Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 08-03-09 special council-budget review — reading text

Chamber of Commerce and its 1, 587 members, we would like to thank you for allowing us the opportunity to present, at a recent meeting, a few of the quality of life activities in which we participate - such as greening initiative, cultural awareness, homelessness advocacy, young professionals, and the promotion of our downtown community. I hope by now that you realize that our Chamber mantra is to be involved in EVERYTHING that influences the Greater Fort Walton Beach area. I also hope that you realize the Chamber stands ready to assist the City in all matters. For over 20 years the City of Fort Walton Beach has contracted with our Chamber to have us serve as the official relocation service for our area. For $ 25,000 annually, the City has entrusted us with the responsibility to handle all relocation /tourist inquires for FWB, as well as be the voice of business in our community. Please me the allow opportunity to showcase where that money is allocated: Community Relocation Guide Printing: $ 12, 000 Issued to all relocation requests via walk in visitors or mailed) Postage of Mailing Guides: $ 1, 325 Phone: (% for relocation /inquires, etc) $ 1, 600 Lobby utilities: ( we have over 10,000 non chamber visitors annually) $ 3, 000 Full time information specialist: ( answer phones /reply to email inquiries, mail info, personally meet with all visitors - 80% of their time is spent on non chamber member activities —including a large portion of local resident inquires) $ 20,000 37,925 The annual sponsorship also includes the Chamber PROMOTING the City efforts via communication of City information to membership, participation in all Chamber city activities and the City logo included and promoted on ALL Chamber correspondence, publications, website, etc. As you are well aware, the Chamber has taken the lead on several major festivals annually. The purpose of the festival is to offer a quality of life experience for our citizens to enjoy — as well as promote our area as a tourist destination to increase the revenue streams of our local businesses. The profit margins are very slim with these type functions, as I am sure you can relate by noting the costs of the City's Independence Day Celebration. There are major expenses associated with organizing these events for the benefit of our community. 2009 Bowlegs Festival Revenue: $ 48, 827 - ( Vendor booth rental, beverage sales, sponsorships) Expenses: $ 38, 121 - ( Fireworks, tents, beverage product, entertainment, cleanup, etc). Needless to say, these types of quality of life events COULD NOT be held without the services provided by the City -- Police, Public Works, Park & Recreation, Fire -- and the community is incredibly grateful for all that they do. Conclusion The City and Chamber are working together to enhance the quality of life in our community. The Chamber utilizes a portion of the City's annual sponsorship to staff and maintain a wonderful resource center for local citizens, potential relocation families and visitors. In addition, the Chamber and the City work together to host activities that benefit our businesses and offer a quality promotion of our city. We understand if you need to reduce the total financial commitment by 8% or the percentage deemed appropriate in these trying times, however, we respectively request that you do not include `services in kind' as part of the financial annual sponsorship. As you can see from the numbers above, as a non profit organization, we can not budget to lose money on an event that was held specifically for the enjoyment of our community. If the services of the City were not included in the planning,we would have to consider either cancelling some of the smaller community events, or requesting much less police or city services during the events as a cost cutting measure and I am certain neither of us feel that would be in the best interest of our city. Please advise what additional information I can provide to showcase the value of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce to our community. I appreciate your commitment to serve our citizens. Ted Corcoran President/CEO  CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH NOTICE OF SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETINGS The City Council of the City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida will meet in Special in the Fort Walton Beach Council Chambers, located at 107 Miracle Strip Parkm 5: 30 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, August 3 and 4, 2009 and if needed on W Thursday, and Friday, August 5, 6, and 7 2009. The purpose of the Special Council meetings is to review and discuss the propos4 for Fiscal Year 2009/ 10, and any other business to come before the City Council. Any person who decides to appeal any decision made with respect to as considered at these meetings will need a record of the proceedings, and for sucl may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, whi includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based ( FS 28E The City of Fort Walton Beach adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Ac' make reasonable modifications for access to these meetings upon request. Plea: City Clerk, Helen Spencer, at 850- 833 -9509 to make a request. Hearing Impairt City Hall TDD # 833 -9925 or 1- 800 -955 -8771 ( TDD) or 1- 800 -955 -8770 Requests must be received at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting in order to City time to provide requested service. HELEN A. SPENCER CITY CLERK 833 -9509 Publication date: Friday, July 31, 2009 U: \CityClerk\Legals\BUDGET\2009 \budget meetings 2009.DOC