West Memphis could merge tourism, civic center departments

West Memphis could merge tourism, civic center departments

Move would put promotions, RiverPAC under one roof

news@theeveningtimes.com

Streamline, consolidate, improve focus, mobilize, increase efficiency — it makes a good to-do list, especially for taxpaying stakeholders concerned with government spending.

During their November meeting, the West Memphis A& P explored merging the Office of Tourism with RiverPAC and the West Memphis Civic Complex, using a Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) model.

The streamlined organization would eliminate one director-level position and dedicate one department to bringing meetings, conventions and tourists to the Gateway City.

City Councilwoman Ramona Taylor and City Human Resource Manager Janice Coleman teamed up to present the idea to A& P commissioners. Coleman gathered information from cities in Tennessee that use the model and presented them as examples for commissioners to consider.

“We would have one director instead of two directors,” said Taylor. “With one director having turned in his retirement, it gives us a chance to restructure and do what is being done nationally with a Conventions and Visitors Bureau. Facilities and marketing managed out of one facility.”

CVB were defined as a destination marketing organization. The A& P derives its revenue from a one percent restaurant and hotel tax. Those funds are used in turn to develop more tourism. Putting the city meeting and convention space directly in line under tourism would put a greater focus on RiverPAC and Eugene Woods as a destination. The upgrades in sound and technology for computer based presentations in the Woods center along with repainting and refurbishing the buildings put the city assets in a better position for marketing. As the rehab completes the A& P also intends to get a marketing consultant to actively promote the city meeting space.

“It is very similar to what we have except the River-PAC directors position,” Said Coleman. “We’d take the that position and the Tourism Director position and just make it one position, Executive Director of Conventions and Visitors Bureau.”

The model organization chart presented places a CVB Executive Director under the Mayor and over a Facilities Manager and a Technical Director. The Executive Director would have dotted line accountability to the A& P Commission. To implement the idea, no hiring or termination would be needed, instead reorganization puts RiverPAC and Eugene Woods Center staff under the current Tourism Director. Coming out of the idea everyone is on the same team renamed CVB.

“They will all have some of the similar roles they have now plus additional responsibilities,” said Taylor.

The Facilities Manager would manage operations in both PAC and the Woods center. Currently those duties are divided.

Taylor advanced the idea at the November meeting with hopes to have the reorganization complete to coincide with the 2017 budget.

“The reason we are trying to push a little bit is our new budget year begins January 1 and it makes it nice and clean for everybody,” said Taylor.

By John Rech