[Items 1 - 3]
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GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. WE WILL CALL THE AUGUST MEETING OF THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TO ORDER.
AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WHET LED BY TROY.
>> PLEASE JOIN ME WITH THE PLEDGE.
>> 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.
AND THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE. >> TROY BLEVINS, HERE.
>> KATHY FLEMING, HERE, MICHAEL GORDON WILL BE ABSENT.
GAYLE PHILIPS, MAYOR SAMORA. >> THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE TWO MEMBERS ABSENT TODAY.
BUT WE ARE ALSO PLEASED TO WELCOME THE NEWEST BOARD MEMBER.
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
GAYLE PHILLIPS YOUR FIRST MEETING UP HERE.BUT YOU HAVE ATTENDED AND PARTICIPATED IN THE MEETING MANY
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
TIMES. WE WELCOME YOU TO THE OTHER SIDE, SO TO SPEAK. I WON'T SAY IT IS THE DARK SIDE,JUST THE OTHER SIDE. >> THANK, JOE.
>> APPROVAL OF TODAY'S AGENDA. >> SO MOVED.
>> ALL IN FAVOR, APPROVE NO. 5, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE
JUNE 20TH TDC MEETING. >> SO MOVED.
[6. PUBLIC COMMENT – 3 minutes, not related to agenda items]
>> SECOND. >> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. TO APPROVE MINUTES.
ANY QUESTIONS OR NOTES, CHANGES, CORRECTIONS? HERE KNOW, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR [AYE].
>> THE MINUTES HAVE BEEN APPROVED FROM THE JUNE MEETING.
NO. 6, PUBLIC COMMENT. ANYONE WANT TO SHARE A PUBLIC COMMENTS WITH US TODAY? THANK YOU.
[7. ACH GRANT RECOMMENDATIONS – Christina Parrish Stone]
DEAN HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME TRAINING TROY IN THE OPERATION OF THAT CLOCK. SHE TRIED TO DO THAT WITH ME A YEAR OR SO AGO, IT DIDN'T WORK. BUT HE IS A QUICK STUDY NOW HE IS NOT GOING TO GET TO USE HIS NEWLY-ACQUIRED SKILLS.>> I THINK I WILL BE OKAY. I WILL BE STRONG.
>> ITEM NO. 7, THE ACH GRANT RECOMMENDATIONS.
CHRISTINA PARRISH STONE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I WILL TRYING TO KEEP MY COMMENTS TO UNDER THREE MINUTES.
TROY, IF YOU WANT TO TIME ME. AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, WE HELD OUR GRANT PANEL MEETINGS LAST MONTH AFTER HOLDING WORKSHOPS, INDIVIDUAL CONSULTING SESSIONS, UPDATING THE ONLINE APPLICATIONS, REVIEWING APPLICATIONS AND AM HAPPY TO SHARE THIS LIST OF LOCAL CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE PANEL HAS RECOMMENDED FOR GRANT FUNDING.
THE -- YOU WILL SEE A COUPLE OF NEW NAMES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ON THE LIST BEFORE. I WAS VERY PLEASED TO SEE FOLKS LIKE THE HOUSE APPLY THIS YEAR. WE HAVE ONE EVENT WE HAVE HELD FOR A FEW YEARS THAT IS NOT ON THE LIST, ST. AUGUSTINE FASHION WEEK DECIDED NOT TO APPLY AND WITHDREW THEIR APPLICATION AT THE LAST MINUTE. OTHERWISE, I THINK YOU WILL RECOGNIZE A LOT OF THESE WONDERFUL CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO SO MUCH FOR OUR VISITORS AND RESIDENTS.
WE HAVE A METHODOLOGY WHERE THE PANPANELISTS SCORE THE APPLICATIONS. THE APPLICANTS WHO SCORE IN THE TOP TIER ARE THEN ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE UP TO 100 PERCENT OF THEIR REQUEST. THE SECOND TIER CAN RECEIVE UP
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TO 90% AND IT GOES DOWN FROM THERE BASED ON THE SCORE.SO YOU WILL SEE THE RATIO OF FUNDING RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST IS GOING TO BE CLOSER, THE RECOMMENDATION IS CLOSER TO THE REQUEST FOR THE APPLICANTS WITH THE HIGHEST SCORE AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A BIGGER DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE REQUEST AND THE FUNDING RECOMMENDATION FOR THOSE WHO SCORES WERE LOWER.
WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 714,000 IN ELIGIBLE REQUESTS.
AND ONLY $500,000 AVAILABLE. AND THAT'S WHY, AGAIN, THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE LESS THAN THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THE REQUEST. BUT THESE ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> CAN I HAVE ONE CLARIFICATION. I THINK I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE. THE ST. AUGUSTINE FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL, IS THAT COMPLETELY SEPARATE THAN THE ST. AUGUSTINE SPANISH FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL? JUST A LITTLE CONFUSING.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CORRECT IN MY ANALYSIS.
>> IT IS A TOTALLY SEPARATE EVENT.
THE SPANISH FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL IS AN EVENT THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MANY YEARS. PREVIOUSLY, A FORMER MAYOR OF ST. AUGUSTINE, I THINK, WAS INVOLVED IN ORGANIZING.
FLAGLER COLLEGE TOOK IT OVER A FEW YEARS AGO.
THEY -- I BELIEVE THEY APPLIED FOR A GRANT LAST YEAR BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A HIGH ENOUGH SCORE TO RECEIVE FUNDING.
SO THEY MADE SOME CHANGES TO THEIR APPLICATION AND FUNDING WAS RECOMMENDED THIS YEAR. THAT WILL BE IN FEBRUARY.
ST. AUGUSTINE FOOD AND WINE IS IN MAY.
SPANISH FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL IS PRIMARILY DOWNTOWN AT FLAGLER. ST. AUGUSTINE WINE AND FOOD IS A COMBINATION OF EVENTS AT WORLD GOLF VILLAGE AND DOWNTOWN ST.
