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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-11-06 KCVB MinutesKenai Convention Visitors Bureau, Inc. Regular Board of Directors Meeting President Fred Braun, Presiding Monday, November 6, 2000 5:30 p.m. MINUTES A. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 5:35 p.m. B. ROLL CALL Directors present: Fred Braun, Charlotte Legg, Diane Lofstedt, Ron Malston, Jim Bookey, Bob Fulton, Dan Van Zee, Marion Nelson, Sandra Vozar Staff present: Kathy Tarr, Executive Director, Amy Manuel Admin. Assistant C. AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA President Braun added Resolution 2000 -2 for review to the Executive Director's report D. APPROVAL OF AGENDA M/S (Malston, Nelson) to approve the agenda as amended E. APPROVAL OF MINUTES M/S (Malston, Fulton) to approve the minutes of August 21, 2000 F. CORRESPONDENCE The Board received copies of a letter from a couple that visited Kenai in the summer and a copy of Tarr's response to the couple. The visitors complained that they were not given appropriate sportfishing information for the area. Tarr reported to the Board of Directors that this was the first written negative letter that she ever received during her four years as the Executive Director. Tarr sent a letter of apology to the couple. New staff training for swnmer 2001 will be implemented. Tarr and the KCVB staff will work with the Soldotna Visitor Center staff, sharing information on fishing, attractions, etc., to ensure that all visitors are provided the most accurate and up-to -date information. Director Nelson suggested that KCVB also send the same information to Homer and Seward. Director Braun added that he had only heard good comments about the Kenai Visitors Cultural Center. G. PERSONS TO BE HEARD None KCVB Board Meeting November 6, 2000 Page 2 II. APPROVAL OF SLATE OF CANDIDATES FOR 2001 -2002 TERM KCVB BOARD OF DIRECTORS Directors Arness, Malston and Nelson, nominating committee for the 2001 -2002 Board of Directors elections, presented the slate of candidates: I. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT Wanetta Ayers -Kenai Peninsula Borough Sharon Brower -The Grouchy Old Woman Bed Breakfast Ron Malston- Malston's Inc. Bill Popp -Kenai Chrysler Center Marty Ragan- Alaskan Gift Gallery Sandra Vozar- Old Town Village Restaurant MIS (Malston, Vozar) to approve slate of candidates. All Directors were in favor of the slated candidates. Directors with expiring terns in December 2000 are: Loftstedt, Jahrig, Seekins, Malston and Vozar. Directors Loftstedt, Jahrig and Seekins will not seek re- election for the 2001 tern. Tarr reported on the upcoming "2001: A Fish Odyssey," May 1 through September 3, 2001 The Grand Opening reception for the event will be May 4, 2001. Tarr presented the Board with a sample artist packet. Approximately 115 packets were mailed to Alaskan and national artists. Alaskan artist and UAA art professor, Bill Sabo, is designing artwork that will be reproduced onto posters which will be sold at the Center during the exhibit. Tarr met with the Editor of Alaska Maeazine to inform him about the Fish Odyssey exhibit. Ray Troll, well known artist from Ketchi AK, will be the cover feature of the April 2001 issue and will also participate in the "2001: A Fish Odyssey" at KVCC. Tarr said the magazine will also cover KCVB's fish odyssey exhibit, which will be excellent advertising for the show. K &A Graphics, is designing an advertisement on "2001: A Fish Odyssey" to be placed in the Soldotna Visitors Guide and other publications. Tarr and Director Braun will present the "2001: A Fish Odyssey" to the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors on November 17, 2000. Tarr and Braun will present ideas to include the Soldotna and Kenai Chambers of Commerce, as well as local businesses to make this exhibit a community wide effort. KCVB Board Meeting November 6, 2000 Page 3 I. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT (continued) Some community ideas include: Suggest that the Soldotna Progress Days Parade have the "2001: A Fish Odyssey" as its theme; Kenai Fourth ofiuly Parade have fish floats; Kenai River Festival tie in with 2001: A Fish Odyssey" theme KCVB Members of the Week- participating members will offer discounts coupons for goods and services connected to fish. Visitors will receive coupons with a paid admission to "2001: A. Fish. Odyssey." Tarr is also recruiting sponsors for "2001 A Fish Odyssey." Sponsor packets were mailed to (as of November 6, 2000): Agrium, BP Exploration, CIRI, Inc., and Homer Electric Association. Sponsorship levels are: King $5,000 Silver $2,500 Other companies who may be contacted: Red $1,000 Chum $250 Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute ERA Aviation Cook Inlet Processors Morris Communications (Peninsula Clarion) Phillips Petroleum Princess Cruises Tours Snug Harbor Seafoods Unocal Wells Fargo Hooligan $100 Tarr said the Cultural Center's video projector needs to be replaced; the Center has been without a projector for 8 months. Tarr submitted proposals for purchasing a new LCD projector to City of Kenai Manager, Rick Ross. Tarr said KCVB would purchase a laptop for Power Point presentations if the City would agree to replace the original projector with a LCD type. Tarr discussed many items that KCVB has purchased for the building since 1997. A complete list will be presented to the City of Kenai in the near future. KCVB Board Meeting November 6, 2000 Page 4 I. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT (continued) The Board of Directors discussed the purchase of a new projector. Director Bookey, Kenai City Council member, said the City of Kenai was responsible for replacing permanent fixtures in the Cultural Center, based on the original agreement made between the City of Kenai and the Center's professional manager, KCVB. Tan will attend the next City Council meeting, as the purchase of a new projector may be an agenda item. Tarr suggested a KCVB Strategic Planning Board Retreat should be held. The last board retreat was held in1996, before Tarr became KCVB's Executive Director in April 1997. All Board members agreed to attend a board retreat, tentatively scheduled for mid February. Tarr addressed the issue of employee benefits for KCVB's regular air staff. Tarr said. that KCVB staff DOES NOT receive any benefits such as or medical insurance, nor do they participate in any kind of 401K retirement plans. Tarr asked the Board to consider approving Resolution 2000 -2, the transfer of funds from the equipment replacement fund to establish a benefits package for KCVB's employees. An employee benefits program is not yet put together, but Tarr said she is working to develop one, which the board would eventually need to approve. Tarr stated that KCVB had replaced major equipment for the Center in 1999 and 2000 and she did not anticipate the need to replace any major office equipment in the near future. Board members discussed the employee benefits issue. Tarr said that KCVB was a minority among other CVB's since most others in and out -of -state offer employee benefits. Other comparable non profits in the area such as KPTMC and Soldotna Chamber of Commerce also have employee health and retirement benefits. Tan said the benefits package would have to be paid for out of the equipment savings fund. Director Malston said that employee benefits were a good idea but did not believe that KCVB could afford it. President Braun asked Tarr to see if the City of Kenai has an "umbrella policy" that could include KCVB staff. Director Bookey agreed that KCVB staff should have benefits but was concerned about funding for the benefits in the future. Bookey said KCVB only had Gaming revenues as an income and the future of Gaming is uncertain. Director Fulton would like to see several types of employee benefit plans before approving Resolution 2000 -2 to transfer funds from the equipment fund. The Board members asked Tarr to collect several examples of employee benefit plans to be presented to the Board at a future meeting. Resolution 2000 -2 was not approved at this board meeting. KCVB Board Meeting November 6, 2000 Page 5 L EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT (continued) Tarr reported that the KCVB Executive Director's evaluation should be completed by November l President Braun asked Directors Vozar, Lofstedt and Nelson to assist with Tarr's evaluation. The evaluation committee will make a report at the December board meeting. Tarr reported that the Kenai Peninsula Borough will have an economic summit on December 8, 2000. Tarr will be a facilitator at the event. J. REVIEW OF MONTHLY REPORTS The following reports were distributed: Cultural Center, Financials, Gaming, Visitors Statistics, Membership Tarr reported that October was the best month for gaming all year with a net transfer of $14,000. Tarr and Peggy Baxter, KCVB's Gaming Manager revised the check cashing policy at the Peninsula Oilers Bingo Hall to decrease the amount of returned checks (NSF). Tarr reported that KCVB has a Certificate of Deposit that will mature in December 2000. (KCVB's long -term cash reserves are kept in the CD). Director Vozar asked if KCVB could use the earned interest for operating capital. Tarr stated that KCVB's Accounts Payable were current. BOARD COMMENTS Director Fulton wants to see examples of employee benefits programs. Director Bookey said the proposed Coastal Trail in Kenai had lost its potential source of federal funding and the project was temporarily stalled. Director Legg congratulated Tarr and KCVB staff on a successful art exhibit, "Alaska 2000: A Celebration of Wildlife Art" and said she was looking forward to the upcoming exhibit "2001: A Fish Odyssey." Directors Vozar and Lofstedt thanked Tarr and KCVB staff members for their hard work and dedication. KCVB Board Meeting November 6, 2000 Page 6 BOARD COMMENTS (continued) President Braun addressed the issue of board member attendance /absenteeism. Braun said according to KCVB by -laws, KCVB board members who missed 3 consecutive unexcused meetings could be removed from the Board of Directors. Braun asked board members to contact Executive Director Tarr if he or she would be absent from future board meetings. L. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Amy Manuel Administrative Assistant