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TESTING TESTING. THE CORRECT TIME IS 1:33 PM.
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WE WILL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.NUMBER ONE ON OUR AGENDA IS THE WIDTH OF OFFICE TO ANTHONY WILLIAMS, DOWNING BOLLS, AND KYLE MCALISTER.
[INDISCERNIBLE] WE WILL NOW MOVES TO ITEM NUMBER TWO TO
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ELECT OFFICERS FOR FY 2020 Ã 2021.WE ELECT NEW OFFICERS EACH YEAR AS WE MEET.
I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS TIME.
>> I WOULD MOVE THAT WE PUT ON OUR BALLOT THE ELECTION OF OUR CURRENT OFFICERS IN PLACE. WITH YOU AS THE CHAIR.
WITH KYLE MCALISTER AND MR. WILLIAMS SERVING ON THE BOARD.
WE DO HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND.
ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THE MOTION CARRIES.
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LET'S MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE JULY 30, 2019 MEETING.I HAVE EXAMINED THOSE MINUTES, AND THEY ARE TRUE AND ACCURATE AS WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY. IS THERE A MOTION? AND A SECOND? THANK YOU.NY FURTHER
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DISCUSSION? LOVE THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, ALL OF THOSE OPPOSED SAY NUMBER THE MOTION CARRIES.NOW TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, THE PRESENTATION REGARDING PROGRAMS AND PENNY TAX USED BY FRONIER TEXAS!
AND TAYLOR COUNTY EXPO CENTER. >> THANK YOU ALL.
I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE TODAY.
I WANT TO BE EXCEPTIONALLY BRIEF AND BLUNT TODAY WITH MY PRESENTATION. I WILL START WITH WHERE USUALLY FINISHED. I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE, THIS IS NOT A TIME FOR THIS BOARD TO MESS WITH THIS ALLEGATION.
YOUR UNDER EXTREME PRESSURE. ALL OVER.
WE ARE ALL VERY AWARE OF THAT. EACH OF YOUR INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS, I WANT TO DOING A GREAT JOB OF MANAGING THIS CRISIS. AND I RESPECT THE WORK THAT YOU DO. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE AT FRONIER TEXAS!, WE HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THIS PANDEMIC IS MUCH AS ANYBODY. WE HAD A GOOD FISCAL YEAR LAST YEAR SINCE WE LAST MET. WE FINISHED A GOOD STRONG FISCAL YEAR. WE WERE ABLE TO, THANKS TO GOOD MANAGEMENT, GOOD REVENUES FROM THE VENUES TAX, AND GOOD DONATIONS FROM PRIVATE DONORS, WE WERE ABLE TO FINISH THE YEAR STRONG. WE STARTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS FISCAL YEAR STRONG, BUT OF COURSE WHEN LUNCH CAME, AND THE SHUTDOWN STARTED, THAT IMPACTED US GREATLY.
I'M GOING THROUGH OUR ADMISSIONS REVENUE.
WHICH IS ONE PART OF OUR BUDGET.
FIRST OF ALL LET ME SAY, THAT IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET YEAR AT FRONIER TEXAS!, THE VENUE TAX REVENUES REPRESENT 67.7 PERCENT OF OUR TOTAL REVENUES THAT WE WERE BUDGETED TO EXPECT TO RECEIVE THIS YEAR. THAT IS CONSISTENT, RIGHT IN LINE WITH WHAT IT HAS BEEN, TO BE HONEST, OVER MOST OF OUR ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION.
THE DROP IN INTERVENTIONS, WE WERE BUDGETED TO RECEIVE $18,800 IN ADMISSIONS REVENUE IN THE MONTHS OF MARCH.
WE ARE DOING WELL UNTIL THE SHUTDOWN, AND WE CAME IN IT $8251. WE WERE OFF BY $10,000 RIGHT AWAY. APRIL WE WERE BUDGETED TO HAVE ABOUT $12,000 RIGHT AWAY. HER ACTUAL REVENUES WERE ZERO.
WE MADE A DECISION ON MARCH 18 TWO SHUTDOWN MUSEUM FUNCTION OF OUR OPERATION AND THE GIFT SHOP FUNCTION WHICH WERE THE TWO REVENUE-GENERATING FUNCTIONS THAT WE HAD AT FRONIER TEXAS!.
THE BOARD DID AGREE WITH ME THAT WE STAY OPEN AS A TRAVEL INFORMATION CENTER.ASED ON SOME FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION GUIDELINES FOR VISITOR CENTERS, PARTICULARLY VISITOR CENTERS IN COMMUNITIES WHERE WAYFINDING SIGNAGE THAT IS LABELED VISITOR CENTER POINT TO YOUR BUILDING, THAT THEY DID NOT WANT TO FIND PEOPLE IN DISTRESS DURING THE PANDEMIC ON
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THE ROAD, AND NOT HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO COME AND FIND ASSISTANCE. WE SCALE BACK HER HOURS AT THAT POINT. AND THE ONLY DAY WE DECIDED TO BE CLOSE WAS ON SUNDAYS. WE REDUCED OUR HOURS.WE STAYED OPEN DURING THAT ENTIRE TIME TO START STRANDED TRAVELERS. IF YOU CAN IMAGINE DURING THIS DAY AND AGE WITH A CELL PHONE THAT GOES OUT, AND YOU HAVE NO CONNECTIVITY TO THE WORLD, YOU START FOLLOWING THE SIGNS THAT POINT YOU TO A VISITOR CENTER VERY QUICKLY.
WE ARE PROUD OF OUR STAFF, FOR THAT RESPONSE, TO KEEPING HIGHLY SANITIZED RESTROOMS OPEN AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON A DAILY BASIS, AND ASSISTED STRANDED TRAVELERS.E DID THAT SIX DAYS A WEEK THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE TIME.
ON JUNE 1 WE OPEN BACK UP. THE MUSEUM AND GIFT SHOP.
WITH THE LIMITED HOURS, ON THEN ON JULY 1, WE WENT BACK TO OUR FULL HOURS, SEEING THAT LOOK LIKE THINGS WERE OPENING BACK UP. WE ALSO REALIZE THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO BE OPEN AT ALL, KEEPING LONGER HOURS ALLOWS US TO SERVE A SIMILAR NUMBER OF VISITORS SPREAD OUT OVER THE DAY, AND THAT HELPS WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING.
WE KEEP VERY RIGOROUS STANDARDS IN PLACE FOR THAT.
WE GET HIGH MARKS FROM VISITORS WHO DO COME, AND SEE WHAT WE ARE DOING TO HELP KEEP THEM SAFE.
[INDISCERNIBLE] >> IN MAY WE WERE BUDGETED FOR $13,000 IN ADMISSIONS REVENUE BUT THAT WAS ZERO.
IN JUNE WE STARTED SEEING IT BACK.
WE WERE BUDGETED TO RECEIVE ABOUT $14,265.
AND WE BROUGHT IN FOR THAT MONTH, THIS IS PRELIMINARY, BUT IT WOULD BE BROUGHT IN IN ADMISSIONS, $7294.
