Jun 28, 2021 Town Council

[00:00:03]

OH, THANK YOU.

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYBODY TO THE TOWN COUNCIL, REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, JUNE 28TH, 2021.

UH, IF YOU PLEASE

[1. MOMENT OF SILENCE]

THANK YOU.

IF

[2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

[3. ROLL CALL]

MAYOR HOLLOWAY HERE.

COUNCILMAN GILLESPIE HERE.

THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN LLOYD HERE.

COUNCILMAN MCFADDEN HERE.

COUNCILMAN MASA HERE.

COUNCILMAN THOMPSON HERE.

THANK YOU.

VICE MAYOR.

KAKO HERE.

[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

YOUR EMOTION.

GOOD MAYOR.

I MOVE THAT.

WE APPROVE THE WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES AND THE SPECIAL MEETING OF APRIL THE 12TH, THE REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 24TH AND THE SPECIAL MEETING OF JUNE 1ST AND THE WORK SESSION OF JUNE 14TH AS PRESENTED.

I HAVE A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.

HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE.

VICE MAYOR.

COCKREL YES.

COUNCILMAN GILLESPIE.

COUNCILMAN LOYD.

YES.

COUNCILMAN MCFADDEN.

YES.

COUNCILMAN MAZZA COUNCILMAN THOMPSON.

YES.

THANK YOU.

NEXT, DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS OF THE AGENDA? HEARING

[6. RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS– - Report from Warren County Department of Social Services Director John Martz (10 minutes) - Presentation from JLL (15 minutes)]

UH, THE REPORT WARREN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.

JOHN MARTS.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME COME AND TALK TO YOU TONIGHT.

WANTED TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE WARREN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS YOU'RE DOING ON BEHALF OF ALL THE CITIZENS OF FRONT ROYAL.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT IS TO HELP PEOPLE TRIUMPH OVER POVERTY, TO HELP THOSE WHO CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

THAT'S WHY WE EXIST.

OUR OFFICE HAS COME UP WITH OUR OWN MOTTO, WHICH IS EVERYTHING WE DO IS DESIGNED TO INSPIRE POSITIVE CHANGE AND EMPOWER THE RESIDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY TO THRIVE, BUILD RESILIENCE TOMORROW, AND TO PROMOTE WELLBEING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE DO THAT BY WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND WITH THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY.

THE NEXT PAGE, YOU CAN SEE I PRESENTED SOME DATA AND THIS IS FOR FRONT ROYAL RESIDENTS, ONLY TOWN RESIDENTS, NOT COUNTY FISCAL YEAR 2019.

WE HAD 28 CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES INVESTIGATIONS IN 163 FAMILY ASSESSMENTS.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FAMILY ASSESSMENT AND INVESTIGATION.

BASICALLY THE SEVERITY OF THE REPORT INVESTIGATIONS ALSO HAVE AN OUTCOME, UH, FOUNDED OR NOT FOUNDED.

FAMILY ASSESSMENTS ARE SIMPLY, WE WORK WITH THE FAMILY UNTIL WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH A SUITABLE CONCLUSION IN FY 2020, WE HAD 51 INVESTIGATIONS AND 196 FAMILY ASSESSMENTS, AND WE FEEL ABOUT THREE TO 400 CALLS A YEAR.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT FYI 21 OF THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE EVEN HIGHER.

WE'VE ALREADY SURPASSED THESE NUMBERS, OUR ADULT SERVICES.

WE DON'T JUST SERVE CHILDREN, BUT WE DO SERVE ADULTS AS WELL.

FISCAL YEAR 19, WE HAD 209 REPORTS AND IN FISCAL YEAR 2020, WE HAD 228 AND WE'RE ALREADY PASSING THAT FOR FISCAL YEAR 21 AS WELL, OF COURSE, BECAUSE HE YEAR 21 ENDS IN TWO DAYS.

UH, THE NEXT PAGE IS OUR BENEFIT PROGRAMS. UM, WE FACILITATE THE SNAP PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, FORMERLY KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS,

[00:05:01]

AND WE DO ASSIST WITH CHILDCARE AND ENERGY ASSISTANCE.

AS YOU CAN SEE FOR THIS CURRENT YEAR AS OF JUNE 24TH, WE HELPED 3,194 TOWN RESIDENTS WITH SNAP 7,784 TOWN RESIDENTS WITH MEDICAID, 140 FOR TIANA, 72 FOR CHILDCARE, THE AREA'S POVERTY RATES ABOUT EIGHT, 9% AND THE CHILD POVERTY RATE HOVERS AROUND 13%.

THE LAST PAGE IS MY FAVORITE PAGE BECAUSE IT TALKS ABOUT MONEY AND EVERYBODY LOVES US, LOVES TO TALK ABOUT MONEY.

UM, THE TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT PROGRAMS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES HAVE HAD ON WARREN COUNTY, COMPLETELY, NOT JUST THE TOWN, BUT THE COUNTY AS WELL WITH 62, 100 $5,866 FOR FISCAL YEAR 19.

THOSE ARE THE LATEST NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE.

THAT'S THROUGH MEDICAID, THROUGH SNAP, THROUGH THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE THE LOCAL SHARE WHAT THE COUNTY PUT IN WAS ABOUT $1.4 MILLION.

SO YOU PUT ANYONE ABOUT 1.4 MILLION, YOU GET BACK 62 MILLION, AND WE'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A HIGH RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

OKAY.

I DO WANT TO OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

UH, MAINLY I WANTED TO COME INTRODUCE MYSELF.

MY NAME IS JOHN MARTIN AND I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2020.

I STARTED AND BEFORE THAT I WAS THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES DOWN IN NEW KENT COUNTY FOR SEVEN YEARS.

UM, I'M THRILLED TO BE UP HERE IN WARREN COUNTY.

I LIVE IN FRONT ROYAL DIRECTLY.

MY WIFE'S FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

UH, SO I WAS ABLE TO BRING HER UP AND HER SISTERS AND HER MOTHER LIVE IN TOWN.

SO I WAS ABLE TO RELOCATE UP HERE AND WE LOVE BEING HERE, MR. MARTS.

UM, THE THING THAT STANDS OUT IN MY MIND THAT YOU JUST SAID, WE WENT FROM 28 IN 2019 TO 51 IN 2020.

UM, YOU KNOW, UM, I'M THINKING MAYBE THERE WAS A LOT OF STRESS IN 2020 WITHIN FAMILIES THAT'S AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU, THIS IS JUNE 28TH AND WE'VE ALREADY SURPASSED 51 INVESTIGATIONS AT THIS POINT IS THAT THERE'S BREAKFAST IN THREE DAYS.

OH, OKAY.

OKAY.

GOT IT.

OKAY.

SO, ALL RIGHT.

SO REALLY WE'RE AT THE TAIL END OF THIS IS MORE SO, BUT STILL VERY CONCERNING THAT THE NUMBERS ARE GOING UP.

