CAPC meeting leaves ES council member frustrated

Being denied an opportunity to offer comments on an agenda item at a recent Eureka Springs City Advertising and Promotion Commission meeting regarding recent FOIA requests “was extremely frustrating,” commissioner and city council member David Avanzino said.

Avanzino’s exchange with CAPC chair Chris Clifton was brought up at the Eureka Springs City Council’s monthly meeting on Monday, Aug. 28.

“It was extremely frustrating that an item was placed on the agenda, a motion was made, a second was given and I wasn’t allowed to speak,” Avanzino said during council member comments regarding the Aug. 23 CAPC meeting. “There are some things that need to change over there. I know this council and mayor can’t do anything about it because they’re autonomous.

“I’m just reporting back to you as what I need to do.”

Avanzino had requested that an agenda item listed as “recent FOIA & strategy moving forward” be added to the Aug. 23 CAPC agenda.

The addition of the agenda item came after the Eureka Springs Times-Echo — sister paper to the Carroll County News — reported recently on the CAPC’s hiring of Bikes, Blue and BBQ director Tommy Sisemore as director of The Auditorium and plans to reserve motorcycle- only parking downtown during the Bike Fest event next month. The Times-Echo obtained information for those reports through an open-records request pursuant to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

Among the information requested by the Times-Echo were copies of resumes and applications for The Auditorium director position, emails and text messages regarding Sisemore’s hiring and communications about the CAPC’s dealings with Bikes, Blues & BBQ.

Information received by the Times-Echo showed there were 20 applicants for The Aud director position over the course of several months.

When commissioners reached the agenda item added at Avanzino’s request for the Aug. 23 meeting, Clifton said: “I think we should seek legal advice before we … I don’t know where that’s going.”

Avanzino said he would like all commissioners to be supplied with copies of responses to the recent FOIA requests to “so that each commissioner on this table has a complete picture of what caused the articles in the local newspaper.”

“This is a very sensitive issue for lots of reasons,” Clifton said. “I do not feel comfortable making decisions around this topic. I don’t.”

Avanzino then indicated that he wanted to read a statement and made a motion to do so. Commissioner Steve Holifield, also a city council member, seconded Avanzino’s motion but Clifton and commissioner Chris Jones voted no, with Clifton announcing that the motion had failed.

Avanzino went on to say that the newspaper reports “shed the CAPC in a dark light for reasons that …” At that point, Clifton interjected.

“We had a motion and it failed,” he said. “And that’s where we’re at.”

Moments later, Clifton said: “There are important laws that we don’t understand. There are personal liabilities involved … I am not going to expose myself to whatever is going on with that.”

Avanzino did get to voice some of his concerns during commissioner comments at the end of the meeting.

“I just want to say I hear and understand the public’s frustration,” he said. “I share your frustrations and I’m equally concerned about recent developments. It is evident that some of you are advocating for the abolishment of the CAPC and the A&P tax driven by understandable anger and disappointment. While I respect your perspective, I implore you to consider the broader implications of such a decision. If the CAPC and A&P tax is abolished, it can never be resurrected. It can never be brought back. This prospect leaves us with no avenue for funding advertising efforts, a move that could severely harm our only industry, which is tourism, and in turn impact jobs for local residents, families and small businesses.

“Without advertising, we risk deterring visitors from exploring the charm and beauty of Eureka Springs. What I ask of our community is not to dismantle the CAPC and the A&P tax, but rather allow us the opportunity to redirect our efforts towards creating a strategy that addresses the concerns that have arisen. Let us channel our frustration into building a stronger foundation for the future. I firmly, firmly believe that through thoughtful deliberation and decisive action, we can rectify the issues that plague us and emerge stronger than ever. It is my unwavering commitment to represent both sides of the fence, our residents and our businesses.”

Avanzino continued by saying one point he wanted to bring up in the proposed agenda item was the need for the CAPC to meet weekly for a period of time.

“My suggestion was that we convene weekly meetings until a comprehensive strategy is developed and executed,” he said. “This approach requires the unyielding commitment of all commissioners. If weekly meetings prove challenging for any member, it is prudent to reassess your suitability for this commission for the future of Eureka Springs is at stake.”