Mayor proposes contract changes for BCTF

Talk about it

Jamestown Mayor Katie Andersen presented her proposed changes to the contract agreement between the city and the Buffalo City Tourism Foundation at BCTF’s executive board meeting Friday.

Essentially the major change would be eliminating the $75,000 the Jamestown Stutsman Development Corp. pays annually and replacing with funds from city lodging and restaurant taxes.

“I’m trying to be true to what the voters wanted us to do with those dollars and what the voters wanted us to do with restaurant and lodging dollars,” Andersen said.

BCTF could still apply to JSDC for the funds on an annual basis if the proposed changes take place.

The proposed changes come as a way to sever ties between BCTF and the city, thus making BCTF a independent entity run on tax dollars.

Currently BCTF receives 100 percent of the city’s motel tax, 40 percent of the net city restaurant tax and nearly $200,000 annually in combined JSDC operating revenue and grant funds.

Andersen’s proposed changes will be heard by the City Council Tuesday, where City Attorney Ken Dalsted will present his proposed changes to the contract between the two entities.

“Obviously if we’re not going to be appointing board members and having this tie to this group services need to be clear,” Andersen said.

Other primary changes Andersen suggested were about the services BCTF offers.

A change that was suggested was to not promote volunteerism at the tourist locations, as most volunteer needs are handled already by RSVP+.

“I think there are some pros and cons that everybody should weigh in about those services,” she said.

One drawback is that if the city contracts with a private entity, like what the BCTF could become, other groups or businesses could offer to do the tourism promotion services, Andersen said.

A benefit would be that BCTF could restructure itself as far as the number of people serving on the board of directors.

“I think we’re not that far away on the contract,” said Alden Kollman, BCTF president-elect.

In other news, BCTF:

* agreed to grant up to $10,000 for officials and marketing to Jamestown College for a basketball tournament in February. The tournament would be a qualifier for a national tournament.

* agreed in principle to fund up to $3,000 for marketing for the Jamestown Rural Fire Department’s annual ice fishing derby, if a price breakdown for specific costs is presented.

Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455

or by email at brodgers@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news