12-15-21 Tourism Business Improvement District MinutesBoard of Directors Meeting
Kalispell Tourism Business Improvement District
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
3:00 – 5:00 pm
Location: Board of Directors in person at Kalispell Chamber
Guests – online access via Zoom
Board Members Present: Britta Joy, Zac Ford, Emily Schroeder, Robert Hall
Board Members Via Zoom: Bryce Baker, Noelle Bahr
Board Members Absent: Dawn Hendrickson
Staff Present: Lorraine Clarno, Diane Medler, Dawn Jackson, Marisa Mikonis
Guests: None
MINUTES
The meeting was called to order at 3:05 pm by Chair of the Board, Robert Hall.
1. Hear from the Public – none
2. Board Action Items
a) Approval of minutes from October 27, 2021
Motion was made by Zac Ford to approve the minutes. Motion was seconded by Britta Joy.
Discussion: none. Board approved unanimously.
b) Approval of TBID financial statements for October 2021
Motion was made by Emily Schroeder to approve the financials for October 2021. Motion
was seconded by Britta Joy. Discussion: none. Board approved unanimously.
3. Board Discussion
a) FY21 rollover funds available for allocation
● Cash available in both accounts is $148,893.94. The directive has been to increase
marketing support for Glacier Institute for guided snowshoeing in GNP for $4,000.
With the deduction of $4,000 for the Glacier Institute, the reserve balance available
for allocation is $144,893.94.
● Diane proposed two project recommendations for the rollover funds:
a) Sponsorship for Glacier Aero for winter year-round flights to attract more
people to visit in the winter. There is a minimum revenue guarantee and MRG
(written strategy) to incentivize airlines to fly year-round to Kalispell. Thoughts are
to start with $10,000 and add more funds if requested in the future.
b) Feasibility study for economic analysis for an indoor sports arena. This has
long been identified as a need for the community. Residents and visitors will
benefit as a use for high school sports, tournaments, and bringing travel teams to
Kalispell. Potential uses could include hockey rink, indoor turf, basketball courts,
area for wrestling, gymnastics, etc. Lorraine states this has been talked about and
would be a good move for us as it would get the city engaged, fits our mission,
stewardship, and community. It will bring long-term revenue to Kalispell. The cost
of the study would be roughly around $25,000-$55,000. The mall could be a
location for this project. Britta suggested moving forward issuing the RFQ to get a
clearer idea of cost for the market analysis. Zac suggested we find out if the State
of Montana has grants available for such a feasibility study.
o Motion was made by Britta Joy to approve to proceed with further
research on the feasibility study. Motion was seconded by Emily
Schroeder. Diane will move forward with the project after the holidays
and keep the board apprised. Board approved unanimously.
o Motion was made by Noelle Bahr to support a sponsorship to AERO for
winter flights to Kalispell for $10,000 to start with the idea to contribute
more if needed once the negotiations with airlines begin. Motion was
seconded by Zac Ford. Board approved unanimously.
● Diane shared information received from the Daily Inter Lake regarding a request for
grant funds towards installing webcams in downtown Kalispell. Board was not
interested in pursuing this project.
b) TBID Payment Policy
● It was proposed that changes be made to the TBID Payment policy. The board agrees
that you cannot enforce payments without a higher penalty.
● The current policy states penalties and interest for late payments as follows: “Any
lodging facility that fails to file a required payment and reporting form with Kalispell
City Treasurer by the due date will be assessed a late filing penalty of $50 and a
penalty of .83% a month or a fraction of a month on the unpaid TBID fees. Penalty
may not exceed 10% of the amount due.”
