HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2011-10-25
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, October 25, 2011
Minutes of a Study Session meeting of the TOWN BOARD of the Town
of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held at Town Hall in
the Sundance and Twin Owl Rooms in said Town of Estes Park on the
25th day of October, 2011.
Board: Mayor Pinkham, Mayor Pro Tem Levine, Trustees
Blackhurst, Elrod, Ericson, Koenig and Miller
Attending: Mayor Pinkham, Mayor Pro Tem Levine, Trustees Elrod,
Ericson, Koenig and Miller
Also Attending: Deputy Town Administrator Richardson, Town Attorney
White, Director Kilsdonk and McFarland and Town Clerk
Williamson. LMD Board Members Almond, Blackman,
Lamson, Lasson, Palmeri and Webermeier and LMD
Executive Director Campbell
Absent: Town Administrator Halburnt, Trustee Blackhurst, and LMD
Board Member Wood
Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
LOCAL MARKETING DISTRICT FUNDING REQUEST.
LMD Chair Blackman stated the letter dated October 11, 2011 from the LMD to the
Town Board outlined the request for 2012 funding and consideration of a non-binding
commitment of 2.5% of sales tax revenue in future years to enable the LMD to project
future Town funding. He requested a committee consisting of 2 members from each of
the entities come together to discuss tourism funding and the roles and responsibilities
of the each Board. Without additional revenue the LMD would need to focus on
marketing accommodations which provide the funding for the district. The LMD
continues to make significant investments in developing the “intellectual capital”
required of a premier destination marketing organization in areas including research,
development of a new website, and a destination branding program.
Discussion followed amongst the members and is summarized: has the LMD looked at
stretching out the expenses over a period of years and utilizing the funds on hand;
questioned what the maximum potential of the lodging tax would be for an entire year,
i.e. potential growth of the tax in future years; the need to establish a benchmark to
determine if the marketing is bringing more visitors to the area; the county should be
paying a portion of the requested $175,000 in funding; the Town is responsible for
Town Board Study Session – October 25, 2011 – Page 2
improving infrastructure for the visitors and the LMD is responsible for bringing the
visitors to Estes Park; and $50,000 has been added to the shuttle service in support of
visitor services.
The website redevelopment and branding are multi-year projects. The LMD 2% lodging
sales tax may not be enough to accomplish the business plan established. There is a
need to stay current and competitive with regard to the website and branding in an effort
to maintain the current visitor base as well as grow the base in the future.
Trustee Koenig stated support for funding a portion of the requested $175,000 to help
the LMD continue to build the foundation of the young organization. Trustee Miller
would be supportive of financial assistance for a set number of years; however, he
would request the district become fully self-funded in the future. Mayor Pro Tem Levine
commented that short term support could be beneficial in an effort to realize additional
sales tax dollars; however, the Town would need to determine what items would not be
completed in the Town’s budget in order to support the LMD in 2012.
Staff requested direction on what would be the appropriate funding level and where the
funding would come from, i.e. a decrease in fund balance or cuts to the current budget.
The Board requested staff provide funding options. Trustee Koenig suggested the
museum storage facility funding could be reduced and the timeline for funding the
building could be extended.
Mayor Pinkham appointed Trustees Miller and Ericson to the committee to discuss
funding with the LMD Board members Palmeri and Webermeier. Deputy Town
Administrator Richardson, Finance Officer McFarland and LMD Executive Director
Campbell would also be present during the discussion.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
No additional items were added to the list.
There being no further business, Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m.
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk