Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council — March 27, 2013 (meeting #1136) — reading text

Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council 1540 Miracle Strip Parkway Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548 Special Selection Committee Meeting ~ Minutes ~ Wednesday, March 27, 2013 10:30 AM Emerald Coast Convention Center TDC Selection Committee Members Attendee Name Title Status Kelly Windes County Commissioner Present Daniel O’Byrne TDD Director Present John Hofstad Public Works Director Present Lynn Hoshihara Attorney Present I. Welcome & Review of Committee Process (Lynn Hoshihara) Ms. Hoshihara brought the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. She reminded attendees that this was an official meeting of a committee put together by the Board of County Commissioners to assist in the final ranking of the three remaining seats of the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council. Ms. Hoshihara stated the final ranking sheet is to fill the last three seats of the Tourist Development Council, directing committee members to fill the sheet accordingly, sign print and date. She said if she is tallying those votes and there is a tie, they will continue voting until the three seats are filled. II. Ranking and Vote Tally (Lynn Hoshihara) Ms. Hoshihara counted the votes based on the TDC Selection Committee Ranking Sheet (attached) that had been provided to each committee member. Mr. O’Byrne, Mr. Hofstad, and Commissioner Windes handed their previously prepared ranking sheets to Ms. Hoshihara (attached). Ms. Hoshihara tabulated the votes in her work notes (attached). After tabulating the votes, Ms. Hoshihara announced that based on the four individuals applying for the three seats on the TDC, the applicants selected were Michael Bass, Daniel Empson, Thom Gossom and Dan Martin. Michael Bass had received (3 votes) the other three individuals had received (2 votes) each. Michael Bass will fill one of the three available seats on the TDC, but another vote is needed to break the tie between the last three individuals, confirming that Michael Bass will fill a seat for Lodging and all the remaining seats are for (2) years. Ms. Hoshihara asked the Committee to vote for two of the remaining three applicants (Daniel Empson, Thom Gossom and Dan Martin). Ms. Hoshihara tabulated the final votes in her work notes and announced the results of the tie-breaker ranking on the remaining two seats on the TDC resulted with (3 votes) for Thom Gossom, (2 votes) for Daniel Empson and (1 vote) for Dan Martin. Since Dan Martin received a fewer number of votes, he was eliminated Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department Page 1  from the position resulting in the recommendation to appoint Michael Bass as a Lodging Industry Owner/Operator member, Daniel Empson as a Tourism Related Industry member and Thom Gossom as a Tourism Related Industry member, each holding 2-year terms. III. Recap and Closing (Lynn Hoshihara) Ms. Hoshihara stated that this Committee was appointed to make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners to fill the 6 non-elected seats on the Tourist Development Council. Recommendations from this Committee’s votes are to appoint TDC council members as follows: Committee Member Name Industry Term Length Joe Guidry Lodging Owner/Operator 4-year Dale Peterson Lodging Owner/Operator 4-year Michael Bass Lodging Owner/Operator 2-year Thomas Rice Tourism Related Industry 4-year Dan Empson Tourism Related Industry 2-year Tom Gossom, Jr. Tourism Related Industry 2-year Ms. Hoshihara asked the Committee to sign the final tally sheet and stated that the selection Committee’s recommendation will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners at next Tuesday’s meeting beginning at 8:30 a.m. She also stated that the proposed resolution was drafted for the Board’s consideration and will be included with the individual’s names and the terms they will serve to memorialize the Committee’s recommendation to the Board. The proposed resolution states that the TDC is made up of 9 members, and the 6 non-elected seats are what the Committee voted on Monday as well as today. The other 3 seats are to be filled by one County Commission member and two municipal elected officials, and the municipal seats will be selected by the respective government bodies and then confirmed by the Board. Mr. O’Byrne asked as if the selection committee wanted to allow public comment. Ms. Hoshihara agreed, but there was no response from public. Ms. Hoshihara adjourned the meeting at 10:45 a.m. Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department Page 2  Attached Documents: 1) TDC Selection Committee Process 2) Applications for Tourist Development Council, March 2013 a) Owners of motel, hotel, or other tourist accommodations involved in the tourist industry or with an interest in tourist industry 3) TDC Selection Committee Ranking Sheet (completed and signed) a) Kelly Windes b) Daniel O’Byrne c) John Hofstad 4) Attorney Work Notes (Signed – Lynn Hoshihara) 5) TDC Selection Committee Recommendations Final Tally Sheet (signed) APPROVED: APPROVED: By:____________________________ By:________________________________ Name:_________________________ Name: Daniel O’Byrne________________ Title:__________________________ Title: Director, Tourist Development Dept. Date:__________________________ Date:______________________________ Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department Page 3