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LITTLE BIT.[1. Call to Order.]
I'D LIKE TO CALL OUR SPECIAL MEETING TO ORDER TODAY.[2. Presentation and Discussion of Visit Edmond's New Branding.]
FROM VISIT EDMOND TO TALK ABOUT THE BRANDING AND THE, AND THE VISITOR'S TAX, UH, WORKSHOP THAT THEY HAD.SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF OUR HONORABLE CITY MANAGER WANTED TO START US OFF WITH ANYTHING FIRST.
JENNIFER, ARE YOU GONNA LEAD THE WAY FOR US? THANK YOU.
EXCITED TO BE EDMONDS TOURISM DIRECTOR.
AND WE HAVE SOME FUN THINGS TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
UM, I'VE GOT THESE IMAGES ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT EMULATES WHAT EDMOND IS AND SOME VISUALS.
UM, YOU CAN SEE OUTDOOR DINING, YOU CAN SEE RODEOS, YOU CAN SEE THE CONFERENCE CENTER, YOU CAN SEE PARKS, ARCADIA LAKE, UM, ART, THOSE THINGS REALLY IDENTIFY EDMOND.
AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO THROUGH A BRANDING PROCESS WITH A CORE GROUP OF ENGAGED LEADERS.
MOST A LOT OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY, AS WELL AS THE VISIT EDMOND STAFF.
AND SO I GET TO SHARE WITH YOU THE RESULTS.
SO WHAT I'M HERE TO KIND OF TELL YOU ABOUT IS THAT IT'S MORE THAN A LOGO.
IT AND VISIT EDMOND DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE, UH, A MISSION AND A VISION AND A PURPOSE WRITTEN DOWN.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS WITH A DESIGN FIRM TO TAKE US THROUGH THIS EXERCISE.
UM, THIS IS WHAT WE GOT TO DO, AND I, I WON'T DIVE TOO MUCH INTO THIS, BUT IT'S REALLY, UM, HAVING SOME CONVERSATIONS AND ASKING SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR CITY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE OUR OWN PERSONALITY SO THAT WE KNOW WHO OUR AUDIENCES ARE.
SO WE HAVE SOME CONSISTENT BRAND MESSAGING AND, UM, THAT HELPS WHEN WE'RE SPENDING TAX DOLLARS.
SO I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE ON THE SCREEN AND THOSE IN THE ROOM THAT PARTICIPATED.
UM, I JUST WANNA THANK THIS IS THE HEART OF COLLABORATION AND WHAT WAS IMPORTANT TO US IS TO GET PEOPLE TOGETHER, TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND TO, UM, REALLY GET TO THE ROOT OF WHAT EDMOND IS AND, AND WHY WE'RE HERE AND WHAT WE WANT TO BE IN THE FUTURE.
SO IT WAS REALLY, UM, ENGAGING.
THEY TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW FAR WE'VE COME AND, AND WHERE WE WANNA GO.
UM, FUNNY QUESTIONS, LIKE IF THERE WAS A COLOR, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU THINK EDMOND WOULD BE? AND IF THERE WAS A, A CERTAIN VOICE OR PERSONALITY, WHAT WOULD THAT BE? AND WHAT KIND OF VISITORS DO WE DO? WE GREET IN EDMOND.
SO THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WE GOT TOGETHER.
AND I JUST, I REALLY WANNA THANK THE PEOPLE THAT TOOK THE TIME TO, UM, TAKE OUT OF THEIR DAY TO REALLY FOCUS ON EDMOND.
SO ONCE WE HAD THAT COLLABORATIVE SESSION, UM, OUR DESIGN STUDIO, THEIR NAME IS NUEVO STUDIO, AND WE, UM, DID A BID OUT FOR THAT.
AND THE REASON, ONE OF THE REASONS WE PICKED THEM IS 'CAUSE THEY'RE ALL UCO GRADUATES, AND THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US.
UH, THE PART I LIKED AS WELL IS THEY GOT TO, UM, KNOW THEIR HOMETOWN EVEN MORE AND THEIR COLLEGE TOWN.
SO THEY GOT TO COME BACK TO EDMOND AND EXPERIENCE IT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD BEEN GONE FOR A WHILE AND ENDED UP BEING, THAT IS ONE OF OUR AUDIENCES, HONESTLY, IS EX GRADUATES AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE MOVED AWAY AND THEY COME BACK A FEW YEARS LATER.
SO THIS Y STATEMENT THAT WE ARE ABOUT ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF YOUR VISIT, WHETHER YOU'RE HERE FOR WORK OR PLEASURE.
SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE THESE STATEMENTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN OUR BRANDING AND OUR ADVERTISING AND OUR WEBSITE AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA.
AND, UM, SO IT'S GIVEN US SOME AMAZING TOOLS TO TALK ABOUT EDMOND.
UM, NOW WE HAVE A BRAND PURPOSE, SO WE WANNA BE A TRUSTED RESOURCE TO HELP YOU JOURNEY THROUGH OUR CITY.
AND WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE HERE FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, AND THE WORD TRUSTED IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THEN WE HAVE A PROMISE, WE PROMISE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THOUGHTFULLY CURATED RESOURCES TO GET THE MOST OUT OF TRAVELING AND ALLOWING YOU TO JOIN EDMOND IN YOUR OWN WAY.
AND THEN WE ALSO GET TO WELCOME TOURISTS, RESIDENTS, AND NEWCOMERS.
IT'S, I KNOW THAT WE'RE VISIT EDMOND AND OUR FOCUS MIGHT BE ON VISITORS, BUT OUR RESIDENTS ARE AMAZING AMBASSADORS FOR EDMOND.
THAT'S THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW AND OUR NEWCOMERS.
THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE HERE AND WHAT A GREAT COMMUNITY THEY'VE CHOSEN.
SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT TOURISTS, BUT IT'S THE RESIDENTS AND NEWCOMERS, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE VIBRANT GROWTH, AND THEN WE GET TO GIVE YOU RESOURCES TO HELP YOU.
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SO THESE BRAND VALUES, UM, CAME TO FRUITION.AND WE USE THESE IN OUR, UM, INTERNAL STAFF AS WELL AS I USE THESE IN MY HOME.
AND I THINK IT TRANSLATED REALLY WELL INTO TOURISM AS WELL AS THE WHOLE CITY OF EDMOND.
AND WE'VE HEARD BE BOLD FROM OUR, UM, SOME CONSULTANTS THAT CAME IN IN THE PAST AND WE'VE HEARD BE FUN WHEN VISITORS COME AND THEY HAVE SUCH A GREAT TIME.
