Economic Development Committee
FY24-25 Annual Report
City Council Meeting
May 27th, 2025
2024-2025
Economic
Development
Committee
Members
FY23-24 Appointed Members
■ Sean Thompson, Chair
■ Robert Foster, Vice Chair
■ Brendan Berman
■ Matthew Dougherty
■ L.J. Jones
■ Lawrence Niemeyer
■ Ed Ochi
■ Greta Sieglock
■ Paige Miller
*New Members
Council Liaisons
■ Mary Bier
■ Mayra Espinosa
Staff Liaisons
■ Tara Schiff
■ Alyssa Barranti
Economic
Development
Committee
Work Plan
Strategic Goals
2024-2025
■ Promote and market Pacifica to out-of-town
visitors to drive tourism revenue.
■ Provide assistance and support to local
businesses and the City of Pacifica.
■ Promote local businesses to the residents of
Pacifica to encourage residents to spend locally
and stop retail leakage.
FY 24-25 Key Accomplishments
• Delivered 3rd Annual "Blues & Brews" Event (June 21st) • Identified themes worthy of further investigation to
support local businesses and increase tourism
3rd Annual Blues and Brews
June 21st 2025
Blues & Brews Concert Series
• Purpose: A strategic initiative to promote local businesses to residents and out-of-town visitors with an effort to provide benefit to local businesses & the City of Pacifica. • Service Driven: The proceeds of the event support local non-profits that build the community. • Increasing Success: Success of past events has created community interest. Increasing foot traffic into local businesses by placing components of the event directly in geographically centralized local businesses on Palmetto. • New Direction: EDC has built a partnership with the Seaside Merchant’s Association to transition to a ticketed event in 2025 that will encourage attendees to visit local merchants. • What’s not changing: A highly, engaging community event bringing tourists and locals alike to Pacifica’s business district; and an event chartered to support and drive local businesses. • Building Momentum: We expect the event to continue to build momentum and estimate it will eventually bring roughly 600 to 1,000 people to the Palmetto district
The EDC’s Marquee Event for 3 Years in a Row!
Pacifica Signage Theme: Part 1
Theme 1A: Consistency of ‘Visuals for Events’ could more effectively drive tourism and support local business Concept: Template for Events
1. Created a neighborhood business integration flyer template for local event planners to make it easy for them to promote their event and local businesses
2. Created a 1-page quick reference document that can be attached to an event’s license that gives event planners ideas on how to integrate their event within the local business community and the benefits of doing so to encourage cross-collaboration
Theme 1B: Signage could be effective to drive tourists and locals alike to support local business in Pacifica’s business district Concept: Wayfinding & Infrastructure Signage
1. Maps - Created a trail map and Sharp Park map to advertise local business districts and provide a place to direct people to nearby businesses with space for a QR code to VisitPacifica
2. Directional Signage - Identified locations in different neighborhoods to place signs directing visitors and locals to nearby shopping, food, and hotel/RV locations.
Pacifica Signage Theme: Part 2
Two districts (Manor &
Sharp Park) selected for
sign improvement pilot
See Appendix C See Appendix D
Shop Pacifica Program Theme
Theme 2: Shop Pacifica Program could be broadened to incremental programs across residents and visitors.
Concept: Add targeted incremental programs focused on tourists and locals to drive and support local business.
Created a report with 12 possible new initiatives and ideas for the City of Pacifica staff to evaluate. (Details in Appendix A)
Workation Program
Digital Strategy Theme
Theme 3: Visit Pacifica can be augmented to funnel visitors to Pacifica to support local businesses Concept:
1. Plan to use QR codes on the maps started in the Wayfinding & Infrastructure to draw tourists and locals to the VisitPacifica.com website
2. Created and submitted a report to City staff with a variety of technology vendors to facilitate local event aggregation and distribution, self-guided tours, local business directories with ability of visitors to filter by various criteria, etc. (See appendix B)
Looking Ahead
1. EDC will continue to expand Blues and Brews.
2. EDC has completed its research on the signage project and, based on direction, will await City Council’s recommendation on next steps.
3. EDC will continue to work to create actions supporting ‘Shop Local’, ‘Attracting New Business’ and ‘Digital Strategy’ themes.
Audience Initiative Snapshot Est. Cost Staff Effort
Pacifica Passport Collect stamps, earn city-branded
rewards $600–800 / yr Med – setup, quarterly prize admin Residents Neighborhood Business Spotlight Monthly video & photo feature $2.4 k / yr Med – interview, edit, publish Resident Appreciation Events Small meet-ups at local venues $50 / event Med – plan & host VisitPacifica Promotion Portal Self-serve web page for promos $500 setup Low – light upkeep Visitors “Explore Pacifica” Digital Tours Themed interactive maps $500 setup Med – quarterly refresh Social-Media Takeovers Businesses run city accounts for a day Minimal Low – coordinate slots
Hidden Gems Campaign Weekly post on unique spots Staff time Med – content creation Staycation Packages Bundled local activities & dining $300 / yr Med – curate & market Both Arts & Culture Showcase Monthly streamed talent spotlight $200 / yr Med – schedule & stream Instagram-Friendly Map Photogenic locations map $400 setup Med – periodic updates Eco-Friendly Shopping Guide Webpage of sustainable
businesses $200 / yr Low – quarterly review
QR-Code Biz Directory Signs link to digital directory $500 initial Low – maintain links Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Thank You
Economic Development
Committee