Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 9, 2015 Packet City of San Luis Obispo, Agenda, Promotional Coordinating Committee PCC Agenda Wednesday, December 9, 2015 5:30 pm City Hall- Council Hearing Room The goals of the City of San Luis Obispo Promotional Coordinating Committee are to (1) improve the quality of life available to all residents of and visitors to San Luis Obispo and (2) promote, in a manner consistent with long-range community goals, the development of San Luis Obispo as a regional and tourist center. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Sasha Palazzo PUBLIC COMMENT: Each speaker is limited to three minutes of public comment. At this time, you may address the Committee on items that are not on the agenda but are of interest to the public and within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Promotional Coordinating Committee. The Committee may not discuss or take action on issues that are not on the agenda other than to briefly respond to statements made or questions raised, or ask staff to follow up on such issues. CONSENT ITEMS C.1 Minutes of the Meeting on November 18, 2015 C.2 Community Promotions Budget Report C.3 Public Relations Report C.4 Grants-in-Aid Support Report C.5 Visitors Center Report C.6 SLO Happenings Promotions Report C.7 SLO Happenings Technology Report C.8 TOT Report BUSINESS ITEMS 1. WAYFINDING SIGN PROJECT 30 mins City Engineer Bridget Fraser will present the orientation maps and City Hall entry monument designs for the committee’s review. The committee will also receive an update on the way finding sign installation. 2. MID-YEAR EVENT PROMOTION SPONSORSHIP ALLOCATION 60 mins The committee will discuss the applications that were received through the Events Promotion Sponsorship process and determine the funding commitments. 3. GIA APPLICATION REVIEW 15 mins The committee will review the current GIA application template and direct staff to make any changes. PCC LIAISON REPORTS & COMMUNICATION At this time Committee members make announcements, report on activities, refer to staff issues for study and report back to the Committee at a subsequent meeting. 1. GIA UPDATE – LIAISON REPORT 2. TBID BOARD REPORT – TBID Minutes November 18, 2015 3. TOURISM PROGRAM UPDATE ADJOURN. POSTING STATEMENT: I, Molly Cano, Tourism Manager, do hereby certify that on December 4, 2015 by 5:00 p.m., a true and correct copy of this agenda was posted on the bulletin board outside City Hall. Internet access to agendas and related material is available at www.slocity.org. Minutes Promotional Coordinating Committee Wednesday, November 18, 2015 Regular Meeting of the Promotional Coordinating Committee CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Promotional Coordinating Committee was called to order on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Palazzo. ROLL CALL Present: Committee Members Daniel Levi, Clint Pearce, Stephanie Roberson, and Chair Sasha Palazzo Absent: Deborah Lewis, Patricia Loosley, and Vice-Chair Jill LeMieux Staff Present: Tourism Manager Molly Cano and Recording Secretary Kevin Christian PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS There was no public comment on non-agenda items. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LEVI, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ROBERSON, CARRIED 4-0, to approve Consent Calendar Items C1 thru C8. C1. MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015 MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LEVI, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ROBERSON, CARRIED 4-0, to approve the Minutes of the Promotional Coordinating Committee meeting on October 14, 2015, as presented. C2. COMMUNITY PROMOTIONS BUDGET REPORT MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LEVI, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ROBERSON, CARRIED 4-0, to approve the Community Promotions Budget Report. Draft – Promotional Coordinating Committee Minutes of November 18, 2015 Page 2 City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle C3. PUBLIC RELATIONS REPORT MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LEVI, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ROBERSON, CARRIED 4-0, to approve the Public Relations Report. C4. GRANTS-IN-AID (GIA) SUPPORT REPORT MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LEVI, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ROBERSON, CARRIED 4-0, to approve the Grants-In-Aid Support Report. C5. VISITOR CENTER REPORT MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LEVI, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ROBERSON, CARRIED 4-0, to approve the Visitor Center Report. C6. SLO HAPPENINGS PROMOTIONS REPORT MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LEVI, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ROBERSON, CARRIED 4-0, approve the SLO Happenings Promotions Report. C7. SLO HAPPENINGS TECHNOLOGY REPORT MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LEVI, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ROBERSON, CARRIED 4-0, to approve the SLO Happenings Technology Report. C8. TOT (TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX) REPORT MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LEVI, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ROBERSON, CARRIED 4-0, to approve the TOT Report. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. SLO HAPPENINGS COLLATERAL Tourism Manager Cano presented the final coaster designs created by FreshBuzz media based on input from the Committee during their October 14, 2015 meeting. The committee discussed additional changes to the back side design. MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ROBERSON, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER PEARCE, CARRIED 4-0, to accept the design with discussed changes to be made by FreshBuzz and approved by Tourism Manager Cano. Draft – Promotional Coordinating Committee Minutes of November 18, 2015 Page 3 City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle 2. SLO HAPPENINGS APP MEDIA PROMOTION & PLAN Tourism Manager Cano presented a “two pronged” targeted outreach plan for the SLO Happenings app; one being a focus on event organizers who are populating the app content; the second targeting users via press releases and a social media push. MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LEVI, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ROBERSON, CARRIED 4-0, to approve the plan as presented. PCC LIAISON REPORTS AND COMMUNICATION 1. GIA UPDATE Chair Palazzo stated that the Via Dei Colori SLO event reported a low turnout and that the promoter felt it was due to the event coinciding with the SAVOR event; the Evening in Greece promoter reported a successful event with a “good crowd”. There were no further liaison event reports. Tourism Manager Cano reported that the following three events have not yet been funded as the required paperwork has not been completed: “La Guitarra California Festival 2015”, “San Luis Obispo Multicultural Music & Dance Showcase”, and “Children’s Day in the Plaza with Passport to the Arts”. 