Dec 07, 2020 Tourist Development Council

[00:00:18]

ANYBODY IS CALLING IN? COMMISSIONER, NANCY SIKES CALLING US ON THE LINE.

>> SO I'M GOING TO ASK COMMISSIONER WALDRON WHO WE ARE JUST DELIGHTED TO HAVE BACK AND

HE'S DELIGHTED TO BE BACK DO THE PLEDGE. >> PLEASE STAND AND JOIN US IF THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OF THE COUNTRY. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION

UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. , PAUL. WELCOME HOME.

DEANA, WOULD YOU DO THE ROLL CALL PLEASE. >> DANNY BAREN BERG.

>> HERE. >> GEORGE. >> HERE.

>> MICHAEL >> IRVING >>

>> COMMISSIONER SIKES-KLINE. >> HERE. >> DIANE

>> >> JACK PETER. >> HERE.

>> COMMISSIONER PAUL RALD ONE. WALD WALD

RON. HERE. >> OKAY.

TERA, WE WERE GOING TO DO A PRESENTATION TO IRVING AND JACK, IS THAT NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THIS

MORNING? >> MAY I ASK, I THINK THE NEXT ITEM IS THE APPROVAL OF THE

MINUTES. >> I'M GOING TO GET THERE. I'M NOT QUITE THERE YET.

>> WE USUALLY TAKE CARE OF THAT AS PART OF MEMBER >> OKAY.

[Additional Item]

THAT'S GREAT. >> OKAY. I'M GOING TO TAKE THE LIBERTY TODAY AND BEFORE WE GET TO THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, AND READ A KIND OF SWAN SONG LETTER FROM ME AS THE CHAIRMAN. CAN YOU ASK YOU TO INDULGE ME FOR THAT? OKAY. I HAD A COPY SO THOSE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE COULD SEE IT.

WELL, I WILL PROCEED. I AM READING HERE AND I HOPE YOU'LL THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE A COPY WILL READ ALONG. TOM. YOU ARE LOOKING AT ME.

I WANT YOU FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE TO SEE IT TOO AND HOPEFULLY THE PEOPLE AT HOME WILL WORK AS WELL. AS MY TERM OF CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL COMES TO AN END, I THANK EACH OF YOU FOR THE HONOR OF SERVING AS THE CHAIRMAN. I CAN SEE IN COMPLETE SINCERITY I TOOK THIS CHAIRMANSHIP WITH SERIOUS REGARD AND AM GRATEFUL. IN A FLUID TRANSITION TO A NEW CHAIR WHICH I HOPE WILL HAPPEN SOON IN MIND AND AS A STEWARD IN THE PUBLIC TRUST PLACE IN EACH OF US. I TAKE TWO MINUTES TO OFFER FOR THE RECORD THE FOLLOWING THOUGHTS. DUE TO THE LIKELY SHORT FALL IN BED TAXES DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADD A $0.05 TO THE BED TAX BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT TODAY.

THIS OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO AGAIN VISIT THE REVENUE GENERATING VEHICLE.

THERE IS A PRECEDENCE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOR BED TAX RATES SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN HOURS. OF THE STATE'S 67 COUNTIES, ALL BUT FIVE HAVE BED TAXES.

51% OR 34 COUNTIES HAVE TAXES OF $0.05 OR $0.06. IF WE LOOK AT CONTIGUOUS.

EVEN AMELIA ISLAND IS AT 5%. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE COUNCIL DIRECT RECIPIENTS OF BED TAX FUNDS TO SEEK METHODS AND MEANS OF COORDINATING AND COLLABORATION IN ORDER CONSERVE

[00:05:09]

PARKS AND REC. ST. JOHNS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE AMP. THOUGH PRELIMINARY WORK IN THE CDC APPEARS TO BE UNDER WAY, OTHER RECIPIENTS HERETOFORE HAVE NOT BEEN HEARD FROM RELATIVE TO THIS INITIATIVE.

THE SUCCESS OF THESE COLLABORATION EFFORTS IS CRITICAL TO ST. JOHNS COUNTIES AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO LANGUISH. THE STAFF SHOULD REPORT AT EVERY FUTURE TDC MEETING ON ACCOMPLISHED PROCESS. THE FUNDING OF NONCOMPLIANT RECIPIENTS WILL CERTAINLY NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLY ADDRESSD AND PERHAPS DEFUNDED TO SOME EXTENT.

THE PRECISE RULE OF ELECTING AN ON BOARDING COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT'S TDC COUNCIL MEMBERS NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED AND CODIFIED. IT APPEARS THAT OUR COUNCIL HAS NO CODIFIED RULES OR PROCEDURES.

THE RECENT ACTIONS OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, REJECTING OR REQUEST FOR REPLACING VACANT COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOWS THE FUTURE ELECTIONS NEED REVIEWS.

A FEW QUESTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED. WHAT IS THE PROPER ELECTION PROCEDURES SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BEYOND RULE 1.206 OF THE BOARD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IF THAT RULE IN FACT GOVERNS? WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE ROLE OF THE TDC SUPPORT STAFF IN THE ELECTION PROCESS? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RECRUITING SUITABLE APPLICANTS AND ADVERTISING OPEN POSITIONS? WHERE SHOULD NOTICES BE PLACED? WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR CANDIDATE CONSIDERATION? OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS EXPECTED TO ACTUALLY CHECK REFERENCES OF APPLICANTS OR JUST EVALUATE APPLICATIONS? IF EXAMINATION OF REFERENCES IS OUR DUTY, WE NEED MUCH MORE TIME THAN A FEW DAYS TO DO SO.

IF IT'S A STAFF RESPONSIBILITY, MORE SPECIFIC DIRECTION IS NEEDED.

HOW SHOULD REFERENCES AND ENDORSEMENTS BE REGARDED IN LIGHT OF RULE 1.209 C? SPECIFICALLY, IN THE CASE THIS YEAR WHERE ONE CANDIDATE LISTED TWO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AS REFERENCES. HOW WERE WE TO CHECK THOSE REFERENCES WITHOUT VIOLATING SUNSHINE LAWS? WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE PROCEDURE FOR SEEKING MULTIPLE TERMS? SHOULD THE COUNCIL MEMBERS BE ABLE TO PRECLUDE THE COUNCIL VACANCIES? WHO SHOULD UNDERTAKE THE ROLE OF O BOARDING NEW COUNCIL MEMBER.

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARLIAMENTARYIAN? ARE WE TO OPERATE BY THE ROBERTS RULE. I BELIEVE THE COUNCIL NEEDS CLARIFICATION OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND DISCLOSURES ARE CONTRIBUTIONS. DOES THIS SUPER SEED THEIR REGULAR TERMS. AN ANNUAL TOPIC SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE STAFF AND APPROVED BY THE COUNSEL IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WHERE MEETINGS ARE TO BE ABBREVIATED FOR ANY REASON, THE STAFF SHOULD GIVE SUFFICIENT ADVANCE NOTICE PERMITTING PERCURSORY SATISFACTORY REVIEW OF THE MEETING AGENDA BY THE CHAIRMAN. WITH THE COMPLEXITY OF EVER EXPANDING AND CHANGING TOURISM INDUSTRY, BUDGETARY CONCERNS IN THE DOWNWARD DIRECTION OF TAX COLLECTION IS PRUDENT FOR THE TRUEST DEVELOPMENT TO SEEK THE INDUSTRY ADVISORS ARE ADDITIONAL STAFF BE ENGAGED. FLAGLER COLLEGE AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION HAVE RECOGNIZED INDUSTRY EXPERTS WILLING TO SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY.

I RELINQUISH THE CHAIRMANSHIP TO THE COUNCIL OFFERING THOSE THOUGHTS WHICH SEEM TO BE TIMELY. AGAIN I THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR OF SERVING AS CHAIRMAN AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TIME TO READ THIS OUT TO YOU. COPIES ARE AVAILABLE IF ANYBODY

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

CAN I HAVE A MOTION? > I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT THE AGENDA BE APPROVED WITH ONE

[00:10:03]

LEADERSHIP. >> I WOULD SECOND THAT. >> SECONDED BY, MOTION BY DIANE

MATARAZA AND SECONDED BY MAYOR GEORGE. >> IS THERE COMMENTS?

>> OKAY. WELL THIS IS GOING TO BE REQUIRE IF PASSED, I ASSUME IT'S GOING TO PASS, THAT -- I'M SORRY FOLKS. AND THAT JACK AND IRVING WOULD

SERVE ANOTHER MEETING HERE. IS THAT ACCEPTABLE TO YOU >> NO.

>> JACK SAYS NO. >> THAT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT. THIS IS JUST SELECTION OF THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR FOR THE BOARD. AND SO IT'S NOT REALLY CONTINGENT ABOUT JACK AND IRVING HAVING THE SEATS REPLACED BY SOMEBODY ELSE.

I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT JACK'S NO IS REFERENCING. >> OKAY.

IS THERE ANY COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC ON THIS? OKAY.

SO WHAT WE WILL BE DOING THEN IS MY UNDERSTANDING WE WILL MOVE THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS TO THE

NEXT MEETING. >> PROVIDED THE BCC APPROVING THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND IF THEY DON'T, WE DEFER UNTIL THE NEW COUNCIL IS SEATED AND THEY CHOOSE THEIR MEMBERS.

>> MR. CHAIR. IF I CAN HAVE YOU SPEAK INTO YOUR MIC.

THE MOTION IS TO REMOVE ITEM NUMBER 7 FROM THE AGENDA. IS THAT --

>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> OKAY. SO THERE'S A MOTION TO REMOVE

ITEM 7 FROM THIS AGENDA AND IT'S BEEN >> YEAH.

>> OKAY. I WILL CALL THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY

AYE. >> AYE. DEANA, WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE A

VOICE -- >> AYE. >> WE GOT IT.

OKAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 7 IS REMOVED FROM TODAY'S

[5. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES]

WE HAVE TWO APPROVALS NEEDED. I WILL DO THEM BOTH TOGETHER. MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 21ST AND MEETING ON OCTOBER 19TH. IS THERE ANY ADDITIONS TO THOSE NOTES OR CORRECTIONS?

>> OKAY. SEEING THAT WE HAVE NONE, I WILL ASK FOR A

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. MOVED BY DIANE MATARAZA AND SECONDED BY MAJOR GEORGE. IS THERE ANY COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING DONE. I WILL CALL THE ITEM. ALL IN FAVOR, DINA, I WILL DO IT CORRECTLY THIS TIME. WOULD YOU GET A VOICE VOTE. AYE.

YES. MICHAEL GORDON. >> SORRY.

HE'S NOT IRVING >>

>> COMMISSIONER SIKES-KLINE. >> YES. DIANE MAT RAS

>> >> JACK PETER. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER PAUL

[6. PUBLIC COMMENT]

WALDRON. >> THAT PASSES I BELIEVE. MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

DIANE COULD I READ. >> AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE REGULAR AGENDA. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS WILL HAVE THEIR OWN PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

ANY PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD SHOULD COME TO THE PODIUM.

EACH PERSON WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE AND NOT TO ANY INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONER AND MAY NOT INCLUDE A DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE PERSON. NO PERSON MAY ADDRESS THE BOARD WITH SLANDEROUS REMARKS.

I WOULD ASK ANY SPEAKER THAT PRESENTS AND OVER HEAD MATERIALS PLEASE PRESENT THAT MATERIAL TO THE STAFF OF THE CLERK OF COURT TO BE ENTERED RECORD.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANYBODY WISHING TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS

PLEASE. >> WHICHEVER ONE YOU LIKE MA'AM. >> OKAY.

HI, I'M VIRGINIA WET STONE. I AM THE NEW CHAIR OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY VISITOR AND CONVENTION BUREAU. I WANTED TO COME BEFORE YOU AND INTRODUCE MYSELF.

OVER THE NEXT YEAR I WILL BE ATTENDING THE TDC MEETINGS REGULARLY.

[00:15:04]

I'M NOT AWARE AND DON'T KNOW MOST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS ON HERE.

I AM A NATIVE OF ST. AUGUSTINE. WE HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE THE 1900 WHEN MY GRANDFATHER WORKED FOR HENRY FLAGLER AS A CHEF. WE HAVE BEEN HERE QUITE SOME TIME.

WE ARE PRIMARILY IN THE TOURIST INDUSTRY IS WHAT WE DO. I'M KIND OF A UNIQUE MEMBER OF THE TOURISM COMMUNITY BECAUSE I DO REPRESENT THE LODGING SECTOR, THE RETAIL SECTOR, THE ATTRACTION SECTOR AND THE RESTAURANT SECTOR. SO ON THOSE BUSINESSES I EITHER OWN OR MANAGE WETSTONE CHOCOLATES WHICH HAS THREE RETAIL STORES.

WE ACQUIRED CLAUD'S CHOCOLATE. HAVE TWO RETAIL STORES UNDER THAT.

I HAVE THREE LODGING ESTABLISHES, MARKER 8, THE EDGE WATER INN AND THE BAY FRONT MIN.

I HAVE THE SPANISH BAKERY AND CAFE AND WHETSTONE CHOCOLATE AND TASTING TOURS.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, I LIVE DOWNTOWN IN ALL THIS CONGESTION. I WANTED TO GIVE YOU PERSPECTIVE. I AM ALSO ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS THAT ESTABLISHED AND CREATED THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY VISITOR AND CONVENTION BUREAU. I HAVE A LONG HISTORY AND KNOWLEDGE BASE OF THAT. I PREVIOUSLY SERVED TWO YEARS AS CHAIRMAN BACK IN THE LATE 90'S EARLY 2000S. THAT GIVES YOU A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE.

I HOPE TO INTERACT WITH Y'ALL DURING THE UPCOMING YEAR AND I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, I KNOW YOU'RE VOLUNTEERING. TAKING TIME AWAY FROM EITHER YOUR BUSINESS OR INTERESTS AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT AND I THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ST.

JHNS COUNCIL NUMBER 1 TOURISM INDUSTRY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

>> I'M EXHAUSTED JUST HEARING ABOUT ALL THE THINGS YOU DO. WE THANK YOU.

OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO --

>> MR. CHAIR. >> YES. I HAVE A COMMENT THAT'S NOT

RELATED TO THE AGENDA. >> PLEASE GO AHEAD. >> SO, AS MANY OF YOU, THIS IS THE LAST MEETING I WILL ATTEND ON THIS BOARD. WHAT I WANT TO DO IS MAKE ONE LAST PLEA FOR THE TDC AND THE BCC TO CONSIDER DEVELOPING A ST. JOHNS COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION.

