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Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 6.C
Meeting Date: June 14, 2023
From: Stone James, Economic Development Director
Title: GCVCC Chamber of Commerce Activity Update: June 2023 City Council
RECOMMENDATION:
On January 11, 2023, the Council approved a January through June 2023 service provider agreement with the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce. The Council also granted City Manager McClendon the authority to execute the 2023-2024 service contract provided the Chamber provided the agreed upon services during the January through June 2023 contract period were delivered. City Staff believes the January through June services have been provided and is recommending execution of the 2023-2024 contract.
Greater Coachella Chamber of Commerce CEO Brandon Marley and Cathedral City liaison/Director of Business Development Jo Beth Prudhomme will discuss January through June 2023 activities and upcoming goals.
BACKGROUND:
On January 11, 2023, after a six-month hiatus, the City Council approved (i) a six-month and (ii) a 12-month service provider agreement with the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce (GCVCC or Chamber). The six-month agreement allowed GCVCC to provide the City chamber services from January 12, 2023, to June 31, 2023.
The 12-month agreement continues GCVCC services beginning July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. Provided the Chamber satisfied the objectives outlined in Exhibit “A”, City Manager McClendon was granted authority to execute the 12-month service provider agreement. City Staff believes the Chamber has met the stated objectives and is recommending the execution of the 2023-2024 GCVCC contract.
GCVCC services and associated costs were broken down as follows:
1) Economic Development & Business Support Services $30,000 2) City Marketing $12,000
3) Shop Local First Website and General Program $10,000
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4) Special Events (State of City, Other Events, & Volunteering) $21,436 Total Annual Contract $73,436
January to June 2023 [50% of Sections 1, 2, and 3 plus State of the City ($19,500)]
$45,500
2023/2024 Fiscal Year Contract (Full year of Chamber services plus cost of 2024 State of City)
$73,436
Tonight’s agenda item is a review of GCVCC success in meeting the January through June 2023 contract goals.
DISCUSSION:
The GCVCC provides vital support to the City’s Economic Development Department.
GCVCC has been engaged to, “improve the financial health and resilience of Cathedral City businesses by (i) improving access to resources and best practices, (ii) improving the connections between and among Cathedral City businesses and the broader Coachella Valley business community, and (iii) improving Cathedral City businesses’ visibility and ability to attract new and repeat customers”.
The service provider agreement focuses Chamber efforts on four areas:
1) Business Support and Engagement Services
Objective: The Chamber will host and produce resources to support entrepreneurial interests; professional, business, and workforce development; and industry. These services may include collaborating with other agencies to serve the best interests of Cathedral City businesses.
2) City Marketing
The Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce will proactively market city assets, events, and businesses. The goal of these marketing efforts is to (i) increase economic activity within the City, (ii) improve the positive public perception of Cathedral City, (iii) raise property values, (iv) add to the City’s tax base. 3) Shop Local First
The Chamber will diligently administer the “Shop Local First” program (SLF) within the City. The Chamber will update and maintain the City’s Shop Local First webpage: www.cccshoplocal.com
4. Event Services
The Chamber and City will collaborate on the production of business and community-oriented events within the City. The City commits to sponsoring a Cathedral City Page 3 of 6 Printed on 6/14/2023
variety of GCVCC special events through the year. Given the timing of the January through June 2023, contract, the provision for event services only covered the State of the City address.
GCVCC CEO Brandon Marley and Director of Business Development/ Cathedral City liaison Jo Beth Prudhomme will provide a brief overview of important organizational changes, recent chamber activities, and organizational goals.
Since July 2022, the Chamber performed or provided the following:
1) CITY MARKETING:
a) Cathedral City’s events are consistently represented on our weekly eblast to 6,500 email subscribers across the Greater Coachella Valley. b) Cathedral City’s Chamber events are marketed through www.GCVCC.org with sign-up links, social media and email marketing push and a wrap-up article about the event is posted in e-newsletter (6,500 subscribers) and lives on www.gcvcc.org
c) Cathedral City is represented at all GCVCC events across the Greater Coachella Valley, i.e., All Valley Mayors held in October 2022. d) Starting 2023 Cathedral City info was refreshed on www.gcvcc.org and various individual sites.
2) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
a) City Walks- Our team conducted City walks once a month, targeted the streets of Perez, the car dealerships, The Plaza area, the shopping centers, and the Cannabis businesses resulting in appointments and establishing relationships with:
i. Landau Labs -team met
ii.Amazon – joined the chamber 7/19/2022
iii.Desert Hydro Inc. - joined the chamber 7/25/2022
iv.ADP Business Consultant – joined the chamber 8/19/2022 v.Jessup brought Chairman of the Board, Rich Ramhoff in they suggested we work with www.mydesertautos.com association of all the Cathedral City Auto dealers,
vi.Amazon bought State of the City Sponsorship both 2022 & 2023 vii.Revivals/DAP joined
viii. CV Rep rejoined 9/23/2022 after three years of no membership ix.Luchador helped with some parking lot issues and attended Grand Opening
x.Daniels Table he has some issues with the marketing of Cathedral City Restaurants, he suggested a “Taste of Cathedral City” bought Williams homes by to see if he wanted to participate in their Grand Opening “Taste of Cathedral City” rejoined 6/25/2023
xi. Developed a relationship with the Guatemala Chamber joined 7/1/2022 xii.UPS stores joined
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xiii. Drop by Office joined & hosted a mixer and 2 Chamber 101’s bring our members to Cathedral City and their location & Tim Hadorn joined the board as well
xiv.LIT properties “Paloma Resort” joined and Adam Ramirez joined the board as well hosted the Ambassador appreciation 10/27/2022
xv.PROVR joined and hosted a mixer 7/29/2022
xvi.William’s Homes joined and is hosting a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and mixer with Taste of Cathedral City Restaurants 2023 May 18, 2023 xvii. Sage invest & Fountainhead developers joined the chamber 8/26/2022 xviii. Cultivar Strategies, Brian Applegarth Cannabis Travel Consultant xix.Your Design Workshop helped them get their business license ribbon cutting TBD joined 2/24/2023
xx.GHA Companies hosted a Ribbon Cutting of their homes joined 11/18/2022
xxi.Shafik Wahhab Photographer joined 11/16/2022
xxii. ADP Consultants joined 8/19/2022
xxiii. AMP hosted a mixer
xxiv. Cannabis Sommelier Services joined 12/19/2022
xxv. Brunch 101 stopped by the meet and eat
xxvi. Desert Thai donated to the mixer
xxvii. Trulissa donated to the mixer and participating in Williams Homes Mixer in April 2023
xxviii. Capizzi’s Cheesecake Pizza donated to the mixer & Edible Arrangements donated
xxix. Hosting ribbon cutting for Peter Bedard’s book in September at the Boys and Girls Club
xxx. Meyave joined 2/8/2023 xxxi. Talked to Sun Community Bank about relocating to Cathedral City from
Palm Springs - feels it is safer
xxxii. Visited the Boys and Girls Club for the Thanksgiving fest and toured it 28 xxxiii. Working on restaurants to host Williams Home’s Taste of Cathedral City inside their Models, i.e., Nicolino’s, Daniel’s table, Luchador, Mr. Zebra, Trilussa, Sol y Sombra, Brunch 101.
xxxiv. Canyon Print & Signs joined 3/7/2023
xxxv. Journal Publications for the Cathedral City Home Journal joined 3/9/2023
xxxvi. Quick Quack Car Wash joined 3/29/2023
xxxvii. Strategic Consulting joined 5/19/2023
xxxviii. Brunch 101 joined 5/25/2023
3) SPECIAL EVENTS:
a) Mixers:
i. Mary Pickford is D’Place Mixer held Wednesday July 20, 2022. Here is the recap: https://gcvcc.org/mixer-recap-mary-pickford-is-dplace/ ii.Drop By Office & AMP Lounge Plaza Mixer/Ribbon Cutting Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022 In the beautiful holiday setting of the Plaza’s fountain area between Drop by Office and Amp Lounge, we hosted 55 business community leaders, Mayor Rita Lamb, Councilmember Nancy Ross, Economic Development Director, Stone James, our Chairman of the Cathedral City Page 5 of 6 Printed on 6/14/2023
GCVCC board Rich Ramhoff of Desert Care Network, several GCVCC board members; Julie Frazier of Frazier Pest Control, Bob McCauley of Entravision, as well as, our fabulous Cathedral City board: Sandy Jimenez, Shelley Kaplan, Joe Frazier, Scott Robinson, Stephen Burchard, Adam Ramirez, Peter Bedard of course one of our hosts Antonio Lopez Cochran (treats and a bar at Amp Lounge). Our host Tim Hadorn offered tours, desserts, and raffle items. Surrounding business neighbors provided treats; Edible Arrangements chocolate covered strawberries, Cheesecake bites from the Capizzi’s, Appetizer’s from Desert Thai and a $50 gift card from Trilussa. Special Guest Rafael Oscal & Carolna Arevalo of the Guatemala Chamber were there as well.