● The proposed policy states: Any lodging facility that fails to file a required payment
and reporting form with Kalispell City Treasurer by the due date will be assessed a
late filing penalty under the following schedule: A penalty of two hundred and fifty
dollars ($250.00) for the first delinquency with in the TBID’s fiscal year. A penalty of
seven hundred and fifty dollars ($750.00) for the second delinquency, one thousand
two hundred and fifty dollars ($1,250.00) for the third delinquency, and $1,5000 for
the fourth delinquency within the TBID’s fiscal year. The penalty accrues on the
unpaid TBID fees from the original due date of the return regardless of whether the
taxpayer has received an extension of time for filing a return.
o Motion was made by Britta Joy to adopt the proposed penalty and interest
policy with clarification that unpaid penalties within the same fiscal year will
continue into the next fiscal year until the payer has completely cleared their
debt. Motion was seconded by Emily Schroeder. The new policy will be sent to
Charlie Harball, City of Kalispell City Attorney for review. Once approved it will
be mailed to each TBID property owner. Board approved unanimously.
c) TBID Grant Updates
● New potential event called the “Highlander” has reached out to us to be one of the
three host cities in the U.S. It was started in 2017 in Croatia and now in 10 countries.
The organization has partnered with Spartan Race to enable the event to move into
the U.S. market. It is a hiking event, not a race, in which players complete designated
trail routes ranging from 100km to 30km. They proposed to have the event mid-
September and would like at least part of the course to be located in Glacier NP.
Anticipate around 1,000-1,200 racers. Event would be based in Kalispell generating
pre and post night stays in Kalispell. Host commitment includes $10,000 cash, staff
rooms, and permits. Lots of questions still to clarify regarding dates, permits, race
location, and slight concern for split room nights from a hotelier side.
○ Board approved for DK staff to proceed with the conversation to learn and
investigate more as a possible annual event to be hosted in Kalispell.
● NRA Finals Rodeo (October 28 – 30) had a total attendance of 4,864. They do not have
origin location data on tickets sold at the venue. The total number of spectators
outside of Flathead County that is known was 714. NRA actualized a total of 129 paid
room nights at TBID hotels. With $5 per room back, with a total of $645 paid to NRA.
They are requesting assistance again in 2022.
● Frosty the Beerfest is having their 3rd annual fest on January 29th from 2-6pm in the
Valley Bank Parking lot in downtown Kalispell. We supported the event in 2019 with
$300. The last event raised $14,000 for the Abby Shelter and KDA. This year 100% of
the proceeds will go to The Flathead Warming Center and Kalispell Downtown
Association. Along with being popular with residents and a good fundraiser, the event
serves a popular activity for visitors that is centered in Kalispell.
○ Motion was made by Emily Schroeder for $500 cash sponsorship and $500 in-
kind portion. Motion was seconded by Britta Joy. Board approved
unanimously.
d) Staff Reports
● AirDNA data, which tracks short-term rentals, indicates that available listings have
increased by 56% year over year. Booked listings increased by 66%. Occupancy rate
was 50% for November, while the occupancy rate for hotels was in the low 40%.
● Hotel campaign has launched. All Kalispell hotels that are registered on ARES will be
able to participate with a ‘book two nights and receive two free ski tickets to either
Whitefish Mountain Resort or Blacktail Ski Area’ Promotion. The campaign serves as
an incentive to book a ski vacation in Kalispell. TBID funds cover the cost of the lift
tickets.
● Ridge Run Baseball will operate in 2022 with their home games beginning in June. The
stadium will hold 2,500 seats. It is privately owned by the Kelly family. The General
Manager is Erik Moore.
● FVCC Performing Arts center has started booking for the Fall 2022 for national
speakers and musicians.
● Dawn passed around recent features in Meetings Today Magazine. Part of the ad buy
included receipt of an email list for potential meeting planners. A Letter to the Editor
recently ran in both local papers from Dawn, as a thank you to the community for
their warm welcome of conference groups in Kalispell during September. .
● Canada will not implement a restriction for the border crossing, instead will do a
blanket advisory for non-essential travel. Will step up testing at the border, not
mandatory but expanded random testing (including for U.S. travelers), 72-hour rule
(existing rule that Canadians that go to the U.S. for less than 72 hrs don’t have to
currently provide a test) will be scrapped. Everyone – Canadian or foreign – will need
a test to come back in.
● Updates on the 2022 Ticketed Entry for Glacier National Park. Going-to-the-Sun will
require a 3-day ticket. The North Fork will require a 1-day ticket. GNP has not
announced when the ticket sales will launch.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:05 pm.
Respectfully submitted: Diane Medler
For further information, please contact: diane@discoverkalispell.com or 406-758-2808