ITEM TITLE:
#26-35 - Authorizing the Establishment of a Non-Profit Corporation Named Destination Valdez for the Purpose of Providing Destination Marketing and Visitor Services and Appointing the Initial Board of Directors for this Organization
SUBMITTED BY: Elise Sorum-Birk, Deputy City Clerk, At the request of City Council and recommendation of the Valdez Tourism Task Force
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: n/a
Unencumbered Balance: n/a
Funding Source: n/a
RECOMMENDATION:
n/a
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Resolution 26-35 authorizes the establishment of Destination Valdez, a non-profit organization to take on destination marketing and tourism efforts in Valdez into the future. The resolution also appoints members to serve as the initial Board of Directors for this new organization for the purposes of establishing Bylaws and enrolling business membership.
The concept of Destination Valdez is a culmination of the work done by the Valdez Tourism Task Force. One of the group’s core tasks was “analysis of existing models for visitor, tourism and destination marketing organizations including examples of how tourism organizations are sustainably funded or supported in other communities, and a recommendation on the best option for Valdez” and, after research and deliberation, the group outlined a vision for a quasi-public non-profit to balance community business leadership and vision with municipal financial oversight.
The Alaska Non-Profit Corporations Act requires that the Board of Directors be named in the Articles of Incorporation for a new entity and the task force recommended that City Council seek letters of interest from the community to form an initial board of directors for the purposes of appointing a Bylaws Committee and enrolling business membership of the organization.
Resolution 26-35 and supporting document are attached for review.