2. TBID (TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT) BOARD REPORT Committee Member Pearce reported that the marketing agency presented its quarterly report, specifically highlighting the video and photography assets produced for the project; noted that the Chamber of Commerce reported strong public exposure results; stated that the Eroica funding has been continued and expanded for its second year; stated that Helium has progressed to “Milestone 5”. 3. TOURISM PROGRAM UPDATE Tourism Manager Cano reported that the new web site will be launched on Thursday, November 19, 2015; highlighted the integration of the SLO Happenings app and coordinated calendar; stated the mid-year event sponsorship applications are due by November 30, 2015, noting the Committee will review funding for these events at the December 9, 2015 meeting; reported the TBID received approval at the City Council meeting of November 3, 2015, allowing the Board formation to continue for another year; updated the committee on the schedule and current projects of the Tourism program intern. Draft – Promotional Coordinating Committee Minutes of November 18, 2015 Page 4 City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m. to the next Regular meeting to be held on December 9, 2015, 5:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kevin Christian Recording Secretary Community Promotions Budget 2015-16 Budget 2015-16 Amount Budget 396,029$ 2014-15 Released Encumbrances -$ Returned Funds (GIA)-$ Total Budget 396,029$ Expenditure Last Updated 12/1/2015 Expenditure Allocated Expended Available Balance Contractor Grants-in-Aid Funding 95,000$ 88,900$ 6,100$ GIA Recipients Grants-in-Aid Support Contract 28,000$ 9,332$ Chamber of Commerce Event Promotion Funding 40,000$ 37,485$ 2,515$ City Administration SLO Happenings Program - Technology 16,000$ 7,800$ GFL SLO Happenings Program - Promotion 28,300$ 13,627$ FreshBuzz General Contract Services 12,000$ 1,825$ 10,175$ Various: FreshBuzz, Visitors Center 103,000$ 34,332$ Chamber of Commerce PR Contract 32,000$ 10,683$ Chamber of Commerce Downtown Maps 8,500$ Chamber of Commerce Support Cost 5,000$ 108$ City Administration Administration 28,229$ 28,229$ City Administration Total 396,029$ 18,790$ Report to City of SLO – TBID and PCC Public Relations Contract November 2015 Media Releases City of SLO unveils newly redesigned tourism website and videos Wrote press release regarding redesigned SanLuisOBispoVacations.com and promotional videos. Media/Community Relations 1. Worked with StudioGood to include story ideas in media section of redesigned SanLuisoObispoVacations.com. 2. Spoke on Cal Poly Admissions web show about what it is like to live in San Luis Obispo and what prospective students should do in the city when they come to look at Cal Poly. 3. Attended Festival Mozaic Innovator Night. 4. Distributed downtown maps and GIA recipient materials to SLO City Hotels. 5. Worked with Visit San Luis Obispo County to share holiday events happening in San Luis Obispo. 6. Worked with Mary Forgione on her LA Times article about the cleaning of Seattle’s bubblegum wall. 7. Coordinated the SLO portion of a trip for Canadian World Traveler journalists Michael Morcos and Natalie Ayotte. 8. Worked with Anna Hart on her Telegraph article about her Uber Wine experience in San Luis Obispo. 9. Submitted the following for consideration in Visit California’s California Bike Tours or Trails: a. The Madonna Inn bike path b. Historic San Luis Obispo by Bike c. Mountain Biking Cerro San Luis 10. Provided craft beer photos to Meetings Today for an upcoming piece on San Luis Obispo. 11. Connected Visit San Luis Obispo County and SAS Airlines with Sunset Drive-In to film a promotional video. 12. Pitched San Luis Obispo as one of the 10 Best Towns for Christmas to Carri Wilbanks of USA Today. Report to City of SLO – TBID and PCC Public Relations Contract November 2015 13. Worked with Landis Communications to brainstorm a SLO FAM tour this March. Landis Communications represents Native Trails. 14. Pitched Winter WonderSLO as a unique ice skating experience associated with a hotel. 15. Continued to work with the city, Barnett Cox & Associates and StudioGood on overall tourism marketing campaign. Media Relations/Placement 1. Visiting San Luis Obispo — the ‘Happiest City in America’ Yahoo Travel writer Sid Lipsey talks about the seven reasons he thinks San Luis Obispo is home to the happiest people. Unique Views: 240,207 https://www.yahoo.com/travel/visiting-san-luis-obispo-the-1299367452573750.html 2. Chew on this: Seattle's Gum Wall to be blasted clean In her LA Times article about Seattle’s gum wall being cleaned, Mary Forgione suggests that readers ‘go to Bubblegum Alley in San Luis Obispo for a chewing gum art fix.’ Unique Visitors: 23,773,049 http://www.latimes.com/travel/california/la-trb-seattle-gum-wall-cleaning-20151103- htmlstory.html Report to City of SLO – TBID and PCC Public Relations Contract November 2015 3. Off the Path: discovering the charm of three less-visited cities Chevrolet’s New Roads Magazine features San Luis Obispo calling it ‘one of the most beautiful small cities in the state.’ 608,000 Instagram followers, 4,071,368 Facebook followers, 791,000 twitter followers http://newroads3.mynetworkcontent.com/ 4. Uber Wine – how a taxi service just got so much better Anna Hart’s article for Telegraph UK follows her experience testing out Uber Wine in San Luis Obispo. Winery suggestions and timelines were coordinated by the SLO Chamber, the City of SLO and SLO Wine Country. Unique Views: 16,700,000 (self reported) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/wine/uber-wine--how-a-taxi-service-just-got- so-much-better/ Report to City of SLO – TBID and PCC Public Relations Contract November 2015 5. An Octopus Typewriter by Courtney Brown NPR’s Fresh Air and Colossal, a visual culture website, cover the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art’s annual California Sculpture SLAM. 4,300,000 Monthly Visitors (self-reported) http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2015/11/an-octopus-typewriter-by-courtney-brown/ http://nprfreshair.tumblr.com/post/133089147563/photo-break-as-part-of-the-san-luis- obispo 6. SLO named a Gold Level Bike Friendly Community Bike World News and The Tribune articles highlight San Luis Obispo’s designation as one of only four gold level bike friendly communities in California. Circulation/Audience: 831,666 http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article45273849.html Unique Visitors Per Month: 120,335 http://www.bikeworldnews.com/2015/11/16/bicycle-friendly-community-program-adds- platinum-gold-cities/ Report to City of SLO – TBID and PCC Public Relations Contract November 2015 7. New San Luis Obispo tourism video shows off beauty of Central Coast KSBY covers TBID’s new San Luis Obispo video. Unique Views: 290,189 http://www.ksby.com/clip/12028035/new-san-luis-obispo-tourism-video-shows-off- beauty-of-central-coast 8. The Best Places to Go in California With a Newborn Baby Global Post article calls the central coast of California, and specifically San Luis Obispo, one of the best places to travel with a newborn. 