We'll move to item 2.1 on the agenda.

Approve the minutes for the April 2026 downtown development board meeting.

So approvement 2.1.

Second.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Opposed.

Unanimous.

Move to agenda item 2.2, approve the minutes of the May 4, 2026.

So move.

Second.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Opposed.

Unanimous.

Move to item three on the agenda.

Are there any citizens here today who desire to be heard on a downtown development board?

Uh issue that is not on today's agenda.

Approve a high impact grant funding request for Clearwater Jazz Holiday in an amount not to exceed $30,000 for the Clearwater Jazz Holiday event October 15th to the 18th, 2026 in Coach Moon Park.

Good afternoon, Ann Lopez, CRA Assistant Director.

Today I'm presenting a funding request from Clearwater Jazz Holiday for the 26th event season.

The 26th Clearwater Jazz Holiday is scheduled for October 15th through the 18th at Coachman Park.

The event will continue utilizing the green space with the designated general admission, reserved seating, and VIP areas.

Ticket prices ranging from approximately 44 for general admission and up to 224 dollars for VIP.

Portions of this festival will remain free and open to the public, which will be side viewing areas and the bluff overlooking the green.

At the board's March 3rd, 2025 meeting, there was consensus that was reached to explore the possibility of a multi-year funding agreement with Clearwater Jazz Holiday.

Since that time, staff from Parks and Recreation and CRA have met with event organizers to review operational needs, funding structure, and potential partnership opportunities.

While the board does have discretion to approve a different amount or consider a high a multi-year commitment, future funding would remain subject to annual budget approval.

The applicant has submitted a total request of 148,000.

Of that, 140,000 is for the October Clearwater Jazz event and 8,000 is for the CJH presents holiday experience event in December.

Staff has reviewed both requests and has determined that the holiday experience does not meet the threshold requirement for high impact grant funding.

Staff's recommendation is that the applicant submit a special a separate DDB funding application for that event.

Clearwater Jazz Holiday received a 125,000 grant from the DDB to support their four-day event in 2025 and also received a 75,000 dollar grant from Visit St.

Pete Clearwater for marketing tourism sponsorship and other related event expenses.

Clearwater Jazz Holiday does anticipate applying for that funding again.

After reviewing the application and the current policy framework, staff is recommending approval of a funding not to exceed $30,000 for the October 26th Clearwater Jazz Holiday event.

This recommendation is consistent with the DDB's existing high impact co-sponsorship policy and would support eligible expenses such as entertainment, production, marketing, security, insurance, and other related event operations.

And with that, I would like to invite Steve Weinberger from Clearwater Jazz Holiday to present and answer any questions.

Thank you, Ann.

And good afternoon, everybody.

Appreciate the opportunity to be here.

We truly appreciate the partnership we've had with the city and with the DDB, and we're here today to build on that partnership in a way that is mutually beneficial to both the Clearwater Jazz Holiday and the City of Clearwater.

As we've done the last few years, we've worked closely with both Parks and Recreation and the DDB staff with the goal to align our request for support.

At the same time, Clearwater Jazz Holiday is not a typical event.

Now entering its 47th year, the festival is one of the city's most enduring and celebrated cultural traditions, reflecting the long-standing partnership and generating significant community connection, cultural value, and economic impact.

At last year's DDB meeting, there was discussion about the value of exploring a multi-year agreement as we look ahead not only to the 47th Clearwater Jazz Holiday this year, but to the 50th Clearwater Jazz Holiday in 2029.

We believe the opportunity for a multi-year agreement is mutually beneficial.

For an event of this scale, planning begins many months in advance.

As we sit here today, for instance, in late May, our annual budget and strategic planning process were completed earlier in the year.

Sponsorship cultivation is already well underway.

Membership support has been on sale, and our artist lineup is almost done with a public announcement in just a couple of weeks.

Having greater long-term certainty regarding partnership support would provide meaningful stability as we develop future strategies and budgets while also assisting the city and the DDB with their own planning and coordination efforts.

That's important because an event of this scale tremendously benefits from long-term planning coordination.

It also reflects what we believe is a shared goal to position Clearwater Jazz Holiday for renewed growth as we continue rebuilding momentum following our return to Coachman Park.

In response to those conversations following last year's festival, we work with city staff to prepare draft multi-year agreement concepts to discuss relating to both the city's in-kind support as well as the DDB's funding partnership.

And as Ann mentioned, it's also important to note that the proposed multi-year framework before you today also includes support for the CJH Presents holiday experience that occurs every year in December.

That event reflects our broader ongoing activation efforts within downtown, and we've traditionally been encouraged to apply for that support at the same time as we're asking for the funding for Clearwater Jazz Holiday, which is why it's in the request.

We believe there are three key reasons for the DDB to exercise the discretion and flexibility that's built into the guidelines in support of Jazz Holiday at the requested funding levels.

First, through the years, Jazz Holiday has consistently delivered economic impact, tourism, and visibility for downtown.

It markets the destination throughout the entire year, brings attendees over multiple days, and drives activity not only within the park but throughout downtown.

Second, the 2026 festival format is intentionally designed in ways that meaningfully increase downtown activation with free and open access areas with side stages in the lower plaza and on the pier, along with free bluff viewing areas overlooking the main stage.

These expanded access points are designed to bring people into downtown earlier in the day, encourage movement between the downtown corridor and Coachman Park throughout the event, and keep visitors engaged across the entire festival footprint.

At the same time, several factors position the festival for growth and visitor activity this year, including the return of a consistent and proven festival format for the first time since 2019.

Increased awareness and momentum following last year's successful waterfront return and the continued strength of Jazz Holiday as a long-standing cultural destination.

And third, as Anne alluded, the financial structure supporting the festival is changing.

As part of the multi-year discussions with parks and recreation, Jazz Holiday is expected for the first time to begin contributing to a portion of the city in-kind services through a phased year-over-year cost sharing model.

At the same time, starting this year, we're expanding free access areas within the festival footprint, which enhances the public benefit, but also reduces a portion of our ticket revenue.

So while Jazz Holiday has historically been and will continue to be a ticketed event, we've been working with the city to incorporate these meaningful free access components.

And we believe this hybrid model, with a ticketed main stage on the green with expanded free programming, strikes the right balance between accessibility, financial sustainability, and preserving the quality of the experience.

So as we work to do more in ways of increasing access and community benefit with these changes, we're also absorbing new costs and reduced revenue.

And that makes the DDB support at the requested levels important to sustain the event at its current quality and its current community impact.

Lastly, I would ask that this request be viewed within the broader context of the past several years.

The period since 2020 has been anything typical for Jazz Holiday.

We have navigated pandemic related cancellations and restrictions, followed by multiple years of venue displacement during the imagined Clearwater construction, along with significant weather impacts.

Together, these conditions disrupted attendance patterns, visitor behavior, and the ability to generate consistent year over year data.

Importantly, however, 2025 marked a true re-establishment year for Clearwater Jazz Holiday.

It was our first full return to Coachman Park in our traditional back to our roots festival format in five years.

That return provided us with valuable data that's now helping us.

It's helping us guide refinements to our pricing, marketing, audience development, and overall event strategy as we move beyond into 2026 and beyond.

We believe the festival is now positioned for renewed growth and stabilization.

What we're asking for today is the ability to continue building on that foundation so we can together expand the level of economic activity, downtown activation, tourism impact, and community engagement that Jazz Holiday delivers to Clearwater.

Today we're respectfully asking to maintain funding at the requested levels and support the proposed multi-year agreement framework.

Doing so will provide the stability necessary for long-range planning, growth, continued investment in an event that is one of Clearwater's signature cultural destinations.

Thank you for the consideration and we appreciate the support.

Happy to answer any questions that I can.

Yeah, we'll call you back up and say we have questions here.

Good afternoon.

My name is Thomas Nurse.

I've been a resident of Clearwater since 1959.

I would say with gratitude and appreciation that partnership that Clearwater and the Quote Jazz Holidays had through all these years has provided a cultural event that is both meaningful and impactful, and I'm particularly excited.

I also do serve on the foundation board.

I have volunteered for all the three years of the Jazz Holiday.

I've seen the growth, seen the change, seen the redevelopment of the park.

This is a tremendous opportunity this year in the discussions that have gone on with the city to welcome back the residents to have free access to both the beautifully built lower plaza and enjoy the pier, have access to it by the hill.

