Tourism numbers in October were some of the highest Eureka Springs has ever seen. Perhaps the highest.
That’s what members of the city advertising and promotion commission were told at their monthly meeting held Thursday, Nov. 21.
“October may be one of the biggest months we’ve seen in Eureka Springs,” CAPC Director Mike Maloney told commissioners. “We collect mail every day and it seems like we keep getting a little bit more money in every day.
“So, when we get to the end of the month, we’ll be able to stack up and say that we may have had a record month. We’ll see.”
Collections for a month are received by the CAPC the following month.
“A variety of the elements kind of contribute to [high amount of collections] … I think we may be seeing some of the best in history,” Maloney said. “For instance, the Zombie Crawl estimated numbers are as high as 20,000. I don’t know whether that’s true or not, but more likely 8,000 to 10,000 people showed up. These are the biggest numbers we’ve seen for that event.
“Some of our food vendors ran out of supplies, traffic was backed up for 30 to 45 minutes all over town, parking was virtually nonexistent, but the trolley system did great work getting people to and fro. Compliments to the Eureka Springs Police Department. Through social media there were a lot of compliments about how well it was managed. And while we did push the limits, I think, on the numbers of people, we found out that Eureka Springs is very adept at handling large numbers of people, which is a good thing.”
In addition to the Zombie Crawl, the inaugural year for a horror film festival was a huge success, Maloney reported.
“The brand-new horror film festival brought in films from 22 different countries, which is great,” he said. “They had over 600 weekend passes, which again is a fantastic number.
“One of the keynotes from the festival that we haven’t really shared out too much was a lot of different people, producers, came to the event looking to see how it was handled, and a couple of comments were that this was one of the best, well-attended festivals of this niche, so to speak, that they’d seen.”
The film festival, along with the group that put on the double feature movies at The Auditorium, have already rebooked for 2025, with the festival booking for an entire week, Maloney said.
In other topics discussed in his director’s report, Maloney told commissioners that fiber optic internet is being installed in The Aud, which will greatly improve connectivity for staff, events and meetings that are broadcast online from the basement.
“By going to this technology, which will be a substantial improvement on what we’ve had with our copper wiring, the fiber will bring in a gigabyte up and down,” Maloney said. “But, it’s going to do several other things, too.”
Maloney also told commissioners that all CAPC staff recently were issued staff cell phones so personal phones will no longer have to be used for work-related business, and he reported that nearly 50 events have already been scheduled in the city for December.
“I think that is probably a record,” he said. “If not, it should be. We continue to have people calling about different things.”
The commission also received an update on a New Year’s Eve celebration planned for Basin Spring Park, which will be titled Free to Be New Year’s Eve Celebration, Bash With a Splash.
“The Arkansas Parks, Tourism and Heritage Department is offering up their YouTube channel for us to use for live streaming,” Maloney said. “They’re also helping us promote the event statewide.”
Maloney reported that all CAPC staff — with the exception of finance director Ty Reed — will be attending a three-day seminar put on by Madden Media in Gulf Shores, Ala., Dec. 9-11.
In his financial report, Reed reported to commissioners that the CAPC had a balance of $1,974,000 in the bank at the end of October.
Taxes brought in during October that were collected during September were $181,000 compared to a budget of $215,000 for the month.
“So, it was under budget by about $34,000,” Reed said.
Money received in 2024 through the month of October was $1,451,000, approximately $33,000 under what was budgeted, Reed reported.
BASIN PARK PROJECT REQUEST
Parks director Sam Dudley talked to commissioners about future repair projects at Basin Spring Park, specifically fixing the issue with the fountain slowly sinking into the foundation, and his desire to continue to partner with the CAPC for funding.
“I’ve been in talks with [Maloney] about potentially helping fund parks with a project for Basin Park again [in 2025]…,” Dudley said. “You know, it’s a special place, the heart of the town. We have tons of outdoor events … all kinds of stuff happening in the park all the time.”
Dudley said his department is in the process of securing “about $70,000” from “a very generous donor” for park renovations and also has received donations in the past from the Preservation Society, Daughters of the American Revolution and the Arts Council.
“I feel like there’s a lot of good energy going into the park, but we want to continue that trend moving forward because there’s obviously a big elephant in the room, and that’s what’s happening under the park,” he said. “Since I started, we’ve already seen the fountain sinking more. It’s getting to the point where it’s like, we’re going to have to do something.”
Dudley said he’s working on putting together a request for proposals for contractors in the area to see how expensive the repairs might be.
“I’d like to know financially what we’re kind of looking at getting ourselves into,” he said. “That said, I’m just really hoping you all are open to the idea of helping us out again, because I think when we work together, we can do more as a town.
“You know, we all have a little bit, so when we put that all together, we can do a lot.”
Working with the CAPC, especially now, is important, Dudley said.
