Okaloosa County BOCC — June 26, 2014 — Minutes — reading text

Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department 1540 Miracle Strip Parkway Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548 Regular Meeting http://www.okaloosafl.com ~ Minutes Amended ~ 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  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 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  Martin Owen / Regional Marketing Director - ResortQuest by Wyndham stated his opposition to using TDC funds for this request and commented these funds should only 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: Gossom, Guidry, Rigdon, Dixon, Peterson NAYES: Windes, Rice 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 TDD Visitors Guide Selection Committee’s Choice to Enter into Negotiations with “Life’s A Beach” to Produce the 2015 TDD Visitors Guide RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Dixon SECONDER: Windes AYES: Gossom, Guidry, Rigdon, Rice, Peterson, Joyce III. Financial Update (Charlotte Dunworth) a. April Month End Tax Revenue Report from the Okaloosa County Tax Collector b. June Financial Update Motion to Approve the April Month End Financial Report As Provided RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Rice SECONDER: Rigdon AYES: Gossom, Guidry, Windes, Dixon, Joyce, Peterson Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department Page 3 of 6 June 26, 2014  IV. Marketing Update (Kendra Moore) a. Special Events Funding – Quarterly Update b. Online Advertising Results, Website & Social Media Tutorial, TV Ads Presentation, Press Kits (Michelle Clark) V. Sales Team Update (Ed Schroeder) a. Sales & Marketing Reports b. Local Events Calendar c. Convention Center Events Calendar VI. Beaches Update (Jim Trifilio) a. Partnership with Eglin AFB for Construction of Artificial Reefs Project Presentation Mr. Trifilio commented on the funding and opportunities to partner with Eglin AFB and surrounding counties in helping to construct artificial reefs. VII. Old Business (Dale Peterson) No Report VIII. New Business (Dale Peterson) a. Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Request for TDC Funding Mr. Peterson asked for this item to be addressed earlier in the meeting, and Sheriff Ashley’s request for funding was denied. b. TDT Ordinance Amendment – Aquarium & Museum Funding (Ed Schroeder & Charlotte Dunworth) Mr. Patrick Berry, Gulfarium General Manager, relayed his concerns regarding the language pertaining to the funding of publicly owned and operated not-for-profit organizations only, penalizing the for-profit Gulfarium. The Gulfarium helps to promote tourism through entertainment for all ages. He asked for information regarding application for TDC funding if the process is changed. Ms. Hoshihara stated F.S. 125.0104 includes the not-for-profit organizational funding stipulation. Further discussion between the TDC Council and the TDD continued regarding who and what is included in funding opportunities for public aquariums and museums in the tourist tax district, currently the Destin History & Fishing Museum and the Fort Walton Beach Indian Cultural Center Museum. Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department Page 4 of 6 June 26, 2014  Motion to Recommend the BOCC Approve the TDT Ordinance Amendment to Include Aquarium & Museum Funding as Provided RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Guidry SECONDER: Rice AYES: Gossom, Rigdon, Windes, Peterson, Dixon, Joyce c. Interlocal Agreement for Beach Safety & Lifeguard Services Renewal (Ed Schroeder) Motion to Recommend Destin Fire Control District Contract Renewal Approval of the Interlocal Agreement for Beach Safety & Lifeguard Services in the next Fiscal Year RESULT: MOTION APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Dixon SECONDER: Rice AYES: Gossom, Guidry, Rigdon, Windes, Peterson, Joyce Motion to Recommend the Equitable Reallocation of Destin and Okaloosa Island