The Peachtree City Council wants to change the makeup of the city’s Tourism Association board.

The change would allow for two more citizens to be appointed to the board, replacing two positions currently filled by the city manager and a representative from the City Council. The proposal must first be approved by the tourism board so it can be included in the by-laws.

Councilwoman Cyndi Plunkett, who currently serves as the council member appointed to the board, opposed the change at Thursday night’s City Council meeting. Plunkett said she had contacted several other cities’ tourism boards, and those representatives said having city officials on the board is important to maintaining communication between the agencies.

Councilwoman Judi-ann Rutherford said having a council member and the city manager on the tourism board handcuffs the group because they might feel beholden to follow the officials’ suggestions because they are, in effect, the tourism board’s “boss.”

Instead, the city manager and finance director would serve on a finance committee of the Tourism Association so they can still provide advice on fiscal matters. Council still retains control over selecting citizens to serve on the board’s five voting seats; one of those seats is reserved for the chair of the recreation commission.

Rutherford said if the new arrangement doesn’t work, it could be revisited in a year, but someone from the City Council “does not belong on the Tourism Association.”

The change was approved 4-1 with Plunkett casting the no vote.

The move is not official, however, as it requires approval from the current tourism board.

The Tourism Association operates the city’s tennis center and amphitheater in addition to promoting tourism. The association’s activities are funded in part by the city’s hotel-motel tax.

Council’s vote also creates three additional non-voting spots on the tourism board, one for the president of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, one for the Superintendent of Fayette County Schools and one for a local hotel manager. That action was taken at the request of the tourism board.