Okaloosa County BOCC — February 26, 2015 — Minutes — reading text

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 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  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 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  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) Charlotte Dunworth reviewed revenues and expenses. Mike Anderson asked why it takes so long to get the data entered as it is two months behind. Ms. Dunworth responded the Clerk’s office processes carryovers after year-end is complete. Mr. Peterson responded that the Tax Collector’s office must wait until the revenues are collected. Mike Anderson noted that 50% of the budget is shown as reserves and tracking doesn’t cross over as a balance. Ms. Dunworth explained various pennies contribute to the reserve amounts and the TDC established a reserve policy as part of its FY15 budget recommendation. Motion to Approve the January Financial Update RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Tom Rice SECONDER: Carolyn Ketchel AYES: Peterson, Guidry, Owen, Joyce, Gossom, Dixon, Anderson c. Promotional Reserve Transfer – replenish transfer to BP account (Charlotte Dunworth) Motion to Approve the transfer of $125,724 from fifth penny promotional reserves to the current year media campaign RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Martin Owen SECONDER: Tom Rice AYES: Peterson, Guidry, Ketchel, Joyce, Gossom, Dixon, Anderson d. FWC/FDEP Turtle Friendly Lighting Retrofit Grant (Jim Trifilio) Jim Trifilio referenced Page 31 regarding the background of the Lighting Retrofit Grant and stated this grant is in no way an attempt to create a lighting ordinance in Okaloosa County. Council Members discussed the existing documents were created for Walton County and are incompatible with Okaloosa County ordinances. Lynn Hoshihara noted there are additional clerical errors from the other district that will also be addressed. Mike Anderson desired to make a clarification regarding previous contact from Rebecca Sherry. Several additional Council Members stated they had also been contacted and expressed concern regarding voting on this matter. Jim Trifilio will follow up with items to be addressed and forward to Lynn Hoshihara for review. Ms Ketchel noted this is a good opportunity to update area lighting and is totally voluntary. Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department Page 3 of 7 February 26, 2015  David Sherry spoke regarding concerns that the agreement was incorrect/incomplete and that as written it commits the County to taking action it may not necessarily do on its own. Motion to Support the Turtle Lighting Grant Application contingent upon TDD Attorney & County Attorney Official Review. RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Martin Owen SECONDER: Tom Rice AYES: Peterson, Joyce, Gossom, Guidry, Dixon, Anderson, Ketchel e. Allocate $50K to Restore Act Snorkel Reef Construction (Jim Trifilio) Jim Trifilio asked to move $50,000 from the living shoreline budget line item to be set aside and encumbered as a match for the Snorkel Reef construction. This project is heavily weighted for area economic increase. Initial funding is to construct 2 reefs with ultimately 8 in total. Restore Act money will be used for the first two. Martin Owen stated he is a member of ORAC and advised he would be most comfortable abstaining. Motion to Allocate $50K to Restore Act Snorkel Reef Construction. RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [8-0] MOVER: Carolyn Ketchel SECONDER: Tom Rice AYES: Peterson, Joyce, Gossom, Guidry, Dixon, Anderson ABSTAIN: Owen f.