Okaloosa County BOCC — May 28, 2015 — Minutes — reading text

Tourist Development Council 1540 Miracle Strip Parkway Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Regular Meeting www.EmeraldCoastFL.com ~ Minutes ~ Thursday, May 28, 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 Absent - - Martin Owen ResortQuest by Wyndham Absent - - Thom Gossom Best Gurl, Inc. Present - 3:10 Joe Guidry Ramada Plaza Resort Present - - Honorable Tuffy Dixon City of Destin Councilman Present - - Honorable Mike Anderson City of Fort Walton Beach Mayor Present - - Honorable 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 Peterson called the meeting to order at 2:00 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance. Public Comments Related to Current Agenda (3 minutes each) No public comments. Councilmember’s Minute Mr. Gossom thanked everyone for a good budget meeting. Mr. Guidry reported that Okaloosa Island had their first fireworks display last night. It was a good event that will build over time with more music and promotion to be added later. He also said that Rock’n Tacos is now open at the Boardwalk and the ribbon cutting for Wild Willy’s is tomorrow. Mayor Anderson stated that the Patriot Trail opened today with partnerships from Fort Walton Beach and the Chamber of Commerce. Concerts at the Landing have also been popular, with Jones & Co. playing tomorrow night. He also reminded everyone of the Billy Bowlegs Festival next weekend. The Bowlegs festival has 130 out of town guests coming to participate. Mr. Rice said that the Armament Museum will hold an event in August to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Mr. Rice also said the freedom bell was rung and the new Veteran’s Tribute Tower has been ordered and will be in place for Veteran’s Day. Mr. Rice also said that the Committee for Florida’s Veterans set up a focus group to ask retired military personnel if they would move back to Florida or Texas. Many veterans said that they do not want to bring their families to this area because of the Panama City Beach reputation. Councilman Dixon hopes that local businesses had a successful Memorial Day, and have a profitable season. Chairman Peterson said that he is glad that it was a profitable Memorial Day and that it was safe. He reminded everyone that snapper season is now open. I. Items for TDC Approval/Recommendation a. March 26, 2015 TDC Meeting (Amended) Minutes (Dale Peterson) Motion: To approve the March 26, 2015 minutes as amended RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Rice SECONDER: Gossom AYES: Peterson, Guidry, Dixon, Anderson, Ketchel b. April 23, 2015 TDC Meeting Minutes (Dale Peterson) Motion: To approve the April 23, 2015 minutes RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Rice SECONDER: Dixon AYES: Peterson, Gossom, Guidry, Anderson, Ketchel Tourist Development Council Page 1 May 28, 2015  c. May 8, 2015 TDC Budget Meeting Minutes (Dale Peterson) Motion: To approve the May 8, 2015 minutes RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Dixon SECONDER: Rice AYES: Peterson, Gossom, Guidry, Anderson, Ketchel d. Financial Update (Charlotte Dunworth) Ms. Dunworth reported that tax collections were 15% higher than they were a year ago, but the revpar is flat district-wide. Motion: To approve the financial update as presented RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Dixon SECONDER: Rice AYES: Peterson, Gossom, Guidry, Anderson, Ketchel e. FY16 Budget Discussion (Charlotte Dunworth) Ms. Dunworth discussed the budget that will be presented to the County Administrator on June 10. Mayor Anderson asked the Council to address Mr. Gossom’s concerns during a previous meeting for a reserve to be set aside for unexpected emergencies. Mr. Schroeder said that each percentage has its own reserve and can fund unforeseen events. Mr. Schroeder also reminded the Council that this budget is based on projected incomes. If an unforeseen event (i.e. hurricane) comes up, some items will have to change or go unfunded. Motion: To approve the FY16 budget RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Rice SECONDER: Dixon AYES: Peterson, Gossom, Guidry, Anderson, Ketchel f. FY16 Strategic Marketing Plan (Shantelle Dedicke) Ms. Dedicke, Michelle Clarke, and Sonya Landry presented the strategic marketing plan. Mayor Anderson asked if branding “stay-cations” to locals was a viable option. The marketing team said that it is already in place, but does not use that particular term. Councilman Dixon wanted to know how the county is promoting spring break in light of the problems at Panama City Beach. The Marketing team said they do not promote Spring Break to colleges or to anyone under the age of 25. Any spring marketing is done in light of a family destination. Commissioner Ketchel asked if it would be possible to promote more to nature groups. She is part of a committee working with the Extension Office to grow milkweed and attract monarch butterflies migrating in September. The Marketing team will look into promoting that more heavily on social media. Mayor Anderson asked for the TDD’s help in assisting Fort Walton Beach in promoting the city to sports groups. Motion: To approve the FY16 Strategic Marketing Plan RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Guidry SECONDER: Rice AYES: Peterson, Dixon, Anderson, Ketchel Tourist Development Council Page 2 May 28, 2015  g. BP Strategic Marketing Plan (Shantelle Dedicke) Ms. Dedicke presented the strategic marketing plan for the remainder of BP dollars. Motion: To approve the BP Strategic Marketing Plan RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Rice SECONDER: Anderson AYES: Peterson, Dixon, Guidry, Ketchel h. Revise Military Reunions spend (Shantelle Dedicke) Ms. Dedicke presented the proposed reallocation of the Military Reunions spend. Motion: To revise the Military Reunions Spend RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Rice SECONDER: Dixon AYES: Anderson, Peterson, Guidry, Ketchel i. Charles H. McClenahan Memorial Reef Naming Request (Jim Trifilio) Mr. Trifilio presented the Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate’s reef naming request. Motion: To approve the Charles H. McClenahan Memorial Reef Naming Request RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Guidry SECONDER: Ketchel AYES: Rice, Dixon, Anderson, Peterson j. Genesis Contract Amendment #2 (Jim Trifilio) Mr. Trifilio presented the request to amend the contract to add Humber-Garick as the electrical engineering sub-consultant. Motion: To approve the Genesis Contract Amendment 2 RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Guidry SECONDER: Rice AYES: Ketchel, Dixon, Anderson, Peterson II. Items for Information Purposes Only – (Speaker) k. Marketing Update (Shantelle Dedicke) Mr. Schroeder stated that no additional discussion was needed pertaining to the marketing update. l. Eglin MOU (Jim Trifilio) Mr. Trifilio advised the council of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Okaloosa County and Eglin AFB for the “Concrete to Reefs Initiative.” III. Items for Information Purposes Only – (No Speaker) m. Smith Travel Research Lodging Reports n. Okaloosa Tax Collector Report Mr. Schroeder reported from the TDT Collections and Percentage Breakdown report that March tax collections were lower than anticipated, but up 2%. o. Reconciliation of Promotional Reserves p. Expenditure Transaction Report Tourist Development Council Page 3 May 28, 2015  q. Group Sales Marketing Update r. ECCC Sales Marketing Update s. Film Commission Update t. Visitor Center Top 10 States u. Airport Enplanements & Deplanements (VPS by carrier) v. Airport Enplanements & Deplanements (Airports Comparison) w. City of Destin Funding Request (detail provided again as backup to budget discussion) x. Destin History & Fishing Museum Request (detail provided again as backup to budget discussion) y. City of Fort Walton Beach Funding Request – Landing & Museum