So I appreciate and thank you as a taxpayer.

This has been one of the absolute best things Clearwater has contributed to this community over my lifetime, and I think we're ready for the next area of growth.

Thank you.

Anyone else here from the public today that desires to speak this gender?

Seeing none is there for more discussion.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Steve, thank you for being here and uh bringing this to us again.

Clearwater Jazz Holiday has been part of Clearwater's history for quite some time.

And I know that last year I did state that we should look to a multi-year type of agreement because you know you are key to uh a foundational piece of our waterfront and bringing such a great uh experience to people.

You know, we are moving with the times, and with that comes some data that now we're able to pull from some of these events, and you know, looking at last year's data, it looks like you from what we get gathered from the map geographical area, we're able to pull roughly 10,500 people over your events time frame ranging from 2200 for one day up to 3800 on another day.

Um, and with that, you know, I I thought that I needed a little bit more data.

I'm very data-driven person, so I asked staff to give me some other numbers.

Um, and those are from some of maybe the most pre-COVID numbers is what I asked for.

So luckily I was able to get some 2016 and or I'm sorry, 2017 and 2018 numbers.

The visitors for that area in 2018 over your four days were roughly 21,000 people.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Um, but according to the data, the way that I'm reading it, and then for 2018 would have been 16,000, almost 17,000, so 16.8,000.

So I I do think the COVID's obviously done a number to the event, right?

And people not wanting to come back and get into it.

All to say, um being at almost half, and I'll obviously willing to hear what the rest of uh the board has to say and and see where we go from there, but being at half of the attendance of what we were at, I don't know that a multi-year deal for me right now would make sense.

I'm very open to a one-year increment to see if we can get back to those numbers and then continue to move with uh going forward from there once we're back to these these 17,000, 20,000 numbers of multi-year agreements at that time.

So I'm gonna sit back, I'm gonna listen to the rest of the board.

I wanted them to have that information to something that I had pulled as well in case you hadn't heard that yet.

Um so I'm here for the discussion.

Anybody else?

Councilmember Alberton.

Well, Steve, you and I go way back, you know.

I was thinking back when we first started talking to about I was on the DDB back in 2010 and 11.

And uh I think even then we were talking about multi-year contract because I knew that by the time you came and asked for the funding that you had already spent a lot of that to, you know, it takes a year ahead of time to get a lot of these performers to sign up, so you can't just do it in a couple of months and then put on the kind of event you put on.

Um you know, looking back 46 years, that's a that's amazing.

Um, you and I have talked about it.

It's it is the event, I think, in Clearwater that people know the best when they're talking about, you know, now you've got a little bit of competition with the sound, but uh you know, you went way back, and we're giving us the these great uh performances going back, gosh, almost a half a century.

I mean, it's amazing.

I I'd really like to see this carry on and be successful, and um but uh as you know, Councilman Cotton said, it you know, since COVID you've had a little bit of a different um attendance, and it's kind of dropped.

I think that it'll pick up.

I think you're the try, the one year that you tried to do it at the sound was the well, first of all, you had COVID, and then you had the sound uh disaster.

You know, you are a uh holiday, it's a it's a festival, not a concert.

And you do so much better on the green, and then with the multiple stages.

Uh last year was great.

I thought it and I could tell you that when we get up on stage to welcome the people there.

I always say, how many people are from Clearwater, you know, raise your, you know, and there's there's about a third of the people that raise their hands, and then I say how many people came in from out of clearwater, and that's majority of people raise their hands.

So to me, that's um that's great.

It's really great that people come in outside of Clearwater to see this because it's got such a history.

I think we can build up again uh the attendance of Clearwater, get up into those those numbers.

Uh, but I can tell you probably all of us are looking how to cut budgets because I mean we've been doing that for a couple years, and um we've got some hard decisions really to make.

Um you know, I I got with you a couple months ago and said, why can't we just make it a three-day event?

Would that help?

It would maybe not be so expensive to put it on, and I think maybe that would be a way to that you wouldn't have to ask for as much funding from the DDB and from City of Clearwater.

But you told me then you had to have the four-day event in order to make things break even.

I'm gonna wait and listen to what everybody else says.

I I think right now I am going to probably be um thinking that I would probably give you more than what's recommended, but I don't know if I could give you the whole amount.

And I'd like to see a multi-year for benefit for you, I think would be great because then you know what to count on.

As soon as the event's on, you know what you're gonna get for the next year.

But um, I'll just I'll sit back a minute and let other council members speak.

Okay.

Go ahead.

Council member shape.

The requested allocation of 148,000 for three years, followed by 158 for the fourth year.

That would represent approximately 40 percent of the DDB's net annual advorum revenue.

That is an extraordinary percentage of the board's available funding to dedicate to a single applicant for approximately five days of programming.

Um that leaves our resources, it leaves a lot less resources for us to program the other rest of the year and all the other uh initiatives.

My concern is not the value or legacy of the jazz festival itself, which I believe is meaningful and appreciated by many in our community.

Rather, it is a responsibility we have to ensure that the DB DB resources are distributed in a manner that supports the broader downtown ecosystem, multiple initiatives, and year-round activation needs and efforts.

So while I deeply cherish the Clearwater Jazz Festival and all that it has meant to Clearwater over so many years, and while I have personally always enjoyed attending and supporting the event, I can't justify this level of funding request from this board for that reason and with sincere respect for the organization and its contributions to Clearwater.

I'm unable to support the request at the proposed funding level, but I'm open for discussion for something else that would work.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Steve, for the presentation, and thank you for 46 great years of a legacy event in our city.

Um again, I've said it before, born and raised in Clearwater, and we used to come down to downtown Clearwater only two times a year, and that was Jazz Holiday and Fourth of July.

Um a lot of ups and downs.

Uh, if anything uh can ruin the attendance of an event, it's a lack of a consistent date and location.

Um looking back at kind of our path that brought us here since 2020, Jazz Holidays um taking a pretty pretty rough path uh from the pandemic to looks like we uh you were moved and displaced during our imagined clear water construction, which doesn't help but rolled into cat cancellations due to hurricanes in 24 uh 25.

We finally started getting back on the map, and I think if I'm my memory plays correct, I think Sunday was even a pretty rainy day that might have affected some of the numbers.

Uh I do appreciate council member Sharon pre-COVID numbers because that's that's what I do remember uh blankets and people all over the place enjoying the weekend and jazz holiday again because it's meant so much to the community, far greater than just any event.

Um I I hope um I hope that we can kind of look at this not through just a lens of scrutinizing one year of numbers because they are low.

Um we treated Ruth Eckard Hall the very same way when we first opened the sound in the first year, uh, and we were all very critical of numbers and data and meeting the metrics and what we realized is TIME of consistency and support is truly what uh was needed to make it succeed.

And I don't think anybody in the room or on this dias would question the numbers and what just three short years uh did to a venue that's become so successful.

I do hope that the board can find a comfortable place to get behind to continue to support you.

I do know a multi-year agreement uh probably makes staff's life a little bit easier as well as the organization uh for consistency planning and efficiency of running your operations.

Uh I'm supportive of maybe four is a lot because if we're not successful through year two and three, we kind of know, and not being stuck for a fourth year, although uh 50th year celebration um is a is a heck of a milestone to celebrate.

Um you know, whether that number is somewhere in that three-year range, so we could figure out is there an out at year two if our numbers don't hit where we need them to be in those discussions with staff.

Um, possibly.

Um, but I think um we don't just owe it to you.

I think we owe it to our community and the foundation and the traditions that jazz holiday has meant to the community uh to try to bring some consistency back and to give you that that support.

I mean, I I would assume being in the special events industry, your tickets are probably going on sale very soon, are they not?

Probably in two weeks.

We're trying to we're trying to announce by our June 10th CJH presents event date, and they'll be on sale.

Which is right around the corner, kind of hard to make.

I mean, there's discussions of 30,000 recommendations to uh 140,000 ass.

Those are pretty drastic.

Uh I don't know how an event can operate uh with with that margin and not knowing.

Um I'm I'm supportive of the ask and what we can do with it, and given consistency, whether the board finds comfort in two or three multi-years, so we can see what we can build it up.

I mean, after all, it's not the jazz holiday, it is the clear water jazz holiday.

