Okaloosa County BOCC — November 3, 2016 — Minutes

Tourist Development Council 1540 Miracle Strip Parkway Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Regular Meeting www.EmeraldCoastFL.com ~ Minutes ~ Thursday, November 3, 2016 2:00 PM Emerald Coast Convention Center Council Members & Staff Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Departed Dale E. Peterson Chairman – Owner, Dale E. Peterson Vacations Absent Thomas Rice Vice-Chairman – Owner, Magnolia Grill Restaurant Present Honorable Kelly Windes Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners - Liaison Absent Honorable Jim Foreman City of Destin Representative Present Honorable Mike Anderson City of Fort Walton Beach Representative Absent Bruce Craul Chief Operating Officer, HarborWalk Hospitality Present Thom Gossom Owner, Best Gurl, Inc. - Mktg & Communications Firm Present Joe Guidry Manager, Ramada Plaza Beach & RV Resorts Present Melissa Matern Marketing Manager, ResortQuest Present 2:08 Darrel Jones Interim Director, Tourist Development Dept. Okaloosa Co. Present Lynn Hoshihara Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson PA Present Pledge of Allegiance and Welcome (Tom Rice – Vice-Chairman) Vice Chairman Tom Rice called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. Council Member Minute Mr. Craul indicated increased business in October with group bookings and families whose children were on fall school breaks. He credited the TDC’s consistent sales and marketing efforts. Vice Chairman Rice announced upcoming events: 50th Vietnam War Commemoration event on November 5 from 10 AM to 3 PM at the Air Armament Museum; Veterans Day Ceremony at Beal Memorial Cemetery on November 11 at 11:00 AM. Attorney Update No update. Director Update Mr. Jones recognized Coastal Management Coordinator, Jim Trifilio, who was recently named Chair of the Florida Shore & Beach Preservation Association (FSBPA). Mr. Jones announced the implementation of the “Essential Piece” Employee Recognition Program and provided a copy of the program guidelines. Mr. Jones advised the TDC of a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) public information open house on November 15 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM concerning widening Hwy 98 to six lanes from Emerald Bay Drive to Tang-O-Mar Drive. Mr. Jones invited ECCC General Manager Bill Leaman to explain proposed amendments for the Aramark contract in conjunction with a one-year renewal through January 2018. Specific amendments requested by Aramark include (1) utilize vacant convention center rooms to preset bars and food services, (2) reduce outside catered functions from 16 to 10 events (not including county functions), and (3) modify outside catering kitchen rental charge from $500 per event to inclusion in gross commissionable receipts. Staff clarified that no ECCC kitchen equipment is removed when Aramark utilizes the kitchen for outside catering. Motion: To renew Aramark contract as presented by Mr. Leaman. RESULT: