City Council Minutes 2008 01 15 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes January 15, 2008 Page 4 of 8 4) Promotion of the Sho~- Louisville with program emails 5) Promotion of Campaicn through the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Business p~ssociation 6) Promotion of Shop Louuisville through the City Council and City Staff 7) "Merchant of the Month" Program 8) Shop Louisville Drawings The request includes $4,000 for printing cost, making the total requested appropriation for the Shop Louisville Campaign $34,000. Both the Business Retention and Development Committee and the Finance Committee reviewed and approved the proposal a~t their January 14th meetings. The program will be monitored through merchant participation, citizen awareness and merchant willingness to fund the program. COUNCIL COMMENT Councilor Dalton explained BRaD reviewed the budget process for the Shop Louisville Campaign thoroughly and does not anticipate the program will actually pay for itself, but believes it gives residents choices and encourages them to spend their retail dollars in Louisville. It is one component to improve the business climate in Louisville. BRaD feels strongly about the program and agreed to advance ZVC, Inc. $3,000 from their budget to initiate the project and urged Council to approve Resolution No. 1, Series 2008. Councilor Yarnell favored the program and stated although it was a difficult decision to support the $34,000 expenditure from the City's budget, the most critical component of the proposal is to get the business community on board so they can partner with the City in 2009. Councilor Muckle noted the Council committed to the Shop Louisville Campaign two years ago, but agreed it is important the program eventually be self sustaining by the business community. Mayor Pro Tem Marsella reported the Finance Committee reviewed this and is aware this may not increase :sales tax, but agrees it is an investment for the future. Mayor Sisk reported the Couincil received an email from Eva Kosinsky relative to the Shop Louisville Campaign, which questioned the City funding the program. He explained the Finance Committee met with Mark Zaremba of ZVC, Inc., and is very optimistic but aware the business community will have to partner with the City. He was impressed with the response from the business community and noted the campaign is an important message sent to the business community to show the City supports them.