New RB Welcome Sign Design Option Revealed; Voting Begins Thursday

The Refresh RB Committee has released images of the revamped and all-new designs set to go head-to-head in a controversial runoff to select Rancho Bernardo's new welcome sign starting Thursday.

(Both designs are attached in the gallery with this story.)

Voting will last from March 24 to April 7, and the design which receives the most votes will be put before community groups for final approval, committee members said. The Refresh RB Committee, comprised of people from various community and business groups, decided to hold a runoff after the first round of voting with three designs proved "inconclusive."

The lead vote-getter from the first round—a traditional design—will go up against a newly created contemporary design that blends elements of the two other choices from the first round. The new design was created by Larry McIntyre, head of the Rancho Bernardo Business Association, and the traditional design has been digitally enhanced after complaints that it wasn't as high-quality as the other choices.

However, some believe that the decision has already been made and a runoff should not be held.

Last year, the community's welcome sign was destroyed by a motorist and San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio led the creation of a volunteer committee to receive community input on a new design. Three designs—two contemporary and one traditional—were put to a vote in February, with the lead vote-getter expected to be the winner.

However, the results had the traditional design only ahead of one contemporary choice by 30 out of 824 votes, an outcome committee members felt did not clearly indicate what the community wanted. The two contemporary choices may have split the vote enough to give the traditional design an edge, when a contemporary sign is what most people want, the committee said.

The decision to hold another round of voting—the runoff set to begin Thursday—has elicited anger from some, and a firm statement of disapproval from RB's Maintenance Assessment District committee.

The MAD Committee works with the San Diego MAD to implement RB projects. The new welcome sign will be funded by an insurance settlement from the accident which will be channeled through MAD.

Some have argued that it appears business leaders are pushing for a runoff as a way to get the contemporary design they want. Business leaders are expected to pay for and input their own signage in downtown RB. The original idea was to have the business signage match the new welcome sign, but business leaders have said their signs will be contemporary even if the new welcome sign is not.

Many also have taken issue with the voting being held online only, and being limited to one vote per computer. The committee said paper ballots would be too costly, and the vote limits are in place to prevent individuals from voting repeatedly.

Voting will be open at RefreshRB.com from March 24 until 11:59 p.m. April 7.

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