DATE: October 7, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Development Services Department
TITLE: OVERHEAD ARCHWAY MONUMENT PROJECT PRESENTATION OF REFINED DESIGN CONCEPTS AND REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL INPUT
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council receive a presentation on the Overhead Archway Monument project and provide input prior to advancing to the next steps.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
On April 8, 2026, the City Council approved a Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with Graphic Solutions, Ltd., for analysis, design, and construction management services for the Overhead Archway Monument project, which will establish a gateway landmark for Downtown Oceanside in advance of the 2028 Summer Olympics.
To guide the design process, City staff convened a Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) comprised of representatives from MainStreet Oceanside, the Oceanside Historical Society, Visit Oceanside, the Oceanside CA Cultural District, the Oceanside Arts Commission, the Downtown Advisory Committee, the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, and the Graphic Solutions team. These organizations bring experience with local branding, community identity, and the use of branding and visual elements within Oceanside’s built environment. The SAC serves as an advisory group to provide broad input on identity, design, and outreach, but does not function as a final decision-making body. It’s important to note that the SAC does not supplement the need for broad community input which will take place in the weeks ahead, as further described below. Following the next stage of community engagement, the City Council is expected to make the final decision on design.
To date, the SAC has convened twice. The first meeting introduced the project and focused on Oceanside’s historical and current branding and identity elements. The second meeting included the review of various sign concepts, refined these concepts and narrowed them for further development. Additional meetings with the SAC may be held as needed
Based on input derived from the SAC , the consultant has produced 11 different concepts (Attachment 1). Following its review, the SAC recommends that Concept Nos. 3, 6 and 11 be considered as the preferred designs and advanced for further consideration. The SAC further recommends that the concepts incorporate both daytime and nighttime elements, including illumination and color changing lighting. The three recommended options represent distinct design styles.
The concepts are preliminary and are intended to illustrate potential design direction rather than final designs. Components such as structural elements, lettering, materials, and lighting may be further refined or interchanged amongst concepts as the design process advances. Presenting the top three recommended distinct styles at this stage is intended to facilitate feedback on the overall design direction rather than selection of a final design.
With respect to location, staff recommends the intersection of Mission Avenue and Nevada Street. The recommended location provides sufficient right-of-way, preserves ocean views, meets applicable sight-distance requirements, and is outside the City’s Coastal Zone. Staff also evaluated alternative locations along Mission Avenue and Coast Highway; however, those locations presented greater constraints associated with available right-of-way, existing utilities, and the ability to accommodate the gateway foundations. These known utility conflicts on Coast Highway would require coordination and relocation by utility providers, potentially extending the project schedule. Based on this evaluation, staff recommends advancing the Mission Avenue and Nevada Street location and seeks Council input on the proposed location before proceeding with further design and public engagement.
Staff seeks Council feedback on the proposed gateway location and schematic design concepts before proceeding with public engagement. Public engagement will occur citywide by the end of the calendar year through in-person events and digital platforms, with at least one engagement activity planned in each Council district to ensure broad community participation. Design efforts need to be completed by the end of 2026 in order to begin fabrication in early 2027 so the sign can be installed prior to the 2028 Olympics.
FISCAL IMPACT
Does not apply.
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
Does not apply.
CITY ATTORNEY’S ANALYSIS
Does not apply.
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Prepared by: MJ Hernandez, Assistant Engineer
Reviewed by: Lillian Doherty, Development Services Director
Submitted by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Gateway Signage Concepts