The 2011 State of the City Luncheon, hosted by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, was a big success.
For the first time in recent history, the event sold-out three weeks in advance and it drew a waiting list of people eager to attend. The Chamber sold more than 500 seats to the luncheon, held at the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa. In the past five years, attendance at the luncheons has hovered around 480 each year.
Toni Padron, the Chamber's vice president and COO, said people seemed interested in hearing what Mayor Matt Hall had to say at his first luncheon as the city's top elected official.
"There was a lot of interest out there in seeing what he would say as the first mayor in 24 years," Padron said. "People wanted to hear his ideas on where the city is going as it moves forward."
One big change was the introduction of a Q-and-A session moderated by Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ted Owen.
Hall answered questions, fielded from the audience, about several topics including the NRG-West power plant, the desalination plant, upgrading the Crossings at Carlsbad gold course and the construction of a new city hall.
In his prepared remarks, Hall reached out to the business leaders in the room, saying that a big part of the city's mission is making sure all businesses in the city are profitable.
Hall also highlighted the city's efforts to cooperate with other North County representatives.
"In the past we've looked at one another often as competitors," he said. "After sitting and listening to businesses and their thoughts, their wants, their needs, it's become obvious that the cities that surround us are not my competitors, but they're my allies. Our competitors are Texas, Washington, North Carolina and Tennessee."
He said the mayors already have monthly meetings to focus primarily on transportation issues, but promised that their collaboration is going "the next level."
"My hope, my dream, and this is as I speak for the council, is to work with the mayors and their councils to bring economic development, not only to Carlsbad, but to all of North County," he said. "We truly have something to offer. We can be competitive, but we need to combine our assets and combine our energies in order to do that."
Event sponsors were Life Technologies, NRG-West, SDG&E and Tri-City Medical Center.
For the first time in recent history, the event sold-out three weeks in advance and it drew a waiting list of people eager to attend. The Chamber sold more than 500 seats to the luncheon, held at the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa. In the past five years, attendance at the luncheons has hovered around 480 each year.
Toni Padron, the Chamber's vice president and COO, said people seemed interested in hearing what Mayor Matt Hall had to say at his first luncheon as the city's top elected official.
"There was a lot of interest out there in seeing what he would say as the first mayor in 24 years," Padron said. "People wanted to hear his ideas on where the city is going as it moves forward."
One big change was the introduction of a Q-and-A session moderated by Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ted Owen.
Hall answered questions, fielded from the audience, about several topics including the NRG-West power plant, the desalination plant, upgrading the Crossings at Carlsbad gold course and the construction of a new city hall.
In his prepared remarks, Hall reached out to the business leaders in the room, saying that a big part of the city's mission is making sure all businesses in the city are profitable.
Hall also highlighted the city's efforts to cooperate with other North County representatives.
"In the past we've looked at one another often as competitors," he said. "After sitting and listening to businesses and their thoughts, their wants, their needs, it's become obvious that the cities that surround us are not my competitors, but they're my allies. Our competitors are Texas, Washington, North Carolina and Tennessee."
He said the mayors already have monthly meetings to focus primarily on transportation issues, but promised that their collaboration is going "the next level."
"My hope, my dream, and this is as I speak for the council, is to work with the mayors and their councils to bring economic development, not only to Carlsbad, but to all of North County," he said. "We truly have something to offer. We can be competitive, but we need to combine our assets and combine our energies in order to do that."
Event sponsors were Life Technologies, NRG-West, SDG&E and Tri-City Medical Center.