WEBVTT 00:00:02.530 --> 00:00:10.685 - Well, we could call the meeting to order. There's some items we have to vote on. And so with that, we 00:00:10.685 --> 00:00:19.079 - do have to have a quorum. One of the things you don't have to do is for a quorum is to start the reports 00:00:19.079 --> 00:00:27.154 - from Visit Bloomington and Downtown Bloomington East. So let's go ahead and we'll get started in the 00:00:27.154 --> 00:00:32.510 - interest of time and go ahead and hear some of the items that are. 00:00:34.850 --> 00:00:44.952 - Well, I take it back. What we're going to wind up doing is follow the agenda a little bit more closely, 00:00:44.952 --> 00:00:55.345 - and we'll go from there. So we're going to review the minutes. So the minutes were emailed in the packets. 00:00:55.345 --> 00:01:04.670 - So the December 9 meeting was our last meeting. I hope folks have had a chance to review those. 00:01:05.090 --> 00:01:13.231 - Just a few minutes to look through those and see if there are any corrections or questions that came 00:01:13.231 --> 00:01:15.166 - up from the last month. 00:01:54.178 --> 00:02:03.842 - on emitting minutes. And Marsha, we had a motion to approve the minutes as submitted. Is that Mr. Second? 00:02:03.842 --> 00:02:13.233 - And second? Marsha, would you move us to a roll call, please? Aye. Yes. Kirby? Yes, ma'am. Trent? Yes. 00:02:13.233 --> 00:02:23.262 - All right, next thing on our agenda is the financial report. We'll start with the innkeeper's tax collection. 00:02:24.514 --> 00:02:34.456 - receipts are listed for 2025 and the run in 2026, the first two months. This year we are running a little 00:02:34.456 --> 00:02:44.023 - ahead of where we were in the first two months, but that does have to do a little bit with the timing 00:02:44.023 --> 00:02:51.902 - of when the business was reported. As you remember back in April the county adopted 00:02:54.242 --> 00:03:03.121 - disbursement calendar and so there were no dispersants in the month of April and so everything now is 00:03:03.121 --> 00:03:12.348 - one month back from what it might have been last year. So you're looking at what you're seeing in January 00:03:12.348 --> 00:03:21.662 - that typically match up with the December receipts and then February would match up last year with January 00:03:24.002 --> 00:03:32.958 - looking at the $111,958 that's collected in February. That should really go against the January numbers 00:03:32.958 --> 00:03:41.742 - from last year. Just to look at an apples-to-apples comparison, one reason that looking at that while 00:03:41.742 --> 00:03:43.550 - we're behind in that 00:03:54.594 --> 00:04:01.656 - Reynolds didn't report before the month, is that right? Did not come in during that month. Those are 00:04:01.656 --> 00:04:08.647 - both land in the next month's tax collection, so it will be reflected in March. Once we get to May, 00:04:08.647 --> 00:04:15.709 - our May receipts should be the same year over year. It would be much easier to read as far as what's 00:04:15.709 --> 00:04:22.910 - going on. Pacing, honestly. Until then, we get to have this little conversation every time on where we 00:04:24.482 --> 00:04:31.412 - said though, if you move to the financial reports, there's December, January and February end of the 00:04:31.412 --> 00:04:38.274 - month and we spend time on February unless there is questions in the month of December and January. 00:04:38.274 --> 00:04:45.410 - We did make our fourth quarter allocations in both of those months. You can see those reflected in both 00:04:45.410 --> 00:04:52.546 - January. Most of those were in January. As we're looking at the end of the month in February, just some 00:04:52.546 --> 00:04:53.918 - things to call out. 00:04:57.826 --> 00:05:08.075 - general fund balance is $4,753,569.02 is where the current fund balance sits. You would also notice 00:05:08.075 --> 00:05:19.041 - in the month of February that we did add a line item in general expense for the completion of the downtown 00:05:19.041 --> 00:05:23.550 - visitor center and the funding we approved. 00:05:27.298 --> 00:05:40.034 - summary in that general category up at the top. And then our capital improvement fund or carryover balance 00:05:40.034 --> 00:05:51.937 - started at $182,000 and some change to the current fund balance sits at $190,583.05 and that is for 00:05:51.937 --> 00:05:53.246 - unexpected 00:05:55.490 --> 00:06:04.414 - mostly towards buildings as this building continues to age. And then also for the other buildings which we 00:06:36.866 --> 00:06:44.577 - on the financial statement, either the innkeeper's tax collection or where a fund balance sits, the 00:06:44.577 --> 00:06:45.502 - new budget. 00:07:07.906 --> 00:07:16.248 - We have a motion and a second for the financial report to move us to a roll call vote, please. Aye. 00:07:16.248 --> 00:07:24.841 - Yes. Kirby? Frank? Yes. All right. And so now, we have the supporting team report. Mike? Would you and 00:07:24.841 --> 00:07:33.434 - your team tell us what's going on? Long awaited, you built up the suspense. I did, and we both talked, 00:07:33.434 --> 00:07:37.438 - and then I had to shut them down. Thanks, Mike. 00:07:38.594 --> 00:07:46.083 - the tax collection thing and all that is, the roller coaster that is really fascinating, or I don't 00:07:46.083 --> 00:07:53.646 - know if fascinating is even the right word, but it's interesting, that's for sure. Just to give you, 00:07:53.646 --> 00:08:01.359 - January, just talking about hotels and market-wide, the Smith Report January 2026 report shows revenue 00:08:01.359 --> 00:08:06.302 - up 6%, demand up 2% over January 2025. I don't have the February, 00:08:06.434 --> 00:08:13.395 - month or yet I won't have that until probably probably next week usually comes about middle of the month 00:08:13.395 --> 00:08:20.423 - but I get my weekly and I can go back and look at the last 28 days so I can see that February is probably 00:08:20.423 --> 00:08:27.053 - going to come in about 3% down in revenue if that's helpful to you as far as short-term rentals are 00:08:27.053 --> 00:08:33.086 - concerned I don't know what's going on I think I think probably certainly the cold weather 00:08:33.314 --> 00:08:42.326 - impacted that as we've discussed on a lot of a lot of things but January 2026 