DO YOU HAVE ANY, YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? YEAH.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS WHY 2020 WAS ROUGH ON EVERYBODY AND WE HAD TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

THE SCHOOLS HAD TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

FAMILIES HAD TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

UNEMPLOYMENT PEAKED AT LIKE 14%.

THERE ARE A LOT OF FAMILY STRESSORS GOING ON.

UM, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE ATTRIBUTE THE HIGHER NUMBERS TO IS A RENEWED FAITH IN SOCIAL SERVICES.

WE'VE BEEN ENCOURAGING EVERYBODY.

IF YOU THINK I NEED TO CALL CPS, THE ANSWER IS YOU NEED TO CALL CPS AND WE RECEIVE MORE CALLS.

WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH MORE FAMILIES ON THAT.

UH, SAME WITH APS ADULT SERVICES.

IF YOU THINK YOURSELF, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS MEANS CALL US, UM, LET US COME OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO THE MORE PHONE CALLS WE GET, THAT'S NATURALLY GOING TO LEAD TO MORE INVESTIGATIONS, MORE FAMILY ASSESSMENTS, REALLY MORE HELP AND MORE SUPPORT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I, I GUESS THE REASON WHY IT SURPRISED ME, CAUSE I KNOW THERE WAS SOME CONCERN WHEN, UM, CHILDREN WERE, THERE WERE MORE CHILDREN BEING VIRTUAL AND THAT THEY WEREN'T IN FRONT OF, UM, THEIR TEACHER EVERY DAY.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE THAT'S WHERE SOME OF THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE REPORTED, UM, CONCERNS ARE REPORTED.

AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION IS THE POVERTY RATE VERSUS THE CHILD POVERTY RATE, THE POVERTY RATE WAS 9% AND THE CHILD POVERTY RATE IS 13%.

I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT OBVIOUSLY? AND I DON'T MEAN FOR, I MEAN, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO? YES, MA'AM UH, IT'S HI, WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY IS REALLY MADE UP OF.

AND SO YOU MAY HAVE A LOT OF NINE CHILDREN, FAMILIES MAKING UP THE 9% AND THEN THE CHILD POVERTY RATE ONLY LOOKS AT FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN THE HOME.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, JOHN.

UM, THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR YOUR VALUABLE WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE, UH, JOHN IS, UM, THE LAST TIME, UH, SOCIAL SERVICES IS HERE GIVING A PRESENTATION.

THEY WERE

[00:10:01]

HAS THAT NUMBER GOTTEN BETTER OR HAS IT GOTTEN WORSE? BECAUSE I THINK BEFORE THERE WAS ONLY TWO, OH, WE HAVE NONE CURRENTLY.

UM, AND THAT IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT'S TOUGH ON IT.

AND WHEN A KID, WHEN, YOU KNOW, NOT TO MENTION THE PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE AND THEN HAVING TO GO TO A WHOLE NEW DIFFERENT SCHOOL OR IT IS, YOU KNOW, UM, OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS ALWAYS TO RETURN HOME, TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER AND SOME CASES, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE.

AND THAT'S WHEN FOSTER CARE COMES IN, WE DO HAVE A NEW, UM, RESOURCE FAMILY, UH, WORKER SHALISA LEWIS HAS BEEN BUSILY RECRUITING FOSTER FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WE ARE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT SHE HAS A FEW THAT ARE GOING TO START GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS, BUT IT'S A YEAR LONG PROCESS IN ORDER TO BECOME A FOSTER PARENT.

IT TAKES A LOT OF COMMITMENT AND A LOT OF WORK TO DO SO, BUT AS YOU SAID, IF THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS AND A CHILD HAS TO BE REMOVED, IT'S TRAUMATIC ENOUGH, BUT THEN WE HAVE FOSTER CARE CHILDREN IN RICHMOND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE YOU AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY, BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE OUT OF THE SCHOOL, YOU'RE AWAY FROM YOUR FRIENDS.

IT JUST BECOMES EVEN MORE TRAUMATIC.

AND SO WE, OUR PATH PUT AN EMPHASIS ON RECRUITING LOCAL FOSTER CARE FAMILIES.

UH, WE'RE ALSO DISCUSSING A PARTNERSHIP WITH FREDERICK COUNTY RIGHT NOW IN ORDER TO SHARE FOSTER CARE APPEARANCE.

BECAUSE IF YOU'RE WORKING ON REUNITING A FAMILY, THEY NEED TO BE NEAR EACH OTHER SO THAT THE TRUE WORK CAN BE DONE.

LEAVE ME HER PHONE NUMBER.

I'M SORRY.

SHE LEAVE ME HER PHONE NUMBER.

SURE.

SHE MERISSA FIVE FOUR ZERO SIX THREE FIVE THREE FOUR THREE.

AND YOU CAN ASK FOR MS. LEWIS OR SIMPLY SAY, I WANT TO TALK TO SOMEBODY ABOUT BECOMING A FOSTER PARENT.

UH, WE ARE ALWAYS RECRUITING.

UH, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF STAFF WHO CAN HELP YOU AND REACH BACK OUT.

THANK YOU, JO.

THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE? UH, MR. MA, UM, MR. MARCUS, I JUST HAD ONE FOLLOW UP TO, UH, VICE MAYOR COCKERELS QUESTIONING.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE FROM 2019 AND 2020, JUST DOING SOME QUICK MATH.

THE YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE WAS 55%, UH, FOR INVESTIGATIONS AND 83% FOR FAMILY ASSESSMENTS.

WE'VE GOT THREE DAYS LEFT IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

ARE WE LOOKING AT SIMILAR JUMPS OR IS, WAS WHERE'S THE JUMP BETWEEN 2019 AND 2020 ANOMALOUS? AND WE'RE SEEING A SMALLER JUMP THIS YEAR OR, UM, ARE WE, ARE WE SEEING ANOTHER 55% INCREASE IN OR 83% INCREASE? IT'S GOING TO BE BALLPARK.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ABOUT 200 FAMILY ASSESSMENTS THAT WE'VE DONE THIS YEAR.

UM, INVESTIGATIONS PROBABLY IS GOING TO BE REAL SIMILAR NUMBER.

I DON'T THINK THAT JUMPED ALL THAT MUCH.

UM, BUT THE NUMBERS DID GO UP.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AND I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T INTRODUCE, UM, TWO OF OUR WONDERFUL STAFF ARE HERE TONIGHT.

UM, MS. AND MS. SMELSER, WHO WAS OUR COMMUNITY LIAISON, AND SHE'S THE ONE WHO REALLY MAKES THE MAGIC HAPPEN.

UM, THOSE NEEDS YOU CALL, UM, MICHELLE AND SHE MAKES SURE YOU GET TAKEN CARE OF.

SO I GET THE GLORY, I GET TO COME UP HERE AND TALK TO YOU ALL, BUT THEY DO THE WORK.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE 43 PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE THE ONES WHO REALLY NEED THE RECOGNITION BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO DO ALL OF THE HARD WORK, THE HEAVY LIFTING.

UM, I JUST TRY TO STAY OUT OF THEIR WAY.