AUGUSTINE. >> AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP QUESTION, FORT MOSE, IS THAT RUN THROUGH THE AMPHITHEATER?
>> SO DISCOVER FORT MOSE IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE AMPHITHEATER, NUMBER OF OTHER ENTITIES.
THE FUNDING FOR THAT EVENT DOES NOT COME FROM TDC GRANT.
>> THANK YOU. >> ARE THERE ANY FIRST-TIME APPLICANTS THAT WILL RECEIVE THE GRANT?
>> THERE ARE SEVERAL AND SEVERAL THAT THIS IS ONLY THEIR SECOND YEAR. SO AS I MENTIONED, XIMENEZ-FATIO HOUSE HAS NEVER APPLIED AND THEY ALLAYEDREPAPPLIED AND DID QUITE.
ART AND LIFE IN 3D, THE GHOST OF ST. AUGUSTINE PAST, FOUR DAYS OF EVENTS IN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN WITH THE HISTORY THEME BUT TIED INTO HALLOWEEN. DURING A TIME WHEN THINGS ARE A LITTLE BIT SLOWER THAN THE REST OF THE YEAR.
SO THAT'S A GOOD NEW EVENT. AS I MENTIONED, SPANISH FOOD AND WINE HAS NOT RECEIVED FUNDING FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND DID RECEIVE FUNDING THIS YEAR. APEX THEATER STUDIO IS ANOTHER SMALL THEATER GROUP THAT APPLIED FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THEY DID SCORE ABOVE THAT 80 THRESHOLD AND ARE GOING TO RECEIVE SOME
I THINK IT IS NICE TO SEE SOME NEW PLAYERS GETTING IN.
>> IT IS. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTY THAT WE HOPE WILL APPLY NEXT YEAR.
WE ARE GOING TO START DOING ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS.
WE ALWAYS HAVE OUR WORKSHOPS IN THE SPRING WHERE WE GO OVER THE APPLICATION FOR THE TDC GRANTS BUT WE HAVE ADDED A STAFF MEMBER WHO IS -- HER PRIMARY JOB IS AS A GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR WHO WILL BE WORKING WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, HELPING THEM BOTH WITH APPLYING FOR STATE GRANTS TO BRING IN SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND ALSO EDUCATING THEM ON THE TDC GRANTS AND HOW TO APPLY
SO THE LATIN AMERICAN FESTIVAL, IS THAT A SECOND YEAR? HOW LONG HAS THAT -- I THINK THERE IS A COUPLE OF THEM.
>> SO THIS ONE HAPPENS AT FRANCIS FIELD.
THEY ARE HOLDING ADDITIONAL EVENTS.
A CHALLENGE THEY ARE HAVING IS THE CITY'S POLICY ON HOW MANY DAYS YOU CAN HAVE AN EVENT AT FRANCIS FIELD IS LIMITING THEM FOR ONE DAY FOR THEIR BIG EVENT THERE.
IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THE TDC FUNDING AND TO HAVE A HIGH SCORE, THEY HAVE ORGANIZED OTHER EVENTS IN OTHER PLACES AROUND TOWN. THEY STARTED THIS FESTIVAL ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, HAD AN OUTSTANDING FIRST YEAR.
THEN COULD NOT HOLD A FESTIVAL BECAUSE OF COVID.
HAT ANOTHER GREAT EVENT THIS PAST YEAR AND I KNOW THEY HAVE
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ALREADY ANNOUNCED HEADLINERS FOR THIS COMING MAY.THEY HAVE SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR LATIN MUSICIANS, GRAMMY WINNING COMING IN THIS YEAR. THEY DO A GREAT JOB.
>> OKAY. I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THEY WROTE A LETTER TO ME ASKING TO CHANGE THE POLICY FROM ONE DAY EVENTS. CITY POLICY IS NO MORE THAN ONE DAY EVENTS AT ST. FRANCIS FIELD BECAUSE OF THE IMPACTS THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING. SO THAT WAS A GOOD ANSWER TO MY QUESTION. THANK YOU.
SO WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS, JUST LIKE THE OTHER ONE YOU SPOKE OF, THEY HAVE, INSTEAD OF DOING TWO-DAY EVENTS AT FRANCIS FIELD, WHAT THEY WILL DO IS THEY WILL DO ONE DAY AT FRANCIS FIELD BUT USE OTHER VENUES AROUND TOWN TO BROADEN THEIR REACH.
IS THAT CORRECT? WOULD YOU SAY THAT'S --
>> THAT'S CORRECT. BUT IT WOULD BE QUITE DESIRABLE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO USE THE FIELD FOR MULTIPLE DAYS IN A ROW BECAUSE THE COSTS OF RENTALS AND MOVING EQUIPMENT NE THAT'S NEEDD FOR THE FESTIVAL ARE PROHIBITIVE.
THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE WITH THE CITY TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY FLEXIBILITY.
A LOT OF OUR TDC GRANTEES WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE FIELD
THANK YOU. >> OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> I JUST HAVE A POINT OF ORDER. AND I THINK IT IS FOR OUR ATTORNEY. THOSE OF US WHO ARE UP HERE WHO HAVE ORGANIZATIONS WHERE WE ARE PAID THAT ARE ON THIS LIST, WE
WOULD REFRAIN FROM VOTING? >> YES.
>> POINT OF CLARIFICATION ON YOUR POINT OF CLARIFICATION, IF YOU ARE A VOLUNTEER, SERVING ON THE BOARD OF ONE OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, NOT A PAID EMPLOYEE, DOES THAT ALSO MEAN
ONE SHOULD ABSTAIN FROM VOTING? >> NO.