SO BEING HOSPITABLE, BEING KIND, BEING BOLD, BEING, CONNECTING, AND BEING FUN.
THOSE ARE BRAND VALUES THAT WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY AT VISIT EDMOND.
AND IT'S BEEN REALLY GOOD TO HAVE THESE WRITTEN DOWN SO THAT WE CAN KNOW WHAT THOSE VALUES ARE TO PROJECT THEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND I, AND I LIKE THE WAY IT CONNECTS TO THE CITY OF EDMOND AND, UM, TO EACH DEPARTMENT THAT WE WORK IN, IN THE CITY OF EDMOND.
SO THIS IS WHERE IT GETS INTO AUDIENCES, AND THIS IS WHERE I WANT YOU TO SEE HOW THIS IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A LOGO.
UM, SO WHEN WE USE THE, UM, VISITOR TAX DOLLARS, WHICH IS 4%, WHEN PEOPLE STAY OVERNIGHT, EITHER IN SHORT TERM RENTALS OR IN HOTELS THAT COMES TO VISIT EDMOND, AND WE WANNA BE SURE WE'RE USING THOSE DOLLARS WISELY.
SO THE OTHER THING THAT THIS BRAND STRATEGY HELPED US WITH IS TO IDENTIFY OUR AUDIENCES, AND WE EVEN HAVE A PERCENT WITH THEM.
SO I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THE SPORT FAMILY FIRST.
UM, 25% OF OUR MARKETING EFFORTS IS GONNA GO TO THE SPORT FAMILY.
AND THESE ARE FAMILIES THAT TRAVEL TO EDMOND FOR SPORTS.
AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY BRING THEIR, YOU KNOW, GRANDPARENTS OR AUNTS AND UNCLES OR SIBLINGS, AND SOMETIMES THEY WANNA DO SOMETHING IN ADDITION TO THE SPORT THAT THEY'RE WATCHING.
WE CALL THAT THE SECOND EXPERIENCE.
SO WHEN THEY'RE IN EDMOND, THEY GET TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING IN ADDITION TO THEIR SPORT, FOR EXAMPLE.
AND THEN THEY COME BACK BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE, THERE WAS A FESTIVAL GOING ON, WE WANNA COME BACK NEXT WEEKEND.
SO DISCOVERING THOSE ACTIVITIES, HAVING, UM, FAMILY MOMENTS, UM, HAVING GROUP RATES ON HOTELS AND DISCOUNTS, UM, GETTING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LARGER GROUPS OF PEOPLE.
UM, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CAN HELP WITH ASSISTING WITH THEIR LOGISTICS.
SO THESE SPORT FAMILIES IS ONE OF OUR CORE AUDIENCES.
THE BUSINESS TRAVELER, YOU KNOW, THE EDMUND CONFERENCE CENTER, THAT WAS A BIG, HUGE, UM, ASSET TO EDMOND.
AND IT OPENED RIGHT AT, RIGHT BEFORE I STARTED, AND I GET TO SEE THAT PARKING LOT.
A LOT OF TIMES IT'S COWBOYS WITH TRUCKS.
A LOT OF TIMES IT IS, UM, A HUGE CONFERENCE.
SOMETIMES IT'S A, IT'S A WEDDING.
LIKE YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU'RE GONNA SEE PARKED IN THAT PARKING LOT WHEN WE COME TO WORK.
SO THAT CONFERENCE CENTER HAS OPENED UP A HUGE DOOR FOR EDMOND, AND SO WE GET TO WELCOME THEM.
AND SO THESE BUSINESS TRAVELERS BRING THEIR MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES TO EDMOND.
UM, A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE BALANCING WORK AND LEISURE.
SO AGAIN, THEY MIGHT BE HERE FOR A CONFERENCE, BUT THEY HAVE NIGHTTIME AND THEY HAVE BETWEEN MEETING TIME, AND THAT'S WHEN THEY GET TO ENJOY EDMOND IN THEIR OWN WAY.
UM, WE GET TO HELP THEM WITH NETWORKING EVENTS, WITH THOSE CONFERENCE FACILITIES, UM, TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR CONFERENCE PLANNING.
SO NAVIGATING THE AREA, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE GET TO DO WHEN WE BRING MORE BUSINESS GROUPS TO EDMOND.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER 25% THE RURAL TRAVELER.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T FORGET SOME OF THESE SMALL TOWNS.
AND COMING TO EDMOND IS A BIG DEAL.
LIKE THEY WANNA COME TO EDMOND, THEY WANNA SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FAMILY, THEY WANNA SPEND THE NIGHT, AND, UM, THEY FEEL SAFE IN EDMOND.
MAYBE THEY LIKE COMING HERE INSTEAD OF TULSA OR OKLAHOMA CITY FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
UM, I THINK WE'RE VERY AUTHENTIC TO THE RURAL TRAVELER.
WE HAVE STORES THAT THEY DON'T HAVE.
UM, THEY GET TO SEE THOSE LOCAL GYMS THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE IN THEIR SMALL TOWNS.
SO THIS IS, THEY'RE SEEKING A BREAK FROM THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE.
THEY WANNA HAVE A NEW ADVENTURE.
AND EDMOND IS VERY ATTRACTIVE TO RURAL TRAVELERS.
AND RURAL TRAVELERS HAVE MONEY TO SPEND.
THEY, UM, HAVE EXPERIENCES THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAT THEY WANT TO SHARE, AND THEY LIKE TO BRING LOTS OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
SO THIS RURAL TRAVELER WAS SOMETHING WE FOUND THROUGH THIS STRATEGIC BRANDING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO MARKET TO AS WELL.
I DON'T WANNA FORGET THE NEWCOMER.
SO I'M GOING DOWN TO THIS ONE IS MORE OF A 15% BECAUSE NEWCOMER COMES FROM A VARIETY OF WAYS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE CHAMBER THAT FOCUSES ON BUSINESS AND THEN EDMOND THAT FOCUSES ON VISITORS.
AND SOMETIMES THAT NEWCOMER GETS KIND OF LOST IN THE SHUFFLE.
SO WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THEM BECAUSE WE KNOW WHEN THEY COME, A LOT OF TIMES THEY MIGHT BRING THEIR BUSINESS OR THEY TELL THEIR FRIENDS.
AND THAT'S, AGAIN, THAT ECONOMIC CIRCLE THAT, UM, OTHERS WILL MOVE TO EDMOND IN ADDITION TO THEM.
BUT, UM, WE WANT TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE.
