Agenda - 05-07-2013 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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15 1 concern over the construction happening over the summer; however, she feels there has been 2 good communication about this issue. 3 She referenced the possible relocation of the Visitors Center, which is in its infancy. 4 She said there is growing demand, a need for more parking, and a possible need to be 5 strategically located on the interstate. She said the overall metrics are good and Chapel Hill 6 has 90% positive feedback. 7 Mayor Kleinschmidt said he thinks it is a big mistake for the Visitors Bureau (VB) to 8 move out of downtown Chapel Hill and away from what it is selling-which is Chapel Hill. 9 Laurie Paolicelli said that this consideration is based off of responses from visitors 10 regarding difficulty locating the VB and difficulties with parking. She said this seems to be 11 escalating, and the move is still a conversation at this point. 12 Mayor Kleinschmidt said he is just concerned about the VB's ability to be successful in 13 its mission. He said he feels this mission is undermined if the VB is not located in the area that 14 it recommends to visitors. 15 Council Member Matt Czajkowski said he would like for the old library to be back on the 16 table as a venue for the Visitor's Bureau, and he noted that it has 27 parking spaces. 17 Commissioner Price said she would like to see the VB stay in downtown Chapel Hill. 18 Frank Clifton said the issue is that visitors are not necessarily walking to the Bureau, 19 and they come by automobile and can't find a place to park. He said that with the community 20 college next door, the parking lots stay full. He said the effort is to find an effective way to get 21 business, not for the people that live here, but for the visitors. 22 Mayor Kleinschmidt suggested the east end or next to a hotel. 23 Laurie Paolicelli said the high traffic coming into town from 185 and 140 and MLK Edge 24 project were all considerations. 25 Mayor Kleinschmidt said that this is not what visitors are coming to target. 26 Frank Clifton said the issue for the county is people not being able to find the visitors 27 center. He said that if you are near enough to the interstate, it will allow signage on the 28 interstate directing people to the Visitors Center where information can then be given on finding 29 downtown. He said this creates more opportunity for interaction. 30 Council Member Jim Ward questioned how the VB will know exactly where to put 31 signage and said this will potentially only draw in a fraction of people coming in. He said that 32 this will eliminate the other people because the VB will be on the outer spokes of the wheel, so 33 to speak. 34 Chair Jacobs suggested that this be discussed at a future meeting. 35 Commissioner Dorosin noted that Chapel Hill has some OWASA appointments coming 36 up and all current members are Caucasian. He said there needs to be consideration of adding 37 some diversity on that board. 38 39 ADJOURNMENT 40 The meeting adjourned at 9:35. 41 42 43 Barry Jacobs, Chair 44 Donna S. Baker, CMC 45 Clerk to the Board 46