“Right after y’alls successful campaign to stay alive, I think it’d be really good, like a cherry on top, to just ram it home to the people who wanted to abolish the CAPC to show them that ‘hey, we can work together and we’re doing good stuff. We’re a benefit to this town,’ ” Dudley said.
OTHER ITEMS
The commission tabled a decision on whether to continue paying the city $44,000 annually for a loan used for renovations for The Aud, or to pay the three years remaining in one lump sum.
“Is there any advantage of paying that off earlier?” commission chair Steve Holifield asked. “Whey are we paying a loan? We have money.”
Commissioners noted that money in the bank is earning interest, but there was some discussion about paying the entire lump sum of $132,000.
In the end, the commission opted to table the vote until the December meeting.
Another agenda item discussed was Maloney reminding the CAPC of rules involving the Freedom of Information Act, specifically commissioners communicating with each other outside of meetings.
“When we are in public meetings, we really do need to be mindful of the fact that the public is aware and they know what’s going on,” he said. “Similarly, within commissions, all commissions as stated by the Arkansas Legislature, are subject to those rules of engagement. How do we communicate with each other? The basic rule of law goes back to a thing called ex parte communications, which is a Latin phrase for if you discuss something, don’t try to sway someone’s vote. That is an issue that is held strong through parliamentary procedure through Robert’s Rules and so forth.
“The caution here is, commissioner to commissioner communications outside of this room. When that happens, that is very much subject to FOIA communications and can be looked at. We know that to be a fact from our recent examination of another commission within Eureka Springs and the seriousness of those things. So, the point is that it is best to limit that type of communication. It doesn’t mean you can’t. What it does mean is that anything that is discussed that could sway a vote one way or the other is really off limits. Can you have a public meeting or even a gathering of social intent, such as a Christmas party? Yes you can, the Legislature has determined that’s OK. You just have to make sure that what you’re talking about with your party is not going to be swaying a vote or trying to influence a decision one way or the other.”
Maloney said he gave each commissioner a copy of the state FOIA handbook.
In marketing support funding requests, the commission approved $5,000 amounts for the annual Carving of the Ozarks, which will celebrate its 20th year in 2025, and for the inaugural Free to Be New Year’s Eve Celebration, Bash with a Splash.
TATE-GREENE ON HOSPITAL ISSUES
In his comments at the end of the meeting, commissioner Bradley Tate-Greene clarified a comment he made during public comments at a recent hospital commission meeting.
Tate-Greene was one of many who spoke against recent hospital personnel changes and other controversies that have recently come to light, including commissioners meeting and communicating outside of public meetings.
“I did speak publicly at the hospital commission meeting …,” Tate-Greene said. “I did make a comment during that where I said the commission had the power to dissolve the commission. I’m just going to set that straight that the city council has the right to dissolve the hospital commission.”
In light of the recent news from the hospital commission, Tate-Greene said he appreciated Maloney reminding the CAPC members of FOIA laws.
“I appreciate him reiterating the FOIA laws, the things that are a necessity to be followed when it comes to every commissioner,” Tate-Greene said. “No commission is exempt from following the laws.”
Advocating for the hospital commission to perform its duties properly should be important to the CAPC, Tate- Greene said.
“I don’t think that bringing up the hospital commission, and the fact that I’m advocating for justice and for things to be done correctly, is wrong for our meeting because we advertise and we promote this city, and that hospital is also a means of advertising and promotion for this city because of the care it gives to those who visit this city,” he said. “If we can’t be honest in our dealings of taking care of individuals that visit our city from a healthcare standpoint, then that may drive tourists away.
“We really need to pay attention to that and get serious about it.”
COMMISSIONERS THANK VOTERS
With the Nov. 21 meeting the first since a referendum to abolish the CAPC and repeal the city’s tourism tax failed, some commissioners took time to thank for those who helped vote it down.
“This is our first meeting since the referendum vote and I want to thank the voters of Eureka Springs for voting to keep the CAPC,” commissioner Heather Wilson said. “I also want to thank the CAPC staff who conducted themselves with utmost class, grace and professionalism in the face of potentially losing their jobs in the new year.
“So, thank you all. You did not skip a beat and you served our town really well. Thank you. I am so, so humbled and just it really is such an example. So, thank you.”
Holifield echoed those comments.
“I’d like to also thank everybody who voted their vote of confidence for us,” he said. “We all know no commission is perfect and this commission is one of those. We will strive to make it better. I think ever since I’ve been on here, I think we have strived to make it better every meeting and every year. If I’m back on here next year or not, I’m sure you all will continue doing that.”
COMBO MEETING TO CLOSE YEAR
The CAPC will gather once more in 2024, with a 4 p.m. workshop and 6 p.m. regular meeting to be held on Thursday, Dec. 19.
