Memorandum

City of Lawrence

TO:	Mayor and City Commissioners
FROM:	City Manager David L. Corliss
Date:	August 22, 2007
RE:	Convention and Visitors Bureau and National Heritage Area

On August 28, 2008 the City Commission will consider a proposal from the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage area to change the vendor for the performance of the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.  The Chamber of Commerce has been the City’s long-time vendor for these services, the City has a contract with the Chamber and termination of the services is allowed under the contract with appropriate notice.

As the Commission considers the appropriate organizational structure for this function, there are several important policy and management considerations:

• the importance of continued City oversight in the spending of transient guest tax dollars and the continued fidelity to both statutory and charter ordinance requirements for these funds;
• the role of the City appointed CVB Advisory Board;
• the appropriate level of City involvement and coordination with the proposed larger entity, Destination Management, Inc.

If the Commission concurs in this proposal, staff will begin the process of formalizing the relationships contemplated under the proposal.

Additionally, representatives from the National Heritage Area group have indicated a request to seek City funding for a part of the consultant contract for the development of the National Park Service management plan.