5+ million monthly unique visitors (self-reported) http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/places-california-newborn-baby-17246.html Report to City of SLO – TBID and PCC Public Relations Contract November 2015 9. 10 Bucket List Trips to Take in College The Blonde Abroad includes a California Road Trip, with a stop in San Luis Obispo on her college travel bucket list. 95,600 Instagram followers, 18,371 Facebook followers, 10,400 twitter followers http://theblondeabroad.com/2015/11/02/10-bucket-list-trips-to-take-in-college/ 10. 10 Selfies You've Taken in SLO HerCampus.com article features a list of selfie spots in SLO. Unique Visitors: 1,367,652 http://www.hercampus.com/school/cal-poly/10-selfies-youve-taken-slo Report to City of SLO – TBID and PCC Public Relations Contract November 2015 11. 5 ways to enjoy the outdoors this weekend in SLO County The Tribune article highlights the outdoor activities in our community saying ‘San Luis Obispo alone offers more than 40 miles of hiking trails.’ Circulation/Audience: 831,666 http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article46572180.html 12. Enjoy the Journey and the Destinations, Your Guide to SLO and Santa Barbara Amtrak.com blogpost highlights San Luis Obispo’s outdoor activities, mixed with a little shopping. 22,800 Instagram followers, 473,021 Facebook followers, 102,000 twitter followers http://blog.amtrak.com/2015/11/enjoy-journey-destinations-guide-slo-santa-barbara/ Report to City of SLO – TBID and PCC Public Relations Contract November 2015 13. Utah’s Alta Lodge offers fourth-night discount San Diego Union Tribune deals columnist Allison DaRosa features Apple Farm in her monthly piece highlighting the best travel deals across the nation. Unique Visitors: 1,828,975 http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/oct/31/utahs-alta-lodge-offers-fourth- night-discount/ 14. Hello Growing Grounds Local jewelry designer Lisa Leonard’s blog post about Growing Grounds in downtown San Luis Obispo. 44,400 Instagram followers, 390,660 Facebook followers, 14,700 twitter followers https://www.lisaleonard.com/blog/san-luis-obispo/hello-growing-grounds Report to City of SLO – TBID and PCC Public Relations Contract November 2015 15. ‘Symphony in Sandstone’ exhibit opens at SLO Museum of Art Lompoc Record article highlights San Luis Obispo Museum of Art exhibit. Unique Views: 34,953 http://lompocrecord.com/entertainment/symphony-in-sandstone-exhibit-opens-at-slo- museum-of-art/article_21472bcf-bbb6-5229-9236-ab18fe627bc6.html 16. Ciopinot, A Place Where Pinot Noir and Sea-Food are a Perfect Match. Cuisineist.com article shares experience in San Luis Obispo and at Ciopinot, Buona Tavola. Unique Views: 15,375 http://cuisineist.com/cuisine/californias-central-coast/ciopinot-a-place-where-pinot-noir- and-sea-food-are-a-perfect-match/ Unique Views: 15,375 http://cuisineist.com/cuisine/californias-central-coast/buona-tavola-in-san-luis-obispo/ Grants- in-Aid Marketing Support November 2015 Report Organization Event VC PR SM EC MTG ST PC Almond Country Quilt Guild Seven Sisters Quilt Show X Cal Poly Corporation: Cal Poly Arts La Guitarra California Festival 2015 X X X Canzona Women's Ensemble Canzona Women's Ensemble Concerts X X X Central Coast Arts International SLO Multicultural Music & Dance Showcase X Central Coast Children's Choir Annual Concerts X X Civic Ballet 2014 Nutcracker Ballet X X X Ecologistics, Inc. All-Star Benefit Concert to SLO Down Cancer X X Foundation for San Luis Obispo County Public Libraries Library Foundation Literary Salon X History Center of San Luis Obispo County SLO Souls: Meet the Eternal Residents of San Luis Obispo X X X X Institute for Sustainable Living ReSkilling Expo 2016: Learn Practical Skills for Living JCC - Federation of San Luis Obispo SLO Jewish Film Festival X X Opera San Luis Obispo Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci: A City-Wide Arts Collaboration X X X X Saint Andrew Greek Orthodox Church Evening in Greece X X X San Luis Obispo County Arts Council Children's Day in the Plaza with Passport to the Arts X San Luis Obispo Little Theatre 2014-15 Season X X X San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum Central Coast Railroad Festival X X X X X X San Luis Obispo Soccer Club SLO Summer Classic X San Luis Obispo Symphony New Year's Eve Celebration X X San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble 2016 California International Choral Festival X Senior Volunteer Services 7th Annual Giveaway Raffle X X X X SLO Children's Museum Via Dei Colori SLO X X X X SLO Downtown Association 40th Annual Holiday Parade X X X SLO Downtown Association 20th Annual Concerts in the Plaza X X SLO Noor Foundation 50 Shades of Color Fashion Revue + MusicFest X United Way of San Luis Obispo County Flavor of SLO 2016 X Wilshire Hospice Dia de los Muertos in Mission Plaza X X X X X Black is current month, gray is past work Returned or forfeited grant 25 Total; 23 served to date or in progress VC- Dropped off materials for display in Visitor Center; brochures, posters, etc. PR- Sent out Press Release SM- Ran event through Social Media outlets EC- Included in Event Calendar MTG- Meet with Groups in person to offer public relations advice and support ST- Sell Tickets for events through the Visitor Center PC- In place of in person meeting, had phone call with group to discuss details. Report to City of SLO – PCC Visitor Services Contract November 2015 Visitor Interaction November 2014 October 2015 November 2015 Walk-ins 5,121 9,437 5,283 Farmers’ Market n/a n/a n/a Phone calls 369 307 415 Emails 115 625 300 Visitor Center Highlights  Promoted Dia de los Muertos in the Mission Plaza  Promoted Cal Poly Arts Presents Melissa Etheridge  Promoted Festival Mozaic Winter Mezzo Chamber Music Series  Promoted the San Luis Obispo Symphony Classics in the Cohan II  