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[1. Call the meeting to order.]
EVERYONE.THIS IS THE REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE BRIEFING SESSION.
WE DO HAVE A, UH, MAJORITY QUO OF COUNCIL PRESENT.
UM, ALL NOTICES HAVE BEEN PROPERLY POSTED.
I WANNA OFFICIALLY CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
I WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN INE WILL NOT BE JOINING US TODAY.
SHE IS TRAVELING FOR BUSINESS, SO WE DO PRAY FOR HER, UH, FOR HER TRAVEL, AND BE ABLE TO GET BACK HOME SAFELY.
[2. City Manager Reports: City Council Calendar/Upcoming Events City Operations Conduct a briefing to discuss items for the 7:00 p.m. regular meeting]
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS TO, UH, HEAR FROM THE CITY MANAGER WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.GOOD EVENING, MR. CITY MANAGER.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.
UH, IT'S GREAT TO SEE EVERYBODY TODAY.
UH, MY BRIDE IS IN THE AUDIENCE, AND SO ON BEHALF OF, UH, SHE AND I AND THE PORTER CLAN.
UH, I WANT TO BEGIN WITH JUST A GIANT NOTE OF THANKS TO OKAY.
GLOBAL, UH, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UM, MY CITY FAMILY WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION AND THE COMMUNITY FOR LIKE A, A LIFETIME'S WORTH OF, OF LOVE ON ON FRIDAY.
UM, I JUST, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW, UM, I MEAN, WE'RE STILL LIKE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF, KIND OF GRASPING IT ALL.
UH, BUT YOUR, UH, CARE AND, UM, UM, YOUR LOVE FOR YOUR CITY IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S KEPT US HERE ALL THIS TIME.
AND SO, UM, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE FOR IT.
UM, AND, UH, HOW MUCH THAT MEANT TO US AND HOW LONG WE'RE GONNA KEEP THAT IN IN OUR HEART.
AFTER 37 AND A HALF YEARS OF COUNCIL MEETINGS.
I'VE WORN OUT TWO CITY HALLS AND THREE COUNCIL CHAMBERS BECAUSE IN THE OLD CITY HALL, THEY ACTUALLY HAD AN ORIGINAL COUNCIL CHAMBER.
THEN THEY GOT REMODELED WHEN WE KICKED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OUT, AND THEY GOT TO GO TO THEIR OWN, AN ACTUAL FIREHOUSE.
AND, UH, THEY TOOK WHAT WAS THEN THE FIRE STATION BAY AND TURNED IT INTO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
AND IT IS BEEN A FANTASTIC AND WONDERFUL, VERY BLESSED RIDE FOR PAM AND I AND OUR FAMILY.
AND, UH, I, I THINK IT'S BEYOND KIND OF A CHARMED LIFE.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ONE THAT, UH, WE JUST LIVE LEAVE WITH A GREAT DEAL OF LOVE AND GRATITUDE AND MORE EXCITEMENT AND HOPE FOR THIS COMMUNITY'S GREAT FUTURE, UH, THAN WE'VE EVER HAD.
AND SO I'M JUST REALLY PROUD TO BE, UH, AT THIS SPOT AND, UH, VERY GRATEFUL FOR, YOU KNOW, ALL THE LOVE AND SUPPORT YOU GUYS HAVE GIVEN US, UH, OVER THE YEARS.
SO, UH, UH, THE MAYOR AND I'VE HAD THIS BIT FOR THE FIVE YEARS THAT WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER.
UH, HE ALWAYS SAYS, OH, PORTER, I FORGOT TO TELL YOU I WAS GONNA WEAR A BOW TIE.
AND OF COURSE, I NEVER WORE ONE.
AND WHY? BECAUSE I'VE ONLY WORN A BOW TIE IN ONE OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
AND YOU KNOW, WHICH ONE THAT WAS.
IT WAS ACTUALLY THE MAYOR'S VERY FIRST COUNCIL MEETING AS THE MAYOR OF CEDAR HILL.
AND I DID IT AS A REPRESENTATION OF THE RESPECT THAT I HAD FOR THE POSITION FOR SURE.
BUT FOR HIM AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT HE WAS BRINGING TO OUR CITY, UH, I TOLD HIM WHILE HE WAS RUNNING AND AFTER HE HAD WON THAT HE WAS GONNA WONDER WHO HE WAS MARRIED TO ME OR LIZ.
AND THEN ABOUT LIKE THREE OR FOUR WEEKS LATER, HE IS LIKE, OH, NOW I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.
YOU KNOW, SHE'S KIND OF JEALOUS.
AND SO, UH, WE WENT ON TO, UH, SPEND FIVE YEARS.
AND SO, UH, THIS TIME I'M WEARING THE BOW TIE IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF MY LOVE AND RESPECT FOR YOU, UM, THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED, THE CITY, THE, THE CHALLENGES AND THE FUN THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH OVER THESE FIVE YEARS.
AND MY ABSOLUTE LOVE AND PRIDE, UH, FOR THE RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU AND I HAVE HAD.
SO THIS BOW TIE IS, UH, FOR YOU NIGHTMARE.
UM, OUT, OUT OF, UH, AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, WE HAVE TWO REALLY IMPORTANT BRIEFINGS, UH, BRIEFING ITEMS TONIGHT.
UH, WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON HILLSIDE VILLAGE BY OUR GOOD FRIEND RENEE TIMMS. UM, AND THEN A, AND A REALLY EXCITING REPORT ON ONE OF THE COUNCIL'S, UH, PRIORITY INITIATIVES FOR THIS YEAR UNDER COMMUNICATIONS.
UH, AND THAT IS, UH, REVAMPING OUR BRAND AND HAVING A BRANDING STRATEGY.
SO OUR ASSISTANT SENIOR MANAGER WILL BE HERE TO GIVE YOU THOSE THINGS.
THERE'S ONLY A COUPLE THINGS I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THIS FRIDAY, JULY 26TH.
UM, OUR FOLKS AT THE SENIOR CENTER ARE HOSTING SENIOR FIELD DAY, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T SACK RACED IN A WHILE, UH, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE.
UH, THEY'RE HAVING THAT FROM NINE TO 1:00 PM AND ALL ARE INVITED.
WE HAVE A FARMER'S MARKET ON SATURDAY AND AN EDUCATION FOUNDATION PICKLEBALL EVENT.
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UM, ALSO, UH, THE CITY'S, UH, COUNCIL'S FINAL BUDGET WORKSHOP WILL BE FRIDAY, AUGUST 9TH FROM ONE TO 5:00 PM AT THE EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE ROOM AT THE TRAFFICKING HICKMAN LIBRARY.UH, OUR PARTNERS AT THE ISD WILL BE HOSTING ITS ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL RALLY ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 10TH FROM 10 TO NOON.
UH, AND THEN OUR NEXT WELCOME TO CEDAR HILL TOUR WILL BE SATURDAY, AUGUST 17TH, UH, FROM NINE TO 11.
UH, WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO PEEK INTO THE VERY BUSY FALL ENGAGEMENT, UH, CALENDAR.
SO, UH, THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT KICKOFF EVENT, WHICH IS ALMOST AS MUCH FUN AS THE ACTUAL EVENT ITSELF.
UH, WE'LL BE AT SIX FOR BETWEEN SIX 30 AND SEVEN 30 ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER THE THIRD.
UH, AS ALWAYS AT, UH, I WOULD BE IN THE POLICE BRIEFING ROOM AT THE CEDAR HILL GOVERNMENT CENTER.
IT'S NOT AT GRADY LAMB THIS YEAR? NO, AT GRAD.
IT'S AT GRADY LAMB, LIKE ALWAYS, I'M SURE.
UH, THEY'LL HAVE THE, THE TRAILER, UH, FROM INN OUT BURGER, LIKE THEY ALWAYS DO.
AND IT'S ALWAYS A FUN TIME TO SPEND WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZERS.
UH, AND SO WITH THAT, UH, THE, UH, REGULAR AGENDA TONIGHT IS PRETTY CONCENTRATED AND PRETTY EFFICIENT.
YOU HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF YOUR COMP PLAN.
ONE IS AN UPDATE TO THE THOROUGHFARE PLAN OF WHICH YOU RECEIVED A BRIEFING.
AND THE OTHER ONE IS AN UPDATE OF, UH, THE CITY'S, UH, DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE SCHEDULE.
UH, SO WITH THAT MAYOR, THAT IS THE CITY MANAGER REPORT FOR TONIGHT, AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU.
AND, UM, I APPRECIATE THE SYMBOLISM OF THE BOW TIE.
[3. Update on Hillside Village Shopping Center. ]
THE AGENDA IS THE UPDATE ON HILLSIDE VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER.NICE TO SEE YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I DIDN'T GET AN INVITATION TO FRIDAY, BUT YOU KNOW,
WELL, I'M SORRY YOU MISSED IT.
I COULDN'T HELP BUT TO MISS IT.
I JUST DROVE BY TRYING TO POP IN, POP OUT REAL QUICK.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS A GREAT CROWD.
WE HAD 500 PLUS ATTENDING ALL IN THE VILLAGE GREEN, SO IT WAS GREAT.
WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THIS COMING UP FRIDAY NIGHT.
IT, IT FEELS GOOD TO DRIVE BY AND SEE.
WELL, I JUST WANTED TO GO OVER A RECAP OF HILLSIDE VILLAGE.
IT'S, UH, BEEN FIVE YEARS NOW, JUST SHY OF A MONTH, BUT I'VE BEEN WITH HILLSIDE WITH PREP PROPERTY GROUP SINCE WE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY.
SO WE'VE HAD A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.
MOST OF YOU KNOW, WE'RE A LIFESTYLE SHOPPING CENTER.
THE PROPERTY WAS DEVELOPED IN 2008 AND WHEN IT WAS DEVELOPED, I HAPPENED TO LIVE JUST ACROSS THE STREET IN A NEIGHBORHOOD IN VENT CREEK.
SO EVERY TIME I SEE THAT FENCE AT VENT CREEK, I THINK ABOUT
WE HAD THE NAME CHANGE IN 2015 FROM UPTOWN TO HILLSIDE VILLAGE.
AND THEN PREP PROPERTY GROUP PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN 2019, AND THE PROPERTY IS 615,000 SQUARE FEET, INCLUDING DILLARD'S.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT PREP PROPERTY GROUP THAT WAS FORMED IN 2015 BY MICHAEL PHILLIPS.
AND HE IS A CO-FOUNDER OF PHILLIPS EDISON THAT WAS FORMED IN 1991.
AND PREP PROPERTY GROUP HAS ABOUT FIVE OTHER PROPERTIES SIMILAR TO HILLSIDE THROUGHOUT THE US AND ALL ABOUT THE SAME SIZE AS WELL, SORRY,
AND HERE IS A PICTURE OF LAST FRIDAY NIGHT JAM TO GIVE.
