Council approves $2,000/month pilot for Visit Del Rapids marketing with contract conditions

Desiree Osborne, representing Visit Del Rapids, presented a proposed marketing pilot to grow the city’s visitor prospects and support downtown businesses. She described a website and quiz to capture email addresses and said she has been funding the project herself; "I'm paying for it right now out of my pocket," she told council. Osborne proposed a $4,000/month campaign but councilors negotiated a shorter trial; one councilor suggested $2,000/month for four months as a test.

Council members conditioned the funding on a written scope of work, measurable deliverables and an agreement to report metrics (email signups, opens, click rates and business feedback). The motion for $2,000 per month for four months passed after a second and an amendment requiring a contract/scope; recorded aye voices were present and one recorded nay vote. Osborne said she could show prospect lists, open and click metrics, and would share examples and receipts to document ad spend if the council required it. City staff will work with the petitioner to draft a contract that defines success metrics and reporting cadence.