City of Centralia Tourism Commission met April 20.
Here is the minutes provided by the commission:
The meeting was called to order at 5:00 P.M.
Attendance:
Rob Jackson, Mike Schroeder, Mary Davis, Sonya Germann, Tom Walsh, Jessiycka Nix Coleman, Rae Ann Quidgeon, and Melissa Ray Roach.
Absent:
Robert “Spanky” Smith
Advisory Staff Present:
Derek Sherman, Assistant City Manager City of Centralia
Others Present:
Addison Applegate from the Centralia Sentinel and Christine Orr from ILSouth Tourism
Public Comment:
Christine Orr thanked the Tourism Commission for the efforts in promoting Centralia and let them know she is always available and ready to help.
Minutes:
Tom Walsh moved to approve, and Melissa Rae Roach made a second. All present members voted to approve. Treasurer’s Report:
Tom Walsh reported the balance of the end of the year (December 31, 2020) was $19,552.88. Revenue thus far was $11,046.05 and expenditures thus far of $8,268.04 leaving our balance as of March 31, 2021 of $22,330.89. Mike made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s report as submitted and seconded by Sonya. All present voted to approve.
Ongoing Business:
1. Amtrack Station Marketing Decal – Nix-Coleman presented the draft image of the Amtrak decal to the Commission with a QR code. The lettering will be white & the font matches the See Centralia font, and the cost will be $85 per location. Nix-Coleman mentioned that she avoided using the tourism logo in case it changes in the future. Sonya brought up that the decal has too many words for it to fit well on the doors of the Amtrak Station. Nix-Coleman thought that it would still work on the door. Mary asked about the costs for other businesses to add the decal/QR code to their windows. Nix-Coleman did not get that costs yet. The Tourism Commission agreed that a proof should be printed to see in person and brought to the next meeting. Additionally, it was brought up that Derek needed the QR code information for the city’s records as it references the city’s website.
2. Community Photo Contest – Derek thanked Mary Davis for her work on completing the marketing for the Photo contest. Derek asked for direction on prizes for the photo contest, and Derek suggested having businesses sponsor the prizes. Everyone agreed this was good for our local businesses, and a nice little prize for contestants. Additionally, it would avoid expending the Tourism’s budget on a seasonal photo contest. A motion was made my Sonya and seconded by Mary to have Derek find sponsors for our photo contest. All voted yes.
3. Spring Event – Rob said our Spring event was a tourism booth & help loading the Trolley for Locust Street Historic Fair. Derek said he will bring tourism brochures and equipment to set up the booth.
New Business:
1. See Centralia Social Media Strategic Plan
a. Derek has a plan typed up for review. The general plan is for us to post an activity, a business, and an event. Derek mentioned having Hodges go take photos for us to the businesses to alleviate time strain on city staff. Additionally, a business list will be compiled and put into a random bowl that will be drawn at random to keep it fair. If a new business opens they will be added to the list and if a business is pulled they will not be put back into the drawing until all other businesses have been signed.
2. Pat Hodges Photography Payment & Contract
a. Derek reported that Pat was paid, and Derek had negotiated the new photo contract to the satisfaction of Mr. Hodges and the city.
b. Everyone agreed to recommend the contract for approval to the council.
3. SCT – Trolley – IGA
a. Derek reported that the SCT contract has been negotiated to amicable standards for the city and SCT. The IGA should go to council for approval to operate for the next year.
4. Trolley Chrater Progress & Marketing Plan
a. Derek discussed that the Trolley has been rented out 7 times for this year already. Some of the events are not profitable, but are good marketing opportunities for us.
b. Melissa mentioned that we should have a backup plan for if the Trolley is rented then brakes before it is scheduled to be used. If it can’t be fixed before the scheduled event, we may need to look into getting a back up for it.
c. Discussion continued on marketing the Trolley on Facebook and to other local municipalities. Melissa suggested we have Pat take photos of the inside and outside of the Trolley.
5. T-Mobile Hometown Grant
a. Derek mentioned that the Chamber is writing one of these, and that the city could write one as well. It was decided that Tourism should write a separate grant application from the Chambers.
6. Review of ILSouth Tourism Visitor Guide
a. Derek was told to find his spare Tourism guides to have them present for people. Also, Christine encouraged us to take part in ILSouth Tourism’s social media take over.
7. Appointment of a New Chair
a. Melissa was nominated by Sonya as the new chair with Mary seconding the nomination. No other nominees were brought up. The Tourism Commission voted all in favor of nominating Melissa with no opposed.
8. Community Calendar.
a. It was decided to have a separate special meeting to figure out the community calendar on April 29th. Derek has been instructed to schedule the special meeting for April 29th at 5PM at City Hall.
Discussion:
ID Badges: There was mention of Derek acquiring identification badges for commission members to wear during events to be easily identified. Derek is going to find out some quotes of the cost for them to be manufactured.
Adjournment:
Rae motioned to adjourn the meeting, and Tom seconded the motion. All present members voted to approve.
https://cityofcentralia.org/vertical/sites/%7BFC680FE7-BE5C-4903-A103-67AF5EF51655%7D/uploads/4-_April_20_2021_Minutes.pdf
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