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Mr. Price asked what managing press events meant and would it mean that anyone <br />can call and say what Avant should do. Mr. Vogel said the management meant of <br />the event itself; contacting the media and assuring that the venue is appropriate. <br />The company would not be a censor but rather would work to assure the best- <br />managed event for the City. It is not to manage the announcement but rather to <br />bring things together. <br /> <br />Mr. Vogel stated there is a difference between content management and managing <br />content. There is a difference in determining what the message is and how it is <br />communicated. The City would supply the content and could use Avant skills in <br />how to communicate it. The City would use Avant’s skills to make sure it was <br />professionally done, has full utility for the media and maximizes the exposure of the <br />message to audiences targeted for that communication. <br /> <br />Ms. Ricci verified that it was not for individuals to ask for assistance on their own <br />agenda. Mr. Vogel stated that they take directions from the City Manager. He said <br />the Council would have to give direction on what type of censorship if any would be <br />used with blogs. He said what Avant wants to do is to develop blogs that are <br />appropriate to specific marketing initiative and promoting the community. Ms. Ricci <br />asked why the City needed a brand. Mr. Vogel said if you do not manage your <br />image others would do it for you. He said the external audience would be incoming <br />retail as well as business investment in this community. Mr. Vogel said a brand will <br />bring consistency and is reinforced time after time. As you communicate to people, <br />they will understand what this community is all about without question. Mr. Vogel <br />said that Avant deals with enterprise branding and does not represent a municipal <br />structure and is not going to necessarily represent the geography but it will <br />represent the people of the community. <br /> <br />Mr. Crow asked if the City Manager asks Avant to write a speech for any one of the <br />Council, then is it Mr. Vogel’s opinion that they would help with the speech?. Mr. <br />Vogel said that they would take the direction from the City Manager relative to their <br />work assignment. Mr. Crow asked if the Council could ask them directly if they <br />thought they worked for a particular Councilmember. Mr. Vogel said if he were <br />writing a speech for Mr. Crow, it would be relative to an initiative of the City. Vogel <br />said Avant is not going to be used for political reasons because Avant is initiative <br />based in the communications of those activities and initiatives. <br /> <br />Mr. Price stated the allocation was made without detail and now with all the <br />nepotism out there with no detail and this gentleman says he is directed by the City <br />Manager. The City Manager and the Mayor designed this, that is an individual, than <br />who is to say the same things won’t happen as there are no safe guards in place. <br />Mr. Price could not see how you would allocate the $100,000 up front. <br /> <br />Mayor Welsch stated that the contract was available to Council earlier and she <br />noted that she had nothing to do with the development of this contract or the work <br />product. She said it was between Avant and Mr. Walker. <br /> <br />Ms. Ricci said the Council can say up front that this is not to be used for any political <br />means to further a personal agenda of any Councilmember and can only be used <br />for the City. She stated she would like this to be made a part of the agreement. <br /> 5 <br /> <br /> <br />