AS I HAVE STATED IN THE PAST, CREATING A DEDICATED COMMISSION WHOSE SOUL PURPOSE IS TO DRIVE INCREMENTAL REVENUE BY ATTRACTING VARIOUS SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS TO CONDUCT THEIR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY WILL NOT ONLY DRIVE REVENUE AND PUT HEADS IN BEDS BUT HELP DIVERSIFY THE TYPE OF TOURISTS THAT COMES TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

IT'S CRITICAL WE ALL WOULD AGREE THAT WE BROADEN AND DIVERSIFY OUR TOURISM MAKE UP.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY 28 SPORTS COMMISSIONS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT HOST UP TO UPWARD 3000 EVENTS ANNUALLY. THE DIVISION ONE COLLEGE PLAYOFFS AND HOCKEY FINAL HOUR.

HOCKEY, LACROSSE, INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SOCCER AND VOLLEYBALL. ARCHERY, CANOEING, TABLE TENNIS AND SAILING TO NAME A FEW. THERE ARE 48 AMATEUR SPORTS RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES OLYMPIC COMMITTEE. EACH CONDUCT SOME FORM OF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ATTENDED BY THEIR COACHES, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. I BELIEVE THE YEAR WAS EITHER 2016 OR '17. BUT AT THAT TIME, OUT OF 90 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS, ALMOST HALF, 43 WERE AWARDED TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA. AND TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, NONE WERE AWARDED TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY. ACCORDING TO FLORIDA SPORTS FOUNDATION ON WHICH I WAS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AS OF 2017, AMATEUR SPORTS, RECREATION AND COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS ACCOUNTED FOR SEVEN MILLION VISITORS AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF $43 BILLION AND 443,000 JOBS. SO WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD URGE THIS BOARD AND THE NEW MEMBERS THAT WILL BE SEATED THIS MONTH OR NEXT MONTH AND THE BOARD EVER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO STRONGLY CONSIDER TAKING MEANINGFUL STEPS TO CREATE A ST. JOHNS SPORTS COMMISSION. THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF OPPORTUNITY AND I THINK WE HAVE

A LOT TO OFFER AS A THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

[00:20:02]

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY.

[8. TDC APPLICANT RECOMMENDATION]

TERA. >> GOOD MORNING. THIS IS AN ITEM AS YOU ALL WILL RECALL THAT WAS ON LAST MONTH'S AGENDA MEETING. WE DISCUSSED AS A BODY THE APPLICANTS THAT WERE RECEIVED AND IT WAS SENT TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR CONSIDERATION. THEY ASK WE TAKE THIS BACK UP AS A BOARD AND RECONSIDER OUR OR GIVE ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION TO THE SELECTIONS THAT WERE MADE SIMPLY BECAUSE IT WAS A QUICK TURN AROUND TIME. THE APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING WAS THURSDAY AT 5:00 P.M. PRIOR TO THE MEETING AND HAD A SHORT TURN AROUND TIME ON CONSIDERING FOR EVERYONE.

THERE WAS CONCERN THAT MAYBE ENOUGH TIME HAD NOT BEEN PROVIDED.

THEREFORE, THIS ITEM IS COMING BEFORE YOU AGAIN TODAY. JUST AS A REMINDER, WE HAVE THREE UPCOMING VACANCIES FOR THE TDC, TWO OF THOSE VACANCIES MUST BE FILLED BY OWNERS OR OPERATORS OF HOTELS, MOTELS OR PLACES THAT PAY BED TAX. ONE CAN BE A REPRESENTATION OR NONACCOMMODATIONS REPRESENTATIVE OUTLINED BY THE FLORIDA STATUTE THAT REQUIRES US TO HAVE THREE REPRESENTATIONS FROM THE ACCOMMODATIONS SECTION AND NO MORE THAN FOUR.

SO PROVIDED AGAIN HERE IS OUR TABLE. THE FIRST SLIDE HAS A SUMMARY OF APPLICANTS FOR THE ACCOMMODATIONS POSITION. WE DID HAVE ONE APPLICANT WHO HAD APPLIED ORIGINALLY AND IN THE TIME INDICATED THAT SHE DEVELOPED A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROCESS AND OF THE REQUIREMENTS FROM OUR LAST TDC BOARD MEETING AND WITHDREW HER APPLICATION. SO YOU HAVE ONE LESS THIS TIME. AND WE DID RECEIVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM MR. MCCLURE AND MR. BLEVINS' EMPLOYER. AND THE SECOND PART OF THE TABLE IS OUR APPLICANTS TO THE NON-ACCOMMODATIONS SEAT. WE ALSO HAD AN APPLICANT WHO WITHDREW FROM THE CONSIDERATION SINCE THE LAST MEETING AS WELL AND THAT'S MR. ANDY WAY.

SO I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL HAVE. OTHERWISE YOU'RE WELCOME TO TAKE

UP DISCUSSION. >> TERA, CAN I GIVE THE DEFINITION OF ACCOMODATION.

> YES, I CAN. SO THE STATUTE DOESN'T PROVIDE A DEFINITION

>> WHAT IT DOES PROVIDE IS INSIGHT AND DIRECTION AS TO WHO SHALL BE ON THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND WHAT IT SAYS IS, THE COUNCIL SHALL BE ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE AND COMPOSED OF NINE ORDERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNING BOARD.

TWO MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE ELECTED MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS AT LEAST ONE OF SHOULD BE FROM THE MOST POPULOUS COUNTY SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT. SIX MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SHALL BE PERSONED INVOLVED IN TOURIST INDUSTRY AND DEMONSTRATED AN ENTER IN TOURIST DEVELOPMENT IN

[00:25:05]

BUSINESSES OR HOTELS OR MOTELS AND SUBJECT TO THE TAX. >> SO OWNERS AND OPERATORS.

>> CORRECT. >> OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.

WELL, I AM GOING TO ASK REGINA TO GIVE US HER INSIGHTS ON THIS. >> MR. CHAIR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS. WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS GO OVER THE PROCESS.

I THINK LAST WEEK SOME TIME LAST WEEK I E-MAILED EACH OF YOU AND KIND OF OUTLINED THE PROCESS.

EXPLAINED WHERE IT CAME FROM AND ONE OF THE CONCERNS WITH THE BCC WAS THAT THE PROCESS FOR ELECTING MEMBERS TO THE SEAT BE CLARIFIED AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE PROCESS. SO IF YOU HAD ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PROCESS, I TRY TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY LAST WEEK. I AM GOING TO READ TO YOU THE PROCESS.

MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND IT. IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO STOP ME ASK ME.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS CLEAR ON THE METHOD FOR NOMINATIONS.

THERE ARE THREE VACANCIES AND WE WILL CONSIDER EACH ONE OF VACANCIES SEPARATELY.

RATHER THAN DOING A NOMINATION OF ALL MEMBERS. I RECOMMEND YOU TAKE UP EACH VACANCY AND FOLLOW THE SAME METHOD FOR THE VACANCY. I WILL READ THE METHOD.

AND WE'RE FOLLOWING THE METHOD MIRRORS WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE BOARD'S RULES AND POLICIES.

THE VOTE WILL BE VERBAL. ANY MEMBER CAN MAKE A NOMINATION.

THE NOMINATIONS STANDS AS A MOTION WHICH SHOULD BE SECONDED. THE CHAIR WILL CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS ONCE HE'S RECEIVED THEM ALL. HE WILL CALL FOR THAT.

HE WILL REPEAT THE NAMES OF THE NOMINEES AND THEY WILL BE VOTED ON IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY'RE NOMINATED. AND THE VOTE WILL GO FOR THE FIRST NOMINATION YOU VOTE ON IT AND WHEN YOU HAVE A MAJORITY VOTE, ON A NOMINEE, THAT NOMINEE IS SELECTED FOR THE VACANCY.

THAT'S IT. >> ANY QUESTIONS? >> YES.

REGINA. I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHETHER WE ARE DOING ANOTHER VOTE OR ARE WE AFFIRMING OUR LAST VOTE. I UNDERSTAND THE PROCEDURE THAT YOU READ.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT PROCEDURE APPLIES TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND NOT NECESSARILY TO US. I DON'T FIND ANY PLACE IN THE RULES THAT APPLIES THOSE RULES TO THE TDC. LET'S ACCEPT THAT FOR JUST A MOMENT FOR CLARITY.

BUT, MY QUESTION IS, DO WE GO THROUGH ANOTHER VOTE OR CAN WE JUST SAY, CAN WE BY CONSENSUS

SAY WE'RE SATISFIED THAT WE DID THE FIRST VOTE CORRECTLY. >> THAT'S THE BOARD'S DETERMINATION. YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF DISCUSSING THAT AS BOARD MEMBERS? IF YOU'RE SATISFIED WHEN WHAT YOU PUT FORWARD, THAT'S YOUR DECISION. THEY WERE THREE ELECTED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

THEY WERE NO CLAIMS BY THE BCC THAT YOU HAD MADE MISTAKES OR DONE ANYTHING CORRECTLY.

THE CONCERN WAS THERE WAS ADEQUATE TIME TO CONSIDER EACH OF THE APPLICATIONS AND MAKE SURE THE NOMINATION PROCESS WERE CLAIRIFIED AND THEY WERE NO ALLEGATIONS YOU IMPROPERLY PUSHED, THERE WAS NONE OF THAT DISCUSSION. SO, HERE IT'S FOR YOU TO DECIDE TO REVIEW YOUR DETERMINATION, IF YOU'RE SATISFIED WITH THREE THREE NOMINEES, THAT IS CERTAINLY AN OPTION FOR YOU TO KEEP YOUR THREE NOMINEES OR YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO EVALUATE AGAIN HAVE MORE DISCUSSION, YOU HAD ADDITIONAL TIME TO CONSIDER THE NOMINEES AND PUT FORTH A DIFFERENT SET OF NOMINEES. BUT THAT'S A DETERMINATION FOR YOU WHEN IT WAS REMANDED BACK FROM THE BCC, THE DIRECTIONS WERE TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS ADEQUATE TIME TO REVIEW AND THAT

[00:30:01]

ANY CLAIM THAT ANYTHING HAD BEEN DONE IMPROPERLY. >> LET ME ASK THIS ADDITIONAL QUESTION. WAS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL VETTING DONE BY THE STAFF ON THIS LIST SINCE LAST TIME? TERA TOLD US SOME TOOK THEMSELVES OUT.

HAS THERE BEEN ADDITIONAL VETTING? >> NO, THE DEADLINE WAS NOT EXPANDED TO ALLOW NEW APPLICATIONS. WE DIDN'T TAKE IN NEW APPLICANTS. THERE WAS TIME TO ALLOW FOR ME TO DO A QUICK CHECK OF APPLICATIONS AND LOOK FOR THINGS. JUST TO VERIFY NONE OF THE APPLICATIONS THAT WERE FORWARDED TO YOU WERE DISQUALIFIED OR HAD ANY INFORMATION THAT WAS DISQUALIFYING. THE APPLICATIONS WERE FORWARDED TO YOU.

AND AGAIN WE DID NOT EXTEND THE DEADLINE TO ALLOW FOR NEW APPLICANTS.

>> WAS THERE ANY REFERENCE CHECKING ON THE PART OF THE STAFF?

OR JUST TAKE THEM AT FACE VALUE? >> I DID NOT DO A REFERENCE CHECK.

IF THAT'S THE CONCERN. IF STAFF DID A REFERENCE CHECK, THAT I'M NOT AWARE OF.

THEY DID NOT DO A REFERENCE CHECK. >> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK COMMISSIONER WALDRON. I WATCHED THE FOOTAGE, WHAT OTHER EXPECTATIONS MIGHT THERE

BE SO THIS TIME THERE'S NO ISSUE. >> REALLY I MEAN FOR ME, I WAS THE ONE THAT BROUGHT IT UP AT THE BCC YOU WATCHED IT. WE HAD THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY COULD BE ELECTED. HOW DO YOU GIVE THEM A FAIR SHAKE AND A DECISION? I ALWAYS FELT IT WAS MY JOB TO CHECK REFERENCES IF I WANTED TO.

I CALLED APPLICANTS. WE HAVE TWO OR THREE, I PROBABLY WOULD NOT SIT DOWN AND CALL THESE PEOPLE. I SAT DOWN AND CALLED OTHER BOARDS WE APPOINT TO AND ASK THEM QUESTIONS. I DON'T -- LIKE I SAID, THERE WAS NO ACCUSATIONS IT WENT WRONG. WE WANTED EVERYBODY TO HAVE A FAIR CHANCE TO BE ELECTED OR NOT

ELECTED. >> THAT'S HELPFUL AND I APPRECIATE THE REQUEST FROM THE BCC THAT AND THE SUGGESTION THAT THERE MIGHT BE FURTHER CLARITY IN THE PROCESS.

I WAS THANK YOU DANNY FOR THE COMMENTS YOU READ INTO THE RECORDS.

I CHECKED A COUPLE REFERENCES OVER THE WEEKEND FROM DURING THAT LAST PROCESS WHEN WE RECEIVED THE APPLICATIONS ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND THEN MET ON MONDAY.

AND ONE OF THE REFERENCES THAT I CALLED DID NOT KNOW THAT HE WAS NAMED AS A REFERENCE.

SO, I JUST SECOND WHAT MR. CHAIRMAN IS PROPOSING. CLARIFICATION OF THE PROCESS.

AND AT LEAST FOR THE DUE DILIGENCE I FEEL COMFORTABLE AND MOVE WE, I WOULD ASK THAT WE PROCEED WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS PROPOSED AT THE LAST MEETING. I WOULD LIKE

>> SECOND. >> MR. CHAIRMAN. I WILL SECOND.

>> OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. DISCUSSION?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO JUST COMMENT THAT WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS TODAY AND I DID LAST TIME, I DISAGREE WITH THE PROCESS. I DON'T THINK IT'S A FAIRWAY TO SELECT SO I PASS IT ON TO COMMISSION WALDRON. IF YOU COULD RECONSIDER.

