HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_CVB_11.09.2005TEXASEST.1848
GEORGETOWN
Convention & Visitors Bureau Board
Meeting Minutes
November 9, 2005
Present: Martha Lawlor, Ellen Weimer, Holly Bresser, R.C. Lumpkin, Margie Rant,
Gaz Green, Linda Rainsdon, Betty Ann Sensabaugh
Absent: Kent Huntsman, Bill Banks, Randy Lesseps
City Staff: Shelly Hargrove, Tourism Director
Guests: Bobby Cain, Larry McCormick
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Martha Lawlor at 6:35 p.m.
2. Minutes
Minutes from the October 5, 2005 meeting were reviewed.
A MOTION was made and seconded to approve the minutes as presented.
(Rainsdon/Ranc) Motion carried.
3. Cooperative Advertising Application
Bobby Cain of the GHS Boys Basketball Booster Club presented an application seeking
funding for the Jack Frost Invitational Basketball Tournament.
Georgetown is hosting the annual tournament that includes 24 teams. Thirteen of those
are from outside the area and will be staying in local hotels from December 1-3. The
Booster Club is requesting $2,250 to cover the cost of dinner to all participants and their
families. They expect to cater 500 meals at $4.50 per person.
C.\DOCUME-1lmarcyp LOCALS—IITengiuiixesE561SI\O-I1-RM.duc
Martha thanked Bobby for his presentation. The Board would take his proposal under
consideration and staff would get back to him with the Boards decision within the next
couple of days.
4. Project 1900 Update
Larry McCormick presented an update on the status of Project 1900:
x It appears that the trolley is no Longer a viable option. However, City Manager
Paul Brandenberg is still working on the possibility of some sort of
transportation plan that would include more of the city.
x The Artisan Park concept does seem more positive. Mary Louise Poquette
recently visited with the development team who is putting together a similar
project called Artspace in Ventura, CA. They have shared with us their
blueprints and their plan, giving us a better idea of how to move forward. Larry
has shared this information with Paul Brandenberg and Tom Yantis of the City
staff. Tom is coordinating a conference call with the Artspace people in early
2006 to explore any possibilities for working together.
The next steps include conducting a feasibility study. Artspace will conduct that
at a cost of $7,500. Larry has approached the new Arts & Culture Board for their
input but they are only now beginning to organize themselves. He would like
for our board to be the group he works through in order to go before Council.
He would like to ask the City for $4,000 of the $7,500 and would privately raise
the remaining $3,500. This would probably be ready to roll out in April or May
of 2006.
If that study tells us that this is a realistic venture, there will be the need for a
more intense, major market study. Cost for that would run approximately
$25,000. Larry suggested that it would take a minimum of 3 years to complete
the pre -development stage, including fund-raising, before any construction
could begin.
Larry is continually looking for potential sites for the Project 1900 Artisan
Village. Currently he is investigating 2200 Church Street, the grain silo property
south of the Monument Cafe, the former Georgetown Healthcare site on North
College, and the San Gabriel Motor Courts property.
Linda Rainsdon and Margie Ranc both have friends in Ventura. They will
contact them to see if they have any sense of the project in their community and
ask for their feedback.
Larry will ask for time on our January agenda to get feedback from this Board.
C:IDOCU M E— 1 lmarcypLOCALS— AIS— I \Templo W cs f 5o 1$ F105-1 I -9 it doc
5. Updates from the Board Task Forces
Reports from the individual Task Force groups are as follows:
Tourism Events 1 Consumer Marketing / Tourism Packages
Margie reported that two new packages will soon be added to the website. They are
promoting the Teambuilding/Ropes Course through the Park & Rec department.
This will be an on -going package, not tied to any specific event. The second is for
the Holiday Homes Tour.
Conference Center / External Funding
Kent was not present to share information but the Board was aware that, according
to the Williamson County Sun, the project seems to have died.
Website Review
Bill was not in attendance to give a report.
Visitors Center / Volunteers
Betty Ann reported that Cari Miller has shared that the Visitor's Center is currently
well staffed and everything is working well. The questionnaire that was distributed
at the September Volunteer luncheon did bring in some valuable information:
x The most common request is for directions
x What needs improvement: 1) signage; 2) more training on the history of
Georgetown and Williamson County
x Most were familiar with the Visitors Guide
The holiday luncheon for the volunteers will be held on Wednesday, December 7, at
the Comfort Suites. All are invited. Please contact Cari Miller at 930-3585 to let her
know if you can attend.
Shelly suggested that the December Board meeting follow the luncheon. She will e-
mail members for their availability.
Market Data / Information Services
Tourism Industry Partners/Communication
The teams are struggling to capture market data. And, since there were no lodging
partners at the last meeting, the task force will suspend the meetings until further
notice. R.C. and Kent will visit each location personally and ask the hoteliers for
their help and input.
C'.IDOCUME-11marcyp\LOCAL S-I\Temp+nul or•5. 11Fs05-I.I-9 M dnc
7. Discussion of the HOT Application
Questions were raised as to how to best measure the return on HOT funds that are
provided to local organizations. Specifically, 1) how can we determine how much tax
money is generated versus how much funding is provided; and 2) set the expectation
that funding to an organization will decrease over time. A discussion item on this will
be added to the December agenda.
Concerning the application from the GHS Boys Basketball Booster Club presented
tonight,
A MOTION was made and seconded to approve $750 for the Jack Frost
Basketball Tournament. (Lumpkin/Ranc) Motion carried.
8. Staff Report
Our next meeting will be Wednesday, December 7th, hopefully in conjunction with the
Visitors Center Volunteer luncheon. Shelly will check for board member availability
and let us know.
At 8:25 p.m. a MOTION was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting.
(Weimer/Sensabaugh) Motion carried.
Approved and attested to by:
f2 It 65
Kent Huntsman / Board Chair Date
/2 - r 2
Ellen Weimer / Board Secretary Date
C:IBXCUMI - EImarcyplLOCALS-1\Ter p;notesE56 lE3105-I 1-9 M.cuc