and alternative logos. Logo details are already captured in the Brand Book. Adopting the
Brand Book by Resolution, referenced in the Code,
confirms the official trademarked authority while
allowing the Council to more easily adjust to changing
demands.
c) Deleting subsection (c) as described in Ordinance 4038. d) Renaming as subsection (c). 6
2025 Brand Book: Purpose
• The 2025 Brand Book outlines branding for the City of Santa Rosa, including:
o Use cases for formal and informal Citywide and
departmental logos
o Design recommendations to ensure consistency,
professionalism, and legibility
o Guidelines for adhering to graphic design best
practices and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
recommendations.
7 2025 Brand Book: Purpose
• Why is this important?
o Consistency in imagery and messaging conveys an air
of professionalism and continuity across our
organization's wide array of staff and departments that builds a sense of reliability within the community we
serve.
o Consistent branding guidelines streamline the process of developing outreach materials, formal documents,
memos, etc.
o The 2025 City of Santa Rosa Brand Book is a key
resource for external contractors working with the
City.
8 2025 Brand Book: Highlights
• Updated City palette
consistent with updated
website design
o Consistency across
platforms and mediums
reinforces our
recognizable, reliable, and
consistent brand.
• Use cases for various logo
types
9 2025 Brand Book: Highlights
• New font guidelines
o Font guidelines are updated to include ADA-compliant
fonts and clarified use cases for official City fonts.
• ADA Compliance
o ADA guidance is updated to align with all City ADA
policy and Risk Management guidance.
10 RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the City Manager’s Office
and Communication and Intergovernmental
Relations Department that the Council: 1)
introduce an ordinance amending City Code
Section 1-04.020 “Definitions” of Chapter 1-04,
“Custody and Use of City Seal and Other City
Insignia”; and 2) by resolution approve the 2025
Brand Book.
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