Uvalde Main Street Manager Susan Rio who was also employed as part of the Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau spoke last Thursday, June 9th at the Uvalde Rotary Club meeting.  Rios announced that she has resigned from her position as Uvalde Main Street Manager and is in the process of transitioning to her new job at Uvalde Memorial Hospital where she will be assuming the role of  UMH Marketing Manager. 

 On the day of the Robb School Massacre and the days that followed Rios opened the SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center to Uvalde CISD administrators and first responders as a location for Robb School parents to meet with school officials to be briefed on the status of their children. In the week that followed, Rios was on the front lines of coordinating counseling services held at the Civic Center. 

“It was a very overwhelming experience.” Rios said

 “The Civic Center, Main Street and the CVB are about to go through  major transitions. So next week on Friday, ( June 17th ) will no longer exist. It will be officially closed.” Rios said  She went on to say the Civic Center and Main Street will be moving to the City of Uvalde offices. 

 

  The Uvalde City Council voted during its May 10th meeting to contract with the Uvalde Chamber of Commerce to administer the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT Tax) effectively ending the contract for the Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau. (Uvalde CVB).  Main Street Uvalde Manager Susan Rios and Uvalde CVB committee member Al Ortiz spoke on behalf of the Uvalde CVB at that City Council meeting prior to the vote. 

  Following the decision by the City Council, Rios has continued her work as Uvalde Main Street manager, recently hosting the Main Street Uvalde Honors & Hors d’ oeuvres event at Broadway 830. Also she has been working with the CVB council on the logistics of the changeover including the shutting down of the Convention and Visitors Bureau’s office located at 300 East Main Street. Other issues that need to be addressed include what happens to the tourism materials owned by the Uvalde CVB and what happens to the digital marquis on the corner of Main Street and Wood. 

  According to Rios, The Convention and Visitors Bureau currently programs the announcements displayed on the marquis. “The board (Uvalde CVB board) has pledged its support for me as long as it’s needed,“ she said. She went on to say the changeover process will be complete by September.

  As the busy summer tourism season is on the cusp of beginning, the Uvalde Chamber of Commerce appears to have much work to do., 

   In a phone interview with Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce Director, John Yeackle, he said the Chamber’s tourism plans will start with the Firecracker Fest on July 4th to be held at the Uvalde County Fairplex.

 According to the event flier, this free event will start at 10 am.  Activities at the event will include: the Little Miss and Mr. Firecracker Pageant, Car Show by Defiant Racing, Battle of the DJ’s, Uvalde Cornhole Tournament,  and Next Level Wrestling Show  There will also be food trucks and vendors. The event will conclude with a Concert featuring Del Rio Native William Beckmann followed by a fireworks display. 

  Additionally, during the months of July and August, the Chamber plans on organizing a shuttle service between Concan and Uvalde utilizing shuttles provided by Southwest Area Regional Transit (SWART). 

  According to Yeackle, once the changeover is complete the Chamber plans on moving its location to the offices to the Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau Building located at 300 East Main Street. He went on to say the Chamber is offering its offices at 340 North Getty to the Uvalde Mainstreet Program at no charge 

 

After hearing a detailed presentation on the current marketing strategies by a board member of the Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau and then a follow-up presentation by Uvalde Chamber of Commerce Executive Director John Yeackle the Uvalde City Council voted approve a new contract with the Uvalde Chamber of Commerce to administer the city’s tourism promotion funded by Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT Tax). With Mayor Don McLaughlin and Councilman Stephen Balke absent from tonight’s city council meeting, the City Council was comprised of Councilman Rogelio M. Muñoz serving as Mayor Pro Tem,  Councilman Hector R. Luevano,  Councilman Everardo “Lalo” Zamora and Councilman Earnest “Chip” King.

Accompanied by Main Street Manager Susan Rios, Uvalde CVB board member Al Ortiz brought up new marketing strategies as well as a billboard located in San Antonio featuring the “Only in Uvalde” theme.

   See accompanying video of the Uvalde CVB Presentation.

At the previous City Council Meeting on Tuesday, April 26th, Uvalde  Chamber of Commerce executive director pitched a proposal to the Council to enter into a year and a half contractual agreement with the Uvalde Chamber of Commerce to administer the city’s tourism with HOT Tax monies. At that meeting the council did not take any action.

Following Yeakle’s remarks on why the city council should vote to contract with the Uvalde City Council, the council members weighed in on the matter.

“At no time did the City Council or staff go to the Chamber of Commerce.” King said

“We’ve appointed a subcommittee. Things are in turmoil right now thanks to the Chamber of Commerce.” King said.  He went on to say this is not an emergency.

“The Chamber decided to disrespect…did a run-around. That’s pretty damned disrespectful. There is no reason to do this.” King said.

Councilman Zamora said, “They should be working together. (referring to the Chamber of Commerce and the Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau) “Together we can make Uvalde beautiful: attractive.” he said.

Yeackle said, referring to the Chamber of Commerce, “We’ve increased revenue by 224%,. We’re retiring debt. We’re running the Chamber like a business.”

Councilman Luevano said, “He’s willing and able to move forward with this. Let’s give him an opportunity to work it.”

After a discussion on the Chamber’s proposal, the City Council entered into an executive session to consult with the city’s attorney.

