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Home My WebLink About091223M Sept2023 TCC Minutes DRAFT v.09222023 Tourism Coordinating Council – Jefferson County Minutes of the Meeting of the Coordinating Council September 12, 2023 (DRAFT) The September 12, 2023 meeting of the Tourism Coordinating Council (TCC) for Jefferson County, convening as a hybrid meeting - in person from the Resort at Port Ludlow, and via Zoom - was called to order at 2:08 PM by TCC Chair Diana Smeland. A quorum was in attendance. Council members present: Diana Smeland, Aaron Terada, Dan Ventura, Cleone Telling, , Amy Neil, Marsha Massey Valued Partners: Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour TCC Marketing Coordinator: Steve Shively No Public Comments received. Approval of Agenda was approved without objections. Consent Agenda Consisting of TCC June 13, 2023 minutes, as well as the current TCC budget, JeffCo. and Olympic Peninsula Hotel Room Tax reports were approved by consent without objections. Commissioner’s Update – Commissioner Eisenhour, shared the following: • Key county staff are out, resulting in extra coverage necessitated by all. • County strategic planning results are aligning with numerous strategic priorities around tourism and economic vitality, including the need for affordable work force housing. • Revenue & Workforce housing is high on everyones list of needs. (Marsha echoed Sequim’s study, and Dan mentioned Blacks Point Resort in Brinnon for similar workforce housing issues) • The 2024 LTAC request for applications deadline has been moved up in order to better facilitate award contracts prior to January 2024. The available funds to allocate are still being adjusted, but proposed tourism marketing allocation requests exceed available funds by 30+% • Even with walk-on only Bainbridge Ferry and Swansonville road construction, the Wooden Boat Festival was a good indication that Tourism Is Back! The energy was great, and early indicators are that numbers were also very good. • Additional forum for messaging via weekly County Connections show with Jim Burke on KPTZ is again available for content suggestions. CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMENTS CONSENT AGENDA COMMISSIONER REPORT Olympic Peninsula DMO – Marsha shared the following highlights: • September OPTC meeting received briefing from Olympic NP Superintendent Sula Jacobs regarding ongoing work atop Hurricane Ridge, and current trenching work being done with hopes for supporting winter recreation offerings. • Appreciative of WSDOT’s Mary Lou Shannon briefing and ongoing communications regarding current road construction, with eye towards 2024 scheduled projects. • Ongoing MMGY NextFactor tourism management planning progress four Town Hall meetings, 9/26-27 in Port Townsend, Sequim, Port Angeles and Forks will finish up the data collections. Marketing Report - Steve – reviewed with TCC the following: • Last call invitation to State of Washington Tourism Conference and Responsible Outdoor Travel Summit, October 24-26, Yakima. Contact Steve for details and TCC supported discount. • YTD Jefferson and Clallam are up 14% in lodging tax revenues over 2022. Locally the JeffCo. Treasurer reported in July’s revenue report “Hotel/Motel Lodging Tax – Fund 125 – 472,053 for month. This is 28% over budget of the month and 74% over budget YTD. This is 31% more than 2022 YTD. Year-end projection is $485K over budget.” Yet available 2024 LTAC funding is -13%. OLYMPIC PENINSULA DMO REPORT TCC MARKETING COORDINATORS REPORT • TCC submitted 2024 LTAC application proposes a 1.69% “tread water” increase over 2023, attempting to stay even with continued inflationary increases and record tourism growth. • Current transportation impacts from WSF and WSDOT were reviewed. • Fragile, yet positive return of operations – even glimpses of growth – were highlighted. • Development work on leverage Tread App to be a community emergency notification site • Review of MMGY NextFactor tourism management planning progress to date. • Early fall coopt marketing goals, ongoing FAM tours, summer media marketing highlights and analytics from @NW America Talk campaings. Old Business –Gateway VIC operations agreement with JeffCo. has been reached, and is now in effect. Endless thanks to Bill for his help with the many details necessary in seamlessly transiting and implementing the ongoing operations of the Gateway VIC under TCC. Insurance, bookkeeping, transfer of all monthly accounts, payroll, and - current - staffing are all in place, accepted by JeffCo., and progressing forward, with process and prospects for additional staff and replacement of Bill being explored. New Business – No TCC meetings meetings in July or August, moved by Dan, Seconded by Cleone. ACTION carried. Area Updates: Marrowstone – Aaron shared these updates: • Busy summer – packed campground during advance reservations window. • Since Labor Day weekends through October will still be at capacity. • Engineering changes to upper Flagler road construction enabled campground to remain open, offering plenty of camping reservations for Wooden Boat attendees. • Looking forward to a first-class welcome station being built at park’s entrance • H5N1 bird flu is problematics on Rat Island. Resulting with scores of dead seabirds washing ashore on Fort Flagler beaches. Parks is working with Fish & Wildlife outbreak. Common Tern’s, Gulls and even some Harbor Seals are infected. • Group Retreat Center remains closed. Waiting on funding and planning. • Theater and Camp Wilson group accommodation are being restored for rentals with a group business focus. Tri-Areas – Chimacum – Crystie supplied the following report: • Busy getting ready for farm tour events this weekend and looking forward to that. Including a makers market at Finnriver on Saturday. • Deep in the midst of the fall transition, and adjusting seasonal hours • Finnriver is working with the TPA/Production Alliance this year on the Apple day fair at Finnriver in mid October and are looking forward to that new partnership as part of the Peninsula cider and apple festival • Finnriver is still trying to bounce back from the pandemic hit overall and facing some economic challenges… • Curious about the status of commercial real estate properties in Chimacum that are still up for sale? • Looking forward to working together on December Chimacum craft fair promotions… West End – Kalaloch – Amy shared updates including: • Still staying busy post Labor Day and lots of traffic next door at VIC. • Welcoming another new chef to Creekside Restaurant • Marsha reported that Forks will be welcoming Sold Out Twilight Forever Fest this weekend. AREA UPDATES Port Ludlow - Diana shared these highlights: • Mon – Thur. Fireside is featuring 3-course Farm Dinner specials. • Sale of old golf T-box signs raised $1,800 in support of Dove House • This weekend is JeffCo. Farm Tour with Tour d’ Farms bike ride option • Two new restaurants coming to the Ludlow Village • New Alert Media feature for Ludlow utility group may be expanded to provide other news • Attended Rainer Forestry tour. Plenty of openness to development. Need comp. plans. Quilcene – Cleone shared that the Worthington House Museum / Mansion news: • Lots of races at Worthington House – Oyster Races and Fair Sept. 16 and Race on the 17th • Worthington Park’s Zinnias and other flowers are “exploding!” Cleone is offering fresh flowers • Large family wedding this past weekend had a spirited Cornhole tourney with all in attendance Brinnon & Hood Canal – Dan reported that lots is going on in Brinnon. • Camp Parson’s has expanded their season with plenty of wedding offerings. • The Sunday Market next to the Brinnon Store is popular, maybe a consideration for hosting similar at the Gateway VIC • Successful 600-700 attendees at classic car and RV show. Good fundraising for fire department • Geoduck Restaurant ongoing and expanded septic permitting continues. • Don Colemen of Pleasant Harbor Resort is expressing interest in starting construction soon • LTAC’s $29K supplemental grant has enabled Brinnon VIC to remain in operations while awaiting US Forest service openings of Quilcene Ranger station VIC. Gateway VIC – Steve reported regarding ongoing efforts on filling Bill’s “big shoes” and Gateway VIC transitions. SWT – Marsha shared that beyond the upcoming State of Washington Tourism Conference and Responsible Outdoor Travel Summit, October 24-26, Yakima. • Marketing grants and WA EV grants remain open. • Dispersing visitors to alternative recreation locations, and addressing vandalism – especially in Olympic National Park, remain top messaging priorities. Additional Opportunity for Public Comment - no public comments received. Adjournment – Diana adjourned TCC meeting at 3:49PM Next called meeting of TCC is Tuesday October 10, 2023 – 2:00 PM hybrid – in-person from Port Ludlow or via Zoom access. Respectively Submitted – Steve Shively AREA UPDATES (Cont.) PUBLIC COMMENTS ADJORN NEXT MEETING