ABOUT ONE HALF. IN JUNE, WITH HOW THINGS WERE LOOKING, VISITORS WERE APPRECIATIVE THAT WE WERE OPEN, SO THEY COULD HAVE SOMETHING TO DO.
THEY FELT THAT OUR FACILITY WAS SAFE.
WE CAME IN IT ABOUT HALF OF THE REVENUE THERE.
THAT ALONE, JUST THAT ONE CATEGORY, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE GIFT SHOP SALES, OR OTHER TYPES OF REVENUES, WHICH IS THAT CATEGORY ALONE, THAT PUT US DOWN $43,000 THAT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MEET UP SOMEWHERE ELSE RIGHT AWAY.
IN OUR JUNE BOARD MEETING, THE BOARD ASKED ME TO DO A FISCAL YEAR ESTIMATE OF HOW WE WILL ENTER FISCAL YEAR.
COULD SAY WITH CONFIDENCE, THAT I KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS, I WOULD BE LYING TO THEM, THESE ARE JUST PREDICTIONS. BUT BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE START EDGING BACK TO HEAVEN TRAVELERS ON THE ROAD, STAYING PARTICULARLY IN OUR HOTELS, THAT THIS DISTRICT IS ALL ABOUT, TO BE OPTIMISTIC TO BE HONEST.
DOMESTICALLY SPEAKING, OUT OF OUR $700,000 YEAR ANNUAL BUDGET, WHICH IS JUST UNDER THAT, THE MOST OPTIMISTIC THAT I COULD COME UP WITH WAS HUNDRED $50,000 OFF OF THAT.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IS THAT BECAUSE I WAS TAKING THE ADVICE OF THE NONPROFIT SEMINARS I HAVE BEEN TO OVER THE YEARS, I DID EVERYTHING WE COULD TO HAVE AN OPERATING RESERVE, AND WE'S BELIEVE THAT WE CAN GET THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR THROUGH SEPTEMBER WITHOUT HAVING TO DO ANYTHING DRAMATIC AT THIS POINT IN TERMS OF LETTING GO OF STAFF, OR SHUTTING DOWN ON AN ACTUAL PERMANENT SHUTDOWN THING, LIKE DECLARING BANKRUPTCY. WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN DO THAT. THE QUESTION IS WHEN IS THIS GOING TO END, AND WHAT IS THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR GOING TO LOOK LIKE. OF COURSE DOING JUST MISSED DOUBLE THE GUESTS TO MINUTES -- ESTIMATES, IF I HAD TO LOCK IN MY BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, I WOULD HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER HUNDRED $50,000 IN THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
IT IS MY OPTIMISTIC VIEW. >> YOU ARE SAYING YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOWN HUNDRED $50,000 THIS YEAR, AND YOU THINK YOU WILL BE THE SAME NEXT YEAR? WHAT IF EVERYTHING STARTS TO GO BACK TO NORMAL IN THE SPRING, THAT IS MY BEST CASE SCENARIO.
WILL HAVE TO DO BUDGET THIS YEAR, THAT IS GOING TO FIND OUT OF THE $700,000 BUDGET, ANOTHER HUNDRED $50,000.
I WANT YOU TO FIND NO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF OUR BUDGET. MOST OF YOU HAVE SEEN HOW WE BUDGET, WE ARE A VERY TIGHT SHIP.
WE HAVE AGREED TO OPERATE 7 DAYS A WEEK AS A TOURIST
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INFORMATION CENTER AND INTEREST ATTRACTION.WE DO THAT 362 DAYS A YEAR WITH FOUR FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS, AND THREE PART-TIME PEOPLE. IF I'M TRYING TO FIND MONEY, AND I HAVE TO STILL PAY INSURANCE, BECAUSE I'M REQUIRED BY MY LEASE TO GET SOLID INSURANCE FROM THE BUILDING, I'M REQUIRED TO PAY THE ELECTRICITY BILL, BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS REALLY BORN WITHOUT ELECTRICITY.
WHEN I GO THROUGH MOST OF MY PROGRAMS, I CAN FIND ABOUT $60,000 THAT I CAN TRIM AND CAREFULLY NOT RUIN WHAT WE ARE DOING. BUT THAT IS ABOUT IT.
THE NEXT STEP IS LOSING STAFF MEMBERS.
IN THE NEXT STEP IS CLOSING OUR DOORS.
TO PUT IT SIMPLY, THIS IS NOT A YEAR THAT I FEEL LIKE IT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR YOU TO SHIFT. I DID HAVE SOME PEOPLE ASKING ME TO COME IN HERE TODAY AND ASK FOR AN ALLOCATION SHIFT TOWARD FRONIER TEXAS!. I SENT THE BOARD WANTS TO CALL A MEETING, AND ASKED ME TO DO THAT, I WOULD BRING THAT PROPOSAL FROM MY BOARD. PERSONALLY I DO NOT WANT TO BE THE ONE TO COME UP HERE AND DO THAT.
FOR 16 YEARS IN A ROW, I HAVE COME BEFORE YOU A REASONABLE TIME AND SAID, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE ALLOCATIONS SHOULD BE SHIFTED. THAT IS MY POSITION BECAUSE WE AS NONPROFITS KNOW THAT THIS IS A STABLE SOURCE OF INCOME.
AND WE CAN RELY UPON IT. THAT IS ALL I'M ASKING YOU TO DO THIS YEAR. HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EXPO CENTER. WE SEE THE STRESS IS THAT THEY ARE UNDER. WE SEE THE GREAT ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THEY BRING TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE EVEN WENT THROUGH THIS YEAR, WE HAD AGREED TO BE SPONSORS OF AN EVENT OF THE WESTERN HERITAGE CLASSIC.
IF $1000 SPONSOR FOR A POETRY NIGHT, AND EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS NOT COMING UP -- IT CAME UP AFTER THE CRISIS STARTED.E WANTED TO BE PART OF THAT FOR TWO REASONS.
ONE, TO SUPPORT THEM BECAUSE THEY HAD GOALS.
AND, NUMBER TWO, BECAUSE WE FELT THAT THEY HAD AN AUDIENCE THAT WE WOULD STILL SHARE IN. THEY DID A VIRTUAL EVENT, WHERE THEY DID AN ONLINE. GOT SOME RECOGNITION FROM THAT, AND WE FELT THAT THAT WAS A GOOD DEAL.
I WANT YOU TO SEE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE OF, WE WERE TOGETHER, WE WILL CARE ABOUT THE EXPO CENTER.
I WOULD PREFER YOU AS A BOARD ON BEHALF OF FRONIER TEXAS! TO MAKE A PROPOSAL TO MAKE AN ALLOCATION TO TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM THEM RIGHT NOW. BUT I WOULD ALSO HOPE THAT YOU WOULD ENTERTAIN A REQUEST TO SHIFT DOUBLE DATE.
