Columbus, Georgia

COLUMBUS CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

Minutes of the Board of Commissioners Meeting

February 19, 2003



I. CALL TO ORDER



The President Michael Garrigan, called the February Board of Commissioners

meeting, held at The Sol-Loeb Building, Dillingham Place Suite 200, Number

Eleven Ninth Street, to order at 8:15 A.M. Board members present were: Lee

Brantley, Veola Hymes, Colin Martin, Jerry Mazurkiewicz, James McMullen, Mayor

Bob Poydasheff, Frances Quick, Virgil Thompson, and Martha Turner.



Ex-Officio members present were: James Baudoin, Larry Campbell, Charlie

Schilling, and, Ed Wilson.



Board Members absent included: Dr. J.A. Hud, Jack Pezold, Roy Plummer, and Dr.

Michaell Taylor.



Ex-Officio members absent included: Carmen Cavezza, Janice Davis, and Burnie

Quick.



CCVB staff members present: Brenda Price, Peter Bowden, Shelby Guest, and Rose

Lynn.



Guest attending: Betsy Ramsey and Dykes Blackmon, - Dillingham Place, LLC



II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES



Secretary Veola Hymes noted a correction in the January minutes regarding a

typographical error in the spelling of Colin Martin?s name. Ms. Hymes

apologized to Mr. Martin for this error, and made a motion to accept the

minutes with the noted correction. Jerry Mazurkiewicz seconded the motion, a

vote was taken, and the motion carried.



III. TREASURER?S REPORT



In the absence of Treasurer Miriam Tidwell, Deputy Director Peter Bowden

presented the financial report for the month of January. Mr. Bowden stated

that the CCVB had successfully moved the accounting/bookkeeping in-house while

retaining CPA- Carey Barfield to assist through the transition. Mr. Bowden

informed the Board that the January revenue and expense report reflected three

items the Board should be aware of:



(1) Salaries appeared higher than normal due to three pay-periods for the month.

(2) The employee 401(k) account was higher due to an additional payment made;

the regular payment schedule requires a bi-weekly payment; the necessary

adjustments have been made to correct the difference.

(3) The building lease was higher due to the payment of a security deposit and

one-month lease on The Sol-Loeb Building to secure the contract.



Mr. Bowden shared that the financial statement showed availability of funds in

the bank, which could be attributed to Administrative Staff?s monitoring of

funds to ensure that spending stays on target. The floor was opened for

questions.



Mayor Poydasheff asked if the employee retirement was matched and who managed

the 401(k) plan? Mr. Bowden stated the funds were matched by CCVB and managed

by Prudential. Mayor Poydasheff said that if there were problems with the

401(k), he recommended Henry Swift with the Consolidated Government as source

to review CCVB?s current plan. Executive Assistant Rose Lynn informed the

Board that the retirement overpayment for January have been corrected as of

February 20, 2003. Colin Martin made the motion to accept the financial

statements as presented and seconded by Veola Hymes. The Board voted and the

motion carried.



IV. OLD BUSINESS



Review of facility progress. Mr. Bowden thanked visiting guests Betsy Ramsey

and Dykes Blackmon for opening the facility for the Board Meeting. Mr. Bowden

briefly discussed the following:

? The CCVB received preliminary estimates for the build out of the new facility

from the architect and builder and will continue to meet with them to finalize

those numbers.

? Dillingham Place LLC has included the lobby area (Front Avenue entrance) to

the CCVB at no additional charge.

? The ?Columbus Experience? will begin when visitor enters the lobby: two

information specialists will be located there; a continuous playing video;

literature and information on Columbus and the surrounding area; and some

merchandise.

? Visitors who are looking for additional ?experiences? will be invited

upstairs, where the second phase of the ?Columbus Experience? begins: an

additional information specialist will greet the visitor; the bureau will stage

exhibits; interactive displays; brochure materials; merchandise;

demonstrations; etc.; public restrooms are also located on this level. A

theater is located within this part of the Visitors Centers where guests will

be encouraged to view various films of attractions available in the Columbus

and surrounding area. (Mr. Bowden noted that the Bureau would be soliciting

films for viewing from its partners.)

