Transient Lodging Tax Committee Minutes
May 20, 2021
Baker County Commission Chambers
Tyler called the meeting to order at 9:00.
Members Present: Tyler Brown, Shane Alderson, Kathy Reedy, Tori Thatcher, and Chelsea Judy
Guests Present: Jerry Shaw, Jeff Higgins, Randy Guyer, Don Burroughs, Cassi Johnson, Becky Kaaen, Timothy Bishop, Shelly Cutler, Bryan Tweit, Bill Harvey and Shelly Christensen
Approve Minutes:
Meeting minutes from April 15, 2021 were reviewed. Shane moved that the minutes be approved, Kathy seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Approve Agenda:
Chelsea moved to approve the agenda, Shane seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Grant Requests
Huckleberry Mountain Invitational Dog Trial – Cassi Johnson
This is the first year for this event that is being held June 12th & 13th at Warnock Ranches in Sumpter Valley. The organizers are requesting $4,000 in grant funds to increase payout, pay staff to assist with event tasks, event judge, event announcer, video crew, contestant awards, porta potty and spectator setup. Shane made a motion to grant the $4,000 request. Chelsea seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Hells Canyon Chamber of Commerce – Becky Kaaen
This year is the 100th anniversary of the Baker County Fair and Panhandle Rodeo in Halfway. The Hells Canyon Chamber is requesting $5,000 in grant funds to purchase large rigid aluminum billboards or vinyl banners with pictures promoting the Panhandle area and the 100th anniversary celebration. The signs would also be used during shoulder season as geocaching and volkswalking activities. The Committee asked Becky if she would return to the June meeting to provide information on placement of signs and suggested she speak to the Chamber Board members about sponsorship of the signs and the possibility of TLT grant funds as matching funds.
East-West All-Star Shrine Football Game – Randy Guyer, Jeff Higgins & Don Burroughs
The 68th annual East-West All-Star Shrine football game will take place August 7th. Organizers are requesting $7,500 in grant funding to assist in setting a base for live streaming of the game & related activities and showcasing Baker County. The game will no longer be televised due to increased cost. Proceeds from the game are donated to the Shriners Hospital in Portland. Tori made a motion to grant the $7,500 request. Kathy seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Marketing Update – Timothy Bishop
Timothy reminded the Committee of the upcoming free, virtual Travel Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism, June 15-16 and encouraged them to register.
Unfortunately, none of the five applications from Baker County for Travel Oregon Competitive Grant were awarded. There were $18 million in grant requests for $2.4 million in funding.
The Eastern Oregon Visitors Guide and Baker County Guide will be distributed this or next week.
Locations for the Oregon Film Paint Your Wagon trail signs will be in Halfway, the Baker Heritage Museum, and one at Anthony Lakes. The signs should be installed in late June.
The new Baker Heritage Passport production schedule is being finalized with Elkhorn Media. Museum attractions filmed were Baker City, Haines, Halfway, and Huntington. Sumpter filming will take place May 22nd.
Timothy is working on a marketing plan for the co-location of the Heritage Museum and the Interpretive Center.
The Hells Canyon Scenic Byways Marketing Coalition continues to meet. Work is being done on the website, brochures, opportunities to bolster shoulder & winter season activities and re-engaging a more robust group of partners.
Timothy shared that summer events continue to confirm and they are working to keep the website calendar updated. It appears the majority of our traditional summer events will be returning this year as well as a few new additions.
A draft budget was brought to the Committee for review. Revenue is anticipated to be $446,950 based on 2018-19 FY. The marketing budget allocates $112,866 for marketing expenses. The following changes were made:
· Shane made a motion to add an Outdoor Activities Advertising line for $2,500. Chelsea seconded the motion. Motion carried.
· Chelsea made a motion to add a Front Line Training line for $2,500. Tori seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Chelsea made a motion to recommend the County Marketing budget of $190,000 to the Commissioners. Shane seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Visitor Services Update - Shelly Cutler
Shelly shared the Center saw 91 travelers passing through during the month of April. Of those travelers, 44 were seeking lodging, 72 requested information on Baker County and 56 requested information on Baker City. The Center also mailed 28 Visitors Packets. Shelly indicated they have had to defer travelers from traveling the Elkhorn scenic byway and Hells Canyon scenic byway and recommended Baker County or Travel Oregon run educational marketing to inform travelers of those seasonal closures. In contacting Larissa, the Interpretive Center has no intention of opening until the County is locked into the Low category of COVID restrictions. The Center hired Sue Barnes and operating hours are now 7 days a week from 8 am to 5 pm. Shelly reported the Tesla charging station has been packed.
Financial Reports: Shelly Christensen
First quarter reports are complete and revenue numbers are strong. Past due letters were mailed to vacation rentals that mainly book exclusively through an online intermediary.
Citizen’s Participation: None
Strategic Planning Update: None
EDC Update: Bryan
Bryan reported that Baker Heritage Museum and the Interpretive Center co-location meetings continue with the BLM and until there is a signed contract, there are publication limits. Once that is complete there will be a lot more information shared. He stressed that signage will have a huge impact on downtown. The economic potential is ridiculous.
Hospitality training program through the Oregon Employment Office stopped years ago.
Bryan did some research in getting a large hotel chain to build in Baker City and found that doesn’t happen anymore. All the local hotels were built by private individuals and then were franchised.
There was discussion related to COVID restrictions, mask mandates, privacy and vaccination.
By-Laws Update: Tyler: No update.
Staff Comments:
Bill Harvey gave a Parks update. Bill also updated the Committee on meetings with BLM for the co-location of the Heritage Museum and the Interpretive Center. Tyler asked Bill to update the Committee on the Visitors Center joint work Committee. Bill indicated those meetings have been halted and the County legal counsel will be writing an RFP for a contractor to compile information from the public relating to Visitors Services and evaluate marketing, economic development and visitor services roles. The existing visitor’s services contract will be extended to March 2022.
Committee Comments: None
Next Meeting:
June 17, 2021 @ 9:00 am
Meeting adjourned at 11:36
Respectfully Submitted:
Shelly Christensen