UM, WE WANNA HELP PLAN THEIR VISITS FOR THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
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GET TO SEE HOW EXCITED THEY ARE TO BE IN EDMOND AND THEN ALL THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HAVE FUN.AND I KNOW WITH DOWNTOWN WE'RE GONNA BE WELCOMING A LOT OF NEW DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS, AND WE WANNA BE AHEAD OF THE GAME TO FOCUS ON THE NEWCOMER.
UM, I THINK AS THEY EXPLORE THEIR NEW HOME, THAT IS A RESOURCE THAT VISIT EDMOND CAN HELP WITH THEM ON WHAT TO DO AND, AND HOW TO SPEND THEIR TIME.
UM, AND THESE NEWCOMERS, THEY BECOME OBVIOUSLY RESIDENTS.
AND THESE RESIDENTS ARE THE AMBASSADORS THAT BRING THEIR CONFERENCES FROM THEIR ASSOCIATIONS TO EDMOND.
SO THE NEWCOMER IS A IMPORTANT AUDIENCE, AND THIS IS THE CITIZEN.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW TODAY.
UM, WE DON'T WANNA BE COMPLACENT.
UM, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITIZENS KNOW ALL THE VIBRANT GROWTH AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN EDMOND.
UM, WE WANT THEM TO EMBRACE PROGRESS, BUT ALSO DON'T FORGET THE NOSTALGIA.
THERE'S A REASON WHY THEY MOVED TO EDMOND, AND THAT'S WHY THEY STAY HERE.
WE WANNA CONNECT THEM INTO THE CHANGING LANDSCAPES AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS.
SO THIS EDMUND CITIZEN IS A VERY IMPORTANT, UM, AUDIENCE AS WELL.
AND, UM, A LOT OF LONGTIME RESIDENTS, THEY, I'M SURPRISED SOMETIMES THEY DON'T KNOW THAT WHERE THE FOOD HALLS ARE, AND THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A FESTIVAL ON THAT FIRST THURSDAYS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY MIGHT KNOW ABOUT THE ARTS FESTIVAL AND LIBERTY FEST, BUT THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING.
SO EDMOND CITIZEN IS AN IMPORTANT GROUP TO COMMUNICATE TO.
UM, AND THIS IS KIND OF THAT FUN PART ABOUT THE EX EDMOND CITIZEN AND GRADUATE.
THEY MAY HAVE MOVED FROM EDMOND AND MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING IN THEIR MIND ABOUT WHAT EDMOND IS LIKE.
AND WHEN THEY COME AND SEE US AGAIN, THEY'RE SURPRISED.
AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH OUR, UM, OUR BRANDING STRATEGY, UH, AGENCY, LIKE I SAID, WHO WERE UCO GRADUATES? UM, SO THOSE UCO GRADUATES ARE HUGE.
AND IN FACT, WE HAVE A UCO, UM, LIAISON ON OUR BOARD BECAUSE UCO IS SO IMPORTANT AND STRENGTHENING THOSE TIES IS SOMETHING THAT VISIT EDMOND WANTS TO DO.
SO WE DON'T WANNA, UM, UNDERESTIMATE OUR TRANSFORMATION.
WE WANNA SHOW THEM WHAT'S GOING ON.
UM, THEY MIGHT HAVE AN OUTDATED PERCEPTION SO WHEN THEY COME AND VISIT, THEY'LL BE SURPRISED THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO OKLAHOMA CITY TO HAVE FUN.
THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS TO DO HERE.
AND SO WE WANT TO SHOW THEM, YOU KNOW, HOW WE'VE CHANGED AND WHAT IS WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE THEY'VE LEFT.
SO SOMETIMES PEOPLE ASK YOU WHY EDMOND? YOU KNOW, WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT? UM, SO WE WORKED REALLY HARD TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS AND THESE ARE THE DIFFERENTIATORS FOR EDMOND.
UM, WE ARE PLANNING VERY HARD FOR THAT CENTENNIAL IN 2026, BUT EVEN BEYOND, SO WE HAVE HISTORY ALONG ROUTE 66, WE HAVE, UM, ARCADIA LAKE.
WE'VE GOT, UM, EVENTS LIKE CYCLE 66, SO WE ARE A STOP ON ROUTE, ROUTE 66 THAT IS ATTRACTIVE TO TRAVELERS ALSO, BUSINESS AND LEISURE.
THAT'S WHAT I KIND OF MENTIONED BEFORE.
YOU MIGHT BE HERE FOR A CONFERENCE, BUT DO YOU GET TO HAVE FUN AND STAY AN EXTRA DAY? UM, THE FRIENDLY VIBE, I DON'T THINK WE REALIZE HOW FRIENDLY WE ARE AND THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE WHY PEOPLE WANNA RETURN.
SO THE FRIENDLY VIBE AND THAT SMALL TOWN CHARM PLUS BIG CITY EXPERIENCE THAT IS THIS HAPPY MEDIUM.
UM, IT IS A NICHE FOR EDMOND THAT MAKES US ALL PROUD TO LIVE HERE AND ALSO TO TELL OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT IT.
SO WE CALL IT THE SMALL TOWN CHARM AND BIG CITY EXPERIENCES AND ALSO THE LIFESTYLE.
LIKE YOU GET TO STROLL THROUGH PARKS.
UM, WHEN WE HAD A, A WAY FINDING, UM, CONSULTANTS COME, THEY GO ALL OVER THE NATION AND THEY WERE JUST LIKE, DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE 33 PARKS, YOU HAVE 47 MILES OF TRAILS RIGHT IN YOUR BACKYARD.
YOU'VE GOT A LAKE THAT YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, WALK TO OR DRIVE TO VERY QUICKLY.
THOSE THINGS SOMETIMES WE TAKE FOR GRANTED.
AND THAT LIFESTYLE FOCUS OF WHAT EDMUND HAS, UM, THE LOCAL DINING, LOCAL SHOPPING, ALL THE PARKS AND TRAILS, THOSE THINGS MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE FELT LIKE WERE OUR BRAND DIFFERENTIATORS.
SO WITH OUR VOICE, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO PICK SOME WORDS THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE A LOT, AND YOU CAN SEE THOSE WORDS ON THE SCREEN.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE, WHEN THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE CAME, THEY TOLD US TO BE BOLD.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO FUNNY BECAUSE WE KNEW WE DIDN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT THAT.
BUT THAT SAME WORD CAME OUT OF OUR BRANDING STRATEGY.
