Tripepi Smith logoIn March 2025, the City of Marina partnered with Tripepi Smith to lead a special community outreach campaign: “For Marina, By Marina.” The goal of this initiative was to gather authentic resident input on how to allocate a potential $3 million mitigation payment to the City from California American Water Company (Cal-Am).

The City would receive this payment if Cal-Am ever constructs its proposed desalination facility on Marina’s coastline. While the City strongly opposes the desalination plant due to its potential environmental and social impacts on Marina, the Council deemed it critical to conduct independent community outreach about the potential fund allocation to improve coastal access and amenities.

“The City Council felt it was vital that our residents’ voices were heard during this process,” said Marina City Manager Layne Long. “It was clear we needed to take matters into our own hands, and Tripepi Smith stepped up to the plate. With limited time and a tight budget, Tripepi Smith executed a robust campaign that successfully captured our community’s input and gathered significant resident feedback. It was the most robust effort we have launched in recent times.”

The “For Marina, By Marina” campaign spanned from March 11-April 8 and entailed two community workshops (one virtual and one in-person), an online feedback form and outreach via a dedicated website, citywide mailer, media coverage and social media advertising. The input collected was compiled in a final engagement report that received unanimous approval from the Marina City Council in April.

Senior Business Analyst Peter Johnson led the initiative, with support from President Ryder Todd Smith, and Junior Business Analyst Avi Vemuri. The Tripepi Smith graphic design team, led by Art Director Kevin Bostwick and Senior Graphic Designer Kjerstin Wingert, stepped up to produce the design materials in record time. These materials included a custom logomailerflyer, social media graphics, handoutsZoom backgrounds and custom presentation slides. In addition to the advertising and design components, the team also drafted a press release that earned local news coverage, spreading awareness to the Marina community about the campaign.

“Our team understood how important this issue was to the Marina community, and we rapidly mobilized our resources to partner with the City,” said Peter. “I’m extremely proud of our team for the effort that went into this. The final report is a great summation of the hard work of all parties, including Marina residents.”

To learn more, visit the For Marina, By Marina webpage.

About the City of Marina

Incorporated in 1975, Marina is the newest city on the Monterey Peninsula. Over 22,000 residents occupy the city’s 9.8 square miles. It started as a small town bedroom community to a small, diversified, vibrant city. The City aims to provide a desirable residential and business community in a natural setting, insulated from the common urban sprawl.

About Tripepi Smith

Tripepi Smith is a California-based marketing, technology and public affairs firm that serves for-profit, nonprofit and public agencies. Its unique mix of marketing and technology prowess provides a competitive advantage to agencies seeking to leverage the internet to achieve their communication goals. The firm provides full content creation services, including: ghost writing, collateral development, photography, video production, aerial imagery, search engine optimization, email marketing campaigns and website design and execution. Tripepi Smith’s diverse clients include: City of American CanyonCity of CalabasasCity of Culver CityCity of CupertinoCity of Daly CityCity of DuarteCity of Grover BeachCity of Indian WellsCity of La Cañada FlintridgeCity of Lake ForestCity of Livermore, City of MalibuCity of NapaCity of PalmdaleCity of ParamountCity of TracyCalChoice Energy AuthorityCalifornia Joint Powers Insurance AuthoritySanta Clara County Fire DepartmentCosta Mesa Sanitary DistrictRowland Water DistrictCalifornia City Management FoundationRenne Public Law GroupWest Coast ArboristsScripps CollegeBlind Children’s Center and Climatec.