HomeMy WebLinkAboutTDA Board Meeting October 30 2019
NEW HANOVER COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
October 30, 2019
PRESENT Craig Bloszinsky, Mayor – Town of Kure Beach
Anne Brodsky, Hotel-Motel – Kure Beach
Jason Bryant – Vacation Rental Properties
Natalie English- Chamber of Commerce
Kim Hufham, President/CEO – NHC TDA
Patricia Kusek, Commissioner – New Hanover County
Nicolas Montoya, WB Hotel Manager/Owner – (150+ rooms)
Chuck Pennington, County Bed and Breakfast
Daniel Perkins, Wilmington Hotel Manager – (150+ rooms)
Angela Rhodes- County, Restaurant
Bill Saffo, Mayor – City of Wilmington
Lisa Wurtzbacher – NHC CFO
EXCUSED: Joe Benson, Mayor- Town of Carolina Beach
Bill Blair, Mayor – Town of Wrightsville Beach
LeeAnn Pierce, CB Hotel/Motel
Christine Divoky, Tourist Attraction
STAFF: Kim Little, Administrative Services Manager/Recording
Secretary
Linda Brothers, Senior Financial Analyst, New Hanover
County
Connie Nelson, Communications/PR Director
Karla Thompson, Technology/Systems Administrator
John Sneed, VP Sales
Shawn Braden, VP Marketing
GUESTS: Matt Clement, VP of Marketing, Arrivalist
Tim Owens, Town Manager of Wrightsville Beach
Mary Baggett, Blockade Runner Resort
Rebecca Somersett, Fiscal Support Specialist, New Hanover
County
Chairman Daniel Perkins called the meeting of the New Hanover County Tourism
Development Authority Board of Directors to order at 5:35 p.m. in the Lucy Harrell
Conference Room at the New Hanover County Government Center.
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ITEM #1 – EXCUSED – DANIEL PERKINS
Mayor Bill Blair, Mayor Joe Benson, Christine Divoky, LeeAnn Pierce
Special recognition of outgoing NHC TDA board members: Joe Benson, Bill Blair,
Nicolas Montoya, Chuck Pennington
ITEM #2 – APPROVAL OF BOARD MINUTES FOR AUGUST 28, 2019; DANIEL
PERKINS
\[Motion made by Anne Brodsky and seconded by Commissioner
Patricia Kusek, and unanimously accepted to approve minutes as read of the August
29, 2019 TDA Board meeting\]
ITEM #3 – AUDIT PRESENTATION – APRIL ADAMS VIA PHONE
April Adams of Cherry Bekaert, CPA’s gave a summary of the audit presentation
for FY 18-19 by phone as Lisa Wurtzabacher showed the slide presentation. April
briefly addressed the role of the auditors which includes actions involving
performing procedures to obtain audit evidence concerning amounts and
disclosures in the financial statement, results that financial statements are free of
material misstatements, requirement communications on audit evidence obtained is
sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for their audit opinion, etc. April
stated they make sure internal controls are in place. Financial results showed
revenues more than expenditures for FY 18-19 (budget to actual). April said they
had full cooperation of New Hanover County during their audit process and that the
TDA was given a clean opinion. This is the highest that can be received. (Copy of
presentation attached.)
\[Motion made by Mayor Bill Saffo and seconded by Anne Brodsky,
and unanimously accepted to approve the Audit Report for the FY 18-19\]
ITEM #4 – BUDGET AMENDMENT APPROVAL - LISA WURTZBACHER
Lisa Wurtzbacher, Authority Finance Officer, presented Budget Amendment
BA#2020-002, BA#2020-003: Rollover the excess amount of Tourism and
Promotions funds that is beyond the required amount to by law to keep in reserves.
\[Motion made by Natalie English, seconded by Anne Brodsky and
unanimously accepted to approve Budget Amendment BA#2019-002
as presented.\]
ITEM #5 – FINANCIALS/ROT REPORT – LISA WURTZBACHER
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Lisa Wurtzbacher – presented the financials & ROT report to the board. Please
refer to the Financial reports in the Exhibit Book XIII.
