Ocracoke Civic and Business Association DRAFT Minutes Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at the Ocracoke Community Center.

Meeting was called to order by President Rudy Austin at 7:02 p.m. Board members present: Connie Leinbach and Jim Borland.  Members/others present: Sundae Horn, Peter Vankevich, Arleen Burley, Darlene Styron, Philip Howard, Sarah Johnson, Mickey Baker, Chip Stevens, Sue Dayton, David Mickey, Linda Scarborough, Alan Casavant, John Giagu, Stefen Howard, Corky Pentz, Kim Meacham, Ann Warner, Teresa and Albert O’Neal.  Hyde County Manager Bill Rich and Hyde County Planning and Economic Development Director Kris Noble attended via speakerphone.

Minutes: The minutes of the February meeting were approved

Treasurer’s report: There was no treasurer’s report

OCBA proposal to ask Occupancy Tax for funds to enhance OCBA website; hire a professional marketing company to assist in marketing:

Connie Leinbach noted that the Occupancy Tax board has not yet approved the OCBA’s idea (though she alluded to that in her meeting notice email) , but that the OCBA wants to enhance its activities on marketing the island and organizing events vis-à-vis Hyde County’s latest proposal to take $100,000 from the Occupancy Tax funds.

Bill Rich began by saying his latest proposal to create a fulltime position to market Ocracoke and be the county public information officer is a compromise because the first proposal in February (to create a Tourism Development Authority that would levy an additional 2 percent on the Occupancy Tax for the same purpose) “was not endorsed by all.”

Mickey Baker noted that because of the ferry situation this will be a tough summer. BJ Oelschlelgel said that if visitors are waiting for hours in the summer heat, this may prompt more negative press. 

Arleen Burley said that Ocracoke needs to address more than just packing more people onto the island as we can. We need to address parking and taking care of them once they are here, such as public restrooms, which, while discussed a couple of years ago, did not get done, she said.

Ms. Leinbach read remarks submitted via email from Bob Oakes, owner of Ocracoke Island Realty, who said his biggest concern is “an increase in the occupancy tax and the potential for unintended consequences.”  He said he “would prefer to see the OCBA continue to provide marketing coordination as it’s a more flexible situation and avoids the potential for duplication of effort. The key would seem to be a single group that coordinates the effort, a united front.”

George Chamberlin, owner of Captain’s Landing, submitted remarks that he “has strong objections to Hyde County taking $100,000 from the Occupancy Tax funds to hire an employee and to fiscal irresponsibility. The county commissioners have not been stellar in their fiscal responsibility. The jail on the mainland is an example. They don’t need to tell us where to spend our occupancy tax money. They need to allow the people (the OT board) entrusted to make spending recommendations do so.”

Mr. Rich said he thought Mr. Chamberlin’s remarks were wrong saying we shouldn’t judge the current commissioners on something that was done in 2007 (when the jail was built).  He said he has increased the general fund by $1.25 million.

“In Hyde County we know tourism is economic development and that’s why I want to put the tourism board under our economic development department,” Mr. Rich said.

He continued:  “The OCBA is getting $57,000 and duplication is a huge problem. This (his idea) is a solution to not duplicating.  Restrooms is another good example why Hyde County should be spearheading this. Hyde County Transit is applying for $1.25 million for trams.  With this plan, tourism becomes part of economic development and is accountable to Hyde County and the commissioners.

(With Hyde County doing tourism), and if we get $3 million more in occupancy tax and the visitors are spending more on food, it benefits all. This means a lot to us as well as to Ocracoke.”

Jim Borland noted that if we don’t solve the transportation problem (ferries, roads), (more advertising) is no use.

Mr. Rich responded that he is on the Regional Planning Organization (entrusted with funding various transportation/infrastructure needs in the area that includes Ocracoke), and that passenger ferries will be a huge plus both for visitors and in the event of evacuations.

Kris Noble remarked that this plan would be for increasing visitors in the shoulder seasons, not mid-summer. “This person would be a tremendous asset getting information out to the public when ferries are down,” she said.

Mr. Rich said the electronic sign at the outside of the village heading north came about because of the meetings on the island with ferry officials and input by people on Ocracoke.

