Town of
Provincetown
Visitor
Services Board
Meeting
Minutes of
Friday,
May 5, 2006
Judge
Welsh Meeting Room
Chairman Lynne Davies convened the meeting at 10:06 AM noting the following
attendees:
VSB members: Lynne Davies, Chairman; Peter Bez, Vice Chairman;
Kathleen Fitzgerald; Laurel Guadazno; Michael Peregon; Mick Rudd and Hersh
Schwartz.
Other attendees: Bill
Schneider, Administrative Director of Tourism; David Gardner, Administrative
Assistant II.
The
VSB held a joint meeting with the Economic Development Council.
The following EDC members were in attendance: Stephen Melamed, Chair; William Dougal; Gabrielle Hanna; Thanassi Kuliopulos and Hunter O'Hanian.
Bill Schneider conducted a
power point presentation of the Office of Tourism media plan with the following
individuals in attendance:
Judy Cicero, Provincetown
Chamber of Commerce
Candice Collins-Boden,
Provincetown Chamber of Commerce
Michelle Jarusiewicz,
Acting Assistant Town Manager
Pru Sowers, The Banner
A
discussion ensued regarding the proposed Town Fair and Chairman Davies
reinforced the goal of the VSB was to develop an event that will promote the
Town to visitors and residents alike.
Ms. Davies identified initiatives proposed by the VSB regarding
co-operative marketing grants, promotional and municipal enhancement grants to
promote private-public partnerships.
Mr.
Dougal discussed the EDC’s priority to increase exposure to the Town’s
waterfront and municipal pier. A
discussion ensued regarding the future economic development through the Cape
Cod Commission and Barnstable County partnerships with the EDC.
Ms.
Davies pointed out the importance of tourist’s receiving value, which is
lacking in Provincetown. Some of the
concerns she addressed include incentives to attract and retain businesses, an
effort to slow guesthouse conversions, and to improve the Town’s
infrastructure. Time is of the essence
to move forward with developing an action plan.
Mr.
Dougal spoke about the importance of having a collaborative approach towards
implementing a tangible solution to the issues surrounding housing and economic
development.
Ms.
Davies recommended scheduling another meeting to develop next steps to present
initiatives to the Board of Selectmen prior to the commencement of budget
process for next year.
Members
of both the EDC and VSB agreed that resources are needed to complete these
initiatives, and agreed to meet in June to develop next steps.
The VSB adjourned the joint
meeting at 11:30 am.
The VSB convened a joint meeting with the Adams Grant Packaging
Sub-committee.
Hunter O’Hanian presented an overview regarding the
packaging model and the proposed cultural coordinator position. A discussion ensued amongst members of the
VSB and the packaging sub-committee, requesting more information be gathered
and presented to the VSB once a model has been created.
The VSB adjourned the joint meeting at 12:15 pm.
Lynne Davies convened the VSB regular meeting at
12:15 pm.
MOTION: Move to approve the
minutes of the March 10, 2006 VSB meeting as written.
Motion by: Kathleen Fitzgerald; Seconded by: Laurel Guadazno; Yea:
5;
Nay: 0; Abstain: 2; MP, PB
MOTION: Move to
approve the minutes of the April 7, 2006 VSB meeting as written.
Motion by: Laurel
Guadazno; Seconded by: Kathleen Fitzgerald; Yea:
4;
Nay: 0 Abstain: 3; PB, MR, HS
MOTION: Move to
approve the minutes of the April 21,
2006 VSB meeting as written.
Motion by: Laurel
Guadazno; Seconded by: Peter Bez; Yea:
5 Nay: 0 Abstain: 2; LD, KF
The
Chamber of Commerce and Provincetown Business Guild have agreed to sponsor the
“Welcome Back to Provincetown” event for summer workers, scheduled for Sunday
evening, June 4th from 6:30 to 9:30 PM at the Pilgrim Monument. The proposed budget for this event,
including entertainment and food for 200 attendees, is $3,500, which the ADT
recommends the VSB fund from the FY06 marketing budget. This event will also provide business owners
with the opportunity to network with summer workers. Promotion of the event will include email blasts from the Chamber
and PBG as well as a joint press release and advertising in the Provincetown
Banner.
Several
members expressed concern about alcohol being served at the event. The original intent of the VSB was to fund
an event to provide information and orientation for the summer workers and not
a party. The VSB would like to send a
joint letter from the VSB, Chamber and PBG to all the business owners to remind
them to advise their seasonal workers of the importance of being good
ambassadors to the community.
MOTION: Move
to appropriate $3,500 from the FY06 Marketing Budget to fund the “Welcome Back
to Provincetown” event for summer workers on the condition that no alcohol be
served at the event.
Motion by: Michael
Peregon;
Seconded by: Mick
Rudd; Yea: 6; Nay: 1; Abstain: 0;
LG
The
ADT announced the One Day Museum Pass initiative has come to fruition. Thanks to the efforts of the Pilgrim
Monument and Provincetown Museum, Provincetown Art Association and Museum and
the Whydah Museum, the one-day pass will cost $12.00 and allow visitors full
access to all three museums. Promotion
of this value added incentive package will commence during the next few weeks,
and will be supported by the Cape and Islands Tour Guide Association, our
transportation partners and the cultural institutions. The ADT recommends the VSB authorize payment
for the design and production of the one-day museum pass from the FY06
marketing budget.
MOTION: Move to appropriate not more than
$500 from the FY06 Marketing Budget for the design and production of the
one-day museum pass.
Motion by: Kathleen Fitzgerald; Seconded
by: Hersh
Schwartz; Yea:
6;
Nay: 0 Abstain: 1
Provincetown
is a winner! Thanks to the efforts of
the Town’s Grant Administrator, the Town of Provincetown is the recipient of
complimentary brochure distribution for three months at one of Simon Mall’s
five locations in New England. The ADT
recommends the VSB approve Copley Place Mall and requests approval not to
exceed $550 from FY06 marketing funds to print 5,000 rack cards for
distribution during June, July and August.
An alternative would be printing the Calendar of Events, which would
cost approximately $900.
MOTION: Move
to appropriate not more than $550 from the FY06 Marketing Budget to print 5,000
additional rack cards for distribution in the North Shore Mall during June,
July and August 2006.
Motion by: Peter
Bez; Seconded
by: Hersh
Schwartz; Yea:
7;
Nay: 0; Abstain: 0.
The new kiosk at
MacMillan Pier has been installed and poster size copies of the Calendar of
Events have been designed and produced for display. The ADT requests approval of this expense from the FY06 marketing
budget in the amount of $150.
MOTION: Move
to appropriate not more than $150 from the FY06 Marketing Budget for the design
and print of two poster-size “2006 Calendar of Events” to be displayed at the
new kiosk on MacMillan Pier.
Motion by: Peter Bez; Seconded by: Hersh Schwartz; Yea:
7;
Nay: 0; Abstain: 0.
MOTION: Move
to direct the ADT to draft a letter to the Provincetown Public Pier Corporation
to encourage them to do all they can do to resolve the dispute regarding the
Summer Farmer’s Market.
Motion by: Michael Peregon; Seconded by: Peter Bez; Yea:
7;
Nay: 0; Abstain: 0.
Meeting was adjourned at 1:00 pm.