>> DID YOU GET A PPP LOAN? >> THANK YOU GLENN, YES, WE WILL ABLE TO -- WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE MAX AMOUNT, THAT WAS $67,000. THAT WAS GREAT.
THAT WAS AN EXCELLENT AND NEEDED THINK AT THE RIGHT TIME AND THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR OUR ORGANIZATION.
I'M STARTING TO WONDER IF THEY ARE GOING TO DO ANOTHER ONE AT ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT TO HELP PEOPLE.
>> THAT 67 APPLIES TO THE HUNDRED AND 50.
FROM US YOU'RE LOOKING AT, YOU ALREADY LOST 47,000 IN A FEW MONTHS. THIS IS A.
[INDISCERNIBLE] THE NEXT ALLOCATION WILL BE MUCH BETTER.
>> THE CITY STAFF, THE EXPO CENTER, AND US, WE ARE STILL WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE COLLECTIONS HAVE BEEN.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN THOSE NUMBERS FOR WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN THE HOTELS IN THE MONTH OF JUNE.
THAT IS USUALLY A BIG MONTH FOR OUR HOTELS.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN THOSE RECEIPTS REALIZED YET.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE DEFICIT, AND THAT WILL REALLY HURT.
>> YEAH, IT HAS BEEN FOUR YEARS SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON YOUR BOARD. FORGIVE ME FOR NOT REMEMBERING.
DO YOU RECEIVE --, OR SET OF THE GOODWILL OF YOUR HEART?
>> NO WE DO NOT RECEIVE ANY FUNDING.
IT IS NOT JUST OUT OF THE GOODWILL OF OUR HEART.
IT IS PART OF ESTABLISHING THIS VENUE DISTRICT.
THE AGREEMENT WITH THE CONVENTION AND BUREAU AND CITY, IS THAT WE WOULD TAKE ON THE NON- REVENUE-GENERATING FUNCTION AS A PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN RECEIVING THIS VENUE DISTRICT FUNDING. WE DO NOT RECEIVE ANY OTHER
FUNDING. >> AND JEFF, WHAT DO YOU THINK POUR RESPONSIBILITY OF -- WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE ANNUALLY?
>> REPEAT THAT AGAIN. >> WHAT DOLLAR AMOUNT DOES THAT REPRESENT IN TERMS OF COVERAGE FOR THE TOURISTS DOUBLE --
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>> THE OVERALL IMPACT OF TOURISM, SHOULD KNOW THAT NUMBER, I HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR 16 YEARS.T IS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
>> MY QUESTION IS, YOUR STAFFING HOURS, WHAT IS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT LOOK LIKE ANNUALLY?
>> OUR BUDGET, NOW I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
SORRY. OVER $700,000 BUDGET, OUR STAFFING COSTS RUN ABOUT $365,000 WHICH IS ABOUT 52 PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET. THAT IS STAFFING.
IT IS THE LARGEST SINGLE COST IN WRITING FRONIER TEXAS!
IS STAFF. >> IF YOU DECIDED NOT TO BE OPEN ON SUNDAY? CORRECT? HOW WILL THAT IMPACT YOUR EXPENSES AND REVENUE?
>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. BACK IN MARCH, WHEN WE DECIDED TO CLOSED DOWN THE REVENUE GENERATED, GENERATING FUNCTIONS, OF THE MUSEUM AND VISITOR CENTER, WE DID GET SOME DAYS WHICH WE ARE NORMALLY OPEN ONE ÃFIVE.
WE GOT SOME NEW EXPERIENCE WITH WHAT WE COULD POSSIBLY SAFE.
WE FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS NOT AS MUCH SAVINGS AS WE HAD HOPED.
BECAUSE, WE HAD A LOT OF REALLY FRAGILE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT.
PROJECTORS, AND COMPUTER BANKS, AND THINGS THAT HAVE TO STAY COLD. WE CANNOT COMPLETELY SHATTER OUR BUILDING, INTERNAL FOR AIR CONDITIONING WITHOUT THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT WOULD DO DAMAGE TO OUR ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS.E CANNOT TOTALLY SAVE MONEY THERE.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT THE SAVINGS ARE NOT HUGE WHEN ON THOSE PARTICULAR DAYS, THOSE ARE STAFFED WITH A PART-TIME PERSON FOR THOSE FOUR HOURS. THAT IS NOT HUGE SAVINGS.
WE DID NOT REALIZE AS MUCH SAVINGS DURING THAT TIME AS WE HAD HOPED. THAT WAS NOT THE MAIN REASON WE SHUT DOWN ON SUNDAYS. AND REDUCE HER HOURS.
THE PRIMARY REASON WAS THAT IT WAS FEWER PEOPLE NEEDING TO BE SERVED DURING THAT TIME. SECONDARILY, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SHORTER HOURS ON EVERY DAY SO THAT WE CAN BE SURE WE WERE SANITIZING EVERY BIT OF OUR PUBLIC SPACES IN THE MORNINGS AND EVENINGS APPROPRIATELY. THERE IS NOT MUCH SAVINGS AS POSSIBLE. YOU COMMITTED TO BEING OPEN ON SUNDAY FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT. THERE WAS A STUDY DONE IN 2000 TO 2003, ONE OF THE MAIN PROBLEMS THEY FOUND WAS THAT THERE WAS NO ATTRACTION OF SIGNIFICANCE AT THE TIME OPEN ON SUNDAYS, EXCEPT FOR THE ZOO. SO WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO BE
OPEN FOR THOSE REASONS. >> JEFF, YOU SAID YOU ARE OPEN 362 DAYS A YEAR, AND TO OUR CHRISTMAS AND WHAT ELSE?
>> CHRISTMAS, THANKSGIVING, NEW YEAR'S DAY.
IT IS INTERESTING, THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING, WHERE SO MANY PEOPLE USE THAT AS A BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING, THAT IS A GREAT DAY AT FRONIER TEXAS!. FAMILIES GET TOGETHER FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, AND IT IS A GREAT DAY FOR FAMILIES TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE. TEND TO BE VERY BUSY.
SAME THING WITH CHRISTMAS. THOSE TIMES, WHEN BUSINESSES NATURALLY SHUT DOWN, THAT IS ACTUALLY GOOD REVENUE TIME FOR FRONIER TEXAS!
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> I APPRECIATE YOU ALL.HANK YOU. NOW WE WILL GO AHEAD AND HEAR
FROM -- >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE BEFORE YOU TODAY.
IN 2019, THE EXPO CENTER. POSTED 317 EVEN DAYS WHICH WAS FIVE DAYS LESS THAN 2019. THAT DID NOT INCLUDE THE -- WHICH NUMBERED 38. WE HOSTED 185 DIFFERENT EVENTS WHICH WAS ACTUALLY 11 MORE EVENTS AND IN 2019.NCLUDING THE RODEO, AND THE WESTERN CLASSIC.
WE USED THE FACILITY HUNDRED 94 CALENDAR DAYS WHICH WAS ACTUALLY FEWER DAYS IN 2019 BECAUSE WE HAD MORE EVENTS BUT FEWER DAYS USED. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE DAYS WE USE FOR CLEANUP OR SET UP FOR AN EVENT.