THANK YOU, JOHN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT.

WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM JLL.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M CARRIE BARNHARDT.

UM, I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF, UH, FRONT ROYAL WARREN COUNTY JOINT TOURISM COMMITTEE.

AND TONIGHT WE WANTED TO UPDATE YOU ON THE STATUS AND PROGRESS OF TOURISM, UM, IN OUR AREA AND TO FRAME THINGS UP A LITTLE BIT, I WANTED TO, UM, JUST REITERATE THE DEFINITION OF TOURISM.

SO TOURISM IS THE ACT OF TRAVELING TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION OUTSIDE OF YOUR USUAL ENVIRONMENT AND PURSUIT OF RECREATION, RELAXATION, AND PLEASURE WHILE MAKING USE OF COMMERCIAL PROVISIONS.

UM, OFTEN WITH AN OVERNIGHT STAY.

IN FACT, THAT'S ONE OF THE GOALS IS TO HAVE AN OVERNIGHT STAY, UM, TOURISM, UM, MANAGEMENT OR DESTINATION MANAGEMENT FACILITATES THAT WORK THE, UM, WHAT IT IS NOT.

AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE SOMETIMES THERE'S CONFUSION AROUND THIS.

[00:15:01]

UM, IT IS TOURISM FOR THOSE COMING OUTSIDE, USUALLY 50 MILES, UH, FROM, FROM OUR LOCATION WITH OUR AMAZING NATURAL AND COMMERCIAL ASSETS FROM WELLS.

NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY IS TOURISM.

AND SO THAT IS WHY THOSE OF US ON THE COMMITTEE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS WORK.

THIS YEAR, THE COMMITTEE HELPED TO RELEASE AN RFP AND SELECTED A DESTINATION MANAGEMENT FIRM TO HELP WITH TOURISM.

THAT FIRM IS JLL.

THE COMMITTEE WILL SOON BECOME A STANDALONE BOARD, UM, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN THE COMMITTEE WILL ACTUALLY BE A SEPARATE BOARD.

AND TODAY WE WANTED TO UPDATE YOU ON ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING THE BOARD ACTIVITY.

AND I WANTED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO BETHANY ROSE.

WHO'S THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AT JLL, AND SHE IS THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF OUR TOURISM EFFORTS HERE.

UM, THAT SHE'S GOING TO SPEAK MORE ABOUT THE STATUS AND PROGRESS OF TOURISM.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CARRIE.

THANK YOU COUNCIL FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

I KNOW IT IS PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME THAT I'M IN FRONT OF MANY OF YOU.

UH, SOME OF YOU ARE A LITTLE BIT, PROBABLY MORE CLUED INTO WHAT WE'RE DOING AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER THOMPSON.

UH, BUT AS CARRIE MENTIONED, REALLY WANTED TO GIVE A STATUS UPDATE TODAY ON ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THE, UH, JOINT TOURISM COMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING ON AND THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON WITH THEM.

UM, SO WE'LL GO THROUGH WHAT MY, MY SLIDES ARE BRIEF.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR QUESTIONS, UH, BUT WE'LL GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF THINGS, UH, IN THE SLIDE DECK.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'LL TOUCH ON FIRST IS THAT ENGAGEMENT AND DIRECTION THAT WE'VE BEEN TAKING WITH AND FROM THE JOINT TOURISM COMMITTEE, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF WHICH WE HAVE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.

SO REALLY GLAD TO HAVE THEM TO HAVE THEM HERE.

UH, THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH, UH, DMO FORMATION WITH THE STEPS IN THAT PROCESS AND WHAT'S AHEAD OF US, UH, TO FORM THE ORGANIZATION AND SORT OF WHAT THAT TAKES.

UH, WE'LL ALSO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF OUR NEW, UH, MARKETING MESSAGES, THINGS WE'VE STARTED TO DO OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS SINCE WE GOT ON BOARD, UH, TAKE YOU THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF A VISITOR CENTER, REFRESH THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON FROM A SERVICES STANDPOINT, FROM A VISUAL STANDPOINT AND WHERE WE'RE HEADED, UH, AND REALLY JUST TRY AND TEE ALL OF THAT UP SO THAT YOU ALL FROM A COUNCIL PERSPECTIVE KNOW WHERE WE'VE COME FROM.

ALL THE GROUNDWORK THAT'S BEEN BEEN LAID TO GET US TO THIS POINT WHERE WE ARE NOW AND REALLY WHERE WE'RE HEADED, UH, TO SET THE DESTINATION UP FOR SUCCESS.

UH, SO AS WE MENTIONED, WE HAVE A JOINT TOURISM COMMITTEE THAT IS AN INITIATIVE THAT, UH, BOTH YOU AS MEMBERS OF TOWN COUNCIL AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, UH, GOT TOGETHER AND NOMINATED THOSE FOLKS.

SO MEMBERS OF THE JOINT TOURISM COMMITTEE HAVE BEEN JOINTLY APPOINTED, UH, TO WORK WITH, UH, WITH MYSELF, UH, AND THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE.

AND SO, UH, IT STARTED BACK IN FEBRUARY.

SO WE CAME ON BOARD, UH, IN JANUARY, UH, FROM A CONTRACT STANDPOINT, UH, GOT, UH, INGRAINED WITH, WITH CARRIE AND WITH LIAISONS FROM THE TOWN AND COUNTY, UH, TO START WORKING WITH THE JOINT TOURISM COMMITTEE.

SO WE REALLY HAD OUR FIRST JOINT MEETING BACK IN FEBRUARY.

SO SINCE FEBRUARY, WE HAVE HAD BIWEEKLY MEETINGS, UH, WITH THAT JOINT TOURISM COMMITTEE, UH, IN THOSE BIWEEKLY MEETINGS, WE COVER A RANGE OF TOPICS.

SO WE STARTED FROM A STANDPOINT OF WANTING TO GATHER STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK, JUST KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THE DESTINATION HAVE TO OFFER? WHAT DOES EVERYBODY FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE THINK ARE OUR PROS AND CONS, UH, REVIEWING A LOT OF THE GROUNDWORK AND THE FOUNDATIONAL WORK THAT WAS DONE IN ADVANCE OF PUTTING THE RFP OUT.

SO REVIEWING A LOT OF THAT, GOING THROUGH THOSE THINGS WITH THE COMMITTEE, UH, BRINGING SOME OF THAT STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK INTO, UH, INTO THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO DISCUSS WHERE WE THINK WE SHOULD HEAD AND WHAT MIGHT MAKE SENSE, UM, IN EVERY ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS, IF, IF IT'S COMING FROM ME AND WE'RE, WE'RE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WHERE TO HEAD, OR IF IT'S MARKETING MESSAGING NOW LEAVING TIME FOR THAT COMMITTEE TO DIGEST THOSE THINGS, UH, ASK QUESTIONS PROBE, AND THEN GAIN CONSENSUS AND MOVE FORWARD WITH DIRECTION.

