[1. Call to order]
[00:00:06]
AND WE'LL START WITH A ROLL CALL.
UH, JOSE, YOU WANNA GET US STARTED? OH, JUDITH BURLESON.
JUDITH BURLESON, RETIRED CORPORATE MARKETING.
JOSE MIRANDA, SOUTH SHORE HARBOR RESORT.
UM, ANY CITIZENS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD? NONE.
AND DO WE NEED A, I GUESS WE SHOULD ALSO SAY THAT IS SANDRA ON, IS VIEWING ON ZOOM JUST TO STAY IN THE LOOP, I GUESS.
WELL, I, I, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S THERE.
CAN'T SEE IF SHE'S LOGGED IN OR NOT, BUT SHE MOVED POTENTIALLY.
MAY YOU BE ON ZOOM,
SO SHE, UH, WILL BE REMOTELY JOINING US.
SHE, BUT I MEAN, SHE CAN'T VOTE AND SHE DOESN'T COUNT IN THE QUORUM.
SHE'S JUST, WE HAVE TO HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT TO HOLD OUR MEETINGS.
UHHUH, SHE CAN COUNT AND SHE CAN VOTE.
SHE JUST CAN'T COUNT TOWARDS OUR PRESENT PHYSICAL BODY QUORUM, BUT SHE CAN CONTRIBUTE ALL THE OTHER WAYS.
WHERE IS FLORIDA? I DON'T KNOW.
[4. Approval of Minutes: October 2025]
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM OCTOBER.[5. HOT Grant Request: Blue Knights Intl Law Enforcement MC Texas XXXI Chapter Rio Grande Conference May 2026 – DJ Alvarez]
HAVE A REQUEST, A HOT GRANT REQUEST FROM THE BLUE KNIGHTS INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, MC, TEXAS.IS THAT 31 CHAPTER? I DIDN'T BRING MY GLASSES TODAY.
DJ, HE HAS NOT MADE IT IN YET.
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE, BUT, UH, YOUR APPLICATION IS IN FRONT OF YOU, THE PAPER APPLICATION THERE.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO, UH, UH SURE.
IF WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND DISCUSS THIS OR IF WE WANT TO MOVE IT TO A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE AGENDA.
I, WE, I MEAN, I'M HAPPY TO KIND OF, WE CAN VERBALLY GO THROUGH THIS TOGETHER IF Y'ALL WANT TO YEAH.
HE'S, HE'S NOT HERE TO MAKE A PRESENTATION.
AND I'M NOT REALLY PREPARED FOR A PRESENTATION, BUT I CAN, I'M SORRY.
HERE, I'M GETTING HOT ON THIS THEN.
SO DJ ALVAREZ, UH, HE, HE REACHED OUT TO ME AND, AND ALSO JULIANA, I THINK LAST SUMMER ABOUT A, AN EVENT, A CONFERENCE THAT HE'S PLANNING, UH, THIS YEAR IT'S WITH THE BLUE KNIGHTS INTERNATIONAL, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO HE IS A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER.
UM, AND MC STANDS FOR MOTORCYCLE CLUB.
IT IS, HE'S A MEMBER OF A VERY LARGE ORGANIZATION OF MOTORCYCLE CLUBS AND THEY TRAVEL ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THEY HAVE CONFERENCES AND, UH, THEY'RE ALL RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
UH, AND THEY HAVE AN EVENT PLANNED FOR THIS MAY HERE IN, THAT WILL COVER THEIR RIO GRANDE CONFERENCE REGION.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE THE LITTLE MAP THERE THAT SHOWS THE AREA THAT THIS WOULD INCLUDE.
IS THAT HIM? OH, HEY, HOW ARE YOU? JUST GOT WORK.
UH, AND IT WILL BE PULLING FROM PEOPLE ALL OVER THIS, THIS REGION HERE.
SO, UM, HE ALREADY HAS ROOM NIGHTS BOOKED AT SOUTH SHORE.
THE EVENT WILL BE HELD AT SOUTH SHORE.
AND HE HAD, HE HAD PREVIOUSLY HELD THE EVENT, UM, BUTTA, TEXAS.
AND HE SAID HE REACHED OUT TO ME BECAUSE HE SAID WE WORKED SO CLOSELY WITH THE CBP AND BUTTA, WE DID ALL THESE THINGS.
AND HE WAS EXPLAINING ABOUT HOW THEY DID SOME SORT OF A DINER ROUND ONE NIGHT AND THE BUTTA CBB WORK WITH HIM TO LIKE, COME UP WITH A DINING, UH, MAP.
AND THEY HAD LIKE, LIKE A, LIKE A LITTLE PASSPORT TYPE THING.
SO ANYWAY, HE'S LIKE, WHAT CAN WE DO? AND I SAID, WELL, I WOULD, YOU KNOW, BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU WITH VISITOR INFORMATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT AS FAR AS LIKE A DINER ROUND WITH A PREPAID, UH, SET MENU TYPE OF THING.
I'M LIKE, I, WE CAN'T REALLY DO THAT.
BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS A HOT TAX GRANT REQUEST MM-HMM
SO, UH, HE'S APPLYING FOR A, FOR A 10,000 HOT GRANT REQUEST.
UM, AND IT WOULD GO TOWARDS THE COST OF THE EVENT THEY ARE WANTING, THE MAIN COST I THINK IS GOING FOR IS, UH, UH, AN EVENT OUT ON THE HOUSTON PARTY BOATS.
UM, THEY'RE BRINGING ALL THE PEOPLE IN.
THEY HAVE A COMMITTED ROOM NIGHTS BOOKED THERE AND, UM, THEY'RE STILL BOOKING RESERVATIONS.
SO ANYWAY, I THINK THE PRIMARY USE WILL BE FOR
[00:05:01]
SPONSORING THIS CONVENTION AND THE, SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES INVOLVED WITH THAT CONVENTION, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE HOUSTON PARTY REST.AND IT'S PROBABLY, IT'S, IT'S ALL IN THE APPLICATION HERE.
SO, UM, DID Y'ALL HAVE, I DID EMAIL THE, THIS PAPERWORK TO Y'ALL LAST WEEK.
DID Y'ALL HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT? MM-HMM
AND THEY, THEY ALREADY HAVE THEIR BLOCK GOING AT SOUTH SHORE.
ARE THOSE ROOMS BOOKING UP OR? THAT IS CORRECT.
UH, KIM KEEN, OUR DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING IS WORKING WITH, UH, DJ ALVAREZ.
UM, AND, UH, THIS IS GONNA BE A LARGE GROUP.
UM, AND I'VE HEARD OF THIS GROUP IN, IN ADDITION OUTSIDE HERE AND OUT IN BUTTA, TEXAS.
SO, UM, THEY, THEY DO BRING IN A NICE FOLLOWING WITH THEM.
BUT YES, THIS IS GONNA BE ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE LARGER GROUPS.
UM, THEY ARE HAVING A, AN EVENT AT RED RIVER, LIKE THEY WERE GETTING CATERING, I THINK BY RED RIVER BARBECUE.
YOU PUT THAT IN THERE AS WELL.
SO LET'S SEE, THAT'S WHAT THE REQUEST IS FOR DINNER FOR ATTENDEES AT WALTER HALL.
SO THAT'S THE COUNTY FACILITY, BUT MEAN THEY'RE USING ALL LAKE CITY BUSINESSES BESIDES WALTER HALL, I GUESS.
THE EVENTS SPONSORSHIP COVER, UH, USED TO HELP COVER COSTS OF BLUE KNIGHTS RIO GRANDE CONFERENCE, BARBECUE DINNER FOR ATTENDEES AT WALTER HALL PARK FACILITY RENTAL COST FOR THE FOOD AND CATERING AND FOOD WILL BE CATERED BY RED RIVER BARBECUE IN CITY.
THE EXPENSE QUALIFIES UNDER CATEGORY THREE, THE TEXAS TAX CODE ADVERTISING SOLICITATIONS AND PROMOTIONS THAT DIRECTLY PROMOTE TOURISM IN THE HOTEL AND CONVENTION INDUSTRY.
THESE EVENTS WILL SERVE AS A KEY PROMOTIONAL COMPONENT OF THE CONFERENCE SHOWCASING LEE CITY'S WATERFRONT AMENITIES AND LOCAL EATERIES TO ATTENDEES FROM ALL ACROSS TEXAS AND NEIGHBORING STATES BY HIGHLIGHTING CLEAR LAKE AND LEE CITY AS A DESTINATION ATTRACTION.
THE EXCURSION ENCOURAGES EXTENDED OVERNIGHT STAYS AND INCREASED VISITOR SPENDING AT LOCAL HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES.
YOUR REQUESTED FUNDS WILL SPECIFICALLY SUPPORT THE CHARTER AND, AND EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEPTION, WHICH DIRECTLY ADVANCES LEAGUE CITY'S MISSION TO PROMOTE TOURISM AND ENHANCE THE LOCAL HOTEL AND CONVENTION INDUSTRY.
UM, LOOKS LIKE THEIR MEMBERS COME FROM ALL OVER TOO, SO YES, THEY SAID NO SPONSORS.
SPONSORS AT THIS TIME, BUT DID THEY, I WONDER WHO THEY WERE IN THE PAST? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE.
I AM NOT SURE THEY'RE COUNTING ON US.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WOULD BE A DJ QUESTION.
UH, IT DOES SAY, LET'S SEE, THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA IS GONNA PULL FROM TEXAS AND ARKANSAS.
UM, THEY HAVE 15,000 MEMBERS IN 33 COUNTRIES.
TEXAS, ARKANSAS, ARIZONA, KENTUCKY, FLORIDA, GEORGIA.
YEAH, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE, I DON'T KNOW, IT JUST STRUCK ME THAT THERE WAS NO SPONSOR.
OTHER THAN ARE THERE OTHER SPONSORS? WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CITY OF BUTTA HELPED THEM OUT BEFORE THEY DID.
SO TECHNICALLY LEAGUE CITY WOULD BE A SPONSOR, I GUESS.
YEAH, LEAGUE CITY WOULD BE THEIR SPONSOR.
I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THAT WAS THE ONLY SPONSOR.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE OTHER SPONSORS AS WELL, BECAUSE IT'S A FUNDRAISING MISSION TOO.
BECAUSE THEY DO A LOT OF CHARITY WORK.
I KNOW HE WAS TELLING US ABOUT THE CHARITY STUFF THAT THEY DO.
DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW WHAT THE ROOM BLOCK IS? 120.
ACTUALLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT.
IT SAYS, WELL, HE SAID THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE 120 ROOM BLOCK AT SOUTH SHO HARBOR RESORT, 12 ROOMS AVAILABLE FOR BOOKING.
SO YEAH, THEY SAID THAT THEY NEEDED TO ADD MORE TO IT.
PROBABLY THEY'RE PRETTY FULL THAN, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING IS IT'S UH, IT'S ONE OF THE LARGER, WHEN IT COMES TO PURE ROOM BLOCKS.
SO YES, THEY, THEY'VE PROBABLY CREEPED UP TO MAYBE ANOTHER 20 THAT PROBABLY THAT'S A LARGE EVENT.
