Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Tourism Advisory Commission - 10/20/2025MINUTES ORO VALLEY TOURISM ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION October 20, 2025 ORO VALLEY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 11000 N. LA CAÑADA DRIVE            REGULAR SESSION AT OR AFTER 4:00 PM   CALL TO ORDER Chair D'Angelo called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.   ROLL CALL Present: Sasha Case, Vice Chair Christopher DeSimone, Commissioner Malarie Puggioni, Commissioner Mark Van Buren, Commissioner Tony D'Angelo, Chair Staff Present: Paul Melcher, Community and Economic Development Director Jeff Wilkins, Town Manager Attendees: Mary Murphy, Town Council Liaison PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair D'Angelo led the commission and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.   CALL TO AUDIENCE There were no speaker requests.   COUNCIL LIAISON COMMENTS Council Liaison Mary Murphy thanked the commissioners for serving the community in this capacity and stated she looked forward to the meeting.   REGULAR SESSION AGENDA   1.REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 REGULAR SESSION MEETING MINUTES       Motion by Commissioner Christopher DeSimone, seconded by Vice Chair Sasha Case to approve the meeting minutes as presented.  Vote: 5 - 0 Carried   2.PRESENTATION ABOUT THE COMMUNITY COMMENT (60%) DRAFT OF THE COMMUNITY'S NEXT    October 20, 2025 Minutes, Tourism Advisory Commission 1 2.PRESENTATION ABOUT THE COMMUNITY COMMENT (60%) DRAFT OF THE COMMUNITY'S NEXT 10-YEAR ACTION PLAN, KNOWN AS OV'S PATH FORWARD       Senior Planner Rene Olvera provided a presentation that included the following: - Introduction - OV's Path Forward - 10-year action plan - Creating the draft plan - Going from 30% to 60% draft - Draft polices and actions - The BIG community review - Next steps Discussion ensued among the commission and staff.   3.INTRODUCTION OF EACH TOURISM ADVISORY COMMISSION MEMBER       Each commissioner introduced themselves, provided a background of their credentials, reasons for joining the commission and their vision for Oro Valley tourism.   4.PRESENTATION OF THE LEISURE TRAVEL PLAN VISIONING SESSION RESULTS AND NEXT STEPS       Richard Cutting-Miller, Vice-President of Tourism Strategy with CSL (Convention Sports Leisure) International, provided a presentation that included the following: - The objective - Activities and deliverables - The Visioning workshop - There are 20 final recommendations - Final recommendation #1: Activate Steam Pump Ranch as a cultural, culinary, and community-first event venue - Final recommendation #2: Address summer seasonality with shaded, indoor, or evening visitor experiences - Final recommendation #3: Build and promote themed itineraries and trip-planning tools - Final recommendation #4: Clarify tourism governance, staffing, and stakeholder engagement structure - Final recommendation #5: Create unified visitor guides and accessible trail/outdoor maps - Final recommendation #6: Develop a cohesive culinary tourism strategy and local dining enhancement plan - Final recommendation #7: Develop a regional events and festivals strategy to combat seasonality and celebrate identity - Final recommendation #8: Develop and activate a distinctive Oro Valley brand identity - Final recommendation #9: Encourage development of youth/family-friendly venues and experiences - Final recommendation #10: Enhance regional tourism collaboration and cross-promotion - Final recommendation #11: Expand KPIs and establish a resident tourism sentiment monitoring program - Final recommendation #12: Expand lodging options including boutique, eco-luxury, and wellness-focused hotels - Final recommendation #13: Expand tourism infrastructure and support facilities at parks and venues - Final recommendation #14: Improve the retail environment with experiential districts and cultural hubs - Final recommendation #15: Integrate tourism goals into broader economic and capital planning - Final recommendation #16: Leverage Oro Valley’s assets to position it as a wellness and active lifestyle destination - Final recommendation #17: Position Oro Valley as a premier cycling and active recreation destination - Final recommendation #18: Promote youth, senior, and multi-generational tourism programming October 20, 2025 Minutes, Tourism Advisory Commission 2 - Final recommendation #19: Revitalize the Oro Valley community center with tourism-serving amenities - Final recommendation #20: Increase sports tourism development and advocate additional sports and recreation facilities/venues - There are 5 big ideas - 1. Oro Valley performing arts venue and/or amphitheater - 2. New state-of-the-art indoor recreation center - 3. Expansion of Tohono Chul - 4. Steam Pump Ranch public market hall/destination brewery - 5. Resident-designed festival or Town cultural showcase - Next Steps Discussion ensued among the commission, staff and presenter. Chair D'Angelo opened the floor for public comment. - OV resident Bill Rodman spoke about increasing arts and culture in a way to attract tourism, and the possibility of building a performing arts center. - OV resident Mark Headley spoke as a representative of the film industry, and the possibility of Oro Valley having its own film commission, which is about both art and incoming funds for the Town. Chair D'Angelo closed the public comment period. Further discussion ensued among the commission and staff.   5.INFORMATION REQUESTED BY THE TOURISM ADVISORY COMMISSION FROM THE REGULAR MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 15, 2025, RELATED TO THE SUMMARY OF BED/SALES TAXES COLLECTED BY THE TOWN FOR THE PAST FIVE FISCAL YEARS       Per the commission's request, Community and Economic Development Director Paul Melcher reviewed the sales tax collections related to lodging and bed tax from FY2018 - August 2025, including the impacts during the pandemic. Discussion ensued among the commission and staff.   ADJOURNMENT    Motion by Vice Chair Sasha Case, seconded by Commissioner Mark Van Buren to adjourn the meeting.  Vote: 5 - 0 Carried    Chair D'Angelo adjourned the meeting at 5:41 p.m.     I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the regular session of the Town of Oro Valley Tourism Advisory Commission of Oro Valley, Arizona held on the 20th day of October 2025. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. ______________________________________ Jeanna Ancona Senior Office Specialist October 20, 2025 Minutes, Tourism Advisory Commission 3