UM, SO YOU'LL SEE HERE THAT IT'S JUST A, YOU KNOW, REALLY A LIST OF ALL OF THE THINGS, UH, CATEGORICALLY THAT THE JOINT TOURISM COMMITTEE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN EVERYTHING FROM A MARKETING CAMPAIGN DEVELOPMENT BRAINSTORMING ON THOSE KEY THEMES, UH, REVIEWING TARGET MARKETS, REVIEWING GEOGRAPHIES OF, OF MARKETING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PUSHING TO, UH, TO VISITOR CENTER, REFRESH, BUDGET ENHANCEMENT, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO, UH, TO SET THE ORGANIZATION AND THE DESTINATION UP FOR SUCCESS? SO THE NEXT PIECE HERE IS THE DMO FORMATION.

SO AS CARRIE MENTIONED, A DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION, A DMO IS FOCUSED ON LIFTING THE DESTINATION REGARDLESS OF JURISDICTION, RIGHT? BUT SO JUST LIFTING THE DESTINATION FROM AN AWARENESS STANDPOINT AND TRYING TO DRIVE AND, AND BE THE DRIVER BEHIND VISITORS COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY TO SPEND THEIR LIVES, USE YOUR DOLLARS IN THEIR LEISURE TIME.

UH, SO WE ARE

[00:20:01]

UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO WE'VE SET OTHER ORGANIZATIONS UP, WE'VE RESTRUCTURED OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

SO REALLY BUILDING A FRAMEWORK THAT MAKES SENSE HERE, UH, FOR FRONT ROYAL AND FOR WARREN COUNTY.

UM, SO OUR ROLE IN DOING THAT IS TO COME IN, OBVIOUSLY, AS CARRIE MENTIONED AS THE THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR TO STAND UP THAT ORGANIZATION, BUT THEN ALSO TO MANAGE THAT ORGANIZATION SO THAT IT CAN FUNCTION AND HAS THAT STRATEGIC GUIDANCE.

SO YOU'LL SEE ON THE SCREEN.

AND I THINK IN YOUR PACKETS, UH, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A, OF A TIMELINE THAT SHOWS SORT OF WHERE WE STARTED AND WHERE WE'RE, WHERE WE'RE HEADED.

UM, SO YOU CAN SEE THAT WHEN THE TOWN AND COUNTY RELEASED THIS RFP, UH, IN LATE FALL OF LAST YEAR, WE WERE SELECTED, CAME ON BOARD, GOT OUR ARMS AROUND THE DESTINATION, UM, HAVE STARTED TO, UH, TRANSITION THOSE ASSETS.

AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT'S THINGS LIKE THE, UH, DISCOVER FRONT ROYAL WEBSITE, THE, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, THINGS THAT FROM A FUNCTIONALITY STANDPOINT, THE TOURISM INITIATIVE WOULD MAINTAIN, UH, ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS.

WE DRAFTED BYLAWS AND ARTICLES TO INCORPORATE THE ORGANIZATION.

THEY ARE STILL IN DRAFT FORM, SO WE HAVEN'T FILED ANYTHING.

UH, IT'S, THEY'VE BEEN DRAFTED, THEY'VE BEEN REVIEWED BY THE JOINT TOURISM COMMITTEE.

UH, YOU'LL SEE TWO BOXES OVER.

WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A LEGAL REVIEW TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE COMPLIANT WITH, UH, VIRGINIA STATUTES, AS WELL AS FEDERAL.

UH, AND REALLY THESE ARE THE STEPS IN THE PROCESS THAT WE NEED TO GO THROUGH, UH, IN ORDER TO FILE AND HAVE THE ORGANIZATION STOOD UP AS A STANDALONE NONPROFIT DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION.

SO YOU CAN SEE IN THE CIRCLE WHERE WE ARE IS THAT LEGAL REVIEW.

UH, THERE ARE THINGS HAPPENING IN PARALLEL WITH THAT RIGHT NOW, UH, THAT, UH, THERE WILL BE A MOA, UH, AN AMENDED MOA, I BELIEVE BETWEEN THE TOWN AND COUNTY FOR THESE SERVICES.

UH, THERE WILL BE A CONTRACT DRAFTED, WHICH IS IN DRAFT FORM NOW, UH, THAT WILL BE BETWEEN THE BOARD OF THE ORGANIZATION AND BOTH THE TOWN AND COUNTY.

AND THEN OUR JOB AGAIN, IS TO MANAGE THAT ORGANIZATION, THAT CONTRACT, UH, THE CONTRACT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, WOULD BE ASSIGNED TO THE BOARD, UH, ULTIMATELY LOOKING TO HAVE A, UH, FULL FORMATION ARTICLES, FILED BYLAWS, FILED A STATUS OF A NONPROFIT COMPLETED, UH, AND BE UP AND FUNCTIONAL, UH, BY SEPTEMBER OF 2021 NEXT PIECE, TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON HIS NEW VISITOR MARKETING.

UM, SO WE OBVIOUSLY KNEW THAT COMING INTO THIS DESTINATION, WE HAD A, UH, FORMATION TRACK TO FOLLOW, BUT WE WERE ALSO COMING IN A FEW MONTHS AHEAD OF THE VISITOR SEASON, AND NOW WE'RE IN THE THICK OF IT.

SO ONE OF THE PARALLEL TRACKS THAT WE FOLLOWED WAS TO DEVELOP SOME NEW MARKETING CAMPAIGNS, NEW MARKETING MESSAGING.

AND AS I MENTIONED, WE WENT THROUGH A SERIES OF, UH, MAYBE ONE OR TWO KEY BRAINSTORMING SESSIONS WITH THE COMMITTEE.

UH, WE CAME BACK FORMALIZED, THOSE CAMPAIGNS SHOWED DRAFT MARKETING MATERIAL AND REALLY EXECUTED THE CAMPAIGN.

SO TO DATE, WE'VE RELEASED FIVE, BUT TECHNICALLY BY TONIGHT, IT WILL BE SIX, UH, MARKETING CAMPAIGNS, UH, THAT BEGAN IN APRIL.

UM, EACH OF THOSE CAMPAIGNS TIES TO WHAT WE BELIEVE THUS FAR, OUR DEMAND GENERATORS FOR FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY, YOU KNOW, PRIMARILY THE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE, UH, REALLY PULLING ON THOSE KEY THEMES THAT PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING HERE FOR, UM, LEVERAGING THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, THE FOUNDATION THAT, YOU KNOW, PREVIOUSLY WAS BUILT, UH, TO REACH A BROADER AUDIENCE AND A MORE TARGET, A BROADER AUDIENCE FROM A SENSE OF REACHING MORE EYES, BUT A TARGETED AUDIENCE IN THE SENSE THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT JUST TRYING TO GENERALLY RAISE AWARENESS.

WE'RE TRYING TO GO TO TARGET MARKETS THAT HAVE INTEREST IN OUR PRODUCT.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT A BUDGET ORGANIZATION WITH MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT IT WAS GOING TO SPEND ON GENERAL AWARENESS.

WE REALLY WANT TO RAISE AWARENESS WITH OUR KEY TARGET AUDIENCES THAT ARE INTERESTED IN OUR EXPERIENCES.

THAT'S THE OUTDOOR PRODUCT.

THAT'S MORE OF A RURAL EXPERIENCE AND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO HERE, WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.

SO EACH OF THOSE CAMPAIGNS IS TIED TO A KEY TARGET MARKET, TO A GEOGRAPHY THAT IS WITHIN DRIVE DISTANCE, UH, AND IS TIED TO, AGAIN, KEY DEMAND DRIVERS.

UM, WE, WE HAVE SEEN SOME GREAT ACTIVITY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS SINCE RELEASING THESE CAMPAIGNS WE'RE SEEING.

AND I THINK I SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT IN OUR TARGET MARKETS, WE'RE GOING TO COLD AUDIENCES.

SO THEY'RE NOT PEOPLE THAT WE'VE INHERITED A DISTRIBUTION LIST FROM.

SO THIS IS ALL NEW, UH, NEW VISIBILITY, IF YOU WILL, FOR FRONT ROW IN WARREN COUNTY.

AND SO WE'VE, WE'VE HAD SOME PRETTY GOOD ENGAGEMENT THUS FAR WHERE WE'RE SEEING PRETTY GOOD RETURN ON THESE EARLY CAMPAIGNS.

WE'RE SPENDING

[00:25:01]

UM, I THINK WE SET A BUDGET VERY EARLY AT $5,000.

SO WE'RE GOING TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF A TEST WITH SOME KEY MARKETS, TRY AND BREAK IT DOWN, UH, FOR THESE CAMPAIGNS.

SO WE'VE SPENT LESS THAN A THOUSAND DOLLARS ON EACH CAMPAIGN, AND YOU CAN SEE THE COST PER ENGAGEMENT ON THAT BOTTOM STAT IS 56 CENTS.

SO WE ARE, WE ARE REACHING A GOOD AUDIENCE.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT GET TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE NOT JUST TELLING YOU THAT WE'RE REACHING THE RIGHT AUDIENCE, THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY CONVERTING THEM TO VISITATION AND WHAT THAT DOLLAR SPEND MEANS FOR US.

SO THESE ARE, THIS IS VERY EARLY FIRST FEW MONTHS, FIRST FEW CAMPAIGNS OUT OF THE GATE, BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE GETTING A GOOD REACH OUT OF IT.

WE'RE SEEING GOOD ENGAGEMENT PER POST.

THESE ARE OUR ADS THAT WE ARE POSTING ON SOCIAL CHANNELS OR OUR, OUR, UH, DIRECT EMAIL CAMPAIGNS.

UH, SO NOT SPENDING BIG BUDGET DOLLARS ON GENERALLY RAISING AWARENESS, BUT REALLY GOING TO A TARGETED LIST THAT WE KNOW WE CAN ENGAGE WITH.

THESE ARE SOME SAMPLE CAMPAIGNS.

UH, SO THE FIRST ONE WE DID WAS CALLED GET-OUT GOLF.

IT WAS EARLY SPRING TIME TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET BACK OUT.

WE KNOW WE HAVE GREAT GOLF RESOURCE RESOURCES IN THE AREA.

SO EACH OF THE CAMPAIGNS THAT VERTICAL PIECE IS THE DIRECT EMAIL PIECE.

AND THE PIECE ON THE SIDE IS A SAMPLE OF A SOCIAL POST.

SO EACH OF THOSE CAMPAIGNS HAS A PRIMARY ACTIVITY PLACES TO STAY THINGS TO DO AROUND THAT ACTIVITY, WHETHER IT'S AND DRINK OR OTHERWISE, AND THEN AS TIED TO A SOCIAL, UH, SERIES OF SOCIAL POSTS AS WELL.

SO THAT FIRST ONE THERE IS GET OUT AND GOLF.

WE HAD ONE CALLED PERFECT ADVENTURES, WHICH WAS A DAY TRIP DESIGNED TO GET PEOPLE FROM THE CITY, WITH DOGS TO COME OUT AND GO HIKING WITH THEIR FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS THAT PERFORMED INCREDIBLY WELL.

SO WE THINK WE KNOW THAT DOGS HAVE SELL OR AT LEAST GET INTEREST.

UM, AND THEN THE THIRD ONE, THERE IS ADVENTURE AWAITS.

SO AGAIN, PLAYING OFF OF THE KEY THEMES THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER HERE AND TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO COME DOWN AND STAY OVERNIGHT.

SO THOSE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF SAMPLES.

LIKE I SAID, WE'VE, WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE IN THE WORKS.

UH, NEXT PIECE HERE IS THE VISITOR CENTER REFRESH.

SO WE'VE SPENT SOME TIME OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AND, UH, WITH, WITH THE TOWN IN PARTICULAR ON, AGAIN, REFRESHING THE SPACE AND WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN? AND WE HAVE A GOAL TO CREATE A MORE DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT, A MORE ENGAGING ENVIRONMENT, SO WE CAN HELP CURATE AND CULTIVATE THE RIGHT GRIP FOR A TRAVELER.

UM, SO OUR GOAL IS TO REALLY GET IN FRONT OF THEM BEFORE THEY'RE HERE THROUGH SUMMER, THESE MARKETING CAMPAIGNS THROUGH DIRECTING INQUIRIES INTO THE VISITOR CENTER, BUT ALSO ONCE THEY ARE HERE AND WE HAVE THIS FOOT TRAFFIC, WHAT ARE THEY COMING INTO THE VISITOR CENTER FOR WANTING TO CREATE A PLACE THAT IS FULL OF ACTIVITY THAT REALLY HELPS CONNECT THE DOTS BETWEEN A VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND WHAT LOCALLY WE HAVE TO OFFER.

SO IN PHASE I'VE BROKEN IT DOWN HERE IN TWO PHASES.

I THINK IT WILL BE A CONTINUED AND EVER CONTINUING AND EVOLVING PROCESS TO, TO REFRESH THE SPACE WITH NEW EXPERIENCES.

BUT IN TWO PHASES, WE HAVE A FIRST PHASE OF ADDING SOME DIGITAL DISPLAYS, UM, REFRESHING THE INTERIOR FROM A BROCHURE DRIVEN ENVIRONMENT TO LET'S TAKE THE LET'S.

LET'S NOT GO TO A BROCHURES FIRST.

NOT THAT THEY'RE NOT IMPORTANT, BUT SO THAT WE CAN ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AND HAVE SOMEBODY COME IN AND TELL US WHAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN.

AND THEN WE CAN HELP DIRECT AND SHOW THEM THINGS THAT THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN DOING.

SO WE'VE ADDED SOME NEW DIGITAL DISPLAYS.

UH, WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING IN PHASE TWO, SOME LARGER WALL, UH, IMAGERY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE, AGAIN, A MORE DYNAMIC VISUAL THAT HITS YOU WHEN YOU WALK IN, UM, SOME MORE DYNAMIC, UH, RETAIL OFFERINGS.

