After a lengthy discussion Thursday evening, the Unified Government Commission voted not to consolidate the Convention and Visitors Bureau with the Wyandotte Economic Development Council and the Kansas City, Kan., Area Chamber of Commerce.
It was an 8-1 vote on a motion by Commissioner Mike Kane to leave the agencies the way they are. Commissioner Hal Walker voted no. Commissioner Ann Murguia abstained, after asking for clarification if the UG really had the authority to order these agencies to change.
The chamber and the WEDC had been in favor of a consolidation, while the CVB had been against it. The CVB and chamber shared office space and employees before 2009, when the CVB became an independent agency. The chamber and WEDC currently share some administrative tasks.
During the meeting, CVB executive director Bridgette Jobe voiced her board’s opposition to the plans to merge.
The CVB had the feeling that other agencies might be in favor of the consolidation in order to get control of the Kansas City, Kan., transient guest tax funds that are given to the CVB. The CVB distribution totaled $669,769 in 2014 and is expected to total $703,257 in 2015, growing to $738,420 in 2016, according to an analysis quoted in the study.
Representatives of the chamber and WEDC stated at the meeting that they were in favor of consolidation, talking about the benefits of a unified and shared vision.
A study had been underway since last October, when the UG Commission sent a notice of termination to the CVB and the Wyandotte Economic Development Council pending the study results.
David Unmacht of Springsted Inc. presented the findings of a consolidation analysis. These findings are printed on page 345 of the UG Commission agenda for April 9, which is online at www.wycokck.org.
Unmacht’s report noted that board members strongly supported their own organizations, and at the same time, there was some mistrust of the other organizations. He noted there were philosophical differences of opinion among those in the various agencies about consolidation and the work done by the agencies.
According to Unmacht, a chart was prepared showing possible operational savings of about $233,000 if the agencies consolidated, but that was disputed by the CVB. The CVB stated spending would increase if it consolidated.
Unmacht presented several policy options for the UG to consider on Thursday.
The move to consolidate the WEDC and CVB agencies was supported Thursday evening by Mayor Mark Holland, who made a motion for consolidation. The motion died for lack of a second. The mayor talked about common tasks performed by the agencies and said there was a need for one unified brand for the county.
Then, Commissioner Brian McKiernan made a motion to adopt a strong collaborative model that would require them to work together more. Commissioner Murguia questioned whether the UG could place any directives on the agencies, wondering if all it could do was to fund or not fund them if they meet the UG’s criteria.
Commissioner Mike Kane said the commission owed the employees of these agencies an answer, as it had been discussing changes for a year or so. He talked about the effect on employees of the uncertainty of the future of these agencies.
Commissioner McKiernan withdrew his motion, and Kane made a motion to leave the agencies the way they are and let them do their job. Walker voted no, while Murguia abstained. As stated earlier by the UG attorney, abstentions were being counted as “yes” votes.
The lengthy UG discussion on the consolidation idea, with more of the comments from the meeting, is being replayed on the UGTV station, and also is available for viewing on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV6xI0X9mSs.