South Central Reporter

City of Centralia Tourism Commission met Oct. 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

I. CALL TO ORDER- Davis, Chair: Meeting called to order 5:00PM

II. ROLL CALL

_X_ Dawn Long _ X_ Mary Davis _ X_ Shannon Cooney ___ Barri Allen ____ Rachel Wallace _ X_ Greg Sutton _X_ Kelsie Smith ____ Vacant _ X_ Tom Walsh

Ex-Officio Members

____ William Smith, City Manager

_ X_ Marcus Holland, Chamber of Commerce Director

_ X_ Advisory Staff -Derek Sherman, Economic Development Director

Others Present:

III. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – None

IV. MINUTES –

July 16th, 2024: A motion was made to approve the minutes as presented. There was a 1st-Sutton, 2nd Walsh. All present voted in favor with none opposing.

V. TREASURER’S REPORT – Walsh

1. A motion was made to approve the Treasurer’s Report as presented. 1st- Cooney, 2nd- Smith. With all in present voting in favor and none opposed.

VI. ONGOING BUSINESS

1. FY’24 Goals & Objectives

i. Marketing

1. The Tourism Commission expressed their frustration with marketing efforts on social media. The Commission felt that city staff does not have enough time to actively and effectively manage social media marketing. Additionally, the Commission requested an update on video marketing through Discover Downstate.

City staff concurred that not enough time has been devoted to managing social media marketing efforts and stated they would try to get an update on the video marketing from Discover Downstate.

ii. Event Support

1. The Tourism Commission felt that staff could do more to provide event support through social media and suggested more active social media management to City

Staff.

VII. NEW BUSINESS

1. FY 2025 Photography Contract

i. The Tourism Commission determined that the funds budgeted for the photography contract would be better allocated to the marketing budget to boost marketing spending or for a service contract for ongoing marketing.

2. FY 2025 Budget

i. The Tourism Commission discussed the FY2025 Tourism Budget and wanted to focus the budget more on marketing. Additionally, the event organizers for Summer Market have indicated that they would no longer be organizing the event, and the Tourism Commissioners felt that Celebrate Centralia has served it purpose of growing downtown events. Therefore, the Tourism Commission felt that those line-items would be better utilized for marketing. Specifically, the Tourism Commission felt that a marketing contract for social media management, website management, and print advertising would help grow the tourism industry in Centralia.

3. Recommendation to the Centralia City Council FY 2025 Celebrate!

i. With the previous discussion of the Tourism Budget, the City Staff recommended that the Tourism Commission make a recommendation on the budget and the line-items discussed above to the Centralia City Council. There was a motion to make a recommendation: 1st Cooney and 2nd Walsh with all present members voting in favor and none opposed, the motion carried. The Tourism Commission made the following recommendation: The Centralia Tourism Commission recommends to the Centralia City Council to reallocate the Tourism Budget line-items of Celebrate Centralia, Summer Market, and Professional Services – Centralia Online Photography Contract into the printing and advertising line-item to be utilized for an increase in marketing or a marketing contracts to more actively and effectively marketing the City of Centralia as a tourism destination.

VIII. DISCUSSION

IX. ADJOURNMENT - A motion was made to adjourn the meeting. 1st- Walsh 2nd- Cooney. All present voted in favor with none opposed.

https://www.cityofcentralia.org/media/6766