SO DISPLAYS THAT MIGHT HAVE THINGS LIKE CANOES, KAYAKS, OR NO MOUNTAIN BIKES TO TRY AND AGAIN, BRING THE OUTSIDE INSIDE, UM, AND REALLY TRYING TO CREATE AN ACTIVITY HUB.

SO HOW CAN WE BE A PLACE THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT JUST COMING IN TO GET INFORMATION, BUT FEEL LIKE THEY WANT TO GO TO THIS.

THIS IS WHERE THE ACTIVITY TAKES PLACE.

SO, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO, UM, WORK THROUGH THAT AND OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, UH, WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF OBVIOUSLY THE VISITOR SEASON, VERY EARLY, STILL IN THE HIKING SEASON, MORE TO GO AS WE GET INTO THE FALL.

SO THIS WILL CONTINUE, UH, AS THE VISITOR SEASON CONTINUES AS WELL.

THE LAST PIECE HERE IS ADDITIONAL DESTINATION ENGAGEMENT.

AND SO THIS IS REALLY JUST A CATCH ALL SLIDE ON ALL OF THE THINGS, UH, THAT WE'VE, WE'VE DONE.

IN ADDITION TO THOSE THREE PARALLEL TRACKS OF FORMING THE ORGANIZATION, DRAFTING SOME NEW MARKETING MESSAGING AND REFRESHING THE VISITOR CENTER.

SO IN ADDITION TO THOSE THREE AREAS, WE'VE OBVIOUSLY STAYED ENGAGED WITH STAKEHOLDERS.

I WE'VE MET WITH MAIN STREET BUSINESSES, A HANDFUL OF TIMES, UH, BOTH IN-PERSON AND CONTINUED PHONE CALLS ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM.

UM, WANTING TO OBVIOUSLY UNDERSTAND THE TRAIL COMMUNITY WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM.

HOW DO WE, UH, AS WE ARE A DESTINATION ON A TRAIL TOWN, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT AMENITIES? HOW DO WE GIVE THE RIGHT INSTRUCTION AND DIRECTION AS PEOPLE ARE COMING OFF THE TRAIL? UH, WE'VE ALSO BEEN ENGAGED WITH, UH, THE VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION

[00:30:01]

UM, WE'VE HAD, I'VE HAD TWO MEETINGS IN PERSON WITH THEM.

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A PHONE AND VIDEO CALLS WITH THEM ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES.

WE RECENTLY SUBMITTED FOR A RECOVERY GRANT THAT OPENED LAST WEEK.

SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THEM AND LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTNER PARTNERSHIP AND LEVERAGE THERE WITH VTC.

UM, SIMILARLY THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY REGIONAL TOURISM PARTNERSHIP IS A SUBSET IF YOU WILL, OF VTC.

SO, UH, VTC HAS REGIONS ACROSS THE STATE, HOW THEY GROUP, UH, DIFFERENT TOURISM REGIONS.

SO WE ARE PART OF THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY TOURISM PARTNERSHIP.

THEY HAVE REGIONAL MEETINGS ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

WE ARE PARTICIPATING IN THOSE AS WELL AND LOOKING TO LEVERAGE REGIONAL PARTNERS.

UM, AND THEN THE LAST PIECE IS, UH, CREATING RELATIONSHIPS FOR PARTNERS AND PARTNERING AND PACKAGING.

AND SO THIS WILL BE A CONTINUED EFFORT, AND I DON'T THINK THIS WILL EVER STOP, BUT AS WE, AS WE GET STARTED, UH, IN KNOWING WHAT MARKETING MESSAGES ARE RESONATING, WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DO WE HAVE FOR BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE, TRYING TO BE THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE BETWEEN TOURISM EXPERIENCES AND THE TOURISM MARKET AND WHAT OUR BUSINESSES HAVE TO OFFER.

SO WE'VE STARTED TO GO DOWN THAT PATH WITH PUTTING SOME PACKAGES TOGETHER, WORKING WITH THE HOTEL COMMUNITY, TRYING TO GET, UH, WHETHER IT'S DISCOUNTED RATES OR AT LEAST OPPORTUNITIES TO PLUG INTO EXPERIENCES.

SO THAT WILL BE A CONTINUED, UH, EFFORT ON OUR PART AS WELL, BUT STARTING TO HAVE SOME GOOD CONVERSATIONS EARLY CONFERENCE.

SO WITH THAT, OUR NEXT STEPS HERE ARE TO, UH, CONTINUE DOWN THE PATH OF FORMING THE DMO.

SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL DOCUMENTS THAT ARE UNDER REVIEW, BYLAWS ARTICLES, UH, CONTRACTS, AND AN MOA.

UH, THOSE WILL REQUIRE, UH, EVERYBODY'S, YOU KNOW, APPROVAL SO THAT WE CAN, WE CAN GO DOWN THE PATH OF FORMING THE ORGANIZATION, GETTING EVERYTHING UP AND RUNNING.

UM, WE WILL CONTINUE OUR MARKETING CAMPAIGNS.

AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE ONE THAT WILL BE RELEASED, UH, TONIGHT AND WE HAVE MORE IN THE WORKS.

SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT SEASONALLY AND, AND, UH, AS, UH, ACTIVITIES EVOLVE AND CHANGE.

UH, AND THEN THE LAST PIECE THERE IS COMPLETING THE VISITOR CENTER TRANSITION, WHICH AS I MENTIONED, WILL BE A MULTI-PHASE PROCESS.

AND AS THE SEASONS EVOLVE, AND AS THE ORGANIZATION MATURES AND NEW PARTNERS COME TO THE TABLE, THAT WILL BE A CONTINUED EFFORT TO CONTINUE TO REFRESH THE SPACE AS WELL.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL STOP AND TAKE AWAY ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

I'M THE DESTINATION MARKETING, UH, RECOMMENDING AND THE BOARD.

UM, THERE'S GOING TO BE APPLICATIONS FOR THAT RIGHT THERE.

CITIZENS CAN APPLY.

ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE A AND I'LL DEFER TO, UH, ALYSSA AS NEEDED, BUT, UM, THE TOWN DID POST A, UH, BOARD APPLICATION, UH, WITH A SERIES OF QUESTIONS.

SO, UH, ANYBODY CAN APPLY TO THAT.

I BELIEVE A RESUME IS REQUIRED AND IT'S A SINGLE SHEET OF Q AND A ABOUT HOW THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE BOARD WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.

SO THEY CAN, I BELIEVE THAT IS STILL OPEN.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE? SURE.

UM, I JUST HAD A QUICK, QUICK COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

UM, ONE OF THE SIDES MAKES MENTION OF, UH, TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILES.

I WAS JUST INTERESTED IN, IT COULD BE OFFLINE, BUT JUST GETTING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THOSE TARGET DEMOGRAPHICS ARE AND HOW WE'RE COMING UP WITH THAT, THAT INFORMATION.

