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Home My WebLink AboutTDA Board Meeting March 27 2013 NEW HANOVER COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS MARCH 27, 2013 PRESENT: Commissioner Jonathan Barfield—New Hanover County Anne E. Brodsky, Motel Owner—Kure Beach David Cignotti,Mayor—Wrightsville Beach Kim Hufham, President/CEO—NHC TDA Mike Keeler, Hotel— 150 (+)Wilmington Carl Marshburn, County Attractions Chuck Pennington, County Bed and Breakfast LeAnne Pierce, Carolina Beach Hotel/Motels Angela Rhodes— County Restaurants EXCUSED: Frank Jones, Sabina Newman, Mayor Bob Lewis, Lisa Wurtzbacher, Neal Johnson ABSENT: Mayor Dean Lambeth, Anne Marie Hartman, Mayor Bill Saffo STAFF: Jeanette Foster/Administrative Services Manager, Recording Secretary Connie Nelson, Communications/Public Relations Director Karla Thompson, Technology/Systems Manager Mikie Wall, VP of Sales and Services Linda Brothers, NHC Financial Analyst GUESTS: Sarah Gilliam—NC Coastal Federation Chairman Carl Marshburn called the meeting of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority Board to order at 5:30 p.m. at the New Hanover County Government Complex in Board Room 500. Chairman Marshburn welcomed our new TDA Board member LeAnne Pierce representing Carolina Beach Hotel/Motels. ITEM #1 —EXCUSED Frank Jones, Lisa Wurtzbacher, Mayor Bob Lewis, Sabina Newman, Neal Johnson 1 ITEM #2—MINUTES APPROVAL—JANUARY 30, 2013 [Motion made by Anne Brodsky, seconded by Mike Keeler and unanimously accepted to approve the January 30, 2013 TDA Board minutes as read.] ITEM #3— FINANCIALS/ROT REPORT—LINDA BROTHERS Linda Brothers, Financial Analyst for the TDA/NHC Finance, presented the financial report for the first 8 months of FY 2012-2013 (July, 2012—February, 2013.) This shows we have approximately 66.67% of expenditures in place. The TDA is looking really well. For Marketing and Promotions, looking at 59% spent; VIC 62% spent and Administrative 74%. Resources are being used wisely. The Convention Center Sales are a little less than budget. Fiscal Year First 3% ROT Collections shows a 6.73% increase for same period of time last year (July-January). 2"a 3% for Carolina Beach is showing a 6.23% increase for same period of time last year; Kure Beach, a 5.85% increase and Wrightsville Beach, a 2.93% increase. The City of Wilmington is showing a 9.55% increase over last year while the Convention Center shows a 7.89% increase. In reviewing the above figures, our Benchmark year is now 2012. [Motion made by Anne Brodsky, seconded by Mike Keeler and unanimously accepted to approve the minutes as presented.] ITEM #4—REQUESTS FOR FUNDING FOR CAROLINA AND WRIGHTSVILLE BEACHES —KIM HUFHAM The Town of Carolina Beach respectfully requests TDA funds in the amount of $169,549.00 for expenses incurred for lifeguard salaries and benefits for the period of July 2012— October 2012. Lifeguards are on duty 7 days per week during the tourist season. Previous requests for salaries and expenses have been approved for expenditures beginning on 4/29/03. Funds are available and amount is being requested for reimbursement upon the TDA Board's approval. [Motion made by Commissioner Jonathan Barfield, seconded by Chuck Pennington and unanimously accepted to approve funds in the amount of 2 $169,549.00 for lifeguard salaries and benefits for the period of July 2012— October 2012.] The Town of Wrightsville Beach respectfully requests TDA funds in the amount of $387,330 to support their Ocean Rescue Program (lifeguards) during FY July 1, 2012—June 30, 2013. This service provides ocean rescue coverage for nearly four miles of beach strand and expanded manning of 13 lifeguard stations. The sum includes salary and associated operational costs and incorporates the salaries of the Ocean Rescue Director and Lifeguard Director. Previous requests for this program have been supported by the TDA funding since March, 2004. The Town of Wrightsville Beach respectfully requests TDA funds in the amount of $76,492 to support their Beach Patrol Officer for FY 2012-2013. This service provides two dedicated Officers to patrol nearly four miles of beach strand and attend to the enforcement of ordinances and policies related to the use of parks and beaches used by