short-term rental revenue 00:08:42.326 --> 00:08:51.684 - is down 18% versus January 2025 list available listings were down 2% and February 26 I do have the February 00:08:51.684 --> 00:09:01.822 - report that was down 31% in revenue and their listings were down 6% I do think that and when I say listings are down 00:09:02.402 --> 00:09:08.834 - a few percentage points that's in January and February are always the lower one, you know, the smaller 00:09:08.834 --> 00:09:15.516 - ones. There's about somewhere between five and 600 listings available in the market. So when I say they're 00:09:15.516 --> 00:09:21.824 - down, they're down 10 units or something like that. And it probably does have to do with the weather 00:09:21.824 --> 00:09:28.131 - of those owners taking them on and off the market. But I do feel that the last few months we've seen 00:09:28.131 --> 00:09:32.190 - a little bit of decline versus 24 and 25 numbers in some of the, 00:09:32.482 --> 00:09:39.134 - units available, even with the football season, I feel like it is going to continue to start to level 00:09:39.134 --> 00:09:46.242 - out. So hopefully, because we've had this conversation, I feel there's too many in the market, and sometimes 00:09:46.242 --> 00:09:52.763 - it's just not healthy sometimes. But instead of having 1,000 units available, we would certainly be 00:09:52.763 --> 00:09:59.806 - better off with 500 and things like that. I do know that the mayor's office, it is still on their agenda to 00:10:00.514 --> 00:10:07.694 - take a closer look at the regulation of short-term rentals sometime this year. I don't know what that 00:10:07.694 --> 00:10:14.733 - means. We do know that no matter what, all of the existing ones would be grandfathered in. So we'll 00:10:14.733 --> 00:10:21.842 - keep an eye on that. I'll keep updating you with things I think I might know. Convention sales-wise, 00:10:21.842 --> 00:10:26.206 - I'm not going to, I know Tulisha's gonna give a report on the 00:10:26.882 --> 00:10:31.839 - Monroe Convention Center, the Bloomington Convention Center, stuff of what they're doing. Obviously, 00:10:31.839 --> 00:10:36.746 - our things cross over. A lot of things she talks about are generated from leads from us, but she'll 00:10:36.746 --> 00:10:41.752 - be talking about that. I'm going to tell you mostly about some bigger new leads that she may not even 00:10:41.752 --> 00:10:46.758 - know about yet, but a couple of non-Bloomington Convention Center things coming up. We're hosting the 00:10:46.758 --> 00:10:50.782 - Indiana Economic Development Association at The Graduate on April 30th and May 1. 00:10:51.202 --> 00:10:56.499 - Not a big event, it's 50 attendees, 80 room nights over two days, but it is a pretty lucrative group 00:10:56.499 --> 00:11:01.744 - to have here in the community on the Economic Development Association, so we're happy to have that. 00:11:01.744 --> 00:11:07.146 - Hoosier Energy is at the home too on June, and I'm talking about events that are happening between now 00:11:07.146 --> 00:11:12.391 - and the next time we meet, so I'm not gonna get in beyond that, but I'm not sure when we're meeting 00:11:12.391 --> 00:11:17.374 - in June, but in late June, Hoosier Energy is meeting at the home too, 70 room nights for that. 00:11:17.762 --> 00:11:24.409 - A couple of bigger leads, like I said, I'm not gonna report on. Sean has generated eight leads so far 00:11:24.409 --> 00:11:30.599 - this year. He was just at the RC, the Religious Conference Management Association in Lexington 00:11:30.599 --> 00:11:37.311 - in mid-February. Brought back a couple of smaller church-related group leads for that. But the big one 00:11:37.311 --> 00:11:44.414 - that we're working on right now is for the American College Theater Festival, region three, in January 2027. 00:11:45.570 --> 00:11:51.642 - 3,000 attendees, 1,470 room nights in the first week of January. So that's a big one. And we don't know 00:11:51.642 --> 00:11:57.481 - their meeting space needs. We'll be getting with you on that. We just got that leak, but we'll talk 00:11:57.481 --> 00:12:03.378 - to them about that. I mean, that's what it's all about. That's what we want. Again, trade show wise, 00:12:03.378 --> 00:12:09.275 - we've got a full gamut of those for the year. He'll be heading out to the Connect Spring Marketplace 00:12:09.275 --> 00:12:14.238 - in Louisville. He's doing the association track, again, before we get back together. 00:12:14.338 --> 00:12:20.883 - We'll be at the Fraternity Executives Association in Louisville as well in late May, and the Indiana 00:12:20.883 --> 00:12:27.429 - Society of Association Executives in Muncie, Indiana in June. Marketing-wise, again, if you read any 00:12:27.429 --> 00:12:34.298 - of the emails that I've sent you lately, a partner e-news with, I kind of define all the marketing things 00:12:34.298 --> 00:12:41.232 - that we're doing, our most aggressive convention marketing effort ever, obviously because of the expansion 00:12:41.232 --> 00:12:42.334 - that's going on. 00:12:42.690 --> 00:12:49.375 - The Hard Hat video, just a ton of stuff we're doing with small market meetings, Midwest meetings, Inside 00:12:49.375 --> 00:12:55.742 - Indiana Business, Smart Meetings, Meeting Planner International, those types of groups. We've got a 00:12:55.742 --> 00:13:02.109 - large sponsorship with the American Society of Association Executive Conference that's happening in 00:13:02.109 --> 00:13:08.030 - Indianapolis later this summer. There's gonna be a bunch of Indiana groups working together. 00:13:08.482 --> 00:13:15.418 - We should walk away from that with some good large leads for the new center at that time. But obviously, 00:13:15.418 --> 00:13:22.024 - other stuff with, you know, there's several of them in there that were sponsorships and things that 00:13:22.024 --> 00:13:28.762 - we're working on. We will start advertising for our second convention center sales representative job 00:13:28.762 --> 00:13:35.632 - next week. And we'll go live with that, doing various places that will be advertising that. And we hope 00:13:35.632 --> 00:13:38.142 - to have that job filled early summer. 