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EDC Minutes April 18,2008(Draft) Page 2 of 5 the EDC continues to discuss these issues. At the last meeting, EDC members in attendance agreed that there should be a"go to" City staff person coordinating all of the City's public communications/marketing activities, that the City newsletter should be redesigned (at least the cover)and that a cost efficient branding exercise should be completed for the City. Ms. Steinmetz referenced a document she developed that included draft public communications/marketing goals and target audiences. The document was meant to eventually guide the development of a potential Request For Proposals(RFP)document. A RFP would provide a professional public communications/marketing person with insight for what the City needs regarding branding services and eventually public communications/marketing services. Ms. Steinmetz asked the EDC for any changes to the draft public communications/marketing audiences and goals. She also asked for the EDC's input on a suggested implementation schedule. Commissioner Belting arrived at this time. Commissioner Johnson stated that she doesn't think the City is ready to send out an RFP unless the purpose would be for the consultant to begin with a branding exercise followed by determining a public communications/marketing strategy. She added that the City should establish a timeline but take the time to "do it right" because there is no • need to rush through the process. Commissioner Wagner asked if the City has ever considered hiring a graduate student to do this type of work. Ms. Steinmetz said she didn't believe so. Commissioner Wagner agreed with Commission Johnson that it's too soon to decide upon a new logo prior to completing a branding exercise. Both agreed that the City needs to decide"who are we" in order to build its brand. Ms. Steinmetz added that input was received at the Redevelopment Roundtable discussion held at the April 7th Council/EDC Work Session that the City should focus on a marketing plan in order to be prepared for when the market picks up. Commissioner Johnson said that it would be interesting to find out how much it would cost to complete a branding exercise. Motion/Second: Commissioner Johnson moved and Commissioner Entsminger seconded a recommendation that the EDA consider generating an RFP to initiate a branding exercise and a public communications/marketing plan for the City. Chair Helgemoe arrived at this time. Commissioner Belting mentioned that Risdall Advertising located in New Brighton may be willing to estimate the cost of a branding exercise without submitting a full-blown proposal. • Commissioner Johnson stated that "other cities" should be added as another target audience in the draft goals and target audiences document.