Visitor
Services Board
May
7, 2008
Judge
Welsh Hearing Room
Members present: Kathleen Fitzgerald, Michelle Haynes,
Michael
Peregon, Mick Rudd,
Rita “Hersh” Schwartz and Rob Tosner.
Members
absent: Laurel
Guadazno (excused)
Staff: Lisa
Bowden, Tourism Director
Others: David Gardner
The
meeting was called to order at
Public
Statements
There were none.
Rob Tosner said
that there was an issue about the placement of the memorial trees and after a
lengthy meeting with Barbara Rushmore, we’re back on track and the bid has been
signed. Lisa Bowden said the changes
have primarily to do with the width of the walkway.
The completion
date is still a bit iffy but work has already begun - will cease during the Memorial
Day weekend and resume after the holiday.
The following
motion was made as a recommendation to the
Motion: Move that from this point forward – there
will be no alterations, additions, or deletions to the landscape or hardscape
of the
Motion: Mick Rudd
Seconded: Hersh Schwartz Vote: 6-0-0.
Public
Library
Mick Rudd said
that the Provincetown Public Library is installing temporary landscaping which
will be a vast improvement. The library
has set up a volunteer committee and they are looking for commitments for a
hand watering schedule.
Bus Tour
Operator’s Taxi Fund
A meeting was
held with the leadership of the Cape Cod Bus Tour Guides. The Tourism Director
and the Chamber discussed a proposal with them to improve hospitality to the
tour bus drivers. In the summer the
shuttle stops at the Jerome Smith lot, allowing the drivers to easily get
downtown. Travel during the fall is
problematic after the shuttle reduces seasonal hours. It was decided to do a trial voucher system
for six weeks in the fall – mid-September to the end of October. The Chamber of
Commerce has pledged $1,000 toward the vouchers. The VSB made the following motion:
Motion: Move to authorize allocation of $1,000 (a
match of the CofC donation) from the FY 2009 Tourism Fund to pay for the Bus
Tour Operator’s Taxi Fund.
Motion: Rob Tosner Seconded: Kathleen Fitzgerald Vote: 6-0-0.
Tour bus drivers
also have a newsletter and it was thought that this would be a good place to
publicize this policy.
David Gardner
advised that a copy of the contract be put on the Board of Selectmen’s
agenda.
Motion: Move to recommend that the VSB approve a
$10,000 co-op marketing grant to the Chamber of Commerce and a $10,000 co-op
marketing grant to the
Motion: Rob Tosner Seconded: Kathleen Fitzgerald Vote: 6-0-0.
David “
The Tourism
Director proposed a kick off to the memorial paver drive in the
Rob said that he
would meet with Seamen’s Bank about the Memorial Fund, as previously discussed,
to find out how they did the
Motion: Move to table the paver issue for now.
Motion: Mick Rudd Seconded: Michael Peregon Vote: 6-0-0.
It was requested
that the next agenda contain the paver issue.
Tour Guide
Appreciation Day
Motion: Move to recommend a motion to authorize the
allocation of Tourism Funds towards the pin for the award not to exceed $50.
Motion: Mick Rudd Seconded: Kathleen Fitzgerald Vote: 4-0-0.
Packaging
The Tourism
Director presented the update to the former
Trade Show
Schedule
The Tourism
Director presented the 2009 Trade show schedule for review by the Board.
Motion: Move to recommend allocation of
funds, based on availability from the coordination and support budget line FY
2008 to pay for secretarial services to complete lead requests and database
management in the amount not to exceed $2,000.
Motion: Mick Rudd Seconded: Michael Peregon Vote: 6-0-0.
The Board had a
lengthy discussion on trade shows, schedules, and personnel/volunteer staffing.
Motion: Move to hold-off any vote on integrated
marketing of web and trade shows until we have a better plan with all the
people with whom we interact.
Motion: Michelle Haynes Seconded: Mick Rudd
Hersh said that
she felt it was important to vote on the 2009 schedule so Michelle withdrew her
motion above. After a bit more discussion, the following two motions were made:
Motion: Move to recommend approval of a contract with
Unicomm. LLC for the Adventures in Travel Trade show in Los Angeles, CA
February 14-15, 2009 in the discounted amount of $2,975 from the FY 2008
marketing budget.
Motion: Rob Tosner Seconded: Michelle Haynes Vote: 6-0-0.
Motion: Move to recommend approval of a contract with
Unicomm, LLC for the Adventures in Travel Trade show in
Motion: Rob Tosner Seconded: Michael Peregon Vote: 6-0-0.
Hersh requested
that the Chamber of Commerce and the Provincetown Business Guild attend the
next meeting of the VSB.
Ad Contracts
2009
Motion: Move to approve a contract with AMERICAN
Motion: Rob Tosner Seconded: Kathleen Fitzgerald Vote: 6-0-0.
Motion: Move to approve a contract with
Motion: Rob Tosner Seconded: Kathleen Fitzgerald Vote: 6-0-0.
Motion: Move to recommend approval of a contract with
Holiday Media – Group Travel Planner for $2,110 for a junior page and web
presence.
Motion: Rob Tosner Seconded: Kathleen Fitzgerald Vote: 6-0-0.
FOCUS
discussion
The Tourism
Director has reviewed both VNR’s and sought the opinion of an informal focus
group on the content. There are concerns
that more work needs to be done in order for the VNR’s to be considered
completely representative of
PHS Intern
Andrea Abram has
been completing an internship with the PTO compiling a list of things for teens
and young adults to do in
FOCUS
Communications
The Tourism
Director presented the report from FOCUS Communications outlining the media
contacts and FAM trip information. A copy of the report was provided in the
board’s meeting packages. The board
briefly discussed the RFP and the contract with FOCUS Communications. The Board
would like to discuss it further at the next meeting and then go right into the
sub-committees. The contract with FOCUS
expires on June 30th.
Approval of
Meeting Minutes
The meeting minutes will be presented at the next
meeting.
New Business
Rob wants to send a letter to the new Police
Chief to welcome him and maybe invite him to a meeting; he starts on May 19th. Rob is scheduled to attend a meeting for
the new summer hires.
Spiritus
Michael Peregon wondered when would be the
appropriate time to discuss the groups that gather in front of Spiritus Pizza
on
Fireworks
The Tourism Director presented the board with a
print out of the Tourism Fund History from FY 2003 to present. Kathleen
expressed concern that the override did not go through for the fireworks. This
topic will be discussed at the next meeting.
Trash
Hersh discussed barrels that have automatic
trash compactors. She’d like to have
someone research this. Rob would rather
invest in something like that instead of having the VSB pay for the 3rd
barrel pick-up.
Future Meeting Schedules:
General rule is that the meetings will take
place on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month and
will read as follows:
Month Date Date
May 20
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June 3 17
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July 1 15
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August 5 -----
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September 2 23
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October 7 21
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November 5
(11:a.m.)-Wed. 18
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December 2 16
It was thought that the Police Chief would be
asked to attend the meeting on June 3rd.
Town Hall Rehab
Michael Peregon wondered if the VSB should try
to have input on the final stage of the auditorium design since it will be a
moneymaking venture. Rob said that there
will be public forums and we can have input at that time.
Positive Spin
Rob said the Town should do more to put a more
positive spin on issues of the Town Hall renovations. As in – stress the
positive and downplay the negatives.
Possible Art Auction
Hersh is working with David Gardner on thoughts
about having an auction to get money to put back into the art fund. There may be 35 or 40 new paintings that
could bring in money.
Adjournment
at
Respectfully
submitted,
Approved by_________________________ on
_________2008
Rob Tosner, Chair