THESE ARE SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS THAT WE DO AT HILLSIDE.
WE HAVE A FULL-TIME MARKETING MANAGER.
AND EVERY FRIDAY IN JULY, WE HAVE A JAM TO GIVE AND WE HIGHLIGHT A LOCAL CHARITY.
THIS WEEK IT HAPPENS TO BE, UH, THE CEDAR HILL EDUCATION FOUNDATION.
AND WE ARE ALSO INVOLVED WITH THE CHAMBER.
UH, I'M INVOLVED IN THE CHAMBER AND AS WELL WITH THE CEDAR HILL EDUCATION FOUNDATION.
WE HAVE LOTS OF EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UM, SOME HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.
[00:10:01]
SOME ARE NEW.OUR CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING, THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND THAT'S ONE OF OUR BIGGEST EVENTS.
AND, UM, HALLOWEEN IS SOMETHING THAT'S ONLY BEEN AROUND FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS, A HALLOWEEN EVENT.
AND IT'S A BIG, IT'S BEEN A BIG SUCCESS AS WELL.
JUST WANTED TO GO OVER SALES INVESTMENTS AND TRAFFIC SALES.
UM, WE BASICALLY, UM, HAD MINIMAL DISRUPTION OVER OUR SALES, UH, FROM COVID AND HAD MINIMAL SALES IMPACT.
OUR YEAR TO DATE SALES ARE DOWN SLIGHTLY IN RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS FROM LAST YEAR, 22 AND 23.
OUR YEAR TO DATE, SALES ARE DOWN ABOUT 19% IN SERVICE TENANTS FROM 2223.
SO INVESTMENTS REINVEST IN PROPERTY EQUIPMENT AND UPKEEP TO MAINTAIN A CLASS A PROPERTY.
WE ALWAYS, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE A SAFE AND CLEAN PROPERTY SO THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE AS MUCH TRAFFIC AND SHOPPING AS POSSIBLE.
WE HIRED AN IN-HOUSE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS IN 2021 TO ADD TO OUR STAFF, AND THAT'S BEEN A GREAT BENEFIT TO US WITH AN OLDER, A PROPERTY THAT'S GETTING A LITTLE OLDER.
SO HAVING THAT EXPERTISE HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL.
WE HIRED LAST YEAR A LEASING DIRECTOR THAT WAS EXCLUSIVE TO HILLSIDE VILLAGE AND HIS FOCUS ANYWAY.
AND, AND THEN HE HIRED A NEW BROKERAGE FIRM AS WELL LAST YEAR.
SO THAT'S THE WHITE WEITZMAN'S GROUP.
AND WE'VE REALLY SEEN SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR OCCUPANCY.
WE WENT FROM 77 TO 81%, AND THAT'S WITH THE LEASES THAT ARE COMING UP.
SO JUST TO JUMP BACK TO SALES, I WANTED TO MENTION THAT, UM, SOME OF THE, THE TRAFFIC THAT'S DOWN AND THE SALES THAT ARE DOWN, WE'RE HOPING THAT THE MULTIFAMILY THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE TOWN GROUP THAT I KNOW ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE VISITED THE PROPERTY IN MCKINNEY.
AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT, UH, WILL BRING THAT EXCESS TRAFFIC TO THE PROPERTY.
AND THERE'S GONNA BE FOUR TO 500 TENANTS THAT ARE GONNA BE AT THE MULTIFAMILY.
SO WE FEEL LIKE THAT WILL HELP WITH THE TRAFFIC.
SO THE NEXT SLIDE IS OUR TRAFFIC COMPARISONS.
AND YOU CAN SEE WE'RE DOWN ABOUT 450 TO 500,000 FROM 2019.
UM, MS. TIMS, UH, JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, 2019, I GUESS IT WAS MORE, WELL, I GUESS 2020 IS MORE SHELTER IN PLACE.
UM, I GUESS LITTLE SPIKE IN 21, BUT IS THERE A TREND OF, UM, ARE PEOPLE MORE ONLINE? UM, YOU KNOW, DO YOU HAVE ANY MM-HMM,
SO IT, IT JUST REALLY DEPENDS ON HOW THE COMPANY IS SET UP.
WE LIKE IT WHEN THEY GET CREDIT FOR THE, THE, THE ONLINE SALES WHEN THEY'RE IN THE STORE SHOPPING.
IT'S BENEFICIAL FOR US AND FOR THEM AS WELL.
ANY, ANY, ANY INDICATION? YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS BATTLING ONLINE SALES AND OKAY.
BRICK VERSUS BRICK AND MORTAR, BUT I THINK THAT WE'RE, WE'RE HERE TO STAY.
AND AS FAR AS RESTAURANTS, PARDON? UH, YOU ALSO SAID, YOU ALSO MENTIONED RESTAURANTS.
IS THERE ANY INDICATORS ON THAT AS WELL? OR, UH, I'M SORRY, AN INDICATORS.
ARE THERE ANY INDICATORS OF WHY THE RESTAURANTS ARE DOWN? YEAH.
UM, SO I WAS GONNA GO OVER SOME NEW RESTAURANTS THAT ARE COMING OH, OKAY.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR RESTAURANTS DO REALLY WELL AND LIKE I'LL MENTION, GO AHEAD AND MENTION LIKE, RAZU IS, IS EXPANDING.
UH, I, I BELIEVE IT'S 1700 SQUARE FEET INTO NEXT LEVEL BARBER.
SO, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE DOING GREAT AND THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF STARTING THAT CONSTRUCTION IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
SO, UM, WE'VE GOT SOME OF THE SMALLER RESTAURANTS, SOME OF,
[00:15:01]
YOU KNOW, MOON SUSHI IS DOING OKAY.BUT, UH, WE HAVE SOME NEW ONES COMING THAT I THINK IS GONNA REALLY BENEFIT.
SO HERE ARE SOME OF THE NEW LEASING ACTIVITY.
WE'VE GOT A TOTAL OF ALMOST 52,000 COMING TO HILLSIDE.
AND LIKE HILLSIDE SOCIAL HAS ALREADY OPENED FOR BUSINESS.
SO LET ME JUST MOVE TO THE FIRST SLIDE.
SO HILLSIDE SOCIAL IS NOW IN THREE 14, AND THAT'S THE DOME BUILDING, 7,500 SQUARE FOOT SPACE AND HILLSIDE SOCIAL.
YOU GUYS MIGHT KNOW FROM SPATCH KITCHEN IN ADDISON, THAT'S JUST ANOTHER CONCEPT THAT THEY HAVE.
THE, THE SPACE THAT THEY CHOSE WAS A LITTLE BIT LARGER, SO THEY WANTED TO IDENTIFY WITH A DIFFERENT NAME, BUT IT'S REALLY A NICE, UH, UPSCALE RESTAURANT.
THEY'VE MADE SOME REALLY FANTASTIC CHANGES.
IT'S A VERY, YOU KNOW, IN ADDITION TO GREAT FOOD AND SOUTHERN DISHES, THEY ALSO HAVE SOME GREAT INSTAGRAM-ABLE MOMENTS AS WELL.
I JUST ATE THERE LAST WEEK FOR THE FIRST TIME.
WE HAVE A KIDS' ENTERTAINMENT COMING, AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 SQUARE FEET THAT IS ALSO IN THE 400 BUILDING, UH, IN THE SAME BUILDING AS RAS, BUT IT FACES MO'S TALIA.
AND I DIDN'T PUT THE NAME OF THE TENANT YET BECAUSE IT'S NOT TOTALLY EXECUTED, BUT IT'S FOR THE MOST PART DONE.
UH, WE'RE DOING A, A LOT OF LAND WORK LANDLORD WORK ON THAT SPACE.
WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVING TO RAISE THE ROOF ON THAT PORTION OF THAT BUILDING.
BUT THAT WILL BE, WE'LL BE STARTING CONSTRUCTION IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS ON THE SPACE.
SO I THINK IT'S GREAT TO BRING THAT ENTERTAINMENT ELEMENT TO CEDAR HILL, SOMETHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.
SO THE NEXT SPACE THAT IS SIGNED RECENTLY IS MISS A'S.
AND THEY HAVE 4,800 SQUARE FEET.
IT'S, UH, NEAR ORANGETHEORY AROUND ON THE OTHER CORNER.
AND, UM, IT'S GONNA, IT'S A PRETTY POPULAR PLACE FOR COSMETICS, INEXPENSIVE.
AND THEY KIND OF GEARED TO THE, THE YOUNG SHOPPERS.
THE NEXT SPACE IS PHOENIX SALON SUITES, AND THIS IS A NATIONAL FRANCHISE.
THEY HAVE, UH, THEY'RE GOING INTO SUITE 200 AND IT'S 5,300 SQUARE FEET.
BUT THIS IS A GREAT FRANCHISE OWNER.
THIS IS A SECOND LOCATION, THIS FIRST, HE JUST COMPLETED IN ROULETTE.
SO IT'S A, IT'S A CONCEPT THAT I KNOW.
WE, I THINK WE HAVE ONE SALON SUITE IN CEDAR HILL, SO IT'LL BE NICE TO HAVE SOME OTHER OPTIONS.
JD SPORTS IS COMING TO SUITE FIVE 30.
IT'S GONNA BE, UH, 7,500 SQUARE FEET.
IT'S GONNA BE GOING INTO THE OLD ALTA SPACE.
AND, UM, JD SPORTS BOUGHT FINISH LINE A FEW YEARS AGO.
SO THE EXISTING FINISH LINE IS ACTUALLY GONNA BE MOVING JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
AND FINISH LINE WAS 3,500 SQUARE FEET.
SO THEY'RE, UH, INCREASING ABOUT 5,000 SQUARE FEET.
SO IT'S JUST A LARGER CONCEPT WITH MORE OPTIONS, CLOTHING, SPORTS, SHOES.
AND THEN IN SUITE 5 0 2, WE HAVE A NEW RESTAURANT CALLED SOLE SHACK THAT IS 5,000 SQUARE FEET NEXT TO FOOT LOCKER.
AND THIS IS A COMPANY WAS FOUNDED IN 2019.
THEY HAVE A CONCEPT ALREADY IN CEDAR HILL CALLED MICKEY'S ON UPTOWN BOULEVARD.
AND THEY'VE GOT A FEW OTHER CONCEPTS, BUT THEY'RE GONNA PUT THE SOUL SHACK IN HILLSIDE VILLAGE.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
THEY HAVEN'T STARTED CONSTRUCTION, BUT VERY CLOSE.
AND THEN WE HAVEN'T SIGNED THIS LEASE TOTALLY, BUT IT'S EXTREMELY CLOSE TO BEING DONE.
