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HomeMy Public PortalAbout10-07-2019 Minutes Tourism Board Regular MeetingPage 1 of 3 Minutes Tourism Board 6:15 p.m. Oct. 7, 2019 Town Hall Annex Board Meeting Room, 105 E. Corbin St. Present: Chair Mary Catherine McKee, Mark Bateman, Barry Hupp, Billy Maupin, Tommy Stann and Jeff Strickler Absent: Matt Hughes and Kim Tesoro Staff: Economic Development Planner Shannan Campbell and Stormwater Program Coordinator Heather Fisher Guests: Sarah DeGennaro 1. Call to order Chair Mary Catherine McKee called the meeting to order at 6:20 p.m. Economic Development Planner Shannan Campbell confirmed the presence of a quorum. 2. Agenda changes and approval Campbell noted the last meeting took place 6:15 p.m. Sept. 4. Motion: Member Mark Bateman moved to approve the agenda with changes. Member Billy Maupin seconded. Vote: Unanimous 3. Minutes review and approval Minutes from regular meeting on Sept. 4, 2019. Campbell noted that the meeting took place at 6:15 p.m. Sept. 4. Motion: McKee moved approval of the minutes with the changed date and time. Maupin seconded. Vote: Unanimous 4. Action items A. Recognition of Mary Catherine McKee for her years of service Campbell presented McKee with a certificate of appreciation for her years of service. Board members expressed appreciation to McKee. Campbell noted the board has two vacancies. One is for someone who owns or works for a restaurant, pub, or other business that collects and remits the prepared food and beverage tax. The other is an at-large seat available to anyone who resides, owns property or has a principal place of employment within town. B. Consideration of special project/partnership funding for a project called Kings Highway Park Biodock on the Eno Stormwater Program Coordinator Heather Fisher addressed the board. Fisher explained the biodock is proposed for where people with kayaks or canoes enter the water. It is a gravel area and is not easy to enter a boat without getting wet feet. The plan is to create a floating dock that would incorporate some floating Page 2 of 3 wetlands. Some of the plants would support pollinators. The Stormwater and Environmental Services Division is collaborating with the Public Space Division to apply for grants. They are applying for a grant from the Piedmont Conservation Council, which asks for some matching funding. The divisions are asking the Tourism Board for $3,500 for educational signage. Campbell said $1,483 is left in the special projects line of the Tourism Board budget. Money would have to be moved from the board’s reserve fund to cover a $3,500 expenditure. Motion: Maupin moved to fund the $3,500 request. Stann seconded. Vote: Unanimous Motion: Maupin moved to move $3,500 from the reserve fund to the special projects line to cover this project. Stann seconded. Vote: Unanimous C. Recommendation of changes to the town code that would impact Tourism Board expenditures Campbell explained the Code of Ordinance states for the first two years of collecting a prepared foods and beverage tax, 60% of the collected prepared foods and beverage tax was required to be used for visitor services and 40% could be used on anything else to attract tourists to town. The code does not specify what happens after the first two years. Campbell explained the town’s auditors want her to identify the 60-40 split for every expenditure in the Tourism Board budget. It is complicated, but she is complying with the request. However, for Fiscal Year 2020- 21, she would like to amend the town code so that 100% of the proceeds are remitted to the Tourism Board. That way, the Visitors Center is only paid what it is budgeted to receive. Currently, the Visitors Center receives the proceeds and writes a large check to the Tourism Board after each fiscal year is complete, which the auditors also do not like. Motion: Maupin moved to approve the changes outlined. McKee seconded. Vote: Unanimous D. Support for resolution declaring November Shop Small Business Month in Hillsborough Campbell presented the resolution. Motion: Maupin moved to support the resolution. Strickler seconded. Vote: Unanimous 5. Discussion items A. Board interest in participating in 2019 Holiday Parade Campbell asked if this board wished to participate in any way. Board members did not indicate an interest in being in the parade but supported the idea of having the tourism board/program represented in some way. No motion was needed. 6. Monthly reports and comments A. Alliance for Historic Hillsborough Director and Programs Report; Visitors Center Communications Report; Tourism Board Staff Report and Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau updates Page 3 of 3 The reports were included in the packet. DeGennaro noted the Outlandish event planned for later in October. Campbell reported that: • A professional photographer recently took photos of meals/restaurants that agreed to be included for use in tourism advertising. • The Hillsborough Board of Commissioners approved the Tourism Development Authority’s request for permission to purchase a mobile stage. Tourism Board & TDA expenditures greater than $5,000 have to be approved by the Board of Commissioners. • She is following Carrboro, Chapel Hill and UNC-Chapel Hill’s efforts to invest in a walking tour app. • Rack cards were printed for marketing that include places to stay in Hillsborough and Riverwalk greenway information. • The prepared food and beverage tax proceeds were up 8% in July. • She spent $350 from the Tourism Board’s miscellaneous fund on branded logo glassware to be sold in correlation with the Outlandish festival. B. Tourism Board member comments and updates There was none. 7. Adjournment Motion: McKee adjourned the meeting at 7:15 p.m. Vote: Unanimous