Commissioner Susan Harman pointed out at last Wednesday’s City Advertising and Promotion Commission workshop that it appeared there had been overspending on some line items. She asked Finance Director Rick Bright to explain, and he replied that the CAPC has a longstanding contract with the Chamber of Commerce to pay for postage for the mailing of Visitor Guides, and the Chamber had initiated a large mailing early in the year to those who requested the guide in the past. Bright said the CAPC was obligated to pay even though the expense put them over budget for that line item. He added, however, the overall budget for the year was looking good.
Harman asked Bright for a list of other expenses the CAPC was committed to for the rest of the year so commissioners could better evaluate the budget. She also noticed expenses on some of the festivals went over budget in 2016 and the return on investment was not what was expected. Her observation sparked a vigorous brainstorming session about the future of festivals.
Bright pointed out the CAPC needed to have clearer contracts with festival promoters, and Harman proposed they begin in 2017 having explicit agreements with promoters regarding what the CAPC will spend on an event. Regarding festivals the CAPC has been promoting, Bright commented, “We’re not the entertaining commission. We’re the advertising commission.”
Festival improvement and effective spending on them, if they are to continue, as well as an exchange of ideas regarding new festivals will continue.
Next regular meeting will be Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m.