00:13:38.242 --> 00:13:44.644 - You know, the role of that person is going to be prospecting for large groups, large groups for this 00:13:44.644 --> 00:13:51.235 - building midweek when it opens and working closely with Sean and Laura and myself and on the road every 00:13:51.235 --> 00:13:57.700 - week in Indianapolis, going to other convention centers, seeing groups that they're hosting and stuff 00:13:57.700 --> 00:14:04.546 - like that. So again, it'll probably take us a few weeks to a month to fill that position and I'll certainly 00:14:04.546 --> 00:14:08.222 - be talking to the both of you before we get down to that. 00:14:08.674 --> 00:14:15.876 - decision making on that. We're keeping abreast of good candidates and things like that. Sports sales, 00:14:15.876 --> 00:14:23.149 - state basketball championships happening this weekend, 70 teams in town at Twin Lakes, 400 to 500 room 00:14:23.149 --> 00:14:30.916 - nights. We've got a seven on seven flag football at Karst in late June, 200 room nights. We were disappointed 00:14:30.916 --> 00:14:37.694 - that La Crosse America canceled their event that was scheduled for the fall due to budget cuts. 00:14:38.114 --> 00:14:46.537 - We tried to talk to them about how could we help you with that, but it was more about personnel, using 00:14:46.537 --> 00:14:54.878 - some personnel and keeping those events closer to home. But we're helping IU on 2027 Big Ten Swimming 00:14:54.878 --> 00:15:01.502 - and Diving. This is a USA weightlifting proposal. I'm happy to pass this around. 00:15:01.666 --> 00:15:09.630 - want to take a look at our proposal that we submitted them working closely with with Talisha again this 00:15:09.630 --> 00:15:17.670 - is we're talking about a thousand athletes for seven to ten days in June again in this in the new center 00:15:17.670 --> 00:15:25.633 - they were interested in it they're interested in a two-year deal 27 and 28 now now both buildings won't 00:15:25.633 --> 00:15:26.782 - be ready in 27 00:15:27.810 --> 00:15:33.716 - And so we've already been talking to them about how we'd much rather host 28 and 29. We're not sure 00:15:33.716 --> 00:15:39.741 - if they're open to that idea. But they're talking to us. They're very happy with what they're hearing 00:15:39.741 --> 00:15:45.765 - from us. We've got Team Indiana, the state grant has already OKed $40,000 for us to help produce this 00:15:45.765 --> 00:15:51.967 - event, which is great. It'll help offset some meeting space needs and things like that. So again, that's 00:15:51.967 --> 00:15:56.574 - a big one. We're going to get something from them. We're just not quite sure. 00:15:56.706 --> 00:16:05.585 - when and what size it will be. And then, just as kind of a fun thing to share, very much a long shot 00:16:05.585 --> 00:16:14.728 - possibility, but we did have a meeting this morning with Indiana University Athletics, their operations 00:16:14.728 --> 00:16:24.222 - group about hosting a Savannah Bananas baseball weekend in the summer of 2027, which, I mean, if you're all 00:16:24.514 --> 00:16:30.892 - hearing anything about that, that's a big deal. They're pretty confident they would sell out. And this 00:16:30.892 --> 00:16:37.209 - is in Memorial Stadium, so you're turning it into a baseball field. Obviously it's sick and let us do 00:16:37.209 --> 00:16:43.464 - that, things like that. They're undergoing, they're renovating the stadium in 27, not the field, but 00:16:43.464 --> 00:16:50.214 - press box, loading docks, some seats and things like that. But it's great, athletics is very much interested 00:16:50.214 --> 00:16:53.310 - in knowing more and really seriously weighing it. 00:16:53.762 --> 00:17:00.460 - And at the very least, if they're not ready to do it in 27, we could talk to them about a future year 00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:07.093 - 28 or 29. I mean, there's a lot to do with artificial turf and putting in the field and how that all 00:17:07.093 --> 00:17:13.857 - weighs out. But again, it's nice to be seriously considered for that and make it the whole thing about 00:17:13.857 --> 00:17:20.030 - summer in Bloomington and trying to bring in events and things like that. So that's exciting. 00:17:21.186 --> 00:17:28.489 - He's got five or six trade shows on his schedule as well. USA Weightlifting is going out to their national 00:17:28.489 --> 00:17:35.315 - conference in June in Colorado Springs. On the leisure front, we launched the coffee trail in early 00:17:35.315 --> 00:17:42.141 - February. We're launching the burger trail next week. All of our digital marketing, social, Google, 00:17:42.141 --> 00:17:46.782 - Microsoft is running right now. We've got some print stuff as well. 00:17:47.202 --> 00:17:53.974 - We're getting ready to launch. We just produced some radio and podcast advertisements. They're awesome, 00:17:53.974 --> 00:18:00.877 - by the way. I can't wait for you to hear them. And we're going to be launching a national, well, probably 00:18:00.877 --> 00:18:07.454 - more of a Midwest five or six state podcast and radio stuff with this awareness for Bloomington as a 00:18:07.682 --> 00:18:14.999 - as a summertime travel destination, as just a travel destination in the future. A lot of it playing 00:18:14.999 --> 00:18:22.608 - off of we're a football town now and having fun with that. They're gonna be good. Just to let everybody 00:18:22.608 --> 00:18:29.998 - know to get on your calendar, Grand Balloon is hosting concerts in Switchart Park on June 20th, July 00:18:29.998 --> 00:18:37.534 - 18th and August 29th. The university is investing major bucks behind this for getting national talent. 00:18:37.762 --> 00:18:43.872 - Again, trying to invest in Bloomington during the summer for students to stay here, for community members. 00:18:43.872 --> 00:18:49.811 - And we're thrilled that they're asking us to be at the table as far as recruiting visitors to be a part 00:18:49.811 --> 00:18:55.921 - of that. So we'll see how that works out. But that's all a part of Grand Balloon. There won't be a concert 00:18:55.921 --> 00:19:02.031 - on Kirkwood this summer, but they will be doing different parts of Grand Balloon throughout the community. 00:19:02.031 --> 00:19:06.142 - But it really starts here in April and runs all the way through August. 