Orange County NC Website
Document management portal powered by Laserfiche WebLink 9 © 1998-2015 Laserfiche. All rights reserved.
bureau" or "commissioner" would be a more descriptive title. He <br /> also indicated that the details do not need to be worked out before <br /> presenting the request for authority to establish this Bureau to <br /> the General Assembly. <br /> In response to a question from Council Member Preston, <br /> Chairman Carey indicated the EDC' s suggestion was that the we <br /> request authority for a maximum of a 3% tax . The details of how <br /> much would actually be put into effect initially is not necessary <br /> for the enabling legislation. <br /> Council Member Brown asked if it was possible to request an <br /> increase in the tax without indicating the intended use. Chairman <br /> Carey indicated that the request could be handled that way. <br /> Council Member Andresen indicated that she was interested in <br /> discussing what vision the county had for this bureau. She also <br /> expressed concern about the bureau's accountability in terms of <br /> performance agreements. <br /> Chairman Carey indicated that this bureau would capitalize on <br /> the "clean industry" which already exists in the county and <br /> municipalities with emphasis on getting people who are already <br /> coming here to stay longer, as well as to attract small conferences <br /> to this area. The details will be worked out after the authority <br /> has been granted by the General Assembly. Attracting large <br /> conventions to Chapel Hill is not a part of the vision. <br /> In response to a question about what this Bureau could do that <br /> the Downtown Commission and/or the Chamber of Commerce could not <br /> do, Mr. Abernathy indicated <br /> y that the Bureau would have an expert <br /> on visitor services. Also, their entire focus would be enhancing <br /> the visitors experience and encouraging more visitor to stay <br /> longer. <br /> Mayor Howes indicated that the expertise of the staff at the <br /> visitor's bureau was the critical issue, not layering on another <br /> level of bureaucarcy. This bureau would not have its own facility <br /> and would have a staff of probably two people and certainly no more <br /> than three people. <br /> Commissioner Willhoit indicated that the request for a 3% tax <br /> is not an unreasonable amount compared with what other communities <br /> have requested. Seeking the authorization for 3% gives flexibility <br /> for the future although 1% may be designated initially. <br /> Council Member Brown stated that she felt having the money <br /> earmarked for visitors might not be in the Town's best interest. <br /> It may be that people w i l l not travel as much in the future and <br /> the money could be better spent for purposes other than trying to <br /> promote travel to Chapel Hill . <br /> Mayor Howes stated that this proposed Bureau would be <br /> accountable to the Board of Commissioners and the Town Council . <br />