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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-08-06 MC Regular Meeting MinutesCITY OF PALM DESERT MARKETING COMMITTEE MINUTES TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2019 — 3:00 P.M. ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE ROOM 73-510 FRED WARING DRIVE, PALM DESERT, CA 92260 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Hoehn called the meeting to order at 3:02 pm. II. ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Bruce Nation Erin Scott Franchesca Forrer Jeffrey Norman Ray Rodriguez Rolf Hoehn City of Palm Desert Staff Present: None Lauri Aylaian, City Manager, City Mangers Department Deborah Schwartz Glickman, Business Advocate, Econ. Development Heather Chernicki, Recording Secretary, Econ. Development Martin Alvarez, Director, Econ. Development Tacie Johnson, Intern, Econ. Development Thomas Soule, Tourism and Marketing Manager, Econ. Development Vanessa Mager, Special Events Manger, Econ. Development Also Present: Councilmember Jan Harnik, City of Palm Desert Councilmember Gina Nestande, City of Palm Desert Ed Cohen, Ideapeddler Cimin Cohen, Ideapeddler Andrea Forertsch, Ideapeddler Mark Miller, Living Desert Zoo & Gardens Alexis Dempsey, JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None IV. CONSENT ITEMS A. Approval of the Minutes of the Marketing Committee meeting of June 4, 2019. Rec: Approved With Corrections. Mr. Norman requested that the minutes be updated to reflect the change of spelling in a name. "McCullum" therefore will be changed to the correct spelling of "McCallum". Mr. Hoehn asked for a motion to approve the Consent Items with this correction. A motion was made by Norman and seconded by Rodriguez to accept and approve. Motion passed with a 5- 0-1 vote; with, Nation, Scott, Norman, Rodriguez and Hoehn voting in favor. None abstained. Forrer absent for vote. V. NEW BUSINESS A. New Advertising Campaign Presentation. Presented by Cimin Cohen & Andrea Forertsch, Ideapeddler. Rec: Approved Direction. Ms. Cohen & Ms. Forertsch presented to the Committee a power point summary of the new Ad Campaign ideas which is attached to, and incorporated herein, the meeting Minutes of the Marketing Committee. Discussion ensued as to the benefits and possible short falls of both campaigns with compliments to Ideapeddler for producing two wonderful concepts. Post discussion the Committee was weighted in favor of Concept A, with still many positive comments about Concept B. In particular the Committee hoped that it would be possible to incorporate the "More scenery, Less Scene" tag line found in Concept B into Concept A. Mr. Hoehn asked for a motion to approve the direction discussed for the new Ad Campaign with Ideapeddler. A motion was made by Hoehn and seconded by Nation to accept and approve. Motion passed with a 5-0-1 vote; with Nation, Scott, Forrer, Norman and Hoehn voting in favor. None abstained. Rodriguez absent for vote. VI. CONTINUED BUSINESS None VII. OLD BUSINESS None VIII. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS A. Visitor Services Reports. Rec: Received and Filed. IX. REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL LIAISONS A. City Council. Councilmember Jan Harnik, City of Palm Desert — Ms. Harnik informed the Committee that the $8 million dollars for the Indio train station has been approved. Ms. Harnik explained that this will allow the event train to be in place for the next Coachella and Stagecoach. Ms. Harnik added that while the running of a regular train is of course years down the track, the approval in Indio does not necessarily mean that the station will be in Indio. X. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. Chair. Rolf Hoehn, Indian Wells Tennis Gardens — Mr. Hoehn informed the Committee that the Airport Commission reported that monthly traffic records continue to reflect an uptick in travel to the Palm Springs Airport which is also reflected in the occupancy rates around the valley. Committee Members. Bruce Nation, Desert Willow Golf Resort — Mr. Nation informed the Committee that the Desert Willow Resort just finished its fiscal year and it was the best revenue year ever. Mr. Nation also reported that July 2019 had shown as $1,000 a day over last year's figures for golf. Erin Scott, Living Desert Zoo & Gardens — Ms. Scott informed the Committee that the Living Desert had a record year as well with 512,000 visitors which represents a continuing year -over -year growth. Ms. Scott also informed the Committee that The Living Desert experienced an almost 6,000 visitor day over the Memorial Day weekend. Ms. Scott introduced Mark Miller as the new Director of Park Services. She also mentioned the September event of Safari nights and that the Living Desert is this year celebrating its 50th year of operation with many events to come. Ms. Scott updated the Committee on the opening of Australia Adventures Wallaby Walkabout which has been pushed back from fall to the spring of 2020. Francesca Forrer, Westfield Palm Desert — Ms. Forrer informed the Committee that the Westfield was already experiencing the back to school crowd with June showing an increase in sales. Ms. Forrer reminded the Committee of the upcoming "Street" event on Friday November 1st, 5-11 pm and elaborated on the details of this year's event. Jeffrey Norman, McCallum Theater— Mr. Norman informed the Committee that the McCallum also completed a record year in both ticket sales and quantity. Mr. Norman continued to inform by imparting the news that the McCallum will have a new CEO come September as their current CEO is retiring and is also welcoming new staff into various other positions as promotion and rearrangements have taken place. Mr. Norman reminded the Committee that Family Fun Day would take place on Oct 12th and thanked the City for sponsoring the event. Staff. Deborah Schwartz Glickman, Business Advocate, Econ. Development — Ms. Glickman presented some conceptual ideas for updating the El Paseo Courtesy Carts that she wanted the Committees feedback on; specifically the marketing perspective on the advertising aspects of the new App and signage that is being discussed for the Carts. Discussion ensued. Martin Alvarez, Director, Economic Development — Mr. Alvarez informed the Committee that the SURF Resort project has completed the environmental impact report and is proceeding in a healthy and timely manner towards its goals. Mr. Alvarez also disclosed that they were in process with preliminary conceptual designs for the Portola and 1-10 Art Bridge overpass. Mr. Alvarez reported that the new Visitor Services Center architectural concept designs were in the works. XI. NEXT MEETING: Confirm October 1, 2019 XII. ADJOURNMENT With Committee Member concurrence, the meeting was adjourned at 4:48pm Heather Chernicki, Recording Secretary