HomeMy Public PortalAbout01-06-2020 Minutes Tourism Board Regular MeetingPage 1 of 3
Minutes
Tourism Board
5:30 p.m. Jan. 6, 2020
Town Hall Annex Board Meeting Room, 105 E. Corbin St.
Present: Vice Chair Kim Tesoro, Mark Bateman, Barney Caton, Barry Hupp, Billy Maupin, Tommy Stann and
Jeff Strickler
Staff: Economic Development Planner Shannan Campbell and Public Information Specialist Cheryl
Sadgrove
Guests: Kasha Ely and Sarah Parris
1. Call to order
Vice Chair Kim Tesoro called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. Economic Development Planner Shannan
Campbell confirmed the presence of a quorum.
2. Agenda changes and approval
Campbell requested the addition of an action item to determine who would attend the Visit NC 365
Conference in March 2020.
Motion: Member Tommy Stann moved to approve the agenda as presented. Member Billy Maupin
seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
3. Minutes review and approval
Minutes from regular meeting on Dec. 2, 2019.
Motion: Member Mark Bateman moved approval of the minutes as presented. Member Barry Hupp
seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
4. Presentations
A. Museum update
Tonya Brami, an Orange County Historical Museum board member, said a leak during the building’s roof
replacement caused water damage to the inside of the building. She did not yet have a date for the museum’s
reopening.
Campbell said she had heard from the town public works director that the roof contractor is eager to fix the
damage and that there was insurance money to cover those repairs.
B. TourHillsboroughNC.com thesis project
Kasha Ely presented her thesis project in which she surveyed 22 local business owners and residents and
conducted 5 interviews. She shared some of her findings and explained a walking tour app ― a “Hillsborough
Hodgepodge Tour” of arts, nature and history ― she created that includes downtown features as well as some
locations near downtown Hillsborough. Her walking tour app includes blog features on what inspires local
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business owners and includes a list of meeting spaces. It also includes posts and blogs about recent events and
business owners.
The board thanked Ely for her presentation.
5. Action items
A. Alliance for Historic Hillsborough seat: Cathleen Turner
It was acknowledged that Cathleen Turner, who has applied to hold that seat, could not be present at this
meeting.
Motion: Maupin motioned that the item be tabled until Turner can attend a meeting. Stann
seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
B. FY21 Draft Grant Cycle Schedule
Motion: Hupp moved to approve the grant cycle schedule. Member Barney Caton seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
C. Conference
Several members expressed interest in attending the Visit NC 365 Conference during March 22-24 in Asheville.
There was lengthy discussion in how to decide who should attend. Campbell said the maximum number of
attendees from the Tourism Board should be three based on the size of the board.
Motion: Bateman moved to send Tesoro, Maupin and Caton this year. Hupp seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Motion: Bateman moved to approve transferring money from the fund balance to cover the expenses.
Caton seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Hupp and Stann are interested in attending the conference next year.
6. Discussion items
A. 2020 Updated Tourism Board Meeting Schedule
Campbell noted this schedule reflects the changes approved at the last meeting, including a new date for the
September meeting and a new meeting time of 5:30 p.m.
B. First Draft FY21 Tourism Board Budget and Highlights
Campbell noted this budget includes a parking study with costs shared among this board, the Board of
Commissioners and the Tourism Development Authority. The parking study would be comprehensive and
conducted by an outside company.
Campbell highlighted the cost of staff would be split differently to reflect that the Tourism Development
Authority does not use as much of her position as the town and the Tourism Board do. The new split would be
40% of staff cost covered by the town, 40% by the Tourism Board and 20% by the Tourism Development
Authority. She noted that the town’s contribution for benefits for the staff position are also reflected in the
new split.
Tourism Board members said the comprehensive parking study is needed.
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Tesoro mentioned that future budget items and discussions for the Tourism Board may include a lighting
project for downtown and the Holiday Parade.
C. Draft Contract Partners’ Scopes of Work for FY21
Campbell said the scopes of work are mostly unchanged from the current fiscal year.
Tesoro added that the scopes of work need to specify that partnering organizations are required to be open on
the Sunday of the Candlelight Tour.
7. Monthly report and comments
A. Alliance for Historic Hillsborough Director and Alliance Programs reports; Visitors Center Communications
Report; Tourism Staff Report and Orange County Visitors Bureau Updates
Sarah Parris, executive director of the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, said she could envision incorporating
some of Ely’s walking tour app protype with the African American history tour her office is developing.
Parris noted 2020 is Year of the Woman and there will be an upcoming meeting with community stakeholders
about a 2020 celebration. A member of the local group attended a conference in Raleigh to learn about
planned statewide activities.
Parris said the alliance and the Burwell School Historic Site are entering into a 90-day memorandum of
understanding to have the alliance manage the school site.
B. Tourism Board/Staff Member comments and updates
Campbell said Holiday Inn Express has completed a full renovation. Also, the FY19 Tourism Board audit should
be available in February.
8. Adjournment
Motion: Maupin moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:52 p.m. Stann seconded.
Vote: Unanimous