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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-04-12 KCVB MinutesA. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 5:40 p.m. Kenai Visitors Convention Bureau, Inc. April 12, 1999, Regular Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m. President Will Jahrig, Presiding MINUTES B. ROLL CALL Directors present: Will Jahrig; Diane Lofstedt; Rebecca Gabriel; Ron Malston; Fred Braun; Jim Bookey; Robert Fulton; Marion Nelson; Jerilue Seekins- flopley; Becky Vandehey Sandra Vozar Staff present: Kathy Tarr C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA M/S (Malston, Gabriel) to approve the minutes of December 15, 1999. D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MIS (Malston, Fulton) to approve the minutes of December 15, 1999. E. PERSON SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD None. F. CORRESPONDENCE Unocal sent a thank you note and floral bouquet acknowledging the patience and cooperation of KVCB's staff during their labor /management negotiations held at the Kenai Visitors Cultural Center over a period of three weeks in March. A letter was received from the City of Kenai stating that the Birch Island Park project was approved to move to the next level with state planning agencies. G. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT Kathy Tarr gave her Executive Director's Report. Tarr attended AV A's board meeting and statewide, tourism industry fly -in meeting in Juneau on March 30 -31 to discuss the New Millennium Plan. Most of the AVA meeting was focused on the New Millennium Plan for the state's restructuring of tourism marketing. Tarr explained the current status of the NMP and the process of how the new plan would be implemented, once it is officially adopted. Tarr said that more private sector dollars would be raised through local contributions of convention and visitor bureaus around the state. CVBs would contribute based on a percentage of visitor expenditures in a community. Although the voluntary funding formula was not entirely worked out, Tarr encouraged the KVCB board to support the NMP in concept. A new statewide tourism organization would be formed, called the Alaska Travel Industry Association to contract to the state to coordinate all tourism marketing. MIS (Malston, Vozar) for the Kenai Visitors Convention Bureau, Inc., to support the concept of the New Millennium Plan. (unanimous) H. PRESIDENT'S REPORT President Will Jahrig reported on the proposed Kenai Coastal Trail. Jahrig, who serves as chairman of the Harbor Commission, reported on a preliminary engineering study done on the development of a coastal trail. Jahrig said that the trail would be approximately 1.5 miles long and would begin at Pacific Star and Minutes Board of Directors April 12, 1999 Page 2 end at Kenai Dunes Beach. The trail would serve dual purposes of creating more recreational opportunities while also helping to prevent further bluff erosion and estuary habitat. The trail would be handicap accessible and would connect to other trails or outlets. Costs were expected to range above $10 million and the project, if federal funds were received, would take about 3 -5 years to complete. I. UNFINISHED BUSINESS *Report to the Community. Tarr reported that KVCB's annual "Report to the Community" would be delivered to the City of Kenai and mailed to the membership and select community organizations by April 15` Several new sections were added to the report and 350 copies were printed, *Great Alaska Sportsman Show. Tarr said that KVCB shared a booth at the "Great Alaska Sportsman Show" on April 7-11 in Anchorage with Soldotna Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center. She reported that staff members distributed Kenai logo bags with brochures and membership directories and that many valuable contacts were made. Tarr also stated that the relationship between KVCB and Soldotna Chamber Visitors Center was friendly and supportive. Tarr said that the booth was very successful and that the same arrangements may be made for the year 2000. *West Side Cook Inlet Fam Trips. Tentative plans for a West Side Cook Inlet sightseeing FAM trip for KVCB directors, staff, and other business people, were underway. Tom Wilkinson, West Development Task Force, is working with a local air taxi operator on some discount flightseeing over the West Forelands and Kustatan Ridge area. Tarr said she would notify directors about the trip details at a later date. *Board Insurance. There was discussion about board liability insurance. KVCB does not carry board liability insurance. Director Fulton said he felt uncomfortable without such insurance coverage. Director Braun explained his experience with board insurance. Braun explained that as long as the KVCB complies with the bylaws and the organization's policies and procedures as best as possible, that board members should be protected, especially when serving as a voluntary board member on a non profit. Tarr was instructed to collect more legal information on this matter. *Financial Reports. Tarr reviewed the March financial reports. Gaming revenues were meeting projections for 1999 through March. Tarr said advertising costs were way below budget because most of the ads for 2000 publications would not be paid until July. Sometime in 1999, it will be necessary to use savings in the Equipment Replacement Fund to purchase a new photocopy machine. Tarr reported that retail inventory at the beginning of 1999 was valued at approximately $5,000. Total retail sales for March were $360.00. New KVCB t -shirts and note cards were ordered for the 1999 summer season. MJS (Braun, Lofstedt) for KVCB to donate $100 to the family of the Center's deceased janitor. *Challenger Learning Center of Alaska. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska is set for July 8, 1999. A Challenger Kids Day at the Oilers' Ball Park (Coral Seymour Memorial Park) is scheduled for July 9` Local Little League teams and Boys Girls Club ball teams will participate in a ceremony with astronaut Pete Conrad at the Oilers ball field in Kenai. *Get to Know Kenai. Tarr said that 40 RS VPs had so far been received for the April 29 "Get to Know Kenai" program. The program will kick -off National Tourism Week, May 2 -9, and would feature several speakers with information on the new activities in Kenai, including an update on the city's parks department. KVCB will provide a catered buffet breakfast for everyone. Minutes Board of Directors April 12, 1999 Page 3 J. NEW BUSINESS Director Seekins Hopley asked about KVCB's plans to change the membership section of the www.visitkenai.com web site. There was previous discussion about highlighting Kenai businesses on the website. Tarr said all members were listed equally, with the same format, and that no special asterisks had been added to Kenai -based businesses. It was agreed that more discussion would need to take place on proposing any changes to the membership section. The "hot links" program has not yet been developed either, Tarr added. K. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m. Respectfully sued by, fin^ Kathy Tarr Executive Director