CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA

CITY COUNCIL
Staff Report

SR 2016-1212
December 6, 2016
Consent Agenda
TO:

Honorable Mayor and City Council Members

SUBMITTED BY:

Chip Rerig, City Administrator

SUBJECT:

Consideration of the disbursement of marketing funds to Monterey County Convention

& Visitors Bureau.

RECOMMENDATION
Direct staff to disburse the balance of the marketing funds budgeted for the Monterey County Convention &
Visitors Bureau for fiscal year 2016/17 in the amount of $83,828.00
BACKGROUND / SUMMARY
During the City Council's budget deliberations on June 7, 2016, Council directed staff to establish a marketing
budget, and to delay disbursing funds to Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau (MCCVB), Carmel
Chamber of Commerce, and Burghardt+Dore until such time as Council had opportunity to evaluate its
satisfaction with current marketing activities.
The Council hosted a public workshop in early July, received a presentation from MCCVB, and discussed
marketing effectiveness and future strategies. On July 12, 2016, the Council disbursed 50 percent ($83,656)
of the budgeted funds and directed staff to continue to work with the MCCVB staff on marketing efforts that
differentiate and highlight the unique hospitality assets of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Since July, the MCCVB has worked very closely with City staff and, notably, Councilmembers Theis and
Richards. The MCCVB has also substantially updated its website and modified past advertising practices.
The relationship between the City and MCCVB has vastly improved, and staff and Councilmembers are
working in close partnership for the betterment of the destination as a whole. Collaboration is expected to
continue and it is anticipated that the relationship will continue to positively evolve. Accordingly, staff
recommends that the Council direct staff to disburse the balance of the budgeted funds
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
As referenced above, the City Council took formal prior action on June 7 and July12, 2016.
ATTACHMENTS
None