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St. Charles council tables CVB restructuring after widespread public opposition
Summary
After dozens of business owners and festival organizers urged the council to preserve tourism and festival leadership, the St. Charles City Council amended pay ranges, rejected proposed CVB title changes and tabled Council Bill 14042 to Jan. 20 for further review.
The St. Charles City Council on Jan. 6 moved to table Council Bill 14042 — a proposal to revise budgeted positions, reclassify roles and update job titles and salary ranges — after extensive public comment opposing restructuring of the Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB).
Mayor Daniel J. Borgrneyer thanked those who spoke and said, “I realize that not all people will agree on all things, all of the time. The free expression of competing ideas is what made this country and subsequently the City great.” The mayor said administration staff will present an in-depth review at a Jan. 13 work session and livestream the presentation to increase transparency.
Many small-business owners, festival organizers and CVB stakeholders spoke during the public-comment period against the proposed realignment and urged the council to preserve existing festival leadership and tourism functions. Speakers who voiced opposition included Amy Senter (Jake’s on Main), Shelley Parsons (Christmas Traditions), Robert Palleja (Olivas Inc./D’Olivas and Hot Sauce Works) and others who described concern for local festivals, downtown businesses and tourism promotion.
On the council floor, Councilmember Mark Hollander moved to amend Exhibit A to revise pay ranges (including the Assistant Director of Community Development/Planning Manager and Senior Building Inspector); that amendment passed on a roll-call vote. Councilmember Vince Ratchford then moved to reject two proposed CVB title changes so the Assistant Director of CVB and Director of CVB titles would remain unchanged; that motion also passed. After those actions, Council President Michael Galba moved to table Bill 14042 to the Jan. 20 Regular City Council meeting; the motion passed unanimously.
Next steps: administration will present its review of Communications, Events and Promotions and Tourism at a Jan. 13 work session at the Saint Charles Convention Center; council will reconsider Bill 14042 on Jan. 20.
Votes and procedure: Amendments to Exhibit A and the motion to table were adopted by roll-call votes; the council recorded no nays on those measures.
