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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-04-13 - MinutesADVERTISING AND PROMOTION COMMISSION •REGULAR MEETING April 13, 2009 Commissioners Present: Neal Crawford, Lioneld Jordan, Tim Freeman, and Pat Gazzola Commissioners Absent: Bob Davis, Maudie Schmitt, and Robert Rhoads Staff Present: Sandra Bennett, Allyson Twiggs Dyer, Kelli Nixon and Marilyn Heifner CALL TO ORDER Chairman Pat Gazzola called the regular monthly meeting of the Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission to order on April 13 at the Fayetteville Town Center at 2:00 p.m. MINUTES Moved by Crawford, second by Jordan to approve the minutes of the March 9, 2009 meeting. Motion carried. HMR COLLECTIONS Marilyn presented HMR collections for March. Collections were up 4.18%. Year to date collections are up 1.56%. Hotel collections were up 8.28% in March and year to date down -1.29%. Restaurants collections were off -3.02% in March and year to date are off -4.75%. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS • In the absence of Keith Glass, Marilyn presented financial statements for February 09. Revenue for A & P commission was up and expenses were being held down. Moved by Jordan, second by Crawford to approve the financials. Motion carried. CITY ATTORNEY City Attorney Kit Williams reported that the City Prosecutor's office collected $3,834.28 in March. Total collected year to date was $19,711.06. Total outstanding taxes are $26,174 and 2 businesses with no amounts because they haven't submitted forms to the Accounting office. Marilyn reported that 45 restaurants did not pay taxes in March and 23 are at the prosecutor. Thirty-four are closed. CLINTON HOUSE MUSEUM REPORT Kelli Nixon reported on Women's History Month with art display by Virmarie Depoyster. Spring break showed an increase in attendance at the Museum. Natalie McAnally is working on National Register of Historic Places application. May is National Heritage Month and the museum will be expanding exhibits with the help of Special Collections at the U of A. VISITOR BUREAU Allyson Twiggs Dyer reported that the Visitor Center had premiered the bike rental program with the Mayor, Bob Davis, Maudie Schmitt, and Tim. Walmart donated the bikes and KNWA donated the helmets. They are hosting a Hospitality Summit on April 27 at the Town Center, aimed at educational sessions . for hotels, restaurants, and attractions to increase sales and tools to maximize marketing. The Visitor Center store has been open 2 Saturdays with $200 in sales, a 322% increase in sales and a 160% increase in visitors. Wakarusa Music Festival is scheduled for the I" of June at Mulberry Mountain. They will be using • Fayetteville hotels. TOWN CENTER Sandra Bennett reported Town Center recycling operation was in full swing with education of clients and caterers to the new procedures. New security cameras are being installed in the meeting spaces. The staff has embarked on a concentrated sales effort for high school proms and pricing for one-stop shopping for UA events. Staff is working with Brian Crowne for a New Year's Eve and Halloween concert. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT Marilyn reported that the Governor signed the statewide heritage bill (H. B. 2009) and President Obama signed Omnibus Public Land Management Act which includes addition of the Benge and Bell routes to the national Trail of Tears historic trail. It also includes a study for the Butterfield and its inclusion in the national historic trail system. AGENCY REPORT Mike Sells reported that the new campaign was breaking in late April and into May. Visitor's Guide3 is being redesigned as is the website. Jade Gustin reported that the ad sale pages had doubled from last year. Revenue is up 70% to $17,500. Web site will be launching in May. •OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS Botanical Garden report Bill Dollar, president of the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks reported to the commission on the progress of the Botanical Garden and thanked them for the investment the A & P Commission made in the Garden. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, I Marilyn Heifner Executive Director 0