The Forest Grove City Council held a work session on October 27, 2025, to discuss two major topics: a proposed communications plan and branding guide for the city, and recommended updates to the city's liquor license process. The council provided feedback on scope, process, and funding for the communications plan and reached consensus to move forward with a Request for Proposals (RFP). On liquor licensing, the council discussed streamlining processes to reduce staff burden and business delays, and directed staff to draft ordinance changes for a future public hearing.
Do you want to get Stephanie's presentation up? So it's ready. I'm gonna call. I know I see that. Okay, I would like to call to order. No, oh, wait. I'm trying. I would like to call to order this work session in the Forest Grove City Council. The topic is on our communications plan and branding guide. Uh please show in attendance are the Forest Grove City Counselors, our communication manager, Stephanie Fleischer, and our city manager, Jesse Van Der Zanen with audience members and the auditorium. Okay. I'm gonna go through this pretty fast, but I think it's pretty uh clear. So for this work session, we'll be discussing a communications and branding guide for the city. Uh, this is what we're covering today, how the branding communications plan relates to 2040, uh, the purpose, background, some definitions, um, how the branding and communication process works, and a cost estimate. Um, this is how the branding and communications plan relates to the 2040 plan. Um, so going through this process directly relates to action items 410 and 411 and creates a foundation for uh action item 113, 117, and 237. Uh, and the purpose tonight we're seeking uh feedback from council on scope, process, and funding for a communications plan and branding guide. So this is our uh current inventory. So we have our current logo, a tourism logo and brand guide. And then we also have the forest growth communications and engagement strategy. Um that the last one was uh created before I got here. So I've just been following it since I started. Um before we get in depth, I'd like to define some of the items we're discussing tonight. Um, the first is a logo. I mean, that's pretty self-explanatory, but it's a graphic mark that represents an entity or product. Um, everyone can have a logo. Not everyone can have a brand. There is a there is a difference, and they are not the same. Um, communications plan is a strategic document that outlines how a municipality will communicate. Uh a brand guide lays out the brand, uh, proper use of logo, colors, typefaces, etc. Uh, the communications plan and brand guide work together to create the force, the city of Forest Grove brand. Um, and the communications policy is a formal guideline that an organization uses to govern its internal and external communications. The current Forest Grove communications plan and engagement strategy is kind of a mix of both. Um, my hope is that we get to separate those two and have them be two separate documents. Uh a communications plan is a strategic roadmap that defines how, when, why, and what an organization communicates. Um, information can include vision, goals, an audience breakdown, alignment with strategic plan, or in our case, the 2040 vision. Uh, communication objectives and SMART goals. Uh, SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound goals. A SMART goal could include increasing citizen engagement or improving public awareness of particular projects, uh, key messaging, channel selection, meaning like is it print, is it social, is it both? Uh, strategy, and of course, schedule. Uh, scheduling and timing are just two important elements in comms. A communications plan can help guide the creation of a communications calendar, and that calendar provides a monthly, monthly and seasonal focuses, which allows staff or the you know, comms team to plan and schedule content in advance while leaving room for emergency messaging, such as like a power outage. Um, a comms plan can also include a crisis comms communication plan, uh measurement and evaluation, and of course, staff roles. Um, and then having a communications plan uh provides structure, clarity, and consistency in how messages are shared. Uh, the plan ensures clear and consistent messaging using consistent language, tone, and facts. Um, it defines our goals and audience, identifying who we're trying to reach, ensuring messages are purposeful, improves efficiency, so we'll know what to say, when to say it, and how to say it. Um, as we know, good communication builds connection. A plan helps uh ensure residents feel informed, included and heard. Provides a framework for measuring success, allowing the communications team to evaluate what's working and what messages need adjusting. Communications plan also again also help in a crisis, can provide protocols and messaging templates, so the response is timely, accurate, and professional.