HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdvisory Board Resignation TCC CK Co
OF oN y ss Board of County Commissioners
1820 Jefferson Street
PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
/SEI1r;Cs�Jy Kate Dean, Dist Het t Heidi Eisenhour, District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3
September 16, 2024
Crystie Kisler
Finnriver Farm and Cidery
124 Center Road
Chimacum, WA 98325
Dear Crystie Kisler,
We regret that you are unable to continue to serve on the Tourism Coordinating Council as the Port
Hadlock/Tri-ArealDiscovery Bay representative. The time and effort you spent participating on this
Council is sincerely appreciated.
We thank you for your contributions to the community and wish you the best in our future
endeavors.
Sincerely, )4-3
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Kate Dean, Chair, Dist. No. 1 �� 1
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Phone (360) 385-9100 jcffbocc@eo.jefferson.wa.us
Wendy Housekeeper
From: Crystie Kisler (New) <crystie@finnriver.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2024 3:42 PM
To: tcc@enjoyolympicpeninsula.com;jeffbocc; Laura Prendergast
Subject: Resignation
ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are
not expecting them.
After many years sitting on the TCC, I am submitting my resignation from the committee for personal reasons,effective
immediately 9/10/24. There may other members of the Finnriver staff who may be available to represent our sector of
the county in the future.
I'd like to express appreciation to Steve Shively for his enthusiastic, responsive and caring leadership and for being a
great champion for bringing positive exposure to Finnriver and to our county travel resources and assets overall. Thank
you Steve!
I understand this is a time of transition for TCC and I hope for a respectful and thoughtful pathway forward that includes
meaningful community engagement. As I depart this committee, I'll send a parting note about my own priority concerns
for the future of tourism and the future of our communities overall:
1. That any conversation we have about tourism or economic development of any kind should be housed within a
wide eyed understanding of climate change impacts.We should be developing an extremely high consciousness
of the impacts of travel on carbon dioxide emissions and other ecosystem impacts, and make every effort to
guide and develop conscientious and ecological travel and tourism industry behaviors.A specific example of a
climate forward initiative (that I'm aware could cause some outrage!) could be a local carbon fee assessed to
travelers(as an addition to or portion of Lodging Tax?)that supported green infrastructure and practices. Along
with the impact of travelers on our ecosystems,we need to be clear about the disruption of chaotic climate
events on our travel industry, including what happens when there's wildfire smoke shut downs, or other
obstacles to travel.
2. The county should continue to work to develop authentic relationships across local and regional demographics
to help establish a more diverse, inclusive and representational industry. In other words, how do we ensure that
the Olympic peninsula feels like a safe and welcoming place for travelers from many demographics and
communities?Could we take a cue from the farmers market that found an equity forward way to support the
boosting of BIPOC vendors?
3. I see that there's lots of use of the term "rural character" at work in how we discuss county life and economics
and in how our comprehensive plan is designed. I suggest we continue to revisit this term and seek input from a
wide variety of communities about what this means,as the realities of rural life and livelihood continue to
evolve.
4. I hear from many folks the concern that becoming a tourism destination can erode local community life for
permanent residents. I think there needs to be nuanced cost benefit analysis around tourism based economic
development and a proactive series of counter measures to retain affordability for a year-round local workforce
and working families.
S. I see lots of potential in Jefferson county for developing deeper understanding of tribal heritage here and
growing relationships with the Chimacum tribal services and the Longhouse for the People project. How can we
ensure that native stories are highlighted for travelers and that the cultural legacies are kept visible and offered
respect?
6. And finally, I'm intrigued by the idea of further developing assets that would support the quality of life for local
families and double as travel attractions. I haven't put enough thought into how a pool facility might achieve
this, but I appreciate the proposition for win-win infrastructure development as far as creating more opportunity
for local children and youth and providing services to travelers.
Again, I want to show appreciation for the team at TCC and OPTC who have done so much to boost our business and
regional visibility over the years! I absolutely absolutely feel the success of our business has been related to the on the
ground advocacy work of tourism staff to make sure that we got the media visits, the media mentions,the
familiarization tours, the marketing collaboration opportunities and all the rest...
Thank you,
Crystie Kisler
Crystie Kisler
Finnriver Farm & Cidery
Consent Agenda
Commissioners Office
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Wendy IIousekeeper,Executive Assistant
DATE: September 16,2024
SUBJECT: TOURISM COORDINATING COUNCIL RESIGNATION
re: Port HadlocldTri-Arca/Discovcry Bay; Crystic Kisler
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
On September 10, 2024, Crystie Kisler, Port Hadlock/Tri-Area/Discovery Bay representative, submitted her
letter of resignation from the Tourism Coordinating Council effective immediately, September 10, 2024.
RECOMMENDATION
Accept the Port HadlocklTri-Area/Discovery Bay representative resignation from Crystie Kisler and sign the
Thank you letter for her service.
REVIEWED BY:
Mark McCaul County Administrator Date