SO THE WELCOMING AND THE HOSPITABLE WERE THE UNEXPECTED, THE FRIENDLY, ALL THOSE WORDS ARE SHOW US THAT WE ARE APPROACHABLE, FRIENDLY, AND INFORMATIVE.
THAT IS OUR CORE AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND WE'RE EXCITED TO DO, UM, WITH THE VISITORS THAT VISIT.
SO THIS IS THE NEW MARK AND LOGO, AND I ASK YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU SEE, WHEN YOU SEE THIS MARK ICE CREAM CONE ICE CREAM CONE.
YES, I'M, I'M TOTALLY FINE WITH THAT.
WHAT ELSE? VERY SHARP AND CLEAN.
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I THINK IT LOOKS HAPPY.WE ARE A, A MECCA FOR GOLF RIGHT HERE.
ESPECIALLY WITH THE SENIOR OPEN COMING.
UM, IT'S ALSO A, A ICON LIKE WHEN YOU SEE ON GOOGLE MAPS THAT LIKE A PLACE MARKER.
THAT WAS ANOTHER THING I'VE HEARD.
UM, BUT YES, WE'VE GOT THE COLORS AND THIS MARK AND I LEARNED THAT THERE'S THREE THINGS THAT YOU NEED FOR A GOOD MARK.
IT IS NUMBER ONE, IT CAN BE SEEN WELL JUST IN BLACK AND WHITE.
NUMBER TWO, IT CAN BE PUT ON SOMETHING VERY SMALL LIKE A COIN OR A GOLF MARKER OR A PIN.
AND NUMBER THREE IS A FIVE-YEAR-OLD CAN DRAW IT
AND I THINK THIS PASSED THAT TEST.
SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE GOT TO LEARN THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCESS TO KEEP IT SIMPLE YET FUN.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A TAGLINE AND IT'S A PLACE TO BE CONNECTED.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT WORD CONNECTED IS CORE AND IT JUST KEPT COMING UP WHEN WE DID THINGS.
SO OUR JOB IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEIR HOTEL RESERVATION, BUT WE GET TO TELL ALL THE HOTELS THAT THIS GROUP IS COMING AND LET'S CONNECT YOU SO YOU CAN FIND THE RIGHT FIT.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T MAKE THEIR RESERVATION AT A RESTAURANT, BUT WE CAN ASK WHAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN AND SAY, THIS IS THE MEXICAN FOODS AND THESE ARE THE ITALIAN FOODS OR WHATEVER IT IS THEIR INTEREST IS.
UM, SO CONNECTING PEOPLE IS WHAT WE DO BEST.
SO THAT'S WHY WE CHOSE THAT FOR OUR TAGLINE.
I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT THE INDIGO AND APPLE ARE THE MAIN COLORS.
YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THAT IN THE COLOR BAR.
AND THEN WE HAVE SOME FUN WITH THE SKY AND THE SUNBURST IS ORANGE.
YOU CAN'T REALLY TELL ON THAT SCREEN.
AND THEN THE MAGENTA IS A PINK.
SO, UM, IT WAS IMPORTANT NOT TO GO LIKE ALL RED FOR OSU OR ALL ORANGE AND, BUT, BUT WE'RE OKAY THAT IT LEANS A LITTLE BIT TOWARDS UCO BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THAT'S OUR TOWN, THAT'S OUR COLLEGE.
BUT THOSE ARE THE COLORS THAT WE CHOSE AND THAT'S GONNA BE CONSISTENT IN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND ON OUR WEBSITE AND IN OUR, OUR BRANDING.
WE ALSO HAD SOME FUN WITH ICONS.
UM, MIRANDA, WHO WORKS WITH SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE, WE JUST WERE SO HAPPY WHEN WE GOT TO SEE THESE AND YOU CAN SIGN, KIND OF SEE THE CONNECTIONS, LIKE THE MEAT, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE IT'S, IT'S GETTING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
THE DINE LOOKS LIKE SPAGHETTI AND THE SHOP HAS A BOX.
SO THESE THINGS WE ARE USING IN VISUAL WAYS JUST TO HAVE FUN.
SO TOURISM GETS TO BE PLAYFUL AND WE GET TO BE FUN.
AND THESE ICONS HELP WITH THAT.
UM, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A BILLBOARD, YOU KNOW, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHOW PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF EDMOND, EVEN OUTSIDE OF OKLAHOMA, THAT EDMOND IS NOT FAR AWAY.
AND WE WE'RE SURPRISED HOW MANY VISITORS WE HAVE FROM ARKANSAS AND KANSAS AND TEXAS.
SO SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS, IS A DREAM OF OURS TO BE ABLE TO DO SOME THINGS LIKE THIS TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT IF THEY HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF EDMOND, THAT WE'RE A GREAT PLACE TO VISIT.
SO THIS, UM, LOGO AND BRAND ACTUALLY, UM, ON SATURDAY NIGHT THERE WAS A, AN EVENT AND OUR AGENCY ENTERED OUR BRANDING INTO THIS EVENT AND IT'S CALLED AMERICAN FEDERATION OF ADVERTISING AND IT'S FOR OKLAHOMA AND NORTH TEXAS.
AND SO THEY HAD, UM, A COMPETITION AND ON SATURDAY WE WON A GOLD.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT MORE PEOPLE OTHER THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, OUR SMALL LITTLE, UM, COMMITTEE BECAUSE WE THINK IT'S WONDERFUL AND WE'RE STARTING TO SPREAD THE WORD, BUT THESE ARE PROFESSIONAL ADVERTISERS.
AND SO OUR BRANDING GETS TO GO TO REGIONALS AND THEN NATIONALS BECAUSE OF THAT.
AND THAT'S JUST ELEVATES EDMOND AS WELL.
ANYTIME YOU'RE IN A MIX WITH BIG CITIES AND BIG BRANDS AND SUCCESSFUL ADVERTISING, THAT IS A KIND OF THING THAT, UM, YOU CAN'T REALLY PUT A DOLLAR AMOUNT ON THAT KIND OF AWARENESS.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED THAT THIS IS BEING EMBRACED, UM, AT, ON A LEVEL THAT'S MORE THAN JUST, UM, MOND.
AND, UM, IT'S JUST EXCITING TO SEE WHERE, WHERE IT GOES.
SO I GET TO TALK ABOUT ATTACKS, ALSO THE VISITOR TAX, BUT THIS WAS THE END OF THAT BRANDING, UM, PRESENTATION.
AND I JUST WANTED TO OPEN IT UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT I JUST KIND OF LED YOU THROUGH IN THE PAST FEW MINUTES.
WELL, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR AWARD.