That means a lot to me.

Um I I want to be supportive and try to give you that consistency.

Um we'll see where what direction the board decides to go.

I look forward to hopefully seeing it grow and getting your numbers back to the community where it was, um, where we know it all can be, um, and really truly celebrating a great 50th down the road.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Board members.

Steve, we go back, I think only three, maybe over three years.

Um I myself attended one of your events.

What we always appreciate, you always work with businesses and uh the entire community in downtown Clearwater and help.

We we appreciate that a lot.

I mean, we obviously love uh Clearwater Jazz Holiday.

Um last year is that from the merchants' perspective who own the brick and mortar businesses in downtown.

I was there myself for the entire venue, and uh we were all very excited, and expectations were very high.

Um, but unfortunately the results for us at least were not there.

I think the only time that we've gotten any people was when it started raining out uh outside and the event had to pause for a certain period of time, and then we got the people uh into our businesses and all the businesses were full, it was like maybe 10,500 people when we look at it right now.

It's uh just over a thousand people of a fully sold sound event, and that's only that only happens one day.

Um, I think the attendance was a little low, and uh not having the re-entry.

I I in my opinion was it we it kind of hurt businesses in downtown because I can tell you that we were prepared for four days full staffed, and uh we have to send people home because we didn't get the people that we expected from the event.

So mainly that's my concern.

And uh are you expect are you are you planning on doing a re-entry this time or is that yeah, you know, I I appreciate you bringing that up.

I um I do think that the introduction of the work we've done with the city this year on the free and open components, the side stages in the lower plaza and on the pier and the fleet free bluff viewing areas don't require a ticket, and so what I think you'll see is more people coming earlier in the day to the jazz holiday, and they won't be restricted by a limitation where they can't go back and forth through the downtown corridor and the festival footprint.

And so I think that that will make uh noticeable difference on the issue that you're talking about for sure.

You know, absolutely.

Um, would it be helpful or appropriate?

Because there were a number of different comments that were raised from four days to three days to attendance metrics.

Um I have some notes that may be helpful on those points that were raised by different people.

Is it okay for me to address those points?

Sure.

Yeah.

Okay.

I do have one the question.

Just the following question on that.

Um so the ticketed uh attendee attendees are no re-entry, but that's what I'm hearing.

I I guess that's it, yeah.

And and that's that's um it's been that way for as far back as I can remember for any jazz holiday events and is the most effective way of us managing an event of this scale.

Um we're open to exploring different ideas, but um from a management safety standpoint for sure with the green and the ticketed items.

Um and I and that's that that's true also for large scale events like that happen at the sound as well, from my understanding.

Um but I'm open to talking with our event folks and the the downtown businesses uh not only on that issue, but also how we can work together um and maybe help the businesses with more of a presence at the festival downtown.

I believe the the country thunder was one re-entry, if I'm not mistaken, and it was a three-day event.

Um thank you for answering.

I mean, we are we always appreciate your support.

We know that you always work very closely with the with the community, and uh we value Clearwater Jazz Holiday as always.

Thank you and um but these are the concerns that I have, so and the attendance number.

Thank you for answering.

Thank you.

One member well, thank you for coming.

I think you're amazing.

I think what you do every year is absolutely incredible, and I think Clearwater Jazz Holidays, one of the more most important holiday events of the year.

Um from where I stand, I do want to let remind me what was the last year of funding request and how much money was.

The last the last several years have been at 125,000.

Okay, and then from DDB, uh that that's all from the DDP.

From the DDB from the DDP from the DDP.

And then how much was approved last year?

125,000 was last year, and then the request this year when as we talk about the four-year agreement has been 140,000 for years one, two, and three of that agreement.

I see and 150,000 for year four of the agreement, which would be our 50th anniversary.

And a big part of the increase from 125,000 to 140, 40,000 are some of the points that I mentioned as part of my presentation.

Increased cost of production generally, but also for the first time we are beginning to now absorb some of the costs that the city has traditionally provided as in-kind support, and then we're we're converting to a public benefit these ticketed areas out around the green into free for us.

So there's we've cons for to be more specific, we've estimated about $15,000 worth of ticket revenue that we would charge to the free components that were not now, as we work with the city on that issue.

So those two factors, the additional cost that we're absorbing, the ticket revenue that is being reduced from our budget mid-year.

We're we're we're asking the DDB for more money, and that's the difference between the 125,000 and the 140,000 asked for for year one.

Understood.

Okay.

Okay.

Well, I am open, I'm definitely open to support more funding that is recommended by staff of 30,000 dollars.

I'm not sure if I'm ready to go into multi-year agreement with 140,000 every year because I do want to maintain some sort of control over the funding.

Um, but I'm I'm definitely willing to support you and I'm willing to talk and find a compromise between the board members and um give you as much as we possibly can.

Thank you.

Um I I have some is it is it's a good one.

Let me let me make some comments first, then I'll let you share whatever.

Um some questions.

Uh first let me say that I'm like number of us up here, you know, we've um we've all probably volunteered for Clearwater Jazz Holiday.

I started doing that 12 years ago when uh first got started here.

So I've slung drinks and I've you know clean tables and all those things that go from making this not just a city event, but a real community event.

So many volunteer support this event, you wouldn't be able to do without the volunteers, not just the volunteers that help with the actual event, but the volunteers that help all year along preparing for the event.

So we certainly appreciate you and this long history in the city.

It's just become something that Clearwater is identified as with is this this festival every year.

Um so my questions are intended to devalue the importance of the event to our community, the history of the event.

Uh it's very important to our community, and I want to see it be a success this year.

Uh but I do have some questions.

And first question is I thought I heard her say earlier that we we can't, so this is for the city attorney, we can't approve a year ahead.

Can we only approve a budget item for the actual budget year we're in?

We would have to have a non-appropriations clause in there.

And that's we have them in a lot of our agreements for the city.

Just saying that if the money's not available, then we can terminate the agreement.

Okay.

The second thing is when when what would be the first opportunity if we did it annually?

When would be the first opportunity for us to appropriate it for within the budget year?

Is it when the budget year starts in October?

It's the fiscal year, so October one.

Okay.

So that's one of my questions for you, Steve, is you know, it's May.

Why why are we in May with a request rather than October or November after your event to come in and talk about uh what you need for the next year?

Yeah, it's a good question.

We we have historically always taken the lead with parts and recreation and with the DDB on timing of the request, which started immediately after the last festival.

And so we've gone through the appropriate steps that we always have with the first with parts and rec on the in-kind support, and then through this process with the DDB.

And one of the values of having a multi-year agreement in place is to help with this issue that you're you're talking about.

We begin planning, extending offers to the artists that are coming, selling our sponsorships, and as I mentioned in my presentation, that's we've accomplished all of that, and we're here in late May, ready to announce the lineup and asking for the support.

Every year, this is this is an issue that creates anxiety, I think, both from us and the city on in terms of the process.

Um, and so um we absolutely um are hopeful that we can maintain funding levels at least at what it has been over the last few years because we have relied on that in terms of this planning going forward as we sit here now.

Um there have been significant changes as we're talking about with new costs that we're absorbing, free areas that came out during the discussion that we're working to compromise with the city so we can have the best unified approach together.

But the reality is is we're mid-year, and there has been no signaling to us up until this point in time that that we would need to adjust those budgets of traditional support in planning the event.

If the funding support were to change dramatically from what it has been the last few years, that would be very significant to us, particularly in year one, which is one of the points that I wanted to point out that what if we can't compromise on something that makes everyone feel unified and good about the level of support for this year.

Um and um so I am concerned about that, about making a change in this calendar year where we are now.

Um very open to talking about the future and also have some notes on the idea of a multi-year agreement, four years versus two years or things like that.

I also wanted to respond to Councilmember Cotton and Councilmember Tashier on a couple points they raised, but hopefully that answers your question.

Well, I have other questions too, but um and the last you and I talked was December, so it's been a while, so this was all you know what the end landed with was fairly new to me when I read it read about the agenda because we hadn't talked about since when we talked December.

I told you, and um, so you're coming in for 140 and asking for 140, and you had 125 last year, and our conversation was, and it was a good conversation, but it was you know, how do we get lower than 125?

Because I shared with you, and which is this board, everything we're doing as a city.

We're we're we're trying to reduce the city's contribution over time.

