ITEM TITLE:
Action Item: Recommendation to City Council for Initial Interim Marketing Funding in the amount of $100,000
SUBMITTED BY: Chair Colleen Stephens and Economic Development Director Martha Barberio (ex officio member)
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: $100,000
Unencumbered Balance: Click here to enter text.
Funding Source: Public Accommodation Tax Reserve Fund
RECOMMENDATION:
Sample motion: I move the task force provide city council with an outline of identified immediate needs and recommend funding for these needs in the amount of $100,000.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Chair Colleen Stephens and Economic Development Director Martha Barberio (ex officio member) have compiled a list of outstanding items that need immediate attention and ongoing expenses. A summary of immediate funding needs is attached.
Past due items come to a total of $86,940 and monthly ongoing expenses total $2,736.50 each month. Recommending an initial appropriation of $100,000 from the city Council would allow past due bills to be paid and monthly expenses to be paid for a period of 4 months.
Travel Guide and Guide Ad Placement
Actions will include communicating with the company under contract to produce the guide about the current situation, clarifying if specific ads are needed and identifying bills that are past due. All advertisers contacted thus far are keeping in ads with the knowledge that payment will come as the old organization works through processes.
• Vacation Guide Distribution
Actions will include contacting in state guide distribution companies and other DMO’s to ensure the 2026 guide is circulated and drafting a plan with dates and needs for additional distribution.
• In State Trade Shows
The goal will be to maintain participation by Valdez businesses to market Valdez for the upcoming seasons as space is available.
• Website Transition
Actions will include developing a detailed plan on how to address the website focusing first on short term needed (such as updates to dates, home page and contact info) and then on a long-range plan to improve search engine optimization and ensure members are represented correctly based on packages previously purchased. Coordination will need to take place with the prior organization to transfer intellectual property and the domain.
If other immediate interim needs are identified in the survey, they may be incorporated by amendment.