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Home My WebLink AboutTDA Board Meeting October 28 2020 NEW HANOVER COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS October 28, 2020 PRESENT Natalie English- Chamber of Commerce Kim Hufham, President/CEO – NHC TDA Patricia Kusek, Commissioner – New Hanover County LeeAnn Pierce, Mayor- Town of Carolina Beach Daniel Perkins, Hotel Manager, (150+ rooms) Angela Rhodes- County, Restaurant Bill Saffo, Mayor – City of Wilmington Lisa Wurtzbacher – New Hanover County Finance Officer Tom Ullring – Hotel Manager, (150+rooms) Steve Varieur- Hotel Manager, (150+rooms) Hap Fatzinger- NHC Attractions Nicole Jones- Hotel Manager EXCUSED: Craig Bloszinsky, Mayor – Town of Kure Beach Anne Brodsky, Hotel-Motel – Town of Kure Beach Jason Bryant – Vacation Rental Properties Chuck Pennington, County Bed and Breakfast Darryl Mills- Mayor, Town of Wrightsville Beach 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 Manager John Sneed, VP Sales Shawn Braden, VP Marketing GUESTS: April Adams, Cherry Bekaert CPAs & Advisors Chairman Daniel Perkins called the meeting of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority Board of Directors to order at 5:05pm. The virtual WebEx meeting was initiated at the offices of the CVB. ITEM #1 – EXCUSED – DANIEL PERKINS 1 Mayor Craig Bloszinsky, Anne Brodsky Mayor Darryl Mills, Chuck Pennington, Jason Bryant Special recognition of outgoing NHC TDA board members: NHC Commissioner Patricia Kusek for her service on the board. The Board welcomed new appointees Steve Varieur, Wrightsville Beach Hotels and Hap Fatzinger, NHC Attractions, also the reappointment of Chuck Pennington, NHC B&B. ITEM #2 – APPROVAL OF BOARD MINUTES FOR MAY 27, 2020, JUNE 17, 2020, AND AUGUST 28, 2020; DANIEL PERKINS \[Motion made by Tom Ullring and seconded by Nicole Jones and unanimously accepted to approve minutes as read of the May 27, 2020, June 17,2020, and August 28, 2020 TDA Board meeting\] ITEM #3 – AUDIT PRESENTATION – APRIL ADAMS VIA WebEx April Adams of Cherry Bekaert, CPA’s gave a summary of the audit presentation for FY 19-20 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 19-20 (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.) ITEM #4 – BUDGET AMENDMENT APPROVAL - LISA WURTZBACHER Lisa Wurtzbacher, Authority Finance Officer, presented the following Budget Amendment.  BA#2021-001- to appropriate the Purchase Order rollover for Arborist services for Wrightsville Beach activity funds, approved by the Board October 30, 2019, and account for the payment against the fiscal year in which the expense is paid.  BA #2021-002 - to appropriate remaining funding received in FY 19- 20 from the City of Wilmington for Convention Center Marketing.  BA #2021-003 to appropriate the grant proceeds and related expenditures associated with the North Carolina Tourism Recovery Grant Agreement #60-00-35. The grant is authorized in NC Session 2 Law 2020-04 to provide aid in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 crisis. \[A copy of the budget amendments can be found in the Exhibit Book\] \[Motion made by Commissioner Pat Kusek, seconded by Natalie English and unanimously accepted to approve Budget Amendment BA#2019-002 as presented.\] ITEM #5 – FINANCIALS/ROT REPORT – LISA WURTZBACHER 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 & CROLINA BEACH – KIM HUFHAM President/CEO Kim Hufham presented the following funding. CAROLINA BEACH:  The Town of Carolina Beach respectfully request funds for Ocean Rescue/Lifeguard salaries, expenses, and benefits for the period of October 1, 2019- May 31, 2020 for the total $129,671.18. ** See note at the end of the minutes about this funding requests after approval at the NHC TDA Board meeting.  The Town of Carolina Beach respectfully request a funding for PIRA/CBDI for boardwalk activities from January 1, 2020- April 30, 2020 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 $7,762.50.  The Town of Carolina Beach respectfully request funds for boardwalk activities during 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 $5,079.46. **Total funds are available in the amount of $ 142,513.14. 3 \[Motion made by Tom Ullring, seconded by Commissioner Pat Kusek and unanimously accepted to approve the funding request from Carolina Beach for the amount of $142,513.14\] WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH:  The Wrightsville Beach of Alderman respectfully request TDA funding in the amount of $150,000 to assist in the completion of the Salisbury Street Ocean Access project. This request is the portion of the $500,000 request from FY2020 which could not be approved at that time.  The Town of Wrightsville Beach is known for the Salisbury Street Ocean iconic ocean views, with one of the largest parking areas on the eastern North Carolina oceanfront. This area has approximately 100 parking spots, and is frequented by residents and visitors, alike. The Salisbury Street Ocean Access project will provide an enhanced aesthetic view when traveling to the beach destination. The project will provide new restroom facilities/pavilion, extended sidewalks, and improved greenery for a greater visitor experience. This area will be enhanced for the thousands of visitors that use this beach access and facility for recreation. The Salisbury Street Ocean Access project has been a joint partnership of private donation, TDA, New Hanover County, the Division of Coastal Management, and the Town of Wrightsville Beach contributing to the venture. **Total funds are available in the amount of $150,000. The TDA Board members should be prepared to determine the requests (project/expenditures) correlation to travel and tourism and its merits as a project or activity designed to enhance this beach community as a travel destination for discussion and action. \[Motion made by Nicole Jones, seconded by Steve Varieur and unanimously accepted to approve the funding request from Wrightsville Beach for the amount of $150,000.\] ITEM #7- PERSONNEL POLICY – KIM HUFHAM Power point presentation of the highlights of the updated NHC TDA Personnel Policy Handbook. Kim worked closely with Lisa Wurtzbacher, Linda Brothers and the NHC Human Resources department to assist in updating the handbook. 4 \[Motion made by Commissioner Pat Kusek, seconded by Natalie English and unanimously accepted the updated personnel policy} \[A copy of the new handbook can be found at the NHC TDA office\] ITEM #8- PRESIDENT’S COMMENT – KIM HUFHAM  Business NC Tourism Roundtable via Zoom- December issue  New website to be launched in January 2021  Visitor Guide in production – March 2021  Working with Don Anderson- DCG- Strategic Planning and Destination Realignment- Present to TDA Board in March 2021  Secured funding for additional marketing funds: o VisitNC Marketing credit- $180,000 o ENPNC grant- $10,000- have applied for additional $25,000.  Working with WWII Heritage City committee- promotion of designation  Continue to implement Strategic Recovery Plan based on research findings. ITEM #10 – CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS – DANIEL PERKINS As there was no further business, meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m. Next meeting – Wednesday, January 2, 2021 ______________________________ __________________________ Kim Hufham, President/CEO Angela Rhodes, Secretary Minutes located in TDA Board Minutes Book XIII 5