MINUTES
DMI Board of Directors Meeting
December 7, 2007
Attendance: Judge Deanell Reece Tacha, Chair, Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA); Vice Mayor Mike Dever, City Manager Dave Corliss; County Commissioner Charles Jones; County Administrator Craig Weinaug; FFNHA Board member David Dunfield; Chair of Chamber of Commerce Board, Joan Golden; President of the Chamber, Lavern Squier.
Destination Management Inc. Board of Directors meeting was opened by Judge Deanell Reece Tacha.
The first order of business was to adopt the proposed bylaws for this newly-formed organization. Weinaug moved and Dever seconded approval. Vote was unanimous. Bylaws call for the Mayor to appoint a CVB Advisory Board member to this board.
Officers were elected as follows: Judge Tacha, Chair
with Weinaug stating that the initial start needs Tacha’s leadership; Charles Jones, Vice Chair; Dave
Corliss, Secretary; Joan Golden, Treasurer.
During open discussion of expectations, meetings, and responsibilities the following discussions took place:
Jones suggested that DMI make a formal request to the County funding of historical societies. The County wishes to send a message early about the funding mechanism for these entities. DMI will request for funding as soon as is practical. These funds are paid out quarterly.
Jones also stated that his hopes and expectations are to
focus on the goals of Freedom’s Frontier and to lend support but not to
micromanage. He expects that a strategy
for leadership will be developed for the
Corliss said that a contract between the City and DMI to operate the CVB is being drafted. This will confirm expectations of how the CVB will operate in the DMI structure.
Tacha explained that FFNHA is currently raising money to pay for the next required step in development which is to create an operational plan through a public process that must ultimately be approved by the National Park Service and the Secretary of Interior. FFNHA has raised approximately one-half of the $300,000 needed to contract with professional to facilitate the plan. Tacha has written a letter to the Douglas County Commission requesting that the Douglas County Commission be a guarantor for the additional funds so that a contract can be signed with every confidence that the remainder of the financial obligation can be raised.
The idea was expressed by several that the purpose of DMI is to raise the tide by coordinating community priorities. At the next meeting, the board will discuss setting overall direction and policy and to review a preliminary budget for DMI.
Because this board will be overseeing the use of public
money, it will be subject to the open meetings law. In order to meet these requirements, Corliss
will publicize the meetings on the City’s website therefore the media is
invited to attend.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, January 10 at 4pm at City Hall.
Meeting adjourned.