I THINK JUST BECAUSE YOUR INPUT IN IT IS GOING TO SIT THE ORGANIZATION YOU VOLUNTEER FOR, YOU WOULD NEED TO ABSTAIN FROM
>> SO THEN LET ME ASK, BY SHOW OF HANDS, HOW MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY WILL NEED TO ABSTAIN FROM VOTING? OKAY. EXCELLENT.
DO I HEAR A MOTION. >> I THINK WE HAVE TO CALL FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS. >> PUBLIC COMMENT, YES.
WE DO. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THESE GRANT RECOMMENDATIONS? SEEING NONE.
SO TROY IS GOING TO GET TO USE HIS NEW SKILLS -- DOESN'T GET TO USE HIS NEW SKILLS. THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER CHANCE.
>> WE MIGHT LET YOU SUB IN TOMORROW, TROY.
[8. CONTRACTED TOURISM PROMOTION SERVICES DRAFT SCOPE REVIEW ‐ Tera Meeks ]
YOU CAN TRY IT ABOUT A HUNDRED TIMES.>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION? >> I SO MOVE.
>> I SECOND. >> MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
WE ARE DOWN NO NO. 8. THE FLOOR IS TURNED OVER TO
I WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW IN THE AUDIENCE, I DID NOT COPY SECTIONS OF THE DRAFT SCOPE. TDC BOARD MEMBERS YOU HAVE COPIES OF THE DRAFT SCOPE. ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WANTS THEM, I DID MAKE COPIES OF THEM.
THEY ARE RIGHT OUT SIDE IN THE LITTLE FOYER AREA ON THE TABLE IF YOU WANT TO HAVE ONE AND LOOK AT IT AS WE GO THROUGH.
ALL RIGHT. SO CONTRACTED TOURISM PROMOTION SERVICES. AS A REMINDER, THE COUNTY HAS THREE CONTRACTS WHICH COLLECTIVELY PROVIDE TOURISM PROMOTION SERVICES FOR THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE THE VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU, CULTURAL COUNCIL AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THE PART WE ARE DISCUSSING HERE TOED IS PONTE VIDRE. WE ARE NOT DIRECTLY TALK BEING THAT CONTRACT HERE. I ANTICIPATE WE WILL HAVE THE
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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE COME BEFORE YOU ALL AT THE NEXT MEETING IN OCTOBER AND TALK MORE ABOUT THE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE THE TOURISM PROMOTION PIECE WITH REGARD TO MARKETING WHICH IS THAT PONTE VEDRA. THIS PROMOTION STRUCTURE WAS PUT INTO PLACE AROUND 2010. TDT COLLECTIONS IN THAT YEAR WERE APPROXIMATELY $5.5 MILLION. ALL PROMOTION CONTRACTS SET TO EXPIRE SEPTEMBER 30, 2023. WE ARE JOE JEC PROJECTING THE RE WILL COME IN AROUND $20 MILLION. WE HAVE HAD GROWTH AND CHANGE IN THE TEN PLUS YEARS THESE CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN IN PLACE.ALSO JUST AS REMINDER, THE COUNTY POLICY STIPULATES THAT ANY CONTRACT WITH A VALUE OF $250,000 OR MORE SHOULD BE SECURED THROUGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.
I WILL QUICKLY POINT OUT HERE THAT LAST TIME I SHOWED YOU ALL THIS SLIDE, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT UP THERE WAS 50,000.
BEASBECAUSE ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAS REASSESSED PROCUREMENT POLICIES, NOW REQUIRE A RFP FOR $250,000. THAT DOESN'T EXCLUDE ANY OF THESE CONTRACTS. IT IS JUST A NOTE THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE ON THE SLIDE SINCE I LAST USED IT.
SO THE COUNTY POLICIES ALSO STIPULATE THAT ANY CONTRACT WHICH HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR FIVE OR MORE YEARS SHOULD BE SECURED THROUGH THAT RFP. THEN JUST AS REMINDER, THIS IS THE DISCUSSION THAT WE STARTED IN THE MAY TDC MEETING.
WE TOOK A PAUSE FROM THAT TO COVER OTHER THINGS WE NEEDED TO LOOK AT, LIKE OUR MARKETING PLANS, BUDGET.
IN MAY, WE WALKED OVER, WALKED THROUGH THAT BASIC STRUCTURE OF THESE THREE CONTRACTS. WE LOOKED AT SOME OF THE KEY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SCOPES AND I GOT A LITTLE BIT OF GENERAL INPUT FROM YOU ALL. I THEN TOOK THAT INPUT, CREATED THESE THREE DRAFTS SCOPES WHICH YOU HAVE COPIES OF AND TODAY OUR GOAL IS TO REVIEW THESE THREE DRAFT SCOPES OF SERVICE AND TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS, YOUR OPINIONS, YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT HOW THOSE SCOPES SHOULD BE EDITED OR MODIFIED BEFORE WE FINALIZE THEM WITH THE COUNTY'S PURCHASING STAFF FOR THAT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCESS.
SO WHAT WE HAVE IS THREE DRAFT RFPS THAT ADDRESS EACH OF THOSE THREE BUCKETS OF SERVICE. TOURISM BUREAU SERVICES, THE LAST DISCUSSION, AS I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO YOU ALL ONE ON ONE, ALSO THOSE VCB CORE SERVICES. 24E7B THEN WE HAVE CULTURAL COUL CORE SERVICES, AND THEN WE HAVE A THIRD SCOPE FOR DESTINATION MARKETING SERVICES. AND THEN HERE AT THE BOTTOM, I JUST GAVE MY DISCLAIMER THAT WE ARE NOT ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER SERVICES AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION OR PART OF THE SCOPES.
SO TOURISM BUREAU SERVICES OR THESE VCB CORE SERVICES, WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS THE SCOPE THAT OUTLINES TEN ACTIVITIES.