SO, WELL IN EVERY BUSINESS THAT THEY'RE MENTIONING IN HERE IS A LAKE CITY BUSINESS.
EVEN HOUSTON PARTY BOATS IS, PAYS THEIR TAXES TO LAKE CITY.
EXCEPT WALTER HALL'S THE ONLY ONE THAT'S NOT, I THINK THEY NEEDED THAT LOCATION FOR THE SPACE.
I IMAGINE MISTAKEN HAS LOT A MOTORCYCLES AND ONE, SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE TOURING AND YEAH.
IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S ALSO OH, NO.
IF NO, I WAS GONNA SAY, IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S ALSO USING OTHER HOTELS, BUT THAT'S JUST THE WAY THAT'S LAID OUT.
DO WE HAVE TO HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM NO, WE DON'T HAVE TO.
[00:10:03]
DO WE HAVE ANY MORE DISCUSSION? NO.DOES ANYONE WANNA MAKE A MOTION? NO ONE WANTS TO BE BRAVE.
WELL, WE HAVE THE FUNDS, RIGHT.
LAST TIME I LOOKED, THERE ARE, THERE ARE, AND THIS IS A LOT OF PE PEOPLE COMING FROM ALL OVER.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE, I LIKE THE, TO ME, I LIKE THE FACT THAT IT'S, THEY'RE RETIRED.
MOST OF 'EM ARE RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THAT THAT FACTOR COMES INTO PLAY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE SUPPORT OF THEM, UH, IN ADDITION TO WHAT, UM, THEIR FUNDRAISING AND SUCH.
UH, AND, AND I, AND I HAVE, LIKE I SAID, I'VE, I'VE GOING BACK TO BUTTA, UM, FAMILIAR WITH BLUE KNIGHTS IN TERMS OF THE NAME AND ORGANIZATION.
[6. Board discussion and vote on HOT Grant Application]
I'D, I'D LIKE TO MOTION TO, TO APPROVE OR TO, UH, FUNDING FOR, FOR THIS BLUE KNIGHT GROUP.ANYONE OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT, GREAT.
APPROVED FOR $10,000, I THINK WITH THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THEY'RE BRINGING HERE, IT SEEMS LIKE ENOUGH WORK.
UM, NOT DOING GOOD WITH THIS LOST POWERPOINT TODAY.
[7. Communications update]
COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE.SARAH? YEAH, A COUPLE OF THINGS.
SO YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THE MURAL, UH, THAT'S GOING UP IN LEAGUE PARK, THE MUSIC MURAL.
UM, HE HAS A COUPLE FINISHING TOUCHES HE WANTS TO DO, UM, BUT I THINK IT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.
UM, AND THAT WAS HOT FUNDS WERE USED JUST TO SUPPORT, UH, AND PAY FOR THAT MURAL.
IT'S ON ANOTHER MASONIC LODGE BUILDING THAT'S, THEY OWN A COUPLE BUILDINGS ACROSS THE, BEHIND THEIR BUILDING THAT THEY CURRENTLY OWN THAT WE PAINTED THE FIRST MURAL ON.
SO THAT'S, UH, WRAPPING UP AND WE WILL, UH, BE IN TIME FOR ACTUALLY A MUSIC CONCERT THAT WE'RE HOLDING THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT IN JUST A SECOND.
SO THE SOCCER BALL, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD AT MY LAST MEETING THAT THE SOCCER BALL GOT DAMAGED, UM, BECAUSE KIDS WERE JUMPING ON IT OVER AT THE, UM, AT THE, THE BALLPARK AT LEAGUE CITY.
WE HAVE SENT THE BALL, THE BALL GOT SENT AWAY.
A FIBERGLASS SHOP IN HOUSTON, REPAIRED IT.
IT'S NEARLY COMPLETED BEING PAINTED.
AND I HOPE TO HAVE IT PICKED UP NEXT WEEK BY THE FOLKS THAT ARE DOING THE EXHIBIT FOR THE FIFA WORLD CUP.
AND THEN OUR SOCCER BALL WOULD JOIN, UM, THEIR EXHIBIT.
THAT'S A TRAVELING EXHIBIT THAT'S REALLY ALREADY UP AND RUNNING RIGHT NOW.
UH, IT GOES TO DIFFERENT PLACES FROM THE AIRPORTS.
IT'LL BE ALL OVER THE CITY AS THE FIFA WORLD CUP, UM, COMES IN, YOU KNOW, LITERALLY IT'LL BE PLACED IN THE EXHIBIT STARTING NEXT WEEK OR THE WEEK AFTER.
SOCCER BALL'S ALL REPAIRED, LOOKING GOOD.
UM, WE'VE STARTED YEAR TWO, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, OF OUR ARTISAN RESIDENCY PROGRAM.
UH, THEIR YEAR WILL BE UP IN THE END OF MAY.
SO WE'VE PUT OUT THE APPLICATIONS FOR YEAR TWO THAT WILL START IN JUNE.
UM, SO IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, COMING UP ON A YEAR.
THINGS ARE GOING VERY, VERY WELL.
THEY HAD A OPEN HOUSE STUDIO DAY LAST FRIDAY THAT WE ADVERTISED, AND THEY HAD 60 PEOPLE SHOW UP FOR THAT, UM, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 1130 AND TWO.
SO THEY WERE PRETTY HAPPY TO SHOW OFF ALL THEIR ART.
THEY HAD INTERACTIVE ART MAKING ACTIVITIES.
UM, AND THEY'D LIKE TO DO ANOTHER ONE COMING UP SOON.
AND WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER OPEN HOUSE EVENT, UM, AS WELL, JUST WITH THIS GROUP OF ARTISTS BEFORE THEY KIND OF, YOU KNOW, MOVE ON THOUGH.
WE HAVE THE KEEP LEAGUE CITY BEAUTIFUL COMMITTEE HAS, UH, VOTED TO EX FOR THOSE ARTISTS TO REAPPLY SO THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF YEAR TWO AND 'CAUSE SOME OF THEM, THEY ARE BEING SO ARE, ARE SO SUCCESSFUL THAT THE KEEP LEAGUE CITY BEAUTIFUL COMMITTEE HAS EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN KEEPING AT LEAST ONE OR TWO OF THEM AROUND.
THAT WILL BE BASED ON WHAT KIND OF APPLICATIONS WE GET.
THE APPLICATIONS ARE DUE, UH, MARCH 2ND, SO WE HAVE ALL OF FEBRUARY, UM, FOR FOLKS TO APPLY.
A COUPLE OF THINGS IN YOUR HANDOUT.
THE STATE OF THE CITY IS COMING UP FEBRUARY 20TH.
YOU WILL GET A, A PERSONALIZED INVITATION FROM ASHLEY JACKSON WHO, UH, IS OUR SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR BECAUSE WE ALSO USE IT AS A WAY TO HIGHLIGHT ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES.
UM, BUT IF YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND RSVP BY THE QR CODE OR GOING TO, UH, LEAGUE CITY.COM/SOC, UH, IT'LL BE A CATERED BREAKFAST THIS YEAR.
A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A, UM, ROBUST BREAKFAST THAN WHAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.
UM, AND IT'LL DO KIND OF THE SAME FIRESIDE CHAT THAT WE DO WITH JOHN BAUMGARTNER AND MAYOR NICK LONG, UM, WHERE I KIND OF SIT AND ASK THEM QUESTIONS.
AND THEN AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION, FOLKS FROM THE AUDIENCE CAN ASK THEIR QUESTIONS AS WELL.
SO IF YOU SAVE THE DATE FOR THAT, YOU'RE
[00:15:01]
ALL INVITED.BUT IF YOU FEEL THERE'S PLENTY OF SPOTS RIGHT NOW, UH, WE CAN HOLD UP TO 250 PEOPLE AND WE'RE SITTING AT AROUND 100 RIGHT NOW.
SO WE, WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME FOR PEOPLE TO RSVP.
UH, SECOND COUPLE OF THINGS COMING UP THAT ARE ART-WISE, I'M EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEXT GALLERY DISPLAY THAT'S GONNA BE COMING UP IN FEBRUARY.
THIS IS A YOUNG GENTLEMAN, UM, THAT, UH, SUFFERS FROM AUTISM, BUT HE IS WELL KNOWN IN THE HOUSTON ART COMMUNITY HERE IN LEAGUE CITY.
UM, BECAUSE HIS ART IS PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY DEP, DESPITE HIS SEVERE AUTISM AND HIS FATHER AND HI, UH, HIM HAVE WRITTEN A BOOK THAT IS GOING TO BE PUBLISHED, UM, BASED ON, UH, ALL OF HIS ARTWORK.
AND HIS FATHER IS ACTUALLY A SURGEON, A PEDIATRIC SURGEON, UH, AND CAME UP WITH A STORY, UM, THAT, UH, IS KIND OF LIKE, UM, GUIDES KIDS BEFORE THEY GO INTO SURGERY AND IMAGINES THEM AS THEY'RE AN ASTRONAUT AND THEY'RE GETTING OFF TO BLOW INTO, GO INTO SPACE AND THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE HOOKED UP TO THEM TO GO INTO SPACE.
AND SO IT'S KIND OF A COMBO EVENT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UM, BOOK SIGNINGS AND SELLING OF THE NEW BOOK THAT'S OUT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE ALL OF ADAM'S ART ON DISPLAY.
UM, THE, UM, DASHBOARD AND FOUNDATION IS HEAVILY INVOLVED BECAUSE OF THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY THAT THEY SUPPORT.
SO WE EXPECT A LARGE TURNOUT BETWEEN THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY, OUR ARTIST COMMUNITY, AND JUST PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE SUPPORTED ADAM AND HIS ARTWORK.
UM, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF MAKING THE ROUNDS.
THEY'VE SENT OUT SEVERAL PRESS RELEASES AND SO IT'S KIND OF EVEN GIVING SOME STATE AND NATIONAL ATTENTION.
SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEXT GALLERY THAT'S GONNA BE UP FOR A COUPLE MONTHS.
THE OPENING RECEPTION IS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH FROM FIVE TO NINE AND EVERYONE IS INVITED.
AND THEN AS PART OF OUR MUSIC CITY CERTIFIED COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE, WE ARE NOW, UM, UH, OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED AS A MUSIC FRIENDLY CITY.
WE, THE MUSIC COMMITTEE THAT WE HAVE ASSEMBLED IS PER, UH, DOING A DAY OF MUSIC IN LEAGUE CITY ON SATURDAY, MARCH 21ST FROM TWO TO 9:00 PM OUR LOCATION IS AT LEAGUE PARK.
UM, SO IT HAS A, UH, QUITE A FEW PERFORM.
YOU'LL SEE THE SCHEDULE PERFORMANCES OF QUITE A FEW MUSIC SCHOOLS, THE BAY AREA BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION, THE LEAGUE CITY FOCUS ASSOCIATION.
BUT OUR BIG HEADLINER IS A GROUP CALLED TROUT FISHING IN AMERICA, WHICH HAS QUITE A FOLLOWING.
UH, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THEM
I AM IN THE 50 AND UP CROWD, BUT THEY HAVE QUITE A HUGE FOLLOWING IN HOUSTON AND THEY DO A LOT OF SONGWRITING WORKSHOPS.