00:19:06.402 --> 00:19:16.139 - The August 29th concert is all about getting students out there for that. Our event support program, 00:19:16.139 --> 00:19:25.972 - that's where again we give destination marketing dollars to groups like the Candy Strike Classic that 00:19:25.972 --> 00:19:35.902 - was here over the weekend, Constellation Stage in Green, the Heritage Quilt Show, Hoosier Country Gym. 00:19:36.034 --> 00:19:42.768 - things like that. We funded 12 of those about $23,000 in. We're doing it in three paper in three periods 00:19:42.768 --> 00:19:49.180 - this year, all based upon when we need the visitation. So January 1 through March 31st we funded 12 00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:55.786 - events for the second period starts after graduation May 11th through August 15th up to move in. We've 00:19:55.786 --> 00:20:02.199 - already got eight approved. Jordan just talked to me about three more this morning that applied for 00:20:02.199 --> 00:20:05.918 - that for that pool of money. And then the third period is 00:20:06.050 --> 00:20:12.296 - note is right after football like whatever mid-November through December 31st. That period doesn't open 00:20:12.296 --> 00:20:18.602 - until six months prior so like in June we could start applying for those. But up to $2,000 you can apply 00:20:18.602 --> 00:20:24.848 - for. You can use $500 to help produce your events or to pay for talent or whatever you need. And $1,500 00:20:24.848 --> 00:20:30.854 - that it has to be used on destination marketing outside in that kind of area. That report to us all 00:20:30.854 --> 00:20:35.358 - the results and who came and all that type of stuff as we've as we've done 00:20:35.586 --> 00:20:42.900 - different variations of that program in the past. Travel media, our travel media program is going well. 00:20:42.900 --> 00:20:49.441 - We have had a bunch of success lately, scored a great article in Travel and Leisure Magazine 00:20:49.441 --> 00:20:56.755 - about Bloomington college town destination, Midwest living, same thing. I just shared one this morning, 00:20:56.755 --> 00:21:04.350 - Parade Magazine just ran a featured article on museums in Bloomington featuring the Eskenazi Museum of Art, 00:21:04.962 --> 00:21:12.519 - Millions of people will see that. We're really proud of that one. A ton of stuff going on. We're pitching 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:19.648 - cooking classes. There's several places in town that offer cooking classes. The one downtown in the 00:21:19.648 --> 00:21:26.207 - kitchen is one that we're working with closely on that. Like I said, the world-class museum 00:21:26.207 --> 00:21:33.479 - scene. Bloomington on a budget is another pitch we're doing. We're getting ready to roll out pitching 00:21:33.479 --> 00:21:34.334 - Little 500. 00:21:34.882 --> 00:21:45.609 - Obviously, America 250, with the 250th anniversary this summer. I'm almost done, Mike. I do want to 00:21:45.609 --> 00:21:56.979 - point to this group, though. I think, you know what is disappointing, though? We just scored this article 00:21:56.979 --> 00:22:04.702 - featuring the Eskenazi Museum of Art, but it isn't even open next week. 00:22:05.026 --> 00:22:11.978 - they close it for spring break. So I think that attitude has to change about like, it's not about academics, 00:22:11.978 --> 00:22:18.547 - all about academics. It's about the community and tourism and visitors and shouldn't be, I'm not being 00:22:18.547 --> 00:22:25.244 - critical. I get it. That's one of the operating and there's thoughts going to that, but where this group 00:22:25.244 --> 00:22:31.686 - comes from, I think we should be talking about being open during spring break and working with us on 00:22:31.686 --> 00:22:33.982 - that. So something to keep in mind. 00:22:34.114 --> 00:22:41.495 - I did just get a meeting request from Commissioner Thomas for the next meeting for Quarry and the Uplands. 00:22:41.495 --> 00:22:48.600 - The Upland Quarry Park that the county is looking at at 69 and 46. So that's good that they're getting 00:22:48.600 --> 00:22:55.705 - ready to talk about that again. A couple things. Visitor Center as Mike talked about. Lease is signed. 00:22:55.705 --> 00:23:01.982 - Design build contract is signed. We're in the process of the design build. February March. 00:23:02.114 --> 00:23:08.416 - We're working on that. April, May, construction drawings. June, we'll finalize pricing, the building 00:23:08.416 --> 00:23:14.781 - permit, all the construction stuff, and hopefully start construction in July and be done in December. 00:23:14.781 --> 00:23:21.582 - And we could be in a new visitor center by the end of the year. Working with a company on our next strategic 00:23:21.582 --> 00:23:27.947 - plan. Our current one expired at the end of 2025, but I wanted to wait and kind of see what was going 00:23:27.947 --> 00:23:29.694 - on with the visitor center. 00:23:29.890 --> 00:23:36.745 - So we're talking about our next one. I guess we're going to call it a 26.5 through 29 strategic plan, 00:23:36.745 --> 00:23:43.466 - but you'll be involved in that process as well. We're getting ready to paint and redo all of the 14 00:23:43.466 --> 00:23:50.253 - downtown kiosks. We're going to repaint them the same green, put all new art and stuff on them, have 00:23:50.253 --> 00:23:56.974 - that stuff up and ready before graduation week. And I did get the latest economic, tourism economic 00:23:56.974 --> 00:23:57.982 - impact report. 00:23:58.658 --> 00:24:05.053 - It was for 2024, and it's hard for me to go back and think about 2024. I will say that total visitor 00:24:05.053 --> 00:24:11.384 - spend, and I know I've emailed you all about this and sent you the link to it. It's on our website. 00:24:11.384 --> 00:24:17.715 - You can find it. I'm happy to send it to you again. Total visitor spending was down a little bit in 00:24:17.715 --> 00:24:24.046 - 2024 versus 2023. 2023 was the record year. We were at 509 million. It did go down to 498 for 2024. 