Elvis is the answer

The folks recently met who were appointed by the Fort Smith board of directors to figure out what to do with the Fort Smith Convention Center and the potential of a more than $1 million budget hickey in 2011-2012.

City officials have known for more than 10 years that state turnback funds supporting the convention center (just short of $1.8 million a year) would end as of June 2010. Here we are almost in May and we don’t have a clear plan.

This is why it’s safe to diagnose Fort Smith as bipolar. The same city that successfully fought to save the 188th Fighter Wing and the same city that successfully lobbied for the U.S. Marshals Museum is the same city that can’t use a 10-year head start to figure out what to do with a simple convention center when the money spigot goes dry.

Anyway, these group of seven private-sector folks have been given 6-8 weeks to report back to the board.

While it would be wholly welcome if this private ad hoc group comes up with a previously unconsidered, reasonable and painless solution, it’s likely we’ll receive a report that falls somewhere within the following four broad scenarios.

OPTION 1
The ad hoc group will report back that the convention center is managed as efficiently as possible considering the obstacles (lack of control over beverage and food service, obligations to provide free or reduced-cost space, etc.). However, they’ll recommend a merger of the convention center and Fort Smith Advertising and Promotion Commission with a short list of cost savings expected from bringing the city’s tourism and convention recruitment under one management umbrella.

Along with the merger, the ad hoc group will recommend the city seek voter approval to use 10% of the 1-cent street tax to fund the convention center shortfall. This will require a contract between the city and Fort Smith A&P that specifies the use of the $1.7 million to $2 million the 10% allocation will provide. The ad hoc group may recommend a certain percentage remaining after covering the convention center deficit — possibly up to $1 million a year — be placed in a maintenance/capital fund for future center improvements. The group may also recommend a percentage of the remaining funds be assigned on an annual or specific-term basis to other projects (Marshals Museum, parks projects, Fort Smith Art Center, Fort Smith Museum of History, etc.).

OPTION 2
The ad hoc group will report back with suggested changes to convention center operations that potentially allow greater revenue — for example, greater control over food and beverage. The report will recommend the changes along with a merger with the Fort Smith A&P. The ad hoc group will recommend a voter-approved 1% prepared foods tax (hamburger tax) to address the potentially more than $1 million annual shortfall. The funding recommendation may include a 10-year sunset on the 1% hamburger tax, with renewal requiring voter approval. This recommendation may also include agreements between the city and A&P that funds in excess of meeting the shortfall be used for a maintenance/capital fund and/or support of other tourism related projects/programs/facilities in the city. (Feel free to mix funding recommendations between options 1 and 2.)

OPTION 3
The ad hoc group will report back that the convention center is not managed as efficiently as possible and recommend the city hire an outside expert to review operations, or recommend the city seek a formal request for information from companies that manage convention centers, sports venues and other public-private facilities. The ad hoc group will decide to withhold recommendations on merging the convention center with the Fort Smith A&P and withhold recommendations on funding until the operations review is complete.

OPTION 4
The ad hoc group will report back with a list of top 10 things to do with the Fort Smith Convention Center.

10. Use for Marshal’s Museum instead of the riverfront site.

9. Deed to (insert here your favorite Native American tribe) to use as a casino.

8. City hall

7. Configure as a food, water and ammo bunker for the Dec. 21, 2012 end of the world as predicted by the Mayan calendar. Persons allowed in the bunker will be selected by employees of The City Wire.

6. Roller derby, anyone?

5. Convert to an indoor water park with a Judge Parker’s gallows feature where folks drop through a gallows floor into a water slide that looks like a noose.

4. Promote as a site for the Barack Obama Presidential Library.

3. Rent to Toyota to store faulty foot pedals.

2. Convert it into a big-ass grow room to supply California’s medical marijuana industry.

1. Graceland West, with carpet removed from the floors and placed on the walls.

The City Wire has already put in a request to be the official vendor of fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches.