LATHROP — Lathrop Mayor Joseph “Chaka” Santos is putting his money where his mouth is when it comes of creating a slogan for the city he represents.

When discussing the best way to come up with a motto that will grace official city signs and be included on city letterhead Monday night, Santos said that he’d put up $100 of his own money to go to anybody in the community that came up with the winning entry.

The council voted unanimously to form a committee that includes members of the public to come up with a slogan – an idea that resurfaced after a member of the public suggested it back in January and Councilman Omar Ornelas asked that it be placed on the agenda last month.

“I’m willing to take this a few steps further,” Santos said. “I’m challenging the youth of the community to bring out their true character. I’ll put $100 up for the person who comes up with the best slogan and logo – something that’s different. We’ll even trademark it in their name.”

In the staff report for the item the council had more than a dozen options that had previously been discussed – some dating back as far as the “Gold Rush City” development discussions of the mid-1990’s. Ornelas said he’d rather see a committee formed that includes the public – the people that truly encompass the spirit of Lathrop – to decide what the final name will be.

“Obviously this is something that’s not going to happen overnight. It’s going to take some time,” Ornelas said. “But with something this important, people should have to take their time.”

An official timetable for returning the matter to the council for official consideration was not set.

While Manteca currently holds “The Family City” as their official slogan, it’s a mantra that has changed over the course of the last two decades to suit the desire of the city council of that time. The town was initially known as “The Heart of California” before it was changed to “The Crossroads of California.”

Some of the ideas that Lathrop could have chosen from Monday night included:

• Crossroads to the Future

• The Better Way

• Full of Promise

• The Little City that Does and Will

• Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

• Location, Location, LATHROP

Not all of them were look favorably upon by Ornelas.

“We’ve had recommendations in the past and some were good and some weren’t so good, but they were residents who were suggesting them,” he said.  “I think we should go that route again because this is something that should belong to the people.”