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DRAFT Minutes – Tourism Business Improvement District Board Meeting of 2/9/2022 Pg. 1
Minutes
TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BOARD
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Regular Meeting of the Tourism Business Improvement District Board
CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the San Luis Obispo Tourism Business Improvement District Board was called to
order on February 9, 2022 at 10:03 a.m. by Chair John Conner.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair John Conner, Vice Chair LeBren Harris and Members David Smith, Matthew Wilkins,
Pragna Patel-Mueller (Joined meeting at 10:05 a.m.), and Natalie Ward (Joined meeting at
10:05 a.m.)
Absent: Member Stephanie Bolles
Staff: Tourism Manager Molly Cano and Tourism Coordinator Matt Teel
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
San Luis Obispo City Manager, Derek Johnson commented on the SLO TBID lodging industry challenges
during the COVID-19 pandemic. City Manager Johnson commended the work of staff at all local lodging
properties for their continued work during the pandemic and how their commitment has positively impacted
the city of San Luis Obispo’s local economy, visitors, and residents.
--End of Public Comment--
CONSENT ITEMS
ACTION: MOTION BY BOARD MEMEBR SMITH SECONDED BY BOARD VICE CHAIR HARRIS,
CARRIED 6-0-1 TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS C1 THRU C7 WITH BOARD
MEMBERS BOLLES ABSENT.
C.1 Minutes of Meeting on Wednesday, January 12, 2022
C.2 Smith Travel Report
C.3 Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Report
C.4 Chamber Public Relations Monthly Report
C.5 Chamber Guest Services Monthly Report
C.6 Noble Studios & DCI Marketing Monthly Report
C.7 Badger Branding Organic Social Report
BUSINESS ITEMS
DRAFT Minutes – Tourism Business Improvement District Board Meeting of 2/9/2022 Pg. 2
1. COUNTYWIDE FESTIVALS AND EVENT STRATEGY COLLABORATION
Melissa Murray from Visit SLO CAL presented the revised countywide commitment to collaborate in
the development and implementation of a strategy for tourism related festivals and events for the
board’s review and commitment. Murray covered the plans for developing a centralized calendar of
events to allow destinations to manage their own events, enhance collaboration between
municipalities, and ideally maximize the positive economic impacts of visitor-related events. This
commitment can also help residents gain a clearer understanding of the benefits that events and
festivals bring to each community, reduce confusion surrounding events, and enhance the county
tourism experience through an increase in available events, festivals, and activities. Visit SLO CAL is
funding the effort, and no additional investment is required from collaborating entities.
Public Comment
None.
--End of Public Comment--
ACTION: MOTION BY MEMBER WILKINS SECONDED BY BOARD VICE CHAIR HARRIS
CARRIED 6-0-1 (Member Bolles was absent) to approve the commitment to collaborate in the
countywide festivals and event strategy.
2. SUPPLEMENTAL ASSETS
Tourism Manager Molly Cano reviewed a proposal to acquire photography and videography assets of
downtown adjacent areas to be used in partnership with the Promotional Coordinating Committee’s
neighborhood maps project. Tourism Manager Cano provided an update on the status of the
neighborhood maps, reviewed the SLO TBID Board’s request for photography and videography
assets outside of downtown San Luis Obispo, and outlined the plans for gathering new media assets
using available SLO TBID funding. The plan to gather new photography and videography assets will
include a two-day shoot of downtown adjacent areas of San Luis Obispo using local talent and the
total cost of the project is $11,500.00. Member Patel-Mueller asked about the locations of the photo
shoot and business selection for neighborhood maps. Tourism Manager Cano explained the plans to
shoot diverse local talent in areas of San Luis Obispo that have not been covered yet. Board Vice
Chair Harris asked how the maps will be used in print and online. Tourism Manager Cano reviewed
the recent printing of neighborhood maps to be used in the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce
Visitor Center and explained that the maps and supplemental assets will be featured on visitslo.com.
Board Chair John Conner addressed the PCC’s goal to highlight areas of San Luis Obispo outside of
downtown and how the neighborhood map development can support this goal.
Public Comment
Katy McGrath from Badger Branding provided insight on the digital options for further buildout of the
neighborhood maps, design limitations, and budgeting considerations should more updates be requested
by the TBID board. PCC Chair, John Thomas thanked the SLO TBID Board and staff for helping to
promote various neighborhoods within the city. Dusty Colyer-Worth commented on how the
neighborhood maps help tell the story of the benefits of visiting San Luis Obispo. Jacqueline Clark-
Charlesworth reviewed the selection process of businesses for the neighborhood maps and how the
visuals were selected to represent a diverse variety of businesses on the maps.
--End of Public Comment--
ACTION: MOTION BY MEMBER WILKINS SECONDED BY MEMBER PATEL-MUELLER
CARRIED 6-0-1 (Member Bolles was absent) to approve the spending of $11,500.00 from the SLO
TBID unallocated fund balance to develop supplemental assets to support the Promotional
Coordinating Committee’s neighborhood maps project.
3. SLO BRAND & SENTIMENT SURVEY RESEARCH FINDINGS
DRAFT Minutes – Tourism Business Improvement District Board Meeting of 2/9/2022 Pg. 3
Mark Wiser from Wiser Insights presented the research findings gathered from the SLO Brand
Tracker Baseline and Local Tourism Sentiment Survey. Local sentiment on tourism, focus group
awareness of tourism in San Luis Obispo, brand positioning, key activity trends, and next steps for
raising familiarity of San Luis Obispo as an activities hub were reviewed. B.C. LeDoux from Noble
studios reviewed how these findings will help shape the direction for the SLO TBID Board’s
marketing efforts moving forward.
Public Comment
None.
--End of Public Comment--
ACTION: None.
TBID LIAISON REPORTS AND COMMUNICATION
1. HOTELIER UPDATE – The Board discussed hotel activities.
2. PCC UPDATE – John Conner provided an update on the Meeting Minutes from the PCC meeting on
January 12, 2022.
3. VISIT SLO CAL UPDATE – Board Member Wilkins provided an update.
4. TOURISM PROGRAM UPDATE – Tourism Manager Cano and Tourism Coordinator Teel provided
current project updates.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 11:54 a.m. The next Tourism Business Improvement District Board Regular
meeting is scheduled for March 9, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. held remotely and via teleconference.
APPROVED BY THE TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BOARD: 3/9/22