IT COMES DOWN TO CHANCE. WHICHEVER APPLICANT GETS NOMINATED FIRST GETS THE BEST SHAKE AMONG ALL THE OTHER NOMINEES. WE DON'T DO IT THAT WAY AT THE BEACH CITY COMMISSION AT ALL. WE WOULD VOTE UPON ALL THE NOMINATIONS AND SEE WHO GOT THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF VOTES AND FROM THERE, IF THERE WAS A TIE OR SOMETHING, WE VOTE BETWEEN THE TOP TWO. I THINK IT'S MUCH MORE FAIR THAN TO SAY THIS PERSON WAS NOMINATED FIRST. IF THEY HAPPEN TO GET ALL THE VOTES, EVERYBODY ELSE IS EXCLUDED. I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

I WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE SO EVERYBODY CAN RECONSIDER FOR FUTURE PROCESSES AND HOPEFULLY, IT CAN BE CHANGED BEFORE THIS COMES BACK UP NEXT YEAR OR WHENEVER THE NEXT TIME WOULD BE.

>> THANK YOU. >> AND I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S THE WAY THIS ONE SHOULD GO. IT'S LIKE IRVING KASS. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU WOULD DO IT LAST TIME, I UNDERSTOOD YOU WANTED TO DO IT ONE YEAR. IF YOU WANTED TO DO FULL TERM, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER PROCESS. I'M NOT SAYING ALL OUR BOARDS ARE NOT IMPORTANT BUT THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT BOARD. YOU RECOMMENDATION MORE MONEY THAN MOST BUDGETS CITIES AND LITTLE TOWNS HAVE. YOU'RE HANDLING AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS OF A LOT OF

[00:35:06]

I'M ALL FOR SPORTS COMMISSION AND WOULD LOVE TO SEE US GO THAT WAY.

I THINK IT'S AN UNTAPPED THING IN OUR COMMUNITY. TO GET OFF THAT SOAP BOX.

THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN STACK DOWNTOWN. THAT'S WHY I THINK VETTING AND HAVING IT COME BACK WHERE YOU HAD TIME TO CALL REFERENCES. APPLICATION 101, YOU HAVE REFERENCES THEY CAN BE REFERENCED SO THEY CAN KNOW AHEAD OF TIME.

THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHTS ON IT. I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR THE WHOLE BOARD.

THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS. OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? >> I HAVE A COMMENT AND BY I APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND WHERE EVERYONE IS COMING WITH THIS MOTION, BECAUSE YOU FEEL THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION IS SORT OF STEPPING ON OUR TOES OF WHAT WE ALREADY NOMINATED, I BELIEVE IF WE DON'T LOOK AT THIS IN A FULL WAY TO REVISIT THIS AGAIN, THAT AT THE NEXT BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING, THEY'RE GOING TO CHOOSE WHO THEY CHOOSE TO CHOOSE AND NOT LISTEN POSSIBLY TO US. SO I THINK FOR THE CREDIBILITY OF THE TDC, WE SHOULD GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AGAIN TALK ABOUT IT. THERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES FOR EXAMPLE THERE IS A PERSON ON THE FIRST PAGE THAT I BELIEVE CANNOT SERVE BECAUSE THEY'RE NEITHER OWNER OR OPERATOR OF AN ACCOMODATION. SO THEY SHOULDN'T BE ON THE LIST. I MAY BE INTERPRETING IT WRONG, BUT FROM MY MIND, SO I THINK THE PRUDENT THING TO DO SO WE CAN DO THIS GET THE PEOPLE NOMINATED HAVE A CHANGE OF THE BOARD, GET INTO THE LEADERSHIP. THE PRUDENT THING TO DO IS TO GO THROUGH SPEND A FEW MINUTES, GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AGAIN. PUT OUR FEELINGS ASIDE AND MAKE SURE THAT WHEN IT GOES BACK TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION, THEY SAY YES THEY TOOK IT SERIOUSLY INSTEAD OF TAKING A STANCE THAT SAID WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING LEGALLY WRONG SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO CONSIDER ANYTHING.

SO THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHT ON THE NOMINATION. >> THANK YOU.

OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? OKAY. I AM GOING TO OPEN UP TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS?

WE HAVE A MOTION ON THIS. >> GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE.

>> HELLO EVERYONE. I'M TROY BLEVINS. MY HOUSE IS ON 14 IBERIA.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COMMISSIONER. WE LOST TRIPLE CROWN. WE LOST A LOT OF FUNDS AND HAVE THE ASETS TO DO WHAT WE COULD HAVE DONE. LAST MEETING I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND AND THERE WAS CONFUSION ABOUT MY TITLE WITH VISTA HOSPITALITY.

IT DOES DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT. THAT ALSO INCLUDES BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND NOT JUST CONSTRUCTION. WE HAVE 7 HOTELS HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, THREE INSIDE DUVAL. WE OPERATE AS A TEAM. MR. PATEL OBVIOUSLY IS THE MAN WHO MAKES THE FINAL DECISION BUT WE HAVE A GROUP OF OPERATIONS. THERE WAS AND CONCERN OF WHETHER OR NOT I QUALIFIED AS AN OPERATOR. OUR COMPANY I BELIEVE IS IF NOT THE TOP GENERATOR FOR BED TAX, IT IS ONE OF TOP THREE WITHOUT A DOUBT.

WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF THINGS AND IF YOU KNOW TO WHAT MY HISTORY IS, I KNOW MOST OF YOU HERE.

ST. AUGUSTINE AMPHITHEATER WAS MY BABY WHEN I WAS PARKS AND REC DIRECTOR.

I'M PRETTY SURE I'M THE ONLY ONE UP THERE WHO WROTE A BUDGET FOR TDC.

I HAVE EXPERIENCE IN ALL FOUR CATEGORIES WE GENERATE MONEY IN. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ELSE ON THAT TABLE CAN SAY THAT. YOU KNOW BEACH RENOURISHMENT. WE STARTED THAT IN THE 90'S.

[00:40:01]

I AM PRETTY SURE JACK WAS THERE. I THINK IRVING WAS THERE WHEN WE GOT THE $0.04 IN PLACE.

I WAS A PART OF THAT ALSO. I WANT TO CLARIFY MY QUALIFICATIONS BECAUSE I THINK THIS WAS IN QUESTION AND MR. PATEL WROTE A LETTER EXPLAINING MY

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OTHER COMMENTS? ONE ON THE PHONE. OKAY.

THANK YOU. ON THE PHONE PLEASE. HELLO THIS IS ALBERT SILAS.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES. GO AHEAD MR. SILAS.

>> OKAY. I HAVE THREE POINTS TO MAKE. ONE I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER GEORGE'S POINT ABOUT THE METHOD THAT SHOULD BE USED AND IMPLORE YOU TO RECONSIDER YOUR ORIGINAL VOTE AND DO IT AGAIN THE WAY THAT COMMISSIONER GEORGE RECOMMENDS.

SECONDLY, I WOULD LIKE TO ENDORSE KATHY FLEMING FOR A CANDIDATE OF THE NON-ACCOMMODATIONS SEAT ON THE TDC. AND I WOULD ALSO WITHDRAW MY OWN IN FAVOR OF HER. SO, WOULD FINALLY LIKE TO MAKE THE POINT, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION DURING THE LAST MEETING ABOUT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST FOR INDIVIDUALS.

PARTICULARLY KATHY FLEMING. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU AND SOME OF YOU WHO WERE NOT ON THE BOARD. SCOTT MAR TOSH, WHO WAS THE CHAIR OF THE LIME LIGHT THEATER WHO RECEIVES ALMOST ANNUALLY GRANTS FROM THE TDC HAD SERVED ON THE TDC BOARD AND HAD NEVER HAD A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. ONE TIME THAT AT LEAST ONE TIME I RECALL.

THE QUESTION CAME UP DURING THE VOTE ON THE FUNDING PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS WHETHER OR NOT HE SHOULD RECUSE HIMSELF. AND THE DISCUSSION AT THAT TIME WAS THAT IT WAS NOT NECESSARY.

HE WAS NOT IN CONFLICT. SO, PLEASE RECONSIDER THE DECISION THAT YOU HAD ABOUT CONFLICT OF INTEREST WHILE YOU GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS. THOSE ARE MY THREE POINTS.

COMMISSION GEORGE, KATHY FLEMING AND SCOTT BARTOSH. I'M GOING TO CLOSE

>> MR. CHAIR. >> YES. I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE RECORD TO CLARIFY WHO AND WHICH SEAT THE PRIOR NOMINATIONS WERE SINCE THAT MOTION IS ON THE TABLE SO THERE'S NO CONFUSION FORWARD RECORD.

>> SO WE HAVE THREE VACANCIES. THOSE VACANCIES ARE HELD OR WERE HELD BY TOM MANO.

THAT WAS ONE IS VACANT AND OUR TWO UPCOMING VACANCIES, IRVING KASS AND JACK WILL BE OUR UPCOMING VACANCY AS WELL AND HE IS OUR NON-ACCOMODATION VACANCY WHICH COULD BE REAPPOINTED BY AN ADMISSION. THIS BOARD CHOSE MR. FINNEGAN AND ROBLES TO FILL THOSE TWO POSITIONS FOR ACCOMMODATIONS AND THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT ACCOMODATION VERSUS NON-ACCOMMODATION ANDED BOARD RECOMMENDED CHRISTOPHER BRODY FOR THE POSITION.

>> OTHER COMMENTS? >> I WOULD JUST COMMENT, I WOULD EITHER SUPPORT A NEW METHODOLOGY IN WHICH CASE THEN I WOULD SUPPORT RELOOKING AT NOMINATIONS, OTHERWISE I DON'T THINK THERE'S A POINT. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY MEMBERS INDICATE THERE WAS ANY CONFUSION AS TO THE PROCESS AT THE TIME. SO, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SUPPORT FOR ADOPTING A DIFFERET METHODOLOGY WHETHER WE'RE LEGALLY ALLOWED TO DO THAT, I HAVEN'T HEARD CLARIFICATION OF THAT THRESHOLD QUESTION. AND PERHAPS WE COULD HAVE THAT ANSWERED BEFORE WE PROCEED.

>> THERE'S NOTHING TYING YOU TO FOLLOWING THE METHODOLOGY IN THE BOARD'S RULES AND POLICIES.

IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO ADOPT A NEW POLICY, YOU NEW TO CLEARLY STATE YOUR METHOD.

IT NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT HE WE CAN CLEARLY UNDERSTAND AND YEAR GOING TO ADOPT THE METHOD,

[00:45:06]

TAKING UP. >> I WITH DRAW THAT MOTION. >> SECOND WAS WITHDRAWN.

>> YOU DON'T NEED IT. >> I WITHDRAW THE SECOND. >> I MOVE THAT THIS BE DEFERRED TO THE JANUARY MEETING, THAT WE DON'T SIT HERE AND TRY TO COME UP WITH A METHODOLOGY.

THE LAST TIME WE DID THIS, WE HAD PRESENTATIONS THAT WE DIDN'T HEAR BECAUSE WE DEFERRED.

I WOULD LIKE THIS, IT CAN BE CLEAN AND CRISP. I THINK IF THE METHOD IS DEFINED IN ADVANCE AND THAT WOULD BE, I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT ON DEAN'S RECOMMENDATION FOR VOTING EACH

INDIVIDUAL SEPARATELY. >> JUST TO CLARIFY, EACH SEAT BE TAKEN UP INDIVIDUALLY.

VOTING BE CAST AND OF THE HIGHER VOTE NUMBER FOR ANY NOMINEE BE SELECTED OR IF THERE ARE,

THERE'S A TIE THEN, YOU HAVE A A SECOND ROUND. >> RIGHT.

>> AND THERE CAN BE A BALLOT SO THERE'S WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION FOR THE RECORD EACH OF US FILL THIS OUT. THERE'S A VOTE THAT'S TAKEN AND COUNTED.

THAT IS READ BACK JUST SO IT'S MORE EFFICIENT THAN US TRYING TO GO THROUGH THIS NOW.

THAT'S -- >> IS THERE A SECOND TO THIS? >> I WILL SECOND THAT.

OKAY. DIANE MATARAZA MOVED AND MAYOR GEORGE HAS SECONDED.

DISCUSSION OF THIS? >> YES. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE DISCUSSION.

I BELIEVE WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION TODAY. THERE'S A LOT OF IMPORTANT THINGS THAT ARE ON THE TABLE TO LOOK AT AND I THINK YOU NEED A NEW BOARD AND IF WE WANT TO CHANGE A PROCEDURE, I THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT NEXT YEAR. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH EIGHT YEARS I SAT ON THIS BOARD WHERE WE FILLED THE POSITION AND THE ONLY THING THAT'S MAKING THIS EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT THAN ANY OF THE OTHERS IS BECAUSE WE'RE IN A PANDEMIC AND EVERYBODY NEEDS MONEY. THE AVERAGE OF PEOPLE APPLYING TO THE TDC HAVE BEEN ONE OR TWO.

ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYONE IS SUPER INTERESTED BECAUSE TO DO BUDGETS HAVE BEEN CUT.

I SUSPECT THIS IS A ONCE TIME EXPERIENCE. ALL THE YEARS I HAVE BEEN ON THIS BOARD ACCUMULATIVELY, THERE HAVEN'T BEEN THIS MANY CANDIDATES.

>> MR. CHAIR, AS THE MEMBER UP HERE WHO HAS BEEN HERE FOR 17 YEARS SINC 2003, WE HAVE NEVER COME TO AN IMPASSE LIKE THIS. MAYBE IT'S RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC.

MAYBE NOT. I DON'T KNOW. BUT IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE OVER THE 17 YEARS, THE PEOPLE THAT APPLIED FOR THIS, MUCH MORE OFTEN THAN NOT.

ARE DOING IT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS, THEY ARE QUALIFIED. THEIR REFERENCES CHECK OUT.

I'M TELLING YOU IN 17 YEARS WE HAVEN'T HAD SOMEBODY SIT UP HERE WITH NEFARIOUS REASONS.

WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU IS THAT WHILE I THINK LOOKING AT THE PROCESS AND REALLY DOING A DEEP DIVE INTO WHETHER OR NOT IT'S RELEVANT TODAY AS IT WAS THEN, WE SHOULD DO THAT.

BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DO IT AT THE EXPENSE OF SLOWING THE TRAIN DOWN AND GETTING A NEW BOARD SEATED AND GETTING THINGS MOVED ALONG. ALL THREE NOMINEES ARE

[00:50:01]

PARTICULARLY IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY AND THEY ALL BRING A NEW SET OF THINKING TO WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. FEELINGS ARE GOING TO GET HURT BECAUSE THERE'S 17 PEOPLE THAT APPLIED HERE BUT THAT'S HOW IT GOES. AS COMMISSIONER WALDRON KNOWS, THERE'S PLENTY OF BOARDS FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY TO VOLUNTEER FOR AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS. A VOLUNTEER BOARD. I THINK IT'S THE GENIUS OF THE END. I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE PROCESS BUT CONTINUE TO KEEP

THIS BOARD AND THE WORK IT'S DOING MOVING DOWN THE >> THANK YOU.

