Okaloosa County BOCC — September 24, 2015 — Agenda Packet — reading text

Form ............................................................................................................ 34 3 of 34 TDC 09-24-2015 BCC xx-xx-2015 Packet Pg. 103  1.j.a SECTION ONE: TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL BYLAWS A. GENERAL A.100. LEGAL AUTHORITY Legal authority for the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council (the “Council”) is found under Section 125.0104, Florida Statutes, known as "The Local Option Tourist Development Act", Okaloosa County Ordinance 89-23 as subsequently amended, and Resolution No. 89-40 establishing the Council and stating the intent to levy a Tourist Development Tax (the “Act”). As an appointed Advisory Board, the Council is bound by State and County Laws, ordinances, and procedures governing the Council members and their activities, as well as procedures for reviewing expenditures of tourist development tax revenues. Attachment: I. j. TDD Manual (4780 : TDD Manual Update (Charlotte Dunworth)) A.200. STATEMENT OF ORGANIZATION Pursuant to the Act, Okaloosa County (the "County") has: established an advisory group known as the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council; imposed a 5% Tourist Development Tax; and approved a Tourist Development Plan pursuant to the mission set forth in A.300. The Council is responsible for advising the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners (the “Board”) on the implementation of the Tourist Development Plan in accordance with State and County laws, regulations and procedures and within budgetary limitations imposed by the Tourist Development Tax Revenues. In order to establish the procedures by which the Council will carry out its business and the Tourist Development Plan will be implemented, the Board has approved this TDC Bylaws and TDD Operations and Procedures Manual (the “Manual”) as the guiding instrument. A.300. MISSION The Council’s primary responsibility is to advise and make recommendations to the Board on matters related to tourism sales, marketing, and advertising in order to help increase overall visitation and lodging facility occupancy. The Council shall advise and make recommendations to the Board for the effective operation of the special projects and for uses of the Tourist Development Tax revenue. The Council shall continuously review expenditures of revenues from the Tourist Development Trust Fund and shall receive expenditure reports, at least quarterly, from the Tourist Development Department Director (the “Director”). The Council shall also make recommendations on the annual Strategic Marketing Plan and Budget to ensure conformity with the Tourist Development Plan and the provisions of Section 125.0104, Florida Statutes. A.400. LOCATION OF OFFICE The Council has established its business offices at 1540 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548. All official business correspondence with the Council or any of its members shall be directed to the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council at this address. 4 of 34 TDC 09-24-2015 BCC xx-xx-2015 Packet Pg. 104  1.j.a A.500. STAFF 1) Tourist Development Department Director. The Director shall be an employee of Okaloosa County and shall report to and be supervised by the County Administrator. The Director will administer and coordinate the operations of the Council, make recommendations to the Council, and oversee the Visitor Welcome Center, Emerald Coast Convention Center, Emerald Coast Film Commission, and all divisions under the Tourist Development Department (the “TDD”). 2) Tourist Development Department Staff. All TDD staff shall be employees of the County and shall report to and be supervised by the Director. 3) Benefits and Funding. The TDD Director and Staff will receive all standard County employee benefits provided by the Board, paid through the Tourist Development Trust Funds, and be subject to all County employee regulations, in addition to those provided in this Manual. Attachment: I. j. TDD Manual (4780 : TDD Manual Update (Charlotte Dunworth)) A.600. COUNCIL COMPOSITION AND VACANCIES 1) Composition. The composition of the Council shall be as set forth in the Act. The Council shall be composed of nine (9) members, all of whom shall be appointed by the Board, including the Chair of the Board, or any other member of the Board as designated by the Chair. Two (2) members of the Council shall be elected municipal officials, at least one of whom shall be from the most populous municipality in the County or sub-district. These two (2) members shall be appointed by their respective governing bodies. Six (6) members of the Council shall be persons who are involved in the tourist industry and who have demonstrated an interest in tourist development, of which members, not less than three (3) nor more than four (4) shall be owners or operators of motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks, or other tourist accommodations in the County and subject to the tax. All members of the Council shall be electors of Okaloosa County. 