We we repeatedly we're asking return events to uh who are you partnering with throughout the community to try to reduce this uh the city's contribution.

And so that that ask of you was what we're asking everybody to do.

And uh so when you come in higher than what you had last year, it just first raises you know a little concern on my end that we're working to get it down.

And um you shared with me, you know, some challenges, and you you believe me.

You've had COVID, you had the you know the displacement, baker uh ballpark where you had to have it.

I mean it's you've you've had significant challenges.

Um understood.

Uh that said, you know, we've got to try to make improvement every year and kind of work out a new uh relationship.

And so I ask you about collaboration.

You know, who are we collaborating with corporately because such a long-term event um you know that the community loves, you would think that the sponsors would just you know really love to tag themselves to this event.

So that's one type of collaboration I ask you to look at.

And you felt like you're doing as much as you could do, but really we need for you to do more to try to get this down over time.

That would be my second problem with having a multi-year thing is you've got it flat here.

And uh where our told you I thought our goal was as a city was to try to, you know, staircase it down over time.

Um so the the multi-year, that's the other challenge with me with this, is it's flat, and we really would like to try to get you to get to where the city's all gonna always gonna play a role in this.

We put parks and reuse uh rec's resources, we police officers.

We we make it we make all these contributions in addition to this money, and we'll continue to do that.

But the actual allocation, I think, you know, historically we've talked about trying to get repeat events to get that down.

So that's one concern I have.

And the other, you know, it's kind of the elf in the room, so councilman Ralberton raised it, but um he he mentioned competition with the sound.

I I hope that we don't see that as a community.

I know that the one year it was there, it it didn't work out very well financially, and they had a different structure on now they charge groups for using it, community events, than they do now.

But you know, we spent a lot of money on that amphitheater to to be used for events like this.

Taxpayer money that um I I'd I would just like to see community collaboration to use that space in some way.

And um, you know, maybe it takes some out-of-the-box thinking to make it work for you all financially, but they have resources, you know.

Last night, uh the other thing too is covered seating.

You know, you have been fortunate, but I remember one year we had a complete washout for Jazz Holiday because of uh weather.

Um last night, 3,300 folks there for Willie Nelson.

It rained in the middle of the program, and they continued on with the program.

Everybody's undercover seating, a little bit of rain got on the stage, but uh there's that aspect to it as well.

That um I I know that I know that there have been challenges in trying to figure out all that, but um I I really think that increased collaboration could help everyone.

They they are very good at filling that venue.

I think they could probably help you know your organization in some way.

And I get that that you know we've got a long history of doing it a different way and been very successful in doing it that way over the years, but I just think increased collaboration will help you get this subsidy from the city down some.

So that's why I share it with you in December.

And so I guess where I'm at, I'm I'm kind of in the middle ground.

This is an important event uh for our community.

I don't want to cut you off.

I don't know, no, too much.

The multi-year is a pretty big ask in light of what I just said.

Um that said, I I I have a challenge in going higher than the 125 that we did last year, and I think that um you know, some reduction from that even to encourage the organization to seek more community involvement and more community contribution would be uh helpful at least to as a board to share that we're we're gonna treat Jazz Holiday like even though it's a unique event, very special for our community, but we are going to be fair with them as we're being fair with others and expecting them to uh to reduce their subsidy over time.

I appreciate it very much.

Um a lot of good comments and um I have I have several notes because there were so many different topics that we covered, and I would like to do my best just to address some of them to the extent it's helpful at reaching a compromise, if I could.

Um and I'll start with your comments, Mayor, um, from our discussion for the benefit of the other council members who weren't participating, of course, on just the idea of being less dependent on this particular funding, because I think that's your sentiment with all of the events.

We absolutely share that goal.

And the goal is one of continuing to expand on private public foundational support, sponsorships, earned revenue, all of that.

We have worked aggressively for many years to diversify the revenues that reduce pressure on public resources.

And I think that's that's that's where your sentiment is.

At the same time, events of this scale are increasingly expensive to produce talent, staging, security, labor, insurance, infrastructure costs, they continue to rise.

And the city's partnership has never simply been about subsidizing an event.

It's been an investment that helps leverage substantial dollars in a broad and broader economic activity.

Tourism exposure, community activation, there's a charitable component to our organization, which makes it very different than other events that the city is supporting, and cultural identity for Clearwater.

Public-private partnership remains an essential part of major destination events, not just here in Clearwater, but all over the country, and it allows us to grow sponsorships.

It allows us to attract visitors and maintain the accessibility for the community.

So that's one point I wanted to address first in response to the mayor's comments.

In response to the idea of how long can this agreement be, I think that we believe a multi-year agreement is the best path to aspire to collectively.

But at the same time, we certainly understand the importance of maintaining flexibility and accountability as the festival continues to regroup its momentum following these different years of disruption.

Because it's not just the pandemic.

We've talked about it, it's being displaced from our home of over 45 years, the experiment in the sound, the hurricanes, it's more than just the pandemic that we have fought through.

And so we understand the importance of being flexible, but we also understand the benefit of having a multi-year agreement.

One option could be a multi-year framework that includes some type of review point.

For example, following the first two years of the festival cycles, there's language in the agreement that allows the parties to reevaluate attendance trends, operational considerations, downtown activation impact, all of these different considerations that were raised together as the agreement progresses, because our goal is not to limit that flexibility, but rather to create enough long-term stability to allow for a lot of things, more effective artist booking, sponsorship cultivation, marketing strategy, operational planning.

And so there's those items that come to my mind when we talk about a multi-year framework.

But with that said, if a four-year structure is not feasible, or if there's not consensus to support it at the time, we would encourage consideration of at least a two-year commitment for those reasons that we said.

Because I think that even a shorter agreement would provide meaningful planning stability while allowing us collectively to do those things as we work towards 50 years together.

So that's what I would say on the multi-year agreement that we are open to discussions that makes us feel comfortable together, but we do feel that at least a two-year agreement would bring the stability.

On the funding, I would emphasize that maintaining support at or near the current levels.

The last couple years was 125,000.

Given the changes in the financial model that we talked about for this year, where we are beginning to absorb new costs, where we're giving up some revenue, is really important.

If adjustments are necessary because of the sentiment of the board, our hope would be to remain as close as possible to what it has been, recognizing the value of the event and the impact that we've discussed.

On that point, we've talked about many sponsored commitments have already been secured, artists are being confirmed, contracts are being finalized, significant planning is underway.

And my biggest concern is that substantial changes in support levels at this point in the process become particularly difficult for us to absorb operationally.

And we would evaluate every path forward if that were the case.

If the support today were less than what it has traditionally been, but depending on the magnitude of that reduction, it could require significant reductions in programming for this year and unwinding substantial planning that has already that is already in place for this year and jeopardize our ability to produce the festival or to produce it at the scale that we have planned to do this year.

I think looking at some of those issues requires a little bit of a longer runway together for our planning.

And so my hope is that we can maintain the levels at or near what they have been at the very least, especially in this year one as we work through this together and figure out what the best fit is.

I think we all do recognize why it's not.

But from some of the comments, I'm not sure.

That there is.

If it doesn't, I'm happy to discuss that.

I want to say something, you know, try not to have a debate here over the issue, but I understand what you're saying on not wanting to alter a program that's been successful in four days.

But I I think another thing, Councilmember Alberton alluded to with the competition from the sound.

There's competition for music.

And people who like to go to music events more than there ever has been now here in Clearwater.

And so that does affect you know what people are willing to spend money to go see and participate and whatever.

They have multiple choices now where they didn't before.

So that was a good point as well.

But I don't know that uh the programming that we've always had for jazz holidays, the programming we always that that we need today.

And uh Country Thunder was three days, not four.

Um we've had they've had four or five of bands I've never heard of, but uh you know, one of the radio stations here in town, a couple couple different radio stations have have essentially hosted one day festivals and the and the sound that have drawn, I think one of them recently had seven or eight thousand people at it.

So I mean the the format maybe has changed what the what the market will support, and so I I understand the tradition, I understand all that, but uh if if we need to try to reduce the loan on the taxpayers, then maybe we need to think about what the market wants.

And maybe the market doesn't want the same four-day format that we've had for years.

Maybe there's a revised version.

That would be just as spectacular.

But we'll bring out more people and uh and benefit the community back.

