HomeMy WebLinkAboutTDA Board Meeting January 29 2020
NEW HANOVER COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
January 29, 2020
PRESENT: Craig Bloszinsky, Mayor – Town of Kure Beach
Anne Brodsky, Hotel/Motel Owner – Kure Beach
Christine Divoky, Friends of Fort Fisher, County Attractions
Natalie English, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
Kim Hufham, President/CEO – NHC TDA
Nicole Jones, Wilmington Hotel (150+)
Patricia Kusek, Commissioner – New Hanover County
Darryl Mills, Mayor- Wrightsville Beach
LeAnn Pierce, Mayor – Carolina Beach
Angela Rhodes, County Restaurant
Bill Saffo, Mayor – City of Wilmington
Lisa Wurtzbacher – New Hanover County Finance Officer
EXCUSED: Jason Bryant, Vice-Chairman, NHC Vacation Rentals
STAFF: Kim Little, Administrative Services Manager/Recording
Secretary
Linda Brothers, Senior Financial Analyst, NHC
Connie Nelson, Communications/PR Director
Karla Thompson, Technology/Systems Manager
Shawn Braden, VP Marketing
Chairman Daniel Perkins called the meeting of the New Hanover County Tourism
Development Authority Board of Directors to order at 5:30 p.m. in Lucie Harrell
Conference Room at the New Hanover County Government Center.
Chairman Daniel Perkins welcomed new Board members Mayor Darryl Mills of
Wrightsville Beach and Mayor LeAnne Pierce of Carolina Beach. He also
recognized re-appointees NHC Commissioner Patricia Kusek and Christine Divoky.
ITEM #1 – EXCUSED – Jason Bryant
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ITEM #2 – APPROVAL OF BOARD MINUTES FOR OCTOBER 30, 2020 –
Daniel Perkins.
\[Motion made by Craig Bloszinsky, seconded by Darryl Mills and
unanimously accepted to approve the October 30, 2019 TDA Board minutes as
read.\]
ITEM #3- FINANCIALS/ROT REPORT – LISA WURTZBACHER
Lisa presented the ROT collections report. Overall, all areas are up
once you remove the “Hurricane Florence” effect. When you compare current
numbers to the numbers of FY17-18.
\[Complete report can be found in Exhibit Book XIII.\]
The Board approved another year extension to Cherry Bekaert CPAs &
Advisors contract to conduct the next audit. There is a $100 increase in fees. The
audit contract will go out for bids next fiscal year.
Lisa Wurtzbacher presented Budget Ammendent #2020-004 for TDA
Board approval
\[Motion made by Anne Brodsky and seconded by Daniel Perkins to
extend Cherry Bekaert CPAs & Advisors for one additional year\]
Budget Amendment- BA#2020-004- to reduce the revenue and
appropriations associated with the WCC Advertising Special
Initiative budgeted for FY2020 because the funds will not be
received this year.
\[Motion made by Craig Bloszinsky, seconded by Darryl Mills
and unanimously carried to approve the Audit presentation
and Budget Amendment BA#2020-004 as presented.\]
ITEM #4 – EXPENDITURE REQUESTS – KURE BEACH – KIM HUFHAM
President/CEO Kim Hufham presented funding requests from the Town of Kure
Beach.
KURE BEACH:
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The Town of Kure Beach respectfully requests funds for expenditures that
were incurred for the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce Free Summer
Concerts held during the Summer of 2019.
The six free summer concerts, held at the Fort Fisher Military Recreation
area, attract tourists to Kure Beach by providing an enjoyable and
affordable venue. The total funds were $9,800. (2006.)
The Town of Kure Beach respectfully request funds for expenditures that
were incurred for the maintenance, improvements and operating supplies at
the Ocean Front Park and pavilion and public restrooms for the period of
July 2018 to September 2019. The total funds were $7,752.47.
