HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Tourism Advisory Commission - 11/17/2025MINUTES
ORO VALLEY TOURISM ADVISORY COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
November 17, 2025
ORO VALLEY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
11000 N. LA CAÑADA DRIVE
REGULAR SESSION AT OR AFTER 4:30 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Chair D'Angelo called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mark Van Buren, Commissioner
Christopher DeSimone, Commissioner
Sasha Case, Vice Chair
Tony D'Angelo, Chair
Absent: Malarie Puggioni, Commissioner
Staff Present: Crystal Franke, Destination Marketing Manager
Paul Melcher, Community and Economic Development Director
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.
STAFF LIAISON REPORT
There was no report.
REGULAR SESSION AGENDA
1.REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 20, 2025 REGULAR SESSION MEETING MINUTES
Motion by Vice Chair Sasha Case, seconded by Commissioner Mark Van Buren to approve the
October 20, 2025 meeting minutes as written.
Vote: 4 - 0 Carried
2.PRESENTATION BY RTA NEXT REGARDING THE FUTURE ROADWAYS PLAN
November 17, 2025 Minutes, Tourism Advisory Commission 1
Community and Economic Development Director Paul Melcher introduced the RTA Next spokesperson
Steve Huffman, who provided a tourism-focused presentation that included the following:
- Role of transport in tourism - quote by the Tourism Institute
- Tourism opportunities in Oro Valley
- Good roads are a great welcome
- OV General Plan Transportation goals
- RTA Next opportunities
- RTA Cycling investments
- RTA sales tax revenues
- Who pays the RTA sales tax?
- No tax increase
- RTA next plan elements
Discussion ensued among the Commission and presenter.
3.COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF UPDATE REGARDING THE HISTORY OF
LODGING-RELATED SALES AND BED TAXES COLLECTED FROM JULY 1, 2018 TO AUGUST 30,
2025
Community and Economic Development Director Paul Melcher provided an overview of financial data
since 2018 and reviewed the updated spreadsheet on tourism tax analysis.
Discussion ensued among the Commision and staff.
4.DISCUSSION REGARDING THE TWENTY (20) RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT
LEISURE TRAVEL PLAN
Community and Economic Development Director provided an overview of the draft Leisure Travel Plan,
which produced twenty (20) recommendations that are the foundation of Oro Valley tourism to become a
successful DMO.
Each commissioner provided their top three (3) choices from the twenty (20) recommendations list.
COUNCIL LIAISON COMMENTS
Council Liaison Mary Murphy provided updates on the Historical Society's 20-year anniversary at Steam Pump
Ranch, the Town Council version of the RTA Next presentation, the three new proposed taxes and the Rockin' for
Heroes event.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Commissioner Christopher DeSimone, seconded by Vice Chair Sasha Case to adjourn the
meeting.
Vote: 4 - 0 Carried
Chair D'Angelo adjourned the meeting at 6:03 p.m.
November 17, 2025 Minutes, Tourism Advisory Commission 2
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 17th day of November 2025. I
further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present.
______________________________________
Jeanna Ancona
Senior Office Specialist
November 17, 2025 Minutes, Tourism Advisory Commission 3