City staff recommend marketing contract and unveil Centennial logo date

City communications staff updated the City Council on June 10 about planning for Boca Raton’s 100th anniversary in 2025 and the marketing work needed to support year‑long events.

Anne Marie Connolly, communications and marketing manager, said the city issued an RFP, shortlisted three firms for in-person presentations, and selected Merritt Mile; a resolution to approve the agreement is on the consent agenda for the council’s next meeting. Connolly said the initial contract term is 18 months and is scheduled to start July 1, 2024.

Connolly and Amy D’Norcio, amphitheater community events manager, outlined implementation milestones. The Centennial logo unveiling is scheduled for June 24, 2024; staff said the larger centennial celebration will center around a weekend in May 2025 with programming that will begin in January 2025. Staff described an 18-month delivery plan including a Centennial website, street banners, public-art installations (permanent and temporary), vehicle wraps, and a potential legacy public-art project to be unveiled at the Centennial weekend.

Staff also described an "Ode to Boca" initiative (odetoboca.com) that invites residents to submit short, ZIP-code–level odes; selected pieces will be incorporated into public-art placemaking. Staff said some centennial items were funded through a May budget amendment and listed city-issued branded items, entryway signs, storm drain markers and library-card branding among planned deliverables.

No formal vote occurred at the presentation; Connolly said approval of the Merritt Mile agreement is expected on the consent agenda at the council’s next meeting.