BOARD SUGGESTS TOURISM RESERVES GO TO SPORTS PROJECT

The Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Advisory Board believes a sports theme project will provide the most immediate return on the use of tourism tax dollars and will enhance recreational opportunities for the city's residents.

The board voted unanimously Wednesday to recommend to the Cape Girardeau City Council that a sports theme project is its No. 1 priority for the use of reserve tourism funds.

"But future consideration should also be given to other proposals such as those submitted by the Colonial Cape Girardeau Foundation and others as projects may develop," said board member Walt Wildman.

"I would not be in favor of any project which would deplete all the reserve funds," said member Pete Poe. "We must keep in mind that the hotel-motel-restaurant license-tax ordinance sets the year 2004 as the sunset for collection of the tourism tax."

The decision to recommend that a sports theme project be the No. 1 consideration for the City Council comes after almost six months of deliberations on eight proposals for funding.

"Our review process has been a long and difficult one," said Robert Hoppmann, chairman of the advisory board. "But we feel we have come up with recommendations that will benefit the interests of the community as a hole," he said.

The memorandum the advisory group has prepared for the City Council contains a number of items the board believes should be considered before any decision is made:

The "sunset" provision.

A contingency fund for 1992-93, which would include funds over and above the budget that is already in effect for the Convention and Visitors Bureau, to be used to assists local events such as the Southeast Missouri District Fair, Riverfest and, or, Aviation Days. In future years this funding should be included in the bureau budget.

The continuation of the bureau at a level similar to what currently exists and a building fund should be established.

"We feel that a free-standing facility for the CVB should be taken into consideration by the City Council," said advisory board member Dan Drury. "If it is not viable at this time, we feel that a building fund should be established."

Hoppmann pointed out that the advisory group embarked on its mission of studying eight proposals six months ago. Included in the proposals were:

Funds for the city's Bicentennial Celebration.

The Colonial Cape Girardeau Foundation project, which includes developing St. Vincent's Seminary into a historical tourist attraction.

A convention and tourism center.

Mount Auburn-Kingshighway Sports Complex.

Shawnee Park soccer field improvements.

Shawnee Park Sports Complex.

Southeast Missouri District Fair advertising.

"Our top recommendation of a sports theme project does not recommend that any specific sports theme project be approved," said Drury. "We'd like to see the city research the feasibility of a single sports proposal that would include the best features of both proposals."

Two sports complex proposals were included in the eight projects the council referred to the bureau board in February.

One of the proposals included improvements to soccer facilities at Shawnee Park and construction of a softball complex at the site. The other also called for soccer field additions, but included softball facilities and other recreation features at a site along Mount AuburnRoad near Kingshighway.

"If the City Council wishes to pursue a sports theme project, we recommend that representatives from the Shawnee Park and Mount Auburn project meet with the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and be given the charge of developing and recommending to the CVB Advisory Board the best combination of proposals," said Hoppmann.

During a brief meeting prior to the board's discussion of the excess tax funds, CVB members discussed their monthly report.

"The Missouri Division of Tourism will hold `Think Tank' meetings throughout the state in August," said CVB director Lyn Muzzy. "The River Heritage regional meeting will be held at Farmington Aug. 18 at 2:30 p.m." The regional meeting was held at Cape Girardeau last year.

Muzzy also said that a Miller Lite (beer) commercial will be filmed in Cape Girardeau next week and will feature Clint Black, a country music star who will appear at the Show Me Center July 22.

"We have been working with Dr. Frank Nickell at Southeast Missouri State University concerning an `Indian Trade Fair/Pow Wow' for next spring," said Laurel Adkisson, a member of the CVB staff. "Nickell has been researching the project and is willing to appear before the board with his proposal."

Adkisson also announced that a "Meeting Planner Showcase" was being planned for late September.

"We'll announce more about this as it develops," she said. "We've sent out exhibitor letters and have a list of more than 400 groups we will invite to the showcase."