Celebrate Wildwood Commission co-chairs Leslie Edens and Ashley Schlauter and city staff finalized plans Wednesday to launch the “30 by 30” Wildwood challenge on Jan. 9 and authorized a set of sponsorship and revenue items for the Celebrate Wildwood 30th-anniversary event.

The commission voted to begin a special e-newsletter and social-media rollout for the 30 by 30 challenge after Director Munich told the group, “So the event will start January 9th,” and asked for a motion to proceed. Madam Chair Leslie Edens led the vote: “We’re doing it, guys. We’re launching it,” she said after members voted in favor.

Why it matters: The commission’s actions formalize public outreach, approve marketing changes and allocate sponsorship strategy for an event that the city expects to draw local residents and vendors. Staff also reported a multimonth construction delay at the new Village Green venue that could affect some early-season activities and prompted commissioners to request contingency planning.

Most important facts

- Launch and marketing: Staff presented a revised logo and asked permission to publish a special e-newsletter and social posts to kick off the 30 by 30 challenge on Jan. 9. The commission approved the launch by motion and vote.

- Sponsorships and budget: The department reported that the City Council raised event funding for 2025 from $90,000 to $95,000 and that sponsorship levels were increased by $5,000 in 2024 (from $30,000 to $35,000). Staff said those changes, plus other revenue, bring the anticipated event budget to roughly $130,000.

- Cost savings: Staff told the commission that holding the event at the city’s own venue should eliminate roughly $20,000 in electrical charges compared with previous years. The commission directed staff to consider how those savings might be reallocated and asked that brainstorming about new activations be added to the February agenda.

- Venue construction update: Director Munich reported the Village Green site experienced permit-processing delays with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources after an initial land-disturbance permit filing and fee ($5,000) were misplaced by the agency; the permit’s reissuance delayed work until July. Staff said grading and other work then proceeded, and the oval’s concrete work has been completed. The interior of the oval will now use pavers rather than the originally planned “organic lock” surface to better accommodate vehicles and high foot traffic.

- Programming and contracts: Major vendors and services already contacted or in contract include Green to Go (electric/onsite electrician support), Finch Audio (sound and lighting), and the evening band Real Rock Revival. Staff said the daytime band remains unbooked and that many headline acts are already committed to other events on the third Saturday in September. Port-a-johns, police planning and several entertainment contracts are described as “in progress.”

- Event logistics and capacity: Staff reported the oval is designed to accommodate up to 100 10-by-10 vendor tents, with additional acreage for inflatables and other activities. The parade route and date remain the same; the Celebrate Wildwood event date is Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025.

- Fundraising and revenue ideas: Commissioners discussed selling commemorative pavers (recognizing commission members and past councils) and expanding banner placements beyond the town center to locations such as Plaza Drive and Monroe Road. Staff will continue sponsorship outreach beyond Wildwood businesses, including contractors and consultants who work with the city.

Commission actions and next steps

- The commission voted to: approve prior meeting minutes, launch the 30 by 30 challenge with a special e-newsletter on Jan. 9, endorse seven revenue/sponsorship items outlined in the memorandum, and allow staff to pursue a redesign of banners and other marketing materials that incorporate the new logo. Members asked staff to report back in February with brainstorming items and to add a contingency planning agenda item for July if construction remains behind schedule.

Quotations and attributions

- Director Munich (Director, Department of Planning and Parks) said the city plans to launch the program on Jan. 9: “So the event will start January 9th.”

- Madam Chair Leslie Edens (Co-chair, Celebrate Wildwood Commission) said after the vote to begin outreach, “We’re doing it, guys. We’re launching it.”

Context and remaining uncertainties

Staff emphasized that some vendor contracts remain incomplete (notably a daytime band and some vendor applications) and that timeline risk exists because site work was delayed by the permit-processing issue; the commission asked staff to prepare a plan B for the July meeting if progress is insufficient. Staff also said the all-inclusive playground project (with Unlimited Play) is in design and will not be complete for the 2025 event but could be a major feature in 2026.

Ending

The commission’s approvals clear staff to begin public outreach and marketing for the anniversary event and to continue vendor contracting and venue work. Commissioners and staff will revisit contingency planning in July and hold a brainstorming agenda item at their February meeting to identify any new activations the commission wishes to fund with realized cost savings.