Okaloosa County BOCC — March 26, 2015 — Minutes

Tourist Development Council 1540 Miracle Strip Parkway Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Regular Meeting www.EmeraldCoastFL.com ~ Minutes Amended ~ Thursday, March 26, 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 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 Present - - 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 Mr. Guidry thanked Charlotte Dunworth for her great job, as the Events Application Training meeting was a success. Mayor Anderson stated his office is planning for the Billy Bowlegs Festival in June. The Festival organizers may apply for event funding next year, as many attendees are also out-of-town visitors. Mr. Owen spoke with Ted Corcoran at the FWB Chamber about the Bowlegs Festival and its need to tracking lodging nights, adding that Bowlegs has the potential to be a huge tourism event. Mr. Peterson commented the event was designed to attract tourists. Mr. Guidry asked Mayor Anderson if the military could be recognized on the Bowlegs coin. Mr. Rice thanked Sherry Rushing for bringing the WWII Rangers to the Emerald Coast. Mr. Dixon said the Bowlegs Festival and Seafood Festival are both important events. He added the Sheriff’s Department is doing a great job, but said he would like Marketing to look at the recent issues in Bay County. Mr. Peterson commented that professional management companies for the area hotels are doing a great job of policing themselves. I. Items for TDC Approval/Recommendation a. February 26, 2015 TDC Meeting Minutes (Dale Peterson) Motion: To Approve February 26, 2015 TDC Meeting Minutes RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Dixon SECONDER: Rice AYES: Peterson, Owen, Gossom, Guidry, Anderson Tourist Development Council Page 1  b. Financial Update (Ch