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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-07-09 - Minutes• ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING July 9, 2007 Commissioners Present: Dan Coody, Neal Crawford, Bob Davis, Pat Gazzola, Robert Rhoads, and Maudie Schmitt. Commissioners Absent: David McGeady Staff Present: Marilyn Heifner, Allyson Twiggs, and Jamey Goddard, and Brittany Shell Chairman Pat Gazzola called the regular monthly meeting of the Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission to order on July 9, 2007 at the Fayetteville Town Center at 2:00 p.m. MINUTES Moved by Davis, second by Schmitt to approve the minutes of the May 14, 2007, regular meeting. Motion carried. HMR REVENUES Total collections of HMR tax in May (April sales) were $165,779 a -4.94% decrease over last May. June collections (May sales) were up 3.80% with total collections of $177,594. Year to date decline in HMR revenues is -3.18% • Hotel revenue year to date is almost equally with same sales last year -.0039%. Restaurant revenue declined year to date -5.37%. Marilyn noted the closing of Chloe's, O'Charley's, and Smokey Bones. New restaurants scheduled to open were discussed. FINANCIAL REPORT W. L. Cook introduced members of his firm, John McKinney and Fern Smith. Fern will be moving to Fayetteville from El Dorado and will run this office. Financials did not reflect the appropriation of money for Botanical Garden and Square Gardens. Marilyn will get with agency to ensure financials reflect changes next month. Moved by Coody, second by Rhoads to accept financials. Motion carried. CITY ATTORNEY City Attorney Kit Williams reported that the City Prosecutor's office collected $5,722.89 in May and June to bring the year to date total collected to $32,453.76. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Advertising inquiries continue to be down year to date -26.6%. Brian Clark will report on internet inquiries. We are cooperating with Kathleen Pate of the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum on a 4 city presidential state map. Travel writers were entertained from Oregon and California. Fayetteville will be featured in a guidebook by Betty Martin called "Undiscovered America". • Scott Foresman social studies textbook will also feature Fayetteville. Numerous meetings were held with the agency in the design of the new Visitors Guide and the • sports brochure. The Festival of Ozark Civil War Heritage Reunion was held in June at Pea Ridge. Marilyn met with the 2012 Civil War sesquicentennial commission prior to the reunion. One of their focuses will be the Effect of the Civil war on families. Work on the CVB building continues. Allyson has completed work on her CDME certification and will receive it in July. She will be one of two CDME's in the state. To repair leaks in the parking garage below the plaza will begin in two weeks. They will install a false ceiling and trough system to redirect the leaks. We have not been successful in determining where the leaks originate. Commissioners were notified that on July 19 Marilyn will address the National Parks subcommittee in Washington D. C. regarding the historic trails designation of the Butterfield Trail. On July 19-20, the Arkansas Parks and Tourism Commission will meet in Fayetteville. Commissioners were invited to attend their meeting. On August 5, Marilyn will entertain a delegation from Liberia with Congressman Boozman. CONVENTION VISITORS BUREAU Allyson distributed visitor stats from interviews with visitors since May 30, 2007, regarding their reasons for coming to Fayetteville, length of stay, etc. She will distribute list quarterly to • Commissioners. ICLEI conference will be in town next week with 150 people. Professional Insurance Agents conference will be here next month with another 150 people. Ryan is working on baseball and track events for '08. Shelly worked on a very successful Solar Splash last month and with the Oklahoma/Arkansas Association of Administration Professionals. She has been elected president of the Arkansas IAAP. Julie is very successful in recruiting bus tours. TOWN CENTER REPORT Jamey Goddard reported Town Center statistics for May and June. She indicated a problem in sales can be attributed to John Q. Hammonds donating space for non -profits. Ashden White has been hired for maintenance position. CLINTON HOUSE MUSEUM Brittany Starr presented her report. The street in front of the house has been closed for 6 weeks and has been a challenge for visitors getting to the Museum. She had the presidents wives of South America as guests and a group from Ireland. Brittany was guest speaker for Kiwanis and the Optimists. Movie night was a big success in spite of the road. June 23, she went to Little Rock and met Senator Clinton. She has scheduled private events in July and August. Tim Tarvin with the UA Law School has assigned a student to help her with 501 3 c application. She continues to solicit media coverage for the Museum. • AGENCY REPORT Brian Clark reported on the last 60 days working on the Visitor Guide featuring unique Fayetteville residents and a perfect bound digest size. The Sporting Guide will be a unique tool for Ryan to use in soliciting events. Website updates are complete. Web activity indicates • 68,420 visits year to date. For the next 60 days, work will be completed on the two television spots. He showed the Commissioners still shots taken during the video shooting. They will review media schedule with Marilyn on Thursday. This will include KTHV in Little Rock and cable outside the Little Rock area and banner ads. The print campaign will include the still shots. An e -newsletter is in the works as well. OLD BUSINESS Moved by Rhoads, second by Davis to reaffirm purchase of the building at 21 S. Block and authorization Marilyn Heifner to use $1.1 million from the investment account to purchase the property, sign necessary documents, and pay closing costs. Motion carried. NEW BUSINESS Advertising Agency Contract This is the third year of the second three year contract with Sells Clark as agency of record for advertising. After discussion regarding the process for selecting a new agency, it was moved by Coody, second by Schmitt to solicit requests for qualifications for an agency of record. Motion carried. The Mayor indicated that the city is getting a black eye from towing companies in private lots while parked near Dickson Street. Discussion followed. Crawford stated that he thought it was a • transitional problem until sufficient parking spaces are built. Legislation to regulate non- essential tows did not pass in the Arkansas legislature this year. The Commission convened in Executive Session to discuss an employee issue. No action was taken on their return. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Heifner Executive Director CI