AND THEN ALSO, I WAS JUST LOOKING AT OUR SAMPLE CAMPAIGNS.

I KNOW WHERE WE'VE ONLY DONE THREE, UH, JUST HAD SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT IT.

LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE, UM, ACTIVITY ORIENTED.

AND I HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT, UH, WHAT ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE IN FUTURE CAMPAIGNS.

AND I GUESS, UH, SUM THAT UP BY, I I'D LOVE TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS, WHETHER, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE, UM, THE COMMITTEE OR JUST OFFLINE THROUGH EMAIL, I'VE GOT A FEW IDEAS.

SO THANK YOU.

NO, THAT'S GREAT.

I I'D LOVE TO THE MORE FEEDBACK, THE BETTER, SO ABSOLUTELY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON OKAY.

ANYBODY ELSE? NO, THAT'S GREAT STUFF.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

APPRECIATE IT.

UM, NEXT WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

UM, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED TO SPEAK TINA? YES, SIR.

WE HAVE SIX, UM, PUBLIC COMMENTS.

UH, THEY SHOULD NOT BE RELATED TO, SORRY, NOW WE HAVE NONE.

OH, OKAY.

IT'S PUBLIC HEARING.

I'M SORRY.

VERY GOOD.

WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

WAS ANYBODY HERE LIKE TO SPEAK? NOPE.

ALL STEVEN WAS COMING HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT, DANG DONE.

UH,

[8A. An Ordinance Amendment to the Town Code Chapter 12-3 (Finance Fees) to Remove Credit Card Fees from any Payments Due to the Town if Tendered by either Credit Card or Debit Card and Approval of a FY2022 Budget Amendment - BJ ]

[00:35:01]

IF TINDER BY EITHER CREDIT CARD OR DEBIT CARD AND APPROVAL OF THE FYI 2022 BUDGET AMENDMENT.

TINA, COULD YOU READ THE SUMMARY PLEASE? COUNCIL'S REQUESTED TO AMEND TOWN CODE CHAPTER 12, THREE FINANCE FEES TO REMOVE FEES.

WHEN PAYMENT OF ANY TOWN TRANSACTION IS TENDERED BY EITHER CREDIT CARD OR DEBIT CARD OR ANY OTHER MEANS OF PAYMENT BY WHICH THE TOWN INCURS A CHARGE AS PRESENTED IF APPROVED, COUNSEL'S REQUESTED APPROVE A F F Y 22 BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $140,000 DUE TO THE FA FYI 2022 BUDGET BEING ALREADY APPROVED.

A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON MAY 24TH, BUT REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA.

A NEW PUBLIC HEARING WAS ADVERTISED FOR TONIGHT.

THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT, IF APPROVED WOULD BE EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2021.

ALL RIGHT.

I'D LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT THE SIGN OF THE SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? NO, SIR.

I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.

ALL RIGHT.

UH, WAS THERE ANYBODY HERE I'D LIKE TO SPEAK? ALRIGHT.

BE ANONYMOUS, CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING, AND OPENED UP THE COUNCIL.

UM, I'M PREPARED.

IT'S OKAY.

THE MOTION BEFOREHAND.

UM, AS A SUGGESTION, MR. MAYOR, UM, I THINK I HAVE TO MAKE THE MOTION FUCKING COMMENT ON IT, AND I CAN EXPLAIN IT MY COMMENTS, IF SOMEBODY SECOND SAID, AND THEN WE CAN DECIDE TO DO FROM THERE, BUT, UM, MUCH TO THE DISMAY OF SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES UP HERE, I STILL WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE TO TAKE THIS BACK TO A WORK, A WORK SESSION TO DISCUSS, UM, TO DISCUSS SOME MORE ACTIONS AROUND, UH, AROUND THIS CHANGE.

SO I PROPOSE TO, UM, UH, I PROPOSE TO TAKE THIS BACK TO A WORK SESSION.

THAT'S I'D LIKE TO SAY SECOND, SECOND.

UH, TINA, CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? WHAT WE GET COMMENTS FIRST? OH, DISCUSSION.

I'M SORRY.

UM, THANK YOU.

SO THE REASON WHY I WANT TO TAKE IT BACK TO A WORK SESSION, WE TOOK IT BACK TO A WORK SESSION ONCE BEFORE.

UM, WE GOT MORE CLARIFICATION FROM STAFF ON, UM, ON SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PRESENTED IN THAT CIRCULATED IN THE COMMUNITY RELATED TO, UM, WHY WE'RE DOING THIS.

UM, AND THE POTENTIAL COST TO TAXPAYERS WHO OBVIOUSLY WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT FOOTING THE BILL FOR, FOR CREDIT CARD FEES.

SO A COUPLE OF THINGS I JUST WANTED TO NOTE HERE.

UM, NUMBER ONE, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF, I AM IN FAVOR OF A MORE EFFICIENT WAY OF PAYING FOR OUR BILLS, UTILITY BILLS SPECIFICALLY, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF TAKING CREDIT CARDS AND USING THAT AS A METHOD FOR PAYING TAX BILLS, FOR INSTANCE, AND OUR TAX REVENUE, UM, IT'S FORECASTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

IF WE WERE TO GO THAT ROUTE, THAT WOULD INCREASE OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET BY ABOUT ANOTHER 44,000 ANNUALLY.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS, WHAT I'M TRYING TO, WHAT I'M TRYING TO SEPARATE OUT HERE IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR GENERAL FUND AND OUR ENTERPRISE FUND OR ENTERPRISE FUNDS.

THERE ARE BUSINESSES LIKE OUR, UH, UTILITIES FOR ELECTRIC WATER, SEWER, TRASH, OR SOLID WASTE.

UM, THOSE BUSINESSES RUN LIKE ANY OTHER BUSINESS.

THEY'RE NOT IDEALLY NOT SUPPOSED TO BE FUNDED THROUGH TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FUNDED THROUGH YOUR UTILITY BILLS.

WHAT YOU USE IS WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE CONSULTING SERVICES THAT HELP US MODERATE THE FEES ON THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR INFLATION AND OUR COSTS WITH, UM, OUR, OUR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT IS IN LINE SO THAT WE COVER OUR OPERATING COSTS FOR UTILITIES.

SO ONE OF THE MISNOMERS THAT WAS OUT THERE, UH, THE EMAILS THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING IS THAT THIS IS GOING TO RAISE YOUR UTILITY BILLS BY OR RAISE OUR BILL IS BY A DOLLAR 77, UM, PER CUSTOMER TO, IN ORDER TO COVER THE COST OF OUR CREDIT CARD FEES.

AND THAT'S SIMPLY NOT THE CASE.

THIS COUNCIL'S NEVER TALKED ABOUT RAISING ANYTHING, UH, TO COVER THE COST OF CREDIT CARD FEES.

WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO GET TO IS AN EFFICIENCY, UH, IN THE MODEL THAT WE HAVE IN COLLECTING PAYMENT.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS MORE OR LESS AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM, LESS SMELL, LESS CHECK PROCESSING, LESS ACCOUNT RECONCILIATION, LESS BAD DEBT ASSOCIATED TO, UM, UH, RELATED TO, UM, UNPAID BILLS.

