THE RECREATION AND PARK COMMISSION

FOR THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE

Special Meeting - 5:00 p.m.

BREC’s Independence Park Recreation Center

7505 Independence Boulevard

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Commission Minutes

October 5, 2004

The Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge met in special session on Tuesday, October 5, 2004, at 5:00 p.m., at BREC’s Independence Park Recreation Center, with the following members present: Carroll Breeden, Vice-Chairman; Hal Butt, Treasurer; Jim Brewer, Collis Temple, Jr.; Pat Bergeron; and Audrey Nabors Jackson. Staff members present: Mark Thornton, Bill Palmer, Ted Jack, Kristi Barnett, Bert Neal, Bob Epperson, and Helen McGowan. Members of the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation: Carroll Breeden, Jim Martin, Tara Wicker, Jake Netterville, Wally McMakin, Terry Majors, Sherry Gomez, Floyd Kerr, Dena Davis, Jerry Stovall, Vincent Trinidad and Heath Aucoin. Convention and Visitors Bureau Board Members: Danny McGlynn, Bill Scheffy, Wilfred Barry, Ralph Ney, Tara Wicker, Will Mangham and Toni Hayes. BRACVB Staff present: Paul Arrigo, Sid Jackson, Renee Areng and Lauralyn Maranto. Also present were Linda Clark, of Kean, Miller; Jeff Wright, of Graham Group and Mike Dunne, of the Advocate.

Mr. Breeden called the BREC Commission meeting to order noting that the Commission had a quorum present.

Mr. Barry asked for public comment. None was offered.

Mr. Thornton noted that this was the first meeting of the three boards. His PowerPoint presentation outlined BREC’s plan for building and maintaining facilities for the community with funds received from the tax renewal and additional funds from the November tax election. In this partnership, BREC would supply the facilities, BRASF would bring in the tournaments and CVB would promote our area.

Mr. Stovall introduced the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation and its mission statement. They will work with what is here and make it bigger and better.

The CVB President, Mr. Arrigo pointed out that improved economic development will bring in more money to spend more money.

Mr. Barry read the Resolution pledging that BREC, Baton Rouge Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation jointly prepare a Baton Rouge Sports Marketing Plan to accomplish the following in the next nine months:

a. Identify sports to be targeted that yield the most desirable reward

for the community and economic development.

b. Identify metrics to measure success:

· Event capacity

· Annual team and total attendance

· Annual room nights sold

· Other useful data such as economic impact

c. Develop a five year plan and identify short and long term goals for

each sport in terms of:

· Venue improvements or construction required

· Amenity packages required at the sport venues to include qualifying

of facilities, access, transportation and amusements for visitors

· Participation and room night growth

· Economic return on investment hurdles

d. Define roles for each group:

· BREC – construction and maintenance of venues

· Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation – management of tournaments

and assistance with promotion

· Baton Rouge Area Convention and Visitors Bureau – promotion of

Baton Rouge and our sport facilities and bidding to the organizations

of the target sports.

Mr. Barry opened the floor for round table discussion. Discussion of public school usage for some sports events, especially track and field, was held.

Mr. Brewer moved to send the Proposition to the BREC Recreation/Program Committee in October. After a second by Mr. Butt, the motion was passed by unanimous vote.

Mr. Brewer moved to adjourn the meeting with a second from Mr. Butt. This passed unanimously.

There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________________

Mark Thornton, Superintendent Gerald Handy, Chairman

and Ex-Officio Secretary