UH, A LADIES FASHION CONCEPT IS COMING TO HILLSIDE, TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE IS 8,137, AND IT'S GOING IN THE 300 BUILDING BETWEEN TORRID AND LANE BRYANT.
SO IT'S, UM, GONNA BRING, YOU KNOW, SOME SPECIAL OCCASION DRESSES
[00:20:01]
AND JUST LADIES FASHION.SO I THINK IT'LL BE A GREAT ADD.
AND THEY'RE IN THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH AREA.
AND THEN LASTLY, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT REZOS, WHO IS EXPANDING INTO 4 0 2.
AND SO THEIR SQUARE FOOTAGE IS GOING UP TO 7,300 SQUARE FEET.
AND THE TENANT THAT THEY'RE ABSORBING THEIR SPACE, THEY'RE RELOCATING TO ANOTHER SPACE NEXT TO CHILDREN'S PLACE.
UM, I KNOW I'VE, UM, BEEN CURIOUS TO, TO, TO SEE HOW THE TRAFFIC IS OUT THERE.
IT SEEMS LIKE, UM, IT IS, UM, YOU KNOW, VIBRANT, UM, YOU, YOU KNOW, MAINTAIN THE, THE QUALITY LEVEL OUT THERE.
SO I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, YOU AND YOUR MANAGEMENT TEAM AND WHAT YOU DO OUT THERE IN HILLSIDE.
UM, SO ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I'M SORRY, PRO CHAIR.
I DON'T, UH, MR. HAYES, DID, DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR YEAH, YEAH.
I ONLY, I ONLY HAVE YOU ON THE KEY.
THANK YOU MS. TIMS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING.
AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE IS WHAT KINDS OF MARKETING ADVERTISING, OR IS PROPOSED PLAN TO LET, UH, THIS AREA KNOW? 'CAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS ARE REALLY EXCITING AND I THINK WE WILL DO VERY WELL IN NOT JUST SEA HILL, BUT THE ENTIRE AREA FROM GRAND PRAIRIE, UH, MIDLOTHIAN, DUNCANVILLE, DESOTO, LANCASTER.
UH, AND SO WHAT MARKETING ADVERTISING IS PROPOSED TO PROPOSE, TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT'S COMING? WELL, WE, ONCE A LEASE IS EXECUTED AND SIGNED, THEN WE WORK WITH A TENANT ON THEIR MARKETING PLAN.
AND SOCIAL MEDIA IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE USE HEAVILY.
WE ALSO EVEN PUT UP SIGNS IN THE INSIDE THE SHOPPING CENTER ABOUT SOME OF THE TENANTS THAT ARE COMING JUST TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE THAT VISIBLE IN THE MALL, BUT PRIMARILY THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA IS WHAT WE USE.
THE ONLY THING I WAS, IT IS THERE'S A LOT OF NEW THINGS AND IT WOULD, IT'D BE GREAT TO SEE SOME, SOMETHING LIKE AN EXCITEMENT AS TO, YOU KNOW, WOW, COME, YOU KNOW, TO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T, MARKETING'S NOT MY CLAIM, BUT IT JUST SOMETHING TO COMMUNICATE ALL THE WONDERFUL CHANGES IN A A REALLY, YOU KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY A RE GRAND OPENING, BUT A BIG EVENT TO COMMUNICATE.
I DON'T KNOW, SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
WE'LL DEFINITELY TALK TO OUR MARKETING ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
AND THANK YOU MS. TIMS GREAT PRESENTATION.
JUST TO REITERATE AND WHAT MAYOR PROMMIN MENTIONED, IT'S CHALLENGING FOR EYES AND FOR CONSUMERS, AND EVERYONE'S DOING SOCIAL MEDIA, SO IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE SOMETHING OTHER THAN SOCIAL MEDIA NOT ONLY ADVERTISING THE NEW THINGS THAT ARE COMING, BUT THE MALL ITSELF, WHETHER THAT IS A PRINT CAMPAIGN, A TELEVISION CAMPAIGN, RADIO CAMPAIGN.
WE CAN JUST RELY ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA, MEDIA OF EACH ENTITY, ESPECIALLY, ESPECIALLY THE NEW ONES THAT ARE COMING THAT DON'T HAVE A FOOTPRINT HERE.
SO THEY'RE PROBABLY RELYING ON THE MALL ITSELF WITH THOSE EYES TO, TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE NEW THINGS LIKE THE, SO FOOD THAT'S COMING FROM CHICAGO, SO THEY'RE BASED IN CHICAGO.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOMETHING IN CONCRETE, SOMETHING MORE FORWARD FACING, WHERE IT IS A PRINT CAMPAIGN, A RADIO CAMPAIGN, TELEVISION CAMPAIGN, JUST ANNOUNCING ALL OF THIS.
BUT WE'RE COMPETING WITH MANSFIELD AND WE'RE COMPETING WITH MIDLOTHIAN.
WE'RE COMPETING WITH GRAND PRAIRIE.
UM, THE, THE PORTILLOS IS COMING TO GRAND, UH, COMING TO GRAND PRAIRIE AND TO MANSFIELD.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOMETHING GREATER THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
TO BRING EYES AND AND FOOTPRINT TO OUR, TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WELL, WE HAVE, UM, ACCOUNTS WITH, UH, FOCUS NOW TODAY AND, UM, SOME OF THE OTHER PRINT, UH, MAGAZINES.
[00:25:01]
WE DO THINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.SO THAT'S A GREAT IDEA TO INCORPORATE THAT MAYBE WITH SOME OF THE NEW TENANTS.
THAT ARE COMING JUST TO, UM, OFFER SOME EXCITEMENT.
IS IS THERE ANY WAY FOR COUNCIL TO BE PRIVY TO THAT PLAN WHEN IT'S CREATED? SURE, OF COURSE.
MY BACKGROUND'S MARKETING AND SALES.
AND I DID HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE SERVICE TENANTS.
I'M ASSUMING SERVICE TENANTS ARE, IS THAT THE RESTAURANTS OR IS THAT NO.
WHAT ARE SERVICE TENANTS? SERVICE WOULD BE LIKE, ALLURE, NAILS, ORANGETHEORY, UH, PERFECT BROW.
UM, UM, I CAN'T THINK OF, BUT, SO THOSE TYPE OF TENANTS.
IS, IS THERE A PARTICULAR MIX THAT THE MALL IS LOOKING FOR? AS FOR RETAILERS, RESTAURANTS, SERVICE TENANTS, IS THERE A MAGIC FORMULA THAT THE MM-HMM.
WELL, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND SO WE FILLED THAT AND WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE WITH AN ADDITIONAL ENTERTAINMENT, LIKE ON LEVEL TWO.
THAT'S BEEN, UH, ONE OF THE STRATEGIC PLANS.
BUT, UM, ENTERTAINMENT, OF COURSE, FILLING IN ON THE RESTAURANTS AND JUST BRINGING IN SOMETHING THAT'S NOT ALREADY THERE.
LIKE THE NEW FASHION LADIES, FASHION, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S RETAIL, BUT THEY'RE BRINGING SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT WE DON'T HAVE AT THE MALL RIGHT NOW.
I, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THESE AND THE OTHER LOCATIONS.
'CAUSE I KNOW WE DO HAVE EXPRESS, WHICH IS OUT OF OUR CONTROL WITHOUT THE BUSINESS.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, THE NEW BUSINESS THAT WILL BE COMING TO OUR MALL.
JUST, JUST BE MINDFUL THAT WE'RE COMPETING WITH EVERY OTHER MUNICIPALITY.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOVE AND BEYOND, RIGHT.
BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS CAUGHT UP TO US.
WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'RE HOPING COMES TO HALF OF THE EXPRESS SPACE AND, UM, IT'S A NATIONAL BRAND THAT'S VERY RECOGNIZABLE AND WOULD BE A BIG WIN FOR US AND THE CITY.
UM, I, I WOULD, UM, I WOULD ASSUME THE PROPRIETORS HAVE SOME MARKETING AND THEIR BUDGET AS WELL, SO I HOPE THAT THEY'RE DOING THEIR BEST EFFORT TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR, THEIR NAME OUT.
UM, WAS OKAY, WHAT DID YOU SAY? I'M SORRY.
I WAS SAYING I HOPE THAT THE PROPRIETOR WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE MARKETING IN THEIR BUDGET.
SO THEY, SO THEY ALSO PUSHING TO, SO WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THE NEW TENANTS TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, TO KIND OF GET THEIR PLAN, WHAT THEY'RE DOING, AND THEN WE RELAY WHAT WE'RE DOING, SO WE WORK TOGETHER.
WELL, YEAH, UM, IF YOU HAVE, UM, SOME ENTERTAINMENT, UM, THAT HAS, YOU KNOW, EXPRESSED STRONG INTEREST, UH, JUST KIND OF JUST KEEP US IN MIND TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO.
WE, WE'D BE HAPPY TO GIVE A TOUR OR, YOU KNOW, FOSTER SOME TYPE OF PARTNERSHIP.
SO, UH, WE DEFINITELY DO THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT.
[4. Receive a report on the City's branding strategy.]
ON THE AGENDA IS TO RECEIVE A REPORT ON THE CITY'S BRANDING STRATEGY.I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE THIS EVENING TO GIVE YOU A, AN UPDATE ON OUR BRANDING INITIATIVE THAT THE COUNCIL FUNDED OVER THIS LAST YEAR.
UM, IT'S REALLY FITTING THAT THIS ITEM IS ON THE AGENDA FOR MR. PORTER'S LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS CITY MANAGER.
UM, BECAUSE REALLY THIS PROJECT IS ABOUT TELLING THE STORY OF CEDAR HILL, UM, AND REALLY ARTICULATING WHO WE ARE AND WHO WE WANT TO BE.
AND THERE'S NOBODY THAT'S BETTER, UM, AT THAT THAN OUR CITY MANAGER, GREG PORTER.
WE WERE ALSO REALLY LUCKY THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND BLESSED TO HAVE THE LEADERSHIP OF COUNCIL MEMBER HAYDEN AND COUNCIL MEMBER INE, UM, WHO SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE FOR THE PROJECT.
UM, SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND ALSO FEEL FREE TO CHIME IN AS WE GO THROUGH, IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING.
OF COURSE, WE START, AS WE ALWAYS DO AT THE CITY'S, UM, VISION OF CEDAR HILL AS A PREMIER CITY THAT RETAINS ITS DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER OR FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES FLOURISH IN A SAFE AND CLEAN ENVIRONMENT.
AND THAT VISION STATEMENT, ALONG WITH OUR, UM, PILLARS OF PREMIER, HAVE REALLY BEEN GUIDEPOSTS, UH, FOR THE COMMITTEE THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
OF COURSE, YOU'VE SEEN THIS SLIDE BEFORE.
