07-01-20 Tourism Business Improvement District MinutesBoard of Directors Meeting
Kalispell Tourism Business Improvement District
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
3:00 – 5:00 pm
Location: Kalispell Chamber Conference Room
MINUTES
Board Members Present: Emily Schroeder, Bryce Baker, Zac Ford, Joe Alexander, Britta Joy.
Dawn Hendrickson and Janet Clark attended via Zoom.
Board Members Absent: none
Staff Present: Diane Medler, Dawn Jackson, Joe Unterreiner, Vonnie Day
Guests: Scott Rieke, Best Western Flathead Lake Inn & Suites
_____________________________________________________________________________________
The meeting was called to order at 3:03 pm by Chair Emily Schroeder.
1. Hear from the public – none
2. Board Action Items
a. Approval of minutes from May 6, 2020 and June 3, 2020:
Motion was made by Janet Clark to approve the minutes. Motion was seconded by Bryce
Baker. Discussion: none. Board approved unanimously.
b. Approval of TBID financial statements for April 2020 and May 2020:
Motion was made by Zac Ford to approve the financial statements. Motion was seconded by
Joe Alexander. Discussion: none. Board approved unanimously.
c. Review and approval of original TBID documents for new district (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2030):
1. Operating Agreement – original document dated May, 2010.
Motion was made by Zac Ford to approve the adoption of “Rocky Mountain Consumer Price Index” to
replace “Montana Consumer Price Index” in Section III Services, Part A, #1: Offices Space, Furniture,
Supplies and Services. Motion was seconded by Janet Clark. Discussion: none. Board approved
unanimously.
3. Associate Membership Agreement – original document dated February, 2013.
Motion was made by Bryce Baker to amend the Associate Membership Agreement, Exhibit A, to
allow for one voting associate member seat on the TBID board of directors. Motion was
seconded by Zac Ford. Discussion: see #2. Board approved unanimously.
2. By Laws – original document dated April, 2011.
Motion was made by Joe Alexander to amend Article II, Section 2.3 of the bylaws to allow for
one associate member board position per discussion on Associate Member Agreement. Only
one associate member can be on the board at a time and must be current on payments and in
good standing. Motion was seconded by Zac Ford. Discussion: associate members can run for
one seat on the board. The position won’t be limited to a specific property size category. Diane
will explain the change to Charlie Harball. Board approved unanimously.
3. Board Discussion
a. Event and Grant recipient updates
• An application for a Visitor Development Grant was received from Dimon LLC for a mural.
Consensus of the board was that due to the reduction of the grant budget from $15,000 to
$5,000, priority in grant funding should be given to events that will generate room nights.
• Adam Libby who was awarded a grant for Kalispell PBR which was schedule for June, 2020
and canceled due to COVID will be asked to reapply. Adam will be notified that it’s not
guaranteed that he’ll receive the same amount.
• A call with Spartan, Inc. is scheduled next week to discuss a location for a Hurricane Heat
event involving 50 – 100 participants the third week of September.
• Indoor Soccer is still planned for October 23 – 25.
b. Marketing updates
• An in-state travel campaign will run through July 15.
• A weekly Discover Kalispell Instagram story campaign is running to promote downtown
Businesses to help boost downtown, the heart of our community, during the pandemic.
• MOTBD is currently messaging safety rather than promoting travel to the state.
• Retargeting Google ad words is continuing.
• CARES Act funds will be disbursed by the Montana Department of Commerce to tourism
regions and CVB’s. Discover Kalispell will receive $97,000. Half will be used for COVID-
related health messaging, supporting the state’s key safety and health messaging. The
remaining grant funds is available for safety marketing (continuing DK’s in-state and local
campaigns which convey the health and safety messaging). Some of the marketing funds will
be reserved for co-op marketing with MOTBD for later this year. Staffing costs related to
implementation of the grant are eligible.
• Destination Analysts are using our website to gather data about how travelers use a DMO’s
website during the various planning stages. We’ll have access to this valuable data which
would be costly for us to purchase.
• Checking account balance is $275,000 which is on track based on projections of reduced
expenditures and Q3 revenue. Q4 occupancy is trending higher than originally projected so
Diane recommends waiting until fall to consider reviewing FY21 budget.
• The Kalispell Chamber/CVB received the social services grant (CARES Act Funds). Half
($5,000) will be applied to off-set wages in June for the TBID account.
• Kalispell Chamber received a $10,000 grant to cover COVID-related expenses., the Business
Adaptability Grant. Some funds went towards off-setting costs associated with readying the
VIC to be open to the public.
• Five proposals were submitted for the RFP for creative agency and media buy. Britta Joy, Joe
Alexander and Kate Lufkin served on the RFP evaluation committee along with Diane. Two
finalist agencies were selected after the committee had a call with each applicant: The Abbi
Agency from Reno, NV and Kinetic from Billings. It’s anticipated that the contract will be
awarded following the presentations/interviews from those two agencies, approximately by
July 10.
c. Group, M&C updates
• Montana League of Cities and Towns decided to move their Kalispell conference to 2022.
They will hold their 2021 conference in Helena.
• Dawn delivered guides to all TBID properties along with front desk information about COVID
resources.
• An occupancy rate survey will be sent out to TBID members.
• TBID member quick response to weekly requests for availability is appreciated.
• The VIC in West Glacier will not be open this summer due to COVID. Information will be
available in outside racks.
• Dawn is hosting the Church of God for a site visit for an October conference.
• An RFP was received from C-Event.
d. Coronavirus health crisis – roundtable discussion
• The Emerald Softball Tournament moved their July 24 – 26 event from Great Falls to
Kalispell.
• The Legion Tournament takes place July 11.
• Hilton Garden is booking some room blocks for weddings at Snowline. All of HGI’s weddings
were moved to 2021.
• The Zero Road film crew is staying at the Red Lion.
• The Governor’s Cup gold tournament has been canceled.
• The Event at Rebecca Farm will have fewer competitors this year and will not be allowing
spectators.
• Board members observed that everyone was wearing masks during recent trips to Denver
and California. Some states are shutting things down again as COVID cases increase.
• As cases increase in Montana, it’s possible that Governor Bullock will require masks.
e. Other discussion
Flathead County Health Department COVID Guidelines
Bryce brought up concerns about the Flathead County Health Department guidance for lodging
facilities. He is primarily concerned about Section #4 about guests who test positive for COVID and
feels the health department is putting unreasonable requirements on the hotels.
Bryce and Emily volunteered to draft a letter to Public Health Officer Hillary Hanson stating that
their ownership groups will not comply with #4 and that the situation is a public health concern,
not a hospitality concern. It was recommended to consult Charlie Harball before the letter is
drafted to see what rights the hotels have in this situation. Joe Unterreiner recommended
broadening the coalition to include Whitefish CVB and the Big Mountain Commercial Association.
Diane, Emily and Janet will talk to Charlie next week. Bryce will get in touch with his contacts at
Whitefish lodging properties to see if they’re interested in a joint effort.
Meeting adjourned at 4:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted: Diane Medler
For further information, please contact:
diane@discoverkalispell.com or 406-758-2808