However, when the city widened the street in front of the Pioneers Home and discovered that it was not metered, a meter was installed. Vice Chairman Hanson moved that H.B. 2084 do pass. Charlie Stevens, Legislative Liaison, Arizona Library Association , appeared before the committee and spoke in support of H.B. 2206. Mr. Stevens offered that cultural heritage is the fastest growing area of tourism. Dan Shilling, Executive Director, Arizona Humanities Council , stated that he had been working in this area for 7 to 8 years.
Surveys indicate that investing in libraries and museums is good for economic development.
He explained that in modeling this after other state programs, how to books have been completed for cultural institutions and CD-ROM s have been produced for chambers of commerce and economic agencies. Additionally, there is a strong coalition of cultural tourism, education and all economic development centers in Arizona and what is needed is the funds to get it going. Kevin DeMenna, Lobbyist, DeMenna and Associates , urged the committee to support this legislation. Barry Aarons, Executive Director, Arizona Tourism Alliance , spoke in support of H.B. 2206. He explained that the Arizona Tourism Alliance sees this bill as one of a series of product development that will allow the State of Arizona to be competitive in the area of tourism.