UM, BUT JUST AS A REMINDER, COMMUNICATIONS, UM, AND MARKETING HAS BEEN ON THE CITY COUNCIL'S TOP PRIORITY LIST FOR, UM, ABOUT THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
UH, WE REALLY HAVE SPENT THAT TIME BUILDING UP THE MACHINE TO COMMUNICATE WITH RESIDENTS AND KIND OF WHAT WE CONSIDER LIKE
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INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS.UH, AND THEN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THE COUNCIL REALLY CHALLENGED, UM, CHALLENGED US TO EXPAND THAT, UM, AND TO RAISE THE AWARENESS OF CEDAR HILL OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY LIMITS TO THE REGION AND BEYOND.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT.
UM, THERE'S BEEN KIND OF THREE BIG CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES THAT HAVE CONVERGED ON THIS PROJECT.
UM, THE FIRST IS THAT YOU, ALONG WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD, HAVE, UM, CREATED, DEVELOPED AND APPROVED AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY THAT REALLY SETS AMBITIOUS GOALS FOR MARKETING CEDAR HILL AS A PLACE TO DO BUSINESS IN A PLACE TO INVEST IN.
UM, YOU HAVE SEEN A DRAFT TOURISM PLAN, UM, THAT ALSO CALLS FOR TELLING CEDAR HILL'S STORY IN AN EFFORT TO ATTRACT VISITORS TO CEDAR HILL.
AND THE COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED, UM, A NATURE AND OPEN SPACE STRATEGY TO MAXIMIZE OUR ASSETS IN A WAY THAT BOTH SAVES THEM AND PRESERVES THEM AS NATURAL ASSETS AND HELPS WITH THE BUSINESS PLAN FOR THE CITY TO BRING VISITORS, UH, AND BUSINESSES TO CAPITALIZE ON THOSE ASSETS.
AND SO THAT THOSE THREE ITEMS KIND OF CONVERGE.
UM, AND BRING US HERE TODAY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BRAND IDENTITY, UM, FOR CEDAR HILL AND THAT NATURE CORRIDOR AND HOW WE'RE GONNA EXECUTE IT.
WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS PROCESS, OUR MAYOR STEVEN MASON, GAVE US, UM, A REALLY AMBITIOUS OBJECTIVE TO BECOME THE DESTINATION FOR NATURE-BASED RECREATION AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE METROPLEX.
AND SO THAT IS THE TARGET THAT WE ARE CHASING IN ORDER TO DO THAT, UM, WE DID AN RFP WHERE WE WANTED TO SELECT A FIRM, UH, TO HELP US.
AND WE BROKE IT INTO TWO PROJECTS PROJECT.
THE FIRST PROJECT WE'LL CALL PROJECT A IS ABOUT THE CITY'S MESSAGING AND BRANDING.
SO I MENTIONED, UM, THE COUNCIL CHALLENGED US TO REALLY TAKE OUR, UH, MARKETING AND MESSAGING MACHINE AND EXPAND IT BEYOND OUR BORDERS.
AND SO TO DO THAT, WE WANTED TO UNIFY OUR MESSAGING FOR BOTH OUR TOURISM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS.
WE ALREADY HAVE A BRAND FOR THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, BUT WE WANTED TO MAXIMIZE IT TO EXTERNAL AUDIENCES, AND WE WANT IT TO BE REALLY CONSISTENT IN HOW WE TALK ABOUT CEDAR HILL TO THOSE EXTERNAL AUDIENCES.
SO THIS KIND OF PROJECT A, UM, AND THEN PROJECT B IS, UM, TO DEVELOP A BRAND IDENTITY FOR THE NATURE CORRIDOR.
AND THAT IS BRAND NEW
SO WE NEEDED TO ESTABLISH A NAME FOR THE DISTRICT.
WE NEEDED TO CREATE A LOGO, UM, BRAND STANDARDS AND ALL OUR VISUAL ASSETS, AND DEVELOPED THE LANGUAGE THAT WE WERE GONNA TALK ABOUT IN MARKET, THE NATURE CORRIDOR.
SO WE DID OUR RFP, WE HAD OVER 30 RESPONDENTS TO IT.
UM, IT WAS A VERY COMPETITIVE PROCESS AND WE CHOSE NORTH STAR IDEAS TO TAKE US THROUGH, UM, THE BRAND PROCESS.
AND REALLY WE SELECTED THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE A, A WELL, UM, TRAVELED PROCESS THAT THEY USE THROUGHOUT IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
AND THAT PROCESS STARTS AS ALL PROCESSES HERE IN CEDAR HILL DO WITH A LOT OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, UM, AND A LOT OF PUBLIC INPUT.
AND SO, UM, WE START WITH THE PUBLIC INSUR INPUT AND THEY DID A LOT OF RESEARCH AND REALLY DISTILLED ALL OF THAT DOWN TO, UM, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS CEDAR HILL? WHO DO WE WANNA BE? UM, AND THEN FROM FROM THERE EXPANDED OUT TO CREATE, UM, THE LOGOS AND THE VISUAL ASSETS AND THEN ANU NUMBER OF IDEAS TO, TO ACTIVATE THE BRAND.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT AT THE END OF THIS PRESENTATION.
UM, YOU PROBABLY WILL RECALL THAT WE PRESENTED THE RESEARCH PORTION OF THIS PROJECT TO YOU ALL IN NOVEMBER.
SO I'M IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'M NOT GONNA GO BACK THROUGH ALL OF THAT EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, BUT I DID JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU OF WHAT IT ENTAILED.
UM, NORTH STAR AND THEIR TEAM CAME OUT TO DO A SITE VISIT AND VISITED WITH MORE THAN 100 INDIVIDUALS, UM, THROUGH INTERVIEWS, FOCUS GROUPS, PHONE CALLS, AND JUST KIND OF MAN ON THE STREET INTERVIEWS, UM, STAKEHOLDERS IN THE NATURE CORRIDOR, PEOPLE THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH NATURE, RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, ALL OF THOSE STAKEHOLDERS.
WE HAD 43 PEOPLE SIGN UP TO BE BRAND AMBASSADORS.
UM, FOR US, WE DID A COMMUNITY SURVEY, SO A SURVEY OF PEOPLE IN CEDAR HILL THAT ARE EITHER RESIDENTS OR BUSINESS OWNERS OR, UM, PROFESSIONALS IN THE CITY HAD 572 RESPONSES TO THAT SURVEY.
AND THEN WE ALSO SPOKE TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF CEDAR HILL.
SO THEY DID INTERVIEWS WITH 17, UM, EXTERNAL LIKE INFLUENCERS OR PROFESSIONALS, AND THEN DID A CONSUMER SURVEY OF WHERE THEY HAD 440 RESPONDENTS EXTERNALLY.
SO THEY HAD MORE THAN A THOUSAND PIECES OF INPUT THROUGH THE RESEARCH PHASE.
AND YOU ALL REMEMBER THAT WAS A VERY EXTENSIVE REPORT, SO I WON'T GO OVER IT IN DETAIL, BUT I DID WANNA HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE TAKEAWAYS FROM THE RESEARCH.
THE FIRST WAS THAT, UM, NORTH STAR TOLD US THAT WAS ONE OF THE, THE MOST DIVERSE SET OF RESPONDENTS THAT THEY'VE EVER HAD IN A SURVEY THAT THEY'VE DONE, AND THEY WORK ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UM, SO IT WAS DIVERSE IN TERMS OF, UM, LIKE RACIAL DEMOGRAPHICS, AGE, WHETHER THEY WORKED HERE OR THEY LIVED HERE.
AND IT WAS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US.
SECOND THING IS THAT THERE WAS VERY STRONG PER SUPPORT FOR THE COUNCIL'S EFFORTS TO PRESERVE 25% OF CEDAR HILLS LAND AS OPEN SPACE.
UM, LESS THAN 1% OF RESPONDENTS OPPOSED IT AT ALL, AND THAT'S ALMOST UNHEARD
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OF.SO THEY'RE ALSO VERY SURPRISED AT THAT AS SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC POLICY.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT HOW LIKELY WERE THE RESPONDENTS TO RECOMMEND CEDAR HILL AS A PLACE TO LIVE OR WORK OR DO BUSINESS, WE FOUND THAT WE WERE RATED REALLY HIGHLY ON THE PLACE TO LIVE AND, UM, TO LIVE AND PLAY, BUT NOT AS HIGHLY TO DO, TO DO BUSINESS.
AND SO WE IDENTIFIED THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT? AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REALM TO PROMOTE CEDAR HILL AS A PLACE TO INVEST AND TO DO BUSINESS.
WE ALSO FOUND THAT CEDAR HILL IS ALREADY KNOWN BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY FOR OUR NATURAL ASSETS AND THOSE QUALITY OF LIFE AMENITIES.
UM, SO WHEN WE ASK PEOPLE WHAT DO THEY THINK OF WHEN THEY THINK OF CEDAR HILL, THEY THINK OF THE STATE PARK, THEY THINK OF TREES, GREEN SPACE, UM, AND JOE POOL LAKE.
AND WHAT WAS INTERESTING IS WE ASKED ABOUT OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT NEIGHBOR US AND EVEN GRAND PRAIRIE, WHICH HAS A LOT OF RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AT THE LAKE.
NO ONE MENTIONED JOE POOL LAKE WHEN THEY THINK OF GRAND PRAIRIE.
SO WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ALREADY ASSOCIATE THOSE ASSETS WITH CEDAR HILL, BUT WE ALSO IDENTIFIED THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE THOSE TO THOSE EXTERNAL AUDIENCES.
SO THAT'S KIND OF THE BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT.
UM, SO WE'LL GET INTO THE FUN STUFF AND WE'RE FIRST GONNA TALK ABOUT THE NATURE CORRIDOR IN THAT PROJECT.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE NATURE CORRIDOR.
UM, THIS IS TYPICALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN CEDAR HILL.
IT'S THAT VAST AREA, ABOUT 3000 ACRES, UM, ON THE SHORES OF JOE POOL LAKE, UM, WHERE WE HAVE MOST OF OUR NATURE AND OPEN SPACE ASSETS.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT NEBULOUS THOUGH BECAUSE WE ALSO INCLUDE IN OUR IDEAS OF THE NATURE CORRIDOR, LIKE LORCH PARK.
UM, WE ALSO INCLUDE SOME OF THE RECREATION AND NATURAL AREAS, UH, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN, THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN ALSO.
BUT THIS IS TYPICALLY THE WAY WE TALK ABOUT, UM, IN OUR TASK, IS TO IDENTIFY AND CREATE A BRAND IDENTITY OF THIS AREA AS A DISTRICT.
UM, YOU SAW ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT ENTITIES.
THOSE ARE NOT ALL OWNED BY THE CITY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PARTNERS INVOLVED.
