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5. Chamber Report: Semple reported this year's BBQ Blowout (Sanctioned BBQ competition and Peoples <br />Choice Division) is scheduled for December 7 at Love Civic Center. This year the public can purchase a <br />$20 entry to eat all the Peoples Choice BBQ. Proceeds benefit local school education foundations. 903 <br />Sunset Concerts are scheduled for Thursdays in June. It is estimated that the Square Dance group who <br />came to Paris over Labor Day and in Mid -October to attend Mannequin Night, spent over $50,000.00 <br />locally, with 400 room nights. <br />6. Coordinators Report - Coordinator Bedford explained how the Placer app, used by City, Chamber, and <br />EDC, can geo-fence an area for a certain amount of time, using cell phone data to determine how long <br />people stayed in one area, where they came from, what peak hours are, etc. It is reported that 9,800 <br />people attended Pumpkin Fest. The average stay was about 55 minutes and the peak attendance was from <br />Ilam -fpm, during the costume contest. This year there were 85 vendors, 10 kids games and 150 <br />volunteers throughout the day. This year we took in $21,000 from Festival of Pumpkins, towards the <br />Main Street fund. Next year will mark the 25th Anniversary. Suzy Harper with the non-profit, Light up <br />Paris, reached out to Bedford stating that the cost to prepare downtown for the Christmas Tree lighting is <br />$6000. Bedford recommended that the board donate $1500 towards this. Moore made a motion to give <br />$1500 to Light up Paris. Hart seconded. Motion passed. Christmas Tree Lighting will be November 23. <br />Shannon Jones with Lamar National Bank is coordinating the entertainment, choirs and dancers. There <br />will be wagon rides, live reindeer, popcorn and hot chocolate 1'or a donation. Moore asked about <br />advertising the Christmas Tree Lighting at Christmas in Paris earlier that day, to encourage visitors to stay <br />in town all day. Bedford will put out a press release and advertising on social media. We, will ask Paul to <br />look LIP on the Placer app how many out of town visitors attend Christmas in Paris. Bedford suggested a <br />vinyl banner (from Forrest Signs) at the civic center In the future we might consider posting signage <br />downtown (similar to festival of pumpkins), putting info at the local hotels, and at the PJC comer. <br />Bedford is in contact with Porter Lawn Maintenance about starting a maintenance contract for the grass on <br />the interior plaza, to alleviate the Parks Dept. Bedford is having a meeting with the Texas Main Street <br />design staff regarding I st Street. We should see action on I st Street soon. On November 19, at 2pm, <br />Moore and Ernmite will join the city staff to discuss the Downtown Plan. Bedford will send invitation to <br />inform them of meeting location. Boards and Commissions were looked at. Bedford recommended that <br />our board include a member of PDA, 7 members and 2 alternates. The Farmers Market Shed is here and <br />work will begin on that soon. Next meeting will be December 10th at 4:30. <br />