SO WE'RE HAVING A SONGWRITING WORKSHOP WITH THEM BEFORE THEIR LIVE PERFORMANCE.
WE EXPECT A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM HOUSTON TO COME DOWN TO THE, TO THE SONGWRITING WORKSHOP AND THEN ALSO TO THE CONCERT BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY POPULAR IN THE HOUSTON AREA.
UM, AND BUTLER'S COURTYARD HAS GRACIOUSLY, UM, BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE A WEDDING SCHEDULE THAT DAY, THANK GOD
I KNOW, I THOUGHT FOR SURE YOU WOULD HAVE ONE.
THE LORD, THEY'RE GONNA HELP OUT.
YEAH, THEY'RE GONNA HELP OUT WITH DOING THE MUSIC WORKSHOP AT BUTLER'S AND THEN ALSO WE'RE EXCITED TO BE A PART OF IT.
AND THEN ALSO, UH, THE GREEN ROOM FOR TROUT FISHING WILL BE AT ONE OF YOUR BUILDINGS AS WELL.
UM, NOT THAT THEY HAVE MA MAJOR DEMANDS, NO, BUT FOR THE WRITER LIST.
BUT IT'S NICE TO HAVE A PRIVATE SPACE.
I JUST FIGURED IF IT'S SITTING EMPTY, YOU KNOW.
SO, UM, SO IT'S PART OF OUR FIRST KIND OF CONCERT SERIES THAT WE'RE KICKING OFF, UH, TO SUPPORT OUR, OUR MUSIC FRIENDLY CITY CERTIFICATION.
AND, UM, WE EXPECT A PRETTY BIG TURNOUT JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE A HUGE FOLLOWING IN HOUSTON.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF FOLK ASSOCIATION, THERE'S TWO FOLK ASSOCIATION GROUPS IN HOUSTON AND THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN CALLING AND WANTING TO KNOW, IS THE CONCERT FREE? WHEN IS IT, TELL ME ABOUT THE SONG READY WORKSHOP.
THAT STARTED IN EARLY JANUARY, SO I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED.
SO I HAD TO THROW TOGETHER A, A FLYER JUST EVEN THOUGH THE EVENT'S IN MARCH, UM, BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE STARTING ALREADY TO ASK ABOUT IT.
SO I AM WORKING WITH KING, WITH KIM TO DO A ROOM BLOCK FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME IN AND STAY THE NIGHT.
SO WE'LL BE ADVERTISING THAT AS WELL ON THE EVENT BRIGHTLY WHERE PEOPLE CAN SIGN UP FOR THE SONGWRITING WORKSHOP AND ALSO, UM, IN THE ADVERTISING THAT WE'RE PUSHING OUT FOR THE CONCERT.
SO I'M JUST WAITING FOR HER ON SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THAT RED BLOCK AND WE'LL PROBABLY ADD IT TO THE FLYER.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT I'VE GOT GOING ON AS FAR AS COMMUNICATIONS, JUST GETTING READY FOR STATE OF THE CITY, UH, AND PUTTING TOGETHER OUR ANNUAL REPORT, UM, AND GEARING UP FOR MORE ACTIVITIES, UH, IN THE SPRING.
[8. Tourism report, update on 2026 projects and events]
TOURISM REPORTS ON YOUR 2026 PROJECTS AND EVENTS.ALRIGHT, WELL REAL QUICK, JUST TO RECAP, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET TO MEET HIM DECEMBER, I ALREADY HAD THESE PRE PREPARED FOR YOU GUYS.
[00:20:01]
YOU'RE GONNA SEE 'EM NOW.WE HAD A LOT OF MARKETING RUNNING IN THE FOR HOLIDAY.
UH, I LOVE THOSE GRAPHICS OVER THE COURSE OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
UH, WE HAVE THE NEW CAMPAIGN AND I WANTED TO SHOW Y'ALL THAT SOME SCREENSHOTS.
WE HAD, UH, WE HAD BANNER ADS RUNNING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
UH, WE HAD PROMO ALERT EMAILS GOING OUT ON CULTURE MAP HOUSTON.
UH, WE HAD A SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO CAMPAIGN WHERE WE DID A SHOP SMALL GIVE BIG DIY SHOPPING, UH, PREVIEW FOR LEAGUE CITY WHERE WE WORKED WITH, UH, BAY AREA, HOUSTON VALLEY AND THEATER, UH, THEIR BALLERINAS FOR THE NUTCRACKER.
SO IT WAS A KIND OF A BIG, YOU KNOW, BALD ALL IN ONE COMBO OF A PROMOTION THERE.
UH, AND THEY HIGHLIGHTED ALL THE LOCAL SHOPS THAT YOU CAN, BOUTIQUES THAT YOU CAN SHOP IN LAKE CITY.
AND THEN WE RELEASE THOSE, UH, THERE'S 12 OF THEM, RIGHT? 12, YEAH.
UH, IT'S BEEN A MINUTE SINCE DECEMBER.
UH, WE RELEASED THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SO THAT'S JUST SOME SCREEN GRABS AT THAT.
UM, SO ANYWAY, HAVE YOU HAD ANY FEEDBACK FROM THE SHOPS? THEY WERE ALL VERY HAPPY TO BE FEATURED.
THEY WERE ALL VERY HAPPY TO BE FEATURED.
I DID NOT HEAR BACK AS FOR LIKE, OH, IT BOOSTED DID WORK.
IT BOOSTED OUR EXPOSURE OR, OR EXPENDITURES AND THAT KIND OF THING.
OR, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SHOPPING THERE.
BUT I THINK IT MADE PEOPLE MORE AWARE OF THE SHOPS.
LIKE PARTICULARLY PARENT PAY OR PIE.
I KNOW IS WHY SHE, WELL, HER DAUGHTER'S NAME IS PIPER AND THAT'S HOW SHE SPELLS IT.
BUT YEAH, I WAS LIKE, THAT WAS FINE.
SO I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE NEW BUSINESSES WERE HAPPY, LIKE, OH, PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW WE EXISTED.
SO IT WAS GOOD TO GET, TO GET OUT THERE AND LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE OUT AND ABOUT AND COME SHOP WITH US.
SO IT WAS JUST A GOOD, GOOD COMBO.
UH, WE HAD A, AN EXPEDITION, TEXAS SPOTLIGHT CITY FEATURE ON TV THAT RAN COOL.
AND THEN THERE'S MORE, WE HAD SCREEN GRABS THERE.
WE HAD SOCIAL MEDIA AND THEN OUR WEBSITE, WE HAD LANDING PAGES THAT WE CREATED AND UPDATED ALL THE TIME.
AND, UH, WE WERE FOCUSED ON A LOT OF CONTENT STUFF.
UH, THERE WE ARE GEARING UP FOR A VERY BUSY 2026.
UH, FIRST OF ALL YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN IN THE NEWS WE HAVE A LOT OF MAJOR SPORTS EVENTS HAPPENING IN HOUSTON.
WE HAVE THE NATIONAL CHEERLEADING ASSOCIATION ALL STAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP THAT'S GONNA BRING IN 65,000 COMPETITORS.
THEY ALSO BRING THREE OR FOUR FAMILY MEMBERS EACH.
AND THAT'S GONNA BE HELD AT THE GEORGE R. BROWN TOYOTA CENTER FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, SINCE, UH, HOUSTON HAS SECURED THAT CONTRACT FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
WHICH WILL BRING AN INFLUX OF PEOPLE THERE, SO.
UM, THAT'S GONNA BE, SO AVOID DOWNTOWN HOUSTON THAT WEEKEND.
UH, THEY'RE GONNA, THE ASTROS WILL HOST EIGHT GAMES OF THE CLASSIC AT DAYKIN PARK.
UM, AND THAT'S GONNA BRING IN PEOPLE FROM TEAMS FROM USA, MEXICO, GREAT BRITAIN, BRITAIN AND ITALY.
TOYOTA CENTER IS GONNA HOST TWO NCAA SWEET 16 GAMES.
THEY'RE EXPECTED TO DRAW THOUSANDS OF BASKETBALL FANS FROM THE UNIVERSITIES COMPETING IN THAT CHAMPIONSHIP.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE THE HOUSTON RODEO HAPPENING, SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT.
DO WE HAVE THIS LIST IN, IN HERE? UH, NO.
NOT IN THAT, THAT, THAT TAKE A PICTURE OF IT.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO EMAIL IT TO YOU.
SO, UH, WE ALSO HAVE SPRING BREAK HAPPENING MARCH 9TH THROUGH 12TH.
UM, THE BALLPARK HERE IN LEE CITY HAS THE YOUTH WORLD BASEBALL.
UM, YEAH, BASEBALL CLASSIC, WHICH WAS THE LARGE INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT THAT WE HELD LAST YEAR.
SO THAT DATE'S MARCH 12TH THROUGH 15.
AND THEN SARAH MENTIONED THE, UH, THE SONGWRITER WORKSHOP AT CONCERT AT LEAGUE PARK.
I DIDN'T CALL IT THE RIGHT THING 'CAUSE I WAS JUST, JUST, OH, IT'S TOTALLY FINE.
THIS IS LIKE IN MY CALENDAR NOTES.
THEN ALSO, YOU REMEMBER LAST YEAR, FLEET WEEK MM-HMM
AND SO IT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR APRIL 15TH THROUGH THE 22ND.
SO THAT WILL BE A BIG TO-DO IN APRIL.
AND THEN WE'RE ON INTO JUNE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WORLD CUP.
SO THE FIRST MATCH IS PLAYED JUNE 14TH IN HOUSTON, IT'S GERMANY.
AND THERE WAS GONNA BE SEVEN MATCHES TOTAL, UH, IN INCLUDE FIVE SEVEN MATCHES INCLUDE FIVE IN THE GROUP STAGE.
ANYWAY, LOTS OF, LOTS OF THINGS HAPPENING IN HOUSTON.
SO WE ARE JUST GEARING UP FOR A VERY BUSY SUMMER IN SPRING TRAVEL SEASON IN THIS REGION.
I'VE BEEN ATTENDING A LOT OF, UH, REGIONAL TALKS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THESE THINGS.
WE'RE BRINGING IN THE OVERFLOW, THE SPILLAGE, AND JUST BEING OVERALL VISITOR READY FOR SPRINGTIME VISITORS.
BECAUSE WHILE WE'RE NOT HAVING THIS HAPPEN IN LAKE CITY, UH, ALL OF THESE ARE NOT HAPPENING THERE.
BUT THE, THE COMPRESSION IS GOING IMPACT.
SO WE ARE BEING PREPARED FOR THAT.
UM, AS FAR AS 26 AND THE CBB, SOME NEW INITIATIVES THAT WE WILL HAVE, UH, COMING UP, UH, INFLUENCER PROGRAM, WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING WITH A A, WE'VE DEMOED THIS NEW PROGRAM CALLED SHERPA AND IT'S A REALLY NEAT PROGRAM WHERE WE CAN BRING IN INFLUENCERS REALLY.
