Submitted Art A rendering from Ackerman Estvold shows proposed wayfinding sign designs, including an arched sign that would stand at Main Street and also at Central Avenue.

A $980,000 plan to highlight Minot’s amenities won support from the Minot City Council Monday.

The council voted unanimously to move forward with a wayfinding signage program that has been under development since recommended in an International Economic Development Council study four years ago. The council will consider funding sources for the three-year, phased project as it develops the city’s budget, but its action Monday places the project in the Capital Improvement Plan.

The project would update entry monuments into the city, add a variety of signage for primary and secondary attractions and install downtown kiosks. It also would include two archways into historic downtown – one at the west end of Central at Broadway and the other at the south end of Main Street at Burdick Expressway.

“The one hesitation I have here is with the gateway arches into downtown,” council member Stephan Podrygula said. “I think they’re a bit grandiose. I don’t know that they’re necessary downtown because it’s obvious this is a built-up area. It’s downtown.”

Stephanie Schoenrock, executive director for Visit Minot, and Ryan Ackerman with Ackerman-Estvold outlined the proposal to the council. Visit Minot and Ackerman-Estvold are among members of a project steering committee that includes representatives of the City of Minot, Minot Area Chamber EDC, Downtown Business & Professional Association and Minot Parks.

Funding was approved in 2021 and 2022 to complete the design for updated monument signage, primary and secondary destination signage and downtown signage.

Phase one of implementation includes six highway signs, 31 primary destination signs and 12 secondary destination signs. The cost is estimated at $232,000. Primary destinations include sites such as Minot State University and Minot Municipal Auditorium while secondary sites would include locations such as sports complexes and the new North Hill high school.

Phase two consists of five updated entry monuments and two downtown gateway arches at a cost of $350,000. Phase three includes downtown signage, consisting of five secondary gateways, three kiosks, 24 pedestrian signs and four parking signs, for a total estimated cost of $398,000.

Currently, implementation is proposed to begin in 2023. The steering committee asked the council to consider providing funding this year to condense the three-year project into two years.

Council member Carrie Evans said her conversation with the city finance director indicated economic development funds don’t appear available this year.

“But I still hope that as we move forward in 2022 that we keep this on our radar and if funds become available to move up implementation starting in 2022, I will wholeheartedly lead that effort,” she said.

Podrygula asked for consideration of an additional kiosk at the Amtrak station. No action was taken by the council on another kiosk, estimated to cost $60,000.

Council member Lisa Olson said the public is likely asking why wayfinding signage is necessary when nearly everyone has a smartphone and GPS.

“It’s a fair question,” Ackerman responded. “As our committee worked through this, we felt like incorporating pedestrian wayfinding really increases the sense of place, and it assists people in finding locations, but moreso it allows them to maybe immerse themselves into the experience of downtown instead of the experience of an iPhone.”

Olson added signage can be helpful by informing people of destinations they would not know to look for.

Some signage would encroach on sidewalks, but Ackerman explained the signs would meet the clearance and accessibility standards required to avoid interfering with pedestrian, bicycle or wheelchair traffic.