Enjoyed helping every single visitor that came through our doors Demographic Snapshot International travelers 265 Asia 14% Africa 0% Europe 30% Australia/New Zeeland 14% United Kingdom 12% Canada 16% South America 14% Domestic travelers (outside of CA.) 230 West Coast 10% East Coast 19% South West 39% Mid-West 21% South 11% California travelers 1,371 Northern CA 22% Southern CA 21% Central Coast 51% Central Valley 5% Desert 1% Calendar of Events November 2015 December 2015 Events in calendar 212 217 SLO HAPPENINGS MONTHLY REPORT REPORT PERIOD: November 1 – 30, 2015 PROGRAM SERVICES & APP RESULTS SUMMARY Services Delivered: Social and Content Straegies, Marketing and Design, App Promotions Strategy, Tactical Planning & Execution, Final App and Splash Page Designs and Coaster Design Final Drafts delivered and awaiting final decision. App and Clicks Performance: Number of App Sessions: 2,278 Number of Active Users: 1,308 Number of App Downloads: 682 Number of Page Views within the App: 11,647 Splash Page Link Clicks (bit.ly/SLOHappenings): 69 Add Event Page Link Clicks (bit.ly/AddYourSLOEvent): 29 ADVERTISING MEDIA OUTLET Impressions Clicks CTR Facebook Ads for Page Likes / Awareness 61,424 530 1.80% Facebook Ads for App Installs 3,365 35 .80% *note: Ad spend this month was under $300 as we tried the new app install ads. Because these are specifically targeted to iPhone and Android users the reach is limited, but the quality of lead is more precise. We will continue testing ad types and adjust for best results. SOCIAL CHANNELS In November, we posted upcoming events, promotions and local information on all channels, optimized the ad campaigns and provided an under 30 min response engagement, incrementally growing all channels. With the ongoing targeting focused on local awareness, mobile users, as well as likes outreach, we continue to see channel growth and engagement, including an organic post (Yahoo Travels / 7 Reasons of SLO Happiness) received over 21,800 views. We expect a rise overall when we can market the new app version. . FACEBOOK October 2015 November 2015 +/- Likes: 20,647 20,743 +96 Emails / Entries 172 172 - - TWITTER October 2015 November 2015 +/- Tweets 657 685 +28 Following 1,787 1,835 +48 Followers 1,326 1,405 +79 Likes 64 79 +23 INSTAGRAM October 2015 November 2015 +/- Posts 38 56 +18 Followers 249 416 +167 Following 389 445 +56 3765 S. Higuera St. Suite 120   San Luis Obispo, CA 93401      SLO Happenings November Report    November Events: ​123    Submissions: ​22    From Chamber: ​101    Development Status  Development is on track. Favoriting events has been completed so users will be able to save events for quick reference.  The map view  is still under development and is expected to be ready for testing next Monday.    TOT Comparision 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 Change +/-2014-15 2015-16 Change +/-2014-15 2015-16 Change +/-2014-15 2015-16 Change +/- July 565,637$ 508,195$ 541,806$ 591,184$ 636,778$ 699,845$ 761,346$ 844,845$ 11.0%87.2 88.2 1.2 143.53$ 159.40$ 11.1 125.19$ 140.66$ 12.4 August 609,452$ 511,564$ 542,194$ 574,395$ 623,655$ 674,244$ 732,271$ 774,501$ 5.8%84.7 84.7 0 144.08$ 150.35$ 4.3 122.01$ 127.37$ 4.4 September 416,859$ 400,023$ 437,543$ 490,524$ 508,583$ 505,954$ 557,002$ 643,127$ 15.5%72.7 75.8 4.4 127.59$ 137.53$ 7.8 92.73$ 104.30$ 12.5 October 416,905$ 414,870$ 442,586$ 437,805$ 469,977$ 509,435$ 594,032$ ** $642,221 **8.112%78 77.9 -0.2 130.39$ 140.91$ 8.1 101.68$ 109.70$ 7.9 November 354,737$ 280,913$ 330,924$ 347,437$ 359,163$ 425,769$ 475,360$ 67.8 $120.89 $81.95 December 274,871$ 246,684$ 274,417$ 314,784$ 319,451$ 355,315$ 391,132$ 57 $110.50 $62.95 January 258,316$ 230,279$ 256,351$ 276,165$ 302,153$ 331,853$ 400,239$ 60.6 110.82$ 67.15$ February 292,343$ 273,373$ 302,246$ 323,359$ 344,160$ 366,980$ 431,510$ 66.8 $116.20 $77.57 March 289,506$ 326,099$ 333,783$ 392,266$ 426,879$ 448,103$ 520,795$ 70.3 121.44$ 85.32$ April 391,891$ 423,158$ 451,133$ 475,913$ 486,850$ 564,617$ 610,894$ 78 133.83$ 104.34$ May 393,431$ 372,997$ 433,874$ 447,116$ 489,862$ 546,916$ 601,614$ 70.4 137.58$ 101.05$ June 456,098$ 490,326$ 512,543$ 578,234$ 610,948$ 630,729$ 727,028$ 82 149.08$ 122.30$ Total/Average 4,720,046$ 4,478,481$ 4,859,400$ 5,249,181$ 5,578,460$ 6,059,758$ 6,803,224$ 2,262,473$ 72.96 81.65 128.83$ 147.05$ 95.35$ 120.51$ Occupancy ADR RevPAR Figures from Smith Travel Research report **Total does not include 1 outstanding TOT. February 2, 2015 Dear Interested Organization: The City of San Luis Obispo's Promotional Coordinating Committee (PCC), under direction of the City Council, recognizes that cultural, social and recreational organizations make significant contributions to the overall quality of life in the City of San Luis Obispo. Accordingly, the City sponsors a Grants-In-Aid program to promote such activities within our community. The City awards annual grants totaling approximately $90,000 to approximately 25 organizations each year. At this time the City of San Luis Obispo invites you to apply for grant funding to be awarded as part of this program. To be considered for grant funding, organizations must have non-profit status (Articles of Incorporation, 501(c)(3) or (c)(6) status, Federal ID number and Tax Exempt Notification) prior to grant submittal. They must also have clearly stated goals, and be able to demonstrate that their financial management practices are sound and insure accountability. The City is unlikely to fund new projects which duplicate or conflict with existing programs, services, or events. Project collaboration among organizations is encouraged. Grant requests must be for programs and events that occur during the funding cycle, July 1, 2015– June 30, 2016. Organizations that received promotional grants during the 2014-15 funding cycle must have complied with all reporting requirements to be considered for a 2015-16 grant. To be considered for a grant, organizations must have attended the mandatory meeting on Wednesday February 11, 2015, at 5:00 pm in the Council Chamber and apply, using the attached application form, by NO LATER THAN 5:00 p.m., Friday March 6, 2015. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. The application must provide the following information: Please submit 10 sets (typed, clipped, and 3-hole punched) of the attached application. Additionally, please submit one copy (clipped) of the following: • your organization's financial statement • by-laws • tax exempt certification • a listing of all officers and staff • signed statement of limitations and payment disbursement (Attachment 4) PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS WITH THE REQUESTED APPLICATION OR BIND/STAPLE YOUR APPLICATION MATERIALS. It is important that your application provide all the requested information. Clear, concise and original applications are best. Ten copies of your original application should be hand delivered or mailed to: Promotional Coordinating Committee Attn: Molly Cano City of San Luis Obispo 990 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Please note the following dates: 1. February 2, 2015 - Application information available on the City’s website at www.slocity.org/culturalGIA. 