As most readers know, I live in the Town of Brookfield. I am about 30 feet from the city line.
For about two months, Brookfield's Economic Development Committee has been considering the city's staff proposal to solicit bids for convention and visitor bureau services beyond its existing provider. These services have been provided by the Brookfield Convention and Visitors Bureau for nearly twenty years. The bureau is currently autonomous and apparently the mayor and his staff want more control and more accountability from the bureau.
The Bureau's marketing efforts are funded by the city's and town's hotel room taxes. 70% of its revenue is from city hotels; 30% is from the town's hotels. As of the July 28 meeting, the town had not been informed about the city's intent to 'secede'.
Several attendees at the July 28 meeting spoke against the proposal. An attorney for the Brookfield Convention & Visitors Bureau said the city seemed to be trying to find a solution without defining the problem. Another person voiced that ‘the proposal was not a positive step' toward regional cooperation. (As of July 28, the town was not aware of the city's proposal.)
All but one committee member favored moving forward - sending Requests for Proposals (RFPs) with an anticipated turnover date of January 1, 2009.
Dan Ertl, community development director stressed that, "The Mayor and city department heads have suggested that this is the model that needs to be followed to effectuate change."
This week, Mayor Jeff Speaker clarified the motivation by suggesting that some of the hotel tax revenue should be used toward further economic development of the city. Is that the intent of the hotel room tax?
