Okaloosa County BOCC — March 26, 2015 — Agenda Packet — reading text

Tourist Development Council 1540 Miracle Strip Parkway Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Regular Meeting http://www.okaloosafl.com ~ Agenda ~ Thursday, March 26, 2015 2:00 PM Emerald Coast Convention Center Council Members & Staff Dale E. Peterson Chairman Thomas Rice Vice-Chairman Thom Gossom Owner, Best Gurl, Inc. - Mktg & Comm. Firm Joe Guidry Manager, Ramada Plaza Beach & RV Resorts Rachel Joyce General Manager, Hampton Inn Martin Owen Regional Sales & Marketing Director, Wyndham Vac Honorable Mike Anderson City of FWB Representative Honorable Tuffy Dixon City of Destin Representative Honorable Carolyn Ketchel Commissioner District 2 Ed Schroeder Director, Tourist Development Department Lynn Hoshihara TDD Attorney Greg Stewart County Attorney Pledge of Allegiance and Welcome (Dale Peterson - Chairman) Public Comments Related to Current Agenda (Dale Peterson - 3 minutes each) Councilmember's Minute I. Items for TDC Approval/Recommendation a. Tourist Development Council - Regular Meeting - Feb 26, 2015 2:00 PM b. 4006 : Financial Update (Charlotte Dunworth) c. 4008 : FY 2015-16 Proposed Media Plan Allocation (Shantelle Dedicke) d. 4009 : Aramark Contract Extension (Ed Schroeder) II. Items for Information Purposes Only - (Speaker) e. 4010 : Reconciliation of Promotional Reserves Funds (Charlotte Dunworth) f. 4011 : Marketing Update (Shantelle Dedicke) g. 4012 : FWC FY15-16 Artificial Reef Construction Grant Application (Jim Trifilio) Tourist Development Council Page 1 Printed 3/23/2015 Regular Meeting Agenda March 26, 2015 III. Items for Information Purposes Only - (No Speaker) h. Forbes Article – Tourism Impact i. Okaloosa Tax Collector Report j. Expenditure Transaction Report k. Group Sales Marketing Update l. ECCC Sales Marketing Update m. Film Commission Update n. Visitor Center Top 10 States o. Airport Enplanements & Deplanements (VPS by carrier) p. Airport Enplanements & Deplanements (Airports Comparison) IV. Public Comment (3 minutes each) V. Next TDC Meeting (Dale Peterson) April 23, 2015 2:00 p.m. Emerald Coast Convention Center VI. Adjourn (Dale Peterson) Tourist Development Council Page 2 Printed 3/23/2015  1.a Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department 1540 Miracle Strip Parkway Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548 Regular Meeting http://www.okaloosafl.com ~ Minutes ~ Thursday, February 26, 2015 2:00 PM Emerald Coast Convention Center Minutes Acceptance: Minutes of Feb 26, 2015 2:00 PM (Items for TDC Approval/Recommendation) Council Members & Staff Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Departed Dale Peterson Chairman, Dale E. Peterson Vacations Present Thomas Rice Vice-Chairman, Magnolia Grill Present Rachel Joyce Hampton Inn FWB Present Martin Owen ResortQuest by Wyndham Present Thom Gossom Best Gurl, Inc. Present Joe Guidry Ramada Plaza Resort Present Tuffy Dixon City of Destin Councilman Present Mike Anderson City of Fort Walton Beach Mayor Present 2:15 Carolyn Ketchel Commissioner, District 2 Present Ed Schroeder Director, Tourist Development Department Present Lynn Hoshihara TDD Attorney Present Pledge of Allegiance and Welcome (Dale Peterson - Chairman) Chairman Dale Peterson called the meeting to order at 2:00 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance. Public Comments Related to Current Agenda (3 minutes each) Dan Martin, Pelican Beach Resort, introduced Josh Pryor to the Council Members. Josh is Dan’s replacement and will be attending future TDC meetings. Rebecca Sherry thanked the Council members for the opportunity to speak regarding the proposed turtle lighting grant. Ms. Sherry opposed the agreement as written as it is too expensive and the attachments don’t reflect Okaloosa County. Councilmember’s Minute Tuffy Dixon apologized for missing a meeting as he was out of town. Dale Peterson expressed appreciation for Mr. Windes’ contributions. Tom Rice wore a special shirt with a WW II Rangers tab honoring Rangers. He also noted the Doolittle Raiders are coming here on September 19, 2015. Mike Anderson apologized for arriving late. Joe Guidry stated that the area had an outstanding Snowbird season. The community really came