REPORT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS, AND MARKETING COMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Title
Discussion and Possible Action on Communication Directives given at the August 19, 2020 Economic Development, Communications, and Marketing Committee Meeting [Council Pillar: Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency]
Report
BACKGROUND
At the August 19, 2020 Economic Development, Communications, and Marketing Committee (Committee) meeting, Chair Debi Davis presented a memo to the Committee (Attachment 1), which included suggestions on how to reach more residents during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic:
* Increasing social media presence by sponsoring ads on social media platforms;
* Increasing the frequency of newsletters to residents and businesses to bi-weekly and cut distribution costs by using door-to-door distribution services;
* Creating a weekly telephone town hall that is simultaneously broadcast on Facebook and YouTube which would provide updates on COVID-19 and available programs featuring City leaders and subject matter experts; and
* Establishing a text message communications system to send timely, short message service (SMS) messages to residents.
The Committee also discussed using one of the Communication consultants for this effort, Circlepoint, and potentially reallocating some of the funds from the other two consultant companies to this effort. As of August 27, 2020, the funds available for use with the three communications consultants are, as follows: 3fold Communications: $94,462.50; Circlepoint: $90,226.79; and, Singer Associates, Inc.: $99,062.50.
Following the Committee's input on refocusing communication efforts, Chair Davis called a special Committee meeting on September 2, 2020 to discuss further and Circlepoint will be in attendance.
DISCUSSION
The Communications Division has begun exploring the suggestions provided in Chair Davis' memo, coupled with the Committee's discussion from the August 19, 2020 meeting. The summary below a...
Click here for full text