Okaloosa County BOCC — June 25, 2015 — Minutes

Tourist Development Council 1540 Miracle Strip Parkway Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Regular Meeting www.EmeraldCoastFL.com ~ Minutes ~ Thursday, June 25, 2015 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 - - Rachel Joyce Hampton Inn FWB Present - - Martin Owen ResortQuest by Wyndham Present - - Thom Gossom Best Gurl, Inc. Present - - Joe Guidry Ramada Plaza Resort Present - - Honorable Tuffy Dixon City of Destin Councilman Present - - Honorable Mike Anderson City of Fort Walton Beach Mayor Absent - - Honorable Carolyn Ketchel Commissioner, District 2 Absent - - Ed Schroeder Director, Tourist Development Department Present - - Lynn Hoshihara TDD Attorney Present - - Pledge of Allegiance and Welcome (Dale Peterson - Chairman) Chairman Peterson called the meeting to order at 2:00pm with the Pledge of Allegiance. Public Comments Related to Current Agenda (3 minutes each) No Public Comments Councilmember’s Minute Chairman Peterson summarized the results of the survey discussing the way Okaloosa County conducts tourism in order to prevent issues similar to Panama City Beach. He noted the consensus seems to be the way the Emerald Coast promotes tourism is working and doesn’t see any reason to change course. Mr. Rice recognized Rev. Cecil Williams, who was instrumental in blessing the bell and will assist in blessing the tower in November. Mr. Guidry believes that the survey focused more on how the county deters problems, when it should have talked about the positive ways it promotes tourism to families and family events that happen around the area. Mr. Gossom brought attention to an Emerald Coast advertisement in More Magazine, and also congratulated Chairman Peterson, Mr. Owen, Ms. Dedicke and Ms. Rushing for their nomination to Visit Florida committees. Mr. Owen congratulated all in tourism who are bringing in visitors and noted the need to keep the media telling the good story of our area. I. Items for TDC Approval/Recommendation a. May 28, 2015 TDC Meeting Minutes (Dale Peterson) Motion: To approve the minutes as presented RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Rice SECONDER: Gossom AYES: Peterson, Guidry, Joyce, Owen, Dixon Tourist Development Council Page 1  b. Financial Update (Charlotte Dunworth) Ms. Dunworth gave a financial update highlighting increases