Gonzales’ Price LeBlanc PACE Center
Councilman Kirk Boudreaux went of script (or agenda) at the end of Monday’s meeting of Gonzales’ City Council to stress the importance of hiring a qualified applicant to oversee the city’s Performing Arts, Conference & Events (PACE) Center. Jaycee Gill left the position last week, taking a position with Ascension Chamber of Commerce. Gill was on hand with Chamber President Donnie Miller to request a discounted fee for the Chamber to hold its meetings at PACE.
A unanimous council bought what Miller was selling, a more compelling case than earlier applicants seeking use of PACE Center for free.
He presented his case for council approval of a discounted rate package for a dozen Chamber events in 2026 anticipated to generate $19,058 in revenue for the Center. According to the Chamber, PACE’s Regular Rate is $2,422.50, with the Chamber seeking a discounted rate of $1,650. The rate is for weekday (M-Th), excluding special accommodations like “band/dancefloor set up.”
According to the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement application:
The total PACE annual budget for facility rentals is $165,000. With the Chamber’s discounted and regular business events, this accounts for 11.55% of the yearly budgeted facility income.
The council’s approval was the first for a PACE-related endeavor since Jaycee Gill’s departure.
Gill is the only individual to serve as PACE Center’s manager since the facility’s grand opening in January of 2024. It was built with tax revenues generated by a perpetual 2% Hotel Occupancy Tax approved by city voters on December 18, 2018. Revenues were banked until deemed sufficient to support construction, completed five years later in the heart of Heritage Crossing’s mixed-use development.
“Jaycee’s done a great job,” Councilman Boudreaux said. “It’s a very important role that needs to be somebody with hotel, banquet sales and management (experience).”
Mayor Tim Riley echoed the sentiments, already beginning the search for her successor. News of the job opening has been shared internally with public advertisement scheduled for the last two months of November. Thereafter, candidate qualifications will be assessed with promising applicants interviewed and vetted.
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