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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-12-15 KCVB MinutesKenai Visitors Convention Bureau, Ina Regular Board of Directors Meeting Tuesday, December 15, 1998 President Will Jahrig, Presiding MINUTES A. CALL TO ORDER The December 15, 1998 meeting was called to order at 5:35 p.m. ROLL CALL Directors present: Diane Loftstedt; Ron Malston; James Bookey; Fred Braun; Robert Fulton; Ron Rainey; Becky Vandehey; Will Jahrig; Rebecca Godek Staff present: Kathy Tarr C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA M/S (Malston, Rainey) to approve the agenda with the following changes: Tom Wilkinson, Scheduled Persons to be Heard (added), and under Unfinished Business, Item 1A, Executive Report, under New Business, information on the Board of Fish hearing scheduled for Soldotna (added). D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES, November 10, 1998 meeting M/S (Braun, Malston) to approve the minutes of November 10, 1998. CORRESPONDENCE Ricky Gease's letter to the Kenai Cultural Council was read. Gease reported that he did not receiv any comments since the letter was mailed. Director Braun reported that he and Mike Huhndorf spoke about the Kenai Cultural Council. Braun encouraged the Bureau staff to call upon Mike Huhndorf 's expertise whenever possible for future projects. Staff assured Director Braun that there was excellent communications with Mr. Huhndorf. F. PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD Tom Wilkinson, Cook Inlet Ferry Services Mr. Wilkinson gave a thorough report on the West Side of Cook Inlet and the potential for future tourism development. He summarized previous studies done by the State of Alaska and the Kenai Peninsula Borough on the area. Access has been limited to air service only. The Kustatan Ridge area, 1 -1/2 miles inland, has been selected by the KPB for disposal (10,900 acres). Both Mayor Navarre and Representative Gary Davis are in support of creating more access, according to Mr. Wilkinson. Salamatof Native Assn has agreed to allow easements on its 9,000+ acres for a 40 -mile stretch which has no mudflats. Mr. Wilkinson said he has been trying to increase momentum and interest on this project for the past four years. Many local businesses are interested in expanding to the West Side for "day trips" for scenic touring and bear other Board of Directors December 15, 1998 Page 2 wildlife viewing. Kenai could be the "gateway city" to the West Side of Cook inlet. There are eleven major rivers on the West Side with very few commercial fisherman operating. Most of the land is state owned, Mr. Wilkinson reiterated his desire for the Bureau to help motivate the borough and the state to take some action to increase the access through deep water instead of mud flats. Five miles of road are needed to be attached to the current state lands system. A 300 -foot floating dock is also needed to access millions of acres of state lands. The possibility also exists for the access to go into private hands. Mr. Wilkinson asked KVCB to contact the legislators to ask them for support to create the necessary public infrastructure. MIS (Rainey, Braun) for KVCB to form an ad -hoc West Side Committee to study the concept of developing public access to the West Side of Cook Inlet, and to bring the committee's findings and recommendations back to the full KVCB board at the next meeting in February. Mr. Wilkinson agreed to supply copies of all the necessary West Side studies. The following KVCB board members agreed to serve on the West Side Committee: Ron Rainey, Fred Braun, Will Jahrig, and Rebecca Godek. G. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (A written Executive Director's Report was distributed in the board packets.) Other news Tarr reported on verbally: Tarr announced that the Alaska Permanent Fund had agreed to meet in Kenai on June 1.6, 1999. A fam or reception may be on their itinerary. Tarr passed out a memo on the New Millennium Plan on tourism restructuring and reported on the AVA Board of Directors retreat she attended and the work session on the NMP. Each year the State of Alaska spends less on tourism marketing, therefore the industry itself has devised a plan whereby more private dollars would be expended for generic tourism marketing. CVBs, cruise ships, businesses, etc., would be asked to contribute to the new cooperative marketing program. Tarr encouraged the directors to read the information on the New Millennium Plan. Tarr also reported on AVA's 13 Annual Travel Auction at the Sheraton Hotel. The KVCB November Membership Report was distributed and discussed. Tarr reported that a new educational display was needed in the Kenai Visitors Cultural Center on the Kenai River watershed