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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11 Contract amendment with Pond Collective AGENDA ITEM #11 r P, I Public Utility District MEETING DATE: August 2, 2023 TO: Board of Directors FROM: Steven Poncelet, Public Information Officer SUBJECT: Consideration of a Contract Amendment with Pond Collective APPROVED BY. Brian C. Wright, General Manager RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the General Manager to execute an amendment to the contract with Pond Collective to increase the amount by $12,500, for a new contract not to exceed amount of$27,000. BACKGROUND: The District has a robust communications program that is integral to educating our customers and community about the District's mission and helping with customer engagement, program promotions, and calls to action. While staff play a lead role in executing the District's communications plans, outside expert consultants are used to support and enhance District efforts. This can include outside expertise in public relations, marketing design, photography/videography, and digital media. These professional services are procured through the District's standard procedures and approval processes. ANALYSIS AND BODY: The District has consistently used outside marketing design consulting services to support District communications and outreach. Marketing design consultants support the creation of logos, brand images, marketing collateral, and other visuals that support the District's messaging. The District's contract for 2023 marketing design was awarded in December 2023 to Pond Collective for an amount not to exceed $14,500. The contract was awarded under the authority of the General Manager and was intended to cover the District's typical marketing design needs. In addition to the above, the District in 2023 is undergoing a mid-cycle review of the TDPUD Strategic Plan 2021-2024, along with the development and proposal of the FY24 and FY25 budgets. The strategic plan review includes an update to the Board's strategic initiatives, which were developed originally with significant community engagement and input. Staff are again planning to engage our community in a meaningful way to bring them into the mid-cycle review and to get input on existing, revised, and new potential initiatives. To accomplish this, the District is planning a Page 1 of 2 Page 15 of 165 series (seven total) of 'Community Circle' meetings focused on our neighborhoods across town. Key steps towards engaging the community, getting robust attendance at the Community Circle meetings, and receiving meaningful input involve a comprehensive marketing and outreach plan to raise awareness of the mid-cycle review of the strategic plan/Community Circle meetings, educate on the past, present, and potential future each initiative, and achieve robust attendance at each meeting. This effort requires significant marketing design support for branding of the Community Circles, creating compelling advertising and outreach materials, updating the strategic plan website, and targeting the various neighborhoods around town. In addition to the significant effort around the mid-cycle review of the strategic plan plus community circle meetings, the District is also in 2023 developing and proposing the FY24 and FY25 budgets. This process includes the development of an Electric Utility Cost of Service Analysis and will be informed by the District's development of an updated Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory along with an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). As the District undergoes these efforts, it is imperative that our customers and community are aware of our actions, understand our mission and how a public utility operates, and have the information to understand our performance. A strong communications and outreach effort is underway and will also require additional marketing design consulting services. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: District Code 1 .05.020 Objectives: 1. Responsibly serve the public. District Code 1 .05.030 Goals: 3. Engage with our customers and communities in a welcoming and transparent way to identify opportunities. FISCAL IMPACT: The current contract with Pond Communications for FY23 is not to exceed $14,500 and is in the approved FY23 budget under 1/2.2.930.10.753. Staff are requesting an additional $12,500 for a total not to exceed contract amount of $27,000. The approved budget also includes $40,000 under 1/2.2.930.10.655 and Staff are forecasting excess funds in this account at the end of the year to cover the additional $12,500. ATTACHMENTS: None Page 2 of 2 Page 16 of 165