HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-05-09 - Minutes•
GROUP:
DATE:
PRESENT:
ABSENT:
ADVERTISING &
May 9, 1994
Coy Kaylor
Joe Fennel
Woody Bassett
Jon Davidson
and others
PROMOTION COMMISSION
Susan Stirewalt
Ben Mayes
Marilyn Johnson
Fred Hanna, Linda McBride, Jim Waselues
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Coy Kaylor at
2:05 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce.
MONTHLY REPORTS:
MINUTES
Moved by Fennel, second by Bassett to approve the minutes of
the April meeting. Motion carried.
FINANCIAL
Ben Mayes presented the financial report for April. HMR
collections were $70,193 in April, an increase of 14.78% over
1993 collections. Total year to date collections are
$265,958, an increase of 19.88%. April expenditures were
$96,032. Year to date expenditures $290,905.
Motion by Fennel, second by Bassett to approve the financial
report. Motion carried.
AGENCY REPORT
Susan Stirewalt and Brad Ruth evaluated the 1994 media
campaign to date. The goal of increasing inquiries by 100
over 1993 has been surpassed with a 25.3% increase in the
first 4 months of 1994. The 1994 plan called for increased
advertising support in tourist markets with high response
numbers based on four year averages. The perceived
demographic target for the consumer segments remains for
Adults 25-44 with children and Adults 55+ without children.
Publications were reviewed to meet these segments and
demographics.
Group Travel/Meetings and Conventions Segment publications
were also reviewed.
Moved by Fennel, second by Bassett to approve the media
recommendations for the remainder of 1994 and to approve the
agency report. Motion carried.
ACTIVITY REPORT
Marilyn Johnson reviewed April activities of Convention
Visitor Development. 800 number calls received in April
tide
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showed a 200% increase over 1993. Total inquiry responses
for March were 7450 Year to date inquiries received are
14,552.
Johnson was elected vice president of Northwest Arkansas
Tourism Association for 1994-95. The Lights of the Ozarks
photo will be featured on the state AIDC Motion Picture
Development calendar for 1995. The Lights of the Ozarks
festival has been nominated for the American Bus Association
Top 100 Events in North America. Convention Activity and
meetings attended were reviewed.
A funding request brochure is currently being designed.
Moved by Bassett, second by Fennel to approve the Convention
Visitor Report. Motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS:
C.C.E. FUNDING DISBURSEMENT
Ben Mayes explained his dilemma regarding funding
disbursement for C. C. E since the finance department had
transferred the money from reserve account into special
projects account and the Commission has a policy that
invoices or paid receipts would be necessary for a check to
be written. Ben requested the Commission to give the ok to
issue a check which Dean Dutton has indicated would better
facilitate acquiring matching funds if they had the check.
Kaylor said he looked at the money as a grant to C. C. E.
Bassett moved to write C. C. E. a check and that they be
asked to report their disbursement of A & P funds and
matching money within 12 months, second by Fennel. Motion
carried.
WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
A revised proposal from Washington County Historical Society
was reviewed. Marilyn Johnson recommended that the Society
be given a grant of $10,000 which would cover the brochures,
porches, lighting, and parking. Bassett stated his concern
about making the grant a yearly subsidy. Fennel said he had
the same concern as Bassett.
Bassett inquired about other sources of revenue. Herb Lewis
and Ann Sugg reported revenue as rent from Ridge House,
gifts, sale of publications, and ice cream social revenue.
Bassett asked if there was prospect for those to increase so
A & P won't be requested to subsidize the Society each year.
Bassett said brochure development, repair of porches,
upgrading the exterior lighting and paving the parking lot
were good and fair uses of A & P funds. Bassett moved that
the Washington County Historical Society be given $12,500,
second by Fennel. (For advertising and promoting the city
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and for operation of a tourist oriented facility) Motion
carried.
NEW BUSINESS
NATA CO-OP
Susan Stirewalt reviewed participation by the A & P
Commission in last year's Northwest Arkansas Tourism
Association tour guide. 140,000 copies are published.
Fayetteville needs to be represented as the largest tour city
in Northwest Arkansas. Kaylor stated that the biggest draw
to Fayetteville is it's attractions. He suggested having a
bigger city ad focusing on the attractions.
Marilyn recommended that the A & P Commission set aside
$6,048 to be used for 6 pages. .Kaylor moved that the A & P
extend the offer to attractions, second by Davidson. Motion
carried (3 - 0)
OTHER BUSINESS
Bassett initiated discussion on funding public recreation
facilities and providing money for maintenance of the square
gardens. He moved to take out of escrow the $700,000 for a
convention center and use $600,000 for public recreation
facilities and $100,000 for square garden.
Kaylor said he had .mixed emotions about the proposal. It is
a good idea, but must be tourist related or we can't spend
the money.
Bassett said there are no case laws interpreting the uses of
A & P funds. The legislature amended the statute to include
that money may be used for the construction, reconstruction
and operation of public recreation facilities. Tournaments
bring in a lot of tourist dollars. The Square Gardens
promote the City more than anything else.
Kaylor said he would have to see a plan before he votes on
spending A & P money. Bassett said he wants to free the
money for the people to ask for money for the parks. Kaylor
said the football, tennis, baseball, etc. groups need to get
together with a coordinated unified plan.
Bassett said the Parks and Recreation groups are looking to
the Mayor's office for guidelines. The way to touch more
people is through baseball and softball. The square gardens
has to have money available to maintain them in the future.
It is unreasonable to make decisions in a vacuum. He sees
substantial amounts of money being spent on capital
improvements.
Fennel said the HMR tax was started 15 years ago to promote a
convention center. He is concerned with the 1.6 million
dollar annual budget of Parks and Recreation and how it is
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being spent. Our youth are important and he does a lot for
youth but compared with $1.6 million, $600,000 isn't much.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at
4:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Marilyn Johnson
Director
Convention and Visitor Development