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Home My WebLink AboutTDA Board Meeting January 26 2022 NEW HANOVER COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS January 26, 2022 PRESENT: Craig Bloszinsky, Mayor – Town of Kure Beach Natalie English, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce Kim Hufham, President/CEO – NHC TDA Deb Hays, Commissioner – New Hanover County Lynn Barbee, Mayor – Carolina Beach Bill Saffo, Mayor – City of Wilmington Lisa Wurtzbacher – New Hanover County Finance Officer Hap Fatzinger-NHC Attractions Chuck Pennington- Bed & Breakfasts Angela Rhodes-NHC restaurants Tom Ullring, CB Hotel Manager (150+rooms) Mary Baggett, WB Hotel Manager(150+rooms) Ken Dull, Town of Wrightsville Beach EXCUSED: Jason Bryant, Vice-Chairman, NHC Vacation Rentals, Nicole Jones, Wilmington Hotel (150+) 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 & Strategy John Sneed, VP Sales GUESTS: Sue Bullock, WB MAC committee Wendy Parker, Mythic Taylor Bryant, Mythic Tom Hickey, Northampton Consulting Angela Rhodes, NHC TDA secretary called the meeting of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority Board of Directors to order at 5:00pm. The meeting was at the Wilmington Convention Center. 1 Kim Hufham welcomed New & Reappointed Members: NHC County Commissioner Deb Hays. He also recognized new members Zach Brigman, Wilmington Hotels, Lynn Barbee, Mayor of Carolina Beach ITEM #1 – EXCUSED – Jason Bryant and Nicole Jones ITEM #2 – APPROVAL OF BOARD MINUTES FOR OCTOBER 27, 2021 – Angela Rhodes. \[Motion made by Natalie English, seconded by Jason Bryant and unanimously accepted to approve the October 27, 2022, TDA Board minutes as read.\] ITEM #3- FINANCIALS/ROT REPORT – LISA WURTZBACHER Lisa presented the ROT collections report. Overall, Lisa reports the NHCTDA is doing relatively well, because the beaches are really sustaining and bringing in revenue.  Budget Amendment 2022-003- To appropriate an out of state marketing awareness campaign as identified by the New Audience Research Study for $250,000. Also, to appropriate the replacement of computers for $15,000. \[Motion made by Natalie English, seconded by Jason Bryant, and unanimously accepted to approve the Budget Amendment 2022-003 and in the amount of $265,000.\] \[Complete financial reports can be found in Exhibit Book XIIII.\] ITEM #4– EXPENDITURE REQUESTS- KURE BEACH, WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH & CROLINA BEACH – KIM HUFHAM President/CEO Kim Hufham presented the following funding requests: 2 CAROLINA BEACH:  The Town of Carolina Beach, respectfully, requests NHC TDA approval of future ROT funding related to the purchase of Freeman Park property that will promote travel and tourism related activities. The amount will be determined later and will not exceed ROT funds budgeted and available.  The Town of Carolina Beach respectfully requests TDA funds in the amount of $679,387.16. The breakdown of the tourism related activities and lifeguard/ocean rescue that includes: Hamlet Ave. Public Bathroom Building-$ 76,916.00 Construction of public restroom facility at Hamlet Ave. public beach access; will be used by visitors/tourists while at Carolina Beach; will also serve as Ocean Rescue office and storage facilities. Ocean Rescue/Lifeguard Expenses-$ 491,993.94 Salaries, expenses, and benefits related to ocean rescue/lifeguard staff. Parks and Recreation Events-$ 110,477.22 Events held by P&R to promote travel and tourism to Carolina Beach. Examples include weekly fireworks displays, band performances, Sunday night movies, family nights at boardwalk (face painters, bands, other entertainment). **Total funds requested $679,387 \[Motion made by Tom Ullring, seconded by Natalie English and unanimously accepted to approve the funding request for Carolina Beach as read.\] KURE BEACH:  The Town of Kure Beach, respectfully, requests funding for expenditures that were incurred for the maintenance, improvements and operating supplies at the Ocean Front Park & pavilion and the public restrooms for the period of January 2021 to November 2021. The Kure Beach Ocean Front Park has become a 3 favorite destination for the tourists visiting Kure Beach. The Ocean Front Park pavilion is the location of many tourist-related activities, educational programs. Additionally, tourists may reserve the facility for private events. The location of the pavilion in proximity to the ocean is part of the draw, but also leads to a variety of maintenance issues. Also, there are the expenditures for operation supplies (e.g. paper products, etc.) used at the public restrooms located at the park. The expenditures for the period of January 2021 to November 2021 total $38,373.29 and the supported documentation attached to this request. **Total funds requested $38,373.29 \[Motion made by Bill Saffo, seconded by Chuck Pennington and unanimously accepted to approve the funding request for Kure Beach as read.\] WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH:  The Wrightsville Beach of Board of Alderman respectfully request TDA funding in the amount of $375,000 to be favorably considered to support our Ocean Rescue Program (Beach Strand Lifeguards) during FY 2022. This service provides comprehensive ocean rescue coverage for nearly four miles of the 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. This is for the period between July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022.  The Wrightsville Beach Board of Alderman respectfully request TDA funding in the amount of $55,000 to support our Beach Patrol Officer, function during FY2022. 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. This is for the period between July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022. 4  The Wrightsville Beach Board of Alderman respectfully request TDA funding in the amount of $70,000 to help support the cleaning of beach bathhouses and sanitation pick up on the oceanfront and other tourist related areas from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022. 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 with the Town. This is for the period between July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022. Ocean Rescue Operations $375,000 Beach Patrol $ 55,000 Beach Facilities & Sanitation $ 70,000 $500,000 \[Motion made by Bill Saffo, seconded by Craig Bloszinsky and unanimously accepted to approve the funding request for Carolina Beach as read.\] \[Copies of all the funding requests can be found in the Exhibit Book XIIII\] ITEM #5- STRATEGIC PLAN REVIEW- KIM HUFHAM Mythic the new marketing agency was introduced, as well as Tom Hickey of Northamptom Consulting. They will work together in our market, and research branding.  Facilitator- Don Anderson/DCG Consultancy Don’s presentation was on the “Updating and Executing a Successful Strategic Destination Plan. This three year “rolling” year roadmap to meet top challenges. The top four points of the presentation was Focus, Opportunities, Priorities + Roles. There was a productive conservation and observations made by NHC TDA Board members about the information presented. Mary Baggett stated there needs to be importance placed on advertising to the off-peak season visitors. Deb Hays suggested that there needs to be collaboration in markets that the Wilmington International Airport services. Natalie English reminded the group on how hard the Hospitality Industry affected by the pandemic. We need help these working that need jobs and improve the work conditions. In addition, other board members including Lynn Barbee, Hap Fatzinger, Craig Bloszinsky, Chuck Pennington and Ken Dull added valid points to the discussion of 5 promotion of the area as a year round destination. There were suggestions to educate the local communities and businesses to the importance of the tourism industry. We need to look to our infrastructure to keep them updated. The Unified Campaign for the advertising and marketing of our beach communities enables our dollars to go further and to reach more markets. Don Anderson will compile the information from the NHC TDA meeting and update the three-year strategic plan summary. The update will be distributed to the NHC TDA Board of Directors. \[A copy of Don’s PowerPoint presentation can be found in the Exhibit Book XIII\] ITEM #6- PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS ITEM #7 –CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS-ANGELA RHODES ITEM #8– OLD BUSINESS/NEW BUSINESS As there was no further business the meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m. Next Meeting Date: Wednesday, March 30, 2022 ______________________________ __________________________ Kim Hufham, President/CEO Angela Rhodes, Secretary Minutes located in TDA Board Minutes Book XIIII 6 7