ALL I HAVE LISTED UP HERE IS -- WHAT IS BOLDED AND UNDERLINED IN YOUR DRAFT SCOPE. I'M HAPPY TO READ OR DISCUSS ANY OF THE ADDITIONAL DETAIL. FOR NOW, THE FIRST SCOPE OF SERVICE IS TO SERVE AS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ON THAT ST. JOHNS COUNTY TOURISM PROMOTION WORKING GROUP.
AS WE GO THROUGH THE SLIDES, I WILL REMIND EVERYBODY IN MORE DETAIL WHAT THE GRO WORKING GRO. THE SECOND TASK IS SALES AND PPROMOTION ACTIVITIES. BUSINESS TO BUSINESS TOURISM PROMOTION, DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGEMENT.
THE CALENDAR OF EVENTS, THAT WOULD BE BOTH QUARTERLY CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND ANNUAL CALENDAR OF EVENTS.
ASSEMBLY AND DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS INCLUDING THE E-NEWSLETTERS. THE TOURISM BUSINESS DATABASE MANAGEMENT, SO KEEPING TRACK OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION. FULFILLING OUR NEEDS FOR REPORTS AND DATA AS STIPULATED OUT THERE IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL.
AND THEN MEETINGS. ATTENDING MEETINGS AS REQUIRED AND REQUESTED. THEN ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT, THAT'S THE CATCH ALL OF INVOICING AND REPORTING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE SECOND DRAFT SCOPE IS STRUCTURED VERY MUCH IN THE SAME WAY. THIS AGAIN IS THAT ARTS AND CULTURAL TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT SCOPE.
THE CORE SERVICES SCOPE. THE KEY FUNCTIONS FOR THIS ARE TO, AGAIN, SERVE AS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ON ST. JOHNS COUNTY TOURISM PROMOTIONS WORKING GROUP.
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CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE FIVE-YEAR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE ARTS, HERITAGE, TOURISM IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.TO IMPLEMENT THOSE STRATEGIES, EVENTS AND ACTIONS OUTLINED IN THAT GROWTH MANAGEMENT PLAN OR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN OVER THE REST OF THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT.
PROVIDE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTS, CULTURAL HERITAGE, TOURISM, POLICIES FOR THE COUNTY.
IMPLEMENT AND MANAGE ONGOING ARTS CULTURE HERITAGE GRANT PROGRAMS. ATTEND THOSE MEETINGS AS REQUESTED. THEN THAT GENERAL ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT. THE THIRD SCOPE THAT YOU ALL HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY IS THE DESTINATIONS MARKETING OR ADVERTISING SERVICES SCOPE. THIS ONE INCLUDES MARKETING SPECIFIC, MARKETING ADVERTISING SPECIFIC SERVICES SUCH AS DEVELOPING THAT CREATIVE CONCEPT WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE ADVERTISEMENTS THEMSELVES. THE PRODUCTION DESIGN OF THOSE ADVERTISEMENTS. THE MEDIA PLANNING AND BUYING AND THEN MEETING WITH ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO REGULARLY MEET WITH THAT TOURISM PROMOTIONS WORKING GROUP AND THEN AGAIN THAT JUST GENERAL ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT.
AND THEN FINALLY HERE TO REVISIT THIS IDEA OF HAVING A PROMOTIONS WORKING GROUP, THIS WOULD BE A GROUP THAT REGULARLY MEETS, THAT THE MARKETING CONTRACTOR WOULD SIT DOWN WITH THIS GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD BE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TOURISM DEPARTMENT, COUNTY TOURISM DEPARTMENT.
THE VISITOR'S AND CONVENTION BUREAU, CULTURAL COUNCIL, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, PONTE VEDRA.
THE GUIDING BODY, AND WE WOULD STILL HAVE THE ANNUAL MARKETING PLAN PRESENTED FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
UPWE ARE REVIEWING SCOPES, LOOKG FOR INPUTS TO HOW TO MODIFY BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RFT PROCESS.
I NOTE THAT THERE IS A CHANCE THAT AS WE FINALIZE THESE RFPS, WE CAN DO AN ASK IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SINGLE SOURCE THOSE VCB CORE FUNCTIONS AND CULTURAL COUNCIL CORE FUNCTIONS TO THE CULTURAL COUNCIL AND VCB, SOMETHING THAT GETS APPROVED BY PURCHASING. WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD REGARDLESS
MR. CHAIR, I HAVE A QUESTION. SO THE WORKING GROUP WOULD SERVE FOR BOTH THE ARTS, CULTURAL AND HERITAGE AND THE TOURISM BUREAU SERVICES. IS THAT CORRECT? ONE WORKING GROUP FOR BOTH CATEGORIES.
>> SO IT IS ONE WORKING GROUP THAT IS MADE UP OF -- THERE IS ONLY ONE WORKING GROUP. ONE WORKING GROUP.
THE IDEA IS THE WORKING GROUP IS MADE UP OF THE PERTINENT ENTITIES THAT WOULD HAVE A SAY IN PROMOTIONS.
IT IS GEARED AT GUIDING THAT PROMOTION.
THE ARTS AND CULTURAL CONTRACT IS GEARED AND LED MORE BY THAT PLANS AND PROGRAMS. HAVING THE STE STRATEGIC FOR ARS AND CULTURE. AND THE ACH PROGRAM.
CULTURAL COUNCIL, OR IF THAT WAS ANOTHER CONSULTANT, THEY COULD PARTICIPATE IN THE WORKING GROUP.
BUT THIS IS A WORKING GROUP THAT'S REALLY GEARED AT GIVING ADVISEMENT TO THAT PROMOTIONS CONTRACT.
ALSO IT WILL HELP FACILITATE COLLABORATION BETWEEN ALL THOSE
GROUPS. >> ONE OTHER QUESTION.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE FIVE-YEAR COMPREHENSIVE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO CAPTURE HERE U .
