HomeMy Public PortalAbout06-01-2020 Minutes Tourism Board Regular Meeting
Hillsborough Economic Development Planner Shannan Campbell
101 E. Orange St., PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278
919-296-9477 | shannan.campbell@hillsboroughnc.gov
www.hillsboroughnc.gov | @HillsboroughGov
www.visithillsboroughnc.com | @HillsboroughNC
Tourism Board Minutes | 1 of 3
Minutes
Hillsborough Tourism Board (Remote)
5:30 p.m. June 1, 2020
Town of Hillsborough YouTube channel
Present: Chair Matt Hughes, Barney Caton, Billy Maupin, and Cathleen Turner
Absent: Kim Tesoro, Mark Bateman, Barry Hupp and Tommy Stann
Staff: Economic Development Planner Shannan Campbell
Guests: Sherry Appel, Brooks Graebner, Torey Mishoe and Sarah Parris
1. Call to order
Chair Matt Hughes called the meeting to order at 5:40 p.m. Economic Development Planner Shannan
Campbell confirmed the presence of a quorum.
2. Agenda changes and approval
Campbell added to the agenda an audit document that needed board approval.
Motion: Member Barney Caton moved to approve the agenda as amended. Member Cathleen Turner
seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
3. Minutes review and approval
There were no minutes to approve.
4. Action items
A. Set Fiscal Year 2021 budget public hearing date and time
Campbell said that any Monday in June was possible.
Motion: Member Billy Maupin moved to schedule the public hearing for 5:30 p.m. June 22. Turner
seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
B. Added item ― Auditing contract with engagement fee of $2,500
Motion: Turner moved to approve the contract with the engagement fee. Caton seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
5. Discussion items
A. Fiscal Year 2020 budget and revenue projections
Tourism Board Minutes | 2 of 3
Campbell reviewed that revenue was down 20% for March and that she did not have numbers beyond March
yet. She said the average quarterly revenue for FY19 was $93,000 and for FY20 was about $95,000.
Hughes was surprised that March revenue was only down 20%.
The board very briefly discussed using fund balance for the next fiscal year if needed. Turner spoke in favor of
doing so. Caton noted if there was no revenue for April or May, the Tourism Board would be short by $62,000.
Campbell said she had earlier guessed that the board would have to spend $100,000 from the fund balance to
fully cover the fourth quarter. She no longer thinks that much coverage will be necessary. She explained that
there will likely need to be fund balanced appropriated for FY21 to meet minimum obligations as economic
recovery could take months.
B. Updated draft Fiscal Year 2021 budget recommendations and presentation
1. Funding grants
Campbell acknowledged that there’s no way to guess how comfortable people will be with dining in and that
there could be a second wave of COVID-19 illness in the fall and winter. She said the board wants to keep the
Visitors Center and contract partners operating so visitors can be invited to safely explore the town.
She reviewed the draft budget and staff recommendations with the board.
2. Funding contracts
Campbell reviewed that:
• Alliance for Historic Hillsborough was asking for $10,000 less than the current fiscal year for a total of
$200,000.
• Hillsborough Arts Council was asking for $2,350 more for a total of $20,900.
• Historic Hillsborough Commission was asking for the same amount as last year for a total of $26,000.
• Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County, which operates the Orange County
Historical Museum, was asking for $3,900 more than last year for a total of $30,000.
Brooks Graebner, chair of the Historic Hillsborough Commission, said the commission anticipates to fully carry
out plans at the Burwell School Historic Site in FY21.
Hillsborough Arts Council Executive Director Torey Mishoe said the council is working on contingency plans for
the summer and fall. She confirmed that the increase in the request from the council was to pay buskers to
perform in various places during Last Fridays events.
Sherry Appel, chair of the Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County, which operates the
Orange County Historical Museum, said a new coordinator has been hired and starts June 2. The foundation
hopes to reopen the museum in some way in early July and has a plan in place. She added the museum has a
good Facebook presence. The foundation also wants to hire a site manager in the next month.
Graebner added that the commission has produced three new videos and has created many Facebook and
Instagram posts. The Facebook posts have been themed around COVID-19. The commission is also exploring
holding events on the lawn in July and August and some combination of virtual and in-person events.
3. Funding holiday parade for FY21
Tourism Board Minutes | 3 of 3
The board decided to discuss this at a future meeting as there was still uncertainty on scope and total budget
needed.
4. Unfunded items
Campbell asked for guidance if this board wants any changes to the recommended budget. The
recommended budget would not grant contract partners any increases for FY21, and would instead fund
them at the same dollar amount as FY20. Additionally, only the highest scoring grant- Art on the Hill- would be
funded in the amount of $7,500. She said that spreadsheet of unfunded items could be developed and
prioritized at a future meeting so that if revenues come in strong then the board can slowly add things back to
the budget.
Turner said she would like the board to set some money aside for the Alliance book project grant.
Caton thought it might be appropriate to table grant decisions at this time.
C. Contract partner unused funds and reports due for quarters 3 and 4
Campbell asked the board if they would like to hear Q3 & Q4 reports in July or August. The board decided to
wait until August to discuss any funds unused by contract partners and to receive these reports. Staff was
directed to inform contract partners of the expectation to have reports ready to present, including
information about any unused funds, at the August meeting.
6. Monthly reports 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, reported that the Visitors Center has
been closed since mid-March but continued to provide visitor information. Also, the Alliance received $22,500
in Paycheck Protection Program funding which could result in there being additional tourism funds for FY21.
Campbell shared an advertisement created by the Visitors Center themed “Find your calm in Hillsborough,
NC” and explained how it could be used to promote anything from Riverwalk to outdoor concerts, dining and
shopping. She said that she had been working with the Visitors Center staff to roll out the campaign and
encourage visitors to ‘find your calm’ by coming to Hillsborough.
B. Tourism Board and staff comments and updates
The board decided to cancel their July meeting.
7. Adjournment
Motion: Maupin moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:53 p.m. Caton seconded.
Vote: Unanimous