I SAW THAT, THAT WAS VERY EXCITING.
YEAH, IT'S NOT ONLY EXCITING FOR Y'ALL, IT'S EXCITING FOR THE WHOLE CITY.
THANK YOU STACY, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
SHE'S OUR LIAISON FROM THE BOARD ON OUR TOURISM, SO SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO GO THROUGH THIS WITH US.
UM, IT WAS DEFINITELY A LONG PROCESS AND UM, WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, JUST LEARN A LOT THROUGH IT AND CREATE SOME
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STANDARDS FOR OUR TOURISM.I THINK Y'ALL DID A GREAT JOB.
WELL, I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT.
NO, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY I ENJOYED GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS AND I LEARNED A FEW THINGS AND HOPEFULLY AS THE WHOLE TEAM LEARNED A FEW THINGS WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE OFF AND USE HOPEFULLY LATER.
BUT ALSO THIS IS THE END RESULT.
AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE AWARD AND, UM, JOB WELL DONE.
IT WAS NICE TO HAVE YOU THERE, MAYOR, AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE HONEST CONVERSATIONS IN A SAFE PLACE BECAUSE THERE'S THINGS THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO IMPROVE ON AND WE WERE ABLE TO JUST TALK HONESTLY ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE OF EDMOND.
JENNIFER, THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION AND EVERYONE, FOR ALL THEIR WORK LOOKS FANTASTIC.
THE, UM, QUESTION I HAVE IS, IF YOU HAD A MAGIC WAND ON BEHALF OF SORT, OH GOSH.
BUT IF YOU HAD A MAGIC WAND AND SAID, OKAY, THIS WOULD TAKE EDMOND TO THE NEXT LEVEL AS FAR AS TOURISM.
I MEAN, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT REVENUE HERE IN A SECOND, BUT IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE SOME OF OUR PEERS DOING OR SOME BEST PRACTICES THAT YOU'RE, AS YOU'RE GOING TO THESE CONFERENCES THAT YOU JUST THINK WOULD BE A GOOD FIT OR, OR, OR SOMETHING THAT OTHERS ARE DOING THAT, THAT YOU RECOGNIZE AS A, AS A GOOD MULTIPLIER? YES.
UM, ONE THING THAT WE'RE GETTING TO DO IS BRING A TOURISM CONFERENCE BACK TO LIFE, AND THAT'S GONNA BE IN JUNE AND TRAVEL OKLAHOMA'S HELPING IT, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE IN EDMOND.
UM, TERRY ACTUALLY HELPED RECRUIT THAT AND WE WERE ABLE TO SHOWCASE EDMOND IN THAT WAY.
SO BRINGING MORE LEADERS TOGETHER IS, IS ESSENTIAL AS WELL AS HELPING SPREAD THE WORD.
I MEAN, I THINK OUR SPORTS FACILITIES KICKING BIRD GOLF IS A GAME CHANGER.
AND I KNOW THAT, UM, AC COPPINGER WILL BE AS WELL.
SO HAVING OUR FACILITIES UPGRADED WILL BRING MORE TOURISTS TO TOWN IN THE SPORTS REALM.
UM, I MEAN, I REALLY THINK THAT I SEE MY COHORTS, UM, DOING BIG THINGS WITH, UM, HEARING FROM OTHER PEOPLE.
SO A LOT OF TIMES THEY'LL USE QUOTES FROM PEOPLE THAT VISITED AND USE THOSE TO SPUR ENERGY.
SO I LIKE HEARING FROM PEOPLE THAT VISITED BECAUSE THAT'S EVEN MORE AUTHENTIC.
IT'S ONE THING FOR US TO TALK ABOUT OURSELVES, BUT IT'S EVEN BETTER WHEN OTHER PEOPLE TALK ABOUT US.
SO I'VE SEEN THAT MORE AND MORE AND, AND EDMOND HAS THAT HAPPENING TOO.
I LIKE BRINGING TOURISM TO EDMOND WITH BIG CONFERENCES.
UM, AND THAT'S ONE THING I KNOW WITH, UM, WITH UCO WE'RE TRYING TO BID ON SOME NCAA DIVISION TWO CONFERENCES.
LIKE, LET'S GET AHEAD OF THE GAME, LET'S BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PROACTIVE AND AGGRESSIVE.
DIDN'T WE HAVE A CITY MANAGERS CONFERENCE HERE IN EDMOND? YEAH, WE HAVE THAT ANNUALLY OVER AT THE CONFERENCE CENTER, WHICH IS GREAT.
JUST CONCLUDED, WHAT ABOUT THREE, FOUR WEEKS AGO? MM-HMM?
AND THEY GET TO HOST IT HERE, AND YES, WE WANNA HOST THOSE HERE.
AND OUR CONFERENCE CENTER, UM, IS A GREAT PLACE.
THE REASONS WHY PEOPLE COME TO OUR CONFERENCE CENTER IS BECAUSE IT'S FREE PARKING, IT'S SAFE.
UM, OUR AUDIO VISUAL IS INCLUDED.
LIKE WE DON'T NICKEL AND DIME PEOPLE.
SO IF SOMETHING DOES GET TAKEN TO ANOTHER CITY, OFTENTIMES THEY COME BACK BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE, MAN, THAT WASN'T AS GOOD AS I SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE.
SO YES, BRINGING THOSE THINGS TO EDMOND.
AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE 45 CREATIVE VENUES HERE.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, I TALK ABOUT EDMOND CONFERENCE CENTER, BUT WE HAVE 45 CREATIVE VENUES THAT CAN HOST EVENTS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WELL, THANK YOU.
[3. Presentation and Discussion of a Potential Increase to the Edmond Visitor Tax.]
GOT A LITTLE BIT.I JUST THINK EXCUSE CHAPTER TWO.
WELL, I FIGURED SINCE I HAD YOUR ATTENTION, I MIGHT TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S COMING UP.
UM, SO WE HAVE A BOARD AND LAST WEEK THEY VOTED TO RECOMMEND TO CITY COUNCIL A VISITOR TAX INCREASE FROM FOUR TO 6%.
AND MOSTLY I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT TOURISM SUPPORTS YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN TO SET A DATE FOR A VOTE, WHEN THAT'S BEST FOR EDMOND.
AND I WANNA JUST TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT AND MAKE SURE I ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS STARTED IN 1994, SO IT'S 30 YEARS OLD, IS OUR 4% TAX.
UM, AND WE DID INVOKE TO INCREASE IT TO 6%.
AND WHAT THAT'S REALLY GOING TO DO IS ALIGN US WITH OTHER CITIES.