00:24:24.046 --> 00:24:25.566 - I think that's due too. 00:24:25.890 --> 00:24:32.973 - The record here in 2023 we were still seeing a bunch of code. Revenge travel going on in 2024. Certainly 00:24:32.973 --> 00:24:39.853 - there were a few fewer visitors here. People were spending less per person per visitor and stuff like 00:24:39.853 --> 00:24:45.182 - that. But the overall tourism gross domestic product in Bloomington, which is. 00:24:45.378 --> 00:24:53.188 - you know, the direct expenditures in our industry were up versus 2023. So that's a good sign. You know, 00:24:53.188 --> 00:25:01.448 - all in all, lodging was the category that was up in 2024, while food and beverage, shopping and entertainment 00:25:01.448 --> 00:25:09.183 - were a little bit down versus 2023. I think it reflected the food and beverage tax collection. So it's 00:25:09.183 --> 00:25:10.910 - a few surprises. Yeah. 00:25:11.330 --> 00:25:17.272 - I did talk, there is a, I'm having a webinar with the company that did that on Thursday of this week 00:25:17.272 --> 00:25:23.331 - to ask some more specific questions. I mean, food and beverage obviously is collected by everybody and 00:25:23.331 --> 00:25:29.214 - the large percentage of that are locals. So this is a tour, this is a visitor economic impact. So I 00:25:29.214 --> 00:25:35.215 - think that's a part of it as well. But you know, I want to ask the question. I don't exactly know how 00:25:35.215 --> 00:25:38.686 - they measure short-term rental business because, you know, 00:25:40.098 --> 00:25:47.957 - How do they see that? I want to hear more about that because obviously ours has been exploding, but 00:25:47.957 --> 00:25:55.816 - I'm happy to answer your questions, but I have good stuff going on. In your economic impact report, 00:25:55.816 --> 00:26:03.910 - that is on visitwilliamson.com. That's on visitwilliamson.com on the impact page. I'll definitely send 00:26:03.910 --> 00:26:09.726 - you all a link to it. Send some of the partner newsletter that I sent out 00:26:10.242 --> 00:26:15.961 - I think I'd send it to you earlier and ask you a question about what you thought about getting here 00:26:15.961 --> 00:26:21.851 - and put on it. But I'll be sure to send it to this group again. That's great. Thank you very much. Any 00:26:21.851 --> 00:26:27.570 - thoughts or questions? Can I add? Oh, sure. Yes. We just came off a very successful idea in the air 00:26:27.570 --> 00:26:33.403 - school show. And then last Saturday, I can't think of the mention center staff enough for their help. 00:26:33.403 --> 00:26:39.408 - They're always wonderful to work with. And they're, anytime anything might slightly go wrong. So there's 00:26:39.408 --> 00:26:40.094 - 23 members. 00:26:40.418 --> 00:26:47.038 - We're excited to see what next year brings into the space. The sky is the limit there. It's kind of 00:26:47.038 --> 00:26:53.790 - scary in a way, because we are so used to what we can do here. So I've already had conversations with 00:26:53.790 --> 00:27:00.410 - Lisa, and she's like, I've been thinking. That's awesome. I just want to thank you all. Attendance, 00:27:00.410 --> 00:27:07.096 - I think, was down a little bit, especially on Saturday, which is usually our busiest day, because it 00:27:07.096 --> 00:27:09.214 - just poured like cats and dogs. 00:27:11.138 --> 00:27:30.263 - to have a roof. Any questions for Laura or for Mike with the Bovington team? It's a fantastic lot of 00:27:30.263 --> 00:27:38.974 - stuff. Okay, lots of stuff going on here too. 00:27:48.610 --> 00:27:55.979 - Okay, well, your top sheet, well, first of all, visibility is fabulous as well. It's been fun working 00:27:55.979 --> 00:28:03.420 - on that. And all the ladies go downtown and do their shopping and go to lunch and give their umbrellas 00:28:03.420 --> 00:28:10.644 - to get to where they're going. And several of the stores mentioned that they've seen people in this 00:28:10.644 --> 00:28:18.302 - store over the weekend. So that's that value of tourism and support for the overall community. I am super 00:28:19.554 --> 00:28:27.940 - and this. These were all the ARCA funds. We are done next week with the lights upstairs. And this has 00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:36.736 - been a three-year labor of love investing in this building, which has also helped ease some of the capital 00:28:36.736 --> 00:28:45.204 - here. So this is just a list of the items that have been done. And I'm super excited about that, which 00:28:45.204 --> 00:28:49.150 - are working out well. Then Jean is out of town. 00:28:49.666 --> 00:28:58.370 - this week, but I wanted to share her report as well. 63 events in January, February, and some of those 00:28:58.370 --> 00:29:07.328 - events, the Cudger Hills Food Bank simple was here with 800 people. They sell out tickets within a couple 00:29:07.328 --> 00:29:16.540 - of days. 100 Cooks Who Care, a huge donation to different local nonprofits. We had the Indiana Environmental 00:29:16.540 --> 00:29:19.582 - Resilience Institute here, and they 00:29:19.714 --> 00:29:26.864 - love coming to Wilmington, just because we exude sustainability all over town in a variety of ways. 00:29:26.864 --> 00:29:34.229 - So they really look to Wilmington as the leader in that. But other events through extension, there are 00:29:34.229 --> 00:29:41.593 - four agricultural related events this year, which I find very interesting, the things that the farmers 00:29:41.593 --> 00:29:48.958 - are going through, the topics that they're needing to discuss now with different soybeans and tariffs. 00:29:49.858 --> 00:29:57.127 - found that interesting. It's the first time we've had that many on that topic. Council for Exception 00:29:57.127 --> 00:30:04.540 - of Children, a state conference. Kiwanis District Conference is coming up next weekend, and a behavior 00:30:04.540 --> 00:30:12.024 - conference, 300 people for two days in March. Then Petty Home is having a conference in April, and it's 00:30:12.024 --> 00:30:17.278 - going to be a regional event that they're bringing in some top speakers. 00:30:17.826 --> 00:30:26.343 - So that'll be interesting. Cook Medical, Oval Supplier Meeting, Indiana Geographic Information Council. 00:30:26.343 --> 00:30:35.025 - This group comes every year. It brings a significant number of people. IU, Early Intervention Conferences 00:30:35.025 --> 00:30:43.460 - for Children, Education, Computer Science Teachers. So IU School of Medicine, the Purdue Extension for 00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:46.654 - H3C, and so some really land reference 00:30:48.322 --> 00:30:54.841 - topic and new events this year that are new conferences. Thank you for coming to your teams on stuff. 00:30:54.841 --> 00:31:01.233 - You did a great job selling things and working with Gene. So we're excited about that calendar. And 00:31:01.233 --> 00:31:07.816 - then on the back for 27, we have events that are booked and conferences that are booked. And so events 00:31:07.816 --> 00:31:14.336 - from here, this will be closed January through June in this building. So we'll push those events over 00:31:14.336 --> 00:31:15.614 - to the new building 00:31:16.130 --> 00:31:23.721 - Some of those ones that sell out immediately are pretty excited about that. So Farm Bureau in February 00:31:23.721 --> 00:31:31.165 - in a tourism association conference is gonna be good to have them here and see the new building. And 00:31:31.165 --> 00:31:38.535 - I think the best part about this is they're doing it sight unseen. They're doing it from trust from 00:31:38.535 --> 00:31:45.758 - different staff as well as renderings and what the space is. Indiana Emergency Nurses Association 00:31:45.954 --> 00:31:52.967 - good one, I think, and the Association of Community Corrections. And you had a dental association, 600 00:31:52.967 --> 00:31:59.913 - people for four days. So I think this is a great thing. And there's something about every month. It's 00:31:59.913 --> 00:32:07.062 - like a significant conference opening next year. So what we're finding with that is some of these larger 00:32:07.062 --> 00:32:13.054 - groups, they're just kind of at next level in the conversations that we have with them. 00:32:13.954 --> 00:32:20.803 - have third party meeting planners, and so a little pushback in some of our policies that we have now. 00:32:20.803 --> 00:32:27.652 - Nothing that we haven't been able to overcome, but it's just, we can already tell there are different 00:32:27.652 --> 00:32:34.501 - conversations with sports teams, and one's a music series that's interested, and it's different using 00:32:34.501 --> 00:32:41.215 - the building different and different leads, and so that's been pretty interesting. So we've revised 00:32:41.215 --> 00:32:42.558 - some of our service 00:32:44.290 --> 00:32:52.238 - And so, but we've been able to work with everybody at this point. The other things with the expansion, 00:32:52.238 --> 00:33:00.185 - we're working with the Capital Improvement Board. They're on track for January 8th, construction being 00:33:00.185 --> 00:33:08.596 - completed. And of course, we'd have to get all our occupancy permits so that our Homeland Security personnel 00:33:08.596 --> 00:33:13.534 - needs to be on speed dial whenever it's time for those permits. 00:33:15.042 --> 00:33:23.431 - Starting to look at equipment and equipment purchases. They've got a pretty good budget for doing that. 00:33:23.431 --> 00:33:26.174 - So stages, dance floors, also IT. 00:33:44.578 --> 00:33:51.755 - Let's see, oh, we have hired a maintenance staff member, which I'm pretty excited about that. We were 00:33:51.755 --> 00:33:59.002 - going to do that the first quarter of this year, and has already proved to be invaluable, just walking 00:33:59.002 --> 00:34:06.108 - around fixing things and handling different pump up emergencies that Pat would have to deal with, or 00:34:06.108 --> 00:34:13.566 - I'd have to spend my whole day dealing with. So I'm pretty excited about that. So his name's Sean Porter. 00:34:14.338 --> 00:34:23.163 - extensive fixes ability, so that's really pretty exciting. Then, Jean's tweaking the marketing plan 00:34:23.163 --> 00:34:32.605 - some, just adding more relevant venue comparisons and really setting people up at those kind of facilities 00:34:32.605 --> 00:34:41.783 - to see what they're saying, how they're saying it, what they're offering. So she's working through that 00:34:41.783 --> 00:34:44.254 - with different sponsorships 00:34:44.514 --> 00:34:54.318 - what would make sense now that we're going to that next level and how we need to do those types of incentives 00:34:54.318 --> 00:35:03.766 - for groups to get here. We are using that, if you look from 27, if you have a certain number of overnight 00:35:03.766 --> 00:35:11.966 - loans and then 28. So I think that's been really instrumental in getting these groups here. 00:35:17.154 --> 00:35:37.834 - Other organizations to belong to and make sure you get a mortgage to someone International Life Events 00:35:37.834 --> 00:35:47.070 - Association that's planners and computers and 00:35:48.386 --> 00:35:57.200 - So we're interested in that funding and that monetization. I do have a HFI for a packet of investment. 00:35:57.200 --> 00:36:05.842 - Now that we're through these market funds. Is that one of the claims? It's not a claim, but I wanted 00:36:05.842 --> 00:36:14.399 - to get it on your radar. It'll take four months, five months to possibly get it in. But the kitchen 00:36:14.399 --> 00:36:17.822 - air conditioning unit is now officially 00:36:18.690 --> 00:36:28.371 - So it's the only unit that feeds the kitchen. And it's because it's in an odd location. It's on the 00:36:28.371 --> 00:36:29.726 - second floor. 00:36:48.482 --> 00:37:09.854 - I think that's all. Does anybody have any questions? Any questions or comments for the publisher? 00:37:17.922 --> 00:37:26.564 - that's done in operation with the sales team. Oh, yes. And we're seeing the same things and using the 00:37:26.564 --> 00:37:35.121 - same data. And so we can most effectively work in this facility. Yeah, I think Sean would agree. The 00:37:35.121 --> 00:37:44.186 - other thing, really, as we're talking about this marketing plan, is how transportation and housing between 00:37:44.186 --> 00:37:45.118 - facilities 00:38:20.418 --> 00:38:31.096 - I think if Dan Burton would drive a van from hotel to hotel and pick people up. The jam van, 00:38:31.096 --> 00:38:42.923 - the jam van. We have talked about just stuff like that. We will, I will say, we never allow it because 00:38:42.923 --> 00:38:46.942 - we wouldn't get somebody to drive. 00:38:51.522 --> 00:38:59.041 - This facility is a different scale than what we're talking about in those larger facilities. If we're 00:38:59.041 --> 00:39:06.929 - just building what we've always done, then that was a big error in building that thing. When we're talking 00:39:06.929 --> 00:39:14.521 - about larger groups, larger functions, and so the infrastructure, that also has to scale as well, too. 00:39:14.521 --> 00:39:17.470 - So as you're thinking about the market, 00:39:22.530 --> 00:39:29.742 - at least for the next few years, we've got to figure out how are the people in this community and not 00:39:29.742 --> 00:39:30.590 - just happy. 