Okaloosa County BOCC — July 21, 2016 — Minutes

Tourist Development Council 1540 Miracle Strip Parkway Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Regular Meeting www.EmeraldCoastFL.com ~ Minutes ~ Thursday, July 21, 2016 2:00 PM Emerald Coast Convention Center Council Members & Staff Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Departed Dale E. Peterson Chairman, Dale E. Peterson Vacations Present - - Thomas Rice Vice-Chairman, Magnolia Grill Present - - Thom Gossom Owner, Best Gurl, Inc.- Mktg & Comm. Firm Present - - Joe Guidry Manager, Ramada Plaza Beach & RV Resorts Present - - Melissa Matern Director of Marketing & Events, The Boardwalk/Bone Present Bruce Craul Chief Operating Office, HarborWalk Hospitality Present - - Honorable Mike Anderson City of Fort Walton Beach Mayor Present 2:29 PM - Honorable Jim Foreman City of Destin Representative Present Honorable Kelly Windes Commissioner, District 5 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 2:04 p.m. Council Member Minute Chairman Peterson welcomed Okaloosa County Administrator, John Hofstad, to the podium. Mr. Hofstad acknowledged receiving the letter of resignation and retirement of Mr. Schroeder effective August 31, 2016. He assured the TDC that a national search would be conducted to recruit the next director and credited Mr. Schroeder with rebuilding confidence in the TDC and record growth in tourism bed taxes. Council members individually offered their gratitude to Mr. Schroeder for his leadership and wished him well upon retirement. Attorney Update Director Update a. Introduction of Maureen Morgenthien, Deputy Director Sales & Marketing Mr. Schroeder thanked everyone for their kind words and well wishes, and introduced Ms. Maureen Morgenthien as the new Deputy Director of Sales & Marketing. Public Comments Related to Current Agenda (3 minutes each) Okaloosa Island residents David and Rebecca Sherry offered detailed public comment concerning their opposition of the East Pass Inlet Sand Study Funding. Visitor b. City of Destin Funding Request Mr. Foreman presented the request for $96K, or as much as the TDC desires, to reimburse the expenses incurred by the City of Destin for the recent emergency dredging of the Old Pass Lagoon Channel. Chairman Peterson asked Ms. Dunworth about the status of capital funds already allocated to Destin in the interlocal agreement. Ms. Dunworth advised no funds have been requested to date. Destin City Manager, Carisse LeJeune, suggested that the Council consider leaving those funds accessible for the City of