Okaloosa County BOCC — August 28, 2014 — reading text

Tourist Development Council 1540 Miracle Strip Parkway Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Regular Meeting http://www.okaloosafl.com ~ Agenda ~ Thursday, August 28, 2014 2:00 PM Emerald Coast Convention Center Council Members & Staff Dale E. Peterson Chairman Thomas Rice Vice-Chairman Thom Gossom Owner, Best Gurl, Inc. - Mktg & Comm. Firm Joe Guidry Manager, Ramada Plaza Beach & RV Resorts Rachel Joyce General Manager, Hampton Inn Martin Owen Regional Sales & Marketing Director, Wyndham Vac Honorable Kelly Windes Commissioner District 5 Honorable Tuffy Dixon City of Destin Representative Honorable Charles Rigdon City of FWB Representative Ed Schroeder Director, Tourist Development Department Lynn Hoshihara TDD Attorney Greg Stewart TDD Attorney Pledge of Allegiance and Welcome (Dale Peterson - Chairman) Public Comments Related to Current Agenda (3 minutes each) Councilmember's Minute I. Consider Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council Meeting Minutes (Dale Peterson) a. Tourist Development Council - Regular Meeting - Jun 26, 2014 2:00 PM II. Director's Update (Ed Schroeder) a. Month End Lodging Reports from Smith Travel Research - June & July b. Film Commission Reports - June & July c. Visitor Center Top 10 States - June & July d. Airport Enplanements & Deplanements - June & July III. Financial Update (Charlotte Dunworth) a. Month End Tax Revenue Reports from Okaloosa Tax Collector - May & June b. Financial Update - August Tourist Development Council Page 1 Printed 8/25/2014 Regular Meeting Agenda August 28, 2014 c. FY15 Budget Update d. Promotional Reserves Update IV. Marketing Update (Kendra Moore-Nixon) a. Visitor Profile Survey (UWF HAAS Center) b. Agency Update V. Sales Update (Ed Schroeder) a. ECCC Sales Marketing Reports b. Group Sales Marketing Reports VI. New Business (Dale Peterson) a. Destin Seafood Festival Request for Funding (Kathy & Mike Eller) VII. Next TDC Meeting (Dale Peterson) a. Thursday September 18, 2:00 p.m. Emerald Coast Convention Center (Tentative) VIII. Public Comment (3 minutes each) IX. Adjourn Tourist Development Council Page 2 Printed 8/25/2014  1.a Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department 1540 Miracle Strip Parkway Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548 Minutes Acceptance: Minutes of Jun 26, 2014 2:00 PM (Consider Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council Meeting Minutes (Dale Regular Meeting http://www.okaloosafl.com ~ Minutes ~ Thursday, June 26, 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 - - Daniel Empson Harry T’s Restaurant Resigned - - 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 Present - - Ed Schroeder TDD Director Present - - Lynn Hoshihara TDD Attorney Present - - Chairman Dale Peterson called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Public Comments Related to Current Agenda The chairman opened the floor to public comment related to the current agenda without response. Mr. Peterson requested the first agenda item in “New Business” - Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office request for TDC Funding - be brought before the Council before the “Director’s Update.” Councilmember’s Minute (Dale Peterson – Chairman) Joe Guidry thanked everyone for going in the right direction with promoting tourism in Okaloosa County and commented they are having the best year in history. I. Consider Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council Meeting Minutes (Dale Peterson) a. May 29, 2014 TDC Meeting Minutes Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department Page 1 of 6 June 26, 2014 Packet Pg. 3  1.a Note: Mr. Peterson added the court reporter’s version of last month’s meeting minutes was too lengthy as well as expensive, so going forward the minutes will revert to the Minutes Acceptance: Minutes of Jun 26, 2014 2:00 PM (Consider Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council Meeting Minutes (Dale normal process. Motion to Approve the May 29, 2014 TDC Meeting Minutes RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Rice SECONDER: Guidry AYES: Gossom, Rigdon, Windes, Dixon, Joyce, Peterson b. June 16, 2014 TDC Selection Committee Meeting Minutes Mr. Peterson summarized the meeting process that recommended to the Board of County Commissioners the selection of Martin Owen as the Tourist Development Council member replacement for Dan Empson. Motion to Approve the June 16, 2014 TDC Selection Committee Meeting Minutes RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Rice SECONDER: Guidry AYES: Gossom, Rigdon, Windes, Dixon, Joyce, Peterson Item VIII-a. Discussion – New Business Mr. Peterson asked that an item in the New Business section relating to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Request for TDC Funding be discussed at this time. a. Sheriff Larry Ashley requested $350K from TDC funds for additional beach control and marine control officers for services pertaining to the safety of tourists. b. Mr. Peterson asked for public comment related to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office request for TDC funds: Bruce Craul / Chief Operating Officer of Harborwalk Hospitality & VP - Emerald Coast Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association stated his opposition to TDC funding of this request. Dan Martin / Sales & Marketing Director - Pelican Beach Resort – Destin stated his opposition to using TDC funds for this request. John Hall / Tourist Industry Business Consultant stated his opposition to using TDC funds for any municipal purposes (Fire Dept., Police, etc.) and requested the money be used solely for promoting tourism. Lino Maldonado / VP – ResortQuest by Wyndham stated his opposition to using TDC funds for this request and offered recommendations for better use of these funds. Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department Page 2 of 6 June 26, 2014 Packet Pg. 4  1.a Martin Owen / Regional Marketing Director - ResortQuest by Wyndham stated his opposition to using TDC funds for this request and commented these funds should only Minutes Acceptance: Minutes of Jun 26, 2014 2:00 PM (Consider Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council Meeting Minutes (Dale be used for commercial needs to promote tourism. c. Mr. Peterson asked for comments from council members related to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office request for TDC funds. Comments from the Council members related to this matter included concerns about cutting other projects from the budget, limits to spending for promoting tourism, insuring security to tourists, and clarification of TDC member responsibilities. Motion to Oppose the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Request for $350K of TDC Funds for Additional Beach and Marine Control Officers in Destin RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [6 – 2] MOVER: Joyce SECONDER: Rice AYES: Guidry, Rigdon, Dixon, Peterson NAYES: Gossom, Windes II. Director’s Update (Ed Schroeder) a. May Month End Lodging Reports from Smith Travel Research b. May Film Commission Monthly Report c. Destin Chamber of Commerce Resolution – Welcome Signs d. Introduction of New TDD Marketing Manager – Kendra Moore e. Visitors Guide Selection Committee – “Life’s A Beach” Negotiations Motion to Approve the