REPORT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING COMMITTEE (AD HOC)
SUBJECT
Title
Overview of the Economic Development and Marketing Committee (Ad Hoc)
Report
BACKGROUND
The Economic Development, Communications, and Marketing Committee was established by City Council action on February 5, 2019, to consolidate the Economic Development Committee and the Marketing Committee. The Committee was intended to focus on proactive economic development and effective communication, as well as review the City's marketing and branding strategies. However, due to limited staffing as well as significant increases in employee workload related to the City's response to COVID-19 and budget reductions, the Committee had not met since August 18, 2021. In 2024, the City Manager implemented a restructuring of personnel within the City Manager's Office and, in alignment with a City Council Priority, reassigned personnel to create a Director of Economic Development & Sustainability position. The Director of Economic Development & Sustainability has been assigned to provide staff support to the Committee.
While the Committee had not met for a number of years, the City Council took action in 2021 to create and launch Discover Santa Clara(tm), which serves as the official destination marketing organization for Santa Clara.
On January 14, 2025, the City Council took action to adjust the name of the Committee from the Economic Development, Communications and Marketing Committee to the Economic Development & Marketing Committee (Ad Hoc). The change removes the term "communication" from the title to clarify that the primary focus of the Committee is related to the City's economic development and marketing activities, and does not include the varied communication services that are provided by the City's Communication Division under the direction of the City's Public Information Officer. Additionally, the change to an Ad Hoc committee was adopted to convey that the scope of this iteration of the ...
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