After reconvening into open session, the council discussed having a contract stipulation added where after 3 months, the city council could evaluate how things are going and could opt out of the contract with the Uvalde Chamber of Commerce.  Under this new contract the City of Uvalde would take in the Uvalde Main Street Program which was previously a part of the Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau.

See accompanying video of City Council vote

   Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce (UACC) Executive Director John Yeackle pitched an offer  to the Uvalde City Council to consider contracting with the Chamber to administer the tourism promotion program funded by the hotel -motel occupancy tax (HOT Tax) Yeackle was accompanied by the UACC Director of Marketing Mario MJ Miller at the Tuesday, April 26th council meeting. 

   The Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau, a non-profit organization whose offices are located at 300 East Main Street was established by the City of Uvalde to administer the HOT Tax monies collected from tourists staying at hotel and motels and other commercial lodging entities within the city limits. 

   A few months ago, the city did not renew its three-year contract with the Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau earlier this year in March. Uvalde CVB Executive Director Debra Stifflemire resigned mid-March amid an uncertain future of the organization. Stifflemire issued a one-page press release to the media following her notice of resignation to the City. 

   Yeackle proposed a one and a half year contract between the City and the Uvalde Chamber of Commerce to administer the HOT Tax. The Uvalde Chamber of Commerce operates as a 501c3 non-profit organization outside of the umbrella of the City. Currently the City of Uvalde is allowed a non-voting board member of the Uvalde Chamber of Commerce. 

  Under Yeackle’s new proposal, that non-voting member would become a voting member or the Chamber would allow the city to add an additional voting member with the non-voting member remaining on the board. 

  The followjng are some of the key points of the new proposed plan: 

• The Chamber would operate as more of a general contractor relationship with the City.
• The Uvalde Chamber would move to the existing Uvalde CVB offices and then offer its offices located at 340 North Getty Street to the Main Street Uvalde.
• The Chamber proposes a pilot program with Southwest Area Regional Transit (SWART) to offer bus services between Concan and Uvalde during the summer tourism season and during Spring Break week. Working closely with the Texas Hill Country River Region  (THCRR), the buses would bring Concan tourists to Uvalde and back. Also Uvalde area residents would have a means of traveling to Concan without using personal vehicles. 
• Uvalde Chamber of Commerce would open on weekends when tourists are in Uvalde. 
• Running the Chamber like a business and creating more revenue streams

   The Chamber would take 50% of the total HOT Tax monies collected with the remaining monies being retained by the City for use in promoting the Uvalde Opera House and authorized uses. 

  “We prefer to have our own team; we’re building a culture.” Yeackle said.

 

  “Our sincere belief is we are at a time and the best year to promote this community we call home” Yeakle said.

 

   Following the presentation, the council did not take action at this meeting on the proposal. 

 

Outgoing Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Debra Stifflemire releases official media briefing sheet.

This document was received from Stifflemire on March 21st, 2022 by the Uvalde Hesperian. The Uvalde CVB is a non-profit organization contracted by the City of Uvalde to promote tourism of the city.

The document reads:

Situation

The City of Uvalde is considering absorbing or dissolving the Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau, leaving uncertainty around a variety of the organization’s assets, including the future of Main Street Uvalde, oversight of the Ssgt. Willie de Leon Civic Center, and employee retention. The following information is in response to these developments and after multiple failed CVB requests for a formal meeting with city leaders to both clarify the city’s position and present a case for reconsideration.

Official statement from Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive
Director Debra Stifflemire, on the city’s possible decision to dissolve or
absorb the independent 501 (c)(6) organization:

When you see the CVB ‘s milestones and wins dotted on almost every corner of Uvalde, and how those results have directly impacted this area’s growth and prosperity year after year, it’s difficult to comprehend why a decision like this would even be considered. It has been a highlight of my career to oversee this innovative organization and witness firsthand this team’s dedication to its community’s success. I only hope that what we are hearing has no merit, and that the CVB can continue down a path that has consistently proven to yield increasingly solid results. This has been a challenging situation for my staff and board, as we feel this process could have been more extensive and transparent. We are all committed to seeing Uvalde flourish, and we respect our city leaders’ opinions. If there is something our mayor and councilmen feel we can be doing better, we would jump at the chance to continue a more lengthy dialogue than what we have been given.

Success by the numbers

• $1.5 million -Total amount of known private investments put into 47 downtown projects since 2020, in the middle of economic instability.
• $204,015.47 – 2021 Q4 Hotel/Motel Tax Collections, the most ever in a quarter dating back to 1998.
• $23,621.64 -Total amount awarded in Main Street Façade Grants since 2020.
• 75% – Current approximate percentage of weekend availability booked at the the Ssgt. Willie de Leon Civic Center for all of 2022.
• 55% – Current approximate percentage of weekday availability booked at the Ssgt. Willie de Leon Civic Center for all of 2022.
• 15 – New businesses that opened in the downtown area since 2020, in the middle of economic instability.

Events supported by CVB and its entities

Cactus Jack Bull Riding

Soaring Competitions

Palomino Fest

MariArtChi Madness

Christmas at the Crossroads

Briscoe BBQ Cookoff

Uvalde Palooza

Fort Inge Days