UM, AND I JUST, THE NUMBERS, JUST SO YOU CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT $4 ON A HUNDRED ROOM NIGHT RIGHT NOW THAT COMES
[00:25:01]
TO VISIT EDMOND.AND, UM, IF WE INCREASE THAT, IT COULD ADD ABOUT $350,000 ANNUALLY TO OUR BUDGET TO DO MORE THINGS LIKE THE BILLBOARDS OR BID ON SOME BIGGER THINGS TO COME HERE.
THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF BIG PICTURE THINGS THAT WE WANNA DO WITH THOSE DOLLARS.
UM, ANOTHER QUESTION I GET A LOT IS, TELL TELL ME ABOUT THAT REALIGNMENT.
UM, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS ALIGN OUR VISITOR TAX WITH OTHER CITIES.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, OKLAHOMA CITY IS AT 5.5% RIGHT NOW, GOT THREE AND STILL WATER WENT UP TO 7% AND NORMAN WENT UP TO EIGHT.
SO WE'RE, WE ARE ONE OF THE LOWEST IN THE REGIONS.
AND SO BRINGING THAT UP WILL ALIGN US WITH OTHER CITIES.
UM, ALSO ONE THING THAT MAKES EDMOND DIFFERENT IS THAT THE VISITOR TAX, AND I'M CALLING IT A VISITOR TAX BECAUSE IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE CITIZENS PAY FOR UNLESS THEY HAPPEN TO STAY IN THE, IN THE HOTEL OR AIRBNB OR SHORT TERM RENTAL IN EDMOND.
SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE THAT CLARIFICATION AND THE VISITOR TAX, SOMETIMES THAT WORDING MIGHT HELP THAT I'VE NOTICED OTHER CITIES GOING TOWARDS THAT WORDING.
BUT, UM, ALL OF THAT COMES TO VISIT EDMOND.
IN SOME OTHER CITIES, IT'S SPLIT UP BETWEEN DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT THAT ALL COMES TO VISIT EDMOND SO THAT WE CAN MARKET EDMOND AS A DESTINATION AND BRING MORE THINGS TO EDMOND.
UM, THAT GOES TO MY NEXT, SO THE NEXT MOST POPULAR QUESTION I GET WHEN I START TALKING ABOUT THIS IS HOW ARE THE DOLLARS GOING TO BE USED? UM, THIS BRANDING SET A REALLY GOOD BASE SO THAT I'VE GOT THE MESSAGING AND THE TARGET AUDIENCES THAT WE KNOW WE WANNA GO FOR.
UM, SPORTS TOURISM IS A HUGE FOCUS.
UM, A LOT OF MY OTHER CITIES, THEY HAVE A GROUP SALES MANAGER AND A SPORTS SALES MANAGER.
AND THAT SPORTS MANAGER, YOU KNOW, THEY GO TO RECRUIT SPORTS TOURNAMENTS AND WORK WITH ALL OF OUR FACILITIES.
UM, AND THOSE SPONSORSHIPS AND THE BIDS THAT I TALKED ABOUT.
SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WILL SET EDMOND APART, HELP US BE MORE AGGRESSIVE IF WE HAD MORE DOLLARS.
HERE'S SOME MORE EXAMPLES, UM, ABOUT NEW EVENTS.
UM, THESE ARE JUST OUR OWN EDMOND CITIZENS RECRUITING CONFERENCES.
WE'VE HAVE A AMBOX CONFERENCE COMING TO EDMOND IN APRIL, AND WE'RE BIDDING ON SOME BIGGER THINGS WITH UCO.
SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES TO SHOW YOU WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW AND WHAT WE COULD DO EVEN BETTER.
UM, O-S-S-A-A STATE HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS AS WELL.
THERE'S BRING A LOT OF PEOPLE TO EDMOND.
I THINK IT ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
WE OBVIOUSLY TALKED ABOUT SETTING A DATE, UM, AND HOW YOU TALK ABOUT HOPEFULLY BEING ABLE TO HAVE A SPORTS TOURISM LEAD ON THIS.
UM, WHICH ALSO GOES WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE UPGRADING ALL OF OUR FIELDS AND ALL OF OUR PARKS RIGHT NOW TO HOPEFULLY BRING THEM UP TO STANDARDS, NOT ONLY FOR THE, THE KIDS THAT LIVE HERE IN THIS CITY, WHICH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT THEY HAVE A NICE PLACE TO PLAY THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR THEM, BUT WE'RE ALSO UPDATING THEM TO BRING IN THOSE, THE SPORTS TOURISM DOLLARS AND TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO GO OUT THERE AND GET THOSE TOURNAMENTS TO COME TO THE CITY IS AMAZING.
BRING THOSE DOLLARS TO EDMOND.
UM, THEY WILL HOPEFULLY STAY PLACES.
BUT EVEN IF IT'S A ONE DAY TOURNAMENT, THEY'RE GOING TO EAT, THEY'RE GONNA SHOP, THEY'RE GONNA, EVEN IF THEY COOK IN THE PARKING LOTS,
UM, SO SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
I JUST, ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT IT COULD GO TOWARDS CAN DO NOTHING BUT BENEFIT THE CITIZENS OF ED, OF EDMOND AND THE FACT THAT IT'S A VISITOR'S TAX, IT'S, IT'S NOT TAXING THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY.
IT'S TAXING THE PEOPLE THAT COME AND VISIT THE CITY.
WE'RE STILL NOW NOT AHEAD OF ANYONE ELSE, A HALF A PERCENT OF OKLAHOMA CITY, BUT THEY'VE BEEN AT THEIR FIVE AND A HALF PERCENT FOR A VERY LONG TIME, UM, AS WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR 30 YEARS.
AND UM, I THINK IT'S, UM, GOING TO 6% IS A SMART THING.
UM, HOPEFULLY WE DON'T HAVE TO, AND WELL, WE PROBABLY WON'T EVEN ADDRESS THIS FOR MANY MORE YEARS.
I HOPE THE PEOPLE OF EDMOND CAN GET EDUCATED ON IT AND KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT'S GOING TOWARDS AND IT CAN DO NOTHING BUT BETTER THEIR CITY.
SO SUPER EXCITED FOR ALL OF THIS TO HAPPEN AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND FOR EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN A PART OF IT.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY STARTS AS A VISITOR.
THAT'S ONE THING THAT JANET AND I TALK ABOUT.
YOU STARTED AS A VISITOR AND THEN SOMETIMES YOU MOVE HERE, SOMETIMES YOU MOVE YOUR BUSINESS HERE OR YOU JUST COME HERE MORE, UM, AS A, AS A VISITOR.
