Minutes Kent Narrows Development Foundation Board ofl Directors Meeting October 22, 2024 Board Members Participating Jody Schulz, Chair Joe Pomerantz, Vice Chair Victoria Hoffman, Treasurer (via Zoom) Jake Boulay Justin Kiernan Kim Hannon Jason Ruth Jeffs Smith Absent with Notice Patricia Worns, Secretary Bill Oertel Kelly Phipps Commissioner Liaison Phil Dumenil Queen Anne's County Staff Mike Watson, QAC Parks and) Recreation Bente Cooney, Plastic Free QAC Linda Friday, QAC Chamber of Commerce Scott Davies, Narrows Pointe Community April Plummer, QACI Economic and Tourism Development (Tourism) Guests Call to Order Chair. Jody Schulz called to order the regular meeting oft the Kent Narrows Development Foundation at 9:00 a.m. The meeting was conducted in person and via Zoom. Public Comment QAC Chamber of Commerce Linda Friday noted that the groundbreaking for the University of Maryland Shore Regional Medical Center was held recently in Easton. The new: facility will have 147 licensed beds and will: supply a comprehensive array of emergency, behavioral health, and cardiology services. The new location offers easier and safer access for helicopter and ambulance transport. The $540: million dollar facility is scheduled to openi in summer of 2028. Minutes Pat Worns made a motion to accept the KNDF meeting minutes of September 24, 2024. The Board unanimously approved. Financial Report (Victoria Hoffman) Shore United Checking Account: $105,437.08. The following balances are: from financial reports ending 9/30/2024: Funds held in Kent Narrows Tax Billing Line: QAC5701 Fund, $321,543 Funds held in QACI Kent] Narrows Feei in] Lieu (Amenities Fund $67,191. support from the County. [Note: this is not at transfer from the 5701 Fund]) Restricted line-item balances: ESHI Grant, $1,500.00; Safety Grant, $96,200. (interest not yet posted) Chesapeake Charities Fund, $7,923.31.) (Reflects $92,000 deposit from County to cover Denison Contracts, $42,000 and $40,000 for general operating Economic and Tourism Development April Plummer reported that she reserved space in the 2025 CRUSA Holiday Guides and accompanying online banner ads for both KNDF and QAC. Thej promotion: is offered in English and three other languages. This will The All-American Road signage plan is being worked on by multiple destination teams around the Chesapeake Country byway. Next year there willl be ar roll-out oft the scenic byways signage plan that will include Kent Narrows as the top hub for Queen Anne's County. The plan - whichi involves many state, local and regional partners - is still under development. A: fall promotional campaign is running on social media. There is a focus reinforce the relationships with regional DMOS and help build inbound travel spending. on trails. Commissioner Report Commissioner Dumenil reported that the County Commissioners and key staff attended thel MAACO conference in Ocean City. A meeting was held with SHA at that time. The message to the Counties from SHA was that because ofac deficit at the State level, project funds for this year will be severely scaled back. That message was reiterated at the SHA's annual meeting with the QAC Commissioners last month. While QAC identified 10j projects ofi importance to the County, the one project that will continue as planned is thel Route 18 That study is to assess the impact of potential residential and commercial growth along parts of] Rt. 18. Itwill An update tot the current ethics ordinancei is under consideration. County Ordinance No. 24-15 revises the The revision will affect board and commission members. The update would mean that in addition to the financial disclosure questionnaire, members who serve on county boards and commissions also would have to answer a questionnaire designed to ensure that there is no conflict ofi interest related to the organization they Kent Narrows. LLC., is asking that an abnormally large right-of-way on. Kent Narrows Way North, that containing 6,071 square feet ofl land, bej petitioned for closing to allow addition to its abutting property which iso owned by) Kent Narrows L.L.C. to be used as landscape area. Once closed, thej property would be conveyed tol Kent Narrows L.L.C. lot 2 (taxi id 05-004456) The right of way is located between the entrance tol Narrows Pointe and part of thej paved walkway and the utilities on the corner of Kent Narrows Way, North and Md The public hearing on Short-Term Rentals, County Ordinance 24-09, will be held tonight. It is unlikely that the Commissioners will vote on it. The KNDF's position remains as thel Board has suggested. Commissioner Dumenil indicated that there's a good possibility that additional amendments to the ordinance will be made. It may go back to the Planning Commission: for a second review. Should major adjustments be made to the language or the direction the ordinance is taking, KNDF: may review again and send additional comments. traffic study. identify the roadway improvements needed to accommodate the growth. Queen Anne's County Ethics ordinançe. serve. Road 835 (the road that runs in front oft thel Holiday Inn Express). 