Councilman Questions Need for Public Relations Consultant

Councilman Wes Bannister said Friday that he questions the city’s need to spend $150,000 for a public relations consultant, adding he will “be asking tough questions” when the proposal comes up at Monday night’s City Council meeting.

City staff is recommending that the council hire Basso & Associates Inc. for $150,000 as a public relations consultant.

Bannister said the city already has a public information staff and a newly launched Visitors & Conference Bureau.

“We’re talking about $150,000 in taxpayer money,” he said. “Also I have questions about who would be in charge of this consultant. I’m not sure if the city would be in charge or if the VCB (Visitors & Conference Bureau) would be in charge of this consultant.” The new convention bureau is an independent agency, not controlled by city government.

The city’s 1989-90 budget, previously approved by the City Council, earmarked $150,000 for hiring a public relations consultant. But Bannister noted that the council just two weeks ago also approved $150,000 to give to the new Visitors & Conference Bureau for its first-year operating expenses.

“Are we supposed to give the VCB $300,000?” Bannister asked. “Maybe that amount of money to the VCB could be justified if it generates increased tax revenue, but I want to be shown. And I also want to know who’s going to be in control of this consultant.”

City Administrator Paul Cook said the consultant “would be under the control of the city because that’s what has always been proposed.”

“This consultant would be for one year, as a supplement to the public information staff,” Cook said. “The consultant would help the city with a new image, now that it’s getting all this downtown redevelopment. The city has had a bad image of its downtown, and now that it’s changing, the consultant could help promote magazine articles about the new change.”