OF THIS NUMBER, WE HAD HUNDRED AND $0.85 AT THE ABILENE CONVENTION AND DISTRICT BUREAU, SERVING DOUBLE THE -- WITH
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14,004 95 ROOM NIGHTS. WE ESTIMATE.[INDISCERNIBLE] WE EMPLOYED 16 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, AND 184 PART-TIME OR SEASONAL EMPLOYEES BASED ON THE NEEDS.UR PAYROLL IS $1.1 MILLION, INCLUDING TAXES, HEALTH INSURANCE AND -- WORKER'S COMPENSATION, HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASED OVER LAST YEAR. IN 2019 BE PAID AT $283,000 IN UTILITIES AND HUNDRED AND $3000 AND INSURANCE.
INCREASED OVER 2018, AND THE LIABILITY INSURANCE WAS AN INCREASE OF $6000. WE SPENT A HUNDRED AND $51,000 IN REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE, WHICH IS A $30,000 INCREASE.
THE TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL RODEO FINALS OF 2022, THIS WAS OUR FIRST YEAR UNDER THE RENEWED CONTRACT AS YOU KNOW.
WE WERE ABLE TO HOLD THE EVENT. [INDISCERNIBLE] WE HAD ROUGHLY 120 CONTESTANTS PER DAY, THEY CAME IN AND COMPETED TO.
HIGH SCHOOL RODEO. WERE TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM AND FIND SOME NUMBERS THAT WOULD PROMOTE THE KIDS TO GET THEM ON THE NATIONAL EVENT. WE HOSTED THE -- AND THE -- FOR 28 YEARS. WE JUST COMPLETED THIS THIS PAST SATURDAY ON JULY 4TH. THEIR NUMBERS DOUBLED THIS YEAR. THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THEY COMPETED IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED FACILITY.
I'M SORRY MY PHONE IS GOING OFF.
>> I LIKE YOUR RING TONE. >> BECAUSE OF THE TURNAROUND OF HAVING THE NATIONAL JUNIOR'S SHORT FORM SHOW FOR THE ORIGINAL TEAM OPENED, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT I WAS AT THE BARN UNTIL 3:00 A.M., AND UNTIL MIDNIGHT, HELPING PEOPLE GET SET UP AND PEOPLE MOVED IN.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND ASKED THEM WHY THEY CAME THIS YEAR. THEY DON'T TAKE PRE-ENTRIES FOR THIS. SO WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT UNTIL THEY GET HERE. EVERYONE TOLD ME IT WAS IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED FACILITY. THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST WE WILL BE HOSTING THE YOUTHFUL READING FINALS WHICH DRAWS ABOUT 300 YOUTH FROM ACROSS THE NATION INCLUDING CANADA, BRAZIL, AUSTRALIA AND THAILAND. I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO THE ORGANIZER OF THE EVENT DID HE EXPECT THAT THOSE FROM THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT BE ATTENDING THIS YEAR.
ALTHOUGH THIS IS OUR 11TH YEAR OF HOSTING, -- FROM MICROPHONEÑ. NEW EVENTS THAT WE HAVE THIS PAST YEAR AND THAT WILL BE HOSTING LATER ON THIS YEAR ARE THE ABILENE SPECIAL AND WORLD SERIES TEAM ROPING.E HAD THEM RIGHT AFTER THE FAIR LAST YEAR.
IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT. WILL HOST THEM AGAIN THIS YEAR.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IF THE BEARS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN, IT WILL END ON A SATURDAY, AND HE WILL MOVE IN ON TUESDAY.
SO WILL HAVE TO HAVE A HUGE LOOKING AT THE FACILITY.
THE GRAND FINALE STEER SHOW, WHICH WAS SCHEDULED AS A RESULT OF THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW CANCELING, THAT IS IN THREE WEEKS. IT IS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE QUARTER HORSE CIRCUIT. IT IS THE FIRST YEAR TO BRING THE QUARTER HORSE SHOW SINCE 2010.
LEFT HERE BECAUSE OF THE FACILITY CONDITIONS AND THEY CAME BACK BECAUSE OF THE RENOVATION AND HAVE 270 STALLS.
WE ALSO HOSTED THE JUNIOR NATIONAL -- SHOW.
WE HAVE 625 HEAD OF CATTLE. RIGHT BEFORE THAT WE HAD THE
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TEXAS JUNIOR SHORT HORN SHOW, AND THEY HAD ABOUT 170 HEAD OF CATTLE WITH --. THE NATIONAL JUNIOR SHORT HORN SHOW DOES NOT GO TO THE SAME CITY.THEY ROTATE EVERY FIVE YEARS. I RECEIVED A TEXT MESSAGE EARLIER TODAY ASKING WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO HOLD DATES FOR THEM IN 2021 BECAUSE THEY ARE THINKING THAT THEIR DATES IN KENTUCKY ARE NOT GOING TO WORK. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY OF BRINGING THEM BACK AGAIN.
TIGGER COUNTY PROVIDES ABOUT $2 MILLION IN SUPPORT OF THE FACILITY EACH YEAR IN THE FORM UP IN-KIND SERVICES, DIRT, MOVEMENT IN AND OUT OF THE COLISEUM, CREWS FOR MAJOR REPAIRS THAT HAPPEN, AS WELL AS A CREW THAT COMES OUT ONE DAY A WEEK AND CHECKED ALL OF OUR AIR CONDITIONING FILTERS AND THAT TYPE OF THING. THAT NUMBER SHOULD BE REDUCED GREATLY IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE WE WERE NO LONGER PUT DIRT IN THE COLISEUM SINCE WE HAVE OPEN THE ARENA.
THAT IS A NUMBER THAT THEY WILL BE PROVIDED TO US IN IN-KIND SERVICES, THAT WILL BE REDUCED. THEY ARE PAYING OUT 3.75 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR. WE HERITAGE CLASSIC FOR 50 PERCENT OF OUR INCOME.
THE FEAR IS TYPICALLY ABOUT 26 PERCENT, AND WESTERN HERITAGE IS 24 PERCENT. AS YOU KNOW WESTERN HERITAGE CLASSIC WAS CANCELED. WE ARE WORKING, AND HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE CITY IN REGARD TO HOLDING IT WAS TEXAS FAIR AND RODEO. AND WORKING WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES INVOLVED WITH THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HOLD IT UNDER THE GUIDELINES THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS MANDATED. HE HAS SPOKEN SPECIFICALLY TO CARNIVALS, SHOWS, LIVESTOCK SHOWS, AND WE FEEL THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THAT EVENT UNDER THOSE GUIDELINES IN A SAFE MANNER FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT COME ACROSS THE STATE FOR THE LIVESTOCK SHOWS.
AS WE DISCUSSED IN THE PAST, EXPO CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS, HAD THE GOAL OF PUTTING AWAY $500,000 FOR A RESERVE FUND.
WE HAVE HAD TO DIP INTO THAT AFTER THE 2018 FEAR BECAUSE OF THE RAIN. IT RAINED A LOT DURING THE FEAR THAT YEAR. SO WE DECREASED THE NUMBER FROM ALMOST $500,000 TO $308,000 LAST YEAR.
I'VE HAD TO DIP INTO IT AGAIN AND WE ARE NOW AT $270,000 NUMBER IN THE BANK. WE DID APPLY FOR AN RECEIVE THE PPP LOAN FOR HUNDRED $99,000 WHICH WAS TREMENDOUS.
THE ART AND HOPE THAT THAT LOAN WILL BE FORGIVEN.
IF IT DOES, AT THE END OF MAY, WE WILL HAVE SHOWN HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR OPERATING LOSS. IF IT IS NOT FORGIVEN, AT THE END OF MAY, WE WILL HAVE A $209,000 LOSS.
I DO NOT SEE WHY THAT LOAN WILL NOT BE FORGIVEN.
THERE IS A BUSINESS LOAN THAT YOU CAN APPLY FOR, IT IS CAPPED AT ONE $50,000. IT IS A 30 YEAR LOW THAT HAS A LOW INTEREST RATE, I HAVE APPLIED FOR, AND I HAVE NOT
HEARD BACK FROM IT. >> WHAT IS THAT?
>> I CANNOT REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT, BUT IT IS PART OF THE PPP. IT IS PART OF THE LOAN THAT YOU COULD FIRST APPLY FOR, AND THEN THE PPP CAME OUT AND THEY SAID YOU CANNOT APPLY FOR BOTH, BUT NOW THE GOVERNMENT HAS CHANGED AND YOU CAN APPLY FOR BOTH. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN PHASE 3 OF OUR CONSTRUCTION AT HER EXPO CENTER AND THE COLISEUM, IT IS SCHEDULED TO BE FINISHED IN APRIL 2021.
EVERYONE ALWAYS ASKS ME IF WE ARE IN BUDGET.
OF COURSE WE ARE IN BUDGET, BECAUSE WHAT WE DO IS THAT WHEN WE SEE THINGS THAT HAVE NO HAS TO HAPPEN, WE ARE RENOVATING A 50-YEAR-OLD FACILITY, WHEN SOMETHING HAS TO TAKE PRESIDENTS LIKE PLUMBING OR ELECTRICITY, WE ADJUST WE DO TO THE FACILITY TO KEEP WITHIN BUDGET.
IT IS WITHIN BUDGET AS OF YESTERDAY.
WE HAD A VERY LONG MEETING, CHUCK.
I, LIKE JEFF, WANTS TO MAKE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THE EXPO CENTER AND FRONIER TEXAS! WORK TOGETHER. THEY HAVE BEEN SPONSORS, JEFF AND I HAVE WORKED ON BOARDS TOGETHER IN YOUR PERSONAL FRIENDS. THERE IS NO ANIMOSITY HERE BETWEEN EXPO CENTER AND FRONIER TEXAS!.
I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT EVERY FACILITY, EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT DRAWS PEOPLE TO VISIT HERE, OR ALLOWS PEOPLE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO, THAT THEY CAN GO TO FRONIER TEXAS!, OR THE ZOO, OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, AS A WHOLE WE HAVE TO WORK AS A COMMUNITY TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY WORK.AVING SAID THAT THOUGH, MY BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS ASKED ME TO REQUEST A 2.5 PERCENT CHANGE BECAUSE THE EXPO CENTER
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IS VIABLE TO THIS COMMUNITY. IT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY AND GENERATING TAX DOLLARS BOTH FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE, AS WELL AS HOTEL MOTEL PACKS, WHICH FORMS THE VENUE TAX, WHICH FUNDS --. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? > WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE VENUE TAX IS YOUR OVERALL BUDGET? NINE PERCENT.>> NINE PERCENT. >> RATIO I'M GETTING TO BE AN OLD MAN. SORRY, CAN YOU PLEASE REPEAT
>> RACHELLE, WHEN JEFF WAS UP HERE, HE INDICATED AND WAS ABLE TO SAY THAT THIS MONTH WE LOST THIS MUCH, NOT MONTH WE LOST THAT MUCH. I KNOW YOU SAID THAT WESTERN HERITAGE CLASSIC WAS 26 PERCENT OR 24 PERCENT?
>> 24 PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET. >> SO YOU LOST THAT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER IDEAS OF WHAT -- IS IT POSSIBLE TO SAY, THIS IS HOW MUCH WE HAVE LOST BECAUSE OF THIS?
>> AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR I WOULD HAVE BEEN OPERATING AT ABOUT A $20,000 LOSS AT THE END OF APRIL.
AND THEN WESTERN HERITAGE AT THE END OF MAY, I WOULD'VE BEEN OPERATING AT $250,000 PROFIT. $299,000 LOSS AT THE END OF MAY. ANOTHER THING, IS THAT THE NUMBER OF EVENTS, STARTING IN MARCH THROUGH THE END OF MAY, AS WELL AS OTHER EVENTS THAT ARE SCHEDULED THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THIS YEAR, WE HAVE HAD 22 EVENTS POSTPONED.
TO EITHER LATER THIS YEAR, OR INTO NEXT YEAR, AND 46 EVENTS CANCELED. HE REFUNDED THAT MANY FULLY TO THE PEOPLE. WE DID NOT PENALIZE THEM EVEN THOUGH WE HAD A CONTRACT. THE END EVERY PENNY BACK TO THEM. DOUBLE DATE WE REFUND EVERY
PENNY BACK TO THEM. >> THAT CONCLUDES THE
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PRESENTATION. WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE NOW, WHICH INCLUDES DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING ALLOCATION OF THE TWO PERCENT VENUE TAX.DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE OPTIONS
ARE? >> YES, SIR, THE MAXIMUM UNDER THE -- IS TO PRESENT EITHER WAY, FOR FRONIER TEXAS! OR THE EXPO TEXAS. THERE'S A CHARGE ON PAGE 8 OF YOUR PACKET THAT OUT LIES WITH THE EFFECT OF ONE PERCENT, HALF PERCENT EFFECT WOULD BE TO EACH ENTITY.
THIS WOULD BE BASED ON THE BUDGETED REVENUE BASED ON THE FISCAL YEAR 21. EVERY HALF PERCENT CHANGE BASICALLY HAS A $4000 EFFECT, EITHER POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.
FONTS IN THE FUTURE. >> MIKE, YOU SAID THAT EACH PERCENT IS VALUED AT HOW MUCH CHANGE?
>> EACH ONE HALF PERCENT IS ABOUT $4000.
SO EACH ONE PERCENT IS JUST UNDER $8000.
OF COURSE THAT IS BASED OFF OF OUR BUDGETED NUMBERS, AND WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO COME IN IT AT THAT RATE, WE ARE NOT
SURE. >> YOU FEEL LIKE THE BUDGETED NUMBER IS OPTIMISTIC OR REALISTIC?