>> THIS IS THE COMPREHENSIVE FIVE-YEAR PLAN IS A F FOLLOW-UP, THE NEXT LEVEL OF THE STRATEGY C PLAN THAT THIS IS AN AREA YOU CAN GROW HIGH SPENDING TOURISTS. THIS IS THE PLAN OF HOW DO WE DO
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THAT. DO WE NEED MORE SPECIAL EVENTS? IF YES, WHEN WOULD THAT OCCUR. IS IT UNDERLYING PROGRAMMING? IS IT THAT WE NEED TO SECURE RESOURCES THROUGH FEDERAL GRANTS OR STATE GRANTS. IT WOULD BE THAT LAYING OUT YOUR ROAD MAP FOR HOW YOU ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO DEVELOP THAT ARTS AND CULTURAL TOURISM PRODUCT.>> THANK YOU. I VERY MUCH LIKE THAT COMPONENT OF THIS. THANK YOU.
>> TERA YOU PROVIDED US WITH THREE DRAFT SCOPES.
ONE IS CALLED DESTINATION MARKETING SERVICES.
WHAT IS THAT? IS THAT AN ENTITY?
>> IS THAT AN ENTITY? NO, IT IS NOT AN ENTITY.
IT WOULD ULTIMATELY BE A CONTRACTOR.
>> SO IT IS A CONTRACTOR BUT NOT AS EASY TO IDENTIFY AS POTENTIAL CONTRACTOR, CULTURAL COUNCIL, VCB AND THEN A -- AT THIS POINT IN TIME, YOU DON'T KNOW WHO OR WHAT.
>> THAT WOULD BE A RFP. SO IT WOULD BE A MARKETING AGENCY. SO AT THE MOMENT, WE HAVE THE VCB AS OUR MARKETING AGENCY. VCB CAN SUBCONTRACTS.
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS OUR MARKETING AGENCY AND SO THEY SUBCONTRACT OUT WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
THEY DO A LITTLE BIT OF WORK HERE AND THERE.
SO KIND OF THE WAY THAT WE HAD TALKED LAST TIME, THE WAY THAT WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH IS THAT THIS WOULD BE -- AT FIRST PASS, AT FIRST PASS THIS WOULD BE LOOKING FOR A SINGLE UNIFIED MARKETING AGENCY. IF IT LOOKS LIKE, BASED ON OUR RESPONSES THAT WE GET, HOWEVER, THAT MAY BE A SINGLE UNIFIED ONE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. MAYBE WE WANT SOMEBODY WHO SPECIALIZES IN ARTS MARKETING. AND WE WANT SOMEBODY WITH LEISURE MARKETING AND A THIRD THING, WE WOULD HAVE THE OPTION TO AWARD TO MULTIPLE CONTRACTORS.
IT IS DEFINITELY AN ORGANIZATION OR AGENCY.
>> AND THEY WOULD REPORT TO YOUR OFFICE.
>> YES. >> THAT WOULD BE THEIR SUPERVISORY LIAISON CONNECTION TO THE COUNTY WOULD BE THROUGH
YOU AND YOUR TEAM. >> THAT'S RIGHT.
ALL OF OUR CONTRACTORS FOR TOURISM REPORT UP THROUGH MY
OFFICE. >> I WOULD LIKE TO PROBE THAT FURTHER, IF I COULD. SO THE RFPS COME BACK AND WHO WOULD BE SELECTING THAT DESTINATION MARKETING SERVICE.
WOULD THAT BE YOU AND STAFF? OR WOULD IT BE COME BACK TO THE
TDC BOARD? >> WE CAN WORK ON THAT.
I DON'T IMMEDIATELY HAVE AN ANSWER.
SO USUALLY THE WAY THAT THIS WORKS IS THE COUNTY'S PURCHASING DEPARTMENT PUTS TOGETHER AN EVALUATION TEAM AND THEY WILL A LOT OF TIMES ASK FOR INPUT FROM THE DIRECTOR BUT THE ACTUAL PURCHASING DEPARTMENT PUTS TOGETHER WHAT THEY PEEL IS A QUALIFIED AND NONBIASED EVALUATION COMMITTEE.
SO IF THERE ARE CONCERNS FROM THIS GROUP THAT WE HAVE CERTAIN REPRESENTATION OR DON'T HAVE CERTAIN REPRESENTATION, YOU CAN CERTAINLY LET ME KNOW AND I CAN WORK WITH PROCUREMENT STAFF ON THAT. THERE ARE SOME RULES AND I'M GOING TO BE HONEST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.
BUT WE CAN -- YOU ALL CAN HE CAN EXPRESS SOMETHING.
I CAN WORK WITH PURCHASING. IT IS USUALLY ABOUT FIVE TO SIX PEOPLE WHO EVALUATE THESE TH THINGS.
>> SO WE DON'T KNOW YET. >> WE DON'T KNOW YET.
AND THEN THE IF I AM UNDERSTANDG THIS, WHOEVER WE CONTRACT WITH, THEIR SERVICES, THAT WOULD BE -- I GUESS -- I GUESS FOR EASE OF EXPLAINING THIS, I WILL USE THE CURRENT VENDORS THAT WE HAVE GOT. SO THAT WOULD SERVE THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, THAT AGENCY WOULD ALSO SERVE THE VCB.
THEY WOULD NO LONGER HAVE DISCRETION AS TO WHO TO USE TO PUT THEIR ADVERTISEMENTS OUT THROUGH, CORRECT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. SO WE WOULD -- SO YOU HAVE THREE BUCKETS. SO YOU HAVE THAT, AGAIN, WHAT I'M -- FOR HELPING US ALL WRAP OUR MINDS AROUND IT.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT BOTH OF THOSE VENDORS, THEY WALK TWO SEPARATE PATHS. ONE OF THEM IS THE ACH GRANTS,
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PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT SIDE. THEN THE MARKETING PIECE, FOR THE VCB, THEY LOOK AT SALES, SERVICES, THE ONLINE, WEB PRESENCE, AND THEN THEY HAVE THE ACTUAL ADVERTISEMENT, MEDIA BUYING. AND SO YOU WOULD HAVE COUPLING, THAT MEDIA COMPONENT OUT OF THESE DIFFERENT CONTRACTS.LIKE I SAID, KIND OF BASED ON OUR PREVIOUS DISCUSSION, IT WOULD BE IDEALLY ONE. SO WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH LEAVING IT UP TO HAVE MULTIPLE CONTRACTORS.