[00:25:01]
UH, IT VETS IT FOR US.IT DOES THE CONTRACTS FOR US AND IT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER FOR ME TO BRING THESE INFLUENCERS IN OR NOT HAVING TO HANDHOLD AND, AND DO A MILLION CONTRACTS WITH ONE PERSON.
SO WE'RE GOING TO SIGN UP TO HAVE THREE CREATOR VISITS THIS YEAR AND, AND BRING IN SOME NEW CONTENT.
UH, WE'RE WORKING ON WORLD SOCCER READINESS, VISITOR READINESS, UH, IN GENERAL.
AND THEN WE'RE ALSO RELAUNCHING OUR NEW GEO TOUR OR OUR GEO TOUR.
WE HAVE A NEW COIN THAT WE JUST HAD PRODUCED AND IT'S BACK IN, IT'S HERE.
IN FACT, I WAS GONNA BRING IT AND I FORGOT.
AND WE ALSO ARE WORKING ON A FILM FRIENDLY INITIATIVE AND DIGITAL MEDIA FRIENDLY.
SO LAST YEAR WE, WELL, WE'RE MUSIC FRIENDLY, WE'RE TOURISM FRIENDLY.
AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE FILM FRIENDLY AND DIGITAL MEDIA FRIENDLY, WHICH IS THE A GRAND SLAM OF ALL THE CERTIFICATIONS YOU CAN GIVE FOR THE SAKE.
WE'RE SUPER FRIENDLY OVERALL, UH, THE MOST FRIENDLY, THE MOST FRIENDLY OF US.
WE'RE GONNA BE VERY, UH, WE'LL BE ONE OF THE ONLY CITIES IN TEXAS TO GET THE GRAND SLAM OF ALL THE CERTIFICATIONS.
SO WE EXPECT TO COMPLETE THIS ONE PRETTY QUICKLY.
IT'S ABOUT, UH, GETTING PAPERWORK IN ORDER AND HELPING THE STATE, UH, POPULATE ITS DATABASE WITH, UH, FILMING SITES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT'S VERY VALUABLE FOR US TO HAVE.
IT IS, IT IS GOING TO BE A BIG INDUSTRY.
A LOT OF THINGS ARE MOVING TO TEXAS.
SO, UM, WE ALSO HAPPEN TO BE WITHIN HOUSTON'S, UH, SPENDING REGION FOR THEIR FILM INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
SO LEAGUE CITY DOESN'T HAVE FILM INCENTIVES, BUT WE ARE PART OF HOUSTON'S, UH, HOUSTON, UH, FILM COMMISSION.
UH, THEIR, THEIR SPENDING AREAS.
SO THEY CAN APPLY FOR STATE INCENTIVES AND HOUSTON INCENTIVES AND THEY CAN BENEFIT FROM THAT.
SEE, WE'RE ALSO DOING SOME UPGRADES TO OUR VISIT WIDGET APP.
AND THEN, UH, LAST THING IS THE, THE, THERE'S A COP A PICTURE OF THE, THE DOCUMENT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU HERE, THE ANNUAL REPORT FOR LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR'S, UH, PLANS.
[9. Discuss strategy survey feedback]
I ASKED YOU GUYS TO PR TO GIVE ME SOME FEEDBACK TO HELP WITH THE FUTURE OF THE CBB.AND WHAT ARE WE DOING? ARE WE ON TASK? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE, WHAT CHANGES DO YOU WANNA SEE? AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL RESPONDING TO THAT.
I JUST PUT SOME SCREENSHOTS UP HERE.
UM, I ASKED HOW DO YOU, AND THIS IS FOR, THIS IS DISCUSSION STILL, LIKE I STILL WOULD LOVE YOUR FEEDBACK ON THIS.
WHAT SHOULD WE BE FOCUSING ON THIS YEAR? I MEAN, I'M, I'VE TOLD YOU WHAT WE WE'RE DOING BASED OFF OF SOME OF THIS ALREADY, BUT I REALLY, I MEAN, WE CAN CHANGE, WE CAN, WE CAN ADD AND, AND CUT THINGS IF WE NEED TO, BUT, UH, YOU SAID, UH, SENIOR PROGRAMS INVOLVEMENT IN HOUSTON, EVENTS NATIONWIDE AND WORLDWIDE TO INCREASE VISITOR NUMBERS IN LEAGUE CITIES AREA.
HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AWARENESS AND WEDDINGS.
UH, ECO AND AGRITOURISM LEVERAGING LOCAL AMENITIES LIKE SPACE CENTER, HOUSTON, UH, WORKING WITH LOCAL INFLUENCERS TO PROMOTE ON THEIR SOCIALS.
AND THEN YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS, TRAVEL TEAMS, ORGANIZATIONS, LETTING THEM KNOW ALL ABOUT ALL OF OUR FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR, UH, ABLE TO ENTERTAIN YOUTH ATHLETIC.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE AREAS THAT WE ARE GONNA, WE ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON THIS YEAR.
UM, I SAID, HOW WELL DO YOU THINK WE'RE DOING? AND IT, IT WAS GOOD.
POSITIVE VERY WELL AND SOMEWHAT SO.
UM, I ASKED ABOUT MARKETING PROGRAMS. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MORE EFFECTIVE AND, UH, RESPONSES? SOCIAL MEDIA, TRAVEL BLOGS AND TRAVEL WRITERS.
GREAT REACH AND SOCIAL MEDIA'S EFFECTIVE.
SO LOTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA, DIGITAL STUFF.
UM, ARE THERE ANY NEW AUDIENCES OR MARKETS THAT WE SHOULD BE TARGETING? UM, SO SENIORS, UH, WEDDINGS AND EVENT PLANNERS.
YOU SAID THAT, PUT THAT ONE UP.
WHICH IS, IS AN IMPORTANT MARKET, BUT IT'S NOT SELFISH BECAUSE THEN HE'S GONNA GET THE CATERING AND YOU'RE GONNA GET THE HOMES.
NO, WEDDING IS DEFINITELY A, A GOOD MARKET FOR US.
UH, FAMILIES AND REGIONAL VISITORS.
FISHING AND OUTDOOR, WHICH I THINK IS GREAT.
UM, SEE TARGET EVENT PLANNERS ARE NORTHERN COMPANIES THAT LOOK FOR SPRING, SUMMERTIME DESTINATIONS IN THE SOUTH, LIKE LEAGUE CITY FISHING AND VOTING, ET CETERA.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT OUR CURRENT BALANCE BETWEEN DIGITAL AND PRINT OUTREACH? LET'S SEE.
KEEP IT 20% SAID MORE DIGITAL AND THEN 20% SAID NOT SURE.
SO I THINK WE KEEP, IT MIGHT BE ALL RIGHT WITH OUR, WITH OUR IMMEDIATE MIX RIGHT NOW.
GPT IS GONNA START ALLOWING ADS.
AND PEOPLE ARE PLANNING WEDDINGS AND VACA.
I MEAN I'VE PLANNED THREE VACATIONS WITH CHAT.
I JUST SAY, I WANNA GO TO THIS AREA, WHAT SHOULD I DO? MY KIDS ARE THIS AGE, THESE ARE THE THINGS WE'RE INTERESTED IN.
AND IT PLANS A WHOLE ITINERARY FOR YOU.
I DID THAT FOR WASHINGTON DC FOR NEW YORK.
AND IT'S JUST TO SEE WHAT IT SAID, IT TELLS YOU WHERE TO BE, HOW TO GET THERE, WHERE TO EAT THE RESTAURANTS.
THINGS YOUR KIDS MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN.
[00:30:01]
EYE ON THAT.AND THERE ARE CERTAIN STEPS YOU HAVE TO TAKE FOR CHAT GPT TO LIKE RECOGNIZE YOU ANYWAY.
MY WEB GUY'S BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR LIKE THREE YEARS.
AND THEN, BUT IF WE CAN RUN ADS, THAT WOULD BE BETTER.
THAT'S THE WHOLE, IT'S THE NEW GOOGLE BASICALLY.
IT'S A WHOLE NEW SKILL SET TO LEARN RIGHT THERE.
WE MAY BE OUTSOURCING SOME S STUFF.
ALL OF THE COPILOT AND COPILOT 365.
THEY'RE TWO DIFFERENT, BUT BETWEEN THE TWO OF THOSE, I'VE USED ALL THREE OF 'EM.
I HAVE SUBSCRIPTION TO CHAT GPT AND THEN I HAVE THE, UH, CO-PILOT, CO-PILOT 365.
THEY'RE BETWEEN THE THREE OF 'EM, YOU CAN DO A LOT OF WORK.
SO WE WANT, WHAT WE WANT IS FOR THEM TO SAY, IF WE'RE PLANNING A TRIP TO THE HOUSTON AREA, WHERE SHOULD WE STAY AND WHERE SHOULD WE GO? WE SHOULD GO AND WE WANT CHATT TO SAY, DON'T STAY DOWNTOWN WITH YOUR FAMILY.
STAY HERE AND JUST GO DOWNTOWN FOR THE DAY.
'CAUSE THERE'S NOTHING TO DO THERE.
SO WHAT I'VE, WHAT I'VE USED IT FOR, BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING ON SEARCH ENGINE AFTER WE LAUNCHED OUR NEW SITE AND EVERYTHING, I SAID, OKAY, HERE'S MY NEW SITE.
CAN YOU TELL ME ASKING CHAD, YEAH.
CAN YOU LOOK AT THIS PAGE AND TELL ME HOW I NEED TO, UH, REWRITE THINGS OR METATAG IT OR WHATEVER IN ORDER TO GET INCLUDED IN YOUR SEARCH RESULTS.
AND IT LIKE SPED OUT A WHOLE LIST OF THINGS.
AND SO I SENT THAT OVER TO OUR, ONE OF OUR DIGITAL PARTNERS THAT WE DID A LITTLE CONTRACT WITH.
AND I SAID, HELP ME WITH THIS.
I HAD MY FIRST FRIEND EVER TELL ME SHE GOOGLED WEDDINGS IN HOUSTON AND WE CAME UP YAY.
WHICH IS MAJOR BECAUSE PEOPLE SPEND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A MONTH MM-HMM
WE'VE ALWAYS RANKED FOR LEAGUE CITY.
WE'VE RANKED FOR FRIENDSWOOD, YOU KNOW, WE'VE RANKED FOR HERE FOR YEARS.
BUT TO RANK FOR HOUSTON, I ABOUT FELL OVER.
MY SISTER WAS LIKE, YOU BETTER KEEP BLOGGING.
YOU KNOW,
BUT IT'S REALLY HARD TO DO BECAUSE THE BIGGER, YOU KNOW, WEDDING WIRE TRAVEL LOSS, LIKE ALL THOSE PEOPLE, THEY JUST POUR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THIS TO BE AT THE TOP.
BUT IF YOU COULD TRICK THE AI YEAH.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? TELL WHAT CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE.
SO THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS THAT GO INTO THAT.
WHICH REGIONAL AND STATE PARTNERSHIPS BRING THE MOST OR LEAST VALUE TO LEAGUE CITY TOURISM.
ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS ABOVE CONTRIBUTE THEIR PARTS TO THE SUCCESS OF LEAGUE CITY IS WIDESPREAD.