>> IT IS HARD TO KNOW. IT IS ANYBODY'S GUESS.
>> WE VISITED WITH THE VISITOR BUREAU AND THEY DID SOME RESEARCH ON HOTELS AND MOTELS AND THEY FEEL THAT NEXT YEAR, 10 PERCENT DOWN IS A REALISTIC FIGURE.
THAT IS WHAT WE BASED 21 OF US. BUT I THINK IT COULD GO EITHER WAY. IT COULD BE MUCH LESS, YOU JUST
DON'T KNOW. >> IT HAS IMPACTED EVERYBODY.
UT HIS HIT BOTH OF OUR ENTITIES REALLY HARD.
THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
IT IS A BAD SITUATION FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
[00:35:10]
IT HAS BEEN FREE MONEY ALL THESE YEARS, AND THERE'S NOT AS MUCH OF IT. IT IS GOING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND THIS YEAR HAS BEEN DEVASTATING, THESE LAST THREEMONTHS. >> MIKE, I GUESS WE HAVE DONE A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN THE NATIONAL TREND AS FAR AS OUR SALES TAX DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE HAD SO FAR.
AND WE ARE WAITING FOR THE JUNE NUMBERS.
>> THEY ACTUALLY CAME IN EARLIER TODAY.
THEY ARE JUST UNDER ONE PERCENT UP.
>> REALLY, I DID NOT GET THAT E-MAIL YET.
>> WE ARE STILL AHEAD OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR, SO THAT IS A
GOOD THING. >> THAT IS VERY GOOD NEWS.
>> AUDREY MUST BE OFF TODAY, BECAUSE SHE ALWAYS SEND THIS OUT AND I DID NOT GET THE E-MAIL.
>> BOTH OF THESE ARE NEEDED AND VALUABLE ENTITIES.
FOR FRONIER TEXAS!, IT IS OVER TWO THIRDS OF THE BUDGET.
EXPO CENTER IS NINE PERCENT. IT IS $4000 FOR EACH OF PERCENT, BUT THAT $4000 IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE PERSON TELL, IN REGARD TO DO WHAT IT REPRESENTS TO THE TEXAS BUDGET.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE LET THINGS STAY THE WAY THEY ARE THIS YEAR IN REGARDS TO THE WAY EVERYTHING TRANSPIRED.
>> I TOTALLY AGREE. >> JUST WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, WITHIN LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, -- APPROACHED SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR LEGISLATURE TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS A COUNTY HOTEL TAX. WE ACTUALLY HAD ONE OF OUR -- THAT WOULD OFFSET SOME OF THE DEFICITS AND SOME OF THE PROGRESS WITH THE EXPO CENTER. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT REQUEST HAS DOUBLED -- FALLEN TO THE WAYSIDE.
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT LIVE IN ABILENE, IT WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTEREST TO PURSUE THAT IN THE NEXT SESSION.
WITH ALL THAT SAID, NOTHING HAPPENED THERE.
IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, WHERE THE EXPO CENTER HAS FALLEN VICTIM TO THE CURRENT PANDEMIC, AS WELL AS FRONIER TEXAS!, AND IS MUCH AS I LOVE BOTH ENTITIES, AND I HAVE BEEN ON BOTH BOARDS FOR FOUR YEARS, STILL RIGHT NOW, IT MIGHT BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF BOTH ENTITIES TO MAKE IT THE SAME, NOT MAKE THE CHANGE THAT WE MADE LAST YEAR.
IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY, WE DO NEED TO APPROACH PARITY BUT RIGHT NOW IS THAT NOT THE TIME TO DO
THAT. >> WE SHOULD NOT ADD ANOTHER LAYER OF UNCERTAINTY TO ABILENE.
>> THIS MAY JUST BE FOR FUTURE CONVERSATION, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, AND AS WE SEE A SENSE IT ON HIS VENUE DISTRICT, THERE NEEDS TO BE A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WITH REGARDS TO WHAT OUR NEXT STEPS IN DIFFERENT OPTIONS SHOULD BE OUT THERE. A CONVERSATION IS NEEDED RIGHT NOW TO SEE WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE.
I'M ANXIOUS TO ENGAGE OUR REPS, AND SENDER AND AUSTIN, AND THE CONVERSATION TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE GOING FORWARD.O WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS GREAT ENTITIES.
>> I AGREE WITH YOU, THAT DISCUSSION NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
WE PROBABLY NEED TO DO IT IN THE NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE.
>> COULD I ASK A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS? ROCHELLE, WHAT PERCENT OF YOUR BUSINESS AT THE EXPO CENTER DO YOU DO THAT IS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY? IF YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY EVENT, IF YOU HAVE A PARTY OR A WEDDING, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR ¦
>> WE HAVE THREE BUILDINGS THAT WE RENT FOR BIRTHDAY PARTIES, WEDDING RECEPTIONS, CLASSROOM REUNIONS.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HALF THE MONTH OF MAY AND HALF OF THE MONTH OF JUNE, AND THE ENTIRE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, ALL THREE
[00:40:02]
OF THOSE BUILDINGS ARE RENTED EVERY WEEKEND.SO WE DO A LOT OF LOCAL RENTING AS WELL.
THOSE NUMBERS ARE REPRESENTED IN THE --.
JEFF, I WILL THROW THE OTHER THING OUT THERE, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR REVENUE COMES FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, OR WITHIN THE IMMEDIATE TRAVELING DISTANCE OF
THE CITY? >> UNFORTUNATELY I DID NOT GRAB THAT NUMBER. WE DO SURVEY ALL OF OUR GUESTS AND ASK THEM THE POINT OF ORIGIN.
IN GENERAL, ABOUT, SOMEWHERE AROUND 27 PERCENT IS LOCAL PEOPLE COMING. SOMETIMES THOSE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY BRINGING VISITORS, BUT THEY SIGN IN AS THE PRIMARY PERSON BRINGING THEM. LAST YEAR WE HAD ROUGHLY 31,000 VISITORS FROM OUT OF TOWN. ACCORDING TO OUR STATISTICS.
THE ONES FROM OUT OF TOWN, OUR BEST ESTIMATES ARE ABOUT A THIRD SPEND THE NIGHT, AS AN OVERNIGHT GUEST, AS A RESULT OF
COMMITTEE FRONIER TEXAS! >> ARE YOU GOING TO BE HOLDING
THE -- >> WE HAVE SCHEDULED OUR FUNDRAISER TOWARD THE END OF SEPTEMBER LIKE WE DO EVERY YEAR. WE ARE PLANNING TO DO THAT.
THAT IS CALLED THE -- RACING. THAT IS THE FUNNY THING WE DO TO HAVE FUN WITH OUR DONORS. WE HAVE BEEN STARTING TO TALK TO OUR DONORS, WHETHER WE ARE OUT THERE RAISING SANDERS OR NOT, BECAUSE OF CONDITIONS, WE ARE GOING TO BE NEEDING THEIR FUNDING. OUR BOARD IS GOING TO SHIFT THE FUNDRAISING PLAN TO HELP ACCOMMODATE FOR THE EXPECTED LOSSES THIS YEAR. AND, TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO FROM THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY.