THIS WOULD BE THAT MARKETING ARM FOR THE COUNTY.
IT WOULD TAKE DIRECTION FROM THAT WORKING GROUP WHICH WOULD STILL GIVE A VOICE TO THE VCB, CULTURAL COUNCIL AND CITY.
>> FUP IF I MAY. TIED WILL THERE BE A NEWDESCRIPR THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL? WHAT DOES THIS ORGANIZATION DO IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHANGE, WHAT I SEE AS -- WHAT DOES THIS
GROUP DO. >> IT SHOULDN'T CHANGE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR MARKETING AGENCY.
CURRENTLY, THE TDC. YOU HAVE THE TDC.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, DEPARTMENT STAFF, AND THEN WE HAVE A SERIES OF CONTRACTORS WHICH IS THE VCB, CULTURAL COUNCIL, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THIS DOESN'T CHANGE THAT STRUCTURE AND IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE WAY ANY OF THOSE ENTITIES INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER. THIS GROUP WOULD STILL CONTINUE TO REVIEW ANNUALLY THAT PROMOTION PLAN.
YOU WOULD STILL CONTINUE TO GET UPDATED REPORTS MONTHLY.
IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE STRUCTURE OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL
RELATIONSHIPS. >> YEAH, I AGREE.
I DON'T SEE THE STRUCTURE CHANGING.
I SEE THE ROLE FOANGSLY CHANGING.
THOSE THREE BUCKETS, ONE IS A SIZABLE BUCKET THAT WILL REST
WITH THE COUNTY. >> SIZABLE BUCKET IN A RESTS WITH THE COUNTY NOW. YOU ALL ARE AN ARM, IF YOU WILL, OF THE COUNTY. SO NONE OF THAT CHANGES.
IT ALL STAYS THE SAME. SO WHAT MAY CHANGE OR WHAT MAY NOT CHANGE, SO ALL OF OUR CURRENT VENDORS WILL ALL BE ELIGIBLE TO REAPPLY. SO IF IN THE END, N THEORETICAL, YOU COULD COME OUT WITH A STRUCTURE THAT LOOKS SIMILAR EXCEPT YOU WILL HAVE A PROMOTIONS WORKING GROUP, WHICH IS LIKE A STAFF GROUP ALMOST THAT GETS TOGETHER AND WORKS WITH THE MARKETING ENTITY. IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY CHANGE THE DYNAMICS OF HOW THOSE CONTRACTORS WORK WITH THE TDC, HOW THEY WORK WITH THE COUNTY. ALL OF THE TDC ROLES THAT YOU HAVE HAD OVER THE LAST -- I HAVE BEEN HERE SIX YEARS, AT LEAST SIX YEARS, WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK THE SAME.
WILL CONTINUE TO GET A PROMOTION PLAN THAT YOU WILL REVIEW.
PRIMARILY YOU WILL HAVE THE WORKSHOP IN MARCH WHERE YOU HAVE INPUT, YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET IN JULY.
ALL OF THAT ROLE AND INTERACTION WILL STAY THE SAME.
>> I'M JUST -- I'M STRUGGLING WITH PICTURING THIS.
WE HAVE GOT V VCB WITH A BOARD, CULTURAL COUNCIL WITH A BOARD, WORKING GROUP, AND THE TDC. YOU HAVE ALL THE MARKETING, ADVERTISING AND MARKETING FUNDING FLOWING THROUGH THE COUNTY OFFICE. I'M JUST --
>> FLOWS THROUGH THE COUNTY OFFICE NOW.
SO ALL OF OUR CURRENT CONTRACTS FLOW THROUGH ME NOW.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S WHERE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF HANG UP. IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY CHANGE THAT.
SO THERE'S NO ACTUAL CHANGE TO THE STRUCTURE.
ALL OF THE CONTRACTS FLOW THROUGH THE COUNTY NOW AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO FLOW THROUGH THE COUNTY AS LONG AS WE ARE
USING BED TAX FOR THEM. >> THAT BRINGS ME BACK AROUND TO WHY ARE WE DOING? WHY WOULD WE DO THIS?
>> THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION.
IT IS A FIVE-YEAR REQUIREMENT WITH THE RFP.
THAT'S THE REASON WE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. SO THE CONTRACTS EXPIRE.
THE COUNTY HAS A VARIETY OF PURCHASING POLICIES IN PLACE THAT IMPACT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH PURCHASING, WITH CONTRACTS.
SO THE TWO -- AND IN ALL HONESTLY, THERE MAY BE MORE.
THE TWO TRIGGERS THAT I AM AWARE OF FOR SURE ARE THAT OUR PURCHASING POLICY STIPULATES THAT ANY CONTRACT WITH A VALUE OF $250,000 OR MORE SHOULD GO THROUGH THE RFP PROCESS.
ALL OF THESE CONTRACTS, BOTH OF THESE CONTRACTS, THE CHAMBER IS
[00:35:02]
NOT TO 250,000 OR MORE. BUT THE ANNUAL CONTRACT IS $1.2 MILLION GOING INTO FISCAL YEAR 23.VCB IS 20 MILLION. BOTH CONTRACTS ARE WELL IN EXCESS OF THE $250,000. THEY TRIP OR THEY CHECK THE BOX FOR THAT FIRST COUNTY POLICY OF NEEDING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS. THEN WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER POLICY FOR PURCHASING WHICH INDICATES THAT ANY CONTRACT THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR FIVE YEARS OR MORE SHOULD BE SECURED THROUGH THAT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AGAIN. ASSUMING IT IS $250,000 OR MORE.