SO THE VERY FIRST THING WE DID WAS CREATE A STEERING COMMITTEE THAT BROUGHT IN ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT PARTNERS.
UM, I MENTIONED WE ARE VERY, UH, BLESSED TO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER HAYDEN AND COUNCIL MEMBER INE ON THE COMMITTEE.
WE ALSO HAD RUTH ANN BECHTEL REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
DAVID HURT, WHO'S ON THE BOARD OF DOGWOOD CANYON AUDUBON CENTER.
RACHEL LOCKA, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF CEDAR HILL STATE PARK.
MIA BROWN, WHO'S THE OPEN SPACE COORDINATOR WITH DALLAS COUNTY, AND JEREMY SPENCER WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAD A LOT OF STAFF SUPPORT ON THE COMMITTEE.
SO HENRY HAM WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SEAN RAYER, PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR, AND MICHELLE EBANKS, OUR COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT MANAGER, OF COURSE, ALSO STEWARDED BY GREG PORTER, CITY MANAGER.
SO THE STEERING COMMITTEE HAS WORKED FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS ON THIS PROJECT.
THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WILL SEE AFTER THIS SLIDE THAT THAT COMMITTEE CULTIVATED AND CHOSE AND MADE THE FINAL DECISIONS ON.
AND THE VERY FIRST THING THE COMMITTEE HAD TO DO WAS COME UP WITH A NAME FOR THE CORRIDOR.
AND IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN NAMING SOMETHING, IT'S REALLY HARD AND YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH LIKE 12 STAGES OF, YOU KNOW, GRIEF FOR THE NAME.
UM, AND SO WITH THAT IN MIND AND WITH A LOT OF GRATITUDE TO THE COMMITTEE, UM, THE NAME THAT THE COMMITTEE CHOSE FOR THE NATURE CORRIDOR IS THE GREAT GREENWAY.
UM, REALLY WANTING TO IDENTIFY KIND OF THE VAST EXPANSE OF THE AREA.
AND THIS IS A LOGO FOR THE GREAT GREENWAY.
IT CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF CEDAR HILL'S.
NATURAL LANDSCAPES HAS THOSE VIBRANT, LAYERED HILLS, SYMBOLIZING THE DIVERSE TERRAIN AND LUSH GREENERY OF THE AREA.
UM, THE NAME IS SET IN THE WHITE SPACE AND IT HAS THAT BLUE BORDER, WHICH KIND OF REPRESENTS JOE POOL LAKE IN THE ACCESS OF THE LAKE.
AND THE TYPEFACE IS DESIGNED TO HAVE A FRIENDLY AND INVITING PERSONALITY.
AND OF COURSE, WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT HAD CEDAR HILL, TEXAS SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THE GREAT GREENWAY IS IN CEDAR HILL, TEXAS.
THE COMMITTEE LANDED ON THE TAGLINE OF THE NATURAL HEART OF THE METROPLEX, UM, WHICH REALLY PUTS A STAKE IN THE GROUND FOR CEDAR HILL'S UNIQUE POSITION AS A LUSH GREEN OASIS AMID THE URBAN LANDSCAPE OF DALLAS-FORT WORTH.
UM, IT HIGHLIGHTS OUR CENTRAL LOCATION IN URBAN AREA, UM, AND ALSO OUR ROLE AS A VIBRANT NATURAL SANCTUARY.
AND AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT, IT'S A REALLY AMBITIOUS AND BOLD STATEMENT TO SAY THAT CEDAR HILL IS THE NATURAL HEART OF THE METROPLEX.
UM, OF COURSE, ANY, UH, LOGO AND, UM, BRAND SANDERS IS GONNA COME WITH A COLOR PALETTE.
UM, THIS IS A COLOR PALETTE THAT IS INSPIRED BY THE LANDSCAPES OF CEDAR HILL, BUT IT'S ALSO REALLY BRIGHT.
SO IN THE MARKETING MATERIALS, IT STANDS OUT AMONGST SOME OF THE MORE LIKE MUTED, UM, GREENS AND BLUES AND TONE AND TONES OF THAT COLOR PALETTE.
UM, THE NEXT THING THAT THE CONSULTANT GROUP DID WAS CREATE A BRAND NARRATIVE FOR, UM,
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THE NATURE CORRIDOR.AND THAT NARRATIVE IS REALLY IMPORTANT 'CAUSE IT KIND OF, IT GUIDES ALL OF OUR EFFORTS.
WE CAN PULL, UM, WORDS DIRECTLY OUT OF THAT TO USE IN MARKETING MATERIALS.
AND IT ALSO IS A STANDARD FOR US, FOR THE MATERIALS THAT WE PUT OUT REFLECT THE BRAND NARRATIVE.
SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT LENGTHY, BUT I'M GONNA READ THIS TO YOU FOR THE GREAT GREENWAY BECAUSE IT'S NEW.
JUST A SHORT JOURNEY SOUTH OF DALLAS LIES THE GREAT GREENWAY AND ECOLOGICALLY RICH EXPANSE OF NATURAL SPACES AND PRESERVES THAT BECKONS TO NATURE, LOVERS OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES, AND LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE.
THIS UNIQUE DESTINATION OFFERS A SERENE ESCAPE FROM THE URBAN HUSTLE AND MODERN STRESSES OF THE METROPLEX.
AS YOU ENTER THIS SANCTUARY OF CEDARS AND WILDFLOWERS, TAKE A MOMENT TO BREATHE DEEPLY.
YOUR PULSE SLOWS, YOUR MOOD LIFTS AND YOUR OUTLOOK BRIGHTENS IN THESE PEACEFUL MOMENTS.
SPEAKING OF OUTLOOKS, THE GREAT GREENWAY BOAST SOME OF THE HIGHEST VIEWPOINTS BETWEEN THE BREAD RIVER AND THE GULF OF MEXICO.
IT'S ROLLING HILLS REVEALED THE MOST STUNNING SCENERY IN VISTAS IN THE REGION.
PERFECT FOR THOSE SEEKING VISUAL SPLENDOR AND A SENSE OF TRANQUILITY.
FIND SERENITY ON PEACEFUL NATURE, WALKS THROUGH LUSH LANDSCAPES, OR FEEL YOUR ADRENALINE SURGE DURING HIGH POWERED ROAD CYCLING EXCURSIONS.
EXPLORE THE SCENIC BAUS TRAIL, GO BIRDWATCHING IN THE PICTURESQUE DOGWOOD CANYON, OR ENJOY A DAY SPLASHING AND PADDLING AT JOE POOL LAKE IN CEDAR HILL STATE PARK FOR THE MORE ADVENTUROUS MOUNTAIN.
BIKING AT CEDAR BIG CEDAR WILDERNESS TRAIL AND HIKING THROUGH THE CEDAR MOUNTAIN NATURE PRESERVE OFFER THRILLING EXPERIENCES.
IF DISC GOLF IS MORE YOUR SPEED, VISIT THE LEICESTER LORDS NATURE PRESERVE FOR A CHALLENGING ROUND.
THIS NATURAL HAVEN OFFERS SOME SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.
THE HEART OF A CITY REFLECTS ITS COMMUNITY'S VALUES AND ASPIRATIONS.
THE GREAT GREENWAY SERVES AS THE NATURAL HEART OF THE METROPLEX, EMBODYING A COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND A LOVE FOR UNSPOILED BEAUTY.
IT'S WAITING FOR YOU TO ESCAPE THE URBAN GRIND AND TAKE YOUR FIRST DEEP, REFRESHING BREATH OF FRESH AIR.
AFTER ALL, EVERY HEART NEEDS OXYGEN.
AND SO THAT BRAND NARRATIVE IS A RESULT OF THE HARD WORK OF THE COMMITTEE.
AND THEN ALSO INCORPORATES A LOT OF THE RESEARCH, UM, THAT THE TEAM DID ABOUT HOW PEOPLE FEEL WHEN THEY FIRST DRIVE INTO CEDAR HILL.
LIKE THERE'S, THEY'RE TAKING A BREATH OF FRESH AIR ONCE THE COMMITTEE CHOSE, UM, LOGO AND TAGLINE AND COLORS.
UM, THE TEAM GOT TO WORK ON CREATING A SET OF BRAND STANDARDS, WHICH IS PROBABLY LIKE THE LEAST EXCITING PART.
UM, BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE PARTNERS, UM, THAT ARE IN THIS CORRIDOR ARE GONNA HELP US SHARE OUR STORY AND SHARE THIS BRAND.
AND THESE STANDARDS ARE WHAT THEY WILL USE TO DO THAT.
SO WE MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S USING THE SAME LANGUAGE, THE SAME STOCK PHOTOS, UM, THE SAME COLORS AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.
AND THEN THE COMMITTEE, UM, HONED IN ON WHAT IS THE VISUAL DIRECTION FOR THE BRAND.
AND THESE ARE TWO EXAMPLES OF THAT.
UM, YOU CAN THINK OF THESE AS LIKE A FULL PAGE AD THAT IT WOULD APPEAR IN LIKE A PRINTED MAGAZINE, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY, UM, HIGHLIGHT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU HAVE IN CEDAR HILL.
UM, SOME OF THESE ARE OUR CURRENT STOCK PHOTOS.
SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN PHOTOSHOPPED, UH, IN, BUT YOU'LL NOTICE HERE AT THE BOTTOM THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PARTNERS AND ALL OF THE SORT OF ACCESS POINTS OF THE GREAT GREENWAY.
UM, AND THEN THAT LITTLE AD PIECE, UM, THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT BRAND NARRATIVE IS THE LANGUAGE THERE.
AND THIS IS A SIMILAR VERSION OF THAT FOR A SMALLER, LIKE A THIRD PAGE AD OR A HALF PAGE AD.
AND THEN THE NEXT SERIES OF, UM, SLIDES I'M GONNA GO THROUGH ARE NORTH STAR'S IDEAS FOR BRAND ACTION.
SO IDEAS TO KIND OF ACTIVATE THE BRAND.
UM, THEY, THESE ARE NOT IN PRODUCTION, THEY'RE NOT FINAL FILES, THEY'RE JUST IDEAS THAT WE CAN USE TO LAUNCH OFF OF, TO EXECUTE.
UM, BUT WE LOVE THE IDEA OF A, A LARGE SCALE BILLBOARD THAT ANNOUNCES, HERE'S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN COME FOR, UM, NATURE BASED RECREATION.
A LOT OF OUR PARTNERS IN THE CORRIDOR DO FUNDRAISING, UM, TO MAINTAIN THEIR AREAS.