2. February 11, 2015 at 5:00 p.m., Special Meeting of the PCC - An informational workshop will be held in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, to answer questions regarding the Grants-In-Aid process. This meeting is mandatory for all applicants, as the PCC will elaborate on the grant criteria to be applied. 3. March 6, 2015 - Completed applications will be due to the City Administration Office by 5:00 p.m. LATE OR INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. 4. May 20, 2015 at 5:30 p.m., Special Meeting of the PCC - Committee will present its preliminary 2015-16 Grants-In-Aid recommendations to applicants at a public meeting (all applicants will be notified of this meeting by email). 5. June 2015 - City Council reviews PCC recommendations and makes final funding decisions. 6. July 2015 – Grant contracting with organizations. 7. August 2015 - Grants available to approved organizations when fully executed agreements are returned. If you have any questions, please contact Molly Cano at 781-7165 or mcano@slocity.org. Sincerely, Jill LeMieux Chairperson, PCC PROMOTIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE GRANT APPLICATION ASSESSMENT CRITERIA Applications submitted to the Promotional Coordinating Committee will be evaluated both in terms of the applicant and the grant proposal using the following criteria: A. APPLICANT CRITERIA 1. Applicant organization must have a clearly stated purpose and function and be responsible for the planning and provision of a cultural, social or recreational program/event. 2. Applicant must demonstrate that it has the managerial and fiscal competence to complete the proposed project. Repeat applicants must have a successful history of using prior grant funds, as evidenced by a completed and accepted Final Report. 3. The organization must have non-profit status as defined in Section 501(c)(3) or (c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code (no exceptions made). 4. The organization must give evidence that it has pursued other sources of financial support, and that it has examined and weighed the financial ability of the target population to support its program or event. 5. The organization must extend its program to the general public and may not exclude anyone by reason of race, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, physical, mental or economic status. 6. The applicant organization must comply with the final report evaluation process as requested by the Promotional Coordinating Committee. B. GRANT CRITERIA & GUIDELINES 1. Priority will be given to events that take place in the City of San Luis Obispo or events of special benefit to the City of San Luis Obispo. 2. Grant requests must meet one or both of the purposes below: • Of tourism promotion advantage to the City of San Luis Obispo and/or; • Of cultural, social, and/or recreational benefit to the residents of the City of San Luis Obispo. 3. Events and programs must take place during the City’s fiscal year July 1 through June 30. Priority will be given to events that take place in “non-peak” tourism months (October through March) and bring people to San Luis Obispo. 4. Priority will be given to requests pertaining to marketing and promotional efforts for the event in order to drive visitors and tourists to the City of San Luis Obispo. 5. Additional consideration will be given to organizations celebrating an anniversary or grand opening. 6. Additional consideration will be given to organizations requesting “seed money” for new events or to enter new promotional markets outside of San Luis Obispo. 7. Amount of other City support requested and co-op opportunities that are actively pursued will be considered. 8. Demonstrated financial need is considered, although events with potential promotional benefit to the City of San Luis Obispo will be given higher consideration. 9. Past grant performance of the organization is considered. Please note that integration of the City’s logo and the City’s support of the event are imperative in order to receive grant funding for a consecutive year. 10. Grants are not given for the following expenses: a. Office overhead or staff b. Equipment c. Rental of space d. Scholarships / Honoraria The following tiered structure will be guidelines to establish the grant amount: First Tier: Up to $3,000 Organization of local reach with a cultural, social, and recreational benefit to the residents of San Luis Obispo. The organization agrees to place the City’s logo on all its marketing material and its website (if one is available). Second Tier: $3,001 to $7,500 Organizations that reach countywide and bring patrons to San Luis Obispo. The events have a distinct benefit to the City’s residents, but also drive traffic from around the county to the City for the event. The organization agrees to incorporate the City’s logo on marketing material and its website. In addition, the organization will include City of San Luis Obispo visitors and tourism information in its mailings and marketing outreach. Third Tier: $7,501 to $12,000 The organization effectively brings patrons from outside the county to San Luis Obispo and has the means to drive tourism to the City. In addition to the integration of the City’s logo on marketing material and its website, the organization will include City of San Luis Obispo visitors and tourism information in its mailings and marketing outreach and allow physical presence of City Tourism at the event. The organization is encouraged to submit a proposal to that effect. Please note: as the City’s Grants-in-Aid program is considered by the Promotional Coordinating Committee each year funding is provided, all applicants will have to compete for funding anew every year. Sustainable Funding Program If an organization receives continuous funding from PCC, Grants In Aid, it will be placed on the Sustainable Funding Program tract. The Sustainable Funding Program will allow an organization to receive up to 8 years of GIA funding. The intention of the Sustainable Funding Program is to provide initial support to local organizations as their event becomes more established in the City of San Luis Obispo and the organizers have the opportunity to cultivate new community partners