THE TOUGH CONCEPT THERE, IS THAT OFTEN OUR DONORS ARE HURTING JUST AS MUCH AS EVERYONE ELSE.
WHEN WE GO TO OUR PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY, WHICH IS ALSO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THERE ARE MANY MOUTHS TO FEED.
WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE ONLY A LIMITED AMOUNT OF SHIFTING, BUT WE WILL GO TO OUR DONORS AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE ONLY REASON I ASK THOSE QUESTIONS IS BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES FOR REVENUE SOURCES. WE CLEARLY KNOW THAT THE HOTEL BUSINESS HAS BEEN SEVERELY IMPACTED.
THERE IMPACTED BY THE STAY IN PLACE ORDERS AND GUIDELINES THAT HAVE COME INTO EXISTENCE BECAUSE OF COVID.
OF COURSE THAT HAS A FILTER DOWN EFFECT AND IT AFFECTS THE SALES TAX, AND IT IS MONEY THAT DOES NOT COME INTO THE COMMUNITY FROM THE OUTSIDE AND IT DOES NOT CIRCULATE 7 OR EIGHT TIMES OR WHATEVER IT IS. IT DOES FORCE THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO START LOOKING AT WHAT REVENUE CAN BE INCREASED LOCALLY TO MAKE UP FOR THAT.
I SEE, BASED ON WHAT I'VE HEARD THIS MORNING, OR THIS AFTERNOON, EVERYONE IS BUSY, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP GOING AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TIMES THAT YOU CAN BE OPEN AND MOVING AROUND. ONE OF THE POINT THAT I WILL MAKE IS THAT AS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD IN THE COUNTY BUDGET, WE ARE FINDING IT NECESSARY TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT OF TEXAS STATUTES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT INTO PLACE FROM THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE MAKE AVAILABLE TO NONPROFITS IN THE COMMUNITY.
ALTHOUGH THEY DO PROVIDE A SERVICE THERE SOMETHING NOT AFFORDABLE ANYMORE.UE TO THE RESTRICTIONS THAT WE ARE FACING. THAT IS GOING TO PUT EVEN MORE PRESSURE ON THE PEOPLE WHO DO SUPPORT THE NONPROFITS TO STEP UP AND FILL THAT VOID, FIGURE OUT HOW TO OPERATE WITHOUT THAT REVENUE. THERE IS A FILTER DOWN EFFECT THAT AFFECTS SO MANY PEOPLE IN SO MANY WAYS AS WE GO THROUGH THIS. WE DO GET AN AWFUL LOT OF PRESSURE PUT ON US FROM THE OUTSIDE, IN TERMS OF WHAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN WITH THIS BOARD.
THERE ARE SOME FEELINGS THAT THERE SHOULD BE PARITY.
THERE ARE FEELINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE MAKING -- THERE ARE SOME FEELINGS THAT WE SHOULD FIT 2 ONE HALF PERCENT ALL THE WAY AROUND. THIS IS THE REALITY IS WHERE WE ARE. I WANT TO HEAR A MOTION.
I BELIEVE YOU HAD A MOTION. WAS THAT A MOTION?
>> YES, SIR. >> AND WHAT I HEARD FROM YOU WAS A SECOND. EVEN THOUGH YOU DID NOT CALL IT. IN EFFECT, -- WE DO HAVE A
[00:45:06]
MOTION IN A SECOND. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONBEFORE I CALL THE VOTE? >> IN YOUR MOTION MR. MEYER WAS
NO CHANGE? >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CLARIFICATIONS. IF NOT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE VOTE. PLEASE IN FAVOR SAY I, THOSE OPPOSED SAY NUMBER IF THERE IS NO OTHER VOTE, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
>> BEFORE YOU LEAVE, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SECOND YOUR IDEA OF STARTING THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY DO NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND, I DO NOT THINK, HOW VALUABLE THIS VENUE TAX IS. AND THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PAY IT.
AND WE CAN MAKE THAT REALLY CLEAR.
YOU AND THE JUDGE GET TOGETHER AND CREATE A FUTURE COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THIS. WE NEED TO GET ON IT NOW.
THIS EXPIRES IN FOUR YEARS. >> OF COURSE I WOULD, AND RACHELLE, AND JEFJEFF, [INDISCERNIBLE] HAVING A VERY INTELLIGENT CONVERSATION, AND ENGAGING --, AND LOOKING AT
THAT AND PUTTING IN PLACE. >> THERE HAS TO BE A CAPITAL FUND INVOLVED, TOO. IT HAS TO BE IDENTIFYING DEBT,
MIGHT WANT TO GET THEIR FINGERS IN THE PIE.
THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A NONPROFIT TO JOIN, TO PROVIDE EVEN MORE SUPPORT FOR CITIZENS TO BE ABLE TO --, THE JUDGE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION TO SEE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WE ONLY HAVE TWO MORE SESSIONS. AND WE NEED TO MAKE THIS
HAPPENED. IT IS URGENT. >> MAY SPEAK FOR A MOMENT?>>
YES, SIR. >> THE FRONTIER BOARD ADDRESSED THIS IN OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING. OUR BOARD HAS TAKEN A FEW STEPS FORWARD AND OUTLINING A PROCESS.
IT IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT OUR BOARD DID IN THE BEGINNING TO INITIATE THIS DISTRICT. WHAT WILL END UP NEEDING TO HAPPEN, IS THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO TAKE SOME OF THE STEPS TO POINT TOWARD -- WE HAVE PARTY TALK TO THE CITY STAFF ABOUT REVIEWING THE STATUTES, AND THE CITY STAFF HAS ADVISED US THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE STATUTES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE STILL IN PLACE.
CITY STAFF IS ALREADY GETTING PREPARED FOR THAT PROCESS.
ONE OF THE STEPS THAT WILL HAS TO HAPPEN, IS THAT IT WILL HAVE TO LEAVE THE ELECTED SIDE OF RESPONSIBILITY, BECOME A PRIVATE COMMITTEE. THE FRONTIER BOARD IS LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE EXPO CENTER ON THAT SIDE OF THINGS. WHERE WE APPROPRIATELY, ON THE PRIVATE SIDE, GO AND TRY TO MAKE OUR CASE TO THE VOTERS.
AND SO WE ARE CLEAR, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING THIS, -- [INDISCERNIBLE] YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME IDEAS, AND SOME DREAMS. AND HAVE PEOPLE -- WHO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR STARTING THE DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. RACHELLE, DID YOU WANT TO -- ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO DO IS GO BACK AND REFRESH PEOPLE'S MEMORIES. THIS IDEA OF VENUE TAX FIRST CAME OUT, THERE WAS NOT A PROJECT THAT WAS READY TO GO.
THAT IS HOW THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GOT INVOLVED.
