Click on the title of this post for viewing.
Or: http://www.ci.glenwood-springs.co.us/packet/Addtl%20Info%20-%20Draft%202-3-11%20Agenda.pdf
Item #10: 'Discussion and/or Action on 2012 Tourism Marketing Contract' makes this an upcoming meeting that is extremely important to the citizens of 81601.
All citizens are urged to watch this council meeting.
You do not have to buy into council's mandate that they want you to appear in person. You can review and watch from the privacy and comfort of your own home. Simply go to the City of Glenwood Springs homepage and click on 'live feed'.
Should you miss the meeting, you can now also simply go to the video library link under the City Council sub-category and pull it up on file. Conveniently broken out into sections of meeting so that you do not have to endure sitting through the entire meeting.
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In the past, smalltown7 has posted 'after the fact'. Always hoping that their belief in giving every entity under Current Watch the benefit of the doubt would bring same to be forthcoming. That turned out to not be the case, yet the wheels of rightful things kept turning and the end result of victory came to the voices behind the scenes.
Now, that the tourism marketing portion of the Accommodations Tax is safely in City oversight hands and your new board has held firm gaining control of the 2011 contract and vendor, what faces the citizens of 81601 is the last section of your list of concerns.
Do you get an RFP for all future awards, including 2012? Is there going to be public awareness of the results of audits forthcoming from private hands? Is Strawberry Days truly a civic event and if so, why is there no city oversight or handling of all the money pertaining to the event? So much has torn Glenwood Springs apart in the battle to get Ordinance #12, Series of 2010, where are we now and how do we pull together? What more lies ahead that is in the public eye?
As these concerns unfold over the next few months, Glenwood Springs also has a City Council election coming up. A very, very important one with (4) major seats in play.
81601 has some very strong and incredibly capable competitors stepping up for these seats. This is likely the most important election for City Council and Mayor 81601 has ever known. The smalltown7 group urge anyone qualified by living in the correct ward who desires to do what is best for Glenwood Springs to step up.
This time, there is no longer a fear of retaliation nor is there a need to be concerned over back-door politics. smalltown7 makes it known now that Russ Arensman is the only incumbent they feel could be a possible to stay. If you will go back and watch all videos and read minutes from the past few years, you will see that Arensman has grown throughout the bloodshed of 2009 and 2010. He has strong competition who is also very fit. smalltown7 makes it known at this time that their decision is not to disclose their personal choices. That decision making turned out to be very wise as Ordinance #12, Series of 2010 began to wind up to really be possible.
You, the citizens of 81601, have done an incredible job with your new board. smalltown8 is greatly encouraged and so very glad to see the growth.
As this group looks at the tasks remaining, they see that once again, the slippery slope of disinformation and/or omission, is still a factor attempting to side-track your progress.
"It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen." John Wooden
We are not certain exactly how to do it, but have decided that a vital role for this group is to keep pointing out the little details:
This evening (January 20, 2011) City Council meets.
http://www.ci.glenwood-springs.co.us/packet/agenda.htm
- The two items of likely significance at this meeting are unfortunately at the discretion of Council to disclose.
- Those items are #5A pertaining to approval of minutes from special closed door meeting held January 12, 2011 and Item #9 Council Reports on Board, Committee and Commission Meetings.
- Relevant to both item #5A and Draft Agenda for February 3, 2011 are the meeting dates of the new tourism oversight and promotion board. http://www.ci.glenwood-springs.co.us/boards/2010_MeetingDates.pdf
- If you have been following the progress of Ordinance #12, Series of 2010 and 81601's new board, then you are aware that the meeting held on January 13, 2011 was the first meeting after they had set their mandate that in order for approval of the 2011 Tourism Marketing Contract to be given, both oversight of spending in all contracts by the vendor (and) the removal of accounting from the Chamber of Commerce vendor and the Chamber Board. Accounting to be placed into private hands for accounting and audit purposes.
- Located for your review on older minutes are Leo McKinney's comments that he was wondering if the tourism board could be stopped from their executive session request last fall.
- Located for your review on older minutes is Dave Sturges placing a disclaimer of liability on to the meeting record after the board's mandate was given.
- Yet, our council is verifiably not transparent in all matters pertaining to the accommodations tax and have been that way for decades.
- A very important area that voters need to ask some hard questions about are the number of closed door sessions this council has gone into. The dates of their doing so are significant and will likely reveal how significant as the months ahead unfold in the public eye. For now, smalltown7 urges you to keep a close eye on upcoming ventures and awards of contracts where the accommodations tax are concerned. Ask questions on closed door meetings. Check with your tourism board members and make sure they are comfortable with where they are at between their last meeting of January 13, 2011 and council's agenda for February 3, 2011.
- The only 'rush' there has ever been is the one that puts the tourism contract into the coffers of the Chamber as the sole source vendor all these years. That is no longer the citizens of 81601's concern and you can safely and freely focus on your goals and aspirations for revitalizing the assets of our community.