BOTH CONTRACTS, THE ONES EXSPIRING, ARE FIVE-YEAR CONTRACTS. OR MORE.
IT HAS BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE WE HAVE LAST RFPED THE CONTRACTS.
THERE MAY BE MORE, BUT THESE ARE THE TWO THAT I AM VERY AWARE OF.
>> ARE THESE NEW COUNTY POLICIES?
>> NOPE. >> SO WE ADHERED TO THEM IN THE
PAST? >> THE COUNTY AS A -- YES.
THE COUNTY ADHERES TO THESE POLICIES.
>> AND JUST -- IF NO ONE ELSE APPLIES, WOULD IT BE CONSIDERED
A SOLE SOURCE SITUATION? >> IT IS NOT SOLE SOURCE.
>> IF WE GET ONE RESPONDENT. >> SINGLE SOURCE.
SO SINGLE SOURCE CERTAINLY IF ONLY ONE PERSON APPLIES, THAT'S A SINGLE SOURCE. THEN YOU HAVE ONE RESPONDING VENDOR. SO YOU JUST ASSUMING THE RESPONDING VENDOR MEETS THE ELIGIBLE CRITERIA AND GIVES YOU A COMPETENT, COMPLETE PROPOSAL, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE A CHOICE OF ONE UNLESS YOU WANTED TO GO BACK OUT TO RFP IF YOU WANTED ADDITIONAL OPTIONS, THE COUNTY COULD, I BELIEVE WE WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO OUT AND SOLICIT FOR ADDITIONAL BIDS.
OR AWARD TO THAT ONE. A SINGL SOURCE IS -- I WHOM JAMIE DOESN'T RUN DOWN AND GIVE ME THE BUSINESS.
A SINGLE SOURCE IS WHEN YOU HAVE A FUNCTION OR SERVICE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS PARTICULARLY UNIQUE THAT NOBODY ELSE CAN PROVIDE IT. SO I WILL GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF A SINGLE SOURCE I DID RECENTLY. SO WE ACTUALLY WE RECENT WILL HAVE DEPLOYED CONCRETE FOR ARTIFICIAL REEF STRUCTURES.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO SINGLE SOURCE THAT TO A CONTRACTOR BECAUSE THIS CONTRACTOR ACTUALLY HAD A BARGE LOAD OF CONCRETE THAT HE WAS GOING TO GIVE TO US FREE OF CHARGE.
SO THIS GENTLEMAN HAD THIS BARGE LOAD OF CONCRETE AND HE SAID, HEY, FULL PAY ME TO DEPLOY IT, I WILL DEPLOY THIS BARGE LOAD OF CONCRETE. SO I REACHED OUT TO PURCHASING, HEY, I THINK THIS IS A SINGLE SOURCE, DO YOU AGREE? THEY SAID YES. SO WE MOVED FORWARD WITH SINGLE SOURCE FOR THAT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS AN UNIQUE OR LIMITING. WHETHER IT IS A THING OR SERVICE WHERE YOU TRULY HAVE ONE PERSON CAN DO IT.
>> MR. CHAIR, ARE WE READY TO GET INTO POSSIBLE ADDITIONS OR
WE CAN BOUNCE AROUND. >> ONLY THING I WANT TO EXPAND ON IN THE SCOPE IS WHERE WE ARE DOING THE DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGEMENT. I REALLY FEEL WE NEED TO REQUIRE WHOEVER IS COMING IN TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO BUILD AN APP.
LIKE YOU GO INTO A LOT OF DIFFERENT CITIES, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE AN APP THAT YOU CAN TRAVEL WITH.
I THINK -- WE HAVE ONE NOW, RIGHT?
DO WE HAVE AN APP? >> SO I THINK HOLD ON, HOLD ON.
RICHARD IF YOU ARE GOING TO ANSWER WITH AN ACTUAL ANSWER, YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
>> IT LEADS TO MY NEXT LEAD. IT IS NOT IDENTIFIED IN THIS SCOPE IS WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS STILL THERE.
>> TROY, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.
THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO PRIVATE INDUSTRY PROVIDERS OF APPS PROVIDING INPUT ON WHAT THERE IS TO DO IN THE COUNTY.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE'S GOOGLE.
>> SO WE DON'T HAVE ONE THROUGH -- IT IS THROUGH A
PRIVATE CONTRACTOR. >> THERE ARE MULTIPLES.
[00:40:03]
THEY CHOSE TO PURSUE THAT AS A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.>> THANK YOU. AND THAT'S SOMETHING, BECAUSE IT IS SO FRAGMENTED, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE SOME CONTROL OVER THAT IN SOME OF OUR VISITORS OF WHAT WE ARE DOING AND HOW WE ARE MANAGING THAT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT LEAST THAT ABILITY TO EXPAND THAT WITHIN THIS SCOPE.
ALSO, STICKING WITH THAT DIGITAL, YOUTUBE NETWORK, PODCASTS, TIKTOK SOME OF THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE EXPANDED.
OUR NEW TRAVELERS, OUR ZS, THAT'S HOW THEY ARE GETTING THEIR INFORMATION. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT LEAVING OUT AN ENTIRE MARKETABLE GROUP.
THAT WOULD EXPAND THAT A LITTLE BIT TO, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OUR OWN YOUTUBE NETWORK, HAVE OUR OWN APP.
WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY AND WE ARE BIG ENOUGH, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
DO THAT. >> IF I CAN EXPAND ON THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT. ALSO IN THE DING AT THAT TIME DT MANAGEMENT, IN TASK FOUR YOU DON'T REPEAT THE PHRASE USING COUNTY MATERIALS. I HOPE THE BRAND WOULD CARRY OVER, THE VCB WOULD CARRY OVER INTO ALL OF THAT.
