Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council — May 30, 2013 — reading text

Chart of Proposed Revenue Allocations Updated: 6/25/2013 10:15 AM by Aida Wilkinson Page 1 Packet Pg. 10  2.B.a CHART OF PROPOSED REVENUE ALLOCATIONS PENNIES EXISTING ORDINANCE PROPOSED ORDINANCE Improvements, maintenance, shoreline Attachment: Chart of Proposed Revenue Allocations (1798 : Chart of Proposed Revenue Allocations) protection, enhancement, access, Improvements, maintenance, cleanup or restoration of: shoreline protection, enhancement, • Beaches & Waterways access, cleanup or restoration of: 1ST PENNY • Beach Park Facilities • Beaches & Waterways • Beach-related Tourist • Beach Park Facilities Destination Facilities • Tourist Destination Facilities • Beach- related eco-tourism activities and facilities. 1) Improvements, landscaping, 1) Tourism Services operations and maintenance of: • Visitor Services • Beaches & Waterways • Brochure distribution • Tourist Destination Facilities • Communication & Research 2ND PENNY 2) Lifeguard services and protection. 2) Lifeguard services and protection 3) Tourist Bureau Administration. 3) Tourist Bureau Administration Tourism Facilities: Operations of: • Convention Center • Convention Center • Non-beach related eco-tourism 3RD PENNY • Beach and Beach Park activities and facilities Facilities • Non-beach related Tourist • Tourist Destination Facilities Destination Facilities 1) Convention Center Debt Service 4TH PENNY NO CHANGE 2) Future Improvements to Convention Center 5TH PENNY Tourism Promotion NO CHANGE Packet Pg. 11  2.C Tourist Development Council Meeting: 06/27/13 12:00 AM 1540 Miracle Strip Parkway Department: Tourist Development Council Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Category: Information Prepared By: Aida Wilkinson SCHEDULED Initiator: Aida Wilkinson Sponsors: TDC ITEM (ID # 1795) DOC ID: 1795 Ordinance No. 13 Updated: 6/25/2013 9:53 AM by Aida Wilkinson Page 1 Packet Pg. 12  2.C.a ORDINANCE NO. 13-__ AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA, REPEALING AND REPLACING SECTION 20-72 OF THE OKALOOSA COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES, Attachment: Ordinance Amending Section 20-72 of the Code of Ordinances (1795 : Ordinance No. 13) RELATING TO THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX REVENUE PROJECTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 125.0104, Florida Statutes, known as the “Local Option Tourist Development Act”, the Board of County Commissioners (“Board”) has authorized the collection of five cents of tourism development tax per dollar exchanged on certain short-term lodging rental transactions within the sub-county tourism development district, created the County’s initial Tourist Development Plan (the “Plan”) and established the Okaloosa Tourist Development Council (the “Council”); and WHEREAS, the Board desires to clarify and expand the goals and objectives contained in the existing tourist development plan and reallocate the tourist development tax revenues which will be used to fund these goals and objectives; and WHEREAS, in order to effectuate these changes the Board hereby finds that it is necessary to repeal and replace Section 20-72 of the Okaloosa County Code of Ordinances in its entirety. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA: SECTION 1. Section 20-72 of the Code of Ordinances is hereby repealed and replaced in its entirety as follows: 1 Packet Pg. 13  2.C.a Sec. 20-72. - Tourist development plan. (a) Revenue projections. The tax revenues pursuant to this section for the next fiscal year and thereafter until amended by the Board shall be used to fund the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Plan, which is hereby adopted as follows: Attachment: Ordinance Amending Section 20-72 of the Code of Ordinances (1795 : Ordinance No. 13) The anticipated annual revenues to be produced by the tourist development tax as identified herein in parenthesis for each budget category is provided as an annual total based on past collection trends projected forward. The projected revenues are estimates and may vary from those identified herein. The amounts shown have already been reduced by the costs of administration retained by the Tax Collector. (b) Taxing district boundaries. The geographic area included within the County’s sub-district is depicted on Exhibit A, as attached hereto and incorporated herein. (c) County tourist development plan. The county hereby determines that the tourist development plan for the sub-district shall be comprised of the following broad goals and objectives and makes the following findings of fact: (1) Tourism promotion. The tourism related economy within Okaloosa County generates significant direct and indirect revenue to businesses within the community. Accordingly, tourism is essential to a healthy economy and is a driving force in the growth of business development and increased employment opportunities for County residents. The County has worked diligently on the development and maintenance of quality advertising, sales, marketing and public relations initiatives for the sub- district which presents a consistent and positive brand for the area. This branding is essential to the development of this section of the economy and the County will work towards the development and implementation of unified marketing campaigns. These campaigns will be monitored and analyzed by the Tourist Development Council (the “Council”), the Director and tourist development department staff with, at a minimum, quarterly reports provided to the Board. Within the guidelines set forth herein, the campaigns shall be conducted with funding levels designed to achieve maximum positive promotional exposure to potential visitors to the sub-district. The primary objective for the campaigns shall be the maintenance of consistent positive "branding" which consists of image and name recognition and the further development of "year round business" to encompass group and leisure business. The support for a variety of special events is another productive means to further the development of year round business and bolster image and name recognition for the sub-district. Funds may be allocated on an annual basis for support of special events approved by the Board in accordance with procedures provided in the adopted Tourist Development 2 Packet Pg. 14  2.C.a Council Bylaws and Tourist Development Department Operation and Procedures Manual. The development of a visible support community for local production of film and advertising projects may also be a productive means to further maintain a consistent positive “branding” of both the sub- district and the County overall. Funds may be allocated to support such projects. Attachment: Ordinance Amending Section 20-72 of the Code of Ordinances (1795 : Ordinance No. 13) The County determines that continuing maintenance efforts to keep the beaches, waterways, access ways and other tourist destination facilities within the sub-district clean, attractive and safe for public usage are important to the image and marketing of the primary asset of the sub- district and may include a mechanical beach cleaning program for all Gulf beaches within the sub-district outside of those owned or controlled by the Federal government. This also includes the maintaining of the aesthetics of access corridors within the sub district so as to provide a consistent positive branding for the area. (2) Convention business development. The county has operated the Emerald Coast Convention Center (“ECCC”) since 2003 and its value as a catalyst for the growth of the conference/convention/group business segment of the visitor population is well established and is an effective means of developing year round business in the