residents and visitors to the beaches, parks and local public facilities that support the tourism industry. Previous requests for Beach Patrol Officers have been supported by TDA funding since March, 2004. The Town of Wrightsville Beach respectfully requests TDA funds in the amount of $34, 521 to help support increasing demands on efforts to provide clean public restrooms, public parking areas and beaches for our visitors. A Visitor Services Technician position has served to significantly enhance the cleanliness of the Beach's highly visible public restrooms and parking areas. The amount requested is for a full-time person and supports equipment, fuel and uniforms. It is for FY 2012- 2013. The TDA has supported funding for public bathroom and public area cleaning since 2007. The total requested amount of TDA funds is $498,343.00. [Motion made by Chuck Pennington, seconded by Anne Brodsky and unanimously accepted to approve funding in the total amount of$498,343 for funding requests as stated above for the period of FY 2012-2013.] ITEM #5— PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS—KIM HUFHAM President/CEO Kim Hufham asked that Karla Thompson give a Website Enhancement presentation to the TDA Board. Karla presented an overview and demonstration of enhancements to include: • E-special sign ups • Improvement of all search engine capabilities • Customizing search options per destination • Hoping to have live chats by next week 3 • Extending breadcrumb navigation • Replicating beach sites • Improving site load time • Self-contained weather system • Segmented multimedia section • Pop up e-mail registration for first time site visitors • Re-designing of home page • Emphasis on social media • Re-designing seasonal landing pages • Marquee on home page • IP profiles expanded • Content Considerations to include home page marquee updates; news system updates; partner profiles • Design Considerations to include small improvements and analytics based • Mobile Considerations to include enhanced promo area (putting specials in here); in-market mobile promos; integration of location based services (this to be added in near future) Kim discussed upcoming activities/events which the CVB has participated in or will be doing so: ✓ Governor's Conference was held March 10-12 at the Wilmington Convention Center. • Near record attendance of 520+ attendees. Economic impact of nearly one million dollars to the community. • Great support from the TDA Board and great turnout from state and local officials. • Hosted a media fam on Monday in conjunction with the conference. There were 10 journalists in attendance including Southern Living, Our State Magazine, WRAL and UNC-TV. ✓ Will be doing a presentation to City Council on April 16th— annual update on convention marketing with WCC. ✓ Continue to work with UNCW on tourism institute concept. ✓ Organized a customer service seminar with Cape Fear Community College/Brunswick and Pender County tourism offices and WAHA to be held on May 13th at CFCC North Campus. ✓ National Tourism Week preparations underway (May 4-11, 2013). ✓ Working on budgets and strategic plans for destination, convention marketing and beaches. ✓ January—March 2013 CVB Activity Report will be sent to TDA in late April after completion of quarterly reports. ✓ The next TDA meeting will be on May 29th and the 2013-2014 budget will be presented. 4 ITEM #6— OLD BUSINESS/NEW BUSINESS Chuck Pennington wanted to thank everyone on the Board for the staff s acknowledge party. Kim dispensed a Lumina News Article to the Board for their perusal reference the Legislative Beach Breakfast which was held on March 22 at Wrightsville Beach. Mayor Cignotti advised that the article in question dealing with ROT funds at the breakfast mainly dealt more with the 2"a 3%, not the 1St 3% of the CVB funding/A decision by the beach officials at that meeting was made to form a committee, gather data and seek alternatives for getting funds for beach sand. ITEM #7— CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS— CARL MARSHBURN N/A [ Adjourn at 6:50 p.m. Next Meeting Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2013 Kim Hufham, President/CEO Chuck Pennington, Secretary Minutes located in TDA Board Minutes Book XI 5