Minutes Kent Narrows Development Foundation Board of] Directors Meeting July 23, 2024 For Board Review  Board Members Participating Jody Schulz, Chair (via Zoom) Victoria Hoffman, Treasurer. Patricia Worns, Secretary Jake Boulay Kim Hannon Bill Oertel Kelly Phipps Jeff Smith Absent with Notice Justin Kiernan Jason Ruth  Joe Pomerantz, Vice Chair (absent with notice)  Commissioner Liaison Commissioner Phil Dumenil Queen Anne's County Staff  Steve Chandlee, Queen Anne's County Parks and Recreation Stephanie Jones, Principal Long-Range Planner (via Zoom) Heather Tinelli, QAC Economic and Tourism Development  Guests  Bente Cooney, Plastic Free QAC Marc Lacoste, Best Western Hotel Scott Davies, Narrows Pointe Community (via Zoom) Yatsen Jerome, Hilton Garden Inn Kent Island Lindal Friday, Queen. Anne's County Chamber of Commerce Joy Weimer, Hilton Garden Inn Kent Island  Call to Order  Chair. Jody Schulz called to order the regular meeting oft the Kent Narrows Development Foundation at 9:01 a.m. The meeting was conducted inj person and via Zoom.    Public Comment  Joy Weimer, director of Sales at thel Hilton Garden Inn Kent Island has been here since January 2. General Manager Yatsen Jerome, Hilton Garden Inn Kent Island introduced himself. He has  been here since February.  Minutes RESOLUTION unanimously approved.  Jeff Smith made a motion to accept the KNDFmeeting minutes of June 25, 2024. The Board  Financial Report (Gigi Windley for Victoria Hoffman) The following balances are: from financial reports ending 6/30/2024:  Shore United Checking Account: $47,067.46; QAC 570 Fund, $256,285.60 (May interest not yet posted); Amenities Fund, $67,191.00; Chesapeake Charities Fund, $7,923.31. Total assets are Restricted funds balances: ESHI Grant, $1,500.00 and Safety Grant, $96,200. A discussion is pending with Chesapeake Charities and with Mid-Shore Community Foundation about moving The Special Tax district final report will be sent in October. KNDF will: reconcile to ensure all  $378,467.73.  funds tol Mid-Shore. $5,040. 00 remains set aside for Dennison.  accounts are listed.  Economic and' Tourism Development (Heather Tinelli)  AS $50,000 Grant was awarded from the Maryland Historic Trust to prepare a Watermen's Exhibit Thel Ferry Study is scheduled to be released at the MACO Conference in late July. It will be sent The request for the Placer. AI software was approved. The KNDF director will also be able to The new County Visitors Guides has been delivered. They are presented in a set that is divided into three separate booklets that reflect fields ofi interest. (General Information, Outdoor,  to the KNDF Board. utilize the software.  Culinary) Copies were distributed at the meeting. Parks and Public Landings (Steve Chandlee)  The Independence Day Celebration at the Chesapeake Heritage and Visitor Center was a success.  Due in no small part to added lawn space provided by the new design.    July 41 is on a Friday next year. At times in the past" when the holiday fell on the weekend the Steve suggested that July 2 may be aj possibility for next year, with ai rain date of. July 3.1 Ifthe celebration werel held on a weekday it likely would generate more business. In addition, Fireworks arei more expensive on the holiday than on other days. Public sector workers must be paid more when they work on the holiday. The KNDF board discussed, traffic, business displacement and thel higher costs. Gigi will summarize the comments and send them to Phil The division is seeking $400,000 ini funding for the shoreline project at Ferry Point. The award will be announced in August. DNR has expressed concerns about the design that was submitted. Additional storms that come from the northwesterly direction could further damage the  celebration was changed to avoid traffic problems.  Dumeniel sO that he can share with the other Commissioners.  shoreline.  The new Skate Park is now open.  Planning and Zoning Report on Text Amendments (Stephanie Jones)  In. June, the Queen Anne's County Commissioners approved the text amendment COUNTY ORDINANCE 24-01 for Non-water dependent structures on piers. The amendment isi important because it is applicable to thel Kent Narrows WVC Zoning. It is an update to critical area code and is effective June 29, 2024. It was also approved by the Critical Area Commission. The change allows ai non-water dependent structure to be located on aj pier.  Stephanie explained that a non-water dependent structure does not have to be placed next to the water. The code gives the following examples: a dwelling, a shop, office, restaurant, or any other commercial building, at temporary or permanent covering on aj pier, and aj pier used to supporta An example ofa a water dependent structure might be ai fuel pump used to provide fuel for boats.. The non-water dependent structure must be a secondary or accessory use. It may: not be on aj pier that is attached to ai residential, institutional, or industrially used property. The property can'tbe  non-water dependent use.  vacant and have ai non-water dependent on aj pier.  Itn must enhance public access. It must be located within the IDA.  The structure can't go beyond the length or width oft the existing pier. There is a height limit of 18 feet, unless the project is located at ai marina. There also is a size limit, of 1000: square feet.    The structure must be one parcel.  