HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-08-2009 PCC MinutesPromotional Coordinating Committee
Minutes
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
5:30 pm
City Hall
Council Hearing Room
990 Palm Street
CALL TO ORDER: Chair Cate Norton 5:30 pm
PRESENT: T. Conner, Babb, Kinney, Rizzo, Davis
STAFF PRESENT: Brigitte Elke, Principal Administrative Analyst
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
CONSENT AGENDA
ACTION: Moved by T.Conner/Babb to approve the consent agenda with changes to the
special meeting minutes for the GIA meeting on March 18, 2009 as discussed.
Motion carried 6:0
PRESENTATIONS
1. NEW MEMBER OATHS
Elaina Cano from the City Clerk’s office administered the new members’ oath for Marco Rizzo
and Dusty Davis. Both members were welcomed to the board by Chair Norton.
2. QUARTERLY REPORT – VISITORS & CONFERENCE BUREAU
Steve Burns, Interim Executive Director for the SLOVCB, thanked the committee and the City
for its pervious support. He reported on the upcoming changes the organization will
experience in order to emerge as a viable und strong tourism and visitors’ entity for the
County.
They will continue popular programs such as Restaurant Month and expand coop print
opportunities into San Jose and Thousand Oaks. They will offer fully covered PR trips for
high profile publications, and redesign the website with an added blog module. They will also
continue trade show presence, the film commission, and have a dedicated staff person for
group sales.
3. SLO CAR FREE PROGRAM
Aeron Arlin Genet presented the SLO Car Free program to the committee. The program is a
collaborative effort between the Air Pollution Control District and many private organizations
to create a SLO Car Free program mirrored on Santa Barbara’s model. The program intends
to entice travelers to come to SLO by train, bus, or airplane and provides all the tools
necessary to enjoy SLO’s attractions car-free and care-free. They hope to return in the Fall
2009 with more concrete materials and will apply for GIA funding to help them with the
needed collateral and promotional material.
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. MARKETING EFFORTS UNTIL JUNE 30, 2009
Given that the TBIDs marketing efforts will start to drive traffic, Verdin Marketing asked the
PCC to reallocate some funding currently set aside for SEM. They presented a strategy that
would allocate $3,000 to marketing efforts partnering with the Botanical Garden for its event
May 3 through 16, 2009. The marketing would concentrate on reaching out to garden
enthusiasts in Gilroy and Irvine as well as SEM targeting ECO Tours and Garden Tours.
ACTION: Moved by T.Conner/Babb to reallocate funding as presented by Verdin
Marketing, Ink. Motion carried 6:0
2. SLO COUNTY AIRPORT PRESENTATION AND REQUEST FOR FUNDING
Richard Howell and Phil D’Acri from the SLO County Airport gave the committee an update
regarding the current status on the airport industry and related air traffic. They also reported
on the current effort to keep the airport as a viable economic engine for the County and the
current collaboration efforts underway to give financial assistance to cover the matching
amount needed to apply for a ………………….. grant.
The committee members are interested in a collaboration with the airport, but clearly stated
that the budget discussion is only underway and concrete budget allocations are still a month
away. They asked staff to place the item on the May agenda for further review.
PCC LIAISON REPORTS
John Conner gave a brief report on the TBID meeting. The TBID Board will be working with
Level Studios on the development of a new tourism website, a marketing plan and the
execution of the plan through June 30, 2010.
PCC COMMUNICATIONS
Chair Norton asked staff for an update regarding the budget and upcoming budget hearings.
The GIA subcommittee agreed to meet on April 30, 2009 to discuss the applications received
by April 17, 2009. This should allow the members to review all applications and structure a
preliminary recommendation to the PCC for May 13, 2009 in one session.
Meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm.