Okaloosa County BOCC — June 26, 2014 — reading text

1.a 88 1 CHAIRMAN PETERSON: That's what it is. The staff Minutes Acceptance: Minutes of May 29, 2014 2:00 PM (Consider Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council Meeting Minutes (Dale 2 went back, and looked at these, and realized that we're 3 very, very, very tight on the budget. And, you know, 4 I've got other thoughts even beyond that. But these were 5 issues that staff, you know, where we're really started 6 having to whittle away, like a good business. 7 You know, these are things that are coming back to 8 us that we've already approved. So this way we know -- 9 MR. GUIDRY: And that -- that's good. I would just 10 ask the question, Thom, how do you feel about this thing? 11 And is there anything that you can do in your travels to 12 promote the film commission? I don't know if you have 13 any relationship with the film commission, I mean, but 14 you're certainly in the business, and -- 15 MR. GOSSOM: I think a couple things. One, I think 16 -- and I am perfectly willing to be involved, 17 particularly with some of the location shows and things 18 such as that. I've been doing this for a while, and so 19 definitely could be of some assistance there. 20 In terms of the -- what was the salary? What was 21 the contract amount? 38,000-something. 22 MR. SCHROEDER: (Nodding head affirmatively). 23 MR. GOSSOM: I guess my comment on that would be, 24 is that an apples-to-apples comparison, if county 25 employees aren't getting the increase? County employees, Destin Reporting & Technology Group (850) 837-5078 scheduling@destinreporting.com Packet Pg. 94  1.a 89 1 I assume, have benefits and so on and forth; as a Minutes Acceptance: Minutes of May 29, 2014 2:00 PM (Consider Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council Meeting Minutes (Dale 2 contract person, that's your full compensation. 3 In this business, in my opinion, that's a 4 relatively low compensation. But those would be my 5 thoughts on it. I certainly agree with raising a number 6 so that you can -- it's -- it's much like advertising. 7 It's much like everything else. You've got to be there, 8 got to be in front of them, got to talk to them, they got 9 to know you, they got to want to come, blah blah blah. 10 MR. GUIDRY: Do you typically attend these 11 functions? 12 MR. GOSSOM: I don't typically, no but I've talked 13 to Gail about maybe doing a couple with her, and I've got 14 a film project I'm promoting right now, so I probably 15 will attend. 16 CHAIRMAN PETERSON: Congratulations. 17 MR. GOSSOM: That would be my comment. I just 18 think that the compensation is pretty low. That would be 19 my comment. 20 MR. WINDES: Mr. Chairman? 21 CHAIRMAN PETERSON: Yes. 22 MR. WINDES: She's going to additional shows over 23 what she did last year; is that right? 24 MR. SCHROEDER: That's right. 25 MR. WINDES: Three or four shows? Destin Reporting & Technology Group (850) 837-5078 scheduling@destinreporting.com Packet Pg. 95  1.a 90 1 MR. SCHROEDER: Three or four. Minutes Acceptance: Minutes of May 29, 2014 2:00 PM (Consider Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council Meeting Minutes (Dale 2 MR. WINDES: For no more compensation? 3 MR. SCHROEDER: For no more -- 4 CHAIRMAN PETERSON: I think 66-5 last year. 5 MR. SCHROEDER: Well, that was the total film 6 budget. Her salary -- can we talk about salary openly in 7 this forum? 8 MS. HOSHIHARA: On compensation? On the contract, 9 yes. 10 MR. SCHROEDER: Okay. Was about 36 or 38,000. And 11 actually, what I would -- if you'll allow me, we're not 12 the only ones with stake in the game on this. There is a 13 very healthy Emerald Coast production and film 14 association that has a whole lot of members to it. And 15 they are the primary beneficiaries of what Gail does. 16 What I would suggest is we approach them -- I mean, 17 we -- I think PVC is doing their part to build a film 18 commission, but there are more people to benefit from it, 19 that could get skin in the game. I think we should 20 approach them, or Gail could approach them, maybe, Thom, 21 you and I could approach them, I don't know. 22 But somehow offer them a chance to get a state to 23 bolster her -- her benefits, her compensation. If the 24 film industry feels it should be, then they have an 25 opportunity to come to the plate and help make that Destin Reporting & Technology Group (850) 837-5078 scheduling@destinreporting.com Packet Pg. 96  1.a 91 1 happen. Minutes Acceptance: Minutes of May 29, 2014 2:00 PM (Consider Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council Meeting Minutes (Dale 2 MR. GOSSOM: You know, but -- I know it was an 3 idea, but the discussion last time regarding 4 reasonableness -- 5 MR. SCHROEDER: Right. 