Supervisors to meet with CCCVB over future direction of bureau

It is hoped by those involved that a special Thursday afternoon meeting between the Carson City Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Board of Supervisors will result in an end to an ongoing dispute between the bureau and lodging properties over how room taxes should be spent.

The meeting is set for 4 p.m. in the Sierra Room of the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.

A group representing Carson City's hotels and motels has become increasingly frustrated by a tourism bureau that it says is stuck in the past and does little to foster and support events that attract overnight stays.

Group members also have said that they believe more consideration should be afforded them since they collect the room tax dollars which fund the bureau's budget.

But CCCVB Executive Director Candace Duncan said that the bureau has been proactive by implementing a newly adopted Strategic Tourism Plan, which promotes a number of attractions, including its hotels, and that the hotels do not pay the room tax, they merely collect it.

Hotel and motel operators also have criticized the bureau's focus on two of the city's biggest attractions - the V&T Railroad and the "Divine 9" golf courses - because they don't generate overnight stays.

But Plaza Hotel owner Dwight Millard, who also sits on the CCCVB board, called the attractions part of the city's tourism portfolio.

During Thursday's meeting, CCCVB will present the new strategic plan to supervisors, who also are scheduled to discuss and possibly provide direction to CCCVB on the future of the V&T Railroad, as well as funding for future community events.

When supervisors convene at 8:30 a.m. Thursday for their regular meeting, they are expected to discuss or take action:

• To approve a Judicial Clerk I position in the Justice/Municipal Court in the amount of $46,000, which includes benefits.

• To conduct a public hearing on a city plan to issue general obligation bonds for financing water and sewer projects.

• To adopt on second reading an ordinance amending a portion of the code relating to division of land.

• To adopt on second reading an ordinance amending a portion of the code relating to zoning.

• To introduce an ordinance amending municipal code sections relating to water, sewer and drainage; solid waste management; and landfill rates and fees.

• As the Liquor and Entertainment Board, they are scheduled to consider approving David A. Turner as the liquor manager for the Carson Nugget.

The Carson City Board of Supervisors meets at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the Sierra Room. Go to http://www.carson.org to download an agenda and a complete information packet. For more information, call 887-2100.

Other meetings this week:

• The Redevelopment Authority Citizens Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Sierra Room of the community center. For more information, call 283-7080.

• The Carson City Parks and Recreation Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Sierra Room of the community center. For more information, call 887-2262.

• The Shade Tree Council meets at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Sierra Room of the community center. For more information, call 887-2100.