State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission 1886 ...

1 State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission 1886 crescent hotel eureka Springs, arkansas October 15-16, 2015. commissioners Present Mike Mills, Chair Bob Knight Jim Dailey, Vice Chair Weston Lewey Bill Barnes Ness Sechrest Jay Bunyard Jim Shamburger LeRoy Dangeau Cindy Smith Danny Ford Mike Wilson John Gill Randy Wolfingbarger Shash Goyal commissioners Absent Montine McNulty Department Staff Present Richard Davies, Executive Director Greg Butts, Director, arkansas State Parks Joe David Rice, Tourism Director Ron Maxwell, Assistant Tourism Director Gloria Robins, Executive Assistant Jon Brown, Operations Manager Randy Roberson, Planning & Development Manager Kelly Farrell.

2 Program Services Manager Monika Rued, Public Information Officer Tom Stolarz, Region 1 Supervisor Marcel Hanzlik, Region 3 Supervisor Shea Lewis, Region 4 Supervisor Leah DiPietro, Communications Manager Tracy Morales, Group Travel Manager Kristine Puckett, Tourism Development Manager Tiffany Knox, Welcome Center Administrator Miranda White, Research Analyst Kris Richardson, Administrative Specialist, Parks Division Erik Holbrooks, Administrative Specialist, Tourism Division SPRTC Minutes October 15, 2015. Page 2. Aristotle Marla Johnson Laura Kirk CJRW. Shelby Woods Wayne Woods Joy Philips Brian Clark Guest Norma Sims, Harrison CVB.

3 Matt Bell, Harrison CVB. Kaylene Griffith, Bentonville CVB. William Armacost, Bentonville Welcome Center Leisha Miller, Harrison Welcome Center Kayla Hardage, Little Rock Welcome Center Mayor Butch Berry, eureka Springs Kent Butler, The Great Passion Play Damon Hanke, eureka Springs Chamber Bill Ott, eureka Springs Jodie Brown, crescent /Basin hotel Sandy Martin, NATA Tourism Association Hannah Ray, Governor's Liaison Roll Call Chair Mike Mills called the meeting to order at 8:30 am on Thursday, October 15, 2015. Gloria Robins called the roll. Approval of Agenda Jim Shamburger moved to approve the Agenda as presented.

4 Weston Lewey seconded and the motion carried. Presentation of Minutes from Previous Meeting SPRTC Minutes October 15, 2015. Page 3. Jim Dailey moved to approve the Minutes from the previous meeting. Mike Wilson seconded and the motion carried. FINANCIAL REPORT. Cynthia Dunlap presented the year-to-date financial report for the period ended September 30, 2015. The expenditures were: Parks Division, $21,134,331; including construction and grants; Tourism Division, $4,070,584; Keep arkansas Beautiful, $145,045;. Administration Division, $790,118; and History Commission , $464,408. Expenditures for the Department totaled $26,604,486 an increase of 18% over the same period FY15.

5 The year-to- date operating revenue Parks Division totaled $9,089,130 an increase of 12% over the same period FY15; 1/8% Cent Tax $7,894,100 an increase of over the same period FY15; and 2% Tax $4,638,177 an increase of 8% over the same period FY15. Ness Sechrest moved to approve the Financial Report as presented. Cindy Smith seconded and the motion carried. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT. Welcome Mayor Berry welcomed commissioners and staff to eureka Springs. Bill Featherstone with eureka Springs Parks and Recreation gave a report on the eureka Springs Trails System and their vision for growth.

6 Jack Moyer shared the vision of the eureka Springs Highlander Community Center. Governor Asa Hutchinson has already expressed his support for the mission of economic revitalization. With the eureka Springs Highlander Center, city leaders have created a redevelopment plan for the obsolete high school campus, which has sat vacant since 2012. The community center will serve as a focal point to the entrance of the eureka Springs Historic District. Entertainers Hall of Fame Ceremony Richard Davies expressed his enthusiasm for the Entertainers Hall of Fame Ceremony which was held in September.

7 A highlighted video presentation was presented to the Commission . SPRTC Minutes October 15, 2015. Page 4. 2016 Meeting Schedule The following 2016 Meeting Schedule was presented to the Commission : January 20-21 Hope/Historic Washington February 17-18 Hot Springs/Garvan Woodland Gardens March 13-15 Governor's Conference / Springdale April 20-21 Forrest City/Village Creek State park May 18-19 Murfreesboro/Crater of Diamonds State park June 15-16 Magnolia/Logoly State park July 20-21 Ozark Folk Center August 18-19 DeGray State park September 14-15 Little Rock AHA Show October 19-20 Hot Springs Village November 16-17 El Dorado Ness Sechrest moved to approve the 2016 Meeting Schedule as presented.

8 Shash Goyal seconded and the motion carried. TOURISM DIVISION. Director's Office Joe David Rice informed the Commission that the International Mountain Biking Association World Summit will take place in Bentonville in October 2016. Rice stated that there are 5 Epic Trails in arkansas . The Walton Family Foundation donated money to employ a trail crew to maintain these trails. Research The Research & Information Services Section processed 7,968 requests for Travel information during September 2015, a decrease of from September 2014. The calendar year 2015 inquiry total is 133,402, an increase of over 2014's inquiry total of 117,500.

9 Online Media accounted for of all inquiries while was traditional media. During the month of September 3,007 request for information were made through Additionally the Central Office provided verbal information to 208 callers and the 1-800-Natural call center processed 509 requests for information. SPRTC Minutes October 15, 2015. Page 5. The total number of vehicles stopping at arkansas State Welcome Centers increased compared to September 2014. The total number of visitors increased from September 2014. The ratio of travelers to vehicles saw a slight decrease with an average of visitors per vehicle in September 2015 versus visitors per vehicle in September 2014.

10 Welcome Centers Tiffany Knox stated that she had various Welcome Center employees staff the arkansas Tourism booth at the arkansas State Fair. Knox presented pictures to the Commission . Knox informed the Commission that the FAM tour took place September 21-25. Welcome Center employees traveled through the Heart of arkansas region and Greer's Ferry/Little Red River region. Knox presented pictures of the Holiday Hog costume, and her ideas of transforming him into a more child-friendly character. Tourism Development Kristine Puckett gave the Commission a brief overview of what the Festival Advertising Grants entails: Grants for festival advertising Cities/communities with population less than 10,500.