Town of Blowing Rock
Tourism
Development Authority
Minutes May
1, 2007
Call to Order
Chairperson Keele called the meeting to order and welcomed the members.
Approval of Minutes April 3 and 12, 2007
Chairperson Keele
entertained the approval of the April 3 and 12, 2007 meeting minutes. Motion by Member Tester and
seconded by Vice-Chair Tarbutton to approve the April 3 and 12, 2007 meeting minutes. Unanimously approved.
Chairperson Keele introduced Ex-officio member Scott Hildebran to review the FY 2006-07 budget to date.
Mr. Hildebran Pierce then reviewed the monthly financial statement and the FY 2006-07 Occupancy Tax collections year-to-date through March 2007. He stated that March revenues, totaling a gross of $29,435.55, were slightly down compared to March 2006. Mr. Hildebran noted that this was the first decline in the last twenty months. He also advised that revenue and expenditures for the year were in line with projections.
Vice-Chair Tarbutton stated that he observed that group sales were down as well. Ex-officio member Hildebran informed the Authority that Hortons Lodge was recently sold and would not continue as a motel establishment.
Operations Activity Report
The Authority briefly
reviewed the Operations Activity Report on Visitor Center activities -web site
usage, telephone and email requests, walk-in traffic, etc. (Attachment #1). All
Executive Director Brown
discussed
·
the hiring of Amanda Fife, a former intern with the TDA, as the new TDA
assistant (start date May 7).
·
the success of the TDA Google/Yahoo buy in increasing website hits.
·
the previous quarter marketing/advertising activities, which has led to
the increase in
·
the status of the new Visitor Guide, which should be ready by Memorial
Day.
Member Tester commented on
the necessity to maintain a current and regularly updated TDA website. He also
reminded the Authority that the Chamber website as well was still out of date.
The Authority agreed to offer the Chamber assistance on website maintenance for
a nominal fee. The Authority also agreed to consider event website maintenance
services for local events such as Winterfest, Mitford Days, Wine Festival, etc.
Executive Director Brown advised that he would discuss this website assistance
proposal with the appropriate parties and would work toward keeping the TDA
website current.
The Authority also suggested
that Mr. Brown seek cost information on obtaining a link from the www.blowingrock.org website to www.blowingrock.com website.
Member Tester requested that
Executive Director Brown provide a breakdown next month on the content of TDA
advertisement general ads versus event specific ads, or both.
Master Signage Plan Update
Ex-Officio Member Hildebran
advised that the Town had received delivery of the new regulatory signage (40
signs) and public works staff had begun the signage installation. He also stated
that the next phase of the Master Signage Plan would be to have information
kiosks designed in the near future, which would replace the few remaining
street business directory signs. He advised that Highland Mapping was in the
final mapping design phase and hopefully the signs would be manufactured by
mid-summer.
The Authority expressed their desire to the kiosks in place as soon as possible and asked if they could be updated regularly as businesses change location of ownership. Mr. Hildebran stated that the kiosk design would allow for regular updates.
The Authority discussed the need for a regular TDA update to be placed in the Blowing Rocket to keep citizens informed of TDA activities and tourism spending on town infrastructure, i.e. signage, parking, sidewalks, etc.
FY 2007-08 TDA Budget
Ex-Officio Member Hildebran and Executive Director Brown distributed a copy of the proposed FY 2007-08 TDA Budget for Authority review. (Attachment #2). The proposed budget totals $748,065. Chairperson Keele suggested that a budget worksession be held and the Authority schedule a session on May 16th at 5:00 p.m. at Town Hall to review the draft document. A public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for the June 5, 2007 TDA meeting.
Ex-officio member Hildebran provided an overview on the town portion of the proposed budget with the Authority i.e. streetscape (sidewalk, paving, utilities, parking in the downtown area, an ambassador program of utilizing town park staff to police the downtown for litter and provide information, and proposed recreation special events. It was the consensus of the Authority that town portion of the FY 2007-08 budget was in keeping with their efforts and to allow the Town budget planning to go forward.
Executive
Director entertained questions regarding the TDA portion of the budget.
Vice-Chair Tarbutton made inquiries regarding staffing funding and event
support. Mr. Brown responded that both were included in the proposed budget.
The Authority discussed the need to develop a coordinated marketing plan with
area event promoters and activities and suggested a joint meeting with key
The Board also discussed the need to take advantage of event opportunities as they arise and the various avenues the TDA had to fund such opportunities.
The Authority requested additional information regarding investment earnings and TDA fund balance. They agreed to discuss the issue further at the upcoming worksession and the desire to budget interest income.
Member Tester asked about the allocation for the tourism marketing survey line-item. Mr. Brown responded that the funding would be utilized to hire ASU tourism research professionals to provide return on investment survey data on TDA ad placement.
Other
Ex-officio
member Hildebran advised that State House Member Cullie Tarleton had researched
with the State of
Strategic Plan Update
Member Tester briefly discussed the draft Strategic Plan distributed at both TDA April meetings. He advised that he had revised the document to incorporate the comments received from TDA members and the document was ready for Authority consideration.
Chairperson Keele thanked Member Tester for his efforts on the document. The Authority deferred consideration of the updated Strategic Plan until the May worksession in order to allow for participation of Member Drury.
Adjournment
With no further business, motion by Member Pickett and seconded by Member Drury to adjourn the meeting. Motion unanimously approved. Chairperson Keele adjourned the meeting at 10:05 a.m.
______________________________
Scott E. Hildebran, Secretary
Attachments
#1 Operations Activity Report
#2 TDA Draft FY
2007-08 Budget
#3 N.C. Department
of Revenue Sales Tax Response