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The City Council met on November 17, 2005 at the Plainview Convention Center, 2902
West 4th Street, Plainview, Texas. The agenda for this meeting was posted in City Hall
at 11:10 a.m. on November 14, 2005. Mayor John C. Anderson presided.
Councilmembers present were: Kelvin Tipton-District 1, Mary Jane Shanes-District 2,
Belinda Pena-District 3, John N. Bertsch-District 4, Wendell Dunlap-District 6 and
Roland Nash-Distdct 7. Councilmember Ron Trusler-Distdct 5 was absent.
Staff members present were: Greg Ingham-City Manager, John Berry-Director of Public
Works, John Castro-Director of Community Services, Will Mull-Police Chief, Paula
Hedrick-Main Street Coordinator, Dale Simpson-Director of Civil Service, Leslie Pearce-
City Attorney, Brice Clements-Engineer, Gary Glass-Fire Chief, Larry Gould-Code
Enforcement Officer, Don Burress-Fire Captain and Belinda Hinojosa-City Secretary.
News Media Representative: Richard Orr-Plainview Daily Herald
Guests Present:
Sheron Collins
Bill D'Alessandro, Rudd Owen. Tom Aday, Carolyn Baker and
Councilmember Mary Jane Shanes delivered the invocation.
Councilmember Trusler was granted an excused absence.
Bill D'Alessa3dro with Hospitality Consulting Services presented a report on the
Plainview Convention Center. He gave the following as issues: (1) identify perception
problem; (2) underutilization of facilities; (3) food and beverage management problems;
(4) underutilization of golf course; (5) costs and problems of golf course upkeep; (6)
administration and management of civic center; and (7) overall financial stability of the
joint venture. He recommended that the Convention Center part be referred to as Civic
Center and that the golf course be rebranded. Also, he suggested that they should be
advertised and that a civic center website be created. He stated there were several
food and beverage issues with costs being out of line. He recommended that they
adopt an open caterer policy with a 15% fee. He also said the Country Club needs to
hire an operations manager.
Mayor Anderson asked the Council for comments.
Councilmember Nash did not have any comments and Councilmember Tipton stated
that he needed more time to review the report.
Councilmember Dunlap stated he enjoyed the report and that the city had been
negligent for not paying attention to problems at the Country Club. His concern was the
lack of a manager. He was advised by Mr. D'Alessandro that the costs to hire a
manager would be in the $30,000 to $35,000 range plus bonus incentives.
Councilmember Shanes stated that she had thought of the same points he had made.
She stated that the CVB has begun work on marketing.
Councilmember Shanes had a prior commitment and left the meeting.
Councilmember Pena thanked Greg Ingham and Mayor Anderson for acquiring the
report, She stated the public perception of the Country Club being a private facility is
City Council Minutes November 17, 2005 Page 1 of 2
there. She stated she appreciated Mr. D'Alessandro telling it like it is. Her concem is
how to convey the City's participation to the taxpayer.
Councilmember Bertsch stated he wanted to go on record saying the Plainview Country
Club has some of the brigi~test minds on the board. He questioned two statements in
Mr. D'Alessandro's report; he stated that it was as if two different people had written the
report.
Tom Aday spoke on behalf of the Country Club and stated that the board needed to be
able to meet with the City and that they cannot survive without the City's help. He
stated the issue with the manager was purely a financial issue.
Mayor Anderson expressed appreciation for the work and said he will appoint a
committee to work with the Country Club.
Mayor Anderson had a prior commitment and had to leave the meeting.
Dale Simpson, Director of Civil Service presented for consideration the appointment of
Bobby Kernell to the Civil Service Board to replace Drew Travis who was elected to
serve on the school board. Councilmember Dunlap moved to appoint Bobby Kernell to
the Civil Service Board. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Tipton and
carried by unanimous vote.
The Council and staff reviewed the agenda for the City Council meeting of November
22, 2005,
There being no further business, Mayor Pro Tem Bertsch adjourned the meeting at 1:07
p.m.
Belinda Hinojosa
City Secretary
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City Council Minutes ' November 17, 2005
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