and secure ongoing diverse funding options in order to become self-sustaining. Recipients on the Sustainable Funding Program can anticipate a reduction in GIA funds. After four years of funding Grants In Aid award amounts may be reduced by one third each year for a maximum of four years or as budgets allow. As organizations/events advance from the Sustainable Funding Program the PCC will have greater opportunity to fund different organizations and foster new program events for the City of San Luis Obispo. Once an event has advanced from the Sustainable Funding Program, the PCC will offer the event the opportunity to receive the In-Kind Promotional Support from the City of San Luis Obispo. In-Kind Promotional Support The PCC acknowledges that once an event advances from the Sustainable Funding Program, the event may wish to receive support from the City in a non-monetary manner. The PCC has created an In-Kind Promotional Support package to offer post sustainable funded events that may include: - Inclusion in the SLO Happenings campaign promotions - Inclusion in the #ShareSLO campaign promotions - Event listing on SanLuisObispoVacations.com - Limited PR Support: Inclusion in the activity round-up press releases - Use of City/ Tourism logo If the event meets certain criteria defined by the City, the event may be provided with the City’s Tourism logo and/or City emblem - Letter of Support endorsing the event to be used to seek other event funding or grants If the event meets certain criteria defined by the City, the event may be provided with a letter of endorsement To qualify for the In-Kind Promotional Support package, the event must have advanced from the Sustainable Funding Program and must complete the required portion of the GIA application annually. As with the GIA funding applications, the PCC will review the application for consideration prior to awarding the package. APPLICANT: Please use this as a checklist for your application. It does not need to be submitted with the application. Everything on this checklist is required, unless otherwise indicated.  1. Grant Application Form  a. Description of project or activities to be supported by the grant.  b. Description of who will benefit from the project, including any tourist attraction potential.  c. Description of any collaborative efforts with other agencies relative to this project.  d. The total amount requested, including a prioritized breakdown of individual line items within that total.  e. Detailed budget for the project, indicating expenditures to be supported by the grant and expenditures supported by other grant sources.  f. Crowd control safety plan (parades or large special events only).  g. Description of how your agency will acknowledge the City in your promotional materials.  h. Organization’s website URL  2. Your organization’s most recent complete annual financial statement  3. Your organization’s by-laws  4. Your organization’s tax-exempt certification  5. A listing of all officers and staff  6. A signed statement of limitations and payment disbursement (Attachment 4) NOTE: Please do not bind or staple your application materials. Submit 10 sets (typed, clipped & 3-hole punched) of item # 1 Submit 1 set (clipped) of items # 2-6 LATE OR INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Completed applications are due to the City Administration Office on March 6, 2015 by 5:00 pm Page 1 of 5 GRANT APPLICATION FORM DATE(S) OF EVENT: ___________________________________________________________ NAME OF EVENT: ____________________________________________________________ EVENT LOCATION: ___________________________________________________________ NAME OF ORGANIZATION: ADDRESS OF ORGANIZATION: _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ WEBSITE URL: ________________________________________________________________ NAME OF CONTACT PERSON: TELEPHONE NUMBER: E-MAIL ADDRESS: TOTAL AMOUNT REQUESTED:  In-Kind Promotional Support Only PURPOSE OF GRANT REQUEST: (Word Limit: 100 max) Page 2 of 5 Please complete the entire application, answering all requests for information. *Indicates required questions for In-Kind Promotional Support package applicants 1. Provide a brief description of the event or activity. (Word Limit: 100 max)* 2. Provide a brief description of your organization and its cause including how the project or activities support the overall goals of the organization. (Word Limit: 250 max)* 3. Will your event be taking place within the City of San Luis Obispo?* Yes ___ No ____ Venue Name: __________________________________________________________________ Venue Location: ________________________________________________________________ 4. Has a City permit been issued for your event or have contracted the venue for your event date? Yes ___ No ____ Page 3 of 5 Note: Event applicants shall be responsible for securing a separate Special Event Permit with the City. For use of City facilities, venues, or services, applications must be received no later than 90 days in advance and can be accepted up to 1 year in advance. The application form can be found at the link provided. Application and fees are payable to the City of San Luis Obispo and can be submitted directly to the Parks and Recreation Department located at 1341 Nipomo Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. 5. Is this a first year the event will take place? Yes ___ No ____ If yes, skip to question number 13 6. If not, how many years has it taken place?* 7. Where has it taken place previously? 8. What was the historical attendance?* 9. What is the expected event attendance?* 10. Expected percentage of in-county vs. out-of-county attendees: 11. Who is your target audience?* Page 4 of 5 12. Do you sell tickets or is it a free event? Tickets____ Free____ If tickets are required, please provide the price range. ________________________________ 13. Describe any collaborative efforts with other agencies relative to this project. (Word Limit: 100 max and bulleted list is acceptable.) * 14. Indicate total amount requested from the City of San Luis Obispo, including a prioritized list of individual line items making up the total. Include any in-kind contributions from the City (i.e. facility or park use etc.). Attach a separate sheet if more space is needed. Project Component Amount Total $ 15. Provide a detailed budget for the whole project, listing all available support and income sources. Attach a separate sheet if more space is needed. Source Amount TOTAL $ Page 5 of 5 16. Provide a detailed Media Plan including traditional and online media. Attach a separate sheet if more space is needed. Media Outlet Type & Frequency Cost of Advertising Example: LA Times Online Banners / 1,000 impressions $ XXXXX The Tribune ½ page ads / 3 times $ XXXXX 17. Provide your crowd control and safety plan (parades or large special events only). 