JACK. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOMETHING CLEAR AT THIS POINT.

WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW THIS, BUT I'M NOT SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS THAT'S LISTENING.

THESE POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE, ALTHOUGH WE UNDERSTAND IT'S A PUBLIC TRUST, WE ARE NOT COMPENSATED OR PAID IN ANY FASHION FOR DOING THIS WORK. I'M NOT COMPLAINING.

BUT I THINK THAT PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW THAT MAKE NO MISTAKE, WE HAVE NO ECONOMIC REASON TO DO THIS OTHER THAN OF COURSE WE'RE ALL IN THE INDUSTRY. AND SO WE LOOK OUT FOR THE INDUSTRY AND FOR THE PUBLIC TRUST. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? HEARING NONE. I WILL ASK FOR COMMENTS FROM THE

PUBLIC. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. >> VIRGINIA WHETSTONE, 297 ST.

GEORGE STREET. I WOULD URGE THE COUNCIL TO MAKE A DECISION TODAY.

I FEEL WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD. WHETHER YOU WANT TO REVIEW THE NEW MEMBERS, THE MEMBERS YOU SELECTED, I THINK THAT IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, THAT'S GREAT. I KNOW SIKES-KLINE FROM THE CITY ADOPTS THE SAME PROCEDURES. I DON'T KNOW WHY IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE RULES, DO IT TODAY.

I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD BE WAITING TO JANUARY TO CHANGE THE RULES AND THEN JANUARY TO NOMINATE BECAUSE THAT PUTS IT FURTHER IN THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CALENDAR.

SO I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT DIFFICULT. I URGE YOU, AND PLEASE REQUEST YOU DO CONSIDER MAKING YOUR NOMINATIONS AND OR CHANGING YOUR RULES TODAY.

>> OTHER COMMENTS. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. REGINA, CAN YOU READ THAT BACK.

>> I'M GOING TO WITHDRAW MY SECOND. I WITHDRAW MY MOTION.

>> OKAY. WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD TODAY. I WAS PERSUADED BY THE COUPLE COMMENTS FROM THE MORE EXPERIENCED BOARD MEMBERS HERE AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC.

>> CAN YOU STATE THAT AS A MOTION? YES.

WE NEED A MOTION FOR SOMETHING. DON'T WE? WELL, IF I -- MR. -- I WOULD

LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. >> THANK YOU. >> I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THE FIRST CANDIDATE AND I WOULD LIKE TO RENOMINATE JOE FINNEGAN TO REPLACE TOM MANNO AND I WOULD LIKE TO VOTE ON THAT SO WE CAN HAVE A CONSENSUS ON CANDIDATES. I BELIEVE MR. FINNEGAN HAS AS MUCH EXPERIENCE AS ANYONE I KNOW IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IN THIS COUNTY AND WOULD BE INVALUABLE TO THE PROCESS. HE LOOKS AT THINGS IN A BIG M MACRO SENSE AND I WOULD NOMINATE

MR. FINNEGAN. >> IS THERE A >> MR. CHAIR.

>> YES. MR. CHAIR. THIS IS SIKES-KLINE.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION. WILL WE BE WITH THIS NEW MOTION ON THE FLOOR, WILL WE BE PROCEEDING NOMINATION BY NOMINATION. POSITION BY POSITION?

IS THIS THE START OF NOMINATING POSITION BY POSITION? >> CONSENSUS HERE.

>> IS THE REQUEST WHETHER WE'RE ADHERING TO THE ORIGINAL PROCEDURE?

>> YES. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, ARE WE GOING TO DO THE PROCEDURE AS

[00:55:07]

>> IS THAT THE >> THAT IS MY MOTION. >> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU. OKAY. I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE CORRECT ME REGINA TO ASK IF THERE'S OTHER NOMINATIONS? WE ARE TAKING UP THE POSITION HELD BY MR. MANNO. I WILL FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE I OUTLINED EARLIER.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PROCEDURE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I'M

AVAILABLE TO ANSWER THOSE. >> WE LOOK FOR A SECOND AND VOTE ON THAT INDIVIDUAL BEFORE WE PUT

OUT ANOTHER NAME. >> THAT IS CORRECT. YOU MADE A MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? >> I SECOND. >> SO THERE'S A SECOND.

AND THEN WE VOTE ON THAT. >> WE GO FOR THE NEXT NOMINATION AND THE CHAIR, ONCE THE NOMINATIONS ARE COMPLETE, THE CHAIR WILL CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS, REPEAT THE NAMES AND YOU WILL VOTE ON THEM IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY WERE NOMINATED.

>> SO THERE WILL BE MORE NOMINATIONS FOR THIS PARTICULAR POSITION HYPOTHETICALLY.

>> IS THAT >> >> YES.

PLEASE. >> AM I TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE WILL PROCEED WITH THE

NOMINATIONS UNTIL ALL THREE ARE MADE AT THIS TIME? >> CORRECT.

>> OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A NOMINATION FOR MR. CHARLES

ROBLES. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND.

JACK PETER SECONDS. SIKES-KLINE MADE THE NOMINATION. AND THEN THERE'S THE, ARE WE

GOING TO DO ALL THREE? >> I THINK IT'S TIME TO VOTE. >> YOU WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE NOMINATIONS FOR THIS ONE SEAT UNTIL YOU CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS. SO TO CLARIFY.

>> MR. CHAIR. >> WHAT REGINA IS TELLING US, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE VACANCY LEFT MY TOM MANO. WE HAVE TWO NOMINATION FOR THE TOM MANNO SEAT

>> MR. CHAIR. MR. CHAIR. >> I WAS CONFUSED WHEN I MADE THE NOMINATION. I THOUGHT WE WERE PROCEEDING WITH FILLING NOMINATION ONE, NOMINATION 2, NOMINATION 3. SO, I WOULD WITHDRAW MY NOMINATION.

THAT'S HOW I READ IT TOO. I WITH DRAW MINE. >> THAT'S WITHDRAWN.

WE HAVE ONE NOMINATION SO FAR. ANY NOMINATIONS FOR THE FIRST SEAT.

>> YES. IF MR. MANNO'S SEAT. THE SEAT -- SORRY.

LET ME, LET ME ASSIST YOU MR. CHAIR IF I MAY. LET ME CLARIFY AND MAKE SURE

THAT EVERYONE IS CLEAR. >> THANK YOU. ON THE PROCESS.

FOR THIS SEAT, MR. MANNO, THE SEAT HELD MY MR. MANNO. AN ACCOMODATION SEAT.

YOU RECEIVED ONE NOMINATION WHICH IS MR. FINNEGAN, IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS, PLEASE MAKE YOUR NOMINATION. IF THE NOMINATION HAS TO BE SECONDED AND ONCE ALL OF THE NOMINATIONS FOR THIS VACANCY HAVE BEEN MADE, THE CHAIR WILL CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS.

WE WILL REPEAT THE NAME OF THE NOMINEES AND YOU WILL VOTE ON THEM IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY

WERE NOMINATED. IS EVERYONE CLEAR? >> ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS. IS PUBLIC COMMENT? ONCE YOU CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS, I WOULD TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. HEARING NO OTHER NOMINATIONS. I WILL CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS.

THIS IS FOR TOM MANNO SEAT. BEFORE WE VOTE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE'S PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THIS POSITION AND THE NOMINATION OF MR. FINNEGAN. SEEING NONE, I CALL FOR THE

VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, A ROLL CALL VOTE. >> DANNY

>> >> COMMISSIONER >>

>> IRVING >> >> COMMISSIONER SIKES-KLINE.

>> YES , SIR. DIANE >>

>> JACK PETER. >> YES. COMMISSIONER PAUL WALDRON.

>> YES. >> THE VOTE IS UNANIMOUS. NOT NOW CAN WE MOVE ON TO THE

SECOND POSITION WHICH IS IRVING KASS'S. >> I NOMINATE CHARLES

[01:00:03]

>> I WILL SECOND. >> OKAY. IS NOMINAED BY DIANE MATARAZA AND SECONDED BY NANCY SIKES-KLINE. ARE THERE ADDITIONAL

NOMINATIONS? >> I WILL NOMINATE TROY BLEVINS. IS THERE A SECOND? HAVING HEAR NO SECOND THAT FAILS. IS THERE ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS? OKAY. HAVING HEARD NO ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS, I WOULD CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS. WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON MR. KASS'S SEAT WHICH WILL BE VACATED AND THE SINGLE NOMINEE FOR THIS IS CHARLES ROBLES. PUBLIC COMMENT IS THERE ANYBODY WISHING TO BE HEARD? SEEING NONE. I WILL CALL THE -- YES.

SOMEBODY IS COMING FORWARD. MR. BLEVINS. >> I JUST TROY BLEVINS, VISTA HOSPITALITY. WE HAVE A NOMINATION AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH JOE.

JOE IS A FRIEND. HE DID A GREAT JOB LAST TIME HE WAS ON THE BOARD.

HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT OR CHARLES. WE HAVE NO REPRESENTATION OF HOTELS THAT HAVE FLAGS. YOU HAVE A BOUTIQUE AND TWO BED AND BREAKFAST PEOPLE.

THAT'S THE QUESTION I HAVE ARE YOU TRULY GETTING THE REPRESENTATION THAT IS THE INTENT OF WHAT THIS MONEY IS COMING IN? THAT'S MY QUESTION.

>> THANK YOU SIR. >> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO COMMENT THAT WHILE I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF SECONDING OR NOMINATING AND TROYES AND OTHERS ON THE LIST. THIS METHODOLOGY, PREVIOUSLY THERE WAS YOU KNOW WE APPOINTED MR. ROBLES. THERE ARE A LOT OF REALLY GOOD APPLICANTS. THE METHODOLOGY BY DEFAULT ENDS UP THE FIRST NOMINEE ENDS UP TAKING IT. I JUST WANTED TO JUST KIND OF STATE THAT ON THE RECORD.

THANK YOU. MR. CHAIR. >> THANK YOU.

OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? >> I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.

>> DEANA. >> >> AYE.

IFRING KASS. >> IRVING CASS. >>

>> COMMISSIONER SIKES-KLINE. >> YES. DIANE

>> YES. JACK PETER. >> YES.

COMMISSIONER PAUL WALDRON. YES. >> THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

DEANA, GIVE US THE LAST POSITION PLEASE. I'M SORRY.

TELL US ABOUT THE LAST POSITION. MAYBE YOU SHOULD WAIT UNTIL NEXT MONTH FOR THIS ONE.

>> NO. >> OUR THIRD VACANCY. >> IT WAS A JOKE.

>> HE'S JOKING. OKAY. THANK YOU.

THE THIRD VACANCY WILL BE VACATED BY JACK PETER. IT'S A POSITION THAT CAN EITHER BE ACCOMODATION OR NON-ACCOMODATION. AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING THE TDC PUT FORTH RECOMMENDATION TO NOMINATE MR. CHRISTOPHER BRODY WATERS WHO IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NON-ACCOMODATION SECTOR. HE WORKS FOR AURORA GOLF HALL OF FAME.

>> CAN YOU PUT THAT SHEET UP? >> I SURE CAN. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JACK PETERS

POSITION WHICH WILL BE VACATED, IS THERE NOMINATION? >> I WILL MAKE A NOMINATION LIKE

I DID LAST MONTH FOR MR. VICTOR RAMOS. >> NOMINATION FOR VICTOR RAMOS.

IS THERE A SECOND? HEARING NO SECOND. THAT FAILS.

I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE BRODY WATERS. >> THERE'S A NOMINATION BY MR. PETERS. BY BRODY WATERS IS THERE A SECOND?

>> HOLD ON. HOLD ON. I'M JUST RE-READING THIS WHOLE

LIST. >> TAKE A MINUTE HERE PLEASE. WE HAVE TO WAIT TO MAKE ANOTHER NOMINATION UNTIL AFTER THERE'S BEEN CONSIDERATION OF WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS ACCEPTED?

IS THAT CORRECT? >> I CAN'T HEAR YOU. >> I WAS ASKING WHETHER WE HAVE TO WAIT TO MAKE ANOTHER NOMINATION UNTIL WE DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A SECOND

FOR THE NOMINATION THAT IS CURRENTLY BEEN MADE. >> THANKS.

[01:05:03]

IRVING, MR. CHAIR, I HAVE A NOMINATION. >> I WILL NOMINATE TROY BLEVINS.

>> I DON'T WANT TO CONFUSE. >> WE NEED, ARE YOU OFFERING A SECOND?

I WILL GIVE A SECOND TO BRODY. HE WAS CONSIDERING A SECOND. >> OKAY.

YOU AGREED TO SECOND? >> YEAH, OKAY. I WILL SECOND IT.

WILL >> OKAY. AND I WILL NOMINATE TROY

BLEVINS. AND I GUESS ANYONE IS ELIGIBLE. >> OKAY.

LET'S HAVE A CLARIFICATION OF THAT PLEASE. REGINA.

>> SO FAR YOU HAVE TWO NOMINEES. COULD YOU REPEAT THOSE? >> JOE FINNEGAN AND CHARLES ROBLES AND THOSE ARE YOUR TWO REQUIRED ACCOMMODATIONS REPRESENTATIVE.

SO FOR THE THIRD POSITION THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING YOU CAN TECHNICALLY CONSIDER ANYBODY ON THE TWO TABLES COLLECTIVELY BECAUSE THIS POSITION CAN BE EITHER AN ACCOMODATION REPRESENTATIVE OR NON-ACCOMODATION REPRESENTATIVE BECAUSE THE STATUTE REQUIRES US TO HAVE AT LEAST THREE WHICH WE WILL HAVE. WE WILL HAVE MICHAEL GORDON, JOHN FINNEGAN, CHARLES ROBLES OR NO MORE THAN FOUR. YOU LOOK AT THAT POSITION WHICH

COULD BE AN ACCOMMODATIONS PERSON OR NON-ACCOMODATION. >> MR. CHAIR.

LET ME CLARIFY. FOR THIS SEAT, YOU TOOK ONE NOMINATION WHICH WAS SECONDED

WHICH WAS -- BRODY WATERS. SO, COMMISSIONER -- >> I MADE A MOTION MORE TROY BLEVINS. YOU HAVE A NOMINATION AND WAITING FOR A SECOND ON TROY

BLEVINS. >> DO WE DO THAT BEFORE VOTING ON THE OTHER NOMINATIONS.