6 MR. GOSSOM: -- perhaps in trying to work with some 7 of the other commissions who aren't -- who sounded like 8 they were kind of defunct at this point would be a great 9 idea. Now I don't know if that's a -- you know, is that 10 a two-year process? 11 MR. SCHROEDER: No, sir. 12 MR. GOSSOM: A one-year process? 13 MR. SCHROEDER: No, sir. 14 MR. GOSSOM: I think that would be a great idea. 15 And it would give resources to what we're trying to do. 16 MR. SCHROEDER: It is. And I think if the number 17 is not so great, we'll get help from them to bring them 18 in. 19 But if we -- and there's also production companies 20 all the way from Pensacola to Panama City. If this is 21 going to become a truly Northwest Florida effort as to 22 where we're not carrying the ball, and Panama City's not 23 having to carry their ball, if this can be combined, then 24 there's a chance for that whole industry, and the county 25 TDCs, to carry an appropriate amount of weight to have Destin Reporting & Technology Group (850) 837-5078 scheduling@destinreporting.com Packet Pg. 97  1.a 92 1 probably a more powerful commission anywhere north of Minutes Acceptance: Minutes of May 29, 2014 2:00 PM (Consider Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council Meeting Minutes (Dale 2 Tampa. 3 VICE-CHAIRMAN RICE: Well, Ed, one of the questions 4 I asked, you know, to her at the meeting last time was, 5 you know, do -- as you're the commission, you're it. And 6 she said, yes, I'm it. 7 MR. SCHROEDER: Uh-huh. 8 VICE-CHAIRMAN RICE: You know, I know she's a 9 contractor works under your supervision, you would think 10 that building some sort of an advisory group with people 11 like Thom Gossom, and -- 12 MR. SCHROEDER: The association's made to order. 13 MR. GOSSOM: I guess my final comment would go with 14 Kelly's comment; we're asking for more and we're going to 15 pay her the same. And, I don't know, is that the way it 16 works, the capitalistic society? 17 MR. WINDES: To me it doesn't pass the good smell 18 test, honestly. 19 I mean, if you can get her some more revenue or 20 some more compensation through other means, that's all 21 well and good. But if not, we probably ought to revisit 22 it later, and see if we can't tweak it a little bit. 23 Because you've got to be fair. 24 MS. JOYCE: I've got a comment. 25 Based on what Ed was saying earlier, and make sure Destin Reporting & Technology Group (850) 837-5078 scheduling@destinreporting.com Packet Pg. 98  1.a 93 1 I'm correct, you did not budget for any type of Minutes Acceptance: Minutes of May 29, 2014 2:00 PM (Consider Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council Meeting Minutes (Dale 2 compensation increases for your staff; is that correct? 3 MR. SCHROEDER: That's right. 4 MS. JOYCE: And we have the Peter Mayer agency, who 5 is agreeing to purchase into items that are going to 6 generate thousands and thousands upon thousands of 7 additional leads that the staff is going to have to 8 answer for. 9 So if we're going to talk about fairness, if she's 10 going to need to get an increase because we're asking her 11 to do more, we're also asking the convention center and 12 TDC staff to do more; they should get an increase as 13 well. 14 MR. WINDES: That's true, Rachel, but you've also 15 got to keep in mind the base of where everybody starts. 16 I mean, if she's low to start with, maybe she needs a 17 little kicker. You know, that's just my theory. 18 CHAIRMAN PETERSON: So if she's at 38 down and 19 found another 10 that's a 25% increase. Can we find 20 another 10? 21 MS. JOYCE: Are you going to offer a 25% increase 22 to the current staff? I think if we're going -- if we're 23 going to do a salary analysis I think we need to do it 24 for all of -- for the entire staff, not just one 25 individual. Destin Reporting & Technology Group (850) 837-5078 scheduling@destinreporting.com Packet Pg. 99  1.a 94 1 MR. GOSSOM: When -- I guess I work with the Minutes Acceptance: Minutes of May 29, 2014 2:00 PM (Consider Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council Meeting Minutes (Dale 2 contractor primarily, and I'm not aware of any