SR-850-005-01 (28)
Council Meeting: May 25, 2005 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Supplemental Staff Report ? Item 1-D
INTRODUCTION
This report provides supplemental information to the staff report (Item 1-D)
regarding the proposed professional services agreement with Allison & Partners.
Supplementary information includes additional details describing the scope of
work for Allison & Partners. This additional information does not change the
staff?s recommendation.
DISCUSSION
With the opening of the new Main Library, staff will be coordinating not one, but a
month long schedule of opening events and tying those in with longer term
approaches to communicating with library users. Current Library staff cannot
complete these plans while preparing for and executing the move to the new
building and providing library patrons with the level of service they have come to
expect.
The agreement with Allison & Partners, a local firm with an emphasis on
social/cause communications, will supply expertise and staff support.
Approximately 25% of this contract ($22,000) is designated for planning,
organizing and helping conduct the opening events and coordinating outreach to
local media, schools, user groups, and others. Print materials (production as well
as creation/design) are approximately another 25% ($21,000). Local advertising
and public service announcements are also included. A marketing plan is a
smaller part of the budget ($3000), but it will serve the library for years to come.
Allison & Partners will also be instrumental in assisting the library with
partnerships that can defray other costs associated with introducing and
celebrating the new community asset. The firm is contributing $10,000 of pro-
bono consulting to the effort.
Additional benefits anticipated from this agreement include: freeing staff time to
focus on programs and services; ensuring that promotional efforts will be more
effective at reaching the intended audiences; guaranteeing that the documents
used to promote programs and to introduce visitors to the Library will be
professionally designed for ease of use, a consistent look and with a unified
theme; and, developing a long-term plan for communicating with the public about
library programs, events and resources.
Prepared by: Greg Mullen, Acting City Librarian
Judy Rambeau, Assistant to the City Manager
Rachel Foyt, Administrative Analyst
Reference Contract No. 8475 (CCS).