HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-05-14 - Minutes• ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
May 14, 2007
Commissioners Present: Dan Coody, Neal Crawford, Bob Davis, Pat Gazzola, David McGeady,
and Maudie Schmitt.
Commissioners Absent: Bob Rhoads
Staff Present: Marilyn Heifner, Allyson Twiggs, and Willistine Smith, and Brittany Shell
Chairman Par Gazzola called the
regular
monthly
meeting of the Fayetteville Advertising
and
Promotion Commission to order
on May
14, 2007
at the Fayetteville Town Center at 1:15
p.m.
FUNDING REQUESTS FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS
After discussion of each project, Commissioners were encouraged by the Chairman to vote with
caution because of decrease in sales tax and potential inability to recover from HMR decline.
Commissioners agreed that if the HMR tax is still running behind or is flat, they will cut back on
October allocations.
The following were approved by the Commission
Airport Terminal
$0
• Arkansas Air Museum
$12,500
The AMP (Arkansas Music Pavilion)
$102000
Arkansas Statehood Days
$ 12000
Art Expo NWA
$0
Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival
$ 12000
Dickson Street History Project
$ 59000
Fall Sports Festival — AAO
$12,000
Fayetteville Arts Festival
$35,000
First Night Fayetteville
$ 100
George's 801" Ann. Music Festival
$ 25000
ICLEI
$ 8,075
Lewis & Clark Urban Adventure Race
$ 12000
Lights of the Ozarks
$20,000
Lions 5K Challenge for Sight
$0
NCAA Baseball Regionals
$10,000
TheatreSquared
$ 3,000
Walton Arts Center— website redesign
$102000
Total allocated $131,575. $36,775 will be taken out of reserve funds.
MINUTES
Moved by McGeady, second by Coody to approve the minutes of the April 9, 2007, regular
meeting. Motion carried.
• HMR REVENUES
Total collections of HMR tax in April (March sales) were $171,562 a 1.43% decrease over last
April. Year to date decline in HMR revenues is -4.49%
Monthly
hotel revenue was down -1.27% in
April.
Year to date hotel collections are down
1.73%.
Restaurant collections were down -5:36%
Center is
this April over last April. To date figures
have not
caught up with last year. They are
down
-5.57%.
FINANCIAL REPORT
W. L. Cook presented financial summary. Year to date actuals vs. budget shows -$26,000.
Moved by Davis, second by Crawford to approve financials. Motion carried.
CITY ATTORNEY
City Attorney Kit Williams reported that the City Prosecutor's office collected $2,964.87 during
April to bring the year to date total collected to $26,730.87.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Advertising inquiries continue to be down year to date. Agency has re -instituted an internet
advertising program which is pay per inquiry.
Marilyn met with Darrin Gray, new Arkansas Parks & Tourism Commissioner. She also met
with Margaret Lemmering from Congressman Boozman's office regarding national certification
• of the Butterfield Stage Route. Visitor Guide has been planned, prepared, and proof. It is at the
printers now.
Auditors for the City from BKD in Ft. Smith are in. Marilyn has provided them the information
which they requested.
John Coleman
has been hired as the City Sustainability coordinator and
the Mayor has offered
his assistance
in working with the
Town Center on such issues. The Town
Center is
implementing
recycling of plastic,
glass and cans with groups using the
Town Center.
CONVENTION VISITORS BUREAU
Ryan is working with Saturday of Champions and a cheerleading event for Tyson complex.
Shelly is working on Solar Splash. Julie is working on group tours and Planes Trains and
Automobiles at the Air Museum.
Allyson reported that the Professional Insurance Agents will be here is summer and has bid for
the Arkansas Festival Association meeting.
TOWN CENTER REPORT
Kodi Lee has been hired as Event Coordinator for the Town Center. Willistine Smith reported
• that the Town Center sales were down for the month and for the year. Contracts for the month
total $30,124.50
CLINTON HOUSE MUSEUM
Brittany Starr presented her report. She continues to solicit media coverage for the Museum.
She hosted the first movie night at the house and it was well attended. She attended Media Days
in Russellville. Brick order is being finalized.
Sales increased 284% from 2006 to 2007.
AGENCY REPORT
Brian Clark thanked Marilyn, Allyson and the Visitors Bureau staff for the team effort in
producing the Visitors Guide. A sample should be ready this week.
The Town Center website is now live. It is easier to navigate than the old site.
Brian presented a summary of the web stats. 60% of visitors added it to their favorites. Average
visit is 4 minutes, 50 seconds. Town Center had over 1500 visits, Experience Fayetteville has
12,500 visits, and Clinton House Museum had 560 visits. Key words were Clinton, House,
Museum. In April, we had 14,562 hits on all sites.
OLD BUSINESS
Marilyn reported that $1.1 million will be needed from reserve for purchase of building at 21 S.
• Block. This is necessary because $300,000 was put into reserve because of delay of purchase
from November 2006. Purchase is to close in July.
NEW BUSINESS
None
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
i
Marilyn Heifner
Executive Director
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