AND SO WE ASK FOR THEM TO INCLUDE, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DONATIONS AND ALSO A TRAIL GUIDE WHERE PEOPLE, IT'S EASY TO KNOW FOR ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT PARTNERS, HOW CAN WE ACCESS THEM? WHERE ARE THE TRAILS? AND A LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
OF COURSE, THE WEARABLE ITEMS ARE IMPORTANT FOR ANY BRAND BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU TAKE THIS BACKPACK OR YOU WEAR THIS COOL HAT AND YOU TAKE IT OUTSIDE OF CEDAR HILL AND THEN PEOPLE WILL SAY, WHERE DID YOU GET THAT? UM, AND THEN YOU CAN INVITE THEM ALONG ON YOUR NEXT HIKE.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL WEARABLE ITEM IDEAS, REALLY HIGHLIGHTING THE BRIGHT COLORS AND ALSO THOSE LIKE LAYERS OF HILLS AND TREES.
AND THEN IN OUR TOURISM EFFORTS, WE HAVE A LOT OF LIKE GUIDES AND
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VISITORS GUIDES, AND THIS IS A MORE, UM, IN DEPTH PICTURE OF ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PARTNERS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE GREAT GREENWAY.UM, AND THE LAST ONE OF THE IDEAS, WHICH I THINK IS THE COOLEST, IS A KIND OF LIFE-SIZE PHOTO OP.
UM, THAT WOULD HAVE LIKE STAIRS AT THE BACK WHERE YOU CAN FINISH YOUR HIKE, COME DOWN, UM, AND TAKE THE STAIRS UP TO THE TOP AND TAKE A PICTURE OF YOURSELF ON TOP OF THE HILL AT THE GREAT GREENWAY WAY.
AND SO THAT KIND OF WRAPS UP A SAMPLING OF THE GREAT GREENWAY BRAND.
UM, WE'RE GONNA TRANSITION TO TALK ABOUT THE CITY OF CEDAR HILLS PORTION.
THE SCOPE OF THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
IT'S A LITTLE NARROWER BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE A LOGO, WE ALREADY HAVE COLORS AND PEOPLE DO RECOGNIZE THEM IN TOWN.
UM, I WENT TO A MEETING EARLIER THIS WEEK LAST OR LAST WEEK AT THE LIBRARY, AND I WAS WEARING A, A POLO WITH THE CITY'S LOGO ON IT.
AND AFTER THE MEETING, I WALKED OUT WITH THIS FAMILY AND THIS 6-YEAR-OLD GIRL STOPPED ME AND ASKED, HEY, DO YOU WORK HERE? AND I SAID, WELL, KIND OF.
I WORK IN THE BUILDING NEXT DOOR.
AND SHE SAID, BUT YOU HAVE THE SAME TREE ON YOUR SHIRT THAT'S ON THIS BUILDING.
AND I SAID, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
AND SHE SAID, THAT TREE IS ALSO AT THE PARK WHERE I GO SWIMMING.
AND I SAID, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
WE ALL, THAT'S THE SAME EXPERIENCES, IT'S ALL CEDAR HILL.
AND IT WAS COOL TO SEE SUCH A, A LITTLE KID, SIX YEARS OLD, TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND THESE ARE ALL CONNECTED IN THE SAME COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE THAT BRING YOU THE COOL EXPERIENCE AT THE LIBRARY ALSO BRING YOU THIS COOL EXPERIENCE AT THE POOL AND ALL THESE OTHER SERVICES.
SO WE WANT TO GROW ON THAT AND EXPAND IT AND NOT NECESSARILY REDO IT.
SO THAT SAID, THESE ARE KIND OF THE CURRENT LOGOS IN PLAY, UM, FOR THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND VISIT CEDAR HILL.
AND WE DIDN'T WANNA CHANGE THEM TOO MUCH, BUT WE DID ASK FOR A FEW UPDATES.
FIRST OF ALL, WE WANT TO USE MORE, WE WANT TO USE THE TAGLINE MORE WIDELY WHERE OPPORTUNITIES GROW NATURALLY.
BUT THE FONT THAT IT'S CURRENTLY IN KIND OF MAKES IT HARD SOMETIMES BECAUSE IT'S WHEN WHEN IT'S PRINTED SMALL, IT'S REALLY HARD TO READ THE TAGLINE.
SO WE ASKED THE CONSULTANTS TO UPDATE THE FONT FOR THAT TAGLINE IN BOTH, IN ALL IN ALL OF OUR LOGOS.
AND THEN WE ALSO ASKED TO REVISIT THE VISIT CEDAR HILL, AND WE WANTED TO BRING IT IN AND MAKE IT A LITTLE TIGHTER.
AND THEN ALSO TO, TO LOOK AT THE FONT ON THE VISIT.
AND SO THESE ARE THE UPDATED, UM, LOGOS.
IT'S VERY SUBTLE, YOU CAN TELL, BUT IT'S A LITTLE EASIER TO READ THAT WHERE OPPORTUNITIES GROW NATURALLY WITH THAT DIFFERENT FONT, WE CAN MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT LARGER AND THE OPPORTUNITIES IS BOLDED.
AND THEN ON THE VISIT, UM, LOGO, IT'S STACKED A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
WE ARE BRINGING IN THE, THAT BLUE COLOR FROM THE GREAT GREEN WAY LOGO BECAUSE THOSE WILL BE USED, UM, OFTEN TOGETHER.
AND THEN USING THE EXISTING TAGLINE FOR TOURISM, WE'RE FUN AT ADVENTURE GROW NATURALLY, BUT JUST HIGHLIGHTING IT A LITTLE MORE IN THAT BRIGHT BLUE.
THEN THIS IS THE UPDATED, UPDATED COLOR PALETTE, UM, FOR THE BRAND.
IT STAYS THE SAME EXCEPT FOR A COUPLE CHANGES.
ONE, WE ADDED IN THAT BRIGHT BLUE FROM THE, UM, GREAT GREEN WAY LOGO, AND THEN WE JUST TONED DOWN A LITTLE BIT THE BRIGHTER GREEN AND THE RED AND MADE IT EASIER FOR USE.
SO WE ALSO HAVE A BRAND NARRATIVE FOR THE CITY OF CEDAR HILL.
AND I'M NOT GONNA READ YOU ALL OF IT BECAUSE IT'S A LOT LONGER AND A LOT MORE EXPANSIVE, BUT I DID WANT TO READ YOU A FEW EXCERPTS FROM IT.
IN CEDAR HILL, YOU DON'T JUST LIVE, YOU THRIVE NESTLED AMIDST ROLLING TEXAS HILLS AND LUSH GREEN SPACES.
OUR CITY SEAMLESSLY BLENDS NATURAL BEAUTY WITH VIBRANT COMMUNITY LIFE SET PEACEFULLY ABOVE THE DALLAS FORT FORT WORTH METROPLEX.
CEDAR HILL IS A PLACE WHERE OPPORTUNITY AND NATURE EXISTS IN PERFECT HARMONY.
AFTER ALL, WE ARE INDEED A CITY AND A PARK.
ECONOMIC VITALITY IS A CORNERSTONE OF CEDAR HILL.
WE SUPPORT LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS AND ATTRACT NEW INVESTMENTS, CREATING A DYNAMIC ECONOMY WHERE BUS BUSINESSES CAN THRIVE STRATEGICALLY LOCATED NEAR MAJOR HIGHWAYS LIKE US 67 AND FM 1382, OUR CITY OFFERS SEAMLESS CONNECTIVITY, MAKING IT AN IDEAL HUB FOR COMMERCE AND INNOVATION.
CEDAR HILL IS A PLACE WHERE PROFESSIONAL DREAMS CAN TAKE FLIGHT.
COMMUNITY SPIRIT IS THE HEARTBEAT OF CEDAR HILL.
OUR CITY IS ALIVE WITH EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, CELEBRATING OUR DIVERSITY AND SHARED PASSIONS.
FROM COUNTRY DAY ON THE HILL TO MUSIC IN THE PARK, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT FOSTERS CONNECTION AND JOY.
AND CEDAR HILL EVERY DAY OFFERS NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT, CELEBRATE, AND GROW TOGETHER.
CEDAR HILL, TEXAS IS MORE THAN A PLACE TO LIVE.
IT'S A COMMUNITY WHERE NATURE AND OPPORTUNITY GROW TOGETHER.
HERE, DREAMS ARE NURTURED AND FUTURES ARE BUILT IN A CITY THAT VALUES EDUCATION, INNOVATION, AND CONNECTION.
WELCOME TO CEDAR HILL, WHERE OPPORTUNITIES GROW NATURALLY.
SO BASED ON THOSE UPDATED BRAND STANDARDS WILL HAVE THAT BRAND NARRATIVE
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AND THE LOGOS WILL HAVE UPDATED BRAND STANDARDS.AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A FAIRLY DECENTRALIZED COMMUNICATION STRUCTURE WHERE A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS HAVE THEIR OWN MARKETING STAFF AND TEAM.
AND SO THESE UPDATED STANDARDS WILL HELP US MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL TALKING IN THE SAME VOICE, WE'RE ALL USING THE SAME, UM, LOOK AND FEEL OF PHOTOS.
THIS IS, UM, AN EXAMPLE OF THAT VISUAL DIRECTION AGAIN, YOU'LL SEE THAT, UM, THE ONE ON THE LEFT OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FEATURE A LOT OF DIFFERENT, UM, PHOTOS AND ACTIVITIES.
SO IF WE'RE DOING AN AD WHERE WE WANNA BE ABLE TO FEATURE, UM, HILLSIDE VILLAGE OR A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, THIS OFFERS THE, THE, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
AND THEN ON THE RIGHT WHEN WE HAVE WANNA DO A LARGER PHOTO, UM, WITH BIGGER FONT, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY ALSO TO DO THAT WITH THAT INSET AT THE BOTTOM.
THAT KIND OF SHOWS THE TERRAIN OF THE CITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN THE TOURISM STRATEGIC PLAN AND A LITTLE BIT IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IS HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE FOR NATURE ACTIVITIES TO ENJOY OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY AND SPEND THEIR MONEY HERE IN CEDAR HILL, YOU KNOW, THEY GO FOR A HIKE AT THE STATE PARK AND THEN THEY GO TO A RESTAURANT, UM, AND CEDAR HILL, AND A BIG PART OF THAT IS SIGNAGE.
SO WE ASKED, UM, THE CONSULTANTS AS ONE OF THEIR BRAND ACTION IDEAS TO GIVE US SOME CONCEPTS FOR THAT DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE.
UM, AND REALLY A COMPLIMENT TO THE MONUMENT SIGNS THAT WE, UH, ALREADY HAVE AND AREAS THAT WE MAY NOT WANNA DO THAT.
SO YOU'LL NOTICE IF YOU DRIVE AROUND TOWN AND YOU ENTER THE CITY LIMITS FROM ONE OF THE AREAS THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE BIG MONUMENT SIGNS, WE HAVE SOME, UM, SOME SIGNS THAT SAY, WELCOME TO CEDAR HILL, THAT PROBABLY COULD DO WITH REPLACING.
