Pacific tourism commission discusses state statute change to broaden membership eligibility

Pacific tourism commissioners reviewed a proposal to amend the state statute governing membership on local tourism commissions to allow business owners who have premises in Pacific and residents of adjacent counties to serve on the commission.

The change under discussion would modify the current rule that members must live within city limits or within the county where the city resides; the chamber of commerce’s proposal would broaden eligibility to include people who own a business in Pacific and to include residents of surrounding counties such as Jefferson, Franklin or St. Louis County. "The way the statute is written is you have to live in city limits or within the county in which the city resides," one commissioner said. "If we can get it altered or amended, that opens us up for a lot more people to serve and contribute to tourism." (Speaker: Board member)

Commissioners noted limits on what the commission can do as a body: "we are okay to talk about it, we just can't necessarily write a letter as a group still," a member said, and the group discussed preparing an independent letter or proposal rather than endorsing the chamber’s effort as a commission. Alderman Aldrin Madrigal reported the city attorney is drafting a letter and said Senator Ben Brown will carry the bill in the Senate next session and Pauline Jones will handle it in the House; the item will not advance this legislative week because the session is ending.

Discussion centered on two drafting approaches raised by members: (1) a general amendment to the statewide statute so business owners in town could be eligible everywhere it applies, and (2) a narrowly tailored special exception limited to Pacific (or Jefferson County). One board member cautioned that combining a local special exception with a general amendment could complicate passage in Jefferson City: "I have a problem with it. ... once you're going to get this into a legislative bill, you're combining 2 things," the member said.

Commissioners stressed that appointments would still be made by aldermen, which they described as a local guardrail that would limit outside influence even if eligibility widened. No motion or formal vote was taken. A commission member volunteered to draft suggested language for the group to review at the next meeting, and Alderman Madrigal said the attorney is preparing a separate letter to be filed next session.

Why this matters: changing the membership rule would alter who can be appointed to a body that helps market Pacific and advise on events, potentially increasing participation from nearby counties and local business owners. Commissioners requested proposed draft language be returned for review before any formal endorsement by the commission.

What happens next: a commission member will prepare draft language to present at the next meeting; Alderman Aldrin Madrigal said the city attorney will circulate a separate letter and that Senator Ben Brown and Representative Pauline Jones will be asked to carry the measure in the next legislative session.