The 2023 City Advertising and Promotion Commission budget was not approved at last week’s Dec. 28 meeting, but commissioners instead clipped through other items on the agenda.
Despite commissioners voicing support for assisting the Parks Department in repair to the bandshell last year, a motion to allocate $250,000 failed 3-2 with Chair Jeff Carter being the final No.
Commissioners Chris Clifton and Carter both said they wanted to see concrete plans from Parks. The question of what the CAPC could legally assist with regarding the repairs was also brought up by both commissioners.
Commissioner Mark Hicks pointed out that the motion was only to set aside the funds, and if funds were needed, they could be moved if the CAPC later deemed them necessary. Commissioner Terry McClung noted that Parks would still have to go to the CAPC to request the money, and mentioned that the CAPC would have excess revenue, thus funds available set aside.
As has been mentioned in Parks Department meetings throughout 2022, the bandshell at Basin Park is suffering from damage due to running water coming up against the backside of the shell from the hillside. The lower foundation of the often used music venue is rotting and commissioners have said that should that damage become too bad, the bandshell’s use would have to be stopped.
Parks has also voiced hope in the past that the CAPC would assist in repair costs, as repairs are just one of many that the department is having to deal with due to previous administrations kicking the can on many maintenance issues until they became major projects.
The commission only filled one seat, approving Chris Jones, owner of the Carriage House lodging property, unanimously. The nomination for Heather Reed, who has had an application in for nearly a year, failed 2-2 with Carter not voting, and another application was tabled.
Clifton will also serve as the new liaison to Paradise Marketing.