together and the Snowbirds expressed their appreciation for the effort. Martin Owen encouraged attendance in Tallahassee on March 11, 2015 for Florida Tourism Day. Visitor Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department Page 1 of 7 February 26, 2015 Packet Pg. 3  1.a a. Okaloosa Island Bike Paths Presentation (Dave Hancock) Dave Hancock said bike paths are a huge draw in Hilton Head and other areas, which led to a movement for bike paths in the Ft Walton Beach / Destin area. The slogan is “Sustainable Tourism – Moving People out of their Cars and on Bikes” and will have a positive effect on traffic. Pathways will be built the length of Santa Rosa Blvd and from the east end of Brooks Bridge to the Destin Bridge on the south side of Highway 98. Funding will come from the Restore Act grants. A $90K grant application will be submitted in March for a preliminary design and environmental study of the proposed pathway sites. Committee members Minutes Acceptance: Minutes of Feb 26, 2015 2:00 PM (Items for TDC Approval/Recommendation) are Kathy Foster, Jill Higgins, Jim Hendrix, Dave Hancock & Brian Ruscher. Stakeholders will include the Okaloosa County Commissioners, FDOT, DEP, City of Fort Walton Beach, DOD and local businesses with 100% buy-in. Project benefits are an untapped source of revenue for local businesses, health and fitness improvement, less vehicles on the road, negligible environmental impact with FDOT responsible for roadways and a 150’ right of way, and an economic impact from increased jobs. These pathways will be part of the great Florida path network. Okaloosa and Walton Counties are in the middle of the corridor. This is the first attempt for sustainable tourism and Mr. Hancock requested TDC support for this project. Dale Peterson asked for an estimated cost. Mr. Hancock responded that FDEP estimates $500K per mile, which would total $4M for Hwy 98. Mike Anderson asked what would happen if Restore Act dollars aren’t available. Mr. Hancock noted other options are also available. Commissioner Ketchel stated she is an avid bike rider and commended Mr. Hancock for spearheading this project. Thom Gossom asked who and how will the path be maintained, assuming it is built. Mr. Hancock said Okaloosa Island will maintain the path. Jason Autrey, Okaloosa County Public Works, mentioned sidewalks are county and federal property. There are many options to explore but will start with the County first to install sidewalks. Other methods will be researched for ways to use the easement in additional to federal options. Tom Rice noted that Highway 98 incurs repairs from hurricanes. He asked if the path would be rebuilt, similar to Highway 98 after a storm. Mr. Autrey stated this must be considered. Tuffy Dixon asked if the study included the pathway all the way from Okaloosa Island to Destin. Mr. Hancock replied the study cost is estimated at $50,000, but use of the existing 2012 study may be allowed. Carolyn Ketchel asked what type of barrier will be used between the road and bike path. Dave stated that the planned barrier is a 4’ dirt barrier and 12’ pathway. Commissioner Ketchel expressed concern about just a dirt barrier due to injuries along Highway 98. Martin Owen also said a physical barrier to keep the bicycle path separate is necessary. This could be a great option for local business to sponsor portions of the bike path. Dale Peterson asked if 12’ is mandatory. Mr. Hancock said it isn’t mandatory, but the Brooks Bridge replacement will have a separate 12’ wide pedestrian multi-use lane. Motion to approve endorsement of the Okaloosa Island bicycle pathway concept and eventual design. RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Thomas Rice SECONDER: Martin Owen AYES: Peterson, Joyce, Gossom, Guidry, Dixon, Anderson, Ketchel I. Items for TDC Approval/Recommendation Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department Page 2 of 7 February 26, 2015 Packet Pg. 4  1.a a. January 22, 2015 TDC Meeting Minutes (Dale Peterson) Motion to Approve the January 22, 2015 TDC Meeting Minutes RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Mike Anderson SECONDER: Martin Owen AYES: Peterson, Rice, Joyce, Gossom, Guidry, Dixon, Ketchel b. Financial Update – Jan (Charlotte Dunworth)