Total funds are available in the amount of $17,552.47
CAROLINA BEACH:
The Town of Carolina Beach respectfully request funds for Ocean
Rescue/Lifeguard salaries, expenses, and benefits for the period of February
1, 2019- September 30, 2019 for the total $348,458.26
The Town of Carolina Beach respectfully request a donation for PIRA/CBDI
for boardwalk activities from June 21, 2019 – August 1, 2019. PIRA/CBDI
provides family entertainment for all ages at Carolina Beach Boardwalk
including Bingo on Wednesday and bands and other entertainment on
Thursday evening before the fireworks. Total funds requested $24,756.40.
The Town of Carolina Beach respectfully request funds for boardwalk
activities from July 1, 2019- September 30, 2019. These expenses are related
providing family entertainment for all ages at Carolina Beach Boardwalk
including Family Night on Tuesdays and Performing Arts/Band on Fridays.
Total funds requested $9,977.97.
The Town of Carolina Beach respectfully request funds for the purchase of
bike rack and accessories for multi-use trails for $25, 361.62.
Total funds are available in the amount of $408,554.18
\[Motion made by Anne Brodsky, seconded by Natalie English and unanimously
carried to accept the total funding requests in the amount of $17,552.47 for the
Town of Kure Beach and $408,554.18 for the Town of Carolina Beach for FY19/20\]
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ITEM #5- PERSONNEL POLICY REVISIONS- Kim Hufham
Kim presented the changes and clarifications that are being proposed to the NHC
TDA personnel handbook. (See the handout in the Exhibit book XIIII for full
explanation of the changes.) One question was raised by Darryl Mills, Mayor of
Wrightsville Beach, in the section that define the seasonal & temporary employees.
Kim will ask the NHC Human Resource department for clarification and the
updated personnel manual will be voted on for approval at the March 2020 NHC
TDA board meeting.
Next, Kim presented the findings of from the NC Travel Industry Association study
and the Destination Marketing Association of NC that compared the current benefit
package with comparable CVBs in North Carolina. It is important to Kim to
maintain a quality benefit package to attract, recruit and retain the employees at the
NHC TDA. Any proposed changes need to benefit package should not lower the
salary of the employees.
Discussion began about the SEP retirement plan. NHC County Commission, Pat
Kuesk began with a brief definition and explanation of the differing retirement
plans such as the Roth IRA, 401k and IRA. Natalie English and Christine Divoky
joined the discussion to ask if a retirement benefit with a matching contribution
component would be better. They are in favor of “performance-based” plan. Kuesk
believes the NHC TDA SEP is not a good “animal” for NHC TDA and is favor of
changing it.
After a lengthy discussion, over the current SEP retirement benefit, Mayor Bill
Saffo suggested an ad hoc committee be created to discuss the validity of keeping the
SEP or to come up with alternative retirement options for the NHC TDA full-time
employees. The committee will include the NHC TDA Executive board members,
Pat Kuesk and Craig Broszinsky, as well as Kim Hufham. A reportat the
ITEM #6 –STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE- Kim Hufham
Kim presented the “Scorecard” with the following highlights:
Enhance Destination Brand Awareness- CrowdRiff, Arrivalist, Destination
Analysts.
Increased Destination Group Sales & Services- Quarterly HIP/DOS meetings
with education component, Visitor Services assessment, Coupon program
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Facilitate Impactful Destination Development- General Manger’s
Roundtable (Lockdown International), School calendar rally, Special
Interest campaign has been launched.
Engage in Influential Stakeholder Relations- Extranet training,
Presentations to community groups, School calendar updates, HB142
Meeting, Kim’s attendance to the Destinations International Advocacy
Summit.
ITEM #7 – PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS- Kim Hufham
The 2020 Visitors Guide is out. Please contact the VIC to receive copies for
your property.
Announce the newest NHC TDA employee, Barry Stepe, as the Director of
Content Marketing.
ITEM #8- OLD BUSINESS/NEW BUSINESS
As there was no further business the meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
Next Meeting Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2020
______________________________ __________________________
Kim Hufham, President/CEO Angela Rhodes, Secretary
Minutes located in TDA Board Minutes Book XIIII
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