WM looks to change A&P Commission membership guidelines

WM looks to change A&P Commission membership guidelines

Council to alter residency requirements, make- up of board

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Mayor Bill Johnson Councilwoman Ramona Taylor

Mayor Bill Johnson introduced a surprise ordinance to City Council concerning residency requirements for its Advertising and Promotions Commissioners. The A& P oversees the collection and determines uses for the city’s one percent tourism tax on hotels and restaurants. City Council did also hear and pass an ordinance to match state law by beefing up collections granting the A& P audit ability on local eateries and lodging establishments during the last meeting in November.

But wait, there was more.

While loosening up commissioners residency had not been a topic of open discussion or official recommendation in A& P meetings the Mayor again cited the example set in state law to open up the entire county for city A& P representatives and then asked for it to be added it to the same agenda.

“This came from A& P on residency,” said Johnson.

“This ordinance brings it into compliance with state law on residency of the A& P commission. The State law says they can live in the City or the County.

Our ordinance said they can only live in the city.”

According to the Mayor, the A& P struggles keeping the commission stocked.

Last year, A& P commissioners imposed a meeting attendance requirement on themselves to maintain involvement among members. One commissioner was then removed from the A& P for poor attendance.

“They are having difficulty getting reliable board members,” said Johnson.

Restricting the A& P members to West Memphis addresses had not been a crucial problem until recently. Then Commissioner Troy Keeping separated from the states largest tourism attraction, Southland Park Gaming and Racing in West Memphis.

While working there commissioners were satisfied Keeping, a Marion homeowner, also maintained a residence at the casino. The proposed changes to the ordinance would open the doors of opportunity for others in the future to serve on the board.

City Councilman James Pulliaum sits on the A& P and moved the item be added to the agenda. The Mayor pointed out that a unanimous vote was required to alter the agenda A&P

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and City Councilors made it so. Members then voted approval after hearing its first reading.

Two more readings are required at upcoming City Council meetings before the measure passes.

“This will go through our normal process,” said Councilwoman and A& P member Ramona Taylor.

The proposed ordinance not only opens the board to either City or County residents but slices A& P representation into three categories. Two A& P members come from City Council. Four members of the A& P must be owners or managers of hotels, motels or restaurants, with at least three of the four being owners. The final category would allow for a City or County resident to serve a four year term from the public at large.

By John Rech