00:39:52.226 --> 00:40:00.469 - Well, and he's already wanting to get over and look at the new space and there have been questions on 00:40:00.469 --> 00:40:08.631 - the outside. So it's been nice to have contractors that have worked in this building as well to know 00:40:08.631 --> 00:40:10.974 - the answer to that question. 00:40:21.122 --> 00:40:48.830 - We've got some money to spend. So there are several things in here that are listed. 00:41:01.122 --> 00:41:15.723 - put in for the Commissioner's Bureau of Monroe County. Second quarter operating funds in the amount 00:41:15.723 --> 00:41:29.886 - of $557,333.34. So budgeted amount for the year. The question was, is this a quarter of a claim? 00:41:33.506 --> 00:41:42.274 - requested higher amount in the first quarter since we had higher bills to pay in the first quarter. 00:41:42.274 --> 00:41:51.217 - And this is the balance of the appropriated funds divided by three quarters. I got you. So that's why 00:41:51.217 --> 00:41:58.494 - the number looks less certain. Yeah. So I was looking at I'm trying to do the math 00:42:15.746 --> 00:42:27.573 - Other questions on that, I have no questions about that. Motion and a second. Marsha, would you move 00:42:27.573 --> 00:42:39.283 - us to roll call them, please? Mike? Yes. Herbie? Trent? Yes. The next claim that's before us is for 00:42:39.283 --> 00:42:44.318 - convention services for the second quarter 00:42:45.314 --> 00:42:56.887 - the DVI for a convention center management of this facility. That quarterly amount is $148,025. This 00:42:56.887 --> 00:43:08.575 - would be for the second quarter. Questions or comments? We'll get them in a second. Marsha, would you 00:43:08.575 --> 00:43:13.502 - like us to have a vote on that? Am I? Yes. 00:43:21.378 --> 00:43:30.088 - The next one that's before us is first quarter professional fees to this body for Marsha Roach in the 00:43:30.088 --> 00:43:31.454 - amount of $147. 00:43:52.034 --> 00:44:07.665 - Okay, this is a, those are all routine-ish. This one is a new claim that is for Anticipated Visitors 00:44:07.665 --> 00:44:21.438 - Center build out expenses. As I understand it, architecture needs things to get started. 00:44:22.338 --> 00:44:33.924 - This would be after $50,000. We had allocated $600,000 for the total product, and we're up to that amount. 00:44:33.924 --> 00:44:44.318 - But this first $50,000 would be to get things started in the process room. Mike, anything else? 00:44:50.850 --> 00:44:59.858 - Yes, and this is for this quarter, you know, March, April, May, June. And we just didn't get an invoice 00:44:59.858 --> 00:45:08.693 - for some builder permit fees. But I thought it was kind of low. But I mean, we're taking them as they 00:45:08.693 --> 00:45:17.182 - come. And I anticipate the next quarter and the next one will be the larger ones and watching it. 00:45:17.282 --> 00:45:28.832 - closely and and we'll have all those details for you as they as they come in. So there'll probably be 00:45:28.832 --> 00:45:40.382 - a little bit in you know bills won't come in until the end of year so there'll be some in 27 as well. 00:45:46.658 --> 00:45:54.777 - Your point and your question is it enough funds to get you through the intelligence room? Yes, I thought 00:45:54.777 --> 00:46:02.664 - I'd ask them multiple times. Okay, so you feel it's low, but they're like... It's not, we're just not 00:46:02.664 --> 00:46:10.860 - spending the money. It's planning now. It's just planning and they're not buying it. Right. Okay. Motion. 00:46:10.860 --> 00:46:15.422 - Marcia, would you move us to a roll call? Aye. Yes. Kirby? 00:46:24.418 --> 00:46:35.293 - one before us is blue and company LLC $2,000 for building corporation tax preparation. This is for the 00:46:35.293 --> 00:46:44.478 - now dissolved Bundrum County building corporation. So this should be. This is the end. 00:46:55.490 --> 00:47:11.484 - This would come from the general. Under the insurance expense, yes. The general plan. If you want to 00:47:11.484 --> 00:47:17.502 - get this over with, there will be one 00:47:26.562 --> 00:47:55.006 - OK, any other questions? Second. Yes, Harvey. So the claims we have before us today. Your business. 00:48:01.154 --> 00:48:11.261 - business item for the committee that House Bill 1210 passed the Indiana State Legislature and 00:48:11.261 --> 00:48:22.765 - the corresponding Senate bill both passed. The relevant part of that is that it allows for the appointment 00:48:22.765 --> 00:48:28.894 - of another CBC member, voting member, to join this body. 00:48:43.138 --> 00:49:00.119 - meeting, but then after that, the like of the other additional. Of course, all of the stuff that we 00:49:00.119 --> 00:49:11.326 - allocated for was all taken care of. And I'll get that. They have 00:49:15.042 --> 00:49:22.089 - They're working on the roads and just doing some upgrades to, you know, it's kind of rough to drive 00:49:22.089 --> 00:49:29.276 - back there and things like that. So just little infrastructure improvements on their own. It's about, 00:49:29.276 --> 00:49:36.464 - you know, concessions and different things like that would be one of the events. Field wise they have 00:49:36.464 --> 00:49:44.286 - what they need. Yeah, they're working right. Is there three fields on top? Is that right? Two. Two on the top. 00:49:55.362 --> 00:50:18.406 - new business. Old business items. It looks good. It feels like things are starting to. At the end of 00:50:18.406 --> 00:50:25.022 - May, they'll actually try to 00:50:25.986 --> 00:50:35.849 - room and build a little temporary block so that we can start working on connecting. And you still will 00:50:35.849 --> 00:50:45.425 - be having events here in the Great Britain. Yes. And we, yes, the capacity once the hall is in will 00:50:45.425 --> 00:50:53.182 - drop down to about 300 or 350, but that will be next year. Okay. What is it now? 00:50:56.322 --> 00:51:08.128 - This fact is set for Habitat for Humanities tonight for 550 people upstairs. So we want to get a look 00:51:08.128 --> 00:51:20.165 - at what that looks like. Now it's a good time to go look at it. I will say the properties to the south, 00:51:20.165 --> 00:51:21.438 - the places 00:51:41.346 --> 00:51:49.944 - was the idea of developing the Convention Center campus, which included the building, hotel, parking, 00:51:49.944 --> 00:51:58.457 - and really taking advantage of going to that next level in tourism. So this has been going on for at 00:51:58.457 --> 00:51:59.806 - least 16 years. 