2) Terms. All Council members shall serve for staggered terms of four (4) years, with the exception of the members of the municipalities and the Board who serve as appointed by their respective governing bodies. Their terms are subject to re-appointment or term expiration, whichever comes first. No Council member shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms which shall be no more than eight (8) consecutive years. The Council member terms shall begin on October 1st of the year of appointment and terminate on September 30th of the fiscal year the term expires. The Board may designate the Council Chairman or allow the Council to elect a Chairman. Terms for the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Council shall be for one (1) fiscal year and they may be reappointed. 3) Orientation. All newly appointed Council members shall participate in an orientation process, which shall include, but is not limited to, an overview of Sunshine Law, Public Records, Ethics (financial disclosure, gifts law, conflicts of interest) and relevant statutes, ordinances and TDD operating policies. From time-to-time, the Council shall participate in a refresher briefing on the topics included in the orientation. 4) Vacancies. Should any seat on the Council become vacant, a replacement to serve the remainder of that term shall be appointed in the same manner as the appointment of the person whose absence created the vacancy. 5) Removal/Resignation. Any member may be subject to removal from the Council if they miss three (3) Council meetings per fiscal year or upon a majority vote of the Board. Special consideration/leniency will be given for any absences due to Acts of God, personal illness/medical, and/or family emergencies. If one of the elected municipal or county officials on the Council is removed for this reason, the applicable governing entity shall be required to appoint another elected representative as their replacement. In the event a Council member no longer conforms to the criteria 5 of 34 TDC 09-24-2015 BCC xx-xx-2015 Packet Pg. 105  1.j.a listed in Section A.600(1) above to hold the seat to which they were appointed, said Council member shall forward a letter to the Council and the Board stating these facts and shall additionally tender a letter of resignation along with this submittal. A.700. COUNCIL CHAIRMAN The principal role of the Council Chairman is to provide leadership to the Council and manage Council meetings. The Chairman is accountable to the Council and acts as a direct liaison between the Council and the leadership of the Tourist Development Department, through the TDD Director. The Council Chairman’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 1) Presiding over Council meetings. Attachment: I. j. TDD Manual (4780 : TDD Manual Update (Charlotte Dunworth)) 2) Presiding over the annual Tourism Summit. 3) Reviewing and signing minutes of Council meetings. 4) Calling special meetings as necessary. 5) Appointing representatives to committees as necessary. 6) Representing the views of the Council to the Board as appropriate. 7) Acting as the communicator for Council decisions as appropriate. 8) Nurturing positive industry relationships and working with industry leaders to maintain open communication and a positive working relationship. 9) Keeping generally abreast of activities of the TDD. 10) Assisting in the preparation of Council meeting and Tourism Summit agendas in coordination with the TDD Director. 11) Recommending an annual schedule of the date, time and location of Council meetings in coordination with the TDD Director. 12) Providing independent advice and counsel to the TDD Director. The Chairman may be a part of the Director’s annual performance review and may provide comments and recommendations to the County Administrator. 13) Consulting with the Council attorney on Council matters when appropriate. A.800. TDC BYLAWS AND TDD OPERATIONS AND PROCEDURES MANUAL AMENDMENT This Manual may be amended from time to time by the Board. The Council may provide recommendations to the Board as to proposed modifications. B. COUNCIL MEETINGS B.100. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETINGS The Council shall meet at least once each quarter. To the extent that more meetings are necessary, they may be called by the Director and/or the Chairman. 6 of 34 TDC 09-24-2015 BCC xx-xx-2015 Packet Pg. 106  1.j.a B.200. LOCATION AND NOTICE Council meetings will be held at the Emerald Coast Convention Center or as otherwise designated by the Director. All meetings shall be duly noticed within the sub-county taxing district and open to the public. Notice will also be placed on the Okaloosa County website on the Commissioners monthly meeting