STATE PARKS, RECREATION and TRAVEL COMMISSION Lake Dardanelle State Park Russellville, Arkansas January 17, 2013
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STATE PARKS, RECREATION AND TRAVEL COMMISSION Lake Dardanelle State Park Russellville, Arkansas January 17, 2013 Commissioners Present Cindy Smith, Chairman LeRoy Dangeau, Vice-Chairman Steve Arrison Bill Barnes Jay Bunyard Jim Gaston John Gill Darin Gray Jim Dailey Barbara Harvel Bob Knight Montine McNulty Mike Mills Jim Shamburger Commissioners Absent Danny Ford Billy Lindsey Ness Sechrest Department Staff Present Richard W. Davies, Executive Director Gloria Robins, Executive Assistant Cynthia Dunlap, Director of Administration Greg Butts, Director, Arkansas State Parks Joe David Rice, Tourism Director Marla Crider, Assistant Tourism Director Jon Brown, Operations Manager Randy Roberson, Parks Planning & Development Manager Joe Jacobs, Marketing & Revenue Manager Donna Perrin, Tourism Development Manager Renee Robison, Group Travel Manager Kat Robinson, Communications Manager Joanne Hinson, Research & Information Services Manager Tom Stolarz, Region I Supervisor Tony Perrin, Region II Supervisor Marcel Hanzlik, Region III Supervisor Shea Lewis, Region IV Supervisor Grady Spann, Region V Supervisor Kris Richardson, Administrative Specialist Dottie Boyles, Administrative Specialist Jill Rohrbach, Travel Writer SPRTC Minutes January 17, 2013 Page 2 Aristotle Marla Johnson Norris Jonathan Eudy Morgan Long CJRW Shelby Woods Wayne Woods Karen Mullikin Joy Phillips Rob Anderson Jay Cranford Nancy Ferrara Brian Clark Brian Kratkiewicz Guests Andy Thomas, Superintendent, Lake Dardanelle State Park Dallis Clark, Ranger, Lake Dardanelle State Park Sasha Bowles, Park Interpreter, Lake Dardanelle State Park Elizabeth Drake, Park Interpreter, Lake Dardanelle State Park Kathy Webb, Office Manager, Lake Dardanelle State Park Jessee Cox, Superintendent, Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park Claude Legris, Executive Director, Fort Smith Conventions & Visitors Bureau Jeff Pipkin, President and CEO, Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce Marilyn Heifner, Executive Director, Fayetteville Advertising & Promotion Commission Roll Call Chairman Cindy Smith called the meeting to order at 8:31 a.m. on Thursday, January 17, 2013. Gloria Robins called the roll. Approval of the Agenda LeRoy Dangeau moved to accept the Agenda as presented. Montine McNulty seconded and the motion carried. Presentation of Minutes from Previous Meeting Mike Mills moved to accept the Minutes from the November 2012 meeting. Montine McNulty seconded and the motion carried. SPRTC Minutes January 17, 2013 Page 3 FINANCIAL REPORT Cynthia Dunlap presented the year-to-date financial report for the period ended December 31, 2012. The expenditures were: Parks Division, $39,264,202; including construction and grants; Tourism Division, $6,721,307; Keep Arkansas Beautiful, $211,504; Administration Division, $1,619,247; and History Commission, $854,669. Expenditures for the Department totaled $48,670,930; an increase of 9.3% over the same period FY12. The year-to- date operating revenue Parks Division totaled 11,646,350 an increase of 1.0% over the same period FY12; 1/8% Cent Tax $13,920,971 a decrease of 2.10% over the same period FY12; and 2% Tax $7,205,191 a decrease of 1.07% over the same period FY12. Steve Arrison moved to accept the Financial Report. Barbara Harvel seconded and the motion carried. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT 2013 Meeting Schedule Richard Davies presented the revised 2013 Commission Meeting Schedule as follows: January 17 Russellville/Lake Dardanelle State Park February 21 Hot Springs April 18 Lindsey’s Resort – Heber Springs May 16 Mississippi River State Park – Marianna/Forrest City – Dedication of Visitor Center June 20 Texarkana August 15-16 DeGray Lake and Resort State Park – Staff Appreciation Dinner and Service Awards September 18-19 Little Rock – Arkansas Hospitality Association Show October 17 Mountain Harbor Resort – Mt. Ida November 21 Harrison Jim Shamburger moved to accept the 2013 Meeting Schedule as presented. Mike Mills seconded and the motion carried. SPRTC Minutes January 17, 2013 Page 4 2013 Commission Per Diem Richard Davies stated by law, the Commission must approve its per diem rate at the first meeting of the calendar year. The per diem approved in 2012 was $65.00. Jim Shamburger moved to set the per diem at $65.00 per day, plus all expenses incurred on Wednesday for early arrival, to attend meetings for the calendar year 2013. Bob Knight seconded and the motion carried. Prairie Grove Battlefield Reenactment Jessee Cox reported on the Prairie Grove Battlefield Reenactment held December 1-2, 2012, at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. The event was held in commemoration of the 150 th Anniversary of the Battle of Prairie Grove, where on