TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding Changes to the Citywide Sponsorship Policy.
Recommended Action
Provide direction on potential changes to the Citywide Sponsorship Policy.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve updates to the Citywide Sponsorship Policy and tier structure as presented.
* Pros:
o Updates will ensure sponsorship tiers align with the increased size, visibility and impact of City events since 2019.
o Modernized tiers and benefits can make sponsorship more appealing and attract larger sponsors, covering a larger percentage of costs.
o Ensures benefits offered to sponsors are proportional to their contribution.
o Reduces reliance on tax dollars.
o Aligns with the City's commitment to good governance by maintaining transparency and accountability in sponsorship practices.
* Cons:
o Sponsors familiar with the previous structure may resist higher costs or changes to benefits.
o If tiers are set too high, smaller businesses may be excluded, reducing community engagement.
o Requires additional marketing and outreach to be effective.
Option 2: Maintain existing Citywide Sponsorship Policy.
* Pros:
o No disruptions to current sponsorship relationships or expectations.
o No additional staff time required for policy revision or implementation.
* Cons:
o Sponsorship tiers may remain outdated and misaligned with current event scale and costs.
o Missed opportunity to increase sponsorship revenue and cost recovery.
o May limit ability to attract larger sponsors and enhance events.
Option 3: Approve a hybrid of updates to the Citywide Sponsorship Policy.
* Pros:
o Allows Commission to identify specific portions of the policy to update.
o Provides flexibility and opportunity for additional considerations not noted in the current presentation.
* Cons:
o May not fully modernize the policy.
o Could create inconsi...
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