Gonzales City Council approves additional position for tourism

The Gonzales City Council met for a special called meeting and budget workshop Wednesday, July 24 at Gonzales City Hall.

One of the major agenda items was the publicity tourism agreement with the Chamber of Commerce for the hosting and operations of the Gonzales Visitor Information Center.

“The chamber is looking at adding a position. And in the agreement, they weren't thinking of changing employee to employees. And this is a request from the chamber, for an additional tourism person willing to help facilitate planning with the upcoming bicentennial celebration, which that position would come at time we're in need of it,” City Manager Tim Crow said.

Gonzales Economic Development Director Susan Sankey, who is also overseeing the Chamber through an agreement with the city, spoke to the council about the reason why the Chamber wants the tourism coordinator to be held by two people versus a singular position, as it has been in the past.

“I believe that in Gonzales has a lot more to offer than one person can simply coordinate and deliver to a level of quality. And that's with all respect to all the previous tourism coordinators as we roll into a bicentennial year that we celebrate our 200th birthday for the city. I think that warrants a little bit more than what we've done in the past,” Sankey said.

By dividing the position in two, the chamber can focus on two specific areas: events and agritourism; and coordinating with the bicentennial, Sankey said.

“We're very strongly in ag community and that's a very strong driver of our economy. And we have to pay attention to that because it's a workforce, but it's also a force within itself that has a lot to deliver for our community in the region,” Sankey said.

Mayor Steven Sucher brought up the interviewing process for the position at the Chamber and he said they had two candidates who were really superior and both hiring panels recommended both.

Sucher asked about the funding for the salaries and if there is a plan in place.

“I met with the executive committee of the Chamber before moving forward with this as a potential suggestion to make sure that the resources were there. And they agreed that it was and offered a range in which to work with that hiring process,” Sankey said.

The council approved the agenda item, 5-0.

In other business, the council went over the budget and changes from last year.

One of the topics was cutting a position at the fire department, the fire marshal and fire inspector, but quickly escalated into discussion that the topic is a personnel matter that needs to be discussed with Crow and Fire Chief Wade Zella, Sucher said.

The council approved the following agenda items:

--Approved authorizing the City Manager to execute an amended Exclusive Franchise Agreement with Frontier Access, LLC for the collection, hauling, recycling and disposal of Municipal Solid waste, construction and demolition waste and recyclable materials.

--Approved authorizing the City Manager or a designee to execute a rental agreement with National Bikers Roundup, Inc. for the National Bikers Rally to be held from July 28, 2025 to August 3, 2025.