ITEM #6 – EXPENDITURE REQUESTS – WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH– KIM
HUFHAM
President/CEO Kim Hufham presented funding requests from the Town of
Wrightsville Beach. Tim Owens was present to answer any questions anyone might
have about the expenditure requests.
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH:
The Town of Wrightsville Beach respectfully request TDA funds in the
amount of $29,000 be favorably considered to help fund the fireworks,
advertising, public relations and media support associated with the planning
and presentation of the 2019 North Carolina Holiday Flotilla. These funds
are to be used exclusively to help pay for fireworks ($12,000) and other
expenses to promote and execute the annual event ($17,000). Funds will only
be disbursed to the Holiday Flotilla by the Town of Wrightsville Beach on a
reimbursement basis after a review of paid invoices. The North Carolina
Holiday Flotilla is a non-profit corporate entity that has traditionally
presented this event at Wrightsville Beach during the Thanksgiving holiday
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weekend. This will be the 36 year for the Holiday Flotilla and it continues to
be one of the premier tourist attractions of the year for Wrightsville Beach
and the entire southeastern Carolina region.
The Town of Wrightsville Beach respectfully request TDA funding in the
amount of $387,101 to be favorably considered to support our Ocean Rescue
Program (Beach Strand Lifeguards) during the FY 2020. This service
provides comprehensive ocean rescue coverage for nearly four miles of beach
strand and expanded manning for thirteen (13) lifeguard stations as well as
mobile coverage. The Service is staffed by thirty (30) fully qualified
personnel. The mission of the Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue Program is
to provide water lifesaving services, emergency life support, water safety
education, and enforcement of local water related ordinances. Operation of
the service is a critical element in providing a safe and hospitable
environment for beach visitors. The sum includes salaries and associated
operational costs for the Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue Program and
incorporates the salaries for the Ocean Rescue Director and Lifeguard
Captain.
The Town of Wrightsville Beach respectfully request TDA funding in the
amount of $70,000 to help support the cleaning of beach bathhouses and
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sanitation pick up on the oceanfront and other tourist related areas from
July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. The Town spends at least 1,600 hours
performing this function. The reimbursement requested includes the salaries
and benefits for those hours performing tourism related cleaning within the
Town.
The Town of Wrightsville Beach respectfully request TDA funding in the
amount of $55,000 to support our Beach Patrol Officer function during FY
2020.This service provides two dedicated Beach Patrol 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 by both
residents and visitors to the beaches, parks, and local public facilities that
support the tourism industry. The Beach Patrol Officers provide an integral
part of our overall Beach Safety and Ocean Rescue Program and have full
police enforcement authority.
The Town of Wrightsville Beach respectfully request TDA funding in the
amount of $12,000 to help support the necessity to maintain a public
restroom in the hub of the Wrightsville Beach business area, commonly
known as the Trolley Stop. This area is a focal point for visitors to
Wrightsville Beach. In 2005, with the help of the TDA funding, the Town was
able to secure a site accessible facility. The facility is the only public restroom
in the central business area and is part of the ongoing development and
enhancement of the Trolley Stop area. However, the annual lease cost for the
section of the building that houses the restroom is $12,000. We are seeking
support from the TDA in the amount equivalent to the annual lease because
this facility is critical in the supporting our local tourism industry, and
serving both the beach strand as well as the popular Wynn Plaza park and
public dock.
The Town of Wrightsville Beach respectfully request TDA funding in the
amount of $90,000 to procure an arborist to care for live oaks damaged by
recent hurricanes. The Town of Wrightsville Beach is known for the John
Nesbit Loop. An important of the Loop and the aesthetics of the Town are
the number of Live Oaks with the public spaces around the Town. The Live
Oaks provide a welcoming streetscape to visitors and a functional component
of providing shade along the “Loop” for the thousands of visitors that use
this facility for recreation. Following the 2 recent hurricanes, the Live Oaks
have sustained a varying degree of damage. For the health of the trees, the
Town will hire an arborist to selectively remove the dead or unhealthy
vegetation. This proactive action should assist in the health of the tree and
allow them to be enjoyed by visitors for decades to come.
