The Tourism Implementation Task Force has been meeting regularly since May 2018. Updates are provided below. Task Force meetings are open to the public. For questions or meeting time, date & location, please contact Linda Matteson, Assistant to the County Manager and Staff Liaison to the Task Force, at (505) 662-8086 or send Linda an email. The Task Force typically meets the first Wednesday of each month at Noon in Room 330 of the Municipal Building.
Update as of September 2020:
The County Council recently reauthorized the Tourism Implementation Task Force and renewed its charter through April 2022. The updated charter added a representative from the Transportation Advisory Board to the Task Force. In other recent action, Council reappointed several members and appointed three new members to the Task Force. All the terms are until September 7, 2022. The members of the Task Force are as follows:
Consetta Goettee
David Jolly
Lauren McDaniel
Zadora Morin
Clay Moseley
Micheline Devaurs
Greg White
Historic Preservation—Jonathon Creel
Lodgers’ Tax—Katie Bruell
Parks and Recreation—Robbie Harris
Transportation—Dave Schiferl
Previous Work in 2019:
The Task Force developed priorities for the FY20 fiscal year and provided input to Council in the form of a letter. This letter was delivered to Council during the FY20 Budget Hearings. As part of the adopted FY20 budget (which began July 1, 2019) Council approved several of the requested items. See the chart below that shows the results of all of the Task Force recommendations.
|
Number
|
Item
|
Description
|
Approximate Cost
|
Actions for FY2020
|
OT/ Recur.
|
|
1
|
Tourism Director
|
New FTE in County Manager's office to lead Tourism efforts
|
$100,000 - $150000 (estimate)
|
June Work Session discussion
|
Recur.
|
|
2
|
Wayfinding Implementation Phase 1a
|
Total Wayfinding implementation (133 signs is $550,000 but it could be phased over 2-3 years; Phase 1a (58 signs) includes pedestrian directional signs, parking lot identification signs and a portion of the vehicular directional signs.
|
$ 225,000
|
Approved in ED Fund
|
OT
|
|
3
|
Wayfinding Implementation Phase 1b
|
Phase 1b (21 signs) includes a portion of the vehicular directional signs and vehicular trailblazer signs.
|
$ 105,000
|
No Action (future year)
|
OT
|
|
4
|
Wayfinding Implementation Phase 2
|
Phase2 (25 signs) includes the rest of the vehicular directional signs.
|
$ 189,200
|
No Action (future year)
|
OT
|
|
5
|
Wayfinding Implementation Phase 3
|
Phase 3 (14 signs) includes Park Identification signs and kiosks.
|
$ 135,700
|
No Action (future year)
|
OT
|
|
6
|
Updated displays in Visitor Centers
|
A recommendation from the Tourism Strategic Plan to modernize WRVC displays to be more interactive and experiential.
|
$ 50,000
|
Approved in Lodgers' Tax fund
|
OT
|
|
7
|
New website
|
A recommendation from the Tourism Strategic Plan to redesign visitor website at a domain name that the County owns.
|
$ 30,000
|
Approved in Lodgers' Tax fund
|
OT
|
|
8
|
Cost to keep Fuller Lodge open on weekends
|
Quote of what it would cost in Custodial staff time to ensure that Fuller Lodge is open every weekend regardless if there is an event scheduled at the Lodge
|
$ 16,000
|
Approved in PW budget
|
Recur.
|
|
9
|
Visitor intercept interview survey instrument and methodology
|
Recommendation from Tourism Strategic Plan to engage professional to create and conduct visitor intercept interview survey at local attractions to measure performance and help calibrate marketing efforts and visitor services
|
$ 50,000
|
No Action; should be part of discussion at Work Session
|
OT
|
|
10
|
Additional tourism marketing funds
|
Higher participation in NM Tourism Department Coop Marketing program
|
$ 13,300
|
Approved in Lodgers' Tax Fund
|
Recur.
|
|
11
|
Direct bus from WRVC to LA on weekends
|
Per ACT manager, cost for bus to travel between WRVC and LA every hour on the weekends during Bandelier Shuttle season.
|
$ 250,000
|
Approved in PW budget
|
Recur.
|
|
12
|
Funding and staffing to address trail maintenance and improvements
|
In CSD options: money to improve trail signage, paths and kiosks; addition of one FTE Parks Maintenance Construction Specialist III to build and maintain trails.
|
$ 114,802
|
Approved in CSD budget
|
Recur.
|
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Funded in FY20
|
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Future year
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Related documents:
The Tourism Strategic Plan can be reviewed here.
The Task Force charter can be found here.
History on Membership & Charter:
As part of Council’s action on February 27, 2018 to accept the Tourism Strategic Plan, the Tourism Implementation Task Force (or “Task Force”) was formed. The Task Force charter was approved in April 2018 and the members were selected and appointed in May 2018. This task force was modeled after the White Rock Master Plan Implementation committee to provide guidance and expertise to the Council and County staff on tourism implementation issues.
For additional questions about the work of the Task Force, contact the Staff Liaison and Assistant to the County Manager Linda Matteson.