Washington’s City Council on Monday will consider endorsing a community-branding project.
The project, which would promote Washington and surrounding environs, is an initiative of the Washington Tourism Development Authority, Washington Harbor District Alliance and the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce.
“It has been noted that Washington lacks a comprehensive brand identity/image. A committee of community partners (WTDA, WHDA, the City, and WBC Chamber) have been working for approximately 6 months to determine the best next step in the development of a comprehensive brand,” reads a memorandum from Lynn Lewis, the city’s tourism-development director, to the mayor and council. “After considering several companies who can conduct this type of work, the committee has selected the services of Eye Integrated Communications (Greenville, NC) to conduct the research needed for brand development. Eye Integrated Communications is presently the agency responsible for the WTDA’s marketing/advertising campaign.”
Each partner has been asked to invest $2,000 in the project.
The committee has identified a vendor and community stakeholders to participate in a one-day workshop geared toward receive public input on the project, reads the memorandum.
“This will be a very public process, where stakeholder input is highly valued. Once the brand has been determined, the implementation process will begin,” reads the memorandum.
In other business, the council is expected to consider allocating another $220,000 in city funds to the replacement of the Brown Street bridge. Previously, the city appropriated about $600,000 for the project, for which construction bids will be sought in the next several weeks.
“The reason for the increase requested is due to a misunderstanding on how this project would be overseen during the construction phase. I was under the impression that City forces would be used to oversee the construction but this is not the case,” wrote Allen Lewis, the city’s public-works director, in a memorandum to the mayor and council. “We have advertised for inspection services as required and have a proposal that has been approved by NCDOT for approximately $79,000 with Summit Consulting out of Hillsborough.”
Although the estimated cost of the entire project — design, construction and inspection — has climbed to $820,000, there is some good news, Lewis wrote.
“The good news is that all of this cost is reimbursable at an 80% rate leaving City expense at approximately $164,000 which can be funded with Powell Bill funds,” Lewis wrote.
Powell Bill revenues are money local governments receive from the state for street-related projects.
The City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 102 E. Second St. The agenda for the council’s meeting may be viewed by visiting the city’s website: www.ci.washington.nc.us.