THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 28, 1994 TAG: 9409280469
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KAREN WEINTRAUB, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
City Council decided Tuesday to allow companies other than Virginia Beach Events Unlimited to compete for the management of Oceanfront festivities.
The council promised last year to solicit bids for the nearly $1 million annual contract, after questions arose about the management success of Events Unlimited, which has run the summer-time activities since 1991.
Many of Events Unlimited's problems were remedied this year, said James Ricketts, director of the Department of Convention and Visitor Development. But the nonprofit agency still came in $100,000 over budget on the American Music Festival held Labor Day weekend, and the company's most recent financial reports were 70 days late.
Ricketts said he and the city's legal department drafted the new bid request to resolve many of the remaining troubles and improve the tourist draw of the Oceanfront. The council is expected to select the winning bid or decide to bring the management of beachfront activities in-house by Dec. 13.
The new contract will:
Rein in administrative costs, which, under the current contract, take about 18 percent of the total budget.
Require monthly rather than quarterly financial reporting and allow a 30-day rather than 15-day grace period.
Add one major event between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve to promote off-season tourism.
The council also accepted Ricketts' suggestion to eliminate weekly fireworks at the Oceanfront.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCIL by CNB