iii.Williams Homes Ribbon Cutting and Mixer event Thursday, May 18th in the heat of the Spring there was a color guard presentation from Cathedral City High School, a guest singer for the National Anthem, Certificate presentation from Mayor Lamb, other recognitions and a ribbon cutting kicked off the mini “taste of Cathedral City” featuring Cathedral City restaurants Mister Zebra, Tortillas, Daniel’s Table, Sol Y Sombra in each of the three model homes, DJ Mod Girls, Buzzbox, wine tastings, and a Mimosa Bar by Brunch 101. (150 in attendance over the course of the evening).
b) Other events:
i. Chamber 101 held at Drop by Office December 2nd (10 attendees) ii. Chamber 101 held at Drop by Office Jan 6th (12 attendees) iii. Ambassadors Appreciation gathering at Paloma Resort’s Sol y Sombra restaurant Dec 1st (20 attendees)
iv. Ribbon Cutting GHA Dec 1 at Rio Del Sol (20 attendees) v. Nov 4th – 6th PS Pride participation
vi. Nov 18th & 19th participated in the Balloon Festival vii. December 15th provided a Special introduction to Rafael Oscal & Carolna Arevalo of the Guatemala Chamber to the City Council and board members to discuss Hispanic community events. He has in LA and wants to introduce to Cathedral City. Follow up meeting on Jan. 7th 3:00. Going to City Council 3/22 to vote on Maya International Festival to be held September 29 – Oct 1, 2023
viii. March 4th: Cathedral City’s LGBT Days Bed Race Entry resulting in exposure to hundreds of attendees and a Desert Sun article ix. May 4, 2023 Quick Quack Car Wash Ribbon Cutting
x. May 16, 2023 Cathedral City State of the City Sold Out Event! c) Upcoming Events:
i. Ribbon Cutting for Your Workshop TBD
ii. TBD: Peter Bedard’s Book launch Ribbon Cutting Sept 14, at the Boys and Girls Club
iii. Mayan Festival Oct 21 – 22 - partnership with Guatemala Chamber iv. TBD: Working to engage.
4) SHOP LOCAL:
a) Ongoing updates on www.ccshoplocal.com
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b) City Permits were sent 1/24/2023 and are being updated on the site and in membership.
c) Developing relationship with publisher of Cathedral City Home to feature the Chamber and new members, Member’s Spotlight.
5) MEMBERSHIP:
a. New Members since June 2022:
i. Regional 131
ii. Cathedral City 21 (16% of the total new bus membership) b. Total GCVCC members: 840
c. Total Cathedral City membership 123 (15% of GCVCC membership) FISCAL IMPACT:
The $73,436 for the 2023-2024 fiscal year GCVCC contract has been allocated within the approved 2023-2024 Economic Development Budget.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Utilization of GCVCC services assists the Economic Development Department in achieving:
GOAL C: FISCAL STABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
Objective: Cathedral City has economically prospered by facilitating the investment of private dollars in high quality development which benefits the community. We remain financially solvent by instituting prudent fiscal policies and transparent financial practices.
GOAL F: EMBRACING, INCLUSIVE CITY Objective: Cathedral City is valued and respected as a community that welcomes and embraces diversity, has an abundance of high quality and affordable housing options, and vibrant businesses. Our neighborhoods are attractive and well-maintained and issues surrounding homelessness have been compassionately addressed with thoughtful, coordinated, and collaborative programs.
Action F-6 Promote additional community events and celebrations Action F-12 Continue to facilitate the attraction and promotion of community events which celebrate our diversity, builds a cohesive community, and supports local business ATTACHMENTS:
2_Exhibit A Scope of Services FY January 2023 thru June 2023 2_Exhibit A Scope of Services FY 2023-2024
2023-03-01 Quarterly Report to Catedral City July 1 2022 -March 1 2023 FINAL 2023-06-02 Cathedral City Year Report - 060123