I'M NOT SURE HOW TO GAUGE WHICH BRINGS THE MOST TO THE LEAST SINCE I DO NOT KNOW THE SPECIFICS OF ORGANIZATION.
AND THEN TRAVEL TEXAS IS THE MOST POPULAR MAGAZINE INFORMATION ON OUR BROCHURE RACK.
SO SOME GOOD, SOME GOOD STUFF THERE.
ANY PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES OR COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS? MORE INFORMATION DISTRIBUTED TO SENIORS FOR PROGRAMS TO GET OLDER FOLKS INCLUDED? UH, WE COULD HAVE ANOTHER MEETING WITH WEDDING PROFESSIONALS.
WORLD CUP, WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC.
WHAT METRICS BEST DEMONSTRATE THE SUCCESS OF OUR TOURISM PROGRAMS? SO I'M ASKING LIKE, WHAT REPORTS DO YOU GUYS WANNA SEE? WHAT METRICS MATTER TO YOU THE MOST? UM, IN RESPONSES.
EVENT ATTENDANCE CAN BE TOUGH TO MEASURE IN REGARDS TO LOCALS VERSUS VISITORS.
VISITOR SPENDING AND THEN EVENT ATTENDANCE AND AWARENESS FOR SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THINGS.
SO YES, WE NEED TO BE TRACKING ALL THOSE VARIABLES AND WE'RE USING DATA FI TO TRACK MM-HMM
THE, THE VISITOR SPENDING THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF, IT WORKS FOR US.
WE HAVE THE EVENT IMPACT CALCULATOR THAT WE'RE GONNA START IMPLEMENTING FOR THOSE ALL OF OUR EVENTS THAT WE CAN.
AND THEN THE DATA FILE IS VERY USEFUL AS WELL.
HOW CAN WE BETTER COMMUNICATE TOURISM'S ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY IMPACT TO RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS? THAT'S AGAIN, THE RELEVANCY AND ADVOCACY PART OF IT.
UM, OFFER PROGRAMS AT FACILITIES FREQUENTLY, FREQUENTLY VISITED BY SENIORS LIKE HOMETOWN HEROES, LEE CITY UNIVERSITY, POLICE SEMINARS, ET CETERA.
AND THEN INFORMATIONAL VIDEOS.
NEED MORE VIDEOS THAT PUBLICIZING HOT GRANT RECIPIENT.
I'M SORRY, MY EYES ARE PRETTY RUSH ECONOMIC.
I THINK THAT IS A REALLY GOOD IDEA.
AND I THAT'S GONNA BE ALONG LIST.
MAKE A VIDEO OF LOT TAX GRANTS.
THINK ABOUT LIKE, WE USED TO WATCH THAT A SCHOOL OF ROCK OR UH RIGHT.
HOW YOU MAKE A BILL GOES TO WASHINGTON, YOU KNOW? YEAH.
A GUY GOES TO THE HOTEL AND THEN THE MONEY GOES HERE AND THEN IT GOES HERE AND THEN WE, THIS IS HOW IT WORKS.
BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE ARE NEED TOAND TOO.
[00:35:01]
THE LAWS BEHIND IT.AND THEN ECONOMIC REPORTS WITH EASY TO READ GRAPHS AND NUMBERS.
I CAN'T READ THE REST OF THAT, BUT YEAH, YOUR DATA, YOUR HEAT MAPS ARE GREAT.
I I LIKE ONE OF THOSE FOR EVERY EVENT THAT WE YES.
I'LL HAVE TO PULL, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A LAG ON THAT DATA.
I MEAN, EVEN IF IT COMES AFTER THEIR, YEAH.
IT'S JUST INTERESTING TO SEE IT.
FINAL THOUGHTS? ONE BOLD IDEA OR IMPROVEMENT.
YOU WANNA SEE WEDDING SHOW? GALVESTON HAS ONE.
HOUSTON HAS, WELL ARE WE TALKING LIKE HAVING A WEDDING SHOW HERE? I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A LAKE CITY WEDDING AND EVENT.
EXPO, YOU HAVE ONE FOR HEALTH.
DO YOU HAVE ONE FOR WOMEN? YOU HAVE ONE FOR A SMALL BUSINESS.
AND I THINK IF THE CITY PARTNERED WITH US, WE COULD DO, WE COULD DO IT VERY INEXPENSIVELY BECAUSE WE COULD USE ONE OF THESE CITY FACILITIES AND I THINK PEOPLE WOULD COME, YOU'D GET YOUR FRIENDS WITH BRIDES, YOU GET LAKE CITY BRIDES, BUT YOU COULD STIPULATE THAT IT'S ONLY LAKE CITY BUSINESSES WHO PAY TAX LAKE CITY THAT ARE INVOLVED.
YOU COULD, I THINK YOU OR IT COULD BE ANYONE WHO SERVICES THE LAKE CITY AREA.
SHE'S NOT IN LAKE CITY, BUT SHE DOES PROBABLY A THIRD OR HALF OF OUR WEDDING.
I THINK YOU COULD OPEN IT UP AND MAYBE EVEN INVITE THE CHAMBER.
GET THE CHAMBER INVOLVED INVOLVED.
THE CHAMBER NEEDS LAKE CITY REGIONAL CHAMBER.
BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE EVEN ATTRACTING BRIDES, I DON'T KNOW, BUT FROM TEXAS CITY.
AND I DON'T DO BRIDAL SHOWS ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY'RE SO EXPENSIVE.
BUT IF IT WAS LOCAL IN MY BACKYARD AND IT WAS INEXPENSIVE AND ONE DAY AND EASY TO DO, I WOULD, YOU KNOW, I WOULD DO IT.
EVEN IF IT WAS JUST TO PARTICIPATE AND CONNECT.
POMODORO'S WOULD COME CASE BY.
I MEAN, IT WOULD BE EASY FOR ME AND I WOULD HELP.
I CAN'T RUN THE WHOLE DAY, BUT I CAN HELP GET THE VENDORS THERE.
YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT I THINK IS INTERESTING IS, UH, I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS THINGS TREND OR, OR OR SO BE IT, BUT IN THE LAST SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS I'VE HEARD, I KNOW AT OUR PROPERTY WE'VE GOTTEN MORE GENERAL INQUIRIES ABOUT WEDDINGS.
YOU KNOW WHY? I'VE HEARD MORE ABOUT WEDDINGS AND IT'S JUST, AND ESPECIALLY THE LAST THREE OR FOUR MONTHS, UH MM-HMM
I DON'T KNOW IF THESE THINGS COME IN CYCLES, BUT IF, IF I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TANGIBLE TO LOOK AT OR TO PRESENT.
BUT IT SURE DOES FEEL LIKE IT'S COMING BACK INTO, YEAH.
LAST YEAR WAS 2025 WAS THE BEST YEAR WE'VE HAD IN A LONG TIME.
UM, PART OF IT IS WITH WHEN THINGS TURN AROUND IN THE ECONOMY, PEOPLE START SPENDING ON LUXURY ITEMS AGAIN.
WHICH A WEDDING IS CONSIDERED A LUXURY NON-ESSENTIAL.
AND NOT ONLY ARE THEY SPENDING, BUT THEY'RE SPENDING MORE.
SO BEFORE THEY MIGHT'VE SAID, WELL, BECAUSE OF FINANCES, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A WEDDING, BUT IT'S GONNA BE A HUNDRED PEOPLE, NOW THEY'RE CALLING FOR 200, 300.
AND YOU'RE GETTING MORE BECAUSE OF WEDDINGS ARE BIGGER.
AGAIN, I'M TURNING AWAY PEOPLE BECAUSE I'M TOO SMALL AND THEY'RE, YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON I RECOMMEND.
I HAVE LIKE TWO, THREE PLACES DEPENDING ON THEIR GUEST COUNT.
SOUTH SHORE'S THE ONLY PLACE THAT CAN HOLD 'EM IN MY OPINION.
AGAIN, THAT'S WHY YOU'RE GETTING 'EM AGAIN, THE BIT, THE SMALLER WEDDINGS DON'T NECESSARILY WANNA COME TO THE HOTEL 'CAUSE IT FILLS.
BUT 200, 2 50, 300, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BACK.
YOU NEED TO BE AT THAT WEDDING SHOW TOO.
DO WE HAVE AN IDEA LIKE WHAT TIME YEAR WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT? UM, WELL NOW
PLANNING FOR, SO ENGAGEMENT SEASON IS OFFICIALLY NOVEMBER TO FEBRUARY.
MAYBE EARLY MARCH IS, SO WE HAVE TWO SEASONS HERE IN TEXAS.
WE HAVE WEDDING SEASON, WHICH WE JUST SURVIVED IN THE FALL.
AND THEN WE HAVE ENGAGEMENT SEASON.
EVERYBODY'S GETTING ENGAGED OVER THE HOLIDAYS, RIGHT? MM-HMM
THERE'S A RING UNDER THEIR CHRISTMAS TRAY.
THERE'S A RING DURING THE FIREWORKS AT NEW YEAR'S.
WE'RE HOME WITH MY FAMILY FOR THANKSGIVING, WHATEVER.
IT'S UM, SO JANUARY OR FEBRUARY IS WHEN ALL THE WEDDING SHOWS ALL THE OPEN HOUSES THAT WE, SO WE CAN EITHER CAPITALIZE ON THAT AND DO IT THEN, OR WE COULD DO IT.
THERE IS A OFF OFTEN ANOTHER WAVE IN THE SUMMERTIME, WHICH IS WHY THERE'S THE BRIDAL EXTRAVAGANZA IS JANUARY AND JULY.
SO YOU WOULD WANNA KIND OF BE IN LINE WITH THOSE AND YOU KNOW, WE, ONE YEAR WE COULD TRY THIS MONTH AND ONE YEAR WE COULD TRY THAT MONTH AND SEE, I, I THINK WE ONLY NEED TO DO ONE A YEAR.
BUT YOU KNOW, WE COULD KIND OF TRY OUT THE DIFFERENT MONTHS.
WE NEED AT LEAST SIX MONTHS TO PLAN IT.
WE'RE THE SLOWEST AS FAR AS BUSINESS IN THE SUMMER, JUNE, JULY.
ARE PEOPLE PLANNING A WEDDING? YEAH.
[00:40:01]
HOLIDAYS.THEY'RE ENGAGED, THEY'RE READY TO PLAN THEIR WEDDING FOR THIS YEAR.
YOU KNOW, JANUARY IS A PRETTY QUIET MONTH AS FAR AS YEAH.
YOU DON'T HAVE ANY EVENTS IN CITY OF IN JANUARY.
SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE A YEAR OR TWO PLAN THIS FOR NEXT JANUARY 27.
NOW WE WON'T KNOW THE BRIDAL EXTRAVAGANZA DATES UNTIL JULY.
WE CAN PROBABLY SETTLE ON A DATE IN JULY.
SO WE DON'T WANT IT ON THE SAME WEEKEND OR WHATEVER.
I CAN START TELLING EVERYONE WE'RE PLANNING TO DO THIS.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE DATE YET.
AND THEN, UM, SATURDAYS ARE BEST.
BUT I WOULD, I WOULD DO A SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
IT, IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE ALL DAY.
