The State of the City event is an opportunity for Wauwatosa to put its best foot forward, and more than 100 city leaders, elected officials, civic volunteers, business owners and engaged citizens turned out May 14 to celebrate the city's present and, according to the event's ubiquitous theme, be a part of "our next chapter."
Some, like Natasha Meyer, took the stage to lean into that theme quite literally. Meyer's East Tosa book store, the Well Red Damsel, has been a bright spot in the business community since opening last year. At the State of the City event, Meyer kicked off a series of brief speeches held at Hart Park's Muellner Building, in the space that during the winter serves as the home of the Wauwatosa Curling Club.
Other book references came natural to the next speaker, Peter Loeffel, director of the Wauwatosa Public Library, and much the evening's focus was on raising awareness of four proposed options for upgrading, renovating or possibly replacing the aging City Hall and library complex. A decision by the Common Council is expected at the end of July.
David Paulsen
The library is "the best place in the city," Loeffel said, yet the 1957 building's last renovation was more than 30 years ago. "It has served us incredibly well since 1957, but if we want to keep being a vital community space, it's time for a building remodel. It's time for the next chapter."
Fire Chief Barbara Kadrich spoke of her department's future as part of a joint department taking shape through a partnership with West Allis. And Mayor Dennis McBride offered an overview of Tosa's recent history and how city leaders are building on Tosa's reputation as "a place where people want to live, work and invest."
The newest example of the city's next chapter, though, was unveiled during a speech by Deputy City Administrator Melissa Cantarero Weiss. She gave the crowed its first look at Wauwatosa's new "design element." The design is essentially an alternate, digital-friendly city logo, though city officials have shied from calling it a logo, so as not to undercut Tosa's longtime emblem, the shield, which is still beloved by some in the city.
The shield survives, Weiss said, but the new design element will help the city better tell its story at home and beyond.
It "was inspired by our many beautiful neighborhoods and green spaces throughout Wauwatosa," Weiss said. Its central green icon features the silhouette of trees bending to form the shape of a home. "The branches seem to be holding hands, a symbol of connection and inclusivity."
"Wauwatosa, Wisconsin" is spelled in a bold, modern font. It also features a sparkle embedded within the phrase "Estd. 1835" to signify the city's namesake firefly.
Afterward, Weiss told Tosa Forward News that a high-resolution digital image of the design was not immediately available in time for inclusion with this story, but it likely will start appearing in the city's public messaging next week.
The council had voted in January to spend $14,000 on the new "design element" for the city, a measure that proponents said would help Wauwatosa modernize its branding for the digital age at a time when it also is preparing to launch a revamped website.
- David Paulsen, a Tosa East Towne resident and editor of Tosa Forward News, has more than 25 years of experience as a professional journalist. He can be reached at editor@tosanews.com.
