City council suspends tourist marketing campaign
On a 3-2 vote Dec. 9, the Bastrop City Council disbanded a citizen marketing advisory panel and delayed the second phase of a previously proposed branding and marketing campaign until next year. The effort was designed to attract visitors to the area and promote use of a new convention center in Bastrop which is expected to be under construction by early next year
City Manager Mike Talbot said the council will not revisit the issue until he has hired a convention center manager with marketing experience. Talbot said he expects to select a candaiate for the post “by March.”
Council members voting to disband the advisory committee included Willie DeLaRosa, Terry Sanders and Joe Beal. Mayor Terry Orr has also been critical of the program as it has been presented so far.
Council members Dock Jackson and Julie Hart urged pursuing the second phase of the program. Officials of the Bastrop Main Street Program, now in its second year, have strongly supported pushing ahead with the marketing effort which is focused on the Lost Pines area, the Colorado River and related natural and cultural resources, including Bastrop’s historical 19th century homes, churches, commercial and public buildings.
The marketing program has also drawn significant support from the Downtown Business Alliance.
Orr and his allied council coleagues said they don’t like the marketing logo produced for Bastrop by a consulting firm based in Corpus Christi and don’t favor sending the compamy more contracts.