Promotion Minutes

Minutes of the Promotion Committee meeting held on Tuesday, February 16th, 2009 at city hall pursuant to notice duly given.

1. Meeting called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chairperson Nick.
2. Roll call: Charles Nick, Ron Hayes, Beth Larson, Pete Stark, Krista Proksch, Tammy Salzsieder, Suzie Cain, Ken Thompson, Linda Belongia and advisory member Dale Mohr. Mayor Nerenhausen also present. Belongia introduced Katie Scheffen, Mobility Manager for NEWCAP, acknowledging assistance she gave on grant application;
3. Moved by Hayes seconded by Stark to approve of the agenda as presented.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 9 ayes
4. Discussion/possible action on:
a. Update on trolley grant application. Belongia acknowledged work done on application by Proksch and Scheffen…sent in 2 wks to Kate Fink at Congressman Kagen’s office as follow up; disc on city’s 20% match if awarded grant; in-kind services…discretionary funds per Hayes; Salzieder stated an A+ on grant application agrees with Belongia feels narratives on grant good; Hayes stated he also will follow up with Kagen’s office on status of our application; Mohr suggested we work up a map showing route we are proposing for trolley to use; Hayes stated we should have “Plan B” in place if don’t get funding; Nick referenced comments he heard that Marquette, MI had a trolley system that no longer is used; Hayes will look into this; Disc on signage & routes; Scheffen stated funding is available for planning grants…typically the planning grant is done to assist with grant application…but could apply now for planning grant requesting funding for signage, promotion etc…grant deadline is April; Scheffen will contact Proksch and Belongia to work on planning grant;
b. Tourism Visitor Center; Additional ideas for promoting Oconto: Media notification on activities in our community;
Salzsieder stated this item is on Chamber of Commerce agenda for the
Board of Directors; Stark stated with hwy relocation Z-Cheese may note
be the most effective location; Nick stated he didn’t realize this was the
tourism location center; maybe look at a new tourism center in Pickle
Park; Proksch stated Kale Proksch is looking at something like this as part
of the development for the new park site (Pickle Property); Proksch stated
the city needs to make our website more friendly; Belongia stated designer
stated we could purchase program to update pictures etc anytime we
wanted; Discussion on ways to get the info to the public; Thompson
stated the internet is replacing visitors centers; Nick suggested the
committee go to flambeaumine.org website…very informative site; Stark
suggested the committee look at every media outlet…print off
materials….keeping multi-media aspect out there will help promote
ourselves; Nick suggested getting “Oconto” out into larger media
market….i.e. advertising such as on TV stations; Stark stated we need
adequate hwy signage; how to get the information out; funnel all
information, one coordinating source; flower theme; or marina;
lumberjack; storefront themes; Thompson suggested Copperfest and the
truck pulls be on different weekends…will allow for people to attend both
events instead of having to choose between the two; look at having a city
event schedule; visitor center could become the nucleus – the coming
together spot where to go to bring and get info – facilitating the
communication; Mohr stated our challenge is we are “History on the Bay”
but you cannot see the bay from the downtown area;

Keep this issue on agenda’s; sharing ideas; arts & crafts festivals; ice festival/carnival;

5. Next meeting March 16th, at 9 a.m.
6. Moved by Hayes seconded by Cain to adjourn. M/C
Meeting adjourned at 10:20 a.m.

Minutes submitted by
Linda M. Belongia,
Administrator