SO I THINK IT'S THAT, THAT FULL CIRCLE OF ECONOMIC IMPACT AND THE MORE WE MAKE THE CITY OF EDMOND, UM, ATTRACTIVE TO COME AND HANG OUT, THE MORE PEOPLE ARE GONNA WANNA COME HERE FOR, NOT
[00:30:01]
JUST COME AND GO HOME, BUT SPEND THE NIGHT, SPEND THE NIGHT, AND THEN GET UP IN THE MORNING AND DO MORE STUFF.THERE'S SO MUCH FUN STUFF GOING ON IN EDMOND.
THERE'S SOME SORT OF LIVE MUSIC OR FESTIVAL OR SGO OR BINGO OR WHATEVER YOU CALL IT GOING ON DOWNTOWN TRIVIA.
THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON TOWN.
SO THESE FOLKS THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY BRING IN WITH THESE TOURISM, THESE SPORTS TOURISM THINGS, CAN HAVE THEIR THEIR TOURNAMENTS, BUT YET HAVE SO MANY OTHER THINGS TO DO AND SPEND THE NIGHT AND HAVE FUN IN THE CITY.
AND, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PEOPLE FROM STATES AND STATES AWAY.
IT CAN BE FROM CITIES AWAY, BUT THEY CAN STAY HERE AND ENJOY IT BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A LOVELY PLACE TO COME.
AND YOU KNOW, I, I JUST WANNA THANK THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME.
THIS ARE OUR VISIT EDMOND, BOARD MEMBERS, OUR STAFF, OUR STRATEGIC BRANDING COMMITTEE, AND, UM, AS WELL AS SOME STAFF, UM, FROM CITY OF
BUT REALLY JUST WANNA THANK EVERYONE.
THESE ARE THE CHEERLEADERS RIGHT HERE.
LIKE, THEY TOOK THE TIME TO DIVE INTO OUR STRATEGIC BRANDING.
THEY TOOK THE TIME TO GO TO BOARD MEETINGS AND THEN TO COME HERE TODAY.
SO I THINK THE COLLABORATION AND TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE THIS, UM, EVEN MORE EXCITING AND, AND ELEVATE EDMOND TO NEW LEVELS.
JENNIFER, THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.
YOU'RE, AS YOU WERE MENTIONING THAT TEAM, WHAT I THINK OF IS PEOPLE, PEOPLE MOVE TO EDMOND BECAUSE, UM, A QUALITY OF LIFE.
THEY, THEY APPRECIATE AND RECOGNIZE THE INVESTMENT THAT THE COMMUNITY MAKES IN SCHOOLS.
IE THE BOND THAT JUST PASSED BY NEARLY 80%.
THEY, UM, RECOGNIZE AND LOOK AT THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT'S AVAILABLE HERE WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT THEN ALSO THE AMENITIES, OUR DEDICATED, UH, FUNDING FOR OUR PARKS, OUR DEDICATED FUNDING FOR POLICE AND FIRE.
AND THEN WHAT I'VE NOTICED IS THAT PEOPLE ARE THEN A LITTLE, THEY'RE DELIGHTED AND SURPRISED THAT WHAT THEY FIND, AND EVEN IN MY TENURE HERE, UM, DOWNTOWN WASN'T SOMETHING I WOULD'VE THOUGHT OF AFTER FIVE O'CLOCK.
NOW THAT WE HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY FROM THE WEST COAST OR WHEREVER, WE'RE LIKE, HEY, LET'S GO AND WE CAN MAKE A NIGHT OF IT AND BE ENTERTAINED.
SO THINGS HAVE DEFINITELY CHANGED, I THINK.
UM, AS FAR AS WHAT'S AVAILABLE, UM, I ALWAYS LIKE TO THINK OF IT AS ONE TEAM ADMIN.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
WE'RE STILL SMALL ENOUGH THAT I FEEL LIKE WE'RE TWO DEGREES OF SEPARATION OR THREE DEGREES OF SEPARATION.
AS YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER PARTNERS, I SEE OUR CHAMBER PRESIDENT HERE.
I SEE, UM, YOU KNOW, UCO, YOUR BOARD.
UM, DO YOU FEEL, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BUILDING A TEAM, UM, AROUND THIS AS FAR AS ENTHUSIASM OR PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO GO OUT AND TELL THAT STORY TO THEIR RESIDENTS AND TO THEIR NEIGHBORS? HOW, HOW DO YOU FEEL AS FAR AS YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THAT? VERY CONFIDENT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THIS BRAND STORY THAT WE TOLD YOU ABOUT.
AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T TOTALLY AGREE WITH EVERY PART OF IT, EVERYONE HERE LOVES EDMOND.
LIKE, AND WE ALL CAN SHOW THAT IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
AND COLLABORATION IS MY FAVORITE THING.
SO I LOVE ENGAGING PEOPLE, LISTENING AND THEN MOVING FORWARD AS ONE.
SO THAT TEAM EDMOND ONE AND, UM, NOW WE HAVE A STORY AND WE HAVE SOME PARAMETERS IN PLACE.
UM, WE HAVE A SUPPORTIVE CITY COUNCIL.
LIKE IT IS, IT IS, THE MOMENTUM IS THERE AND UM, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, VISIT EDMOND WILL USE EVERY DOLLAR WISELY.
AND WHENEVER THAT VOTE IS THE RIGHT TIME THAT WE ARE, WE'RE READY AND POISED, UM, TO, TO GO WITH THAT AND, AND DO SOME NEW THINGS.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE, UM, AS A FOLLOW UP, AS FAR AS OBVIOUSLY THOSE, THERE'S, THERE'S A BENEFIT.
IT'S HOPEFULLY BECOMES A WIN-WIN AND A FLYWHEEL FOR EXTRA VISITORS AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, BUT THERE HAS TO BE AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ON THOSE, YOU KNOW, ENTREPRENEURS THAT HAVE THE BUSINESSES OUT THERE.
HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS OR, UM, KINDA HOW DO YOU FEEL GENERALLY OR OR ANTICIPATE WHETHER THOSE THAT YOU KNOW, ONLY THESE ESTABLISHMENTS BEING SUPPORTIVE OR NEUTRAL OR MAYBE EVEN NEGATIVE TOWARDS THAT? YEAH, I MEAN, HONESTLY, YOU SEE, YAY ON BROADWAY, A SMALL BUSINESS HERE, YOU SEE FRENZY, YOU SEE REALTORS.
