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Pleasant Hill says holiday PERCS bonus-card program circulated most of a $20,000 city investment back into local businesses
Summary
City staff told the Economic Development Committee the $20,000 PERCS bonus-card program largely converted into local spending, reporting about a 90% redemption rate and roughly $17,675 accounted as activated; unused bonus balances return to the city after final accounting.
City economic development manager Brett Street reported to the Economic Development Committee on March 18 that a $20,000 city allocation for the holiday PERCS bonus-card program largely returned to local businesses and produced strong participation.
"This is sort of the $20,000 that you had in the August and used for this," Street said, describing the program mechanics and digital payment options. Staff explained activation and transaction fees are covered by the city so purchasers received the full advertised bonus. Staff later quantified overall redemption at roughly $17,675 and estimated a near 90% spend-through of bonus value.
Committee members asked whether the program generated increased sales beyond the bonus amounts. Staff said business owners reported spikes in foot traffic during the promotion, and that any unused bonus-card balances are reclaimed by the city in final accounting rather than disappearing from fiscal records.
Why it matters: staff framed the program as a short-term economic stimulus with marketing benefits for downtown and neighborhood merchants. The committee discussed whether similar incentives should be proposed in future budgets, and staff said continuation or expansion would be a council budget decision.
Next steps: staff will monitor sales-tax receipts and return with numbers where available; any proposal to continue or expand the program would be submitted to the budget committee and then to the full council.