SO THIS IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE DRIVING TOWARDS.

AND AS PART OF THAT PROCESS IS ALLOWING FOR CUSTOMERS TO PAY THEIR BILLS WITH CREDIT CARDS, AS YOU KNOW, DOMINION POWER OR ALLEGHENY THOMPSON GAS, ALL THESE OTHER MAJOR ENTERPRISES DO.

UM, AGAIN, NOT WITH THE INTENT OF NOT RAISING ANY COST FOR OUR CUSTOMER BASE, BUT FIGURING OUT A WAY TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT IN THE PROCESS IN DOING THAT.

SO WE LACK SOME INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE LACK A SYSTEM THAT IS GOING TO HELP US BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

UM, AND PART OF

[00:40:01]

BUT AGAIN, US PURCHASING A NEW SYSTEM TO PROCESS CREDIT CARDS, TO HOLD AN ACCOUNT HOLDERS INFORMATION IN OUR SYSTEM, TO BE ABLE TO PROCESS THESE CREDIT CARDS.

THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S GONNA COST.

UM, SO IT'S NOT JUST FOR CREDIT CARDS, IT'S UPDATING AN ANTIQUATED SYSTEM.

SO I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND TAKING THIS BACK TO COUNCIL, UH, TO WORK WITH STAFF ON A PLAN TO OFFSET THE EXPENSE OF CREDIT CARD FEES THROUGH PROPOSED EFFICIENCIES IN AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM.

UM, I HAVE A DESIRE TO WORK THROUGH THIS.

I DON'T WANT TO FORCE IT THROUGH, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ON COUNCILS IN OUR HURRY TO GET THIS DONE, BUT, UM, YOU'D PROBABLY HEAR A LITTLE BIT OF A DIVIDED, UM, DIVIDED VIEWPOINT ON HOW WE'RE GOING ABOUT THAT.

BUT THAT'S, THAT'S MY INTENT OF TAKING THIS BACK TO WORK SESSION, TO DIRECT STAFF ON THE NEXT STEPS.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO GO ALONG WITH WHAT JAKE IS SAYING ABOUT THE REAL ESTATE TAXES TO BE ABLE TO SEPARATE THOSE OUT.

I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS HERE THAT WE SPEND $12,000 PER YEAR IN A SYSTEM SO THAT WE CAN CHARGE PEOPLE DIFFERENCES, UM, FOR THE CONVENIENCE FEE SEPARATELY, UM, THAN WE DO FOR OTHER PAYMENTS.

UM, WE REALLY DO NEED TO GET SOME EFFICIENCIES AROUND THIS AND BE ABLE TO SEPARATE OFF THE REAL ESTATE PIECE.

SO I'M OKAY WITH THIS, GOING BACK TO A WORK SESSION ONE MORE TIME, JUST SO WE GET IT RIGHT AND NOT MOVE FAST AND NOT DO SOMETHING WRONG, BUT NOT BE AS EFFICIENT AS WE COULD.

UH, YES, MR. MAYOR, UM, UH, MY OPPOSITION TO THIS IS, IS THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW WHAT JAKE IS SAYING, BUT EVENTUALLY, EVENTUALLY THAT HUNTING FOR $140,000 IS GOING TO BE ABSORBED, YOU KNOW, UM, LATER ON DOWN THE ROAD.

AND, UM, I TAKE THE ADAGE THAT, YOU KNOW, NOTHING'S FREE AND, UM, I DON'T SEE PASSING A CALL SNOWING TO A MAJORITY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, UM, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, A LOT OF, A LOT OF THE, OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT EXTRA COST AND MEANS A LOT TO THEM.

SO THAT IS MY POSITION ON IT.

UM, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE TO THIS PARTICULAR DISCUSSION ABOUT TAKING IT BACK TO A WORK SESSION? I PERSONALLY DON'T MIND IT.

I HAVEN'T SEEN THE NUMBERS ON THE EFFICIENCIES THAT COULD BE GAINED BY UPDATING OUR SOFTWARE SYSTEM, IF I'M IN FAVOR OF MAKING INVESTMENTS THAT ACHIEVE EFFICIENCIES FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AND FOR OUR TAXPAYERS, BUT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE THE BUSINESS CASE HAS GOT TO RESOLVE IN ACTUAL EFFICIENCY.

UM, AND WHAT'S BEEN PROPOSED TO US, DOES NOT ACTUALLY ACQUIRE FOR US ANY ADDITIONAL CAPABILITIES.

IT JUST CHANGES THE WAY THAT WE PAY FOR THEM.

UM, AND IN A WAY THAT THAT PASSES LIKE, UH, MR. GILLESPIE IS SAYING AT LEAST $140,000 ONTO THE, ONTO THE CUSTOMERS WHICH NOT SUPPORTIVE.

SO IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THIS, I'M FINE WITH THAT.

ANYONE ELSE? YES.

MR. MAYOR.

OH, ONE MORE TIME, JAKE.

OH, I DID WANT TO COMMENT ON A COUPLE OF THOSE THINGS.

NUMBER, NUMBER ONE.

AGAIN, I THINK THAT EVERYBODY HAS TO UNDERSTAND THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND OUR GENERAL FUNDS, GENERAL FUNDS RECEIVE REVENUES THROUGH INCREASING TAXES.

OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS ARE, UM, ARE OPERATED THROUGH WHAT WE GET IN PAYMENT FOR OUR CUSTOMERS WHO SIGN UP TO GET ELECTRIC OR TRUST SERVICES OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

AND IN MY MIND, I SEPARATE THE TWO BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT ADDING INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR INSTANCE, OR ADDING NEW SOFTWARE OR ADDING A BETTER SYSTEM TO OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO.

AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE A COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT, A COST OF DOING BUSINESS FOR THE CUSTOMERS OF THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S DIFFERENT IN MY MIND THAN, THAN RAISING TAXES.

AND WE CAN'T JUST KEEP HOLDING DIFFERENT PARTS OF THAT PROCESS BACK BECAUSE WE WANT TO KEEP THE EXPENSES LOW ON THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS BECAUSE EVENTUALLY THAT TOO WILL CATCH UP WITH HOW WE'RE RUNNING OUR BUSINESSES.

ANYONE ELSE? MR. MAYOR? UM, JUST ONE MORE COMMENT.

UM, SO A LOT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS WE'RE HERE IN TOWN, YOU KNOW, UM, THAT 140,000 WOULD, WOULD BE GREAT FOR DEBT PAYMENT, UM, TO HELP, UH, GET SOME OF THIS STUFF IN ORDER FOR US.

UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU.

UM, TINA, I KNOW IT CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT SINCE WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY TAKE US BACK TO A WORK SESSION, CAN I REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND LEAVE IT OPEN UNTIL OUR, UH, WE HAVE OUR NEXT HEARING ON THE MATTER