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Show ChamberBureau studies plan for new offices and visitor center by CHRISTOPHER SMART Record staff writer A proposed visitor center at the north end of town could become the new home of the Park City Chamber of CommerceConvention and Visitors Visi-tors Bureau if the plan is economically feasible. The ChamberBureau's executive director, Debby Symonds, said such i 'j a plan is being studied presently. She said the organization's offices are too small for her staff, which will increase next week. The ChamberBureau's staff of eleven is housed on the second floor i of the old City Hall building on Main I Street. The 1,200 square feet of I office space was "just right," ! Symonds said, when the Chamber i Bureau moved in two years ago with a staff of eight. I But an economic development 1 officer soon will be added to the j staff, Symonds said, adding a new dimension to the Chamber Bureau's responsibilities. Office space in the I Ola Towne Shoppes on Main Street will be leased to make room for the new position. The Chamber Bureau will pay rent of $792 a month for the Old Towne Shoppes office. The organiza-I organiza-I tion now pays the municipality $863 I a month for the offices in old City Hall. The City Hall rent is equal to $8" a square foot. Symonds said a "rent concession" allows the comparatively comparative-ly low rate because the Chamber Bureau operates the museum and visitor center on the first floor of City Hall. But while there is a visitor center on Main Street, many ski resort executives, local merchants and city councilmen believe a need exists for one at the entrance of town. " Symonds said many visitors spend hours looking for property management manage-ment firms while trying to check in to condominium rentals. The city council, at the request of Symonds and Deer Valley Executive Vice President John Miiller, had earmarked $100,000 of its Capital Improvements Budget for a visitor center at the north end of town. The proposal called for land acquisition and construction of an un-manned facility which would guide tourists to ski resorts, property management firms and give information on other locations and activities. However, the city council had to make budgetary adjustments to offset a shortfall of estimated impact fees from construction projects which have failed to make construction starts. It was proposed the funds for the visitor center be ' borrowed from the Park City Housing Authority rather than come directly from the budget. The proposal to build new offices at the location of the new visitor center came following the adoption of the Capital Improvements budget. That plan calls for the ChamberBureau to lease the building from the municipality. . , The new visitor center would be operated by staff members. The museum and visitor center on Main Street would continue to be run by the Chamber Bureau. But City Councilman Bill Coleman isn't sold on the proposal to move the ChamberBureau's offices. He said he prefers to see the Chamber Bureau on Main Street. Among other things, Coleman said, it doesn't make sense for the Chamber Bureau to construct its own building when 68,000 square feet of office space stands empty on Main Street. As a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Coleman said he would need to review the size of the staff and its duties before supporting any expansion by the organization. |