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Home My WebLink About11-08-2017 TBID minutes Minutes – Tourism Business Improvement District Board Meeting of November 8, 2017 Page 1 Minutes TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BOARD Wednesday, November 8, 2017 Tourism Business Improvement District Board CALL TO ORDER A Meeting of the Tourism Business Improvement District Board was called to order on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. in the Council Hearing Room, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Wilkins. ROLL CALL Present: Board Members Pragna Patel-Mueller, Clint Pearce, Bruce Skidmore, Kimberly Walker, LeBren Young-Harris, Vice Chair Nipool Patel and Chair Matthew Wilkins Absent: None. Staff: Tourism Manager Molly Cano, Tourism Coordinator Liesel Kuehl, and Deputy City Clerk Heather Goodwin PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Bettina Swigger CONSENT AGENDA ACTION: MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER PATEL, SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER PEARCE, CARRIED 7-0, to approve the Consent Calendar Items C1 through C6. C1. Minutes of Meeting on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 C2. Smith Travel Report C3. Chamber Public Relations Report C4. BCA + Matchfire Marketing Report C5. Chamber Guest Services Report C6. Transit Occupancy Tax (TOT) Report Minutes – Tourism Business Improvement District Board Meeting of November 8, 2017 Page 2 PRESENTATIONS 1. Marketing Agency Monthly Report Representatives from BCA + MatchFire briefly reviewed their current marketing activities for the month of October, highlighting the “Be Here Campaign Roll Out,” “Rainy Day Promotion,” enhanced website content updates, site and social media metrics and partnership projects. Responded to Board Member inquires. Public Comments: None ---End of Public Comments--- No action was taken on this item 2. SLO Chamber of Commerce Monthly Report Chamber of Commerce representative Molly Kern, Director of Communications and Business Education, reviewed their Public Relations report for the past month. Highlights included coverage in National Geographic, Coastal Living, Sunset Magazine, Expedia Viewfinder, and Realtor.com. Responded to Board Member inquires. Public Comments: None. ---End of Public Comments--- No action was taken on this item. Minutes – Tourism Business Improvement District Board Meeting of November 8, 2017 Page 3 BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Tradeshow Delegation Tourism Manager Cano outlined the process for the delegates representing the TBID at the upcoming 2018 tradeshows. Explained the specifications and approach to partner outreach. Staff responded to Board Member inquires. Board discussed the creation of a cancellation fee for properties who fail to attend the shows after they have committed. Staff will crate a draft agreement and cancellation fee terms for discussion with the Management Committee. Staff will open the lottery entry for travel show participation. Board will make the selection at the December meeting. Public Comments: None. ---End of Public Comments--- ACTION: MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER PATEL-MULLER, SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER SKIDMORE, CARRIED 7-0, to direct staff to reach out to TBID properties for interest in participation in both 2018 Travel & Adventures shows. 2. Fiscal Health Response Plan Input Tourism Manager Cano discussed the input from the Marketing and Management committees communications regarding the Fiscal Health Response Plan. Responded to Board Member inquires. Board input urged the council to not support an increase in the transient occupancy tax (TOT). An increase in the TOT would have a direct impact on the lodging industry and the occupancy rates in the city of San Luis Obispo. It would increase the total cost of a stay in the city and put hoteliers at a further disadvantage compared to short-term rentals, especially those operating illegally. With the increase of minimum wage as well as other economic factors, now is not the proper time to put more strain on the hotel properties. Although an increase in the TOT may appear minor, it would contribute to the total cost of a stay in San Luis Obispo and deter visitors from hotels and possibly the city as whole. Board noted that TOT should not be the solution to help increase city revenues as it does not address the problems at its core. Regarding the code enforcement on short-term rental in the city, the TBID Board encourages council to focus on proper enforcements on homestays and short-term rentals. Not only do illegal operators not collect the transient occupancy tax, but they are impacting hoteliers in the process. There should also be proper code enforcement regarding commercial use property regulation and policies as well as operating with the proper business license and permits. The total cost of staying at an illegal short-term rental is much lower because they are not charging the proper taxes to contribute to the city revenue. This lower total cost is unfairly competing with hotel properties and decreasing occupancy. Minutes – Tourism Business Improvement District Board Meeting of November 8, 2017 Page 4 Public Comments: None. ---End of Public Comments--- ACTION: MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER WALKER, SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER SKIDMORE, CARRIED 7-0, for the Board Chair to submit a formal letter to the City Council on behalf of the TBID to include the following: 1) encourage the City Council to support the Code Enforcement Priorities for homestay properties in the City and 2) urge the City Council to not increase Transit Occupancy Tax (TOT) and include proper enforcement on illegal operators. 3. 2018 Rainy Day Promotion The Marketing committee shared the program plan for the 2018 Rainy Day campaign for the Board’s review and approval. Responded to Board Member inquires. Public Comments: None. ---End of Public Comments--- ACTION: MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER PATEL-MULLER, SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER PATEL, CARRIED 7-0, to offer $100 cash and a customized bill holder to hotel guests booking a 2-night stay minimum in the City of San Luis Obispo during the 2018 Rainy Day promotional period (January 1, 2018 through March 23, 2018). TBID LIAISON REPORTS &COMMUNICATIONS 1. Hotelier Update Board Members Skidmore and Walker provided hotel updates. 2. Management Committee Update Board Member Pearce and Tourism Manager Cano reported on the recent Management Committee; highlights included the new star reports. 3. Marketing Committee Update Board Member Walker reported on the 2018 Rainy Day Promotion. 4. Promotional Coordinating Committee (PCC) Update Minutes – Tourism Business Improvement District Board Meeting of November 8, 2017 Page 5 Chair Wilkins reported on the activities of the PCC. 5. Visit SLO CAL Update Board Member Pearce reported on activities of the Visit SLO CAL Marketing Committee Meeting. 6. Tourism Program Update Tourism Manager Cano reviewed the following:  Tourism Coordinator recruitment  Tourism Intern Berlin Lopez work schedule  TBID Annual Report to City Council on October 17, 2017  TBID Public Hearing to City Council on November 7, 2017  Central Coast Tourism Council  Visit with Temecula Valley destination trip  Management Committee Meeting – December 7th – 10:00 am  Marketing Committee Meeting – December 6th – 10:30 am  TBID Board Meeting – December 13th 10:00 am  Board Member Young-Harris on maternity leave ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:42 a.m. The next Regular meeting of the Tourism Business Improvement District Board is scheduled for Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., in the Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California. APPROVED BY THE TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BOARD: 12/13/2017