On that point, we completely understand the city's interest not only in managing costs, um, but we want to be good partners in that discussion.

We do.

And um, while we may have some disagreement about the programming, because um we have evolved the programming significantly with Jazz Holiday from a smooth and straight-ahead jazz fest in the 80s to something more akin to New Orleans Jazz Fest with everything in between now and a lot of contemporary music.

So I think we have a little bit differing of opinion, maybe on that, but the reducing from four days to three days is something we are definitely open to looking at.

It's not as simple cost savings for us to do that.

And one of the points on that is that it fundamentally changes the events model, and so while some expenses are reduced when you reduce from four to three, the fourth day, at least right now, with the format we have now, is generating critical earned revenue in the form of ticket sales, concession, sponsor value that supports not just the festival, but the year-round education and outreach programs that the foundation supports.

And so losing that day would likely, at least initially, without longer term planning, create a net financial negative for us, not a savings, but the broader consideration is also our eligibility for visit St.

Pete Clearwater, Tourist Development Council funding is tied to attendance and visitor impact.

So a four-day event, at least right now, gives us a larger platform to drive visitation.

That funding is required mainly for us to use for marketing the destination outside of the region, which brings new visitors into Clearwater and to downtown.

And so reducing the event days limits that reach, which in turn impacts our ability to attract visitors and grow the event over time.

Importantly for this year, we've already planned around a four-day event, of course.

But we're open any evaluation.

I guess my overriding point on this is any evaluation of a three-day model or a lesser model will require from our standpoint a longer runway, a careful analysis.

It's not something that we can be implemented without a responsible look at the overall reorganization of the Jazz Holiday Foundation to make that work.

Certainly not in May of the year we're planning for the festival.

So we're open to talk about that.

I have a follow-up question.

You mentioned new costs.

Um, and I'm thinking you're you're talking about in-kind support from the city.

So do you have that data with you?

How much in-kind support did you receive from Clearwater last year versus this year, for example?

Yeah, and one of the things that may help, I know um Chris Cook is here today, and he may be able to add very specifically to the conversation with those numbers, if I may.

We have um Ann Lopez actually had this in the item.

Chris Cook, Parks and Recreation.

So 2526 Clearwater Jazz Holiday in kind was 62,820.

And what we have proposed for you guys later today, the council members later today is 56,538.

And I'll just say with that, we've met with um with staff from the foundation right after last year's event, trying to come up with ways on how they can you know meet what we're doing, which is trying to reduce everybody in a responsible way to reduce the cost while still giving them the services needed to run the event.

Just a follow-up comment.

Um just to clarify my position.

I I differ from some of my colleagues.

I don't have where I'm not focusing on decreasing our um, you know, support to me, it's all boils down to one thing, our our dollars achieving our mission, which is are we doing what we're supposed to be doing?

Um, and so you have to understand that allocating 40 40 percent of our revenue um and leaving us with 60 percent to program the rest of the year and all the other applicants, it's it's tough.

So if you could put yourself in our my position, allocating 40 percent of your budget on one concert when you have four days worth of programming to do.

See what I'm saying?

So it's not it's not the value of what you're providing, but just our or my view on our budgeting.

It's just it's just hard to justify that 40%.

Um but thank you for coming and clarifying a lot of the uh clarifying a lot of things, thank you.

Yeah, and and uh I understand that.

Thank you.

Thank you for sharing that perspective.

Um because I get it, um, the challenge of what it is.

Um, and if there is a consensus of decreasing the funding, my my ask again is since that has not been signaled in the way to us for our planning for this year to consider that um and the impact that it could have on us in this calendar year um because it would be significant, and I'm concerned about that.

And last but not least, I found your um suggestion of the first two doing a two-year um with a review point.

I find that interesting because it will make you um give you that latitude and freedom to program and also help the staff as well in in terms of logistics of it, but yet give us uh off-ramp if we need to.

So I would I I would consider that.

Council Cotton.

Yes, thank you, sir.

Um Steve, thank you again for all the information and listening to what we have to say.

I think you can see that we're concerned with budgeting and making sure that the people's money is going to appropriate things, and what I have to say here, I I hope this doesn't beat you up, but um, you know, I've heard you say a few times that we've gone 125 is the previous asks, and now we're 148,000.

Um, that you've been saying that it's a compromise for allowing the the free portion of it and different aspects of how you have to set up now, but that's an increase of the normal ask of 23,000.

So I mean we're essentially making up from the 125 to the 148, right?

So you're asking for more money because of said compromise.

Uh the mayor even beat me to it, and that's where we're trying to, and I think you know this too from seeing other meetings and where we've been, is getting more people to look for those outside collaborators, right?

So when I thought a multi-year discount, it's a step down, not an equal and then step up.

Um, with that, I would think that because you guys have been so integrated within Clearwater's history that there have got to be corporations, at least 15 corporations within Clearwater or somebody that could get 10,000 donations, right?

And there's 150,000 right there, and whatever it is that you work that out with your agency, and now you don't need to come to us, right?

We're irrelevant at that point, and you have the funding you need and and the processes to go forward.

I also think about Country Thunder that was brought up as well.

That was a three-day event with a 30-day from St.

Pete Beach to Clearwater lead time to try and get all their things taken care of.

And we just got metrics back today that showed with the same data, roughly 38,000 people attended over that three-day time period.

And that's substantial, right?

So again, I I look forward to seeing where we're going with this.

I I would not be for that multi-year deal at this point.

I would be more so forward to see how this year goes and and with all the different music venues that we have, and again, integral part of bringing music to Clearwater.

Recognize that you guys have done a great job.

I I don't know that because of the partnership and and being integral in that just means that we keep handing out money though.

We we need to be diligent with taxpayer dollars.

So I look forward to what the rest of everybody else here has to say.

I would be for a one year um and then working through whatever that dollar amount looks like um through everybody on this board.

Okay, um, I just wanted to make a couple of comments.

Um you know, it was real interesting.

Um I had a talk with Bobby Rossi from Ruth Eckard as to why uh concert tickets cost so much more today than they did two or three years ago.

And he said that uh which made sense that artists used to basically throw concerts on for record sales, and so you could get an artist to come fairly cheaply because their whole thing was to sell records, and umadays they don't do that anymore.

I mean, it's Spotify and Apple Music, and you know, they're not doing that, so they're charging I understand they their rates go up every year because there's nothing really, they're not selling anything.

They their rates go up every year because there's nothing really, they're not selling anything.

I mean, they're selling themselves at that event.

So I understand why your costs go up.

I can't argue with that.

I don't want to see you get hurt.

I want to see you be successful.

But I told you I was going to listen to everybody else say what they had to say.

So I'm gonna see if I can strike a balance here.

Um I think uh, and I've been talking to you a long time about multi-year contract because I know you know, and I was thinking back why DDB takes uh funding uh requests in May, and I think all the way back to when I was on DDB, that's when we did it then.

I mean, they said for major funding, everything has to be in by May, and then we would pick the rest, you know, for the year in June or July.

And with you, and the event being in December, that's uh like that's like sudden death.

So I understand that it's a timing thing.

But here's what I'm gonna make a motion to uh I'm gonna make a motion to do you a two-year contract because it'll finish out this year and then next year it'll give you a chance to revisit, get the numbers what you had this year, and see what you need to do next year uh to really change things up if need be.

I do think that the free uh now that you're making a large section of it free is gonna help the merchants downtown.

And you know, I look back, I remember Jazz Holiday used to be free.

I mean, it wasn't maybe it was 10 years ago.

We started charging $10.

2012.

2012, okay.

Well, it was ten dollars, and everybody was having having a fit.

Gosh, ten dollars.

But I think if you make a majority of it free, you're gonna have a lot more people that are coming.

I can almost bet that there'll be a lot of people coming with free.

They'll bring their chairs and blankets and they'll sit up there.

And you know what?

If I was a uh corporate uh sponsor, I might sponsor that free area with a sign or something saying, hey, this is the walker forward or whatever area, you know.

That might be very um, it might be a good opportunity for a sponsor to get you some more money.

So what I'm gonna make a motion on is for this year a hundred and thirty thousand on the uh October 15, 18th, and next year 120,000.

I'm gonna cut it down.

So you've got something that you need to plan for next year.

We'll just do a two-year.

I want to see the numbers pop back up to where they were, which I think they will, but this gives you an opportunity this year to fund it.

