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CC 2017-06-27_10a Supplemental Information No. 1 MEMORANDUM TO: CITY COUNCIL FROM: DEBBIE MALICOAT, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES SUBJECT: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AGENDA ITEM 10.b. – JUNE 27, 2017 CITY COUNCIL MEETING CONSIDERATION OF THE ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ARROYO GRANDE TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT DATE: JUNE 27, 2017 Attached is supplemental information regarding Item 10.b. on the June 27, 2017 City Council agenda. cc: City Manager City Attorney City Clerk Public Review Binder From: James Guthrie Date: June 27, 2017 at 2:02:51 PM PDT To: Kristen Barneich <kbarneich@arroyogrande.org>, Tim Brown <tbrown@arroyogrande.org>, Barbara Harmon <bharmon@arroyogrande.org>, "Jim Hill" <jhill@arroyogrande.org>, Caren Ray <cray@arroyogrande.org> Cc: <jbergman@arroyogrande.org> Subject: Thoughts on AG TBID Honorable Mayor and Council members: Some thoughts on the AG TBID. A little background first, I was directly involved with the original formation of the TBID in Arroyo Grande. Earlier attempts failed due to the opposition of one of the principal operators (Casa Grande Inn). When their was a change in management there, I contacted Kevin Thornton about the possibility of their support going forward. I met with him several times , he did some extensive research of how the County BID operated and thought there was some potential but had 2 specific concerns. Was there enough free management time and interest from the industry in AG to adequately direct the BID and was there enough money, opportunity and consensus to implement an effective marketing effort. There were only 2 Hotels with more than one person in management in AG and his review of the individual BIDs inside the county BID indicated they were having trouble finding marketing programs and as a result were sitting on most of their cash. Note: that county BID is not the VISIT SLO BID that includes all the cities . I was not the council liaison for the first 2 years of the bid operation but when I retired from the Spyglass Inn I stepped into that role. My experience over the last 2 years leads me to believe that these 2 concerns were valid and bring into question wether the BID is really performing adequately to remain in place. On several occasions the committee was unable to meet for months at a time and ultimately had to hand over several key marketing decisions to the Chamber because they could not reach an official decision. It is my understanding that the committee was unable to meet for the first part of the year because there were not enough hotel operators to form a quorum. I realize this may change going forward by adding 2 members that are not hotel operators, but given that only one the major hotels (who pay 90 - 95% of the BID revenue) thinks it is worth a couple of hours a quarter to ensure that the revenues are spent to benefit them indicates a lack of hotel management time and interest. While I think the BID has built some infrastructure with the web site and some Face Book presence along with some interesting data I don’t see any real breakthrough marketing for 4 years and $600,000 in efforts. I don’t think this is a question of competence it just not enough $$ to move the needle and there is so much tourism marketing going on that there not much opportunity for AG to stand alone. Finally the formation of VISIT SLO 2 years ago makes the AG Bid potentially duplicative and maybe obsolete. I doubt there will be any protest from the BID members tonight but I do think there maybe better uses of the $195,000 a year and the city should be taking a hard look at how well the BID serves the city and the hotel industry in AG. Thanks Jim Guthrie