I WOULD THINK LIKE 10 TO THREE OR YOU KNOW, I THINK FIVE OR SIX HOURS FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS PLENTY, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR FIRST YEAR.
WOULD WE WANNA HAVE IT SOMEWHERE LIKE AT HOTEL NEEDS TO EITHER BE HERE OR HOMETOWN HEROES.
BUT THAT MIGHT EVEN BE LIKE A, IF YOU WANT IT TO BE JUST NOBODY FEEL CONFLICTED.
I FEEL LIKE, DIDN'T WE HAVE ONE HERE BEFORE? I DON'T KNOW.
BUT YOU KNOW HOW YOU DO YOUR LITTLE CONVENTION IN HERE FOR THE HEALTH FAIR OR THE BUSINESS.
I MEAN THERE'S SOME REASON WHY WE CAN'T DO IT IN THE CIVIC CENTER BALLROOM.
I THINK A THE MORE NEUTRAL THE BETTER FOR EVERYONE.
I MEAN I HAVE NO QUALMS. I MEAN YOU CAN BOOK A WEDDING HERE OR WEATHER RECEPTION HERE, PEOPLE HAVE YOU.
AND YOU, YOU KNOW, THE CITY SHOULD HAVE A BOOTH TOO.
'CAUSE I DO ALSO SEND PEOPLE TO CITY FACILITIES WHO HAVE NO MONEY.
WELL I MEAN YOU CAN STILL BOOK LEAGUE PARK FOR WEDDING.
YOU CAN STILL BOOK HOW GONE PART THE JOHN DEER OFFLOAD.
LIKE WE, YEAH, WE, TRUST ME, WE, I ACTUALLY SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE PHONE, UM, WORKING WITH BRIDES WHO ARE NOT FOR ME MM-HMM
PUTTING THEM WHERE THEY SHOULD BE BASED ON THEIR MONEY AND THEIR GUEST COUNT.
BUT YEAH, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.
SEE, WE'LL SLATE THAT IN MAYBE FOR NEXT JANUARY THEN.
AND I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU TO HELP PLAN IT.
AND THE NEXT UH, ONE WAS, UH, WORKED WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT TO REINVIGORATE THE MAIN STREET CORRIDOR ORDER, ENHANCE THE CITY'S BEST ASSET.
DO YOU DON'T WANNA TALK ABOUT THAT ONE ANYMORE? I DUNNO WHAT THAT MEANS.
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS, LINING UP THE TREES.
I'M LIKE, THE TREES ARE LIT UP, BUT I THINK THEY MEAN WITH TYPE LIGHTS, THEY WANT 'EM WRAPPED WITH LIGHTS IS WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING.
THEY, BUT THEY'VE OBVIOUSLY NEVER DONE THAT WITH A HUNDRED SQUIRRELS BECAUSE
AND THE ADVICE WE GOT FROM A LOT OF COMPANIES WAS YOU ARE GONNA SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON REPLACING AND FIXING BECAUSE THE SQUIRRELS ARE GONNA BITE.
THAT'S WHYS I GOT SICK OF IT AND TOOK ALL THE, YOU KNOW, MY MOM USED TO HAVE EVERY TREE AROUND US WRAPPED AND I GOT SICK OF DOING IT.
I MEAN, THE SQUIRRELS PARTICULARLY ALONG THOSE ARE ON HELEN'S GARDEN.
I MEAN, THEY WILL BITE THROUGH THOSE WIRES.
AND THAT WAS THE ADVICE THAT HAVE, I MEAN, IT IS PRETTY THEY DO IN RIVER OAKS.
I THINK, AND THEY ARE PRIVATE AND SPEND ALL THEIR OWN MONEY TO DO IT.
WE'LL TAKE ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WANT THE TREES WRAP NEED TO TAKE UP A COLLECTION AND THEN WE'LL DEAL IT WITH THEIR NEED TO HAVE A AND THEY CAN KEEP COLLECTING EVERY YEAR FOR MAINTENANCE AS WE FIX THE RABBIT.
OR SQUIRREL BITES AND SQUIRREL FUNERALS.
I MEAN, I DON'T, I DIDN'T WRITE THAT, BUT THAT'S JUST THE ONLY THING I EVER HEAR IS ABOUT MAIN STREET.
I MEAN, THE SIDEWALKS ARE BETTER NOW.
SO I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
WELL WE'VE, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF, UH, THIS PAST YEAR WE DID A BUCKET LIST FOR THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
WE DID A, UH, A HISTORIC DISTRICT GUIDE.
WE DID A VISIT WI THE HISTORIC DISTRICT TOUR.
UM, SO THERE'S, THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS ALREADY KIND OF GOING ON.
I JUST WASN'T SURE IF ANYBODY HAD ANYTHING TO ADD TO IT.
DO WE HAVE, DO WE HAVE A SIGN, YOU KNOW HOW FRIENDSWOOD HAS THAT REALLY NICE SIGN FOR THE HISTORIC DISTRICT? LIKE AS YOU'RE GETTING ON DISTRICT AND IT SAYS LIKE, WELCOME TO FRIENDSWOOD.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HAVING A SIGN THAT GOES ACROSS.
BUT LIKE, WHERE WOULD YOU PUT IT? IT WOULD KIND OF BE BEFORE THE RAILROAD TRACKS, LIKE, OR AFTER THE RAILROAD TRACKS RIGHT THERE BY LEAK PARK.
IT WOULD BE LIKE A BIG, YEAH, I THINK FRIENDSWOOD HAS ONE.
BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE PART OF A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PROGRAM.
AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE PAST AND USING HOTMAIL, LIKE IT WOULD SAY LIKE, WELCOME TO HISTORIC LEAGUE CITY, WELCOME TO LEAGUE CITY HISTORIC DISTRICT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S JUST NEVER KIND OF GOTTEN UP THE CHAIN OF, YOU KNOW, OF PRIORITIES TO DO THAT FOR, FOR UM, FOR, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I THINK IT TAKES COUNCIL SUPPORT BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THEY DECIDE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GONNA MAKE THE KIND FINAL LIST OF CIP PROJECTS.
I THOUGHT THE ORIGINAL INTENTION WAS TO USE HOT DOLLARS TO DO IT, BUT IT'S NOT CHEAP.
WE'RE TALKING IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THERE WAS SOME CONCERN, LIKE, DO WE WANNA EMPTY THE POT OF MONEY FOR A BIG SIGN? THAT'S A LOT.
I MEAN, WE THERE WE COULD ALSO DO CUTE SEASONAL BANNERS ON THE YEAH.
[00:45:01]
LAMPS.AND WE COULD, WE COULD DO SOME OLD THINGS TOO, WHICH I FORGOT TO MENTION.
I'M ORDERING 250 BIRTHDAY BANNERS TO GO IN LEAK PARK AND LONG PARK AVENUE.
SO THAT WAY WE HAVE THOSE UP FOR THE 250TH.
WE'LL HAVE THOSE UP FROM LIKE MEMORIAL DAY TO LABOR DAY OR WHATEVER.
SO THAT WAY THEY'RE UP FOR THE BIRTHDAY AND FOR AROUND THAT KIND OF PATRIOTIC PERIOD.
DO Y'ALL WANT TO, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SHARE OR GIVE ADVICE ON OR DIRECTION? OKAY.
THANK Y'ALL FOR THE NICE, NICE COMMENTS TOO.
[10. Review current financials and HOT Grant post event reports]
LET'S GO ON TO THE FINANCIAL UPDATE.LAST YEAR WE CLOSED RIGHT UNDER A MILLION DOLLARS, $992,027 IN HOT REVENUE.
SO WE DID EXCEED OUR PROJECTIONS, WHICH WERE $915,000, BUT WE DID NOT EXCEED THE YEAR BEFORE, WHICH WAS A BIG TIME RECORD YEAR.
OVER A MILLION DOLLARS UNTIL 2024.
IF YOU LOOK, UH, IT'S STILL THE HIGHEST BESIDES THAT YEAR.
SO WE ARE, WE ARE STILL GOING UP.
THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD AND I THINK THIS YEAR'S GONNA BE A GOOD YEAR.
I'M SCARED TO SAY THAT OUT LOUD BECAUSE YOU KNOW HOW IT'S, BUT, UH, REVENUES ARE GOOD.
UH, THIS IS A CURRENT FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT.
IT IS NOT IN YOUR PRINTED OUT PACKET.
THAT IS ONE PAPER I DID NOT PRINT OUT FOR YOU GUYS.
BUT, UM, IT, THE REVENUE IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST PIECE OF IT THERE.
THIS IS THE FIRST, I MEAN, WE'RE IN DECEMBER AFTER OUR FISCAL YEAR, SO OUR SPENDING WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE SLOW.
WE'RE GETTING, WE'RE GETTING RAMPED UP, WE'RE GETTING THERE.
SO, UM, WE'RE STILL UNDER BUDGET ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND, UH, WE HAVE A, A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE.
AND, UM, I WILL SAY THIS YEAR, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ONE BUDGET LINE ITEM THERE.
THE BAY AREA, UH, CBB AND OTHER CONTRACTS.
THAT'S PROBABLY, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE USED MOST LIKELY THIS YEAR.
IT'S BUDGETED AND IT WAS APPROVED, BUT WE WILL NOT BE, UH, BILLING, WE'LL NOT BE SPENDING MONEY ON THAT THIS YEAR AS OF RIGHT NOW.
SO THAT WILL BE ADDED BACK INTO OUR FUND BALANCE IF WE DO NOT USE IT.
UM, AS FAR AS GRANTS, YOU SEE WE HAVE, UM, A HUNDRED THOUSAND IN THERE FOR OUR BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR.
AND WE HAVE NOT USED, WE'VE ONLY USED, LET'S SEE, YEAR TODAY ACTUAL IS 18,992.
SO WE STILL HAVE $81,008 LEFT FOR THAT.
SO, UM, WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE REPORTS COMING IN, BUT WE DID GET SOME FOLLOW UP REPORTS AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE INCLUDED IN YOUR PAPER PACKET THERE.
SO, UM, WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE SOME MORE EXPENDITURES COMING OUT OF THAT WITH THOSE FINAL INVOICES.
THAT'S OUR CURRENT FINANCIALS.
UM, THE REPORTS WE RECEIVED, WE, WE GOT FROM, UH, WINGS OVER HOUSTON AIR SHOW AND YOU HAVE HARD COPIES OF THAT IN YOUR PACKET SO YOU CAN LOOK AT IT.
YOU'VE ALSO BEEN, THEY WERE EMAILED TO YOU.
YOU RECEIVED THE FOLLOW-UP PAPERWORK FOR THE SHERIFF PLUM FERRY GALA AND ALSO FROM THE LAKE CITY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
AND I HAVE NOT SCHEDULED THOSE POST PRESENTATIONS TO COME TO YOU, TO YOU YET, BUT DID RECEIVE THEIR PAPERWORK.
BUT THEY'LL PROBABLY BE BACK SOON REQUESTING FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
SO I THOUGHT WE MIGHT DO IT IN ONE TIME AND THEY COULD DO A POST AND, YOU KNOW, REQUEST FOR THE FUTURE THINGS.
