Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Branding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission reviews brand strategy and proposed mission, vision and values
Summary
Communications staff presented a brand strategy informed by resident surveys and focus groups; the commission broadly supported the direction and asked staff to link the work to January strategic planning and to consider adding sustainability to the proposed values.
Communications Manager Jason Bartalone and Marketing and Engagement Manager Katia Sutherland presented the city’s identity refresh to the commission, framing the work as a values‑led brand strategy rather than a logo exercise.
Sutherland said the strategy is built from “23,000 datapoints” collected via surveys and focus groups and emphasized five community priorities: natural beauty, authentic character, connection/belonging, balance of growth and preservation, and trust/transparency. She summarized the proposed value proposition: “North Port is a forward looking community that offers residents, businesses, and visitors an authentic community, natural beauty, and a thriving future.”
The staff recommendation included a revised mission, vision and a proposed expansion of values from five to seven items (service, enrichment, opportunity, preservation, reliability, accountability, resiliency) to align with city strategic pillars. Sutherland said the in‑house approach reduced the project’s external budget to about $25,000 compared with roughly $100,000 a decade earlier.
Commission feedback was largely favorable. Vice Mayor Langdon said the project is strategic and urged the inclusion of sustainability among values; Commissioner Stokes asked that staff bring the brand work into the city’s public strategic planning session in January for deeper discussion. Multiple commissioners said the outreach and evidence base were persuasive and supported moving forward with additional refinement.
Next steps: staff will workshop mission/vision/values with the commission at the January strategic planning session and return with refined wording and visual options.
