HomeMy WebLinkAboutTourism & Fair Committee - Minutes - 4/28/2015K:\(Tourism Committee)\2015\Meeting Materials\04-28\04 28 15 meeting min.docx
Minutes of the
TOURISM & RECREATION COMMITTEE OF THE BAYFIELD COUNTY BOARD
Tuesday, April 28, 2:00 p.m.
Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, Ashland, WI
Members Present: Bucky Jardine, Brett Rondeau, John Bennett, Rusty Williams
Members Absent: Shawn Miller
Others Present: Mary Motiff, Sue Trepanier, and Teresa Maday & Michelle Davalos, USDA Forest Service
I. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by Jardine.
II. Public Comment: none
III. Motion Regarding October 15, 2014 Meeting Minutes: Motion (Rondeau, Bennett) to approve the minutes
from the October 15, 2014 committee meeting. Motion Carried.
IV. Update on Reduced Services in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Summer 2015: After
introductions, Michelle Davalos, Washburn District Ranger for the USDA Forest Service, updated the committee on the
impact of the level on services in the county for the summer of 2015. Due to a vacancy on the RAC Council, site fees
cannot be raised to help with the maintenance costs. One suggestion was to use community service workers to help
with site maintenance. It was the consensus of the committee that Motiff write a letter to our congressional
representatives regarding the detrimental effects of the cuts on tourism, and draft a resolution to be presented to the
Executive Committee, and forwarded to the full County Board.
V. Report from Director on Economic Impact, Scenic Byway, Chamber Contacts, Other Department Goals and
Objectives:
Motiff reported on the all- time highs in the 2014 sales tax numbers and that we’re up 1% overall from this time
last year.
The state’s economic impact numbers have just been released and it looks like our neighbors received more
impact from the Ice Caves than Bayfield County, but visitor spending in Bayfield County was still up 3.75% for a
total of $4.24 million.
Motiff handed out the new bicycle maps.
Spoke at the Rotary Club on February 10.
A Regional Tourism meeting is scheduled for May 6 – more details in packet.
VI. Discussion and Possible Action on 2015 Marketing Plan: The updated marketing plan was discussed. Motiff
would like to go to a hands-on social media workshop on June 1-2 in Milwaukee. Motion (Williams, Rondeau) to allow
Motiff to attend the social media workshop in Milwaukee and to split the cost between the tourism & fair budgets.
Motion Carried. Motiff also explained the importance of facebook and Instagram to the committee. Jardine would like
her to include that in her annual report to the full county board. Motion (Rondeau, Bennett) to approve the 2015
marketing plan as presented. Motion Carried.
K:\(Tourism Committee)\2015\Meeting Materials\04-28\04 28 15 meeting min.docx
VII. Discussion and Possible Action on Potential Funding Mechanism for Marketing: Motiff proposed that a small
percentage of the sales tax be allocated to a Tourism fund that would be able to be used to help support events and
“non-events” (such as the large crowds that come to see the ice caves). A detailed policy would be developed in order to
guide the expenditures of those funds. If all of the money were not needed for event-related expenses, Motiff
suggested that it could be used for additional advertising. It was the consensus of the committee that Motiff come up
with a plan and bring to Abeles-Allison.
VIII. Future Agenda Items and Next Meeting Date: The next meeting date should be sometime in June.
IX. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 3:45pm.
Respectfully submitted by:
Sue Trepanier
Clerk III – Tourism Department