I KNOW THE HISTORIC SOCIETY WILL BE REQUESTING, UH, FOR FUNDING FOR THEIR HISTORICAL PROGRAMS AND PROBABLY ALL, ALL OF THESE WILL BE BACK.
SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU COPIES OF THOSE REPORTS.
AND THAT IS REALLY WHAT I HAVE, UNLESS YOU WANT ME TO GO THROUGH THE, UH, THE PACKET I GAVE YOU HERE.
THIS IS OUR, YOU KNOW WHAT, LET ME, LEMME DO THAT.
I SKIPPED OVER THIS BIG REPORT THAT I GAVE YOU.
UH, THIS IS AN UPDATED ANNUAL REPORT FOR LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR'S TOUR PLAN.
IT GIVES YOU A, A SUMMARY ABOUT WHAT THE CBD DOES, WHY IT'S IMPORTANT, THE POSITIVE CYCLE DESTINATION, UH, PROMOTION, OUR MISSION PURPOSE ADVISORY BOARD.
AND THEN, UH, TALKS ABOUT HOT TAXES AND THE REVENUE AND THE COLLECTIONS AND OUR PRIORITIES THERE.
IT GIVES YOU A COPY OF THIS YEAR'S APPROVED BUDGET, UM, ABOUT HOT FUNDS.
THEY ARE RESTRICTED BY STATE LAW AND EXPENDITURES.
HAVE TO PASS A TWO PART TEST JUST AS A REFRESHER FOR EVERYBODY.
UH, THEY HAVE TO DIRECTLY PROMOTE TOURISM AND ENHANCE THE CONVENTION AND HOTEL INDUSTRY.
AND THEN THEY HAVE TO FIT INTO ONE OF NINE SPECIFIC CATEGORIES.
AND THEN I HAVE THEM LISTED THERE FOR YOU.
CONVENTION VISITOR CENTER, DELEGATE REGISTRATION, TOURISM ADVERTISING, ARTS PROMOTION, HISTORICAL PRESERVATION, AND CERTAIN, UH, SPORTING EVENTS AND FACILITIES, TOUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS AND SIGNAGE FOR ATTRACTIONS.
SO I JUST PUT THAT IN THERE SO YOU HAVE HANDY.
UH, AND THEN I INCLUDED THE TRAVEL IMPACT STATS.
MUCH OF MY AFTER HOLIDAY STUFF WAS, UH, MEDIA PLACED AND TOURISM WAS RUNNING.
I WAS WORKING ON COMPILING STATS AND THERE WAS JUST SO MANY DIFFERENT STATS.
I HAVE TWO BOOKS OF IT FOR YOU.
SO, UH, THE BIG NUMBERS HERE, THE TRAVEL IMPACT, THIS IS RELEASED EVERY YEAR BY THE STATE.
[00:50:01]
2024, WHICH WAS UPDATED THIS PAST APRIL IN 25.SO THIS IS THE LATEST INFORMATION WE HAVE.
UM, WE HAD $138.4 MILLION IN TOURISM SPENDING.
THIS IS FOUR LAKE CITY AND IT WAS UP.
UM, THE INDUSTRY HERE EMPLOYS 830 PEOPLE, EARNINGS AND WAGES, $43.9 MILLION.
AND OUR TAX REVENUE TOURISM BRINGS INTO LAKE CITY AND TAXES $19.8 MILLION.
UM, AND IT WAS DOWN JUST SLIGHTLY 1.4% LAST YEAR.
AND THEN I ALSO INCLUDED THE HOTEL PERFORMANCE AVERAGES FROM COSTAR TO SHOW YOU WHAT THE AVERAGE DAILY RATE, $110 95 CENTS FOR LEE CITY OCCUPANCY PERCENTAGE, UH, 59.5.
AND THEN REVENUE REVPAR REVENUE PART AVAILABLE ROOM NIGHT, $66 AND 32 CENTS IN REVENUE SUPPLY AND DEMAND NUMBERS THERE.
AND YOU CAN JUST SEE KIND OF THIS LITTLE LINE GRAPH SHOWS YOU WHEN OUR PEAK TIMES OF TOURISM ARE.
AND THEN I HAVE A PAGE ABOUT OUR HOT GRANT PROGRAM HERE.
WE DO HAVE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO ALLOCATE THIS YEAR IN OUR HOT GRANT.
UM, AND WE WILL BE WORKING ON PUBLICIZING THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR, FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW.
AND THEN JUST A, A LOOK BACK ON 2025, SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THERE.
TALKED ABOUT OUR NEW WEBSITE LAUNCH STATE RECOGNITION, UM, SHORT TERM RENTAL REVENUES, BALLPARK BREAK REBRANDING, AND THEN SOME PR UH, SOCIAL MEDIA GROWTH THERE.
AND THEN I ALSO INCLUDED SOME VISITOR STATS AND AUDIENCE INFORMATION FROM DATA FI.
KIND OF SHOW YOU, UH, THE TRENDS FOR VISITATION.
OUR DEMOGRAPHICS ARE WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM, AND THEN A HEAT MAP OF WHERE THEY'RE, WHERE THEY'RE FROM, WHICH IS NICE.
IT'S ALSO GOOD TO SEE LIKE WE ARE A WEEKEND DESTINATION.
YOU CAN SEE OUR VISITORS BY DAY THERE, THE WEEKENDS.
AND THEN OUR WEBSITE STATS FOR THE YEAR INCLUDED, SHOW YOU THAT.
SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT OUR TOP POSTS WERE.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING.
THE TOP ENGAGEMENT POSTS HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THAT, MIKE.
EARLY ADVENTURES, INFLUENCERS THAT WE HOSTED AS WELL AS, UH, THE VOTE PARADE, UH, I HOPE THIS IS RIGHT.
IS THIS RIGHT? JULIANA? TOP POST FROM LAST YEAR EXPEDITION, TEXAS.
THAT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE FEASIBLE.
EXPEDITION TEXAS THOUGH A LOT.
AND THE BOAT PARADE DID REALLY WELL TOO.
THAT ONE WAS AS FAR AS ENGAGEMENT, THE MY ADVENTURES RUN REALLY WELL.
AND THEN 26, OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE LISTED THERE FOR YOU.
UM, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE TRACKED THE THREE YEAR IN OUR, UH, BUDGET BOOK.
WHENEVER WE DO OUR BUDGET REQUESTS THESE ARE THE METRICS THERE THAT ARE TRACKED.
WEBSITE VISITORS, PAGE VIEWS, AND THEN SOCIAL MEDIA, UM, AND HOT TAX COLLECTIONS.
AND THEN TRAVEL SPENDING NUMBERS TOO FROM THE STATE.
AND THEN JUST A OVERVIEW OF ALL OF OUR PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS, UH, AND NEW INITIATIVES I KIND OF ALREADY MENTIONED ON LIKE THE INFLUENCE OR PROGRAMS, SOCCER VIEW, TOUR FILM FRIENDLY COLLABORATION.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE FILM FRIENDLY STUFF.
DO A LITTLE PRESENTATION ON THAT AS IT GETS GET CLOSER.
AND LET'S SEE, OUR STRATEGY OVERVIEW, OUR MESSAGING, OUR TARGET AUDIENCE INFORMATION THERE, OUR POSITIONING STATEMENT, OUR MAIN, UH, PILLARS FOR MARKETING AND HOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LEAD CITY, HOW WE'RE PROMOTING IT.
UH, WE ARE FOCUSING ON OUR ACCESS AND OUR LOCATION.
WE COLLABORATE WITH OUR HOTELS AND VENUES.
UH, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON CONTENT CREATION AND STORYTELLING.
LOTS OF PHOTOS AND VIDEOS BEING SCHEDULED FOR THIS YEAR, UH, SO THAT WE CAN CREATE ALL NEW ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS FOR SUMMER AND FALL, LIKE THE ENTIRE YEAR, OUR SEASONAL CAMPAIGNS.
AND ALSO INCLUDED OUR EDITORIAL CALENDAR, UH, A RUN OF WHAT WE KIND ARE PLANNING ON FOCUSING ON AND THINGS FOR THE DIFFERENT MONTHS FOR THE YEAR.
AND THEN I AN OUTLINE OF OUR COMMUNICATION TOOLS THERE.
DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY FEEDBACK, QUESTIONS OR, I, I LOVE THESE REPORTS ALWAYS.
SO THEY'RE A, AND THEN THIS OTHER DOCUMENT YOU HAVE AT THE THICK, IT SAYS, UH, MARKETING REPORTS AND METRICS.
THIS IS JUST ALL, I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU GUYS ONE DASHBOARD THAT JUST SAYS WE HAD A BAZILLION IMPRESSIONS.
BUT EVERY PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE IS DIFFERENT AND THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT MEASUREMENTS.
SO I JUST, INCLUDING EVERYTHING THAT WE RAN PRETTY MUCH FOR THE YEAR, UH, LAST YEAR AS A SUMMARY OF THEIR FOR MARKETING IN THAT PACKET FOR YOU.
MORE INFORMATION AND STATS THAN YOU PROBABLY EVER WANTED TO HAVE
BUT WE ARE TRACKING ALL OF THEM AND THEY ALL MAKE, THEY ALL MATTER.
[11. Board member comments and updates]
COMMENTS AND UPDATES.[00:55:01]
JOSE? SURE.UM, SOUTH SHORE HARBOR, UH, ACTUALLY THIS, SO FAR THIS MONTH IN JANUARY, WE'VE, WE'VE ALREADY, UM, SEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN UPTICK IN, IN, IN OCCUPANCY OVERALL THAN WE STARTED LAST YEAR.
THAT GOES FOR THE ENTIRE FIRST QUARTER, AS A MATTER OF FACT.
UM, A LOT MORE BASE ROOMS ON THE BOOKS TO BEGIN AND, UH, SOME INCREASED GROUP CORPORATE TRAVEL, WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY POSITIVE FOR US, FOR EVERYONE, UH, TO, TO HAVE THAT, THAT PARTICULAR SEGMENT OF TRAVEL.
I WAS TRYING TO CLEAR SOMETHING
UH, THIS WEEKEND, UH, ACTUALLY TODAY'S WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY, WE ARE HOSTING THE, UH, BEHE BAY AREA HOUSTON ECONOMIC, UH, PARTNERSHIP, THEIR ANNUAL, UH, QUASAR AWARD, UM, UM, EVENT IS, IS GOING ON AT SOUTH SHO HARBOR ON FRIDAY EVENING.
UH, THAT'S A, IT'S ONE OF OUR LARGER EVENTS IN, IN THE, DURING THE YEAR, AND IT'S ALWAYS HOSTED IN JANUARY.
AND JUST, UH, GOING INTO FEBRUARY, UH, OUR FIRST WINE DINNER, UH, OF THE YEAR WILL BE ACTUALLY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH.
UM, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A, UH, MARDI GRAS, UH, STYLE THEMED WINE DINNER, UH, WITH MORE INFORMATION TO COME, BUT YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE AND ALL THE DETAILS ARE ON THERE.
SO, AND I, AND I MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE IT ALWAYS SEEMS RIGHT AFTER THAT WINE DINNER, YOU KNOW, BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, UH, YOU GO INTO THE RODEO, WE TALKED ABOUT SPRING BREAK, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THEN SUN WILL BE OUT AND IT'S TIME FOR THE POOL.