The total requested amount of TDA funding is $643,101.00. Funds are available.
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\[Motion made by Anne Brodsky, seconded by Chuck Pennington and
unanimously accepted to approve the total requested amount of TDA funding
for FY 19-20 in the amount of $643,101.00.
ITEM #7- PRESIDENT’S COMMENT – KIM HUFHAM gives an update on the
Strategic Plan and the presentation of the “Scorecard”
Highlight the progress as we move through Year One of the Strategic Plan.
1. Enhance Destination Brand Awareness-
a. Bleisure- Wilmington was spotlighted in “Meeting Today” industry
magazine
b. Meeting Landing Page- on our website to encourage meeting attendees to
extend their stays while in Wilmington.
2. Facilitate Impactful Destination-
a. At the General Manger’s Roundtable, we hosted Family Forward NC
which promotes a family friendly workforce.
b. Attend the SeaTech High School- grand opening. One of their curriculum
programs in Tourism & Hospitality.
3. Engage stakeholders-
a. CVB email signature
b. WCC video spotlighted the convention center.
c. Advocating to keep the start date of the School Calendar the same.
In the last 10 days, the NHC TDA has been busy rallying support to keep the start
date of the school the same in New Hanover County in the following manner:
Letter to the NHC Board of Education
Student Workforce Survey
Pleasure Island and Wrightsville Beach Chamber of Commerce
Interviews with local news stations
Contact lobbyists
Met with the Chairman of the Calendar Committee
Nicolas Montaya and Daniel Perkins attend the Wilmington Chamber of
Commerce meeting to voice their concerns and ask for a resolution in
support of not changing the start date of the school year.
Contact the Realty and Homebuilders Associations to ask for their support
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Daniel Perkins is proposing to adopt a resolution in support of the existing
school calendar.
Nicolas Montoya stresses the economic effect that changing the school
calendar would have on the Tourism Industry in New Hanover County, as
well as, our state. With New Hanover County being a tourism based county
this would set a precedent for other counties.
Craig Bloszinsky speaks about the impact of hurricanes in which we do not
have control, but adopting this resolution showing support is an area that we
have support.
Pat Kuesk asking clarification to what the resolution was addressing.
Nicolas stated the following reasons to why the NHC School Board is looking
to changing the start date: Aligning the 9 calendars of the New Hanover
School System, ending the semester before the Christmas break, align the
calendar with the community colleges.
\[Motion made by Jason Bryant, seconded by Chuck Pennington and
majority accepted to approve the resolution. Natalie English abstained from
voting due to her board (Chamber of Commerce) not adopting a resolution.
A copy of the resolution can be found in Exhibit book XIII\]
Presentation from Arrivalist by Matt Clement. His presentation can be found in the
Exhibit book XIII
ITEM #8 – OLD BUSINESS/NEW BUSINESS- DANIEL PERKINS
ITEM #9 – CLOSED SESSION- Daniel Perkins
STATE:
The Board will enter into a Closed Session to consider a specific personnel matter
pursuant to G.S 143-318.11 (a)(6).
Motion to go into Closed Session by Anne Brodsky
Second by Craig Bloszinky
STATE:
All persons not Board members or specifically designated staff are asked to leave at
this time.
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CLOSED SESSION.
After coming out of closed session state:
We are back in open session by Chuck Pennington
Second by Jason Bryant
Other motions.
Vote.
ITEM #10 – CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS – DANIEL PERKINS
After Closed Session, Daniel ask for a vote by the board member for a 12% merit
raise for Kim Hufham retroactive to July 1, 2019.
\[Motion made by Lisa Wurtzbacher, seconded by Angela Rhodes and
the motion passed by the majority with Pat Kuesk voting against.\]
As there was no further business, meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Next meeting – Wednesday, January 29, 2019
______________________________ __________________________
Kim Hufham, President/CEO Angela Rhodes, Secretary
Minutes located in TDA Board Minutes Book XIII
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