>> YOU HAD A NOMINATION FOR MR. BRODY WHICH DID NOT GARNER A SECOND.

>> IT DID GET A SECOND. >> I'M SORRY. SO YOU HAVE TWO NOMINEES SO FAR

FOR THE POSITION. >> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE WITH A SECOND WE HAVE -- MR. BRODY WAS NOMINATED AND SECONDED. MR. RAMOS WAS NOMINATED AND NOT SECONDED.

I HAVE NOT CLOSED NOMINATIONS YET. NOW WE HAVE THE NOMINATION OF TROY BLEVINS. DO WE HAVE A SECOND FOR THAT? OKAY.

I WILL SECOND IT. >> OKAY. MOVED BY -- NOMINATION BY

COMMISSIONER WALDRON. SECONDED BY MAYOR GEORGE. >> TECHNICALLY I'M A COMMISSIONER. THAT'S OKAY. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MAYOR.

>> I HAVE A TERM LIMIT. >> I WILL MAKE A NOMINATION OF KATHY FLEMING.

>> SECOND. OKAY THERE'S A NOMINATION FOR KATHY FLEMING AND IT IS SECONDED BY DIANE MATARAZA. SOMEBODY COMMENTED ON THE PHONE LINE.

>> I THINK IT WAS JUST FEEDBACK. OKAY. SO NOW WE HAVE -- HOW MANY

NOMINATIONS. FOUR? >> THREE.

>> WATERS BLEVINS AND FLEMING. ARE THERE ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS? HEARING NONE. I WILL CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS ASK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

WOULD COUNCIL MEMBER FROM THE PUBLIC WANT TO BE HEARD ON THIS PLEASE? OKAY. HEARING NO COMMENT. I AM GOING TO ASK REGINA OR TERA

DON'T MEAN TO IGNORE YOU DEAR, THE PROCEDURE FOR THE VOTE HERE. >> WE ALL, DO WE VOTE FOR ALL OF

THEM AND THEN TAKE THE HIGHEST OR? >> SO, YOU HAVE THREE NOMINATIONS FOR THIS SEAT. AND THE ORDER IT WAS CHRISTOPHER BRODY WATERS, TROY BLEVINS.

AND KATHY FLEMING. YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE ON EACH ONE OF THEM INDIVIDUALLY AND THE ONE THAT GETS THE MAJORITY VOTE FIRST IS YOUR NOMINATION FOR THE SEAT.

IS THE CANDIDATE FOR THE SEAT. SO YOU WILL VOTE ON BRODY WATERS, IF HE GETS A MAJORITY VOTE HE IS THE NOMINEE. IF HE DOES NOT GET A MAJORITY VOTE, YOU WILL MOVE TO TROY BLEVINS AND VOTE ON TROY BLEVINS. IF HE GETS A MAJORITY VOTE.

HE WILL BE THE CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION. IF HE DOES NOT GET A MAJORITY VOTE, YOU WILL VOTE ON KATHY FLEMING. IF SHE GETS THE MAJORITY VOTE,

[01:10:02]

>> DOES ANYBODY -- >> I THINK THAT IS THE EXPECTATION.

IT WAS KIND OF A DEFAULT SINCE WE STARTED THIS AND ALTHOUGH THERE WAS DISCUSSION TO CONSIDER CHANGING IT, DIDN'T GET REAL TRACTION, I'M OPERATING UNDER PRESUMPTION THAT'S HOW WE'RE

PROCEEDING AND THAT'S THE ORIGINAL DEFAULT PROCESS WAS. >> OTHER COMMENTS? I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT WE VOTE NOW. THE FIRST POSITION IS THAT FOR

JACK -- >> FIRST NOMINEE IS THERE CHRISTOPHER BRODY WATERS.

WILL YOU GIVE US ROLL >> >> NO.

COMMISSIONER GEORGE. >> NO. IRVING

>> >> COMMISSIONER SIKES-KLINE. >> NO.

>> DIANE >> NO. JACK PETER.

>> YES. COMMISSIONER >> NO.

>> OKAY. NOW WE'RE GOING TO VOTE -- YOU MOVE TO THE NEXT CANDIDATE.

MR. WATERS DID NOT GET A MAJORITY OF THE VOTE. SO YOU WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT

CANDIDATE WHICH IS TROY BLEVINS. >> >> GEORGE.

>> YES. >> SIKES-KLINE. >> NO.

DIANE >> NO. JACK PETER.

>> NO. COMMISSIONER PAUL WALDRON. >> YES.

HE DID NOT GET A MAJORITY VOTE. MS. FLEMING BY DEFAULT BUT YOU CAN TAKE THE VOTE FOR MISS

PHLEGMING AS WELL. >> >> YES , SIR.

>> SIKES-KLINE. >> YES. DIANE

>> YES. JACK >> YES.

PAUL WALDRON. >> YES. KIND OF BY DEFAULT.

THAT SOUNDED UNANIMOUS. >> KATHY FLEMING IS WHAT YOU WILL RECOMMEND FOR THE THIRD

POSITION. >> BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN UNUSUAL.

AND A CHALLENGE. I GOOD CHALLENGE. >> CAN I MAKE ONE COMMENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY WHAT HAS APPLIED. THEY ARE ALL VERY TALENTED PEOPLE AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE WE CAN'T TAKE ALL OF THEM. IF THEY WOULD REACH OUT TO OTHER BOARDS AND SEE IF YOU CAN HELP AND WAIT FOR OPENINGS HERE AGAIN.

>> IF I CAN ADD ON TO THAT. I'M GOING TO DO A PITCH BECAUSE WE HAVE FOUR YEAR TERMS AND HAVE ON GOING VACANCIES. AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT. WE HAD THE MOST INTEREST IN THIS OPPORTUNITY IN THE FIVE YEARS I HAVE BEEN HERE WHICH IS FANTASTIC.

I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY WHO IS ON THIS LIST TO CONTINUE TO BE INTERESTED AND COME AND APPLY AGAIN WHETHER WE GET FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES AND WE WILL HAVE A COUPLE MORE COMING UP

THIS YEAR AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING YEAR. >> MR. CHAIRMAN.

>> A QUICK COMMENT AS WELL. WE ASKED MANY REPRESENTATIVES IN THE INDUSTR ST. JOHNS CULTURAL COUNCIL AND THE VCB AND OTHERS TO BROADCAST AND PUBLICIZE THESE.

WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL. I THINK THE REASON WE HAVE 18 IS BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS OF THE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS ROOM THAT WORKED VERY HARD TO GENERATE INTEREST.

SO THANK YOU. >> AND I TOO HAVE A COMMENT. I'M STILL TROUBLED BY THE PROCESS. I THINK COMMISSIONER GEORGE HAS POINTED OUT THAT THE METHODOLOGY IS PROBLEM FOR HER. I BELIEVE STILL AND I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE REFERENCES.

I TOO CALLED REFERENCES AND DISCOVERED THAT SOME OF THEM WERE NOT PROPER.

WE ALSO HAVE THE QUESTION OF HOW DO WE REGARD THE REFERENCES GIVEN BY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEMBERS. THE PROBLEM IS UNDER THE SUNSHINE LAW, I CAN'T GO TO THE LIAISON AND SAY, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? SO, I THINK THAT I HOPE IN THE FUTURE THAT WE CAN COME TO A PROCEDURE THAT CAN BE VOTED ON AND AGREED AND CODIFIED AND IF IT'S GOING TO BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO CHECK REFERENCES, THAT TAKES A LOT OF TIME. MY EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST HAS TAUGHT ME THAT 10 HOURS CHECKING

[01:15:01]

I TROUBLE WITH THIS. BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE APPLICANTS ARE ENTITLED TO A BETTER SHOT. I DON'T THINK WE'RE DOING THEM A FAVOR.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE APPLIED BECAUSE YOU'RE APPLYING FOR A HARD JOB.

AND ONE THAT TAKES TIME. AND IS VERY IMPORTANT. PLEASE COME BACK TO US, WE WILL HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL POSITIONS. LOOKING AT THE APPLICATIONS AND SOME OF THE REFERENCES, I'M VERY

IMPRESSED. OTHER COMMENTS? >> MR. CHAIR BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PROCESS AND HOW WE'VE GOTTEN HERE.

THE PROCESS IF I HAVE BEEN REPRESENTING THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FOR A WHILE AND THIS IS THE SAME PROCESS. THE TDC DOES NOT HAVE A BREAK OUT SET OF RULES GOVERNING THIS OPERATIONS. THIS COMES FROM STATUTE BY ORDINANCE AND I STARTED THIS CONVERSATION WITH THE CHAIR VIA E-MAIL TO KIND OF EXPLAIN THIS, AND I, THIS PROBABLY NEEDS POINTED OUT. IT'S THE MOST INTEREST WE EVER HAD IN THE BOARD.

IT SEEMS TO BE A HICCUP IN THE PROCESS. THE SAME PROCESS THE TDC HAS BEEN FOLLOWING. YOU AS TDC MEMBERS IF YOU BELIEVE THE PROCESS SHOULD BE CHANGED AND MODIFIED IN OPEN TIME AGAIN, THE TDC ORDINANCE THAT ESTABLISHES TDC WAS WRITTEN IN 1996. I WAS IT WAS AMENDED BACK IN 2003 CERTAINLY AS PARTS OF YOUR DUTIES, IT'S YOUR JOB TO REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS. SO IF THERE ARE RULES THAT YOU LIKE CODIFYD AND ADOPTED, YOU CAN VOTE ON IT AND SEND TO THE BCC AS YOUR RECOMMENDATION AND THEIR APPROVAL AND TO HAVE A DIFFERENT PROCESS WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD UPDATE ON GOING, THE TDC ORDINANCE JUST AS THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT'S ALL WITHIN YOUR PURVIEW TO MAKE CORRECTIONS TO. IF IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THIS BOARD TO COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT PROCESS FOR SELECTING NEW CANDIDATES, IT'S DEFINITELY WITHIN YOUR PURVIEW TO COME UP WITH THAT PROCESS AND SEND IT TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WITH THE

RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL. AND ADOPTION BY THIS BOARD. >> IF WE COULD GET THAT ON THE

AGENDA FOR FEBRUARY MEETING. >> THAT IS THE ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO CLARIFY.

THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO CLARIFY WITH REGARDS TO REFERENCES.

MR. BERENBERG, YOU STATED THAT IF COUNCIL MEMBER IS LOOKING AT THE REFERENCES AND ONE OF REFERENCES IS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, THE SUNSHINE LAW PROVIDES TWO OR MORE MEMBERS ON THE SAME BOARD. IF YOU CONTACTED THE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONER, YOU'RE NOT ON THE SAME BOARD. IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A VIOLATION OF SUNSHINE LAW TO CONTACT THEM REGARDING THAT REFERENCE. THE SUNSHINE LAW APPLIES TO TWO OR MORE MEMBERS SEATED ON THE SAME BOARD HAVING A CONVERSATION.

>> I KNOW YOU WANT TO GET ON THIS. I WILL COME TO THIS.

REGINA. WE WILL ALSO. PAUL IS ON THIS BOARD.

>> IF HE WERE THE REFERENCE. YES. IF IT WERE A DIFFERENT COUNTY.

YOU SAY THEY WERE A NUMBER OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. >> I DON'T HAVE REMEMBER OFF HAND. I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT. WHEN OUR NEXT, ONCE WE HAVE OUR NEW MEMBER SEATING, WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE SUNSHINE LAW TRAINING FOR THIS BODY.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY UNLESS YOU'RE TWO MEMBERS SERVING ON THE SAME COUNCIL.

>> WELL I FELT PERSONALLY THAT IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE TO GO TO PAUL COMMISSIONER WALDRON BECAUSE HE'S ON THIS BOARD BUT THEN AT THE SAME TIME, I FELT IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE TO GO TO BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WITHOUT GOING TO OUR LIAISON. THAT'S WITH THE FUNCTION OF THE

[01:20:06]

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT. >> I GET YOU FEEL IT WAS INAPPROPRIATE.

I WANTED TO CLARIFY THE LEGAL STANCE. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SIKES-KLINE. I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE. >> YES, MR. CHAIR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT DISCUSSION. AND I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY THANK THE SPEAKERS THAT CAME OUT TO JUMP ON THE PHONE FOR OR ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON. I FELT LIKE ALL OF THE INPUT PROVIDED HERE WAS REALLY GREAT. EVEN THOUGH THE PROCESS CAN BE MESSY SOMETIMES, WE'RE ALL DOING OUR BEST TO DELIVER VERY GOOD CANDIDATES TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE INDUSTRY. AND THE CITIZENS HERE FOR THE CITIZENS.

WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MR. CHAIRMAN IF HE'S WILLING TO ACCEPT A MOTION CONCERNING CLEARING OUT THIS PROCESS AND ACTUALLY OUTLINING IT IN WRITING. I FEEL LIKE THE PROCESS SHOULD BE CLEAR AND EASILY UNDERSTOOD NOT JUST TO THE BOARD MEMBERS BUT ALSO TO THE CITIZENS THAT WE SERVE, AND MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE A MOTION THAT WOULD INSTRUCT STAFF TO TAKE THIS DISCUSSION AND BRING BACK UNDER CONSIDERATION, TAKE THIS DISCUSSION UNDER CONSIDERATION AND BRING BACK SUGGESTIONS AND OPTIONS MOVING FORWARD. IT'S SOMETHING I SEE IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN WORK ON NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD JUST AUTOMATICALLY DO. I CAN SEE IT'S WORKING OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS ON DOING THIS PROCESS. SO MY QUESTION IS, THAT SAID,

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO ACCEPT A MOTION TO DO THAT? >> OF COURSE YOU CAN MAKE ANY MOTION YOU WISH. BUT LET ME JUST SAY THIS, THIS IS A COMPLEX THING.

IF WE SOLVE JUST THIS RULE. WE HAVE NOT SOLVED THE OTHER RULES.

I THINK WE NEED A WORKSHOP OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE WHERE WE STUDY THE WHOLE RULE PACKAGE BUT I BELIEVE THE RULES PROPAGATED AND OPERATED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE NOT BEEN ASSIGNED TO US OR DICTATED TO US. ACCORDING TO WHAT I READ IN THE RULES. SO, WE DON'T HAVE RULES. WE OPERATE BY CONSENSUS.

AND I THINK THAT'S A DANGEROUS PROCESS I WOULD ASK WHETHER WE DEVOTE A PROCESS AND JUST GIVE US RULES. ONE OTHER QUESTION. I'M SORRY.