18. Describe how your organization will acknowledge the City’s support in your promotional materials. (Word Limit: 100 max and bulleted list is acceptable.) Be sure to include all supplemental materials as requested. Thank you. Return Grant Application to: Promotional Coordinating Committee Attn: Molly Cano City of San Luis Obispo 990 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 PROMOTIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE STATEMENT OF LIMITATIONS AND PAYMENT DISBURSEMENT Please read the following document and sign to indicate that you have read and understand it. Limitations: This grant application does not commit the sponsor to award a grant or to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of this application or to procure or contract for services or supplies. The Promotional Coordinating Committee reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications received, to fund on a line item basis, to negotiate with all qualified applicants, or to cancel in part or in its entirety this application, if it is in the best interest of the City to do so. Payment of Funds: All duties, obligations, and disbursements of funds are to be governed by the provisions of the agreement between the City and the applicant receiving funds. • An applicant awarded funds shall enter into a contractual agreement with the City of San Luis Obispo for stated programs for the current grant period July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016. • The payment schedule will be stated in the contractual agreement. • The contracting agency will agree to provide reports in such form and detail as may be required by the City and the PCC to monitor contract performance prior to payment for programs. • Contracting agency will provide City with an annual audit by an independent auditor to be approved by the City, if the City should so request. (Sample copies of standard City contract forms are on file with the City Clerk.) I, , (printed or typed name of authorized applicant organization representative), have read the above statement and fully understand its contents and implications. I further attest that all the information contained in this application is accurate to the best of my knowledge. Signature Date Title Applicant Organization Minutes Tourism Business Improvement District Board Wednesday, November 18, 2015 Regular Meeting of the Tourism Business Improvement District Board CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Tourism Business Improvement District Board was called to order on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. in the Council Hearing Room, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Patel. ROLL CALL Present: Board Members Dean Hutton, Matthew Wilkins, LeBren Young-Harris, and Vice-Chair Clint Pearce, and Chair Nipool Patel Absent: Kimberly Walker Staff Present: Tourism Manager Molly Cano and Recording Secretary Kevin Christian PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Maggie Cox, Barnett Cox & Associates Inc., complimented the Board and staff for their successful presentation of its annual report to the City Council on October 20, 2015 and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be part of that success. Bettina Swigger, Executive Director for Festival Mosaic, reported record ticket sales for the first weekend of their sponsored event, thanking the Board, the City, and media contacts for their part in this success. She also announced that Festival Mosaic will be bringing a group of Arts leaders to town in January and will keep the Board informed concerning opportunities that may arise related to this event. John Salisbury introduced himself as a Homestay operator and stated that he was interested in learning how the Board and Board sponsored programs support homestays. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER H UTTON, SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER HARRIS, CARRIED 5-0, to approve Consent Calendar Items C1 thru C6. C1. MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015 MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER HUTTON, SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER HARRIS, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the Minutes of the Tourism Business Improvement District Board meeting of October 14, 2015, as presented. Draft – Tourism Business Improvement District Board Minutes of November 18, 2015 Page 2 City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle C2. SMITH TRAVEL REPORT MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER HUTTON, SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER HARRIS, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the Smith Travel Report. C3. CHAMBER PUBLIC RELATIONS REPORT MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER HUTTON, SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER HARRIS, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the Chamber Public Relations Report. C4. BCA + STUDIOGOOD MARKETING REPORT MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER HUTTON, SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER HARRIS, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the BCA + StudioGood Marketing Report. C5. CHAMBER VISITOR CENTER REPORT MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER HUTTON, SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER HARRIS, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the Chamber Visitor Center Report. C6. TOT (TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX) REPORT MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER HUTTON, SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER HARRIS, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the TOT Report. PRESENTATION ITEMS 1. MARKETING AGENCY QUARTERLY REPORT Representatives from BCA + StudioGood reported that 2015-16 media and events planning are currently underway; reviewed advertisement placement on Trip Advisor, Sunset Magazine, Bay Area News Group, SanLuisObispo.com (the Tribunes website), and the San Diego Union Tribune; specifically noting that the San Diego area is being targeted for marketing San Luis Obispo. It was further reported that website and social media metrics are down over October, 2014; stated that SEO (Search Engine Optimization) efforts are ongoing; noted that a ticket giveaway for the Cal Poly homecoming game was coordinated with #ShareSLO and Cal Poly Athletics; and noted that the CCTC (Central Coast Tourism Council) blogs are driving traffic to the website. The Board was apprised that upcoming