Marina
The future of Visit Emporia, previously known as the Convention and Visitors Bureau, is currently under discussion, with no final decisions made about its future structure or management.
Various options are being considered, including a proposal to convert the organization into a city department with the support of an advisory board.
Current Considerations for Visit Emporia’s Future
The most significant idea being explored is transitioning Visit Emporia into a city-managed department. This department would have an advisory board comprised of local organizations that would play a key role in shaping the city’s marketing efforts.
The City Manager, Trey Cocking, shared that organizations like Emporia Main Street and the Chamber of Commerce could be part of this collaborative advisory group, as both entities recently submitted proposals for the Visit Emporia contract.
These proposals were reviewed during the Emporia City Commission’s meeting on April 16th. However, no decision was made at the time. Visit Emporia has been under the management of the Chamber of Commerce since its inception.
Reactions to the Proposed Changes
After the meeting, Casey Woods, Director of Emporia Main Street, expressed his support for a collaborative approach, provided the right professionals are placed in key roles. He believes this could greatly benefit the community.
Meanwhile, Lisa Kirmer, Chair of the Chamber Board, stated that if Visit Emporia is no longer under the Chamber’s supervision, they still wish to be involved. Kirmer suggests that Visit Emporia should be based at a neutral location, rather than being controlled by a single entity.
Next Steps in the Discussion
To move the conversation forward, Emporia Mayor Erren Harter and Commissioner Becky Smith have been appointed as liaisons to facilitate further discussions.
While no specific date has been set for the next round of talks, City Manager Trey Cocking anticipates that discussions could take place within the next week, with the City Commission revisiting the issue by next month.
Other City Business: Key Decisions and Developments
During the same meeting, commissioners also discussed a variety of other city matters. Notably, they talked about the restructuring of the Rural Development Authority (RDA), although full details were not provided.
Additionally, they addressed the need for new cameras and streaming equipment in the City Conference Room 1AB to enable streaming of study sessions, which had not been done previously.
Due to changes in open meeting laws, if any portion of a meeting is streamed, the entire meeting must be broadcast, including study sessions. While the addition of cameras would be costly, commissioners agreed that halting the streaming of meetings would be a disservice to the community.
Recent Action: Concrete Street Repair and New Franchise Agreement
In terms of actionable items, the City Commission awarded the contract for the 2025 concrete street repair project to Quality Built Construction LLC for $317,749.11. Additionally, they approved a 10-year franchise agreement for IdeaTek Telecom, LLC.
The future of Visit Emporia remains up in the air, but discussions are ongoing, and various ideas are on the table to ensure the organization’s continued success.
As the city explores potential changes and collaborations, the role of local organizations, like the Chamber of Commerce and Emporia Main Street, will be crucial in shaping the direction of Visit Emporia. The city’s future meetings and decisions will further clarify the path forward.
Next Meeting
The Emporia City Commission will meet next on Wednesday, May 21, at 11 AM in the Municipal Courtroom at White Auditorium.