SEASIDE – The Seaside Civic and Convention Center had a good year in 2007.

At the regular meeting of the Seaside City Council, Russ Vandenberg, manager of the convention center, presented year-end numbers to the Council and discussed plans for the 2008 year.

“First, I would like to acknowledge some people who have made this last year successful,” said Vandenberg in recognition of his full-time staff and the convention center board that helps guide center operations. “These individuals are very important to me.”

According to Vandenberg’s report, the convention center hosted 96 events in 2007, with attendance totaling 39,918 people. To put that attendance in context, Vandenberg told the City Council that amounted to approximately $23 million, or about $64,000 per day, in economic impact.

To continue to entice new groups to use the Seaside center, the staff developed an “Experience Seaside” tour that takes prospective clients on a helicopter ride over the city and gives them a hotel stay and two meals. According to Vandenberg, this program has been taken advantage of by three prospective clients and has garnered two new conventions.

Vandenberg also highlighted the improvements made to the facility and its component parts, including the plasma screen televisions, a new center logo, new interior signage, new balcony railings, and an improved Web site. Vandenberg said the staff have discovered that approximately 25 percent of new business is generated by the center’s Web presence.

“We are trying to enhance the facility, make it attractive and more usable,” said Vandenberg. “Our goal is to exceed your expectations.”

This year will include more improvements to the building, including the installation of a dropped ceiling in the Pacific Room; that project is slated to begin March 3 and conclude March 19. Vandenberg said the convention center will also have upgraded room dividers in the upstairs rooms, as the current dividers are not soundproof.

“We’re trying to create an environment where clients can better use the facility,” said Vandenberg.

Vandenberg concluded his presentation with a brief discussion of the center’s customer service survey, which is sent out via e-mail to clients. He said the center has a 53 percent rate of return on the surveys and the overall rating of the center’s services is 4.68 out of 5.

“We will definitely strive to increase that number,” said Vandenberg.

In other Council news:

? Bill Hubbard spoke to the Council about beautification of the city during the public comments. Hubbard, who is a member of the Seaside Planning Commission and co-chairman of the 20/20 Vision project, said that in reviewing the visioning survey, 75 percent of respondents said the overall look of the city is what they would most like to change.

“I’m really interested in cleaning up our city,” said Hubbard. “And a beautification process is not a one-time shot.”

Hubbard’s proposal included a plan called “Operation Beautify Seaside: Pick it up, fix it up, paint it up.” The basic outline of the plan is dated to begin in May and includes such suggestions as business involvement, a community clean up day, and a hauling away of debris.

Hubbard’s suggestion nearly came to a vote before the Council decided to officially include it on the agenda for March’s first Council meeting.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said City Council member Tim Tolan. “But I think we’re rushing into this.”

? The Council heard the first two readings of a request by David and Darlene Langlo to annex property on 14th Avenue and Wahanna Road into the city.

? The Council adopted a resolution to adjust the 2007-08 city budget. The budgetary changes include a removal of $60,000 from the business office line item and a redistribution of those funds to library, nondepartmental and community center line items in the general expenditures budget – as well as a redistribution of $50,000 from the public works expenditures contingency to public works and city parks line items. Other line item changes in airport expenditures, special assessment expenditures, Mary Catlin Trust expenditures, and Bancroft expenditures were also approved.

? The Council adopted a resolution to authorize Seaside’s application for an Oregon Department of Transportation grant for “transportation enhancement.” The city is applying for approximately $315,000 to fund the installation of a sidewalk from Avenue G to Avenue M on the east side of U.S. Highway 101.