AND THESE ARE OPTIONS TO REPLACE THOSE.
WE ALSO WANTED SOME UNIQUE GIFTS FOR SOME OF OUR BUSINESS PROSPECTS, AND THE CONSULTANT HAD AN IDEA TO REALLY CAPITALIZE ON THE SMELL OF CEDAR.
UM, A LOT OF TIMES WE'LL TRY TO HAVE THINGS MADE OUT OF CEDAR, WHICH CAN BE AN EXPENSIVE, UH, AND DIFFICULT PROCESS SOMETIMES.
SO WE THOUGHT THIS WAS A CUTE IDEA.
UH, THIS IS HANDMADE SOAP THAT SMELLS LIKE CEDAR, UM, IN A GIFT BOX THAT READS SUCCESS NEVER SMELLED AS SWEET FOR YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS.
WE ALSO WANNA BE ABLE TO HAVE, UM, SET MATERIALS THAT WE CAN SHARE, WHETHER IT'S TO A BUSINESS PROSPECT OR, UM, SOMEBODY THAT THE MAYOR OR THE COUNCIL IS MEETING, MEETING PLANNERS IN THE AREA THAT SHOWCASE, UM, CEDAR HILL AND THE WAY THAT WE WANT TO FOR IT TO BE SHOWCASED.
AND SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
UH, OF COURSE, PHOTO OPS ARE ALL THE RAGE, UM, IN THE INSTAGRAM CULTURE THAT WE LIVE IN.
UH, SO THIS IS A, A CUTE IDEA, UH, FOR A A PHOTO OP, UM, THAT COULD ACTUALLY BE ON A TEMPORARY WALL, A MURAL THAT WE MOVE AROUND, BUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE STAGING MULTIPLE PHASES OF GROWTH.
I MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE A DE DECENTRALIZED STRUCTURE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'LL BE DOING IS CREATING A SET OF TEMPLATES, UM, FOR OUR TEAM.
EVERYBODY THAT MANAGES SOCIAL MEDIA SO THAT WHEN THEY ARE DOING A GRAPHIC OR AN ANNOUNCEMENT, THEY'RE CONSISTENT.
UM, AND THEY USE, UM, PHOTOS IN THE WAY THAT WE WANT AND, AND THEY HAVE THE LOOK THAT WE WANT.
AND SO THESE ARE TWO EXAMPLES OF THOSE TEMPLATES.
WE HAVE SO MANY, UM, AWESOME PLACES TO SHOWCASE THAT ARE REALLY COOL VISUALLY.
AND SO ONE IDEA TO DO THAT WOULD BE A CALENDAR.
UM, AND THAT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT COULD BE LIKE A GIVEAWAY OR A GIFT FOR FOLKS.
AND THEN AT A SMALLER PRICE POINT FOR GIVEAWAYS FOR WHEN WE'RE AT LIKE A TRADE SHOW, UM, OR SOMETHING WHERE WE NEED TO GIVE AWAY 300 OF SOMETHING AND WE DON'T WANNA PAY FOR 300 HANDMADE SOAPS.
ONE IS A CEDAR SCENTED CAR, FRESH AIR FRESHENER.
UM, AND THEN ALSO THE ONES ON THE RIGHT ARE LUGGAGE TAGS WITH THE VISIT CEDAR HILL LOGO.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE DONE THESE CEDAR HILL, UM, T-SHIRTS AND THEN SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT KIND OF, UM, FOLKS WEAR AROUND TOWN TO SHOW THEIR COMMUNITY PRIDE.
AND WE WANNA CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
IT'S REALLY COOL WHEN WE COME TO AN EVENT OR THEY GO OVER TO THE LIBRARY AND YOU SEE FOLKS WEARING THAT AROUND AND YOU ALSO KNOW THAT THEY'RE WEARING THAT WHEN THEY GO PLACES OUTSIDE OF CEDAR HILL.
UM, SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND, AND CONTINUE TO TRY TO INCORPORATE MORE OF THE OP WHERE OPPORTUNITIES GROW NATURALLY INTO THOSE DESIGNS.
WE HAVE HAD INTERESTS FROM SOME OF OUR LOCAL, UM, SHOPS AND RETAILERS TO BE ABLE TO CARRY SOME OF THE, THE ITEMS THAT WE'VE CREATED, UM, IN THEIR SHOPS.
SO WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON A LICENSE AGREEMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO SELL AND RECREATE THESE THINGS, UM, THAT WELCOME TO CEDAR HEALTH POSTCARDS, UM, SOME, SOME PRODUCTS WITH LIKE THE NEW MURALS ON THEM, UM, AND BE ABLE TO SELL THAT WITH THE CITY'S APPROVAL.
[00:55:01]
UM, SINCE WE'RE ON THE ACTION SECTION, UM, OF COURSE THIS WILL TAKE ONGOING MARKETING AND MEDIA RELATIONS EFFORTS.SO WE INTEND TO PLACE THESE ADS, UM, AND ALL OF THIS CREATED IN PRINT AND BILLBOARD ADVERTISING, UM, TO DO MORE MEDIA STORIES AND FEATURES AND MORE, UM, PROACTIVE PITCHES TO MEDIA, SOME TARGETED DIGITAL ADVERTISING, ENGAGING WITH NETWORKING GROUPS AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, BOTH TO PLACE, UM, SPEAKER OPPORTUNITIES AT CONFERENCES AND GROUPS THAT MEET, BUT ALSO TO BRING IN FOLKS FOR CITY TOURS, SO LIKE REALTOR TOURS, UM, INDUSTRY TOURS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THEN ALSO TO BE ABLE TO USE A VIDEO IN A TARGETED ADVERTISING WAY WHERE WE CAN CREATE COMMERCIALS, UM, AND HAVE THEM PLACED IN STRATEGIC LOCATIONS.
UM, OF COURSE TO DO ALL OF THAT TAKES, UM, MANPOWER AND CAPACITY.
AND SO, UM, WE ARE PROPOSING TO HAVE AN AGENCY PROVIDE ONGOING MARKETING AND PR SUPPORT THAT CAN, UM, PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE THAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE ON STAFF IN ORDER TO EXECUTE THOSE ITEMS AND JUST ADDITIONAL CAPACITY.
UM, AND SO YOU'LL SEE A, A CONTRACT COMING FORWARD FOR THAT ON YOUR AUGUST 13TH COUNCIL MEETING, UM, WITH A LOCAL FIRM WHO HAS A LOT OF GREAT EXPERIENCE THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH ON THE, UM, LIBRARY GRAND OPENING AND HAS GOT A LOT, LOT OF GREAT, UM, MEDIA STORIES GOING FOR THAT.
AND THEN ALSO ON A, A PODCAST PROJECT THAT THE MAYOR IS, UM, WORKING ON NOW.
THAT IS, UM, WHERE WE ARE, OUR NEXT STEPS ARE TO COMMUNICATE ALL OF THIS OUT WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS.
UM, AND BY THAT I MEAN ALL OF THOSE NATURE CORRIDOR PARTNERS, ALL OF THEIR STAFFS, BUT ALSO OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, OUR INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS.
UM, SO C-D-C-E-D-C, PARKS, BOARD, BUS BOARD, AND ALL OF THOSE STAKEHOLDERS TO FINALIZE AND SHARE THAT BRAND TOOLKIT SO THAT FOLKS HAVE, UM, THE ASSETS THAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO PUT IT TO WORK FOR THEM.
AND THEN ON ALL OF THOSE IDEAS THAT WE PRESENTED THIS EVENING, UH, TO PRIORITIZE THOSE FOR.
SO THERE WILL BE SOME THAT ARE IMMEDIATE LIKE AD PLACEMENTS THAT ARE EASY TO DO.
THERE'LL BE SOME THAT ARE MORE MIDTERM.
SO IN THE NEXT, UM, PROBABLY EIGHT, SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS, WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATED CITY WEBSITE VISIT CEDAR HILL WEBSITE AND EDC WEBSITE.
AND THEN A LONGER TERM ITEMS THAT MIGHT, UM, TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE INVESTMENT LIKE NEW SIGNAGE AND THE MORE PERMANENT PHOTO OPS.
AND THEN AS I MENTIONED, YOUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING ON AUGUST 13TH, WE'LL BRING FORWARD A CONTRACT FOR THAT ONGOING SUPPORT FOR MARKETING AND MEDIA RELATIONS.
AND THAT IS ALL OF MY PRESENTATION, BUT HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF I WAS DISTRACTED, BUT DID I MISS THE MADAME SECRETARY IN THE PRESENTATION? THIS, SHE'S NOT IN THIS ONE.
I WAS, WE DID DO A, UM, WE HAVE DONE, SO A BIG PART OF THIS IS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF PEOPLE ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS THAT WE CAN USE IN THESE ADS.
UM, SO WE DID A PHOTO SHOOT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND WE HAVE OUR FIRST SET OF NEW PHOTOS AND THEY LOOK REALLY GREAT AND WE WERE ABLE TO USE LOCAL MODELS, SO YOU'LL RECOGNIZE SOME OF THEM.
UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, WAS IN SOME COUNCIL MEMBER INE AND OUR OWN CITY SECRETARY, BELINDA BERG.
SO THEY DID A GREAT JOB AND UM, ADD THAT TO THEIR PORTFOLIO.
I GUESS MAYBE NEXT TIME, UM, COUNCILOR MCGOVERN.
UM, CITY MANAGER REEM, UM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
WE'VE SPOKEN BEFORE AND TYPICALLY I AM NOT A FAN OF USING UM, CONSULTANTS, BUT THIS REALLY HITS THE MARK.
UH, I LOVE THE GREAT GREENWAY AND THE NATURAL HEART OF THE METROPLEX.
I CAN SEE THAT I'M LOOKING FOR MY HAT AND MY SWEATSHIRT SO THAT I CAN WEAR THAT OUT.
THIS WORKS REALLY WELL WITH WHAT WE OFFER FOR THE CITY.
SO GREAT JOB CAPTURING THIS AND PUTTING OUR ASSETS TO A PLAN, UH, AN OUTWARD MARKETING PLAN SO THAT WE CAN BRAND OUR CITY.
UM, JUST THINKING THE GREAT GREENWAY, THAT'S A EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO ALIGN WITH AN REI OR A CABELA'S TO COME TO, TO THE MALL WHERE, WHERE THERE MAY BE A, A ADDITIONAL SPACE, BUT THAT REALLY, I LOVE THE NATURAL HEART OF THE METROPLEX AND I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE.
NATURAL WHERE OPPORTUNITIES GROW, NATURALLY VISIT.
I THINK THIS IS GOING, GOING TO CONTINUE TO PLACE US ON THE MAP AND BRING MORE PEOPLE HERE, SPEND MORE MONEY.
