HomeMy Public PortalAbout06-05-2017 Minutes Tourism Board Regular MeetingPage 1 of 3
Minutes
Tourism Board
6:15 p.m. June 5, 2017
Town Barn, 101 E. Orange St.
Present: Chair Mary Catherine McKee, Vice Chair Erik Myers, Kathleen Ferguson, Matt Hughes,
Tommy Stann, and Kim Tesoro
Absent: Mark Bateman, Kate Carroll, and Libbie Hough
Staff: Economic Development Planner Shannan Campbell
Guests: Alliance for Historic Hillsborough Executive Director Sarah DeGennaro
Item 1: Call meeting to order
Chair McKee called the meeting to order at 6:20 p.m.
Item 2: Consideration of changes or adjustments to the agenda
There were no changes or adjustments to the agenda.
Motion: Vice Chair Myers moved to approve the agenda as presented.
Second: Member Ferguson seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Item 3: Consideration of minutes from April 3, 2017, and May 1, 2017, meetings
Motion: Member Ferguson moved approval of both sets of minutes with a correction.
Second: Vice Chair Myers seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Changes: Mark Bateman and Matt Hughes were absent for the April 3 meeting. Tommy Stann was
present.
Item 4: General comment
There were no comments.
Item 5: Monthly reports
a. Alliance for Historic Hillsborough Director’s Report:
Ms. DeGennaro reported that the Visitors Center hosted 739 visitors from 17 states and 5
countries in April. The arts and crafts show, partnered with the Hillsborough Arts Council, drew
visitors. Ms. DeGennaro described “Hillsborough living room,” an art installation attraction
created in the back room of the Visitors Center and which was part of the arts and crafts show.
About 500 people visited the living room, and a wine tasting and bird discussion took place in
the space. There are conversations of creating “Hillsborough bedroom” in that space as a future
attraction.
Ms. DeGennaro noted the report includes the Occoneechee hikes led by John Jeffries, a Civil
War living history event in collaboration with Bennett Place, and a Civil War living history
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demonstration.
Ms. DeGennaro said next month she will present a volunteer report that looks like the
communications report.
There was a volunteer luncheon in April.
Ms. DeGennaro and Ms. Campbell have been working on the lease for the Alexander Dickson
House with Orange County. She has been talking with Orange County about the sidewalk.
b. Visitors Center Communications Report:
Ms. Campbell reported that Hillsborough was named one of the most charming towns by
thetravelnet.com. Stickwork sculpture artist Patrick Dougherty was featured on a PBS show
called ‘Craft in America. Panciuto had a nice write‐up in Our State magazine. The Visitors Center
did a great job tying into the arts and crafts show with the living room exhibit. West Fest was
very successful in West Hillsborough. The Weaver Street Market wine show brought many
people into town, too.
The North American Travel Journalists Association conference brought 30 journalists to
Hillsborough two days in a row. Ms. Campbell reported there were several journalists from
California and many comments about how green the scenery is in Hillsborough and how old
some of the buildings are.
Ms. Campbell reviewed ads run recently promoting tourism and events coming up in town.
She said Member Hough had asked what the board has accomplished since Ms. Campbell was
hired at a previous meeting. Therefore, she had put together a bulleted list for fiscal years 2016
and 2017, which is included in the agenda packet. She said she ordered some outdoor brochure
holders and tabletop holders for Cup‐A‐Joe and Weaver Street Market with leftover money from
FY17 that were going up along Riverwalk to encourage people using that amenity to head into
Downtown and West Hillsborough to shop and get food/drinks.
c. Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Report:
No report.
d. Tourism Board Staff and Food and Beverage Tax Revenues Report
Ms. Campbell explained the budget is conservative because this summer’s sidewalk project
could negatively impact spending downtown.
She reported that Food and Beverage Tax numbers were strong for April and that the revenues
remained about 8% higher overall than last year.
Item 6: New business items
a. FY2018 Tourism Board budget
i. Formal public hearing
Chair McKee opened the public hearing.
There were no comments.
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Motion: Member Ferguson moved to close the public hearing.
Second: Vice Chairman Myers seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
ii. Discussion and decision
Motion: Member Ferguson moved to adopt the budget and approve the ordinance as written.
Second: Ms. Tesoro seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
b. Miscellaneous FY17 budget amendments
Ms. Campbell reviewed that attorney fees were generated in the effort to recover food and
beverage taxes and penalties from UNC Hospital and previous Food Truck vendor.
Motion: Member Ferguson moved to approve the budget amendments.
Second: Vice Chair Myers seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
c. Audit contract review and approval
Ms. Campbell said it remains largely unchanged from last year.
Motion: Member Ferguson moved approval of the audit contract.
Second: Vice Chair Myers seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Item 7: Old business items
a. Tourism Plan strategies discussion (continued)
Ms. Campbell said she and Ms. DeGennaro would identify who is responsible for which staff
tasks. Several board members agreed that determination was not part of the tourism plan and
could be done internally as the tasks were undertaken.
Chair McKee mentioned tying strategies into how tourism grants are scored. Also, she would like
for the Tourism Board to build up a savings fund as part of the fund balance. Ms. Tesoro
suggested that was more of an implementation than a strategy.
Item 8: Staff/board comments and discussion items
The board agreed to meet at 6:15 p.m. July 10. Discussion of grant scoring methods will be on that
agenda. Ms. Campbell agreed to send an email asking members to respond on whether they can make
the meeting to ensure a quorum.
Item 9: Adjourn
Motion: Vice Chair Myers moved to adjourn at 6:50 p.m.
Second: Member Ferguson seconded.
Vote: Unanimous