In January, County Administrator Jim Ley circulated a 15-page e-mail with the heading, "Musings 2010." It provided a self-guided tour of the strategy he is considering for the upcoming year.
The goal is economic vitality. The memo is not good news for three local organizations receiving public money.
"The Arts Council has apparently decided to return to the past and position itself as an advocacy group, which I only read as ‘we need more public money,’" Ley wrote.
"The [Sarasota County Convention and Visitors Bureau] feels like a trade organization that may be too influenced by the individual and collective self-interest of the lodging industry," says the e-mail. "Housing tourism promotion activity within the tourism division of a unified organization would make for a better unified promotion and branding environment."
And the third organization in Ley’s cross hairs? The Economic Development Corporation (EDC). "It is my feeling that the EDC, in any form, needs to take a very strong look at its business development function," Ley wrote. "This may be more of a matter of personality and style than one of intent and focus."
And while he was at it, Ley suggested eliminating the Tourism and Economic Development Board. "It is also suggested that TEDB is a duplicative piece of bureaucracy that adds an additional unnecessary process layer to the policy development and oversight," the memo says.
Ley’s missive was intentionally provocative. He told the county commission during a Jan. 28 workshop, "Institutions over time take as their number-one mission to preserve themselves, on top of their original mission. I just think a discussion needs to occur."
Ley proposed combining the EDC, the Arts Council and the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) into one "all-encompassing promotional organization under some snappy new brand – Bravo SRQ, ONE Sarasota (Our Next Economy). Combine the tourism, arts and economic development management under one roof and one high-performing executive," he wrote. Among the three organizations, the county spends about $7 million each year.
The single organization would eliminate "duplicative overheads costs" and "silo thinking." And Ley called for quick action.
"I suggest a rigorous timetable that focuses on achieving the goals of the principles and actions against a strict timetable. Without a disciplined implementation approach, the year will slip by without organized action," the memo says.
"The purpose of my musings this year is not to criticize or evaluate. Instead I thought that I would throw onto the table a few ideas about economic development, some of which are admittedly bold and/or which will upset the status quo," Ley wrote.
"I am more and more convinced that such a focus can only be had by consolidating the many, and often competing, economic development agencies that the county supports. I know that this is a difficult political consideration, but if I am correct, can this organizational weakness be allowed to hold us back as a community?" he asked.
LEADERS’ SPIN
The leaders of the three groups about which Ley wrote put a positive face on his suggestions when contacted by the Pelican Press.
"All of us in theory and in fact are interested in doing what is best for the community," said Jim Shirley, director of the Sarasota County Arts Council. "If I put myself in Jim’s place, it probably makes some sense, sharing common services, that kind of thing."
Virginia Haley, president of the CVB, said, "If this is about making our tourism industry successful, then this is worth exploring."
However, she expressed some concerns. "I don’t want our [promotion] mission diluted. We need flexibility. Do we have a lock on the absolute best way? No, but we think we are very effective."
Kathy Baylis, president of the Economic Development Corporation, said, "Is there more that we can do? There probably is, but the devil’s in the details. It will be up to the board of county commissioners. We need to sit down and talk about it."
During the Jan. 28 workshop, the county commissioners agreed to examine Ley’s proposal, but their reactions were mixed. "There’s going to be a lot of push-back, especially in the beginning," said Commissioner Nora Patterson.
"We need to have this conversation," said Commissioner Jon Thaxton.
Commission Chairman Joe Barbetta was less convinced. "I submit that the under-one-roof idea is great, but I have doubts about one executive," he said.
In the end the board asked Ley to pursue the concept and engage the four groups – Arts Council, CVB, Economic Development Corporation and TEDB – in a discussion about reorganization and consolidation.
February 6th 2010 - 2:32PM