I can kick it off.

Yeah, and then I'll go after you.

Yeah.

Well, welcome everyone to the task force.

Just to kind of briefly describe what's going on, what we need from you all.

As you know, the the council's direction, some of the challenges with the VCUV.

There's some funding available as it relates to tourism and visitors.

And I'll let the mayor speak for the council's desires.

But uh it looks like we need to come up with what is going to work for Valdez.

Um I just kind of want to put it out there that as city staff, like we're here to support, but I I really don't want to drive the conversation.

That's part of what we've brought you all to the table and just kind of set an expectation is you guys are kind of the voice of the industry, so to speak.

And so my hope is that there are opportunities with this task force to go out to other operators and businesses and get them involved so you can bring back their opinions.

Um the intent is not for this to be some for lack of better term, secret squirrel club that we're making decisions behind the scenes, but really just to get an idea of what does the tourism industry valdees need, and how can the city support that again?

I my hope is that we're here to facilitate these meetings, but not necessarily drive them.

Um again, any any legwork we can do to get information or set something up.

That's that's what we're here to come up with.

So I just wanted to kind of reiterate what Nate said.

Uh, you know, I I don't want to be here as a capacity of uh you know the city mayor um kind of directing you guys.

That's why we asked you guys to come here as you guys got opinions and you guys got some good ideas.

Um I would like to ask that you guys take into consideration that the VCB has struggled for a long time prior to this, and what we need to do is establish some way.

I did look at the Sitka model that we were talking about for one thing.

Uh I'm not saying that we can't go down that road, but I would like it that Nate doesn't have another department that he has to direct.

He's got a 11 now, and the way the city of Skegway works is their um director is directly tied to the director of uh the city.

And uh so but when I was looking at it, I like everything that was done in the city of Skegway as far as no membership fees.

You guys basically run it for the city of Valdez.

I I think that's the way it should have been run and to begin with.

Um, and I want to leave it open for you guys to kind of come up with the best way that you see forth coming forth to Valdez as far as the tourism goes.

So, with that being said, um that's my really only ask is just to look at it to where it's not a city department itself.

One of the one of the ones that we were suggesting uh when we were talking about it was the example of the Valdez Museum, um, to where they have a board of directors that reports directly to the council, and the council, you know, just like in the city of Skegway, other than the manager picks who goes on to the board, the city council would do that just like they do with the Valdez Museum board.

So um but with all those combined, I just want you guys to kind of come up with a good idea on what we're gonna do and then set some timelines and some goals and let's meet those so that way we can you know save what's left of our tourist season.

There is 505 still left in the budget, other than what we may need to make things go for a little bit for the short term, but that is the budget that the city council has elected to use for the VBC or the uh visitors uh center, whatever you whatever we're calling ourselves now, um for you know better terms.

But uh that's really all I got to say, you know.

So kind of I may defer to our parliamentarians here, but just a couple of housekeeping items, you know.

So this is a task force.

Uh the intent is to meet every two weeks, kind of at this time.

The goal is to get something knocked out sooner than later, get a recommendation to council so that the tourist season can be salvaged again for lack of a better term.

Uh so for I guess the first item of businesses for the group to appoint the chair.

The first order of the business is roll call.

Oh, roll call.

Oh see, that's what I'm gonna get.

So roll call has everyone here with uh Amber Dennis online.

And does everyone know each other?

I guess is the other question.

Has everyone or yeah, so I think if if we could just go around, say who you are, kind of what sector of the industry you're in, that would be helpful.

Uh case Fatafora, Valdez RV Park.

Retired resident.

Still here.

Still here.

Samantha Berk.

Oh, would you get away?

Joseph Lisp, uh total Dennis Fleming Mayor.

Martha Barbario Economic Development.

Kathy Nielsen, Rogues Garden, and I have been on this PCB board in the past as well.

So I'm familiar with Pauline Stevens um passport member years ago, but also um sort of work with lots of non-destinations across Alaska, and so just have some of that knowledge to burn in as well.

Amber.

She may not have audio.

Okay.

But I'll speak for Amber.

She is with the with the Valdece, who's the communications director for the Valdues Museum.

And so she's in the cultural.