Uh you're gonna have to work a little harder because we're giving you a little bit less.

And you know, the December 5th thing come back to us on that.

This is a lot of money here.

So that's gonna be my motion.

Uh 130 this year, 125 or 120 next year, two-year contract, and uh we'll see if we've got the votes for that.

Okay, is there a second?

Second.

Okay.

Motion's been moved and seconded.

Is there any further discussion?

Okay, okay.

All those in favor?

I I opposed people need to take a roll call here.

So um maybe take the numbers.

Numbers again.

Maybe take the numbers.

No, I think we gotta finish the irrelevant.

Yeah, board member Chip Leachy.

In favor, okay.

Uh Nor Dortsen.

Yeah, yeah.

All right, Councilman Old Brittany.

That's three.

Council Marino's four.

All right, that would be um four uh four to my right voting in favor and myself and the three voting against.

Okay, we are done.

Okay.

And again, you know, love the event.

I just want to see if we can collaborate to work together to I think I'm speaking for the others who voted against it.

Just to see if we can get some collaboration going to get the meltdown over time.

Congratulations, we look forward now that we've resolved this.

Yeah, look forward to working with you to make this event uh extremely successful again this year.

You all are doing an incredible job for Clearwater.

We appreciate on behalf of the Jazz Holiday Foundation the time spent this afternoon sharing those different perspectives, and we hope we can continue to make you proud and make the city proud with the work that we're doing.

Um so I appreciate it very much.

And um, and so I understand the process.

If we do proceed with the end of the year event, that just comes in on a different application for consideration if we do that, and for this application, 130,000 in year one, 120,000 in year two, a two-year contract, and we can work with city staff on that.

Is that the direction to okay?

All right, thank you all very much.

Yep, thank you.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

Approved in March 2026 financial statement for file.

Good afternoon, Chair, members of the board.

My name is Brian Olbrick, CRA coordinator.

The March 2026 financial statement is presented for filing.

To date, total expenditures and transfers are approximately 834,467 during the month of March expenditures totaled 39,548 dollars.

Additionally, future downtown initiatives line item currently maintains an unallocated fund balance of approximately 592,915 available for future projects and programs.

At this time, the overall balance is 1,238,229.

Staff recommends approval of the March 2026 financial statement for filing.

I am happy to take any questions.

Hearing seeing none, is there any board discussion?

None is there a motion.

Motion approved the agenda.

Second, all those in favor?

Aye.

Opposed, unanimous.

Thank you.

Oppenheim Associates downtown branding presentation.

Good afternoon, Chair, members of the board, Brian Oberk, CRA coordinator.

This item represents a milestone in the downtown development board's marketing and public relations initiative.

Over the past several months, R.V.

Oppenheim Associates has worked with key stakeholders to identify themes, opportunities, and perceptions that are shaping the downtown Clearwater identity.

Today's presentation will include a proposal include proposed logo concepts, messaging platforms, and branding approaches designed to position downtown Clearwater as a more active, engaging, and recognizable destination.

The goal of today's discussion is to receive board feedback and direction on preferred branding elements, including a logo direction, messaging approach, so that the project team can move into refinement development of the final brand guide and implementation strategy.

At this time, I'd like to introduce Michael Wynn, president and CEO of RB Oppenheim Associates, who will walk the board through the presentation and facilitate discussion and feedback.

Thank you, Brian.

Thank you, Chair and City Member Board.

It's a pleasure to be in front of you again today.

We met back in January for the first time, and it is a pleasure to meet with you again to present the downtown Clearwater branding and messaging.

Over the last few months, we have had the opportunity to meet with several all of the board members as well as merchants from downtown, uh Chamber of Commerce, visit St.

Pete Clearwater, Ruth Eckert, as well as uh city team members from Parks and Rec and public communications, and this represents a majority consensus around the messaging and creative concepts, and we're excited to share these after over 40 hours of interviews, nearly a hundred creative concepts for the logos, and numerous rounds and revisions and feedback, and we're excited to share this with you today.

The find it narrative, find it in downtown Clearwater.

The downtown Clearwater is a collection of moments and places, sounds, flavors, and views and events of everyday discoveries.

But the biggest thing that we wanted to ensure, as we heard from all of the stakeholders was it is important to ensure that downtown Clearwater is seen as a destination brand and not a government entity.

As a destination brand, it is a it is a place to create memories, it is a place to explore, it is a place where you can find it.

And this narrative helps to combat the perception that's been held for some time that there's nothing to do in downtown.

The find it in downtown concept makes it discovery as part of this experience that there's more here than I realized.

And so this begins to shift the story from absence into opportunity.

And so as we thought about how do we how do we create this feeling, this emotional feeling through messaging in a framework that connects with people that connects with their experiences and their memories in downtown Clearwater.

We wanted to ensure that it was inviting, it created a sense of welcome and discovery, as well as playful and energetic, representing the the uh often talked about idea of music and the music city that lives here, as well as finding the unexpected surprise and delight that makes every moment feel worth discovering.

And if you think about something, when you have a moment, when you have a memory that's created in a place, what do you do with that memory?

You go home and you tell your friends and family about oh my gosh, we had this great time, and the next time that we go there, you should come with us.

And that is what find it in downtown Clearwater.

That's what the framework is really designed to do is to create that word of mouth that creates the invitation that brings even more people into downtown.

And this is our final positioning statement.

Downtown Clearwater is where live music, waterfront energy, and local flavor meet.

From the sound to Cleveland Street, every visit offers a new reason to arrive early, stay late, and find something worth coming back for.

So everyone working together to find it and create that messaging framework is so important.

As we go into the next part of the presentation, um, any time creatives uh really spend a lot of time, energy, and effort, creative children are born.

And when creative children are born, they are named, and therefore we've named our logos because they're like our babies.

The first logo that we're going to introduce you to is the horizon logo, and the second one is the mosaic logo.

And I think what's important for you to know before we even look at them is to know that horizon is an elegant and simple modern concept.

Whereas mosaic is more literal and expressive.

And so while they they share some vibrancy, and they're they both lend themselves very well to the messaging framework of find it in downtown Clearwater, they have two very distinct styles.

And it's worth noting as we show you some of the examples, whether it's posters or event flyers or social media posts, that these designs can be adaptable.

So just because you see horizon on one of those doesn't mean that mosaic couldn't be used in that.

So let's let me introduce you to Horizon.

And as I said, Horizon is an elegant and simple design with hints of the big care sound, waterfront experience, Coachman Park, as well as the vibrant scene and the creation of memories and discovery.

And next you're going to see what does this brand look like in action?

What does it look like on the streets of downtown Clearwater?

Whether it's hats or bags or signage, a wall mural in a business, or other examples.

Here you can see an example of how it might look for an event, as well as other calendars or posters that would support downtown activations, as well as social media content where you can see the branding elements, the supporting elements of that swoosh.

You know what's also interesting too.

Someone pointed out the other day.

That swoosh looks like the scale where music notes go.

And so these can be adaptable, customizable depending on the audience or the venue.

And also a reminder, because you think about it, right?

If I were to ask you, where is your go-to place to find the thing?

You would say, I know where it is.

Again, that is what we're trying to create is downtown Clearwater is the place where you will find it.

And next, another example of the energy find your vibe, find your joy.

Again, you'll see in a minute where mosaic could be dropped right into that to this example on a social media post.

People dancing downtown, people enjoying uh music for every movie.

And next is the downtown mosaic logo.

And here, again, something what we're trying to communicate, and again, from the feedback that we were given, the direction from the feedback from so very many stakeholders was we need something that's easy to recognize that depicts the waterfront, food and drink, shopping, music, and entertainment, but also doesn't uh leave out that musical feel and also the hint of that outline of the Bay Care sound, which is there again, just in a subtle representation, or you could think of it as the scale where music notes would be placed.

And again, we've given you some examples of what this brand would look like in action on the streets of downtown Clearwater, whether it's in tots or bags or signage, as well as examples here of the logo placement uh along with different treatments of how that would look in uh collateral material for upcoming events or uh various calendar items, and then a few more examples of social media content, and you'll notice here uh the use of icons, which could be supplemental creative that could be used along with the mosaic logo, uh, but again, just another example of find your style uh to coordinate with that framework of local finds uh in shopping or feel every beat with live music again to accentuate find your rhythm in downtown Clearwater because at the end of the day, the question that we're really trying to come to a majority consensus today, and what we're asking from the board is which one of these concepts brings us closer to being easily seen and identified as a destination brand and not a government entity, and just lastly, a couple of more examples of food, family and friends, as well as creating memories to last a lifetime where the city meets the sound.

