City’s welcome‑bag program reaches thousands as developers bring hundreds of new units

Commissioners were briefed on the city’s welcome‑bag program for new residents, a cross‑departmental effort that parks and recreation and the city manager’s marketing team said has delivered more than 2,700 bags over the life of the program and prepared 600 additional bags in 2025 for distribution.

Larry (staff member) explained the program is coordinated between parks and recreation and the city manager’s marketing team. Marketing staff handle assembly and delivery; multiple departments contribute materials. “Over the program, in the last year and a half or so, we've given out over 2,700 bags. The parks and rec marketing team has put together another 600 for the city manager's office to give out,” Larry said.

Staff clarified how bags are allocated: developers or neighborhoods receive a number of bags tied to units sold rather than units built, and marketing staff deliver bags as new residents arrive. Examples cited in the presentation: Radiance received about 1,000 bags initially and received another installment this year as additional units sold; Havenly received roughly 170 bags in an earlier delivery and additional bags when more units came online; Blossom Rock received about 140 bags during initial distributions.

The presentation also noted staff have attended 13 neighborhood meetings as part of the outreach, distributing information about parks and services. Commissioners credited marketing, parks staff and city manager's office personnel (including Jorge, identified as managing delivery) for sustaining the program, and asked staff to continue reporting distribution counts and coverage areas.

No formal action was taken; the item was informational.