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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Tourism Advisory Commission - 2/23/2026MINUTES ORO VALLEY TOURISM ADVISORY COMMISSION SPECIAL SESSION February 23, 2026 HOPI CONFERENCE ROOM 11000 N. LA CAÑADA DRIVE           SPECIAL 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: Christopher DeSimone, Commissioner Malarie Puggioni, Commissioner Mark Van Buren, Vice Chair Tony D'Angelo, Chair Absent: Sasha Case, 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.   COUNCIL LIAISON COMMENTS Council Liaison Mary Murphy provided updates on business outreach and the Northwest Recharge, Recovery and Delivery System (NWRRDS) project.   REPORTS ON CURRENT TOURISM EVENTS Chair D'Angelo shared that the Oro Valley Performing Arts Complex Board had a formal presentation of the nearly completed feasibility study and plan to present to the Town Council in the future.   CALL TO AUDIENCE There were no speaker requests.   SPECIAL SESSION AGENDA   1.REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 26, 2026 SPECIAL SESSION MEETING MINUTES   February 23, 2026 Minutes, Tourism Advisory Commission 1  Motion by Commissioner Christopher DeSimone, seconded by Vice Chair Mark Van Buren to approve the Janaury meeting minutes as presented.  Vote: 4 - 0 Carried   2.DISCUSSION AND REVIEW OF THE SCOPE OF THE TOURISM ADVISORY COMMISSION    Chair D'Angelo and Community and Economic Development Director Paul Melcher met with Attorney Nathan Rothschild to clarify the role of the Commission. Chair D'Angelo read the scope of the commission that was written into the resolution that created the commission. The three key takeaways of the commission's role are review, study and recommend. Chair D'Angelo stated that if the commission wishes to gather information not provided by staff, the request will need to be put into a motion for the Town Council to consider before staff can proceed. Chair D'Angelo reviewed the powers and duties of the commission and stated that staff will take the commission's motions to Town Council. Discussion ensued among the commission and staff.    Motion by Commissioner Christopher DeSimone, seconded by Vice Chair Mark Van Buren to have staff recommend to the Town Council that we have a future agenda item about the status of the relationship between the Town of Oro Valley and the El Conquistador and the Westward Look resort.  Vote: 4 - 0 Carried    Further discussion continued among the commission and staff.   3.DISCUSSION REGARDING THE RANKINGS OF THE 20 LEISURE TRAVEL PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS    Community and Economic Development Director Paul Melcher provided an overview of a spreadsheet that contains the nine (9) recommendations based on initiative-driven items. Mr. Melcher reviewed the factors used to rank the plan recommendations that the Town Council had specifically mentioned as higher prioritization. The spreadsheet is based on a preliminary template and formulas, will make adjustments to each recommendation based on commission feedback, and recalculate with the goal of a final score and ranking. Discussion ensued among the commission and staff, and the spreadsheet was updated throughout the discussion.    Motion by Commissioner Christopher DeSimone, seconded by Vice Chair Mark Van Buren to have the total operating costs included in future reports of each recommendation.  Vote: 4 - 0 Carried    Further discussion ensued among the commission and staff, with the spreadsheet continually updated throughout.    Motion by Chair Tony D'Angelo, seconded by Commissioner Christopher DeSimone to recommend to the Town Council the amended rankings as provided during the Tourism Advisory Commission meeting.  Vote: 4 - 0 Carried February 23, 2026 Minutes, Tourism Advisory Commission 2    Discussion continued among the commission and staff.   ADJOURNMENT    Motion by Chair Tony D'Angelo, seconded by Commissioner Christopher DeSimone to adjourn the meeting.  Vote: 4 - 0 Carried    Chair D'Angelo adjourned the meeting at 5:52 p.m.     I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the special session of the Town of Oro Valley Tourism Advisory Commission of Oro Valley, Arizona held on the 23rd day of February 2026. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. ______________________________________ Jeanna Ancona Senior Office Specialist February 23, 2026 Minutes, Tourism Advisory Commission 3