AI report was made on the Short-Term Rental legislation. COUNTY ORDINANCE 24-09:A A BILL ENTITLED AN ACTCONCERNING Short-Term Rentals. A letter from TTAC was received and copies were distributed out to the KNDF Board. The Travel and Tourism Advisory Committee sent in suggestions to the Planning Office regarding this legislation. Stephanie Jones continues to work with Granicus, the company the County has hired to receive data on compliance. Once the data is reviewed, the code will be drafted. KNDF will have as second chance to comment on the version to be submitted to the Planning Commission, ifthe content has significant changes that would affect relevance of the comments ini thel KNDF's letter.  Director's Report (Gigi Windley)  Chesapeake Water Tours will begin operations in Kent Narrows this week. The booking site is in operation. Tours will leave from the Hyatt Place Hotel and Marina on Kent Narrow Way South.  DENISON CONTRACTS AND: MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS The contracts were: signed; both contracts together total $39,495.  Language was added to the contracts to improve communications between KNDF and Dennison. These contracts do not include the one-off work for eradicating the phrag and the woody growth on the southern facing hillsides facing the Big Owl and Hyatt Place and some of the southern hillside facing the Watermen's Boat Basin. Special equipment is needed to do the work in these areas due to the type of growth and the steep slope. KNDF has asked for a price for ongoing prevention oft the regrowth and replanting with plants that will keep the hillside from eroding. This year, the County will maintain all the CHVC lawn area including the front yard oft the building that faces Piney Narrows Road and all other areas immediately next to the rest oft the building between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. The County will also handle the Wells Cove  Landing areas and the Wells Cove Road parking lots.  Safety Grant Funds  KNDF is awaiting a response to see ifa an extension is possible.  Marketing and Promotion TRAVEL GUIDE  The new travel guide is out and being distributed. The cost for design, printing, and delivery was $7,750. This is for a 40-page book with a glossy cover. It will be delivered to State and local    visitor centers over the next two weeks. The 2025 edition is underway; additional pages will be added. Businesses will be receiving a copy of their current page and will be asked to update their information and photos. Marinas and retail boutiques will get full-page exposure in the new 2025  edition.  BREAKFASTBRUNCH RACK CARD AND WEB PAGE. EXPANSION Ini response to more requests for breakfast and brunch locations, ai new page is being developed on the KNDF website. KNDF is working with Fishergate to design ai rack card.  POST CARDS people to our website. TRAVEL MEDIA  Kent Narrows Postcards were ordered and delivered. The cost was $49.00. A QR Code takes  Thel BetterLiving online piece on Kent Narrows and surrounding attractions has been updated. Harris Crab House, Holiday Inn Express, and Kent Narrows Rentals were added. More copy and photos on the CHVC and Ferry Point Park were also included. The writer and photographer plan to come back in the fall and do aj piece focused on birding and outdoors for the fall and winter seasons. The expanded coverage will include thel Narrows restaurant and more on CBEC.  Capital Region USA  KNDF has registered to attend the Global Travel Exchange in Charlottesville in September. The cost for registration is $1295. Most meals are included. Hotel and travel costs are additional. A billboard at thej junction ofi routes 404 and 50 will be going up to promote the event. KNDF provided technical assistance on messaging and design. The County will pay for the board. The treel build day is November 30th. The lighting event is scheduled for Saturday, December  Concours d'Elegance Billboard  Vendor Fair and Crab Basket Tree Lighting Event. 7th. A planning meeting has been scheduled.  Administrative  There are currently KNDF board seats open; nominations will be due in the fall. A dividend check was received from Chesapeake Employers insurance from 2022. Thel KNDF computer files were backed up. An external hard drive was purchased to hold  electronic files. They are also backed up with hard copies.    OLD BUSINESS  The Bay Bridge ramp closures were discussed. There are still issues with Rt 18 backups on Saturdays and Sundays from Cox Neck Road east. Closures are helping some areas but not all. Board members urged that the Commissioners do everything possible keep the Kent Narrows exits open. Phil will check what triggers the contraflow on the Bay Bridge. (Isi it related to a The issue oft the boats speeding through the Kent Narrows continues. The No Wake Zone signs There is also aj part of the channel that is shoaling on the north side near United Shellfish. Gigi  Closing access to Rt 18 from Nesbit and Chester River Road may help.  specific time or is it triggered with how far the backup is?) are being prepared. Jeff Smith is helping coordinate. will check to see ifas sounding oft thel bottom is planned. Thel Bay Paddle event went well at the Yacht Club.  NEW BUSINESS  The surveying work that is going on at Kent Narrows Way North and Kent Narrows Way, the  surveying is to identify easements.  RESOLUTION  Jeff Smith made ai motion to adjourn the meeting. The Board agreed.  The meeting adjourned at 10:18 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Georgeanna (Gigi) Windley, Executive Director Kent Narrows Development Foundation  Certification:  Ihereby certify that this is at true and correct copy oft the Minutes that were adopted by the  Directors oft this Foundation on August 27,2024. Ro Patricia P. Worns, Secretary, KNDF