Latest news with #TourismBusinessImprovementDistrict
Los Angeles Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Visit Huntington Beach President and CEO Kelly Miller to retire in October
Kelly Miller wants to visit Joshua Tree. To help make that happen, he's stepping down as president and chief executive of travel marketing organization Visit Huntington Beach, effective Oct. 15. Miller, who has been at the helm of Visit Huntington Beach for 12 of the nearly 35 years he's worked in the visitor industry, decided it's a good time to retire and enjoy life with his wife. 'I do believe that as we get to the next chapter and hopefully the next third of my life, because I do want to try to live to be 100, those priorities change,' said Miller, 67, in an interview Monday. 'You have a sense in your own skull that those priorities are changing and you want to do more hobbies or travel more, and you aren't as excited about the things you used to be excited about when I was younger in the hospitality industry. 'I love to ride my bike, I love Orange County and I love Huntington Beach, and I want to really enjoy the time we have here within this region. I've never been to Joshua Tree, for example. These are the things that we talk about, but before you know it we're in the middle of COVID and all of these things start to happen.' Miller feels that under his leadership, Visit Huntington Beach has solidified Surf City's status as a premier destination for travelers, events and 'beach-wide' conventions, delivering on the brand promise of being the quintessential California beach destination. Miller, whose organization hosted the biannual Tourism Summit last month, noted that Huntington Beach welcomed 2.34 million non-Orange County visitors last year, a 4.4% increase from 2023. Roughly two-thirds of the city's visitors overall are repeat visitors. 'If you lay that foundation right and the team is delivering on what the board's expectations are, the question becomes, do you mail it in or do you look to do the next chapter?' Miller said. 'Leaving on one's own terms is very important.' During his tenure, Visit HB reached a 10-year funding agreement with the city of Huntington Beach, and saw three Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) assessment increases. Justin Simpson, the Visit HB board chairman and general manager of Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort, said Miller's ability to balance forward-thinking strategy with a results-based approach has served the city well. 'While we will deeply miss his presence, we fully support Kelly's decision to retire and are grateful for the legacy he leaves behind,' Simpson said in a news release. 'Under his leadership, VHB has not only achieved national recognition, including DMAP accreditation from Destinations International, but has also twice been named one of the best places to work in Orange County. His impact will be felt for years to come.' Miller held destination leadership roles in Juneau, Alaska; Atlanta, Ga.; Asheville, N.C. and Tampa, Fla. before coming to Huntington Beach. A longtime supporter of sports tourism, he is currently the chair of the Orange County Sports Commission and formerly chaired the Orange County Visitors Assn. He said some of his favorite memories during his tenure include celebrating surfing's centennial in 2014 and 2015, when he rode a 42-foot-long surfboard with 66 other surfers, setting Guinness World Records for both the length of the board and most riders. In June 2019, Huntington Beach hosted Visit USA's annual IPW tourism showcase, which included a performance by Snoop Dogg. Miller said that hosting the International Surfing Assn. World Para Surfing Championship the last two years was also meaningful for him, as his stepmother lived with multiple sclerosis for decades. Visit Huntington Beach now has more money to market the travel destination than ever before, and recently partnered with a new advertising agency, JNS Next. 'I now have in place an incredible team,' he said. 'There were some things we wanted to check off. This might be a good time to wave goodbye, be around to see my successor get hired, help train them and go to my next chapter. It just felt time.'
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kalispell City Council to vote on emergency well repairs
Feb. 18—Kalispell City Council is expected to authorize emergency repairs to a public water well on Tuesday and likely begin its transition away from composting biosolids. Council will meet Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E. Councilors will vote on authorizing an emergency repair to the Buffalo Hill Well, which has experienced "significant operational deficiencies" over the past couple of weeks, according to a city memo drafted by Public Works Director Susie Turner. "Time is of the essence to complete the replacement and return the well to service before the high summer demand," Turner wrote. The Buffalo Hill Well is the city's largest water producer for its lower pressure zone, which is roughly anything south of Lawrence Park. A storage tank is also under construction and out of commission, making it critical to maintain the well, according to Turner Declaring the project an emergency will expedite the typically lengthy process of bidding for a contractor. The project is estimated to cost $250,000 but could reach as high as $325,000. City staff expects to have to remove the motor and pump with a large crane to assess the repairs needed, according to Turner. COUNCIL WILL also consider extending its agreement with Glacier Gold Composting so that the company can continue managing the city's biosolids while its wastewater treatment plant is upgraded. During a work session in December, councilors expressed interest in moving away from compositing its biosolids owing to public concerns surrounding forever chemicals. Glacier Gold also closed its composting facility in Olney, which may have sealed the deal on the move. The city currently sends 70% of its biosolids to Glacier Gold Composting and the rest to Flathead County Landfill, but the landfill will eventually take in all the city's sewage. But before that happens, the city must invest in new equipment to adhere to the landfill's standards. The new and upgraded equipment has a projected cost of $6.8 million, according to city documents. The upgrades are expected to be completed by 2026, and the amended agreement with Glacier Gold would expire in September 2026. The city currently pays $238 per dry ton of sludge delivered to the Glacier Gold Compost Facility. The rate will increase to $370 per dry ton on Jul 1, 2025 and remain in effect through the agreement term. Biosolids, also known as sewage sludge, are a product of the wastewater treatment process. The solids can be used to create nutrient-rich fertilizers, but concerns have grown over pollutants and pathogens that can contaminate the product, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances also known as PFAS or forever chemicals. Council is also expected to enter into an updated agreement with the consulting firm, Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services, who would manage the wastewater treatment upgrades. COUNCIL WILL also vote whether to approve Mitchell Bump to the Tourism Business Improvement District. First established in 2010, the seven-member board promotes the health, safety and security of the city and district, according to Kalispell's website. Board members serve a four-year term; Bump's term would end in April 2027. "I wanted to be a part of shaping the future of Kalispell to reflect the values we cherish such as maintaining its small-town charm while embracing sustainable growth and opportunity," read Bump's application. He has a background in hotel management and hospitality. Kalispell Police officers Matthew Praetzel and Connor McKinnon will also be confirmed on Tuesday night after completing their one-year probationary employment period. Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@
