Okaloosa County BOCC — March 27, 2014 — reading text

Tourist Development Council 1540 Miracle Strip Parkway Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Regular Meeting http://www.okaloosafl.com ~ Agenda ~ Thursday, March 27, 2014 2:00 PM Emerald Coast Convention Center Council Members & Staff Dale E. Peterson Chairman Thomas Rice Vice-Chairman Daniel Empson Owner, Harry T's Lighthouse Restaurant Thom Gossom Owner, Best Gurl, Inc. - Mktg & Comm. Firm Joe Guidry Manager, Ramada Plaza Beach & RV Resorts Rachel Joyce General Manager, Hampton Inn Honorable Kelly Windes Commissioner District 5 Honorable Tuffy Dixon City of Destin Representative Honorable Charles Rigdon City of FWB Representative Ed Schroeder Director, Tourist Development Department Lynn Hoshihara TDD Attorney Greg Stewart TDD Attorney Pledge of Allegiance and Welcome (Dale Peterson - Chairman) Public Comments Related to Current Agenda (Dale Peterson) I. Consider Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council Meeting Minutes (Dale Peterson) a. Tourist Development Council - Regular Meeting - Feb 27, 2014 2:00 PM II. Director's Update (Ed Schroeder) a. February Month End Lodging Reports from Smith Travel Research b. Pocket Ranger app c. Staffing Update d. MSBU Ordinance Update III. Financial Update (Charlotte Dunworth) a. January Month End Tax Revenue Reports from Okaloosa Tax Collector b. March Financial Update c. Expenditure Transaction Analysis Tourist Development Council Page 1 Printed 3/25/2014 Regular Meeting Agenda March 27, 2014 IV. Convention Center Update (Bill Leaman) a. Conceptual Drawings/Rendering V. Marketing Update (Kendra Moore-Nixon) a. Special Event & Sponsorship Funding Update b. Agency Update (Peter Mayer) - Presentation VI. Beaches Update (Jim Trifilio) a. Okaloosa Island Walkover Project b. Living Shorelines Project c. Beach Cleaning Contract Update d. New Marine Economic and Tourist Development Coordinator VII. Old Business (Dale Peterson) VIII. New Business (Recommendations from TDC to BCC) a. Electronic Participation/Attendance (Charlotte Dunworth) b. Proxy Voting (Charlotte Dunworth) c. Estimated ad agency advertising budget for FY15 (Charlotte Dunworth) d. Abstain from Voting Reminder (Lynn Hoshihara) IX. Next TDC Meeting (Dale Peterson) a. Thursday April 24, 2014, 2:00 p.m. Emerald Coast Convention Center (Tentative) X. Public Comment (3 minutes each) XI. Adjourn Tourist Development Council Page 2 Printed 3/25/2014  1.a Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department 1540 Miracle Strip Parkway Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548 Minutes Acceptance: Minutes of Feb 27, 2014 2:00 PM (Consider Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council Meeting Minutes (Dale Regular Meeting http://www.okaloosafl.com ~ Minutes ~ Thursday, February 27, 2014 2:00 PM Emerald Coast Convention Center Tourist Development Council Members Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Departed Chairman, Dale E. Peterson Present - - Dale E. Peterson Vacations Vice-Chairman, Present Thomas Rice - - Magnolia Grill Rachel Joyce Hampton Inn FWB Present - - Daniel Empson Harry T’s Restaurant Absent - - Thom Gossom Best Gurl, Inc. Present - - Joe Guidry Ramada Plaza Resort Present - - Tuffy Dixon Destin Councilman Present - - Charles Rigdon FWB Councilman Present - - Kelly Windes Commissioner District 5 Present - - Ed Schroeder TDD Director Present - - Lynn Hoshihara TDD Attorney Present - - Mr. Peterson called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. I. Public Comments Related to Current Agenda The chairman opened the floor to public comment related to the current agenda. No one accepted the offer at that time. II. Consider Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council Meeting Minutes (Dale Peterson- Chairman) The committee proceeded to put the previous meeting minutes’ approval to a vote. Motion to Approve December 2013 TDC Meeting Minutes RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Rice SECONDER: Rigdon AYES: Gossom, Guidry, Windes, Peterson, Dixon, Joyce Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department Page 1 of 9 Packet Pg. 3  1.a III. Director’s Update (Ed Schroeder) TDD Director, Mr. Schroeder, continued the meeting by announcing Mr. Thomas Kraus’ Minutes Acceptance: Minutes of Feb 27, 2014 2:00 PM (Consider Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council Meeting Minutes (Dale impending retirement after 16 years of county service. Mr. Kraus was lauded for his accomplishments and devoted service. Next Mr. Schroeder queried the continuation of the county’s use of the Smith Travel Research occupancy and ADR trends report. The report currently evaluates 26 hotel/motel properties within Okaloosa County. However, only 18 of them are actually within the taxing district. The others are located in Niceville and or Crestview. He questioned the value of the report considering as it only includes 15% to 20% of the total properties from all venues. In response, Mr. Guidry questioned whether the same figures could be pulled from the Tax Collector’s reports. Mr. Schroeder stated there were several items that could not be found from homegrown sources. Mr. Guidry continued by saying the report is standard by which those in the industry comparatively grade their business. Ms. Joyce stated her agreement. Ms. Hoshihara further explained that the contract required in order to receive the report is in direct violation of portions of the FL Sunshine Law; most specifically, the fact the information may not be publicly shared. One way to work around this restriction would be by paying more for the republication rights to distribute. Ms. Hussong said the estimated annual STR contract cost would be $19,000 a year with full republication rights, including distribution online and in printed TDC meeting documents; and $10,000 annually without republication rights and limited use. Mr. Gossom queried if we were the only county in the state of Florida to encounter this issue. Mr. Schroeder reiterated his discussions with other CVB directors. Mr. Dixon suggested a working group, to include Mr. Schroeder, Ms. Joyce, and Mr. Guidry to further discuss the issue. The lawyers are currently working with STR to find a solution. IV. Financial Status Update (Ed Schroeder /Charlotte Dunworth) a. November and December Month End Tax Revenue Reports from the Okaloosa County Tax Collector- Ms. Dunworth briefed the TDC Council on the November and December reports from the Tax Collector’s office. November collections were up 5% and December enjoyed a 1.1% increase from the previous year. Overall, collections increased 7.6% over the previous year. b. February Financial Update- Ms. Dunworth went on to provide the TDC with a line-by- line review of the current month’s financial status. Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department Page 2 of 9 Packet Pg. 4  1.a c. Special Event & Sponsorship Funding- Ms. Dunworth reviewed the spreadsheet listing special events and sponsorship funding. Minutes Acceptance: Minutes of Feb 27, 2014 2:00 PM (Consider Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council Meeting Minutes (Dale Motion to Approve Financial Update as Provided RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Rice SECONDER: Dixon AYES: Gossom, Guidry, Windes, Peterson, Rigdon, Joyce V. Convention Center Update (Bill Leaman) Mr. Leaman, Convention Center, shared the progress on the construction of the event pad, to date. The project is on schedule to be completed April 20th. A shed co-located will provide electrical outlets for event usage. Several event planners have made inquiries into its use already, with one event scheduled closely following its completion. The pad will offer an additional 30,000 square feet of space for events at the center. VI. Marketing Update (Kendra