2 Parks and Publicl Landings Thel Rt 181 trail projecti is ongoing. The ribbon cutting for the news skate park was held. Director's Report (Gigi Windley) Administrative New Businesses to open Mike Watson reported they are: still working on the design that will determine the best way to repair the jetty. There is no record of who the builder was; the department is still trying to locate thati information. Kent Island. Jewelry will bei moving to the retail space at the Boatel. No date for thei re-opening has been announced. Kent Island Jewelry's owner, Patricia (Patty) Knell moved to Kent Island in 1976 and worked with This new business is fully operational and has taken many charter and pre-scheduled trips from the dock at the Hyatt. They plan to return next season. The company willl be speaking with the Annapolis Boat Show staffto her parents ini the family. jewelry business, eventually taking over thes store. Chesapeake Water Tours discuss opportunities to support the transportation shuttles during the show. Business Closing Shore Tackle and Custom Rods Thel business is moving out oft thel building; Billy O'Brian plans to semi-retire. The online store will continue tol be operational. Marc Galasso will still be operating Tuna the Tide Charters. The building will be refurbished KNDF sent emails and photos to Todd Mohn related to the slow drainage at Wells Cove Road. The County cleaned the drains and that helped to clear things up. More work may need tol be done. KNDF is now able to gain access tol Placer AI. There is al learning curve involved with running reports and customizing screens for our use. Heather and Gigi plan to give the Board a demonstration at an upcoming for another use. Areal Maintenance Issues Travel Research/ Placer. AI meeting. Marketing and Promotion Chesapeake Bay Magazine Video Thel KNDF and QAC Tourism worked with CBM video team to significantly improve the promotional video that was produced in August. It will be running this fall.. April will: supply the exact run dates. The rack cards were printed and have been distributed locally to the Chamber and to nearby Welcome Centers. A copy oft the program booklet was given to all board members. The letter from thel Foundation and the ad KNDF received word from Miles Partners that the contract for the nexti issue of Destination. Maryland, produced through thel Maryland OTD, was delayed but is forthcoming. Ads are normally purchased by "Wake up tol Kent Narrows" Rack Cards The Dock House is now offering brunch, so1 the cards will be updated. Concours Program Book appears in the book. Destination Maryland Ad August. 3 Locator Maps The 3000 copies of thel Kent Narrows locator maps (folded version) were printed. It will be updated for 2025. KNDF is working on: follow-up correspondence associated with requests made at the Global Travel Exchange. KNDF worked the QACI booth at the. Annapolis Power Boat Show, October 3-6. There was a great deal of interest in] Kent Narrows, especially from vendors who plan to attend the Bay Bridge Boat Show at Kent KNDF: renewed membership in the Maryland Motorcoach. Association. The cost was $325.00. KNDF will renew the QAC Chamber of Commerce membership for 2025 Capital Region Inbound Visitation Narrows in April and update information in the directory. The Watermen's Basket Tree eventi is underway. Sponsorship information and registration forms were distributed. Forms can be downloaded from thel KNDF website. The tree lighting is December 7. Sponsorship The' Tier 21 NEPA study is in process; MDOT willl hold feedback sessions in December. KNDF will attend and Thel Bay Bridge runi is November 10.) Dedication oft the Veteran' sl Monument will be on Veteran's Day. KNDF A Task Force was formed to study the feasibility of reworking the Taste of] Kent Narrows and to discuss event costs are $200 and $500. Individual baskets are $50. offer comments. willl be a participant in the1 ribbon cutting. development. Victoria, Kim, Jeff, and Gigi will meet to come up with recommendations. Old Business Nominations The County will be advertising the open positions on thel KNDF board this fall. The board's final selections are Board members who would like to be considered for reappointment for another three-year term are required to due to the Commissioners by the end ofNovember. reapply through the County website. Thei following Board members' terms are up, and they may reapply. Jake Boulay (completed Walt' Thompson' s term) Victoria Hoffman Justin Kiernan Kelly Phipps Joe Pomerantz Others who would like to apply may dos sO through the website. Jeff Smith will coordinate thel Nominating Committee, which also includes Pat Worns and. Jody Schulz. New Businesses Bay Bridge Boat Show facilitate. Parking for the upcoming boat show in April was discussed. KNDF will be working withi the management to 4 A discussion occurred related to flooding at the end ofWells Cove. Road. Gigi will write a: memo on behalf of the board requesting that the County government focus on remediating the problem. Business Round Robin and will remain open. Kim Hannon reported that she will be closing "The O" in St. Michael's; thel Kent Narrows store is doing well Thel Holiday Sea Glass Festival is November 23 at the Maritime Museum. Justin Kiernan reported that the good weather has helped fall business. JeffSmith made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the Board agreed. RESOLUTION The meeting adjourned at 11 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Georgeanna (Gigi) Windley, Executive Director Kent Narrows Development Foundation Certification: Ihereby certify that this isat true and correct copy oft the Minutes that were: adopted by thel Directors ofthis Foundation on November 26,2024. aory Patricia P. Worns, Secretary, KNDF 5