UM, WE HAVE HOSPITAL LIKE, I THINK THAT WHEN THE TIDE RISES EVERYONE BENEFITS AND OUR SMALL BUSINESSES WILL BENEFIT WHEN WE GET MORE PEOPLE IN THEIR DOORS.
WE'VE GOT SOMETHING THAT WE SAY IS THAT TOURISM IS ABOUT MORE BUTTS IN SEATS, MORE PEOPLE ON THE TURNSTILES.
WHAT WAS THE OTHER? UM, ANYWAYS, IT'S ABOUT GETTING MORE PEOPLE JUST IN YOUR FRONT DOOR.
AND, UM, SO I THINK IT BENEFITS EVERYONE.
UM, I THINK SMALL BUSINESSES ARE RIGHT BEHIND US.
UM, JODY IS ON OUR STAFF AND SHE GETS TO VISIT THESE RESTAURANTS, UM, AND ATTRACTIONS AND HELP WITH DISCOUNTS AND COUPONS AND FINDING THOSE CONNECTIONS FOR THE VISITORS.
AND SO AS WE VISIT, THEY'RE JUST AS EXCITED AS WE ARE.
SO I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM HERE.
I THINK IT CAN JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER.
UM, PART OF THE RESULTS I SAW JUST THE OTHER WEEK THAT THE SOUTHWEST RURAL
[00:35:01]
CARRIERS CAME TO EDMOND AND THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN TO EDMOND.THEY'VE NEVER BEEN TO OKLAHOMA FOR THEIR CONFERENCE BEFORE.
AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE, UH, LUTHERAN WOMEN'S, THE LUTHERAN WOMEN'S COME IN, BUT WE'RE ALSO GONNA FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, THE HAZARDOUS HAZMAT TEAM.
THEY'VE NEVER HAD IT IN OKLAHOMA.
THEY FRESH YEAR WAS LAST YEAR.
THEY'RE COMING BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR.
SO PEOPLE ARE FINDING OUT ABOUT EDMOND, THEY'RE COMING BACK.
AND WHEN WE WALK AROUND, WHEN I WALK AROUND THE ROOM, THEY'RE TELLING ME ABOUT THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING TO ENJOY THEMSELVES HERE.
AND SO, UM, THAT IS, THAT IS WORKING OUT VERY WELL AND IT'S GONNA CONTINUE TO GROW.
AND AS WE DEVELOP OUR STRATEGY, WE'RE GONNA PUT THIS IN THERE TO FIGURE, SET THAT DATE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING.
WHEN WE SPONSOR GROUPS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ASK FOR IS A WELCOME.
CAN WE BRING A LOCAL PERSON TO WELCOME YOUR GROUP AND THEN THEY GET TO SEE US AND LEARN FROM US.
UM, SO THAT'S ANOTHER, I THINK IT'S A PERSONAL WELCOME THAT MAKES US DIFFERENT.
THAT'S THAT SMALL TIME TO SMALL TOWN CHARM.
SO THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING THESE GROUPS WHEN THEY COME.
I SEE OUR, OUR CHAMBER IS STANDING.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? I WOULD, YEAH.
SHERRY JORDAN, CEO FOR THE EDMOND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AND I JUST WANT TO, UM, BE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS INCREASE IN THE VISITOR TAX.
WE RECENTLY BROUGHT THE OKLAHOMA STATEWIDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EXECUTIVES TO TOWN FOR A CONFERENCE BECAUSE OF A GRANT FROM VISIT EDMOND.
AND ALSO HELP FROM THE EDMOND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND OUR OWN CHAMBER.
BUT, UM, TO BRING, UH, CHAMBER PROFESSIONALS FROM AROUND THE STATE THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR WHOLE THING IS TO GET OUT THE VOICE FOR BUSINESS WAS CRUCIAL FOR US.
THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT WE HAD TO OFFER.
JENNIFER AND HER TEAM DID A GREAT JOB OF WELCOMING THEM.
WE HAD AN EVENT AT SHOWBIZ, WE HAD A DOWNTOWN BAR CRAWL.
WE HAD A TOUR OF DOWNTOWN EDMOND.
AND SO I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE AREN'T GONNA PAY THE TAX.
THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO SEE US ARE GONNA PAY THE TAX AND WE'RE JUST GETTING UP TO THE LEVEL OF WHAT OTHER, UM, CITIES ARE AND ACTUALLY STILL BE LOWER THAN SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES.
SO, UM, I'M JUST HERE IN SUPPORT OF THAT.
AND, UM, ONCE YOU GUYS SET A DATE AND GET BALLOT LANGUAGE, UM, I WILL BRING IT BEFORE THE CHAMBERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR FORMAL, HOPEFULLY FORMAL ENDORSEMENT AND SO WE CAN GET BEHIND IT AND HELP WITH THE MESSAGING AND HELP GET THE WORD OUT AND HELP GET IT PASSED.
IT'S 4 38 AND THE CHAMBER SAID THEY'RE ON BOARD.
I THINK THAT'S THE KEY THOUGH.
S WE'RE ONE TEAM ADMIN AND, AND UH, IF PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT OWN THE BUSINESSES SEE THE BENEFIT AND THEY SEE THE PROFESSIONALISM AND THE UPGRADE AND THE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE BEING MADE, UM, I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE ALL WIN.
WHEN WE SAY, HEY, IF, WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING THAT
AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT COLLABORATION.
I LOOK FORWARD FOR THAT TEAM TO BE ASSEMBLING AND SEEING HOW I CAN HELP IN, IN, IN A SMALL WAY TO, UM, TO BE, TO BE A PART OF THAT KIND OF ONE TEAM ADMIN.
I THANK YOU MS. THORNTON, AND I'M GLAD YOUR MOTHER AND HER FRIEND WERE HERE TO SEE THAT.
UH, I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN PETERSON FOR HER GUIDANCE AND HER LEADERSHIP, AT LEAST FROM THE COUNCIL PERSPECTIVE ON THIS.
I KNOW YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT EDMOND AND, UH, THANK YOU.
UH, ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? SO OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE DISCUSSION ON IT AS WE DO DEVELOP OUR STRATEGIES AND OF COURSE YOU WILL BE INVOLVED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
EVERYONE FROM THANK YOU, TEAM ADMIN, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL FOR HELPING US KEEP GO GOING FORWARD.
ALRIGHT, WELL THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR THIS WORKSHOP.
UM, NO OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.
I'M GOING TO THIS WORK WORKSHOPS HERE BY ADJOURN.