December 7, 1862, the Confederate Army of the Trans-Mississippi clashed with the Union Army of the Frontier resulting in 2,700 casualties in one day. A video featuring scenes from the battlefield and encampment was shown. More than 25,000 people attended the two-day event. The original reenactment was held in 1977 with 138 reenactors participating; the 2012 event drew 1,027 reenactors. Club de Madrid Video Mr. Davies reported on the Club de Madrid conference held in Little Rock at the Clinton Presidential Library, December 17-18, 2012. Club de Madrid is an organization based in Spain with a membership composed of more than 85 former prime ministers and presidents from 38 countries. The conference, titled Harnessing 21st Century Solutions: A Focus on Women, was not open to the general public. Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods put together a video highlighting Arkansas and the accomplishments of its innovative citizens and organizations. CY 2011 Volunteer Report Mr. Davies reported on the annual report for Volunteers, Donations and Grants for the Department of Parks and Tourism for calendar year 2011. The report lists the number of volunteers, the hours worked, and the value per hour for each state park. Volunteer reports are submitted each January to the Department of Human Services Division of Volunteerism. Of the 126 state agencies, organizations, and institutions that reported utilizing volunteers in 2011, the Department of Parks and Tourism was number one in the number of volunteers with 73,023. Within those numbers, 11,420 were from the Parks Division, 61,409 from Keep Arkansas Beautiful, and 17 from the Executive Director’s Office. SPRTC Minutes January 17, 2013 Page 5 Congressional Letter Regarding McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation In November 2012, Congressman Tim Griffin met with a senior representative of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding the proposed recreational lockage policy, which would reduce the level of service for recreational vessels on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS). Congressman Griffin’s office has received numerous inquiries and complaints from individuals across Arkansas concerned the Army Corps’ proposed policy could negatively affect the enjoyment of the Arkansas River and the Arkansas economy. A letter was sent to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Works outlining a list of concerns and requesting a response to these concerns. The Congressional letter was signed by Senators Mark Pryor, John Boozman, and James Inhofe of Oklahoma, and Congressmen Tim Griffin, Mike Ross, Rick Crawford, and Steve Womack. Miscellaneous On January 9, 2013, Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Hayes announced the White River was named the nation’s second National Blueway. National Blueways are nationally significant rivers (and their watersheds) that are highly valued for the recreational, cultural, and ecological assets for the communities that depend on them. As part of the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative, the designation recognized the innovative partnerships that are working to conserve the White River across its watershed from the Ozarks to the Mississippi. Federal leaders also announced a series of new initiatives aimed at supporting the new National Blueway. Commissioner Jim Dailey reported that the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission has proposed several changes to the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport. Phase one of the $67 million funding will include an enlarged and modernized ticket lobby and a video wall located near the baggage claim area. The purpose of the renovation is to create a marketplace for the community, a transportation hub, and an economic engine for central Arkansas. The Arkansas General Assembly convened January 14. A bill has been introduced to revise the current law that prohibits sex offenders from visiting municipal pools and playgrounds where children are present, to also include Arkansas State Parks pools and playgrounds. In January, several members from the tourism industry and ADPT met with Speaker of the House Davy Carter to express concerns about tourism in Arkansas. The meeting was held at the Arkansas Hospitality Association. An article written by Mr. Davies, and published in The City Wire, discusses the state of tourism in Arkansas and how far it has come over the years. “The State of Tourism in the Natural State” mentions the history of tourism as an economic generator. SPRTC Minutes January 17, 2013 Page 6 Investments such as Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, to name a few, have all helped benefit the state as a tourist destination. During 2011, tourism and travel was estimated to be a $5.68 billion industry. Claude Legris, Executive Director for the Fort Smith Conventions & Visitors Center announced