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3.c) Advertsing and Promotions c� � ' � � ��� SCANDIA Staff Renort Date of Meeting: October 23, 2012 To: City Council From: Kristina Handt, City Administrator Re: Advertising and Promotions Agenda Item#: 3.c.) Background: The City of Scandia doesn't currently participate in any regional tourism promotion efforts. Advertising efforts have been focused on promoting local events in the local area newspapers. Even most of this advertising has been in the form of press releases or simple event listings. Issue: Should the City budget funds for advertising and promotion purposes related to tourism? If so, how much and where do the funds come from? Proposal Details: I am proposing the Council consider joining the St. Croix River Valley Regional Tourism Alliance(SCRVTA). Annual membership cost is $125. Benefits of inembership are outlined on the attached sheet from Rosemary Mansfield from SCRVTA and include advertising in their guidebook and on their website(www.saintcroixriver.com). Joining an area organization can help make our advertising dollars go further as costs of ads are often split amongst participants. In addition to the membership fee,the Council should consider budgeting funds to participate in cooperative advertising either with groups like SCRVTA or through the Pioneer Press. The rep for the Pioneer Press is on vacation this week,but I hope to get more details from her about coop advertising opportunities soon. Fiscal Impact: Staff is requesting$1,500 for 2013 for advertising and promotion of the city. Options: 1) Approve$1,500 for advertising and promotions in the 2013 budget 2) Approve some other amount of funds for advertising and promotions in the 2013 budget 3) Do not include any additional funds in the 2013 budget for advertising and promotion Recommendation: Option 1, with $1,000 moved from the events line item to the advertising line item in the parks and rec budget. 'This would leave $2,000 in each advertising and events. Currently the advertising line item is set at $1,000 which is a 122% increase over 2012 actual expenditures YTD. T'he events line item is set at $3,000 which is a 310%increase over 2012 actual expenditures YTD. The recent changes approved by the Council to just hire an Ice Rink Maintenance Worker reduced the Personal Services by$2,017 so the Council could also consider adding those funds to the existing advertising amount and not adjusting the events line item. Another funding source would be for the council to consider eliminating the space needs study for the community center. Staff would propose working with the city engineer to come up with a couple concept plans instead of doing a study. Alternatively, these funds could also be used to fix the hole in the budget for Camp Lakamaga which runs about $5,500 each year. St. Croix Valley Regional Tourism Alliance Alliance Overview: Alliance Mission Statement: The mission of the St. Croix Valley Regional Tourism Alliance is to increase the impact of tourism in our bi-state member communities through cooperative promotion of the Scenic St. Croix Valley; in addition the Alliance serves as an educational resource for the culture, natural resources, and history of the lower St. Croix Valley Scenic River corridor. Whv ioin the Tourism Alliance? The St. Croix Valley Regional Tourism Alliance is an active, growing non-profit membership organization with national recognition, which was established in 1994. By investing in the Alliance, you will join business and community leaders in both Minnesota and Wisconsin who are dedicated to improving the economic climate of the area and have joined together to promote the Lower St. Croix Valley. Membership Benefits Include: • Networking opportunities —The Alliance is a Bi-State organization which provides great networking & partnering opportunities throughout the Greater St. Croix Valley Region. • Advertising in the 2013 Scenic St. Croix Valley Guide Book will give your business in exposure through: o The distribution of over 25,000 Scenic St. Croix Valley Guide Books in Travel Information Centers in both Minnesota and Wisconsin o Guide Books in all Minnesota and Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce and CVB locations o Distribution of the Guide Book at trade shows and regional events (including the Twin Cities) • Representation at Minnesota and Wisconsin State and Regional Tourism conferences • Cooperative Marketing opportunities within a four state area — Minnesota, Wisconsin, lowa and Illinois • Exposure on the Alliance Website: o Your Business/ Organization will be in the Member listing on the Alliance Website o The Alliance will feature your business on the home page of the Alliance website with a link to your website. o A Guide Book ad includes a FREE ad on the SCVRTA website o FREE listing of special events in the events section of the Guide Book and on the Alliance Website.