MINUTES
Guests Present: Shane Alderson, Bryan Tweit, Jessica Hobson, Devon Colton, Jeff Higgins, Cassi Johnson, Linda Wise, Ariel Reker, and Shelly Christensen
Approve Agenda: Brian moved to approve the agenda. Mandy seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Approve Minutes: Meeting minutes from November 21st and December 4th were reviewed. Matthew moved to approve the minutes. Mandy seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Blockbuster Grant Request - Jessica
State 1A and District 7 1A Basketball Tournament
Baker County Tournaments is requesting $5,000 for each tournament. Jessica reviewed the applications and recommended the Committee approve the requested funding. Brian moved to grant $5,000 to each request. Matthew seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Miners Jubilee
This request was tabled to the January meeting.
Grant Presentation
Huckleberry Mountain Invitational Dog Trial – Cassi Johnson
Cassi reported the event went very well. Entries were down to 16 dogs. The payout was $16,500 with a $1,000 incentive for novice entries. They had 18 total sponsors, five-$5,000 new sponsors and thirteen past sponsors. Spectators/attendees were about the same as last year. They are not sure if the event will be held next year because they need more handlers to participate. She indicated they will not be requesting grant funding next year but if they decide to hold the event, they will contact Jessica for marketing support.
Blockbuster Grant Presentation
East-West All Star Shrine Football Game – Jeff Higgins
Jeff shared the cover from the game program, letter from Shriners Hospital, community barbeque & cattlewomen’s flyers, and an ad from 1973. He thanked Baker City Downtown for their support. Mike Rudi is the incoming club president. The event raised $55,000. The club donated $45,000 to the Shriners Hospital (up $5,000 from last year) and kept $10,000 for equipment/uniform repair. Grant funds were used to support the cost of live stream.
Baker County marketing materials were used in the live stream. Attendees were 1,240, resulting in 215 hotel/RV stays. Next years’ game is scheduled for July 27th. Next year they will be focusing on pre-selling tickets by section. The 2024 estimated budget is $100,000.
Tourism Marketing Update – Jessica Hobson
Jessica presented her December report, which included Facebook likes, social media posts, upcoming events and meetings that she has attended. Tyler suggested Jessica work on a co-op page with merchants to advertise in the Boise Weekly. She is working on; assisting in redesigning the NHOTIC rack card, advertising for the NHOTIC re- opening, EOVA accessibility project, a newsletter, and website enhancements. She shared Travel Oregon’s rules around agritourism handbook with the Committee.
EOVA Visitors Guide – The Committee agreed to offer $5,000 of the budget for ad buydowns. The buydown will be limited to $300 per business (16 advertisers total). Brian moved to offer a $300 buydown discount per business. Mandy seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Baker County Visitor Guide – Jessica shared the buydown for the Baker County Visitor Guide has traditionally been the same as the EOVA Visitor Guide. She will provide ad pricing information, look at the budget for expense lines that could be used for buydowns and gather more information on the new regional travel guide at the January meeting.
Visitor Services Update – Devon Colton
Devon provided her November 2023 report and financial reports to Committee members, which included visitor data, visitor demographics and the top three visitor staff projects for the month. She reported she has been working with Sunridge on parking lot improvements and gathering quotes for a roof replacement as a result of the Travel Oregon grant the Center received. The Center is working on the 2024 event calendar and a separate Chamber calendar. Devon directed the Committees attention to the snapshot of the social media section of her report which shows an increase of activity on both sites.
The Visitor Services Contract expires 12/31/23. Devon is currently working on BCU’s proposal. Shelly has made date changes to the last Request for Proposal and passed it on to Heidi Martin and Baker County Counsel, Kim Mosier for review. Shelly recommended a contract term change from two years to five years. Once the RFP has been reviewed Shelly will schedule a Special Meeting of the TLTC to review the RFP and recommend the Baker County Board of Commissioners approve the RFP.
Community Partners Update
Ginger shared her December report. Crossroads has received 100% funding for DDRC Marketing of the Ernest Smith show.
Ariel shared her December report. She reported results from Twinkle in Time weekend. Shane commended her for her work on Festival of Trees. In partnership with the Lions Club, BCU was awarded a $48,000 grant for the Splash Pad project.
Bryan shared there will be an Oregon Film placard with a QR code on the Geiser building to direct tourists to the Paint Your Wagon film site. They will seek funding through the Baker County Marketing wayfinding budget.
Financial Reports: Shelly Christensen
Shelly provided the Committee with financial reports for the current fiscal year to date. Tyler suggested changing the percentage and the funding for audits outlined in the ordinance. Shelly will send the League of Oregon Cities Legal Guide to Collecting Lodging Tax in Oregon Guide to members before the January meeting.
Citizen Participation:
Linda Wise, Mayor of Sumpter asked if TLT monies could be used for the Sumpter museum or flea markets. Brian referred her to a Cultural Coalition grant application for museum upgrades/repairs. Tyler explained to Linda how lodging tax revenue is governed by state statute and local ordinance for tourism and marketing.
Staff Comments: None
Committee Comments:
Matthew reported fuel prices in La Grande are higher than Baker City. He also reported on holiday bazaar attendance.
Brian shared KBZR radio station updates and upcoming entertainment at Churchill.
Tyler shared information on a local motorcycle club that will be hosting cross country races at Virtue Flats in October of 2024. This will be a two-day event.
Mandy announced that she has returned to The Geiser and shared feedback from guests.
Next Meeting:
January 25th, 2024 @ 9:00 am Meeting adjourned at 11:46 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted: Shelly Christensen