Okaloosa County BOCC — October 23, 2014 — 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, October 23, 2014 2:00 PM Emerald Coast Convention Center Council Members & Staff Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Departed Chairman, Dale E. Peterson Present - - Dale E. Peterson Vacations Vice-Chairman, Present Thomas Rice - - Magnolia Grill 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 Destin Councilman Present - - Charles Rigdon FWB Councilman Present - - Kelly Windes Commissioner District 5 Absent - - Ed Schroeder TDD Director Present - - Lynn Hoshihara TDD Attorney Present - - Chairman Dale Peterson called the meeting to order at 1:59 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Public Comments Related to Current Agenda No public comment. Councilmember’s Minute I. Consider Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council Meeting Minutes (Dale Peterson) a. September 18, 2014 TDC Meeting Minutes Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department Page 1 of 7 October 23, 2014  Motion to Approve the September 18, 2014 TDC Meeting Minutes RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Dixon SECONDER: Rice AYES: Owen, Gossom, Guidry, Rigdon, Peterson, Joyce I. Director’s Update (Ed Schroeder) a. Month End Lodging Reports from Smith Travel Research – Aug & Sep b. Film Commission Reports – September c. Visitor Center Top 10 States – September d. Airport Enplanements & Deplanements – September II. Financial Update (Charlotte Dunworth) a. Month End Tax Revenue Reports from Okaloosa Tax Collector – Aug b. Financial Update – (October) Motion to Approve the Financial Update as Provided RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Owen SECONDER: Rice AYES: Dixon, Gossom, Guidry, Rigdon, Peterson, Joyce c. Expenditure Transaction Report – September d. Reconciliation of Promotional Reserves Funds – October III. Marketing Update (Shantelle Dedicke) a. Ms. Dedicke surveyed the Council about sponsoring the upcoming Emerald Coast Classic on EmeraldCoastTV.com. The basketball championship consists of 18 basketball NCAA Division I teams hosted by Northwest Florida State College. The sponsorship would afford the destination logo overlaid on the scoreboard, mentions and commercial spots over the two day period, and one 30 sec. commercial spot on CBS Sports at a cost of $3,000. Motion to Approve the Sponsorship of the Emerald Coast Classic on EmeraldCoastTV.com in the amount of $3,000 Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department Page 2 of 7 October 23, 2014  RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Dixon SECONDER: Rice AYES: Owen, Gossom, Guidry, Rigdon, Peterson, Joyce b. Michelle Clark reviewed current social media coverage, and commented that engagement is at its highest to date, and noted future campaigns the agency has planned on behalf of the destination. IV. Sales Update (Ed Schroeder) a. ECCC Sales Marketing Reports b. Group Sales Marketing Reports V. New Business (Dale Peterson) a. FY14 Collections Year-End Review (Ben Anderson, Tax Collector) Okaloosa County Tax Collector Mr. Ben Anderson and Mr. Josh Allen, Director of Field Services, briefed the Council on tourist development tax FY14 collections. They also spoke to the rise in collections since the Tax Collector took over the collections task. Mr. Anderson contributed the increased success in collections to the Fair Share Program and the efforts of Mr. Allen and his team. The Fair Share Program allows individuals to identify people who may not be paying their fair share of taxes. Mr. Allen and his team are working on ensuring all properties in the county are correctly identified and become current on their taxes if they are in arrears. Mr. Anderson added that the Clerk of Court was not able to attain the level of success of the Tax Collector’s office due to its additional collection staff. While the Clerk’s office had only one person on staff dedicated to collections, the Tax Collector’s office has three full-time and part-time staff available. b. “Destin to Fish” TV Show - First Season Production Support (Ed Schroeder) Mr. Schroeder reviewed the Council’s decision to fund a pilot, “Destin to Fish” last year, which has been completed. The show has been picked up by the Sportsman Channel and is scheduled to air in January. The Council requested the demographics of the Sportsman Channel and the opportunity to review the pilot. This item was tabled for November. c. FWC Artificial Reef Construction Grant $140K (Anthony Austermann) Mr. Austermann reported the County has been awarded a $140K grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. He requested the Council’s recommendation to move this forward to the BCC for approval. Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department Page 3 of 7 October 23, 2014  Motion to Recommend the Approval of the $140K Artificial Reef Construction Grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Dixon SECONDER: Guidry AYES: Dixon, Gossom, Guidry, Rigdon, Peterson, Joyce d. FWC Supplemental Artificial Reef Construction Grant $60K (Anthony Austermann) This supplemental grant application does not require matching funds and was presented for informational purposes only. e. Non-Deployment of the Tenneco Vessel (Anthony Austermann) Mr. Austermann recommended non-deployment of the Tenneco Vessel previously planned due to safety concerns. Motion to Approve Non-Deployment of the Tenneco Vessel RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Owen SECONDER: Rice AYES: Dixon, Gossom, Guidry, Rigdon, Peterson, Joyce f. FY14 Strategic Marketing Plan Revision (Charlotte Dunworth) Motion to Approve Revised FY14 Strategic Marketing Plan as Provided RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Gossom SECONDER: Guidry AYES: Owen, Rice, Peterson, Joyce Dixon and Rigdon out of the room at this time. g. FY15 Strategic Marketing Plan Update (Charlotte Dunworth) Motion to Recommend Approval of FY15 Strategic Marketing Plan Revisions as Presented Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department Page 4 of 7 October 23, 2014  RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Owen SECONDER: Rice AYES: Dixon, Gossom, Guidry, Peterson, Joyce Rigdon out of the room at this time. h. Concept Plans for Visitors Center and Convention Center (Ed Schroeder) Mr. Schroeder briefed the Council on the need for a 5-year plan for the TDD. He suggested commissioning a study to provide a strategic plan. Mr. Guidry relayed the concern stakeholders have shared with him about the suggestion to investigate the attachment of a hotel to the convention center. Ms. Joyce agreed that a convention center hotel should not be a part of the study, and that there is no need for one until all current facilities are at 100% occupancy on a regular basis. Motion to Approve the Commissioning of Concept Plans for the Visitors Center and Convention Center in the amount of $19,960 RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [6-2] MOVER: Owen SECONDER: Gossom AYES: Dixon, Rigdon, Peterson, Rice NAYES: Guidry, Joyce i. Establish Film Commissioner as a County Employee (Ed Schroeder) Mr. Schroeder recommended adopting state and national norms wherein the Film Commissioner is a county employee. This change would enhance supervision and improve coordination of activities. Motion to Approve the Film Commissioner Position as a County Employee RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [7-1] MOVER: Dixon SECONDER: Owen AYES: Gossom, Rigdon, Peterson, Joyce, Rice NAYES: Guidry j. Special Events Funding Policy Change (Ed Schroeder) Mr. Schroeder and the TDD are reviewing and revising the Special Events Funding Policy. Some changes include requiring all applications by May 1