? A central storage and filing room, sales offices, conference rooms, and other

support needs will be located on the second level of the Visitors Center.



Mr. Bowden turned the floor over to Mr. Blackmon. Mr. Blackmon thanked the

Board for allowing Dillingham LLC personnel the opportunity to be present and

discuss the facilities. He described the current occupants of Dillingham

place, i.e., the Galleria Riverside, Dream Alley, Poppy?s, and the newly

announced Quizno?s Deli, that will be located in the lower level of the Joy

Building. Mr. Blackmon stated that Dillingham LLC is actively pursuing to

provide a full service dinner restaurant with about 6000 square feet within

downtown area.



Charlie Schilling asked when the CCVB might move? Mr. Bowden stated if the new

facility was not ready by April 1st the move would take place possibly the 2nd

week in May due to major events occurring just prior to that time ? Tour de

Georgia and the Bureau?s annual banquet. This would allow Staff to focus on

those events and then transition into the move.





Blue Sky Visioning Process. Mr. Bowden presented the following to the Board:



? Phase I of the Visioning Process is the relocation of the Visitors Center to

The Sol-Loeb Building.

? Phase II is best described as the imagination piece. Mr. Bowden stressed that

the Board was an integral part of Phase II and suggested that an August meeting

be set -- a time that would be feasible to gather as many Board Members as

possible -- for the Board to come together for an hour or two to record

thoughts and goals regarding what is required of the CCVB as it reinvents

itself and raises the standard for destination marketing and management.

? Phase II also involves holding additional meetings with the destination?s

stakeholders (hotels, attractions, etc.) so that those with similar interests

could continue to work together to determine short and long terms needs and the

role the Bureau.



Mayor Poydasheff suggested that the Board meet with the City Manager, to

include the branding campaign, and review strategies for the 21st century. Mr.

Bowden stated that a meeting has been set up for Monday February 24, 2003 at

2:00 p.m. to accomplish this.



Nominating Committee Recommendation



Mr. Bowden stated last month that the Nominating Committee made a

recommendation to amend the by-laws to establish an immediate past president

position on the Executive Board Committee, which required action from the

Board. Mr. Garrigan briefly read the proposed duties of the immediate past

president (see attached.) Mayor Poydasheff made a motion, Lee Brantley

seconded the motion, a vote was taken, and the motion carried.



V. NEW BUSINESS



2004 Budget: Mr. Garrigan commented that the budget was prepared by CCVB Staff

and reviewed by Executive Board Committee members present during a meeting

before submission to the Board.



Mr. Bowden reviewed the budget recommendation for 2004. Mr. Wilson inquired as

to what TGIF consisted of? Mr. Bowden stated it was Tourism Growth Investment

Fund, an in-house reservation service that was established to work with local

hotels and act as a travel agent on their behalf. The Bureau is allotted a

number of rooms from its hotel partners and is commissioned from those sales.

Mr. Brantley asked what percentage of an increase of the hotel/motel tax was

expected? Mr. Bowden stated two percent. Based on international trade

business reports, and the current world events, the CCVB will watch and adjust

the projection if required. Mr. Wilson asked what percentage of the

hotel/motel growth had the CCVB realized? Executive Director Brenda Price

stated the Bureau is currently at five percent above projections. After a

brief discussion of the budget, Mr. Martin made a motion to accept the 2004

budget and seconded by Ms. Hymes. A vote was taken and the motion carried.



There was brief discussion on the flag referendum. Mr. Bowden asked the Board

permission to partner with the Chamber of Commerce in developing language to

assist in protecting the interests of the Bureau?s customers.



The floor was open for discussion, there being none, Mr. Blackmon and Ms Ramsey

conducted a tour of the facilities for the Board members present





VI. ADJOURNMENT



The meeting adjourned at 9:30 A.M.