YOU HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR MR. CHAIR. I JUST NEED A CLARIFICATION WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THIS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL THREE

POSITIONS WERE FOUR YEAR TERMS. >> THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. NANCY. I THINK YOU WERE IN HERE.

I WAS THROWING IT OUT TO [INAUDIBLE] AND IF THERE'S NOTHING, NO DOWN SIDE TO IT WHATSOEVER. I LIKE THE BIG PICTURE SUGGESTION AND I AM WILLING TO WORK ON THAT AND TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

>> I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT AS I WOULD ENTERTAIN US DOING A WORKSHOP ON THIS.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT IDEA? >> COMMISSIONER WALDRON.

>> I WAS GOING TO SECOND IT >> WE HAVE, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE MOTION IS.

SORRY. >> REGINA. WHAT IS OUR MOTION?

>> THE MOTION WAS TO TAKE UP AN ITEM AT SOME TIME FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION REGARDING ADOPTING

RULES AND POLICIES ADOPTING POLICIES. >> CAN WE SAY IT'S GOING TO BE

IN FEBRUARY? >> I THINK AND MAYBE AT THE JANUARY MEETING WE COULD

SCHEDULE A DATE SO WE CAN ACCOMMODATE ALL THE NEW MEMBERS. >> GOOD IDEA.

GOOD IDEA. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND WE HAVE A SECOND. IS THERE COMMENT FROM THE COUNCIL?

[01:25:02]

>> CAN I MAKE A COMMENT JUST TO CLARIFY, YOUR NEXT MEETING IS FEBRUARY 7TH.

THERE'S NO MEETING IN JANUARY BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL HOLIDAYS IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.

WE HAVE A SLIGHTLY SHIFTED SCHEDULE. >> SO THE NEXT MEETING SET'S

WORKSHOP DATE. >> OKAY. WE HAVE -- THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL COMMENT. MR. CHAIR. THE ONLY COMMENT I WOULD MAKE.

I'M IN TOTAL SUPPORT OF WHERE YOU'RE HEADED WITH THIS. I WOULD REMIND YOU AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO REMEMBER THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO COMMISSIONERS WHO SIT ON THIS BOARD YOU KNOW THEY ARE ELECTED POSITIONS AND THESE ARE VOLUNTEER BOARDS.

I THINK YOU REALLY NEED TO WALK THAT FINE LINE BECAUSE THEY OPERATE UNDER DIFFERENT SET OF RULES BECAUSE THEY ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND WE DON'T. IT'S JUST NOT AN APPLES TO APPLES THINGS. YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT. THAT'S ALL.

OKAY. CAN WE PLACE THIS ON THE AGENDA? FOR OUR NEXT MEETING?

>> MR. CHAIRMAN -- >> YES. YOU CAN SET IT ON YOUR AGENDA.

I WOULD LIKE CONSENSUS ON THIS. BECAUSE THIS IS A TOUGH GROUP. >> I WOULD LIKE TO THROW OUT A COMMENT THAT YOU HAVE A NEW BOARD. YOU HAVE THREE NEW INDIVIDUALS.

I THINK YOU WANT TO FIND OUT IF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THINK PUTTING IN YOU KNOW LOOKING AT RULES AND PROCEDURES AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN.

I THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE A VOTE FROM THAT GROUP FIRST. >> I THINK IT WOULD BE -- I'M TO INTERRUPT. IT WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO GET YOUR FEET WET BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT THE SOURCE DOCUMENT. THIS HASN'T BEEN DONE SINCE 2013.

THAT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE TASK WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. EVALUATE WHERE WE'RE AT.

I WOULD THINK IT WILL GIVE THEM A GOOD WAY TO LAY DOWN THE ROOTS AS FAR AS STARTING FROM THE

SOURCE AND >> SO. THANK YOU.

>> CAN I PROPOSE SOMETHING HERE. THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO PROSE. OUR NEXT MEETING IS FEBRUARY 8TH. SO WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE TO DO IS I WILL WRITE DOWN, I WILL CREATE A DOCUMENT FOR YOU ALL TO CONSIDER THAT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSING THE NOMINATION OF TDC BOARD MEMBERS AND TAKE THE INPUT OF THE BOARD COLLECTIVELY HERE TODAY AND PUT THAT IN WRITING

AND YOU ALL CAN REVIEW THAT. >> I WILL ALSO BRING FORTH A BULLETED LIST OF WHAT THE OTHER POLICIES ARE BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A SIZEABLE DOCUMENT HERE AND YOU ALL AS A BOARD CAN LOOK AT THAT LIST AND YOU CAN DECIDE YEAH, WE DON'T REALLY WANT TO DEAL WITH NUMBER ONE 5 AND SEVEN BECAUSE THAT'S PRETTY STANDARD BUT WE REALLY WANT TO LOOK AT NUMBERS 2 AND 8 AND WE CAN KIND OF GET OUR HANDS AROUND EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT YOU ALL ARE THINKING ABOUT JUMPING INTO BECAUSE YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT ACTUALLY THINKING ABOUT JUMPING INTO THE WHOLE THING. THERE'S A GOOD BIT THAT'S PRETTY STANDARD AND JUST KIND OF OPERATES THAT WE HAVE A REGULAR MEETING DATE. FROM THAT, YOU CAN DECIDE WHAT ARE OUR NEXT STEPS BUT IT KIND OF GETS YOU OFF DOWN THE PATH AND YOU CAN DECIDE WHICH

DIRECTION IS THE PATH -- >> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO MEDIATE THE POINT.

IRVING WAS MAKING TO GETTING THE INPUT FROM THE NEW MEMBERS WHAT TO EVALUATE AND MOVING THE ISSUE

ALONG. >> THAT WILL BE OUR PLAN FEBRUARY 8TH AND WE CAN DECIDE

WHERE WE GO NEXT. >> I WOULD LIKE TO DESIGNATE THAT MEETING AS A WORKSHOP MEETING SO WE HAVE THE BROADEST POSSIBLE INPUT ON THAT AND ALSO ASK THAT THE ADED IS THE SPORTS COMMISSION. PART OF OUR RULES I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT ADDRESSED.

JACK I THINK YOU HAVE BEEN ADVOCATE OF THAT AND YOU HAVE BEEN RIGHT AND PAUL HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE. LET'S GET IT DONE. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT.

IF IT'S WITHIN MY POWER TO SAY THAT FEBRUARY WILL BE AND I MAYBE WELL, I SUPPOSE, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS? WHAT TYPICALLY HAPPENS IS IT'S THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENS ON THE AGENDA AND THEN THE CHAIRMAN HAS THE OPTION TO, THE NEW CHAIRMAN TO LET YOU RUN THE MEETING OR TAKE OVER WHATEVER YOU DO.

THE >> YOU WERE KIND ENOUGH TO DO THAT FOR ME AND I APPRECIATE IT.

CAN WE GET THAT FIRST ON THE AGENDA. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THAT

[01:30:04]

OKAY. UNLESS THERE'S AND OTHER DRIVING MOTION, I WANT TO HAVE A FIVE

MINUTE BREAK HERE. YOU HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. >> YOU STILL HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. WE DO, I'M SORRY. AND IS THE MOTION SECONDED?

>> IT IS. >> CAN WE VOTE ON THAT PLEASE DEANA.

>> DANNY >> GEORGE. YES.

>> IRVING KASDZ? >> YES >>

[9. PRESENTATION OF CULTURAL DESTINATION MARKETING REVIEW]

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ALL PAY GREATEST AMOUNT OF ATTENTION YOU CAN.

A LOT OF WORK HAS GONE INTO THIS AND VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

ALSO, I AM GOING TO ASK ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONES BECAUSE TOM STALINGS IS ABOUT TO TEAR HIS HAIR OUT AND HE DOESN'T HAVE MUCH.

TERA. >> I'M SURE TOM APPRECIATES THAT ADDITION THERE.

SO, OUR NEXT ITEM NUMBER 9 IS A CONTINUATION FROM LAST MONTH'S MEETING DISCUSSION.

LAST MONTH WE HEARD A PRESENTATION FROM MISS ROBIN MALPASS ABOUT THE REVIEW OF THE CULTURAL TOURISM MARKETING MATERIALS THAT WE OUR TO OUR TOURISTS.

SHE GAVE A PRESENTATION AND THAT WAS I THINK PRESENTATION WAS DONE IN FULL BUT KIND OF THE Q AND A AND DISCUSSION WAS CURTAILED BECAUSE WE RAN OUT OF TIME DUE TO OUR EARLIER DISCUSSIONS. MISS CHRISTINA WILL LEAD THE DISCUSSION.

SHE HAS A NUMBER OF FOUR POINT SLIDES AND I, THIS AFFECTED THE REMOTE, I'M NOT GOING TO TOUCH

IT. I WILL STEP TO THE SIDE. >> GOOD MORNING, I'M CHRISTINA PERRY STONE. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY CULTURAL COUNCIL. I JOINED THE COUNCIL A YEAR AGO AND REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH MR. KASS AND MR. PETERS AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE NEW MEMBERS IN THE COMING YEAR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. LAST MONTH WE DID SEE A PRESENTATION FROM ROBIN MALPASS, IT WAS RUSHED BECAUSE WE HAD A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME.

ROBIN IS NOT ABLE TO BE WITH US TODAY. I WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH A POWER POINT THAT TOUCHES ON WHAT ROBIN TALKED ABOUT AND OFFERS A REFRESH OF THE CULTURAL COUNCIL'S ROLE AND THE INFORMATION ON THE WORK WE HAVE BEEN DOING AS A RESULT OF MS. MALPASS' STUDY. ONE THING I WANTED TO CLARIFY, I SAW THE BOARD COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING WHEN MR. WALDRON WAS NICE ENOUGH TO SHARE THE PRESENTATION.

THERE WAS A DOLLAR AMOUNT MENTIONED, I WANT TO ASSURE YOU, WE TAKE OUR RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY AS FAR AS HOW WE SPEND OUR COUNTY'S MONEY. WE SPENT LESS THAN $15,000 ON THE STUDY AND FEEL LIKE THE RESULTS WERE WELL WORTH THE INVESTMENT AND AGAIN WE HAVE ALREADY BEGAN TAKING ACTION ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE. I HAVE THROWN SLIDES IN JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE OF THE DEPTH OF THE CULTURAL ASSETS WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTY AND IN ALL PARTS OF THIS COUNTY. AND THESE ASSETS ARE THE REASON THAT MS. MALPASS' STUDY IS WITH THE ARTS COUNCIL AND DESTINATION MARKETING IS SO IMPORTANT. WE ARE THE LOCAL ARTS AGENCY FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY. WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE DESTINATION

[01:35:04]

THIS IS THE POSTCARD THAT SHOWS THE CENTER OF THE BUILDING. THIS WAS DEMOLISHED AND THE OTHER DOES STAND. IT WAS ONE OF MOST SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. JUST A REMINDER. A LOCAL ARTS AGENCY IS AN ENTITY ESTABLISHED BY FLORIDA STATUTE. EACH COUNTY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DESIGNATE AN ART THE AGENCY, WE SELECTED THE CULTURAL COUNCIL IN 2007. THE LOCAL ARTS AGENCIES ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE COUNTY WHO ARE INVOLVED IN ARTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND ALSO TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO ARTS AND CULTURE. IN SOME COUNTIES, THE ORDINANCE THAT CREATES THE LOCAL ARTS AGENCY PROVIDES FUNDING. THAT WAS NOT THE CASE IN ST. JOHNS.

WE DO NOT RECEIVE MONEY FROM THE COUNTY. WE HAVE TO RELY ON OTHER SOURCES AND WE JUST LIKE OUR GRANTEES APPLY FOR GRANTS AND RECEIVE THEM FROM THE STATE FROM CULTURE BUILDS FLORIDA. THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS AND MANY OTHERS.

I'M APPLYING FOR GRANTS TO HELP US COME UP WITH RESOURCES TO TAKE CARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES.

ANOTHER SOURCE YOU SEE THE LICENSE PLATES THAT SAY STATE-OF-THE-ART, THEY ARE SOLD IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. WE RECEIVE THAT MONEY. 100% OF THAT MONEY IS REGRANTED TO LOCAL SCHOOLS, INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND LOCAL AGENCY. SO THIS WORK THAT WE DO REALLY MAKES US IDEALLY SUITED TO REPRESENT THE COUNTY WHEN WE'RE MARKETING TO CULTURAL TRAVELERS BECAUSE WE WORK DAILY WITH ALL OF THE LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND WHEN I SAY ARTS, I'M TALKING ABOUT ARTS, CULTURE HERITAGE AND HISTORY. EVERYTHING FROM THE MUSEUMS. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MONUMENT SAYS TO SCHOOLCHILDREN AND TEACHERS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN ARTS EDUCATION. THE GRANT THAT WE GET FROM THE STATE REQUIRES US TO COMPLETE CERTAIN ACTIVITIES. WE PRESENT PERFORMANCES AND EXHIBITIONS, GIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONS INCLUDING THE INSTALLATIONS YOU SEE IN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING. WE DON'T RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE COUNTY FOR THOSE. WE'RE WORKING ON A GREAT EXHIBITION TO CELEBRATE THE COUNTY'S 200TH ANNIVERSARY THAT WILL ENGAGE ALL CULTURAL STAKEHOLDERS.

ART EDUCATION AND STATE-OF-THE-ARTS GRANTS. WE PROVIDED FUNDING TO THOSE ARTIST WHO HAD EMERGENCY NEEDS DUE TO COVID. THIS IS ALL FUNDED WITH NONCOUNTY MONEY. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT CULTURAL TOURISM AND GET BACK TO MISS MALPASS' DESTINATION REVIEW. I WANT TO POINT OUT A COUPLE THINGS THAT ARE PART OF WHY WE ENGAGE MISS MALPASS. I AM NEW AT CULTURAL COUNCIL WHEN I CAME IN.

THERE HAD BEEN SOMEONE IN MY POSITION FOR MANY YEARS AND LIKE ANYONE ELSE WHO COMES INTO A NEW JOB, I HAD TO EDUCATE MYSELF AND WANTED TO BRING IN AN EXPERT TO SHED LIGHT OR ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WORK IN THE PAST AND WHETHER WE WERE MARKETING CULTURAL TOURISM IN THE BEST WAY. WE ARE GENERATING THROUGH TICKET SALES AND CARRIES OVER TO RESTAURANTS, LOCAL BOUTIQUES, CULTURAL TRAVELERS SPENT A LOT OF MONEY IN THE COUNTY, NOT JUST ON HOTEL ROOMS BUT DO TEND TO PAY FOR MORE EXPENSIVE HOTEL ROOMS AND WOULD NOT BAT AN EYE ON A $0.01 BED TAX IF THEY WERE SOMETHING THEY WERE PAYING. CULTURAL TOURISM IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE NOT JUST FOR THE VISITORS BUT FOR RESIDENTS AS WELL.

