Pacific tourism commission: budget passed, tourism revenue up; plans for Fourth of July parade, Route 66 centennial outreach and volunteer drives

At the Tourism Commission meeting, Tourism Director O'Malley said the city's budget "pretty much passed" at the budget meeting on the 30th and that the commission will plan a one-time 250th-anniversary Fourth of July parade (the director said the holiday falls on a Saturday next year). The director said the parade approval was for a single year and is not intended to become an annual change.

O'Malley reported that the tourism office posted its highest June revenue on record through June 25: $6,300, compared with a normal monthly figure of about $3,000. She warned that staffing shortages at Red Cedar amusement operations would force some July closures and reduced revenue during a key tourism month; the agency expects modest labor savings but lower gift-shop and ride revenue where closures occur.

Commissioners noted that several line items in the tourism proposal were cut or reduced in the city budget process. The meeting transcript records that funding for the adopt-a-road program and some 5K events was reduced and that a planned $10,000 allocation tied to railroad days was uncertain and might require a deposit decision in November. The director said the commission was "approved for the $10,000" in one context and asked the commission to establish an application form and rules for distributing those funds; details and program rules were not specified in the meeting.

The commission discussed outreach and volunteer plans for summer events. Members were asked to cover shifts at the Town and Country Fair booth in August; volunteers will receive a free pass for the day and the director will provide orientation. The commission also plans a duck-pond fundraiser ($5 per duck) to help recoup booth costs.

On Route 66 outreach, O'Malley said she and Val Droge will speak at the Main Street Conference about Route 66 in Pacific. The commission backed a joint advertising buy with Eureka and Wildwood for a Route 66 Centennial booklet; Pacific secured the back-cover spot with an inter-city cost split. The Leader newspaper is organizing the booklet and outreach to drive tourism for the Route 66 centennial; the director said the three cities are coordinating planning meetings for 2026.

Other tourism items included stencils for Route 66 pavement markings (ordered and to be distributed to businesses), a barn quilt trail project in progress, a motor tour on Sept. 26 from the Antique Cars Gateway Chapter of the Hudson Essex Terrapane Club with Red Cedar opening at 8 a.m., and completion of a "Terrific Pacific" promotional video.

The commission thanked aldermen and volunteers who helped restore some budgeted funds. No formal votes on budget line items occurred during the tourism commission meeting; routine minutes were approved by voice vote earlier in the session and the meeting adjourned by voice vote.