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Council reclaims tourism staff, approves festival funding and downtown farmers market site
Summary
Gonzales council voted to move two tourism positions from the Chamber back to the city, authorized funding for two major events, and approved a downtown farmers market at the northeast corner of Texas Hero Square.
The Gonzales City Council on March 1 moved the city's tourism functions back under municipal control, approved event funding for the Come and Take It and Cattle Country festivals, and authorized a downtown farmers market at the northeast corner of Texas Hero Square.
Council voted to reject an amended publicity and tourism agreement with the Chamber of Commerce and return the two tourism positions and associated hotel/motel funding to the city immediately. The motion noted the city is prepared to house the two staff members and to operate the Convention & Visitors Bureau from the Riverside Center.
Nut graf: The decisions centralize tourism operations in city government and allocate hotel/motel tax dollars to local events and promotions; council also set the first location for a new farmers market in the downtown Main Street area.
Council members discussed logistics and budget impacts before voting. Councilmember Miller moved to return tourism operations and funding to the city; Jordan seconded. The motion passed by voice vote, and staff confirmed the move covers two full-time equivalents previously funded through the Chamber.
The council then voted to approve a farmers market permit to Gonzales Tourism in partnership with Gonzales Main Street, placing the market at the Northeast Corner of Texas Hero Square for the initial date of April 12 (to coincide with a master gardeners plant sale). Agritourism organizers told council they already have about 10 vendors signed and plan printed materials to guide visitors to downtown businesses.
Separately, the council approved event funding: a $30,000 award to the Come and Take It committee (contingent on the organization's 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) documentation) and up to $75,000 to Wine Country Festival LLC (d/b/a Cattle Country Fest) for promotion and advertising that targets tourists. The Come and Take It award reflects a compromise from a larger request tied to bicentennial programming; the Cattle Country award was approved after discussion of marketing timetables and economic impact considerations.
Quotable: "We want those new businesses to have that exposure," said a city tourism coordinator during the farmers market discussion. In public comment, Bree Irons, speaking on behalf of property owners on Saint George Street, said, "When we share the possibility of a farmer's market on Saint George Street with them, they were all excited about the increased foot traffic and visibility it could bring to their businesses."
Ending: Staff said they will coordinate permits, signage and promotional materials with Main Street and the Chamber, and that the Riverside Center will be prepared to house tourism staff. Council directed staff to return with any necessary agreements and budget amendments for the staffing and event funding changes.