[01:40:02]

THROUGH A GRANT PROGRAM WERE FUNDING LARGE EVENTS. MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE AND MARKETING THOSE EVENTS. WE DECIDED WE NEEDED TO LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE IN THE COUNTY THAT IS HERE 365 DAYS A YEAR, WHAT ARE THE PLACES AND ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING TO BRING CULTURAL TRAVELERS HERE AND NOT JUST BRING THEM HERE BUT ONCE VISITORS HERE, THOSE VISITORS GOING TO INVITE THEIR FRIENDS. HOW DO WE MEASURE SUCCESS? JUST INCREASED BED TAX COLLECTIONS? IF WE LOOK AT INCREASE IN BED TAX COLLECTIONS, IS THAT TELLING US THE CULTURAL COUNCIL IS DOING BEST JOB POSSIBLE WITH OUR FUNDS OR LOOK AT THINGS LIKE INCREASED NUMBER OF VISITORS TO SOME OF OUR CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INCREASES IN THEIR REVENUES. YOU WILL SEE SLIDES THROUGHOUT THAT MENTION A PARTICULAR PART OF THE COUNTY. ALL ST. AUGUSTINE IS RICH WITH CULTURAL LOCATIONS WE HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HISTORY THERE. A LOT OF WORK BY ALPINE FRIENDS TO RESTORE THE HOME THERE. AND THE HOME OF AUTHOR STETSON KENNEDY, AN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED WRITER CONNECTED TO ARLO GUTHRIE AND PETE SEGER WHO WORKED IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE ENGAGED MISS MALPASS TO DO A MARKETING REVIEW. WE DID NOT HIRE HER TO LOOK AT WHAT THE VCB IS DOING. WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL HAS BEEN DOING.

WE WERE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT THAT. WE WANTED HER TO LOOK AT THE RESULTS OF HER EFFORTS TO MARKET OUT OF COUNTY. WHICH I CAME HERE MY PREDECESSOR ADVISED ME THAT WAS TO BE OUR TO FOCUS. TO LOOK AT WHAT OUR VISITORS ARE FINDING WHEN THEY CAME HERE. WHAT KIND OF ACCESS THEY HAD TO INFORMATION.

LET'S SAY THEY CAME HERE TO GO TO THE BEAST BUT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN HISTORY, ARTS AND CULTURE. HOW DID THEY FIND OUT ABOUT THE THINGS WE HAD TO OFFER WHILE THEY'RE HERE AND ALSO HOW ARE WE DOING WITH BRINGING PEOPLE BACK? SO THAT WAS PART OF WHAT WE ASKED THAT YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP US DO A BETTER JOB. AND AGAIN I WANT TO REITERATE, SHE DID NOT STUDY THE VCB.

DID LOOK AT HOW WE WORK TOGETHER. BY IMPRESSION FROM WHAT SHE HAS TOLD ME SHE FEELS THE VCB IS DOING A VERY GOOD JOB MARKETING TO THE LEISURE TRAVELERS THAT WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE. THE FOLKS THAT COME HERE FOR THE BEACHES AND THE OTHER ATTRIBUTES. YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE COUNTY WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT HISTORY AND HERITAGE AND OUR GREAT CULINARY ASSETS. BUT JUST WANT TO STRESS WE'RE NOT CRITICIZING THE VCB IN ANY WAY. FORT MATANSAS, WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE TWO NATIONAL MONUMENTS. MS. MALPASS TALKED TO ABOUT THESE THING.

SHE FOUND A LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY WHAT SHE AND HER TEAM FOUND MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE WAS THE WORLD CLASS CULTURAL ASSETS WE HAVE HERE.

MORE THAN POSSIBLY ANY OTHER DESTINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE. WE HAVE HAVE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HURTS THE CULTURAL COUNCIL IS OUR BUDGET. WE HAVE A SMALL BUDGET ALTHOUGH WE DO DEDICATE ALL OF THE MONEY FROM OUR CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY TOWARDS DESTINATION MARKETING AND SUPPORTING THE GRANT PROGRAM. I WANTED TO MENTION BEFORE THE LOCAL ARTS AGENCY MONEY THAT WE RECEIVE WE DO ALLOCATE A PORTION OF THAT MONEY TO COVER STAFF TIME THAT IS DEVOTED TO THE LOCAL ARTS AGENCY WORK TO MANAGING THE BUILDING AT THE BEACH. WE'RE NOT SPENDING TDC NUMBERS OTHER THAN WHAT WE WERE TASKED WITH IN THE CONTRACT. SHE FELT SHE NEEDED TO COLLABORATE MORE WITH THE VCB TO

[01:45:02]

SHE FOUND THAT IT WAS HARD TO FIND OUT INFORMATION WHEN YOU WERE IN THE COUNTY ABOUT THE CULTURAL ASSETS WE HAVE. THAT GOES BACK TO THE FACT WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED NOT TO SPEND MONEY IN COUNTY. THAT'S AN AREA WE SHOULD BE DISCUSSING.

I KNOW I RECEIVED A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM TRAVELERS WHO SAY THEY COME HERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE HEARD ABOUT OUR GREAT HISTORY AND CULTURE BUT THEY ARRIVE AND THEY ARE TOLD, THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN TO GO TO ST. GEORGE STREET. I'M NOT SAYING THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH GOING TO ST. GEORGE STREET. WE THE CULTURAL COUNCIL NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR VISITORS KNOW WHEN THEY COME TO GO TO POINT VEDRA OR TO SEE THE HISTORY AND PLACES THAT ARE THERE AND THEY NEED TO PVISIT THESE NATIONAL MONULATES. LEARN ABOUT OUR CIVIL RIGHTS THE HISTORY. THE OTHER THINGS WE HAVE TO OFFER.

ROBIN MENTIONED THE LACK OF CULTURAL EXPERIENCES ON STREET. SHE WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE CULTURE WE HAD IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE THAT LED TO THE REDUCTION OF THOSE ACTIVITIES.

SHE DID STRESS CULTURAL TRAVELERS WANT TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE THINGS WHEN THEY ARE OUT. WHETHER PUBLIC ART PERFORMANCES. EVEN HAVING MORE ART IN THEIR HOTELS AND THINGS LIKE THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. SHE MENTIONED WE COULD USE A DIRECTORY FOR CULTURAL VISITORS. WE NEED TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF TOURS WE HAVE.

WE HAVE THE TOUR TROLLEYS. WE DON'T REAL HAVE THE CIVIL RIGHTS TOURS THAT SOME OF THESE VISITORS ARE SEEKING. AGAIN SHE KIND OF SUMMED IT UP THAT OUR VISITORS COME HERE AND THEY REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL OF WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER. THE NATIONAL MONUMENTS.

THE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA. WE HAVE A NATIONAL CEMETERY AND SOME OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CIVIL RIGHTS LOCATIONS. THAT'S A STORY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN HEARING. THESE ARE PHOTOGRAPHS ON LEFT. THE ACCORD MUSEUM AND PART OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM THEY CREATED. WE NEED TO PROVIDE MORE DIRECT SUPPORT FOR OUR CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. WE DO SUPPORT EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS THROUGH OUR GRANT PROGRAM WHICH I FEEL WE NEED A WORKSHOP TO THAT.

MS. MALPASS SAID WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH CURATING AND SERVE THAT MATERIAL UP TO THE VCB TO DELIVER TO CONSUMERS. WE REALLY DO NEED TO HELP TO DEVELOP THE MORE INDEPTH TOURS.

WE NEED TO WORK WITH FOLKS TO COME UP WITH THE EXPERIENCES THAT ARE HAPPENING OUT ON THE STREETS. WE NEED TO WORK MORE ON PUTTING TOGETHER TOURS LIKE THE INSIDERS TOUR WE DID WITH THE FLORIDA TRUST FOR HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AND THOSE THAT FIT THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF THOSE WHO SPEND MORE AND STAY LONGER. HERE ARE EXAMPLES OF OUR GUILDED

[01:50:03]

SO, THE BIGGEST AREA OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR UNDER CULTIVATE AND THIS SORT OF LAYS OUT A PLAN FOR WHAT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL CAN DO TO MAKE ST. JOHNS A DESTINATION.

I DO WANT TO REITERATE, THE CULTURAL COUNCIL HAS FOCUSED MORE ON THE SOUTHEAST WHICH MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. EITHER OF US HAS A HUGE BUDGET AND WE KNOW WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO VISITED SO WE HAVE BEEN RETARGETING THEM THE ASSETS IN THIS COUNTY ARE OF THE CALIBER.

WE CAN ATTRACT VISITORS FROM THE COUNTY AND ALL OVER THE WORLD. THIS COUNTY COULD COME A PLACE WHERE EVERY FAMILY FEELS YOU NEED TO GO TO THE NATION'S OLDEST CITY TO VISIT THE CIVIL RIGHTS TRAIL THAT THEY HAVE HERE, TO EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER.

WE CAN DO THAT WITH AN AIRPORT LESS THAN 40 MINUTES AWAY IN JACKSONVILLE THAT HAS DIRECT FLIGHTS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES. WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED WORKING VERY HARD DUE TO THE STUDY. A LOT HAS BEEN WITH THE COLLABORATION OF THE VCB TO SHARE THE PHOTO LIBRARY, THEIR PUBLIC RELATIONS MACHINE, THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA FOLKS.

THEY ARE SHARING CONTENT THAT WE CREATE THROUGH THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKING BACK TO OUR SITE TO DRIVE MORE VISITORS TO OUR SITE. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT SOME EVENTS THAT WE BOTH FEEL ARE APPROPRIATE FOR ATTRACTING THOSE CULTURAL TRAVELERS. ONE IS THE NEW ST. AUGUSTINE FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL THAT WILL BE AT THE WORLD GOLF FESTIVAL. THE SPRING ORGANIZED BY A GROUP KNOWN FOR THEIR EXCELLENT FOOD AND WINE ACTIVITIES. INCLUDING SAVANNA FOOD AND WINE. WE BROUGHT THEM HERE.

THE CULTURAL COUNCIL INVITED THEM HERE AND THEY'RE DOING AN AMAZING JOB WITH THAT EVENT, WHICH WE WANT TO SEE MORE OF. WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH THE FOLKS AT THE COUNTY CULTURAL EVENTS DIVISION. THE AMP TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MUSIC STUDY, WHICH HAS BEEN COMPLETED. WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CHAMBER TO SEE HOW WE CAN ENGAGE WITH THE DIFFERENT CHAMBER OF COUNCILS OUR EFFORTS. ON OUR OWN, WE LEARNED THAT WE WEREN'T GETTING AS MANY VISITORS TO OUR WEBSITE AS WE SHOULD. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD FOR SEARCH OPTIMIZE ABLE AND A GOOGLE GRANT TO PROVIDE US $140,000 OF FREE ADVERTISING FOR GOOGLE FOR NON-PROFITS IN THE NEXT YEAR. AND THE BIGGEST THING WE HAVE DONE, IT'S VERY TIME CONSUMING AND THE REASON YOU DID NOT GET THIS PRESENTATION IN ADVANCE...9

>> HAVE A NEW CONTRACT BY JANUARY 1. THEY WILL BE TASKED WITH IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS OF OUR REVIEW. ALSO RESEARCHING HOW OTHER COUNTIES IN FLORIDA ARE APPROACHING DESTINATION MARKETING AND GRANTMAKING FROM A PERSPECTIVE.

A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM LATER THIS YEAR. FULLY REPORT FOR ALL OF YOU ON WHAT OTHER COUNTIES ARE DOING. WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR EXPERIENCED GRANTEES, EVERY ONE OF THEM ASKED US TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORT FOR THEM THIS YEAR. SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I HOPE WILL ELEVATE THEIR MARKETING EFFORTS, IT IS A BIG LIFT FOR US BUT I THINK WE WILL HANDLE IT.WE HAVE REALLY WORKED HARD TO INCREASE OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS. A COUPLE OF THINGS GOING ON POVER IN OUR CORE DOOR, HASTING HIGH SCHOOL ANOTHER BUILDING. HAT HAS HAD SOME RESTORATION DONE BUT COULD USE MORE.

[01:55:04]

INCREDIBLE RAIL TRAIL THAT GOES THROUGH AREA IN THE COMMUNITY. A NUMBER OF HISTORIC SITES THERE BUT A LOT MORE WE COULD DO IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTY. THIS SLIDE IS HARD TO READ.

IN THE YEAR THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE, IN SPITE OF COVID-19 I HAVE MET IN PERSON WITH ALMOST EVERY ORGANIZATION LISTED HERE. THAT IS MORE THAN 115 CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS THERE AT THE COUNTY. A COUPLE OTHERS I HAVE HAD TO MEET WITH BY PHONE BECAUSE OF COVID-19. DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, ORGANIZATIONS.

I THINK THAT IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. THAT IS A LOT FOR COUNTY OF THIS SIZE. SO THAT IS SORT OF A SUMMARY OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THE MARKETING REVIEW. TOUCH ON OUR GRANTS TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT AS WE MOVE TOWARDS THE NEXT MEETING. THIS PHOTOGRAPH IS FOR THE DIRECTOR OF OUR SAINT AUGUSTINE MUSIC FESTIVAL WHICH IS THE LARGEST SUMMER CLASSICAL MUSIC FESTIVAL IN THE WORLD.

ATTRACTING THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO ST. JOHN'S COUNTY SINCE IT BEGAN.

DESTINATION AND IS KNOWN AS THE FIRST DESTINATION AND THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD BACK WHEN IT WAS SOUTH INSTEAD OF NORTH, THE FIRST PLACE WHEREFORMERLY ENSLAVED PEOPLE COULD LIVE AS FREE PEOPLE IN THE U.S. TREMENDOUS CULTURAL ASSETS. THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH GRANTEES AND VERY WORTHY. THIS IS JUST A RECAP OF WHAT HAPPENED IN 2021 WHEN OUR TOTAL FUNDING WAS WAY DOWN, WE HAVE BEEN YEARS WHERE WE HAVE HAD OVER $600,000 TO INVEST, THIS YEAR 275. WE WERE ABLE TO FIND ONE 10,000 GRANT, WE FUNDED ANOTHER, 75,000. ANNUAL AND SPECIAL EVENTS GRANTS. I JUST WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS BEFORE WE GO INTO QUESTIONS ABOUT MARKETING, I THINK WE NEED TO RETHINK HOW WE HANDLE OUR PROGRAM.

IT HAS BEEN VERY FOCUSED ON REALLY ANNUAL AND SPECIAL EVENTS, THEY HAVE RECEIVED THE BULK OF THE FUNDING AND MANY OTHER GREAT EVENTS BUT I THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER THOSE EVENTS ARE WHAT IS GOING TO ATTRACT THESE CULTURAL VISITORS THAT WE WANT.

SHOULD WE ALSO BE PROVIDING MORE FUNDING TO SOME OF THE REALLY XCELLENT MUSEUMS THAT WE HAVE HERE, THE HISTORIC SITES THAT HAVE YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMMING.

HOW DO WE BALANCE THAT WITH THESE ONE DAY OR ONE WEEKEND EVENTS WE HAVE? I AM NOT SAYING WE SHOULDN'T, I THINK WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE BALANCE.

WE ALSO NEED TO THINK ABOUT OUR METHODOLOGY. THIS YEAR THE FIRST TIME I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE GRANT PROCESS. IT IS CONCERNING TO ME I THINK THE PANEL IS NOT NECESSARILY AS EXPERIENCED AS THEY SHOULD BE. WE DON'T HAVE ANY GUIDELINES, NEW EVENTS TO COME IN.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY MECHANISM FOR REDUCING FUNDING. SOME OF THE EVENTS SHOULD BE SELF SUPPORTIVE. THE WAY WE DETERMINE HOW MUCH MONEY EACH GRANTEE GETS IS CHALLENGING. NOT BASED ON A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR BUDGET OR ANY METRICS.

AGAIN I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THAT. ANOTHER STAFF GETTING TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH PROPOSALS TO PRESENT TO YOU LATER ON. I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THAT ON THE GRANTS. THEN OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS AND ANY DISCUSSION YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE WITH THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR SO FAR IN RESPONSE TO THAT.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM THE

COUNCIL? >> UNEXPECTEDLY I THINK THIS IS POINTED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I THINK YOU ARE LAYING OUT POSSIBILITIES FOR, WHICH ARE SO WELL DIRECTED.

I AM THRILLED TO SEE THIS. I THINK YOU ARE STRONGLY HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

[02:00:11]

I COMMEND THIS AND I THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT WORK. >> THANK YOU.

>> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO COMMENT A LITTLE BIT. THE PRESENTATION WE SAW LAST MONTH, TWO MONTHS AGO, I DON'T REMEMBER. WAS EXCELLENT AND IT REALLY DOES SHOW THE THINGS THAT I THINK WILL NEW, TAKEN OVER THE CULTURAL COUNCIL THAT THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT ITEMS TO WORK ON. I THINK THIS ADDRESS IS QUITE WELL.

I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF IT. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND CAUTION EVERYONE, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY AND CHARLESTON, A LITTLE BIT OF FOOLS GOLD LOOKING AT THAT NUMBER. THERE ARE 999 HOTELS IN CHARLESTON. SO EVERYONE KNOWS. 140,000 RESIDENTS AND IT HAS BUSINESS COMMUNITY. IT IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MARKET AND TO DO A FULL ANALYSIS OF IT, WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT IT CLOSELY BUT IT IS WAY ÃA LOT OF HOLES IN WHAT ROBIN PRESENTED. THAT WE ARE DOING WHATEVER IT IS, 3 MILLION, 8 MILLION, UNDERPERFORMING. I CAN PROBABLY SPEND FOUR HOURS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSING WHY YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL OF IT. SHE IS 100 PERCENT CORRECT THAT THE CUSTOMER WHO WAS CULTURALLY, GOING TO HAVE A HIGHER SPEND, NO DIFFERENT IN THE CUSTOMER THAT GOES TO A GOLF RESORT. JUST SO EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE ECONOMICS, THE THING THAT WAS 78 PERCENT THAT ALL GUESTS DATA, HIGHER THAN THE 73 PERCENT ON CULTURAL, GOLF RESORT IS BY RETAIL. PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL, WHO GO TO FOUR-STAR RESORTS, DO NOT MAKE THE TIME TO GO SHOPPING AND THEY ACTUALLY SPEND A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF THEIR ANNUAL SPEND IN RETAIL SHOPS WHEN THEY ARE ON VACATION.

SO WHAT THAT IS IS IS THERE IS A LOT OF HIGH END SPENDING. PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT THE PERSON WHO STAYS AT MY HOTEL VERSUS STAYING AT A DAYS IN, THEIR TOTAL SPENDING SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT.IF THEY CAME HERE FOR LEISURE, THEY CAME HERE FOR GOLF, IF THEY CAME HERE FOR CULTURAL, I DON'T WANT EVERYONE TO GET TOTALLY HUNG UP ON THE MAGIC BULLET, THAT WERE GOING TO GO FROM 3 BILLION TO 8 BILLION OVERNIGHT. PBUT UNDERSTAND THAT THAT CONSUMER WILL HAVE A BETTER SPEND AND IT IS WHAT I THINK THIS MARKET HAS BEEN WORKING ON BUT I THINK YOU WILL FIND IN CITIES LIKE THAT, WHEN TODAY IS A BUSIEST DAY OF THE WEEK NOT A SATURDAY. BECAUSE MOST CITIES ARE DRIVEN BY UP UNTIL THE PANDEMIC.

DRIVEN BY CONVENTION AND IS DRIVEN BY CORPORATE TRAVEL. IN EVERY HOTEL I'VE WORKED AT IN MY CAREER OVER 40 YEARS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE RESORTS, WHEN TODAY WAS THE BEST DAY OF THE WEEK. AND SO WHEN YOU ARE STARTING TO LOOK AT THOSE THINGS I ASK PEOPLE TO NOT JUST TAKE A NUMBER AND SAY, THAT IS GREAT. UNDERSTAND THE UNDERLYING REASONS. SHE IS 100 PERCENT RIGHT, GREAT CUSTOMER.

BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO ALL OF A SUDDEN TOMORROW, FOR US TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT SHE SAID WE WOULD HAVE TO BASICALLY DOWNTOWN SAINT AUGUSTINE CLOSE PROPERTIES AND REPLACE THEM WITH FOUR SEASONS. LIKELIHOOD THAT THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, I DON'T KNOW WHO

[02:05:01]

I DON'T WANT EVERYONE TO LOOK FOR FOOLS GOLD. >> THANK YOU.

WE ARE CAUTIONED. OTHER COMMENTS? >> LOOK AT HOW WE ARE SPENDING THE MONEY FOR EVENTS ON WEEKENDS. AT SOME POINT, AFTER SOME OF THE YEARS, I THINK ATTRACTING NEW EVENTS IS A KEY. ONE THING ABOUT THE ADVERTISING, I KNOW A LOT OF IT IS SET UP BY THE RULES, BUT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW HOUSES ON THE MARKET, LASTING 12 DAYS. HUGE INFLUX OF PEOPLE SOUTH OF 210.

MOVING HERE, COMING FROM UP NORTH, UNLESS THEY COME DOWN AND TRAVEL, WILL NOT PUT HEADS IN BEDS BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THOSE MUSEUMS AND EVERYTHING, TO LET THEM KNOW IT IS THERE.

THAT IS CONCERNING WE ARE DOING NOTHING TO ATTRACT ANYBODY TO LET THESE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IS HERE. YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID CHARLESTON 144,000, ST. JOHN'S COUNTY 265 RIGHT NOW. WE NEED TO KIND OF ACCOMMODATE ADVERTISING LOCALLY BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW IT IS HERE. WE SAW THAT IN THE PRESENTATION. MONUMENT THAT WE DON'T REALLY EVEN ADVERTISE.

SO IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THAT WORD OUT, TO EVERYBODY. BROUGHT IN ADVERTISING.

I THINK WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO LET THE NEW RESIDENTS AND THE ONES WHO HAVE BEEN HERE A WHILE. I GREW UP, I CAN REMEMBER A LOT OF STUFF BEING THAT WAY.

APPRECIATE IT. >> I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IN TALKING WITH OTHER DESTINATIONS, MANY COUNTIES TO USE TAX DOLLARS TO ADVERTISE IN COUNTY.

CULTURAL EQUIVALENT OF THE CULTURAL COUNCIL IS PROMOTING WITHIN THE COUNTY THE EXHIBITIONS THAT ARE GOING ON AT THE MUSEUMS. THE IDEA IS VISITORS ALREADY HERE, SEE THOSE PROMOTIONS AS WELL AS THE RESIDENTS. YOU KNOW IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHETHER THE TICKET IS PURCHASED BY A RESIDENT OR VISITOR TO THESE MUSEUMS. IT IS GOING TO HELP THE REVENUE AND ALLOW THEM TO HAVE A BETTER PRODUCT FOR OUR VISITORS WERE CREATING THE BED TAX DOLLARS IF THEY ARE SUPPORTED LOCALLY. I DON'T THINK IT IS SOMETHING WE CAN'T DO, AS I SAID WHEN I ARRIVED I WAS TOLD BY MY PREDECESSOR THAT WE HAD BEEN TASKED WITH FOCUSING OUT OF COUNTY. OF COURSE WE DO NOT NEED TO SPEND THE BULK OF OUR MONEY OUT OF COUNTY. TOO FAR, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING YOU CAN RECOMMEND AND THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CAN SUPPORT.

SOMETHING I CAN TALK WITH OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY ABOUT. I DON'T THINK THE STATUTE

REQUIRES US TO DO ALL OF OUR SPENDING OUT OF COUNTY. >> SO MUCH TRAVELING I DO, WE DO A LOT OF DRIVING. I ENJOY DRIVING. IF I SEE A SIGN, IT COULD BE CHOCOLATE TASTING. YOU STOP THERE. YOU SPEND MONEY THERE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THAT. ON OUR INTERSTATE YOU SEE ALL THE SIGNS FOR COCOA BEACH. IF YOU ARE TRAVELING, WE MIGHT HAVE A DESTINATION TO END UP WITH THAT TWO OR THREE DAYS TO GET THERE, WE ARE STOPPING WHERE WE WANT.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT TRAVEL. THANK YOU.

>> OTHER COMMENTS? >> NO. RICHARD, COME ON APPEAR FOR A MINUTE. COMMENT SOMETHING THAT CHRISTINA HAS DONE AND THEN GO ON TO ANOTHER ISSUE. CHRISTINA HAS BEEN WORKING WITH CLEAR CHANNEL TO GET THEM TO GIVE US BILLBOARDS. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. I CAN ASSURE YOU.

[02:10:07]

GOT YOU BOTH HERE, SAY SOMETHING TO BOTH OF YOU. THIS GROUP ASKED WE HAVE EFFORTS MADE TO COLLABORATE AND COORDINATE EFFORTS, YOUR WORK, NOT ONLY JUST TO GAIN ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE OR FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE BUT TO COME TOGETHER AND TRY TO DO A BETTER JOB.

YOU TWO HAVE DONE THAT AND HAVE COME TOGETHER AND ARE DOING A BETTER JOB, ON BEHALF OF THIS GROUP I WANT TO THANK YOU AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WORK. NOT EASY FOR YOU GUYS.

ASKING YOU IN A TIME WHEN WE HAD THE LEAST AMOUNT OF FUNDING YOU AGAIN, BOOTSTRAP AND WORK TOGETHER, YOU GUYS HAVE NOT BEEN HOSTILE. I COMMEND THAT TO YOU.

I PROMISE YOU WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR THESE EFFORTS. AS I SAID, THOSE THAT DON'T GET ON BOARD ARE GOING TO MISS THE TRAIN HERE. I WANT TO THANK YOU.

PUT ON THE RECORD THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB, BOTH OF YOU.

OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS? MOVING FORWARD. WE WANT TO HEAR MORE ON THIS.

YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK WE ARE ALL OPEN TO A WORKSHOP ON THIS. IT IS WORTH OUR EFFORT.

THIS IS ÃWE ASK YOU TO PLOW NEW FIELDS AND YOU HAVE DONE IT.

SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

[10. MONTHLY REPORTS PROVIDED IN PACKETS]

>> THE MONTHLY REPORTS IN. >> A COUPLE OF SLIDES IN THE PRESENTATION.

>> YES, PLEASE. >> ANY QUESTIONS? I THINK WE ARE GOOD.

THANK YOU. >> MOVE ON TO NUMBER 11. COMMENTS?

[11. MEMBER COMMENTS]

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE GOING TO DO WAS TO EXTEND A BIG THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE. CERTAINLY WOULD APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE TWO LONG-STANDING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE GIVEN US A VOLUNTEER TIME. JACK BEEN YOUR 17 YEARS.

IRVING A LOT OF YEARS AS WELL. A BIG THANK YOU TO BOTH. I KNOW I CAN LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO GET YOUR COMMENTS AND INPUT AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN TOURISM

AS WE MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> COMMENTS OTHER THAN THIS

WONDERFUL ONE WE JUST HAD? >> LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING THIS ON T.V. FEBRUARY 8.

>> I AM NOT SURE I AM GOING TO WATCH IT ON T.V. I WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE AND SAY THANK YOU TO MY MEMBERS. I HAVE WORKED WITH A LOT OF STAFF OVER THE YEARS, A FRONT-ROW SEAT ON SOME OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS THAT THE COUNTY HAS UNDERTAKEN WHETHER THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF THE AMPHITHEATER, DAVIS PARK. CONCERT HALL.

REALLY BEEN AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO DO THAT. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE BOARD. THANK YOU TO TARA AND DENA PARTICULARLY.

REGINA, PATRICK. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. HENRY AND MIKE FOR THEIR SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS. I THINK THE FUTURE OF TOURISM AT ST. JOHN'S COUNTY IS BRIGHT.

WE WILL GET THROUGH COVID-19. BUDGETS WILL START TO COME BACK UP, TOURISTS WILL START TRAVELING. WITH THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP AND THE RIGHT VISION AND FORESIGHT I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD THING GOING SO KEEP IT GOING. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, JACK. THANK YOU IRVING. WITH THAT, NEXT MEETING DATE?

[12. NEXT MEETING DATE]

[02:15:09]

>> FEBRUARY 8, MONDAY. AT OUR USUAL TIME IN THIS ROOM. >> I KIND OF LIKE THE MORNING

OUR. >> ANY OTHER MATTER TO COME BEFORE US TODAY?ASK FOR MOTION TO ADJOURN. ALL IN FAVOR? THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.