City of West Plains

Tourist Development Advisory Council

The Tourist Development Advisory Council is a city-appointed board made up of ten members, plus an additional community representative for each participating county outside Howell County for 2-year terms, with appointments made by the mayor and confirmed by the city council. Its membership includes a mix of stakeholders, such as representatives from the hotel/motel industry, city government, business and development groups, and the community at large- ensuring broad input from tourism-related interests. The council serves in an advisory role, recommending how hotel and motel tax revenues should be used and suggesting strategies, programs, and services to promote tourism, conventions, and related economic development in the city. The board meets on the 3rd Thursday every other month at 10:00 a.m. beginning in January.

MEMBERS & TERMS

  • Haley Mitchell – Term expiring February 2028
  • Rhonda Blankenship – Term expiring June 2027
  • Dianna Brown – Term expiring June 2027
  • Russ Gant – Term expiring June 2027
  • Lynn Bentele – Term expiring June 2027
  • Lindsey Thompson – Term expiring February 2028
  • Heather Smith – Term expiring February 2028
  • Jessica Collins – Term expiring June 2027
  • Heather Risner – Term expiring February 2028
  • Josh Cotter – Term expiring February 2028
  • Stewart Walters – Term expiring October 2027

ESTABLISHING LEGISLATION

DIVISION 5. – TOURIST DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL
 

 

Sec. 2-294. – Established; appointment.
 

The city council hereby establishes an advisory board to consist of ten members, plus one additional community-at-large member for each participating county outside of the county to be named the Tourist Development Advisory Council. The number of members from the hotel/motel industry shall be two. Members of the Tourist Development Advisory Council shall be appointed by the mayor, and their appointment shall be confirmed by the city council.

(Code 1976, § 2-331; Code 2002, § 2-351; Ord. No. 4188, § 1, 11-22-2010; Ord. No. 4480, exh. A(2-294), 2-21-2017)

 

Sec. 2-295. – Selection and terms of members.
 

Two of the members of the tourist development advisory council shall be selected from the hotel/motel industry. The council will also consist of two members representing the city, one member representing the Civic Center, one member representing the home builders’ association, one member representing the chamber of commerce, one member representing the Industrial Development Corporation, one member representing the travel/recreation/restaurant industry, one member representing the “community at-large,” and the final member(s) representing each participating county outside of Howell County. The council will continue to appoint various ex-officio members of the board.

Members are required to be present at the bimonthly meetings and may be replaced when more than two consecutive meetings are missed (without notification or reasonable cause) or attendance is less than 60 percent during each term year, November through October.

(Code 1976, § 2-332; Code 2002, § 2-352; Ord. No. 4188, § 2, 11-22-2010; Ord. No. 4480, exh. A(2-295), 2-21-2017; Ord. No 4589, 11-19-2018; Ord. No. 4718, 8-22-2022)

 

Sec. 2-296. – Officers.
 

The Tourist Development Advisory Council shall annually elect from its members one of the members as chairperson, one of the members as a vice-chairperson, and one of the members as a secretary.

(Code 1976, § 2-333; Code 2002, § 2-353; Ord. No. 4188, § 3, 11-22-2010; Ord. No. 4480, exh. A(2-296), 2-21-2017)

 

Sec. 2-297. – Budget request.
 

The Tourist Development Advisory Council shall annually, prior to January 31 of each year, prepare and present to the city administrator for inclusion into the city budget prepared for consideration of the city council appropriate and desirable expenditures for the funds collected from the tax on sleeping rooms paid by transient guests of hotels and motels. In making the recommendations for expenditures of funds, the Tourist Development Advisory Council shall consider the most appropriate use of funds to promote tourism, conventions, and other related activities in the city. The city administrator, when including the recommendations in the budget for consideration of the city council, shall include recommendations for tourism, conventions and other related activities.

(Code 1976, § 2-334; Code 2002, § 2-354; Ord. No. 4480, exh. A(2-297), 2-21-2017)

 

Sec. 2-298. – Other recommendations.
 

The Tourist Development Advisory Council shall recommend to the city administrator and the city council methods of promoting tourism conventions and other related activities, which recommendations shall include recommendations to the city council as to accomplishment of the recommendation by employment of personnel or procurement of services through contracts in the promotion of tourism, convention and other related activities. If the city is required to administer and collect the tax on sleeping rooms, the Tourist Development Advisory Council shall also recommend to the city commission rules and regulations for adoption concerning the collection and administration of the tax on sleeping rooms.

(Code 1976, § 2-335; Code 2002, § 2-355; Ord. No. 4480, exh. A(2-298), 2-21-2017)