HomeMy Public PortalAbout11-04-2019 Minutes Tourism Board Regular MeetingPage 1 of 3
Minutes
Tourism Board
6:15 p.m. Nov. 4, 2019
Town Hall Annex Board Meeting Room, 105 E. Corbin St.
Present: Vice Chair Matt Hughes, Mark Bateman, Barry Hupp, Billy Maupin, Tommy Stann, Jeff Strickler
and Kim Tesoro
Staff: Economic Development Planner Shannan Campbell and Public Information Specialist Cheryl
Sadgrove
Guests: Anna Boyer, Dana Clar, Sarah DeGennaro, Brooks Graebner, Rebecca Hoffman and Torey Mishoe
1. Call to order
Vice Chair Matt Hughes 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
There were no changes to the agenda.
Motion: Member Kim Tesoro moved to approve the agenda as presented. Member Barry Hupp seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
3. Minutes review and approval
Minutes from regular meeting on Oct. 7, 2019.
Motion: Hupp moved approval of the minutes as presented. Member Mark Bateman seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
4. Action items
A. Interview applicants for the at-large seat and discuss possibilities for restaurant seat
Dana Clar addressed the board. She said she moved to Hillsborough two or three years ago and is originally
from Michigan. She likes to walk downtown. She said she has fun ideas and likes to be a tourist. She said she is
the mother of two toddlers, so she would bring a young parent’s perspective to the board. She said she is
always looking for something fun and cool to do. She works as a research administrator at Duke. She has a
background in finance management and budgeting. She enjoys running, walking, buying a beer at a local pub,
eating lunch downtown and being outside.
Rebecca Hoffman addressed the board. She has lived here eight years. She is originally from San Antonio,
Texas, and moved here after living in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Hoffman said a town should have a motto. She
also suggested the town install outdoor exercise stations that people could reach by walking from one to
another station. She enjoys riding her motorcycle around town.
Campbell noted that a third applicant, Barney Caton, is out of town and wouldn’t be available to interview this
evening.
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Campbell then asked for ideas for more outreach for the vacant pub/restaurant seat. She reviewed her list of
people she has asked to serve. The board gave her a few suggestions, which she noted.
B. Fiscal Year 2020 first-quarter reports
Burwell School Historic Site — Brooks Graebner, chair of the Historic Hillsborough Commission, which owns
and operates the site, said fundraising has continued at a quick pace. Volunteer hours and visitors remain
strong. The commission has been prudent in managing money in the first quarter. The first quarter did not
involve paying any staff because staff had not yet been hired. The contract money from the Tourism Board for
the first and second quarters was received by the commission in the second quarter.
Hillsborough Arts Council — Torey Mishoe, executive director of the council, reported that for the monthly art
walk event, 11 venues had committed and only three were limited to the “short season.” She said venues are
getting creative by playing music, inviting food trucks and trying to engage more of the visitors. Surveys of the
venues show no decline in attendance or sales. The council has new volunteers starting in January and is
working on identifying opportunities for growth.
Mishoe reported that the Last Fridays concert series has wrapped up and that the second half of the season
went well. She said a record number of vendors had applied, with a total of 81. Of those, 31 had committed to
the entire season. The council is considering how to best add more vendor spots. The main volunteer
organizers have stepped down, and a volunteer named Diane Edwards is taking over for next summer.
Mishoe reported that a new committee is forming to organize the Handmade Parade.
Orange County Historical Museum — Anna Boyer, assistant for the Orange County Historical Museum,
addressed the board. She said the first quarter focus was on a fundraiser and Last Fridays. Boyer reviewed that
local artist Ann Hobgood created a paint-by-numbers mural with historical people and that visitors were
encouraged to paint some of it. It is now hanging in the museum. She also reported that the goal of the
fundraiser was to raise $5,000 and that almost $9,000 was raised.
C. Appointment recommendations
Campbell reviewed that the board needed to appoint a chair and vice chair as well as a representative to serve
on the Tourism Development Authority.
Hughes said he was willing to serve as chair.
Motion: Member Tommy Stann moved to appoint Hughes as chair. Bateman seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
No one wished to serve as vice chair. Campbell said it could be decided at the next meeting.
Bateman said he would be willing to serve on the Tourism Development Authority.
Motion: Tesoro nominated Bateman to serve as the representative on the Tourism Development
Authority. Stann seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
The board decided to delay appointing someone to the at-large seat on the Tourism Board and delay
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appointing a vice chair until their next meeting.
Motion: Hupp moved to table the vote. Member Billy Maupin seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
5. 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
Sarah DeGennaro, executive director of the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, reported that:
• The Outlandish event was successful with an attendance of 1,300. Despite the rainy, cool weather on
Sunday, 465 attended that day.
• The Visitors Center has new furniture, the front porch as been painted, and cell phone charging stations
may be added.
• The interpretive sign about the Regulators would be installed soon.
• Work is continuing on the Occaneechi Village replica. The alliance has been working with the Occaneechi
tribe on a memorandum of understanding to cover the operation and maintenance of the replica.
• She and Campbell are working with WRAL’s Spotlight program, which is sponsored content.
• She continues to work with the interpretive sign committee on other signs for around town.
• The Visitors Center has hosted more school groups this fall than last year.
Campbell reported:
• There was a good turnout for the Burwell School Historic Site event with Frances Mayes, the oyster roast at
Botanist and Barrel, the downtown sidewalk sale, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail birthday hike and the
bluegrass festival at Moorefields.
• The website is experiencing growth from visitors.
• Two people who collect the occupancy tax have expressed some interest in serving on the Tourism
Development Authority.
• The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill/Carrboro has expanded to include Pittsboro and Chatham County.
• The organizations with which the Tourism Board has contract partnerships have met to discuss merger or
third-party contracting for services
• Shop Small Business Month is November.
• The food and beverage tax revenue was down by 1% for August, which is less than $500.
B. Tourism Board member comments and updates
Board members speculated that reduced hours at the McDonald’s may account for the August loss in revenue.
7. Adjournment
Motion: Hughes adjourned the meeting at 7:06 p.m.
Vote: Unanimous