advertisements will be featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, Horizon Travel and Lifestyle magazine, as well as a video advertisement in Time Square, New York City; informed that a #ShareSLO campaign reaching out to local chefs for Restaurant Month in January is planned. Draft – Tourism Business Improvement District Board Minutes of November 18, 2015 Page 3 City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle BUSINESS ITEMS 1. TOURISM WEBSITE FINAL APPROVAL Representatives from StudioGood presented the final website design for the Board’s approval. They noted that with the Board’s approval, the site launch will be in two stages; Stage One will consist of making the site live to the public on November 19, 2015, with a media push following the holidays, and Stage Two will be with the integration of Helium in January, 2016, with a corresponding media push. It was noted that the web address SLOvacations.com has been purchased and that it will be redirected to the official website address, SanLuisObispovacations.com Tourism Manger Cano reminded the Board that the new tourism website design is aligned with the goals of the TBID strategic plan. The Board discussed the website design noting that they were very satisfied with the product and the working relationship with the agency, the increased functionality for mobile device users, and the increase of available images and videos created as a byproduct of the project. MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER HUTTON, SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER WILKINS, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the final website design for site launch. 2. DIGITAL ASSETS PROJECT COMPLETION Representatives from BCA presented videos created for use on the new website and for social media; noted that the music was created by the local band, Moonshiner Collective, specifically for the web site and that different scores were generated for use by the San Luis Obispo Symphony and the Cal Poly Marching Band. The Board expressed their overall favorable impressions of the videos. Chair Patel opened the item for public comment. Bettina Swigger, Executive Director for Festival Mosaic, requested the music score. A representative of BCA indicated that the request would be researched. 3. HELIUM UPDATE Board member Wilkins reported that Helium integration with AutoClerk was approved the week of November 9, 2015. Tourism Manager Cano informed the Board that approval of “Milestone 5” is dependent on AutoClerk approval of Helium integration. Tourism Manager Cano noted that StudioGood is now in direct communication with the developer to integrate the function into the new website; reported that information is now being gathered from homestay rentals for integration with Helium in the January roll out. Draft – Tourism Business Improvement District Board Minutes of November 18, 2015 Page 4 City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle The Committee discussed the desire to have a live test location; requested and confirmed that Board Member Wilkins’ property could be used for this test. MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER PEARCE, SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER HUTTON, CARRIED 5-0, to approve Milestone 5 and to include Board Member Wilkins’ property as a test property for live integration with AutoClerk. 4. TRADESHOW DELEGATION Tourism Manager Cano outlined the process of candidate submittal for the upcoming tradeshow delegation and announced that final selections will be made during the December TBID Board meeting. The Committee discussed the value of tradeshows and Board Member Pearce explained that hoteliers involved in the delegation help promote the whole area, not their particular property. 5. COW PARADE SLO COUNTY Tourism Manager Cano announced that BCA is representing the Cow Parade so they will not give input to the TBID concerning financial support for this event. Tourism Manager Cano reviewed the options for sponsorship as they were considered by the Marketing Subcommittee. The final recommendation from the Marketing Subcommittee presented to the Board is to become the Official Press and Media Host Partner for CowParade, with a $14,000 cash commitment for two cows and up to $3,000 in-kind to host journalists. The Committee discussed the event, known commitments made by other local cities, and the potential for tourism generation from the event. It was specifically noted that exposure could be up to 500,000 out-of-the-area followers and that this will be the only California location for the event. MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER HUTTON, SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER HARRIS, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the Marketing Subcommittee recommendation to become the Official Press and Media Host Partner for CowParade, with a $14,000 cash commitment for 2 cows and up to $3,000 in-kind to host journalists. The Board gave staff direction to use event funding for this sponsorship. TBID LIAISON REPORTS AND COMMUNICATION 1. HOTELIER UPDATE None at this time. 2. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UPDATE Draft – Tourism Business Improvement District Board Minutes of November 18, 2015 Page 5 City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle No further report. 3. MARKETING COMMITTEE No further report. 4. PCC UPDATE Board Member Pearce reviewed the last Promotional Coordinating Committee meeting, noting that considerable time was spent in discussion on the SLOHappenings app. 5. VISIT SLO COUNTY UPDATE Board Member Pearce reported that the SLO County marketing plan has been approved and that a new web site is being worked on. Tourism Manager Cano noted that the Marketing Committee is working on an icon in the shape of the state of CA with San Luis Obispo County pinpointed. This icon will be used to help integrate all SLO County marketing initiatives. 6. TOURISM PROGRAM UPDATE Tourism Manager Cano announced that mid-year event sponsorships are open for application; reported that the TBID was approved for another year by the City Council at the Public Hearing on November 3rd; announced that the CCTC retreat will be held in the City of San Luis Obispo early next year; reminded the board members that applications for the open TBID seat are available on the City’s web site; reported that homestay data has been requested from local businesses for integration into Helium; and updated the Board on the Tourism Intern’s activities. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m. to the next Regular meeting, to be held on Wednesday, December 9, 2015. Respectfully submitted, Kevin Christian Recording Secretary