HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 10/10/2000 - JointI HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Joint
Council Meeting of the City of Corpus Christi of October 10, 2000, which were approved by the City
Council on October 17, 2000.
WITNESSETH MY HAND AND SEAL, this 17th day of October, 2000.
Armando Chapa
City Secretary
SEAL
MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
CORPUS CHRISTI CITY COUNCIL AND
CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU BOARD OF DIRECTORS
October 10, 2000 - 12:10 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Samuel L. Neal Jr.
Mayor Pro Tem Melody Cooper*
Javier D. Colmenero
Rex Kinnison
Betty Jean Longoria
John Longoria
Mark Scott
City Staff Present
City Manager David R. Garcia
City Attorney James R. Bray
City Secretary Armando Chapa
Recording Secretary Rachelle P. Ramon
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT
Henry Garrett
Arnold Gonzales
CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU
Bill Pruet, Board Chairman
Vangie Chapa
Bill Goin
Victor Gonzalez
Brad Lomax
Bill Morgan
Govind Nadkarni
Jody Patel
Bert Quintanilla
Linda Routh
Berney Seal
Jim Snow
John Trice
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
Cristina Garza
Yolanda Olivarez
Mayor Neal called the meeting to order in the Basement Training Room of City Hall. City
Secretary Chapa checked the roll and verified that a quorum was present to conduct the meeting. Mr.
Pruet also confirmed that a majority of the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) board members
were present. He said that although the CVB currently does not have a CEO, they are making
progress in many areas and their intention at this meeting was to report that information to the
Council. *Ms. Cooper arrived at 12:14 p.m.
Mr. Seal gave an update on the search for a new CEO. He said Ms. Cynthia Garcia, director
of the city's Human Resources Department, met with the search committee and helped them develop
scoring guidelines and other aspects of the hiring process. He said they are setting a deadline of
November 1st for accepting applications and they hope to have a CEO hired by the end of the year.
Responding to Council members' questions, he read a summary of the job description, noting that
the board wants to hire someone who has had CVB experience and who holds a college degree. Mr.
Pruet noted that the search committee has been meeting weekly.
Mr. Lomax, a member of the Governmental Affairs Committee, said they are committed to
getting the bond issue passed and they support legislation to restore a more traditional school year
schedule (to begin later in August or early September). He said they are also working with the Port
of Corpus Christi Authority, the Regional Transportation Authority and the Downtown Management
District on transportation issues, such as how to more easily and efficiently transport visitors and
Minutes - Joint Meeting
October 10, 2000
Page 2
conventioneers around the city to the hotels and attractions. He said they also support quarterly
meetings between the CVB board and the City Council.
Mr. Jim Snow, a member of the Marketing Committee, said there is a good mix of
stakeholders involved, including representatives of the Texas State Aquarium, the U. S.S. Lexington
Museum on the Bay, hoteliers, and others. Mr. Bill Pettus, who will be handling the CVB's
advertising needs, has met with the committee members to discuss their goals. During their next
meeting, the committee intends to develop a basic advertising plan as well as a multi-year plan. Mr.
Pruet said they are working to maximize the cooperative dollars from local partners.
City Manager Garcia asked about current ad campaigns, such as the "Beaches of Texas." Mr.
Joey Jarreau, CVB Director of Sales and Marketing and Acting CEO, said he is meeting soon with
representatives from Galveston to discuss that campaign. He said they are also working on an audit
of the former Greater Corpus Christi Business Alliance (of which the CVB was a member). Mr.
Snow added that the Beach to Bay guide and the convention guide are both totally supported by
advertising. Mr. Jarreau added that they also have an interim marketing piece they are using to
promote the city at this time.
Mr. Kinnison asked how the CVB is helping to promote specific events, such as the
upcoming Texas Jazz Festival. Mr. Jarreau said they have added a "button" to the CVB's web page
with a link to upcoming events and he discussed the importance of sending out promotional
information ahead of the events. Mr. Longoria commented about Texas Monthly magazine's e-mail
service about upcoming events around the state. Mr. Trice added that the CVB board's strategy is
to not underwrite events but to help market them.
Mr. Scott asked how the CVB integrates marketing on the website. Mr. Jarreau replied that
they link the CVB's site to other sites, such as the Jazz Festival's site. A brief discussion followed
about booking room reservations from the web site and who pays for it. Mr. Pruet said the board is
still studying several issues regarding the web site and they will report back to the Council.
Mr. Jarreau then gave a sales update, referring to figures he distributed regarding the booking
activity. He said the CVB has hired new staff members and they are going after new business,
including finding partners for trade shows for the whole year. As a result, they have been able to add
two new trade shows. He said they are also having monthly meetings with the CVB's partners and
they are encouraging national associations to hold their regional meetings in Corpus Christi. He
added that they also intend to bid on the American Bowling Congress convention for 2006. Mr. Pruet
said the ABC was held in Corpus Christi in 1992 and it can have an economic impact of $60 million
to $70 million. He said they are getting ideas about funding sources for the $500,000 that the
successful bidder will have to have.
Mayor Neal asked if the CVB was doing any marketing with the Buccaneer Commission. Mr.
Jarreau said the former CEO had met with the head of that organization. He also commented how
the CVB assists tour groups that come to Corpus Christi. The Mayor asked if the CVB is marketing
Minutes - Joint Meeting
October 10, 2000
Page 3
the new Ortiz Center at the port, and Mr. Jarreau said they are marketing it as a location to hold
meetings and events. Mr. Longoria asked about plans for the city's 150th birthday, and Mayor Neal
said they have started developing ideas on how to celebrate that in 2002. Mr. Scott noted that there
was an item on the Council's agenda later that day on management of the proposed arena.
Mr. Pruet thanked the Council for allowing them to meet and he welcomed the Council
members to the CVB board meetings. Mrs. Longoria commented on the need for taxi drivers to
better market and promote Corpus Christi, and Mr. Jarreau said they are very attuned to that need.
Mayor Neal commented on the importance of maintaining good communication between the
Council and the CVB. There being no other business, he adjourned the meeting at 1:15 p.m. on
October 10, 2000.
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