75A-2 - PH - 2017-2018 BUDGET - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

the consultant. Based on the branding feedback, we can create a messaging plan to activate the branding effort. It's absolutely in the best interest of the city and all stakeholders to insure that the work completed thus far is sustained indefinitely. Most importantly, the current city budget has no line item for economic development. For the developer and business communities who are presently evaluating Santa Ana for investment, no budget for economic development creates "messaging implications" that could make them pause and question the city and its priorities. During Mr. Cavazo's tenure, we approached the city with a recommendation to establish an ongoing Economic Development/Marketing & PR Fund to support a citywide marketing/toudsm effort as many other cities utilize to support their own campaigns. At this point in time it appears as though Santa Ana Hotel & Visitor's taxes, $9,600,000 currently, are absorbed into the general fund but could provide a substantial funding mechanism for a tourism/branding effort. At the time, we proposed allocating 5% of the existing Hotel & Visitor's tax and 50% of the Hotel & Visitor's Tax from any new hotels (25% to be placed into a Tourism Fund and 25% to go to the City to enhance these efforts as well). We want to ensure that there is a line item included in the 2017-2018 budget for economic development/marketing/tourism and PR. Without this included in the budget there will be no funding to sustain or build upon the infrastructure created this year or to implement a sustainable external marketing campaign including the new branding of Santa Ana. We will make ourselves available to meet to discuss securing a permanent funding mechanism to support future economic development because the effort will ultimately help grow tax generation, which will help the city, its business and residential communities. We truly see the investment in an economic development infrastructure as an investment in our collective future. We look forward to continuing a sustainable public/private, symbiotic relationship between the city and the chamber EDC. Sincerely, David Elliott President, Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce Michael Weisman Co -Chair, Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Council CEO, Amusement Park 1631 W. Sunflower Ave #C-35, Santa Ana, CA 92704 (714) 541-5353 75A-2-164