UM, YOU, I, I HAD A QUESTION, BUT I THINK YOU ANSWERED IT LOTS OF TIMES, RESIDENTS WANT THOSE T-SHIRTS AND I JUST CAME BACK FROM, UH, A VISIT.
MY BROTHER'S ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, WHEREVER HE GOES, HE GETS A T-SHIRT AND THE HAT.
SO IT'D BE GREAT FOR ANYONE TO COME TO VISIT
[01:00:01]
OR WHETHER IT'S A SHOP OR COMING HERE TO PURCHASE A T-SHIRT AND HAT AND LIKE YOU SAID, TO GO OUTSIDE AND THEN PEOPLE SEE, OH, THAT'S GREAT, WHERE'S THAT? AND DEVELOPS A CONVERSATION AND THEN PEOPLE WILL COME.UM, COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER, COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER SAID HE DON'T LIKE TO USE CONSULTANTS, BUT WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING? UH, THAT'S A DIFFERENT ONE.
I, I REALLY ENJOYED THE, UH, THE PRESENTATION AND, UH, THE IDEA OF, UH, PROMOTING THE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE GREEN SPACE THAT WE HAVE IN CEDAR HILL.
YOU MENTIONED, UM, PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES.
I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT I ALWAYS KIND OF REMEMBERED ABOUT THIS REGION BEFORE I MOVED HERE WAS THE GIANT TEXAS ON INTERSTATE 20.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, THE REASON THAT THAT WAS TAKEN OUT WAS BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE STOPPED TO TAKE PICTURES WITH, WITH THAT GIANT TEXAS.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE SOMEPLACE WHERE WE COULD DO SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT, BUT I, I THINK THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.
PEOPLE COULD PULL OVER, MAYBE IN THE STATE PARK THERE AND, AND, AND THEN WALK, HIKE ONE OF THE TRAILS OVER AND TAKE THEIR PICTURE WITH THE, IN THE BLUE BONNETS WITH THE TEXAS OR SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OR NOT, BUT JUST AN IDEA.
THAT'S WHAT THE, THE THING IS FOR.
DIDN'T YOU HAVE THAT IN THE PRESENTATION? YES.
SO I THINK, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE GO PLACES TO DO, AND WE CAN DEFINITELY EXPAND ON WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT.
WE HAVE HAD INITIAL CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR PARKS DIRECTOR ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE BEST PLACE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS? OR SOMETHING WITH A TEXAS WHERE MAYBE IT HAS A LITTLE TREE AND WHERE CEDAR HILL IS, AND YOU CAN TAKE YOUR PICTURE IN THERE.
UM, I THINK THAT IS A, AN INVESTMENT THAT WILL IN ITSELF ATTRACT A LOT OF VISITORS.
SO WE ARE IN THE FIRST KIND OF STAGES OF TALKS OF WHERE THAT MIGHT COULD BE.
AND, UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF TRAIL SPACE.
THAT COULD BE A COOL, UM, A LITTLE BIT OFF TRAIL LOCATION FOR THAT.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD PUT IT WHERE IT'S MAYBE SOMEWHERE OFF THE TRAIL NEAR THE OVERLOOK, BUT, YOU KNOW, I COULD SEE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE, HAVE YOUR FAMILY, YOU KNOW, POSTED UP DOWN THERE THAT NEAR THE TEXAS, AND YOU GET SOMEBODY TO GO TAKE THE PICTURE FROM THE OVERLOOK LOOKING, LOOKING DOWN AT YOU.
WELL, I'M EXCITED THAT COUNCILMAN GLOVER REALLY LOVES OUR TAGLINE,
BUT EVERYBODY'S, EVERYBODY'S, UH, IDEAS THAT, THAT THEY BROUGHT OUT, WE WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON EVERYBODY'S LITTLE THOUGHT AND PUT IT ALL IN TOGETHER INTO ONE.
AND SO, SO IT, IT, IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU WERE, YOU WERE, UH, EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
THE OTHER THING ABOUT IT IS, IS, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR CHARGE WAS THE BRANDING PART OF IT TO COME UP WITH THESE TAGLINES AND EVERYTHING.
AND WE DISCUSSED AND TALKED ABOUT HOW IT WOULD INTERTWINE WITH THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE REST OF OUR, OUR MARKETING.
AND, UH, I DIDN'T SEE ALL OF THAT.
WE HAD SOME, YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME IDEAS AND THEY THREW THAT.
BUT THE, BUT NOW THE ENDING RESULTS HERE, HOW YOU, HOW YOU PUT IT ALL TOGETHER AND HOW IT ALL TIED TOGETHER IS EXTREMELY GOOD.
UH, AND SO I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UH, IT WAS FUN TO BE ON THERE, MIRANDA AND I, AND LIKE SHE SAID, EVERYBODY GAVE THEIR LITTLE THOUGHTS AND, AND THEY'D GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND THEY'D COME BACK, YOU KNOW, SO WITH, WITH MR. PORTER AND EVERYBODY, WE, WE, WE CAME UP WITH SOME GOOD THINGS.
SO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MAYOR POT.
UH, SO LET ME SAY, UM, THERE WAS A LOT HERE AND, UH, I LIKE THE CHANGES TO THE CITY LOGO AND THE TAGLINE.
IT, I THINK IT RAISES THE BAR.
I THINK IT, IT, IT IMPROVES WHAT WE HAD.
UH, I LIKE THE CHANGES TO THE BRAND STANDARDS.
I LIKE THE NATURAL HEART OF THE METROPLEX AND, UH, THAT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, GLOVER MENTIONED THE NATURAL AND OPPORTUNITIES GRAY.
THE, THE ONLY THING THAT I DIDN'T SEE IS THAT IN THE, UH, THE VISUALS, MORE CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN NATURAL GREENWAY AND WHERE OPPORTUNITIES GROW NATURALLY.
I DIDN'T SEE THE, UM, I, I GUESS IT'S THERE, BUT I MEAN, WE GOT A TAGLINE AND THERE WAS THESE IS LIKE, I KNOW THIS IS A SUBSET OF, OR OF THE CITY'S TAGLINE, BUT
[01:05:01]
I WOULD, THIS IS JUST ME.SO I, UM, AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS, UM, AND I, I APOLOGIZE 'CAUSE I'M, I'M KIND OF LITTLE, I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO PROCESS.
IT TAKES ME A WHILE TO PROCESS A LOT.
AND THERE WERE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ON, UH, THE BRANDING AND SOME ON THIS STREET.
AND I DON'T THINK AS A FULL COUNCIL, AS A ENTIRE GROUP, WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO CHEW ON IT.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE, BUT, BUT WE'VE HAD ABOUT 15 MINUTES, AND THIS IS SIGNIFICANT.
I, I'D ALMOST LIKE TO END THIS BEFORE IT'S FINAL, HAVE A CHANCE FOR THE COUNCIL TO, TO LOOK AT IT ONE MORE TIME, BUT THAT'S JUST ME.
AND IF EVERYBODY ELSE IS COMFORTABLE, I'M OKAY.
BUT I, I'M A SLOW PROCESSOR AND, UM, THERE WAS A LOT THERE AND IT WOULD BE GOOD.
I, I THINK THIS IS THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY THAT AFTER EVERYTHING'S SAID AND DONE, THAT THE COUNCIL HAS HAD A CHANCE TO PROVIDE INPUT INTO IT.
AND FOR ME, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ONE MORE LITTLE BODY, THE APPLE IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, MORE DISCUSSIONARY ENVIRONMENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S MY KIND, BUT I LOVE EVERYTHING.
DO DULY NOTED PROT, COUNCILMAN MALONE.
UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY GREAT JOB.
I MEAN, THIS IS KIND OF THE CEDAR HILL WAY.
UM, ANOTHER, I LIKE THE WAY THAT WE CAPTURED OUR CITY.
WE CAPTURED THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR CITY.
UM, I WORK FURTHER UP NORTH, SO A LOT OF TIMES WHEN I TELL PEOPLE I'M FROM CEDAR HILL, THE FIRST, UM, RESPONSE I GET IS, WHERE IS THAT AT? UM, I LOVE THE FACT OF THE PICTURES IN THE SCENERY.
IT MAKES, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WERE NOT IN THE DFW AREA.
AND THAT IS A GOOD ATTRACTION FOR PEOPLE TO WANT TO COME AND INVESTIGATE WHAT WE ARE DOWN HERE.
SO I THINK Y'ALL, UH, CAPTURED THAT.
I MEAN, EVERYTHING JUST KIND OF, IT MESHES FOR ME, BUT, UM, I'M, I'M FINE WITH US CONTINUING TO DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT MORE IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO DO THAT.
UM, DEFINITELY LOVE A LOT OF THE OTHER SIGNAGE AND THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE PUTTING OUT, UM, THAT SPOT ON.
UM, YOU KNOW, FEW NOTES, UH, AFTER HEARING, YOU KNOW, FROM COUNSEL, FIRST OF ALL, GREAT PRESENTATION.
UH, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THE CHARGE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE PROUD OF OUR, UH, OF, OF OUR CITY AND, UM, UH, WE KNOW IT'S A SPECIAL PLACE, UH, BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BRANDING AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, BE THE LOGO FOR A WHILE.
SO I GUESS IT WOULD, IT'LL TAKE SOME TIME OUT TO KIND OF CIRCLE BACK AROUND, HOWEVER, WHATEVER, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR NEXT STEPS ARE, BUT, UM, HOWEVER THAT BEST WAY IS, UH, GIVES US ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO KIND OF SEE, UH, ARE WE ALL ALIGNED AND, UH, WE, WE ALL WANNA MOVE FORWARD.
I WOULD JUST, UM, ALSO KIND OF TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, AND UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HAYDEN CAN ATTEST, UH, IT IS A LOT OF INFORMATION AND IT'S A LOT OF NEW THINGS AT ONCE.
AND AFTER EVERY SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE, I THINK WE WERE ALL LIKE, HMM.
UH, AND WE TOOK, HAD TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO DIGEST AND THINK ABOUT THAT.
AND DO WE HATE THAT OR DO WE LIKE IT? AND, UM, KIND OF PRO TAKE THE PROCESSING TIME.
SO, UH, I CAN DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THAT AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
UM, WE WILL COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL WITHOUT LONGER TERM, UM, MEDIA RELATIONS AND, AND MARKETING SUPPORT ITEM AND THAT THAT MAY BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF HAVE MORE DISCUSSIONS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE ON THE ACTION SIDE.
SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT SUGGESTION.
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER COUNSEL.
THAT COMPLETES OUR BRIEFING SESSION.
DO YOU HAVE A SECOND? AS A NON DEBATABLE MOTION.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
UH, I HAVE SEVEN 10 AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.