BCIC Meeting, 2/12/14~BCIC's Billboard at the Harlingen Airport Declares Brownsville A Cycle Tourism Destination

Chicago is "The Windy City," while New York, among other things, "The City That Never Sleeps."  Hope, Arkansas used to proclaim itself "The Watermelon Capital of the World," but, in recent years has settled on "The Birthplace of Bill Clinton."

The wooden podium used by Rachel Flores, the Executive Director of the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, at Wednesday's meeting at the City Commission building,  has carved into its wooden face, "Brownsville, On the Border, By the Sea."   Of course, the City Health Director, Art Rodriguez is finishing paperwork to get Brownsville designated "The All American City."

Yet another image of Brownsville greets visitors as they disembark at the Harlingen Airport.  Walking through the terminal, Southwest Airlines' passengers are greeted by two postcards or billboards, rented annually by the BCIC for $7,000 to advertise Brownsville. One billboard advertises the city's new medical academy or high school, while the other proclaims Brownsville, "The Bicycling Capital of the Rio Grande Valley."

BCIC Board Chairman Rose Gowen commented during the meeting on the worthy demographics of "cycling tourists," stating that somewhere she had read that they had "an average yearly income of $190,000, no, $200,000 and averaged an advanced degree educationally, possibly a masters."  So, hot damn!  Hopefully, these "cycling tourists" coming into the valley at HRL from Seattle, Chicago or New York, thought to have a their high end bicycles put into baggage so they can take advantage of  Brownsville's hike & bike trails and bike lanes.  None of the board members, however, came to the meeting on a bicycle, instead parking their vehicles next to hooded meters on E. 10th Street.  Nena and I parked our aging Ford F-150 in the public lot at 10th and Washington.  

The BCIC also advertises at the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport with a 6 month $4,000 deal there for inside billboards and artifacts from the King Tut Exhibition at the Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts.  Director Flores referred to a pie chart handout showing that 27% of those attending the King Tut display learned about it from the Brownsville airport advertising.  

The elephant in any room where the BCIC meets is still the Brownsville Sports Park, with about half of the $4.2 million the BCIC receives annually from Brownsville taxpayers for "quality of life" projects tied up in debt service and maintenance of a park positioned just across the interstate from Olmito.  

Chairperson Gowen asked if there wasn't a light at the end of the financial tunnel as the debt gets paid down.  Interim Finance Director Lupe Granado said:  "Yes, by 2018, the debt service will be lowered to $1.6 million annually."  

"Well, soon, then, we'll have an additional $300,000 to distribute," added Gowen, quickly doing the math.  The current payoff on the Brownsville Sports Park is $17,260,000.

Re-examined at the meeting were open projects, that is projects, funded, but not completed.  The City of Brownsville received $111,000 in 2012 to put HVAC at the old Capitol Theater on Levee Street.  The city wants to rethink the entire project and will be given more time.  $17,000 committed to a Brownsville Botanical Garden has been returned to the general fund.  

Also, piquing our interest was $17,500 in annual dues the BCIC agreed to commit to the Rio South Texas Council.  Ms. Flores explained, in a brief conversation after the meeting, that this regional group was trying to enhance the RGV's image, lest the image of border violence affect commerce and tourism.  

She later emailed to say that, with Mr. Campirano from the Port of Brownsville now the chairperson for the Rio South Texas Council and the opportunity for the BCIC to be represented by an officer on the council, it seemed the perfect time to join.  She said Brownsville now had more representation on the council than the Upper Valley. It actually seems more in line with a 4A, economic development entity, than a 4B, quality of life group, with most of the members being EDCs.

Maria Hall Joiner, the new President of the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce gave a presentation on a GOBrownsville initiative, designed to jumpstart local C of C membership and increase the business of local merchants.  GoBrownsville cards will entitle shoppers to discounts at member retail establishments.  The cards are free to the public, but businesses must be chamber members to participate.  Ms. Joiner mentioned, that in the last 10 years, local membership in the Chamber of Commerce had declined from 1,600 to 650.  

The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation has quickly become the most accommodating of all the city boards.  In harmony with the Texas Open Records and Open Meeting Acts, we are issued all the handouts necessary to understand the flow of meeting discussion.  Visitor seating is positioned right next to the podium. Director Rachel Flores answers emails quickly and handles Public Information Requests promptly.