and the fish habitat of the central peninsula. Preliminary talks have been held with the Kenai. River Sportfishing Association about possible funding of a Board of Directors December 15, 1998 Page 3 new educational exhibit. Information and photos were handed out on the new gold rush interpretive sign proposed for the Kenai Visitors Cultural Center's property for the summer of 1999 by the State of Alaska. A winter tourism conference is scheduled for Feb. 4 -5 at Alyeska Ski Resort. Many CVBs are working toward expanding snowmachine trails in Southcentral Alaska, Tarr said. Kenai VCB will share a booth with the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce at the Great Alaska Sportsman Show at the Sullivan Arena April 8 -11, 1999. Director Braun commented on the Kenai RV Park's new owners and encouraged the Bureau to speak with them about their business. 1. Review of Finances Presentation of 1999 Draft Budget The November 30, 1998 Budget Report was reviewed. Fundraising from gaming revenues were tracking below projections for the year as there were no gaming profits in the month of June. October November's gaming revenues, however, were on target. In other financial matters, Tarr recommended that the savings account (budget reserve fund) be transferred to a certificate of deposit to earn a higher interest rate. KVCB's balance sheet was passed out and discussed. t. Draft 1999 Budget President Jahrig commented on the director's report concerning equipment needs. The operating systems on the older Mac computers were upgraded. All computers are now Internet accessible. Tarr reported that the Bureau needs to purchase some software programs such as Pagemaker Filemaker Pro. President Jahrig suggested the Bureau convert to an all PC format. Tarr commented on the building's sound system. A cassette player was originally installed in the Center for music to be piped through the building's various speakers. The cassette player, which was actually a car stereo unit, is broken beyond repair. The Bureau recently spent $200 to replace the cassette player, although the building's speakers are inadequate. The Center lacks a multi -media projector to be used with PowerPoint software. A wall mounted projector screen and new overhead projector are also on the "wish list." President Jahrig suggested that the professionals who worked with the new PRISM facility be contacted for their advice on any multi -media equipment. 2. Adoption of the 1999 Budget There was discussion about the status quo budget as presented. Gaming revenues for 1999 were projected lower than 1998 $112,00 per year rather than $120,000 which was budgeted in 1998. Membership leads were developed. Kenai Native Association and Salamatof Native Association were mentioned as potential new members. Board of Directors December 15, 1998 Page 4 M/S (Braun, Lofstedt) to approve the adoption of the 1999 Budget as presented. An Executive Session was called between 6:30 6:55 p.m. to discuss the annual performance review of the Executive Director. II. NEW BUSINESS M/S (Rainey, Fulton) to approve the Employment Agreement on Kathleen Tarr as discussed. Passed unanimously. M/S (Braun, Fulton) to authorize the Executive Director to work on the modification of the annual lease with the Peninsula Oilers for the leasing of the Oilers' hall. The Peninsula Oilers approved removing the equipment replacement language from the current lease and increasing the hall rental fee from $180 per session to $200 per session. The Oilers may provide the Bureau with a letter of intent to continue the current business relationship for the next three years. I. ELECTION OF KVCB OFFICERS M/S (Fulton, Braun) to maintain the present slate of officers for 1999. J. BOARD COMMENTS Director Rainey reported that the Board of Fish meeting will be held in Soldotna, February 16 -23, 1999. Rainey commented on Dr. Gunnar Knapp's report on commercial fishing in Alaska. He also reported on the Cook Inlet Public Fisheries Council, of which he is a member. There are 10 -1 organizations affiliated with the new group which is focused on fishing, not on tourism promotion. There was discussion about instituting an Equipment Replacement Fund to cover future costs of personal computers, photocopy machines, printers, etc. There was discussion about purchasing new PC computers to replace the Macs. Future membership programs were discussed. The idea was discussed of offering members a chance to hear a program on the Internet and travel and tourism. Board of Directors December 15, 1999 Page 5 K. SCHEDULE OF NEXT BOARD MEETING. The next board of directors meeting was scheduled for sometime in February, TBD. The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted by, Qlvt_- Kathleen Tarr Executive Director