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Advertising & Promotion Commission approves revised application, discusses collections and downtown cleanup
Summary
The commission approved an amended AMP funding application and discussed delinquent AMP tax enforcement and downtown weekend cleanup; commissioners asked staff to research enforcement tools and to explore using community-service labor or a roughly $15,000 annual allocation to address overflowing trash after events.
The Texarkana Advertising & Promotion Commission approved a revised AMP funding application after staff incorporated prior-year materials, financial statements and organizational identifiers requested by commissioners.
The motion to accept the corrected application passed unanimously on roll call (Mills: Yes; Holmes: Yes; Jewel: Yes; Dotson: Yes; Brewer: Yes). Staff said the corrected application will be the basis for future awards and that applicants must complete the new form before being considered for AMP funds.
Commissioners also revisited two operational issues: delinquent AMP tax collections and downtown cleanliness after events. Staff reported they are researching enforcement tools available under state and local law — such as business-license suspension for habitual delinquents — and will brief the commission with legal options. The commission asked staff to prepare a recommendation for enforcement steps.
On downtown cleanup, Commissioner Dotson described recurring trash and overflowing planters after weekends and special events and asked whether a recurring weekend cleanup allocation (estimated at roughly $15,000 per year) or supervised community-service crews could address the problem. Commissioners discussed the idea of using supervised community-service hours (probation/district-court labor) as a lower-cost approach and asked staff to consult with probation and parks on a feasible plan to present at a future special meeting.
Chair Brewer also announced Commissioner Allison Wright's resignation and instructed staff to advertise the vacancy and invite applicant Lisa Vandegraph to the next special meeting so commissioners can meet the candidate in person before recommending appointment to the city board.
