The Feb. 22 meeting of the City Advertising and Promotion Commission held a long agenda that included the approval of funding requests that had originally been deferred at their last meeting.
The Operations Director for Opera in the Ozarks had originally requested $7,500 but any single marketing support request can only be up to $5,000 so the request defaulted to the maximum amount. The request would cover a portion of a total $65,000 marketing budget for the Opera whose season runs in the summer, but there are plans to extend that season from two to ten months of the year.
Commissioners questioned the estimated 250 lodging guests out of 5,000 attendees the Opera provided, voicing belief that the true number of “heads-in-beds” to be higher. The plans for the Opera to extend its season also include a revamp of staff and student housing, as well as a veteran’s retreat during the year.
Further in music, Jack Moyer and Mary Howze spoke on the return of Blues Fest in the form of the Eureka Springs Blues Party, blending blues, rock and funk with the Basin Park Hotel hosting on June 2 and 3. Their request was $5,000.
Both Moyer and Howze made clear that the event is not meant to only include the Basin Park Hotel and that they were seeking partnerships with other venues for the weekend to make this festival city-wide. The Basin will handle the bulk of marketing with any venues wishing to participate with the music theme not required to charge for entry or pay to be included in the schedule of music the Basin advertises, only to inform Howze they were participating.
Commissioners were receptive to the plans for the event as well as the fact it would take place the weekend after Memorial Day as weekends after holidays are often slower. Moyer also explained that the goal is to create a “signature” event for town to help tourists identify Eureka Springs with live music. Moyer also voiced a hope the CAPC would book the bandshell for the weekend.
Jason, Chair of Springtime in the Ozarks requested $3,000 in marketing support for the event’s 46th year. Ten headline speakers as well as other speakers for workshops will attend and the event will utilize the Auditorium this year. The request was for flyers to Alcoholics Anonymous Members and ads in the publication AA sends to members each year.
Commissioner David Avanzino questioned why the request was not for the total $5,000 max saying that the event fills up lodging in town. “Because we’re prudent,” was Jason’s response, which elicited laughs from commissioners. He explained that they do not do outside advertising beyond to AA members so there was no need for more than the requested amount. The event will be in late April.
3B OffRoad Park also requested $5,000 in marketing support for Jeep Fest on May 19, which will include obstacle course, parades, chili cook-off and other events. The event is part of the national “Jeeps go Topless” and is a fundraiser for TrailAhead, a non-profit that teaches underserved kids ATV safety.
All requests were approved unanimously, 4-0.
Website a sore spot for commissioners
Scott Bardin, who was made interim director during the commission’s last meeting, gave a breakdown for commissioners of all that had been worked on in his first few weeks at the position, including the need for the alcohol license for the Auditorium needing renewal by the end of the month; candidates interviewed for the position as office coordinator; and issues with the AC and fire alarm systems. He also said that work on 4th of July activities and shows at the Auditorium for the year were being done.
During Public Comments citizen Beau Satori told commissioners that their budget for Independence Day was only a fraction of what it should be, saying that it should be closer to $100,000. He also noted that there are broken links on the CAPC’s current website and links going to sale or porn sites. He also voiced frustration that pages meant to be dedicated to shops and galleries were not providing comprehensive information.
This sparked discussion during the Director’s Comments and later in the meeting both on the current website and the website that Paradise Marketing had presented to commissioners. Commissioners generally agreed that the new website Paradise had presented was not ready to go-live. Avanzino questioned the use of influencer content about Eureka Springs at the top of event calendar pages, concerned that the website was being used to advertise their content.
Discussion focused mostly on page design changes and making the website less “clunky.” Chair Chris Clifton noted that these changes needed to be done quickly as the CAPC needs the website up soon, though he generally agreed with commissioner’s change requests. Commissioners were alarmed at the information of broken links and said they would investigate them to get them fixed. They also said that information on the new website for gallery pages and businesses would be more detailed and what visitors see on the listings landing pages would be randomized so no business is favored over others.
Other Items
- Commissioners briefly discussed moving meetings down to the basement of the Auditorium and whether or not meetings should be only audio recorded or video recorded as well. Nothing came of the discussion.
- Meeting times for the CAPC moved from 6 p.m. to 3 p.m. with unanimous vote, though if the two members who were not present at the meeting dissent to the change, the commission will revisit the time change.
- The commission approved the job descriptions for Tourism Director and Office Coordinator; the former so commissioners could begin posting the position and the latter so Bardin could finish seeking out a candidate for the position.
- The commission may look to speak with City Council to change the tax reporting form used by the CAPC. Bardin said he had worked with the last Office Coordinator to create a new tax form that would give the CAPC more detailed information on where tax dollars were coming from at each business. The form itself was established by council and thus would take their approval to change.
- David Avanzino was made the contract signer for all contracts at the CAPC.