This time we'll call an order the January 12th, 2026 meeting of the City of Clearwater Downtown Development Board.

This time we're moved to item two on the agenda approval of the minutes.

Is there a motion to approve the minutes of December 1?

So moved.

So I got all those in favor.

Opposed.

Yes.

We moved item 3.1 on the end.

EDB first Friday lunchtime market for October December.

Report and approve extending the market for an additional two months.

Good afternoon, Vicky Shire, CRA manager.

This item is to provide a report out on the first Friday lunchtime market for October through December 2025.

And request approval to extend the program for an additional two months for March and April.

This market is part of the Cleveland Street Activation Initiative.

Since the market has launched, it successfully boosted lunchtime foot traffic, supported local vendors and restaurants, and added vibrancy to downtown.

From October through December, estimated attendance grew from 150 to over 350 people.

Vendor participation increased, and marketing efforts, including social media and local media coverage, drove strong community engagement.

Special programming such as live music, Santa, and partner organizations further enhance the experience.

Total expenses for the three months were $3,519.62, covering marketing, city fees, and entertainment costs.

Extending the market through the next two months will build on this momentum and allow staff to evaluate a long-term sustainability.

The market supports the city strategic plan, the DDB's vision, and the Cleveland Street activation strategy.

Staff recommends approval to extend the first Friday lunchtime market for additional two months, and I'd be happy to answer any questions at this time.

Looking over your marketing budget, I was wondering if you had an opportunity to sort of um do some tweaking based on return on investment.

For example, when you do the marketing for the top of the world, right?

It's three different products, and there's 21,000 residents there.

So that's pretty good.

And you have, and that's a third of your marketing budget.

But you have then the beacon, which is uh nine products for less for 592, and that's a readership of 54,000.

So I guess my question is are you looking at this to retweak it so that um we can get more attendance?

Yes, we actually have noticed some of the different platforms and websites for markets and stuff that we're um starting to approach to get on them for paid advertisement.

Um I can't off my head remember the names of them, but our staff are looking into the different like Tampa Markets, St.

Pete Markets, Clear, because you can go in all those different markets to be on those calendars and continue to help promote.

So, yes, ma'am.

Were you able to track um the people who attended where they got um the information that that is that the market existed?

Were you able to track the source?

I guess we did our best.

Staff wasn't intentional to intentional, and we did ask.

For example, Water's Edge, a lot of those people from Water's Edge, um, some of them from the Oaks, and then a lot of them were from out of town.

Um, and when I say out of town, they were out of town, and they heard about it.

So we do ask, I have to give props though.

Uh Water's Edge said that the City of Clearwater does a great job setting out information to them so they know what's going on.

So a lot of them are from Water's Edge, the Oaks, some are from um on Top of the World, and then County and City staff.

Did you get any um anyone that I guess I want to zero in on how they heard about the event so that you can properly allocate uh the funds?

So, for example, did they hear it from the beacon?

Did they hear it from the newsletter for um top of the world or uh social media?

That that kind of tracking, not where they're from.

I apologize.

So social media was a big part of it, to be honest with you, and then the Clearwater newsletters.

Those are the two common simulators that we got from most people when they came and we asked.

Okay.

Okay.

Other questions.

Thank you.

So what kind of feedback are you getting from the existing brick and mortar businesses?

Um, good feedback.

Some of them say they wish we'd do it at night, but everybody is loving it.

They love the live music, they love Santa, they love all the vendors because it's bringing people down that are saying I didn't know there was restaurants down here, and that they're coming back.

Um, so Oliven Time or excuse me, District Bistro, Clear Sky, Tequila's, Chiang Mai, they've been um very happy with it.

Downtown Pizza would like us to do some Friday markets, but that's what SBC is doing.

So this was geared to bring foot traffic during lunchtime because that's where some of their numbers are low as well, too.