And we've got a slide for you where we've got two uh we've got the horizon logo and the mosaic logo together side by side so that you can see them, and we'd love to invite feedback at this time for further direction.

Okay, is there any um discussion?

Councilmember as you know, I was pretty clear on what my uh choices were, and so I'm very excited to see that both made it, very excited.

Um but in all seriousness, the find the slogan is exactly the kind of young, patching versatile messaging that we need.

It's short, it's memorable, it doesn't feel corporate or forced, and it's an active verb, which I like.

And it feels current.

The beauty of find it is not that it subtly challenges, it is it is that it's challenges people for those who complain there's nothing to do.

You know, go find it.

Um you want music, go find it.

The hidden gem restaurant, go find it, the arts, the events, the vibe, the reason to stay longer.

Everything can just be said, find it.

Very easy, very short.

I also supported a selected logo because of the sweeping lines, align beautifully with align beautifully with the visual language already emerging in our uh current projects.

So the logo and the tagline feel cohesive, modern, and fresh.

So I'm very excited, very happy about the selection.

I was actually crossing my fingers.

Um this is great branding.

It doesn't lecture people about what downtown is supposed to be.

It invites them to experience it for themselves.

So I'm very excited about it.

Thank you for all your hard work.

Thank you.

It's it's your expression.

So remember what thank you very much.

I do like the designs a lot for the duagos.

I do like the horizon design.

Um I think overall it's great.

Um, I do have a couple of questions which kind of uh made me thinking, I don't know.

You know, when when we say the newer perspective, there was more here than I realized.

We don't say anything specific at all.

Then we use sorry, might be when we I think it wasn't find it.

Um second.

Yeah, on here on page seven, uh, not just the typing, find something happening here.

Again, we don't really say anything specific.

We and we don't say anything specific because we cannot define it ourselves, or we don't say anything specific because like Lena said, we want a people to come here and discover it for themselves.

To me, that this is a little bit unclear because my original thought was you know, we need to come up with an identity for clear water.

And out of the whole presentation, the identity that I see, and I like it very much as I believe it says where uh the city means means the waterfront or the city means the waterfront means the sound city meets the sound.

City means the sound.

I like that.

I like that a lot.

And I think this this has to be emphasized because this is this sounds like identity.

When we say find something, we're not what what are we inviting them to do exactly?

What are like if they believe that they there is nothing to do here, and then we just tell them, well, no, there is something to do here.

It's not exactly a selling point, it's more like I don't know, it's a general idea.

And I think my perception is that we have to go from general idea to something very, very, very specific to what we love clear water for, which I do believe is music, is a very, very good choice, and that's very real to people.

People love music, we have clear water chess, we have country.

You know, people know we have events on like you know, uh, a lot of CDs right in that scale.

So that would just be my feedback, but overall I think it's great.

Thank you for that feedback.

I think you're right.

That shift from there's nothing to there's something, but what is that something?

And your direction is fantastic, and that's why we're here.

And you echoed what has been literally coined from this council where the city meets the sound.

So any more, and we're gonna have a majority consensus very quickly on that, but thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Michael, thank you uh for the presentation.

Absolutely.

Um, I'm not really sure where you got that, where the city meets the sound.

I don't know either.

Sounds great.

And you obviously took notes as we chatted, but it's appreciated.

Love the two logos.

Um, first one, the the simplicity of it, the flow of it, the movement represents so much of our downtown district, but then um the second one.

I like what you've changed, what was the third at the time option to this?

Um I like the versatility of it and how you can pull out the individual um logos and attach it, whether it's food, drink, music, shopping, and use that on the marketing side to tell the story.

Uh so I I do like them both a lot.

Actually, I think my wife just ordered a tote from you for um, she wants the mosaic tote already.

So uh first order's already in.

All right.

Um this is exciting.

We've talked about this for many, many months.

Um, that we needed to not just sit back and wait and let some organic process take shape in downtown uh and let a story continue to be naturally told and organically as it is.

Uh, but we need to we need to shift that focus and that perception, we can do that ourselves, and that's with branding with concepts like this.

Uh find it, I I love it.

Um, whether you know, find your your music, find your vibe, find your the sound, find your lime, find your tequila, find your cowboy, whatever it might be.

Um I do like it.

Um, and it lends into that what you kind of narrowed it into is discovery, and you leave I kind of I I understand what my board member friend was saying, and kind of agree, but on the other side, I see like you're enticing them to go discover it, right?

And what is that?

Go find it, because we think you'll find it.

Right.

Um, so I do see both sides of that.

But uh this is exciting, and continuing to tell the story and shifting that perception is gonna be a huge help for our entire city um and not just downtown.

And I appreciate you and the team and all the work you did and the listening, because you obviously listened uh to all of us uh and it shows in your presentation.

So thank you for that.

Absolutely.

Remember to delete.

Thank you, Michael.

Um I like both logos, I think they're both great.

Um I am moving more towards the mosaic mosaic one because it shows what you can't find in downtown Clearwater.

Right.

Um, and I do agree with uh with what's being said uh with two of our board members previously um we need to give I think more specific direction uh just generalizing, come over and find something, right?

And um but I'm I'm also more interested to find out um your plan in terms you know something caught my eye that's the you know in terms of email marketing.

What type of audience are you are we trying to target?

Uh do you do you have any idea on that?

Or have you is there a plan for that?

Yeah, you know, that's a really great question.

You'll see later in the slides what our next steps are, and the next steps will be to put together workshops that will invite all of the channels and the stakeholders, as I mentioned earlier that we met with to get this collaboration to find out what what are the channels email marketing, social video, micro influencers, to try to figure out what is what is available to us, and then how can we apply the framework of find it, but specific to the audience, specific to the event and to the location, because I think what we've what we've shown is that the find it anchor can be adaptable to anything, right?

We just need to understand, we're not gonna force or make it be this is the RBOA way.

What we have learned is how is Clearwater?

What is the experience in downtown Clearwater?

And we will adapt to make that uh authentic.

And so we will have to look to the chamber, we'll have to look to uh all of these different entities as to what their email marketing channels and what their segmentation offers, and we'll be happy to provide any feedback or input that we have learned over 40 years of digital marketing expertise to provide their team with as well.

Yeah, thank you for answering that.

The only reason I ask is because we do also I think each business does, we do all we do our own marketing as well.

Sure.

And we want to make sure that targeted audience is suitable for downtown Clewwater to come in somewhere there nearby, not sure you know, uh 45, 45, 50 miles away.

Right.

Um so yeah, thank you for answering that.

Perfect.

Thank you.

Ice Mayor.

Yeah, thank you, sir.

Uh, Michael, once again, I think both of these are good, especially through our presentations.

I appreciate you and your staff being able to start narrowing them down for my colleagues up here, and I know Mike Suzanne is not gonna like this.

I like uh the horizon logo a lot better.

I think that it's cleaner, simpler, and when you put it on things like downtown posters and those types of things, um, it becomes less cluttered, in my opinion, right?

I think that it's a wonderful picture, but when you put it in the backdrop of a bunch of information, it starts to become a distraction, in my opinion.

So when you have something that's nice and clean, straight to the point over in the corner, whichever corner it's in, it's not too distracting.

It gets the point across of where you're going to be trying to find your next adventure.

Um, while not taking away from the lineup that you may be looking at or whatever the posters trying to convey.

That's just both look great.

I'm more uh heading towards the the horizon um logo for that reason.

So I wanted everybody to kind of be on board with where my mind's kind of at.

So thank you again.

I look forward to the future seeing the next steps, but now everybody can at least know where I'm at.

Very good.

Cast member Tush.

So we were talking about the versatile versatility, so I wanted to give you an example for you two gentlemen.

So let's say we do an ad and we list all the restaurants in downtown Clearwater.

You can say you can find it in downtown Clearwater.

That's what I mean by versatility.

We can go as specific as we can or as general, right?

So that's why I like it.

Depending on how you use it, it could be very specific or general.