00:52:15.522 --> 00:52:22.505 - So it's very all business. It's exciting to see this go into the next step after going in circles for 00:52:22.505 --> 00:52:29.351 - years. Well, that's a pretty good segue. If there's any other items other than that, then your next 00:52:29.351 --> 00:52:36.471 - item on the agenda is public comment. I understand your public comment. Yeah. So you introduce yourself 00:52:36.471 --> 00:52:43.454 - and then let us know. Sounds good. First of all, it's really nice to hear about how you're attracting 00:52:44.162 --> 00:52:51.467 - everyone to Bloomington. So my name is Rebecca Stukes. I've lived here my whole life and I always noticed 00:52:51.467 --> 00:52:58.427 - Bloomington had a lot going on and I never knew that, you know, that all the work that went into it. 00:52:58.427 --> 00:53:05.939 - So this has been really interesting. So I'm the treasurer of the local chapter of the Bloomington Democratic 00:53:05.939 --> 00:53:12.899 - Socialists of America. We are very concerned with housing affordability for working class people and 00:53:12.899 --> 00:53:13.726 - I wanted to 00:53:15.842 --> 00:53:25.813 - since we talked about how the block was bought in 2010. How many people bought their home before the 00:53:25.813 --> 00:53:35.882 - pandemic? Yeah. So I bought my house in 2014 and I'm extremely lucky. We all know things have changed 00:53:35.882 --> 00:53:43.582 - drastically since then. If I hadn't bought a house between like then and now, 00:53:43.938 --> 00:53:52.422 - paying more than a thousand dollars more a month if I was renting. I think we got like lucky to walk 00:53:52.422 --> 00:54:01.242 - in that low price. I mean we are currently in an affordability crisis and you might have heard the bull. 00:54:01.242 --> 00:54:09.978 - Throwing that around it's serious. Something that you might want to consider is like where your workers 00:54:09.978 --> 00:54:13.086 - will live probably a lot of them are 00:54:14.722 --> 00:54:24.300 - So preserving any affordable housing that still exists still out there is I would recommend like prioritizing 00:54:24.300 --> 00:54:33.094 - that and considering changing those old plans that were made you know 16 years ago before everything 00:54:33.094 --> 00:54:41.889 - has been flipped on its head. So what I want to recommend is if I'm talking about the seminary point 00:54:41.889 --> 00:54:44.414 - apartments so it sounds like 00:54:45.794 --> 00:54:55.549 - What I learned is that it's an old building that needs repairs. One of my friends lives there and despite 00:54:55.549 --> 00:55:04.843 - being an old building it's still like extremely affordable or lower than most things in the town. So 00:55:04.843 --> 00:55:14.138 - there's a couple things I'd like ask you to consider. Sounds like it's a hassle to maintain. I would 00:55:14.138 --> 00:55:15.518 - recommend like 00:55:16.610 --> 00:55:25.268 - county transferring it to like a community land trust partner or the city. That way it can be maintained 00:55:25.268 --> 00:55:33.843 - by someone or some organization that can care about it. It can be out of your hands. The community land 00:55:33.843 --> 00:55:41.676 - trusts are a model that can guarantee permanently affordable housing and it would be like give 00:55:41.676 --> 00:55:46.046 - the opportunity for the tenants to give feedback and 00:55:46.594 --> 00:55:55.179 - participate in maintaining and governing the building. So that that's something I would recommend. Like 00:55:55.179 --> 00:56:03.847 - given the changing circumstances since it was first bought things are completely different. So my points 00:56:03.847 --> 00:56:12.350 - are like to recommend not displacing the residents and you know don't destroy that apartment block for 00:56:12.350 --> 00:56:16.478 - the hotel. Instead just transfer ownership of the 00:56:18.082 --> 00:56:26.838 - I learned today that like it the future number of beds are going to be leaving sounds like you you do 00:56:26.838 --> 00:56:35.852 - need a hotel you want it. I would consider or recommend considering like you have a lot of parking area. 00:56:35.852 --> 00:56:44.350 - Maybe changing how you build a hotel so it has parking at anything like the graduate does. I mean. 00:56:48.962 --> 00:56:56.578 - using space more efficiently. So that way it could be a win-win. Hand off that affordable apartment 00:56:56.578 --> 00:57:04.499 - housing to a different entity. Maybe get your money back from the city and then you can still have your 00:57:04.499 --> 00:57:09.982 - hotel just taking consideration of the changes. So thank you very much. 00:57:19.074 --> 00:57:26.536 - as I can say, just to address and then if you have any follow-up questions, please let us know. And 00:57:26.536 --> 00:57:34.222 - then if there are any other personal qualities that I'd also like to say, you can ask me. I appreciate 00:57:34.222 --> 00:57:41.834 - you being here. I appreciate you bringing this up. You're right. I mean, we have, I personally manage 00:57:41.834 --> 00:57:43.774 - a facility that has a lot 00:57:49.122 --> 00:57:59.518 - And oftentimes that does get in the service industry. So I don't want to speak for everybody, but I know. 00:58:30.882 --> 00:58:42.846 - expansion and the infrastructure rapidly. It is hard to acquire them because every time 00:59:04.994 --> 00:59:14.315 - It's up on where the hotel would go at this point. It's not necessarily this money that does that. The 00:59:14.315 --> 00:59:23.997 - land was purchased with the accumulation to allow for that. Or other things that would support an expanded 00:59:23.997 --> 00:59:29.246 - convince there like places to eat. Things of that nature. 00:59:36.034 --> 01:00:00.030 - intentional is never to run. It's always built with development. You presented it in your 01:00:32.514 --> 01:00:33.374 - Until next time.