(April 3, 2003) -- The LB Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) -- a not-for-profit entity legally separate from City Hall which receives roughly 3/4 of its operating budget from LB's hotel bed tax -- will let members of the public attend its board meetings.

In response to a query yesterday by LBReport.com, LB CVB President/CEO Steve Goodling said in an early evening April 2 telephone call:

"It will be fine if people want to attend our board meetings. We've never had a request like that before. Quite honestly, we didn't think there was the interest, but the more people understand what we do, the better it is."

Saying LB's CVB is underfunded compared to other cities, Mr. Goodling, who since taking over as the group's President/CEO has earned plaudits even among City Hall critics, told LBReport.com that LB CVB's sales are up while many other CVB's are down. He said, "We're producing more for less, and if we had more, we could do more."

Mr. Goodling added, "If people would like to come [to our board meetings], that would be great."