Punta Gorda Presentation of Branding Project Proposal 7-5-17 (taxes, budget)

[JimChi2PG]

The City Council will be hearing a proposal by Aqua Marketing & Communications regarding branding of the City. Aqua's preliminary study shows the City has taken a passive approach at market branding and has allowed various business, volunteer and private groups to define the City.

Coversheet

I read through some of the three PDF Exhibits and I have to agree with much of what I read. Among that is the city has done little to market itself. Most people who come here tell of having run across the place on their way to someplace else.

The City has never really fully recovered from Charley, particularly the business side of things, and the commercial tax revenue has dropped from 25% pre-Charley to about 10% today. The Aqua study claims 15% but I have met with city officials (past and present) and they say 10% is accurate. I was also told by those same people if this trend continues residential taxes may be raised substantially, not just a few hundred dollars or so.

The study also mentioned the problem with the Citizens Against Virtually Everything (CAVE) and how a vocal minority has caused the City Council to vote against proposed projects that would have helped the struggling tax base and, in one case, helped the City become a destination city rather than a pass-thru city.

The proposal suggests a need for a Communication Manager and will be discussed under Budgets at the Council meeting so they may be talking about working out a pay plan for the new position.