SO, UH, IT'S HERE AND, UH, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS YEAR, AS I MENTIONED, GOING BACK, UM, SEEING A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN UPTICK, A A LOT MORE, UH, A LITTLE MORE COMPRESSION AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR THAN WE SAW LAST YEAR AND, UH, GOING INTO THE FIRST QUARTER.
AND THAT'S ALWAYS A GREAT SIGN FOR US.
AND I'M SURE FOR THE AREA, THAT'S IT.
UM, I DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH TO SHARE.
I GUESS I COULD TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SORT OF THE TRENDS IN, IN CONSTRUCTION, UM, THAT WE'RE SEEING.
UH, I THINK A LOT OF OUR CURRENT BUSINESS, UH, THAT WE'RE SEEING FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR IS IN DATA CENTERS AND, UH, LARGE, UH, LOGISTICS FACILITIES, THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH IS INTERESTING.
UM, I, ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT I, THAT I THINK MAYBE NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT IS THE ELI LILLY PHARMACEUTICALS PLANT UP IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON.
JUST, UH, THEY'RE STARTING THAT CONSTRUCTION.
PART OF WHAT BRINGS THEM DOWN HERE, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, IS WE ACTUALLY HAVE WATER.
LIKE YOU THINK OF DALLAS, THINK OF AUSTIN AND ALL THAT SORT OF THINGS, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE ACCESS TO WATER.
SO THAT'S KIND OF AN INTERESTING THING.
YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF THAT CONSTRUCTION.
UM, A HOTEL, HOSPITALITY TYPE CONSTRUCTION IS SORT OF FLAT.
UM, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS FOR THAT.
THERE'S SOME TREPIDATION, I THINK, IN THE MARKET NATIONALLY.
UM, BUT SENIORS HOUSING, THAT'S A BIG ONE THAT I'M INVOLVED IN.
AND THAT'S, UH, THAT, THAT'S GROWING RIGHT NOW.
AND I THINK IF YOU DELIVERED EVERY SINGLE UNIT THAT WOULD BE NEEDED, THAT THAT IS PLANNED, EVERY SINGLE UNIT THAT IS PLANNED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IF YOU DELIVERED THEM IN THIS YEAR, THAT THAT WOULD SATISFY BY HALF THE DEMAND.
SO IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA CONTINUE TO HAPPEN FOR THE NEXT.
WHAT'S THE VALUE ON THE, ON THE, ON THE BUILD? I MEAN, IS IT FOR LOW END INCOME, I THINK, IS IT HIGH END OR IS IT IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD.
THE NEED'S REALLY IN THE MIDDLE.
BUT THE, THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S REALLY HAPPENING IS ON THE, THE VERY HIGHEST END, THE TOP 10%.
I GUESS WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT WE'RE WE'RE TARGETING 10 THE TOP 10%, BECAUSE YOUR, YOUR BIGGEST COMPETITOR IN THAT MARKET IS AGING IN PLACE, STAYING AT HOME.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S YOUR BIGGEST COMPETITOR.
SO IT'S HOW DO YOU GET, HOW DO YOU DELIVER SOMETHING TO THOSE PEOPLE WHERE THEY'D BE WILLING TO DOWNSIZE, MOVE OUT, HAVE COMMUNITY, THAT KIND OF THING.
YOU SEE LIKE A BIG COMPETITOR IN THAT WAY IS LIKE SUN CITY OR ONE OF AGE RESTRICTED NEIGHBORHOODS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
UM, BUT THAT'S A, THAT'S A BIG HUGE GROWTH MARKET RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND THEN COMMERCIAL ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE, THERE'S NOT MUCH OFFICE BEING BUILT.
THERE ARE SOME AAA TYPE OFFICE, BUT A BIG THING IN THAT REALM IS CONVERSIONS.
SO OLD OFFICE BUILDINGS BEING CONVERTED INTO RESIDENTIAL OR HOTELS AND THINGS.
SO ANYWAY, SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT'S GOING ON NATIONALLY.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S INTERESTING.
REASONABLY, THERE'S A LOT OF RETAIL CONSTRUCTION THAT'S ALWAYS HAPPENING.
THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY PLANNING MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENTS ALONG THOSE, SO OH, WOW.
I MEAN, WE HAVE A LOT OF THOSE SENIOR
[01:00:01]
APARTMENTS IN HERE IN LAKE CITY TOO.AND YEAH, THEY'RE, SO THE COMMENTS ABOUT SENIOR, UM, COMMUNICATION AND EVENTS WERE IN LINE MIGHT BE THAT MAKES SENSE.
AND I JUST GOT HER EMAIL AND THEN COME IN, UH, YESTERDAY WHEN SHE SAID I WAS, I WAS ACTUALLY IN EAGLE PASS ONE, UH, OUR MOTORCYCLE CLUB S ONE OF OUR CHAPTER PRESIDENTS, WHO WAS ONLY 35 DIED BRAIN.
UH, WE COLLECTED MONEY TO PAY FOR HIS FUNERAL, HIS, HIS FUNERAL.
SO I ACTUALLY, I TOOK A DONATION CHECK THAT PEOPLE PASSED.
SO I DID A 4:00 AM YESTERDAY, GOT HOME AT 11 O'CLOCK LAST NIGHT.
WELL, UH, I DID A IMPROV
DO YOU WANNA SHARE ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT THE UPCOMING EVENT REAL QUICK? WELL, YEAH, I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE, UM, WE'RE ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, BLUE KNIGHTS LAW ENFORCEMENT MOTORCYCLE CLUB.
WE TURNED 50 OBVIOUSLY IN 2024.
UH, WE HAVE 16,000 MEMBERS IN 33 COUNTRIES AND TERRITORY AROUND THE WORLD.
AND FOR 10 YEARS I WAS THE INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT.
SO I TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY AROUND THE WORLD FOR THE CLUB.
UM, I'M ALSO, I STARTED THE LOCAL CHAPTER, WHICH MOST OF THIS WORLD AT THE TIME, THE GALVESTON PD AND GALVESTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, NOW, WE BRANCHED OUT AND WE BRING A LOT TO, TO THE PLATE.
WE DO A LOT FOR THE, FOR THE, UH, COMMUNITY.
UH, WE CHOSE THIS AREA VERSUS GALVESTON ONE BECAUSE I LIVE UP HERE NOW, AND OBVIOUSLY I KNOW THE BENEFITS OF WHAT WE OFFER IN THE LEAGUE CITY.
AND WORKING WITH STEPHANIE, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO DO LIKE A GOODIE BAG TO POINT EVERYBODY TO ALL THE LAKE CITY BUSINESSES.
AND EVEN TO THE POINT TO WHERE WHEN WE BUY GIVEAWAYS, WE'RE TRYING TO GO THROUGH LOCAL BUSINESSES, OBVIOUSLY TO KEEP MONEY IN, IN LAKE CITY RATHER THAN GOING, AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S COMPETITIVE NOW.
AND SO A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES WILL WORK WITH YOU.
LIKE I SAID, WE'RE COMING, I WAS BLOWN AWAY.
THE SOUTH SHORE GAVE US SUCH A GREAT ROOM RATE ON A HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE IT WAS A HOLIDAY WEEKEND UNTIL AFTER WE, THE PAPERWORK.
AND, UH, LIKE I SAID, WE'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH ONE ROOM BLOCK, WE'VE EXTENDED IT, AND THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT WE'RE GONNA EXTEND IT AGAIN.
BECAUSE THE AD IN, IN THE, UH, PAPERWORK I, I SUBMITTED ACTUALLY WENT TO THE MAG.
IT GOES TO ALL 16,000 MEMBERS AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING JUST, IT'S, IT'S A REASON TO COME TRAVEL.
SO OBVIOUSLY MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA BE HERE, I'D SAY 90% PROBABLY HAVE NEVER SEEN OR BEEN HERE MORE THAN ONCE.
SO WE'RE GONNA GET PEOPLE TO COME BACK.
AND OBVIOUSLY I'D HAVE TO SELL YOU ALL WE SAY HAS A LOT TO OFFER, AND SO WE WANNA OFFER TO, SO, BUT NO, I, AND AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE.
I MEAN, YEAH, I, YEAH, I STARTED OPENING MY EMAILS THIS MORNING AND, AND UH, OH MY GOD, I TEXTED YOU.
I, I MEAN, OH MY GOD, WE MAY, WE MAY HAVE TO RECONSIDER CONSIDERING THAT YOU'VE GOT A PATRIOTS HAT ON.
OKAY, I'M GONNA SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ACTUALLY, ACTUALLY, ACTUALLY, I'LL PROBABLY, IF, IF THEY DID GO TO THE SUPER BOWL, I, MY MOTHER-IN-LAW'S FROM CHICKEN MASS.
I WATCHED THE GAME WITH A PATRIOTS FAN THAT LIVES ACROSS THE STREET, SO, OKAY.
I HAD TO DEAL WITH IT THEN HAVE TO PROVE, I HAVE TO PROVE THAT IT IS NOT ON TOM BRADY.
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING LAKE CITY FOR THIS EVENT.
OKAY, WELL YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD ME TALK A LOT, BUT, UM, WE DID HAVE OUR OPEN HOUSE ON SUNDAY, UM, AND IT WAS SUCCESSFUL.
NOT AS SUCCESSFUL AS I LIKE JANUARY TO BE, BUT WE WILL BLAME THE TEXANS FOR THAT
SO WE DID LEAN IN, WE DID OUR BEST, BUT THE VENDORS WERE HAPPY, OUR TURNOUT WAS GOOD, ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO WHAT I'M HEARING FROM OTHER VENUE OPEN HOUSES.
SO, UM, I'M STILL HOPEFUL THAT THIS IS GONNA BE ANOTHER GOOD YEAR.
UM, AND THEN, UH, THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE I WANTED TO TELL Y'ALL, BUT I'M DISTRACTING NOW.
I JUST WANT, AGAIN, APOLOGIZE FOR TWO THINGS,
ONE, I WANNA APOLOGIZE FOR MY PHONE.
UH, I WAS TRYING TO CLEAR SOMETHING OFF AND IT WENT TO A VIDEO FOR SOME REASON.
[01:05:01]
I HAVE NO IDEA WHY.SECOND, I WANNA APOLOGIZE FOR RUNNING BEHIND.
UH, FOR SOME REASON I THOUGHT IT WAS 10 O'CLOCK AND I JUST GOT OFF DUTY THIS MORNING AT SEVEN.
SO HE KIND OF, BY THE TIME I PULLED UP IN THE DRIVEWAY, I LOOKED AT MY PHONE, I'M LIKE, CRAP, TURN AROUND.
I APPRECIATE Y'ALL DOING WHAT Y'ALL DO TO HELP US HERE IN LAKE CITY, UH, BRINGING THE, THE TRAFFIC AND UH, HELP US GET THE SALES TAX OUT.
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING OUR EFFORTS.
ALRIGHT, IF NOBODY HAS ANYTHING ELSE, WE WILL ADJOURN AT 10 0 6.