Sundae Horn noted that Bill, Kris and Sarah applied for grants from commerce. She is available for people to call and get information. We now have a Facebook page and Twitter account dedicated to Ocracoke that we didn’t have two years ago. We are already doing on Ocracoke what a fulltime person would do. Another $60,000 in advertising we don’t need. We need to get people here.

Mr. Rich asked that we give them the responsibility to market Ocracoke and that one source for information makes sense. “We’re trying to complete a circle of coordination that we started and get more money for Ocracoke and Hyde.  Economic development is the only way to get more money. There’s no personal agenda. We want to do what’s best for Ocracoke.”

Darlene Styron noted that the occupancy tax fund is “money that is raised on Ocracoke that the county wants to take and use for marketing and a public information officer. If Ocracoke is putting up money for a fulltime county employee then we need a part-time code enforcement officer. The Occupancy Tax board should have the say as to where we want the money to go rather than paying for another county employee.  Yes, we need to hire a professional person, but I don’t know if anyone on the mainland or here is qualified.”

Mr. Rich said it makes sense to combine the two jobs, but Ms. Styron said PIO work is different from advertising.

Mr. Rich said the OCBA is a “social welfare” organization as defined by its tax exempt status of 501 c (4).

Mr. Borland asked if every year the county would take that amount out of the occupancy tax. Mr. Rich said his hope is to grow the entire tax so as not to affect what’s given to local organizations.

Chip Stevens said the only thing we agree on is that we need someone to come in and do a study to tell us what the target message is for Ocracoke, Hyde County and the region.

“Until we get ownership points we’re going to keep going around and around,” he said. “There’s still a lot of angst about Hyde County getting the money and it not coming back.”  Ms. Oelschlegel said that this is the “big elephant in the room.”

Mr. Rich said that the Occupancy Tax money is county money coming back to Ocracoke.

When Ms. Oelschlegel asked what specifically the county has done for Ocracoke, Mr. Rich responded that the county recently awarded five loans to local businesses from the revolving loan fund, such as one for the Ocracoke Brewing Company, which will be located in the former Café Atlantic. “If it weren’t for Hyde County, Ocracoke Brewery wouldn’t be there,” Mr. Rich said.  “We’re there fighting for Ocracoke. Ocracoke IS Hyde County.”

Finally, Mr. Rich said he will only present this idea at the next county commissioners’ meeting April 6 and not ask that it be approved. He also will present it to the Occupancy Tax Board first at their April 7 meeting.

Islanders who want to comment on this latest proposal should get their comments to the Hyde County commissioners no later than March 30.

Travel & Tourism Director’s report: Sundae Horn reported that feedback on fireworks from Pyrotechnico of Columbia, S.C., is that people don’t like the $31,000 this will cost (including paying for a barge from which to launch them) and the July 1 date.   She heard from S&W in Durham could do fireworks on July 3 but they only have a $2 million liability insurance, which is the minimum required for North Carolina. We would have to get approval from Hyde County since the county has approved Pyrotechnico who has a $10 million insurance policy.  So, this is still not decided.

The new walking map is out and being distributed locally and up the beach, and Sundae is finishing the website updates. The No. 1 question she is receiving is who is open?

Marketing: the OCBA purchased space for the spring in “Outer Banks This Week,” and the editorial copy she gave them was about Ocracoke’s pirate connection and specifically features the Pirate Jamboree.

Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree: Chip Stevens gave a presentation for the Ocracoke business community to be more involved and make money from this festival, which will be Oct. 30 to Nov. 1. He said since the committee that started this event decided to have it always on the last weekend of October each year, it positions us to market Ocracoke as a Halloween destination and OCBA can market it that way. The fact that we’re a safe place for trick or treating is huge.

The committee will set up a meeting to work on a budget and plans.

Ocracoke Navigator: Stefen Howard, son of Philip Howard, gave a presentation of a smart-phone and web application that’s like a docent for all of the Ocracoke attractions.

Announcements: Ms. Leinbach re-announced that the Clam Chowder Cook-Off and dance with the Ocracoke Rockers, all on April 4, a benefit for Ocracoke Child Care.

Meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Connie Leinbach, secretary