Make them explore it, or actually tell them where and what it is.

So let's say the bistro, find the best burger.

Where do you find it?

Find it in downtown Clearwater.

So you're still keeping that find it, but it's specific to your restaurant.

No, that makes sense.

Um I'm with you on that.

As long as we my my whole point was as long as we stay um, you know, specific of what we're trying to sell.

I'll give you a good example.

So when I moved here, and then you know, I discovered Bush Gardens as a kid very quickly, and then I discovered it's actually you can buy an annual pass and go there every day.

That's exactly what I did.

And then on my way to Burger Gardens, there was a clear uh Tampa Zoo.

I never realized why would people go to Tampa Zoo when there is a zoo with roller coasters?

Like that would that was that did not make sense to me at all.

Then they did a logo, I believe it was years ago.

Um it said your eyes will be amazed.

I don't know why, but every time I drove and I saw that huge billboard said my eyes will be amazed.

It wasn't specific.

It wasn't that they were selling something, you know, they the wood they were not selling me a tiger, they were selling me an experience.

So I went there.

When I come back, maybe not.

But I know before that, you know.

Okay, I hope they're not watching that anyway.

That there it's it's it's a great experience.

The point is, I would never stop there if it if they would not sell me the concept.

So my idea is this.

If we're selling concept, great, let's push it.

Let's push discovery word on them, or you know, something.

I don't know.

You're you'll be amazed at what you'll find.

Something.

If we're selling in concept, that's great.

If we're selling a specific product, I don't know.

Uh we have a true Italian shop in downtown from Palermo or Catania, or we have uh only one in Florida seed oil-free burgers.

I I don't know, I'm just making making it up.

If we're selling something specific, great.

That myself.

If we're selling concept, great.

As long as we're selling something that we know ourselves what we're selling.

I'm just against the word the use of word something, because that something makes no sense to anybody.

That's well I think that's a great great point.

I think what we were trying to uh illustrate here is a change, a shift from there's nothing, which is absence, to opportunity, not something.

That's a that's uh that's a different connotation.

But to your point, I think the other thing here is that the find it anchor is an active verb that is inviting for people to come and discover, explore or whatever it is.

But then as we're starting to put this together with visuals, right?

Where it's like, okay, if we're trying to communicate to an audience that's about a big food extravaganza, it's food tour clear water, and you know, we've got a food tour thing, or whatever that might be, or if it's Mama Duck, uh you can use find the unexpected, right?

So it's it's and then the introduction of the logos that can be interchanged there.

So uh what I hope my comment is that I agree a hundred percent that it has to have clear direction, and what I hope that we've done by hearing and listening to your feedback and creating uh or applying creative principles is to create a brand message and a brand identity that is a destination brand and not just you know another government entity.

I think we're waiting to hear some Robert.

Yes.

Okay, so um the horizon logo to me is the more artistic logo, simple artistic.

If if we were already developed massive downtown with all these kind of things, we're growing now, but um I think that would be that would be better served than something that's already established.

Like we're growing.

And so the more I look at mosaic, the more descriptive that is to me for somebody that hasn't been downtown before.

That's I'm drawn to the first one, but then when I think about it, I'm I'm landing on the mosaic because it's more descriptive, it's colorful, it's cheerful.

It's like, oh hey, they got music and shopping, and you know, I can restaurants, and maybe we should try it and discover what's there.

So I'm kind of leaning that way.

Thank you for your feedback.

So uh I do agree with the vice mayor on Councilman Roberton that the first one's more artistic, and shared that with you.

Uh my only pause on it was that uh I don't know that people who aren't familiar with Clearwater seed music and elementary music in it.

Uh I don't know.

I those who are in Clearwater too, I think it might represent Kushman Park better than it does the entire downtown area just because it shows the sound that's on the water.

Um but I but I don't know.

I'm um what the vice mayor said resonates with me a bit that I don't know the logo needs to tell the entire story.

That's what the purpose of the ad is to talk about focus on music or whatever.

Give it contact.

That's why originally I told you the mosaic was more impactful for me because it clearly had a logo that had sound music, and uh and I think that is something we have that the rest of the region doesn't have right now.

Uh so that's something I think we want to bring, and it's bringing a lot of people to downtown clear order already, so it's something we definitely want to emphasize.

Uh but I do see that it's the first one's cleaner.

I just don't know.

We all can tell that the purple or uh lavender one is you know is the bake air sound, but I don't know anybody else does that.

And I see what you're saying about the music uh notes.

I I don't know if you know we see that looking at it over and over again.

I don't know, first impression somebody does.

So that would be my only pause on the first one, is that I think music is important and to our success, continued success, and I just don't know that that comes out in the first logo.

That said, maybe it doesn't need to.

Maybe we just need uh something to uh that stands out to draws people's attention to the rest of the rest of the items.

Okay, good direction for you, hopefully.

Yeah.

Well, I guess I'll ask I'll ask you this question.

Does mosaic or horizon get us closer to a destination?

Which one does that?

Forget about simple whatever, just which one looks like a destination.

Yeah, I I mean, off what I just said, I I think the mosaic does because it's okay.

Mosaic, can I get a raise?

One, two, three, four.

Okay, thank you.

I can count.

Very good, very good.

Okay.

All right, so uh what we're gonna be looking forward next is uh we will we will obviously give you more time than but I just wanted to get a uh a quick uh straw hole, if I may, on direction, and I think we've received that.

But uh by uh June 1, we will be looking for in the next two weeks uh feedback from you on uh the very specific items related to the logo concepts and messaging uh and then the preferred direction and of course your final selection by June 1st.

If we get that beforehand, we have an idea already, which is great, thank you very much.

Uh and then what happens on our end is once we have confirmation of that, we will move very quickly to put together final assets, which will include the brand guide, logo use, colors, topography, messaging, etc.

Uh, and then begin planning the workshops, which will include members from all of the people that we interviewed before, whether it's parks and rec or the chamber, or visit St.

Pete Chamber to find out how can we all work together and bring together that unity that is so desperately needed in order to make this all work.

And uh that's what we're we're looking forward to in the next implementation stages.

Thank you, everyone, for your time today, and we look forward to meeting again.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mike.

Okay, move to item five on the agenda, director's report.

Good afternoon.

Hey Susanino, CR executive director, and thank you for your patience.

We have a lot of wonderful items on the agenda as you see, even on the next CRA agenda.

Um I don't have too much as far as for the director's report since this was a special meeting, but I do want to basically speak on two items.

One is the Placer AI data that we're starting to use.

Staff starting to become more and more proficient and providing that additional information, and hopefully, as we get more used to it, we'll even be more deeper into how to use the product.

But right now you're starting to see the realities of the numbers from what's estimated and what actually is out there.

So hopefully you're appreciating that.

Uh the next item is that we do want to remind the public that we do have a grad chalk walk this year again, celebrating the class of 2026 and celebrating the graduations for Clearwater High School and Countryside High School.

We're excited.

In addition, staff is starting to meet with the community.

That means the merchants, that means the residents, that means any other organization in the downtown, to kind of just let them know about the graduation that's occurring here in downtown.

And I did want to show you a few items here for the public.

This is more of the the just uh the advertisement for the grad chalkwalk class of 2026, and here to follow are the art pieces that are going to be installed.

Um I just wanted to um provide just some feedback.

So this design here, um, this is actually the mic.

Oh and Lopez, this piece here will actually not be in chalk.

This piece is actually gonna be vinyl.

Um, so it'll be a piece um that we can use um at multiple times.

So parks and rec staff, because the graduations are one in the morning, one in the afternoon, they're gonna move them around as the sun, but this is also a 3D piece.

Um, so there's a specific spot you can stand at, and it'll actually look like you're uh on the rocket ship.

So uh, but this will actually be a uh a vinyl piece that we can wrap up and use at um future graduations.

Very cool.

Now the rest are the chalk walk the chalk art, correct?

Let's make it sure.

Then the next one.

Other than that, we're excited about all the activation that's occurring in the downtown.

That concludes my director's report.

Thank you.

Any questions for the director?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone want to weigh in?

Past what we've already done for two hours.

Hearing none, we'll move to item seven of the agenda, and that is to adjourn the May 18 2026 meeting of the city clear downtown developer boards.

And we will uh shift some nameplates up here and recess for a few minutes while we reconfigure the dice.