A swallow swooping into frame. A mission bell inscribed with “Fr. Junipero Serra.” Native American kiicha dwellings. Cattle, oranges, walnuts and a person on horseback.

Those are the images city leaders decided best convey San Juan Capistrano and make up the new city seal adopted this week to replace the 60-year-old logo City Council members have said is outdated.

The new seal was chosen from nearly three dozen potential designs submitted by the public and considered by the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission. The commission in July voted unanimously to recommend the artwork by Kimberleigh Gavin to the City Council.

After some tweaks and revisions based on feedback from city officials, Gavin’s final piece was approved by a majority of council members on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Councilman Sergio Farias was the only no vote, saying during the meeting he didn’t “think we’re there” with the design, concerned over how the artwork will look when printed or viewed digitally.

Farias and Councilman Troy Bourne in December initiated the search for a new seal to replace the city’s original design, which Farias has said both felt “was really dated,” and could be reimagined into something that translates better on digital platforms, where it’s most viewed these days.

The existing seal features Saint Serra embracing a Native American boy. The Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, also called the Acjachemen people, were the original inhabitants of the area.

Farias has said that wasn’t the driving motivation behind seeking out a new seal, but many in the community agreed it was “about time” for a new design.

San Juan Capistrano’s existing city seal, which has been used since 1961.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Gavin told the City Council she felt her artwork “tells such a nice story of our city.”

“We’ve had that existing city seal for so long, over 60 years, and it was good for its time,” Gavin said. “I think it’s time to get more of the history involved in this city seal. We just have such a story to tell.”

She said the silhouetted cattle are meant to represent the city’s ranch era. The design also features images of a stream and mountains. A maroon border with the dates the city was founded and incorporated surrounds the artwork.

Having so many images in the new logo goes against the idea city leaders originally intended for the project – to simplify the design, Farias said.

“I don’t think it accomplishes what we set up to do,” he said Wednesday, adding that he thinks he “made a mistake” for not initially recommending city staff hire professional design consultants on the project.

“I just don’t see that lasting for another 60 years,” he said of the selected design.

The new seal will replace the old one in a phased approach, starting with updating the city’s website, staff email signatures and other digital platforms, city spokeswoman Matisse Reischl said. Printed materials such as business cards and letterheads are likely next, before physical signage and vehicle logos are updated, she said.

City staff is working on a schedule and price estimate for the rollout, and the costs “could likely be absorbed within the existing city operating budget,” a staff report said.

Because city employees will soon be moving to a temporary office while a new city hall is being constructed, Reischl noted that new supplies were expected to be printed soon anyway with the updated address, so “it’s kind of a nice time to do that together,” she said.

Before anything appears in print or online, though, the design will likely be adjusted for the better sizing and resolution, Reischl said, “making sure everything works well with the website and kind of getting everything in the right format.

“It’s not going to be immediate.”

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