PART OF WHAT THIS WAS, IS THAT IF WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO COLLECT THE VENUE TAX WE HAD TO HAVE A PROJECT WITH THE BUNNY COULD GO. SCHOOL DISTRICT GOT INVOLVED AT THAT POINT. I DO NOT KNOW AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, THERE IS ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE WILL HAVE A LOT MORE REQUESTS ON PEOPLE THAT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN WILL HAVE TO DRAW DOWN THE VENUE TAX.
WE YOU KNOW YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS
[00:50:08]
CONVERSATION. WE HAVE TO STICK WITH THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE I GUARANTEE YOU THEY ARE ALREADY TALKINGABOUT IT. >> AFTER THE 2002 FLOOD, [INDISCERNIBLE] WE WERE USING TWO TRUCKS TO GET -- AND THEN WITH THEIR INVOLVEMENT, WE WERE ABLE TO COME BACK, AND AS THAT PART EXPIRED, THEN THE TWO PARTNERS IN THIS WHERE THE CITY, EXCUSE ME, FRONIER TEXAS! IN THE EXPO CENTER.
>> INTO THROUGH THESE THINGS OUT THERE, BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY OF THE EXPO CENTER, AND ABILENE SPORTS AUTHORITY, I WOULD LOVE THE POSSIBILITY OF EXPLORING A CONVERSATION THAT COULD ENHANCE BOTH OF THOSE ENTITIES.
I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS.
THE CITY HAS THE ZOO. IT IS RIGHT THERE IN THAT AREA.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT PROHIBIT THE CITY FROM USING THAT IN THE RECREATIONAL WAY IN NELSON PARK.
AND MAYBE EVEN THE ZOO, HOWEVER, AND ELEVATION OF A PROJECT CONNECTED IN THE AREA MIGHT BE GOOD FOR THE EXPO CENTER, AND IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR A Y ESSAY, AND IT WOULD BE
GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF ABILENE. >> 'SMAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR THOUGHTS. ANYTHING HAVE ANYTHING AS THEY WANT TO SHARE? I WANT TO CAUTION YOU, THAT WE ARE STRAYING FROM THE AGENDA LITTLE BIT.
[Item 6]
>> WE WILL MOVE NOW TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.
THIS IS REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 2019 AUDIT REPORT FROM BKD AND CPAS AND ADVISORS. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
>> WE HAVE THE AUDIT IN YOUR PACKET STARTING ON PAGE 15.
THE AUDIT WAS PERFORMED BY BKD. THEY DID THE AUDIT FOR THE CITY, AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT, THEY PUT IN THE VENUE DISTRICT INFORMATION ALSO. BEGINNING ON PAGE 19 IS THE AUDITOR'S REPORT. IT CONTINUES ON FOR A FEW PAGES. BASICALLY IT IS SAYING THAT IT IS FAIRLY STATED AND IN ALL MATERIAL EFFECTS -- THE BALANCE SHEET WAS $171,000 IN THE PROJECT FUND.
70 PERCENT OF THAT WAS CASH, AND THE REST WAS HOTEL RECEIVABLES. AND -- YOU WAS THE AMOUNTS DUE TO -- THIS LEFT US WITH A BALANCE OF $99,000 AT 2019.
THERE WERE $20,000 IN THE INTEREST FUND.
-- $28,000. THAT IS AN INCREASE UP IN ABOUT 11 THOUSAND DOLLARS ON THE BUDGET FOUND.
IF YOU LOOK ON PAGE 24 OF YOUR PACKET, THERE IS THE STATEMENT OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES. A NEW PROJECT FUND HAD $1,031,000. THAT IS IN INCREASE, IT -- TRANSFER FOR PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON DEBT.
PAYMENT TO THE EXPO ON FRONIER TEXAS! ACCOUNT FOR HUNDRED $3000 OF THE DEBT SERVICE.
LEADING US WITH 9312 AT THE END OF 2019.
INTEREST IN SINKING FUND WAS MONEY THAT CAME IN AND TRANSFERRED FROM THE PROJECT FUND.
A LITTLE BIT OF INTEREST IN THE PAYMENT OF THE DEBT SERVICE.
SO THEY WERE LEFT WITH 20,000 20 20,535.
I BELIEVE THAT IS A JUNE PAYMENT IN 2024.
THAT IS THE AUDIT REPORT. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> AND QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AUDIT?
>> IS THERE A MOTION? >> I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE AND ACCEPT THE 2019 AUDIT REPORT AS SUBMITTED BY CITY STAFF.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE INDICATE
[00:55:02]
BY SAYING I. ALL OPPOSED SAY NUMBER AND THE MOTION CARRIES.[Item 7]
ITEM NUMBER 7 WOULD BE TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE REVISED BUDGET FOR FY 2019 Ã2020 IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY 2020Ã2021. >> BEGINNING ON PAGE 27 IS THE BUDGET FOR THE OPERATING FUND. WHAT WE DID WAS LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS.
HE WAS DOWN 63 PERCENT FROM OUR COLLECTIONS IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. JUNE WAS DOWN 53 PERCENT.
SO WHAT WE DID FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR WAS BASICALLY PROGRAM IN A SLIDING -- 50 PERCENT TO 30 PERCENT.
THAT GOT US TO THE 805 REVISED NUMBER.
IT IS ABOUT A $220,000 DECREASE FROM WHAT WAS COLLECTED IN 2019. THAT IS WHERE HE CAME WITH UP WITH THAT. THE 2021 NUMBER, WE TALKED TO THE CONVENTION BUREAU AND THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A 10 PERCENT DECLINE IN 2021 IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY. WE USE THAT FACTOR GOING BACK TO 2019, AND FACTORING IN A 10 PERCENT EACH MONTH.
IT WILL END UP WITH $118,000 MORE THAN OUR REVISED NUMBER FOR 2020. IT IS ALMOST $100,000 LESS THAN WHAT WAS COLLECTED IN 2019. BASED ON THOSE NUMBERS, WE PUT UP FRONIER TEXAS! AND EXPO CENTER ON THE CURRENT ALLOCATION SO THOSE NUMBERS WOULD NOT CHANGE BECAUSE WE DID NOT CHANGE THE ALLOCATION. THE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS HAVE GONE UP A LITTLE BIT, ABOUT $800 FOR 2021.
IN THE LAST PAGE IS THE INTEREST IN SINKING FUND.
IT IS SIMPLY ON THE DEBT SERVICE WHICH WILL WHAT IS GOING TO BE REQUIRED. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
FOR MR. RAINES? >> YOU MADE THE MOTION IS THAT CORRECT? SO WE DO HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND. HEARING FROM THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY I, ALL OPPOSED PLEASE SAY NO.
THE MOTION CARRIES. WILL THIS WILL DO IT THEN.
THIS IS THE BEST MISSION TO BE ON.
>> WE GOT INTO A TIME CRUNCH LAST YEAR, AND THIS YEAR WE HAD THE OPTION TO HAVE TWO SEPARATE MEETINGS.
IS ADJOURNED. WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN,
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.