Local Firm to Market Rec Center

City officials are pledging to pay a local public relations firm to market the over the next several months.

City Manager John Schneiger said the city is pledging $3,500 per month to deChant Public Relations to spread the word about the center. The firm is run by former City Councilwoman Marilynn deChant and business partner Lia Gallegos.

The deal is for three months of service, with the option to extend to the end of September, while the city’s elected officials mull hiring a long-term marketing person. The agreement takes effect as soon as it is signed, Schneiger said.

“We really do feel a sense of urgency that we’ve got to get going on this,” Schneiger told the City Council Tuesday.

The New Port Richey city government is faced with the reality that the recreation center’s revenues are nowhere near close to covering its costs. A January estimate projected the center revenues to fall $767,580 short of operating expenses in the current fiscal year (FY 2012).  

The center is in a difficult position. It is short staffed. Summer day camp season begins next month, and its camp program isl. 

After , city officials proposed hiring a marketing director for the center. The center has a recently vacated position that it could move funds from to hire a marketing person.

When the proposal reached the city council May 1, Councilwoman Judy DeBella Thomas requested to table it.

Beth Fregger,  mentioned to Schneiger in an email that having her and her organization join forces with the city to market the center could be a “smart match.” Fregger, who has decades of professional marketing and advertising experience, asked if Schneiger was considering making the marketing position a part-time job and if so: "Would you consider an alliance of sorts with Main Street and myself?"

DeBella Thomas, a former executive director Greater New Port Richey Main Street, asked the city council to consider talking with Fregger about using Main Street, which receives a city subsidy.

When Schneiger informed the Council on May 8 of his intent to hire DeChant’s firm, DeBella Thomas expressed disappointment that the council was not talking to Main Street about the job.

“I think that’s a very able organization that we have underdeveloped and under-used,” she said.

Schneiger said that the future of the marketing director position beyond the term of deChant's employment is still up for discussion as the city cracks down on crafting next year’s budget. He said he is open to talking about using Main Street and Fregger. City Council members have also expressed openness about discussing Main Street's involvement as they nail down where they want to go.

On going with deChant's firm for the next few months, Schneiger said:

"For me, what was really important was to get somebody really focused right away. Quite honestly, they just seemed to be a really good fit."