COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Function
The 15700 account funds the Community Relations Department. One hundred percent (100%) of
funding for the Community Relations Department is drawn from hotel/motel taxes and associated
taxation/fees and as such carries special considerations in application/use related to governing
legislation. Hotel/motel tax revenues support the General Fund by a percentage, annually, but no
residential or commercial taxes support the Community Relations Department. The department carries
the dual role of promoting the community that supplies and is served by the general fund supported
activities/services and departments but derives funding for the work from tourism revenue and tourism
objectives apply. The Community Relations Department Director voluntarily maintains an elected Board
leadership role (without compensation) in county tourism management to support tourism and grow
funding which supports the department as well as the annual monetary benefit to the General Fund.
The department articulates complex processes, ideas and governmental actions for productive
communication and calls to action for/with/by citizens and other audiences for overall and strategic City
of Smyrna concerns and image outcomes with anticipated outcomes specific to community
improvement/growth in addition to communication and image objectives – accomplished through
various and changing ways and communication platforms.
The department manages and influences employer and community image (at a minimum) through
brand development, brand management/promotion and adaptation with strategic and targeted
messaging, production and approval of communication pieces (visual or otherwise) as needed, various
impactful events and activities as well as manages media relations (including proactive measures to
avoid or correct negative outcomes), manages social media, and practices proactive crisis avoidance and
provides crisis communication and management. The department director provides input in
management of public relations/image matters and issues for the City of Smyrna across departments, as
an organization-wide management function. Department director also provides public relations counsel
to administration, elected officials as well as direction to staff and departments for overall City of
Smyrna concerns.
Tools, professional abilities and mechanisms of department staff and service delivery include (but are
not limited to) creative and professional solutions, advertising, marketing, design, brand development
and management, written and visual communication pieces, strategic events creation and/or
management, social media management (including overall strategy and standards) and delivery,
professional knowledge and practices as well as website development and management (including
overall strategy and standards), along with other tools and processes. The department also works with
special projects in various capacities for various objectives.
The Community Relations Department oversees production and execution of an aggressive schedule of
events ranging in size from a few hundred to 40,000+ attendees which includes a five-month+ series of
weekly food truck gatherings titled “Smyrna Food Truck Tuesday,” a series originated and managed by
112