YOU MAY WANT TO CONTINUE TO USE THAT PHRASE AGAIN AND AGAIN.
BECAUSE YOU WANT IT ALL TO SEEM ALL THESE DIFFERENT CHANNELS TO CARRY THE SAME VOICE AND CARRY THE SAME PRODUCTION.
THAT BRINGS ME TO THE IDEA OF CREATIVE CONCEPT IN THE DRAFT SCOPE FOR MARKETING SERVICES. THE CONTRACTOR WILL DEVELOP CREATIVE CONCEPT IN COORDINATION WITH ST. JOHNS COUNTY TOURISM PROMOTIONS WORK GROUP, SURPRISED OF SUBJECT MATTER EXERTS.
ARE WE LEAVING IT UP TO THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS? LEAVING IT UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SELECT THE PERSON MOST QUALIFIED TO SIT IN THAT GROUP? HOW IS THAT GROUP SELECTED? I GET THE AGENCIES.
I DON'T SEE WHERE THERE'S A PROCESS FOR SELECTING THE PEOPLE. WE HAVE A PROCESS FOR SELECTING
THE PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD? >> I ACTUALLY HAVE TO PUT THAT TOGETHER. I REACHED OUT TO GELISE, WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO MAKE THIS A WORKING GROUP.
IN OCTOBER, I WILL BRING YOU THAT INFORMATION AND SHOW YOU, THIS IS HOW WE ARE THINKING ABOUT STRUCTURING IT.
THIS IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO SET IT UP.
YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE INPUT ON THAT.
THAT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS. >> THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE THAT SEEMED LIKE WAS A HOLE TO ME. ALSO, IN PARAGRAPH 5 ON THE SAME SCOPE OF MARKETING SERVICES, I BELIEVE YOU WANT TO USE THE WORD BUREAU INSTEAD OF VISITORS AND CONVENTION CENTER.
I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY A TYPO. I WAS WONDERING ALSO WHAT THE -- WHAT YOU ARE USING AS A BASELINE FOR ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TOURISM CONSIDERING WE HAVE JUST COME OUT OF COVID AND THEN THE CRAZY YEAR LAST YEAR WHEN EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE IN FLORIDA. NOW THIS YEAR IT HAS FALLEN AGAIN. WHAT BASELINE ARE WE USING? 2019 WHICH WE HEARD ABOUT? HOW ARE YOU SELECTING THAT?
>> I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE USE 2019 WHENEVER I TALK IN TERMS OF OUR LAST NORMAL YEAR, IT SEEMS TO BE 2019.
>> THAT SEEMS PRETTY WISE TO ME. I WOULD WANT THAT NAILED DOWN.
AND FINAL QUESTION, WHO IS SELECTING THE TARGET AUDIENCES? YOU TALK ABOUT THAT IN LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT THE SCOPES.
WHO ARE THEY? HOW ARE WE COMPARING APP APPLESO
APPLES? >> SO THE TARGET AUDIENCES WOULD BE THEORETICALLY SOMETHING THAT CAN CHANGE FROM YEAR TO YEAR AS MARKET TRENDS CHANGE. SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE REGULARLY DISCUSSED BY THAT WORKING GROUP.
AND THEN ALSO PRESENTED TO THE TDC ANNUALLY AS PART OF THE PROMOTION PLAN. IN THAT INITIAL WORKSHOP THAT IS PRESENTED, THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING YOU CAN PROVIDE INPUT
ON AS WELL. >> THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
MY SENSE OF THAT NOW IS THAT THE VCB COLLECTS DATA AND SHARES.
THE COUNTY ALSO COLLECTS DATA. WHERE IS THAT COMING FROM? WHAT'S THE SOURCE OF THE DATA BEING PRESENTED EACH YEAR TO THE
WORKING GROUP? >> WE PURCHASE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF DATA. SO ONE OF THEM THAT GIVES YOU YOU SOME ORIGINATING INFORMATION, LIKE CREDIT CARD DATA THAT WE PURCHASED, SO WE COULD CONTINUE TO PURCHASE THE SAME DATA AND LOOK TO PURCHASE SOME ADDITIONAL, DIFFERENT TYPES LIKE COUPLE NEW COMPANIES THAT TRACK YOU THROUGH YOUR CELL PHONE, GIVES A SLEW OF DATA. IDEALLY, WE CAN EXPAND UPON THAT. THE COUNTY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HIRED A GENTLEMAN, HIS TASK IS DATA
[00:45:02]
ANALYTICS AND SO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.WE FIGURE IF WE CAN PURCHASE ADDITIONAL DATA FOR THEM.
PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM IS ONE OF OUR ECONOMIC DRIVERS AS WELL. SO WE CAN GET HIM TO MULTITASK FORCE. GOING FORWARD, WE WILL HAVE MORE THINGS TO KIND OF SHARE THAT ARE JUST SORT OF INTERESTING AND CAN
HELP DRIVE DECISIONS. >> SO THAT'S COMING, THEN, FROM THE COUNTY OFFICES. THAT'S ALL COMING INTO AND OUT OF THE COUNTY OFFICES TO THESE VARIOUS GROUPS, IS WHAT YOU ARE
CURRENTLY, THE VCB IS THE CONDUIT FOR MOST OF THAT INFORMATION. THEY PURCHASE A LOT OF THAT.
THEY CAN CONTINUE TO DO SO AS THE VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU, THAT'S FINE, THEY DO A GOOD JOB OF SHARING IT.
I THINK THE IDEA IS WHEN YOU GET THAT INFORMATION, GRANTED IT HAS LIMITS ON HOW AND WHO YOU CAN IT IS NOT FREE FOR EVERYBODY.
BUT THE GOAL IS IF WE ARE PAYING FOR IT, THE COUNTY IS PAYING FOR IT, WHETHER IT IS DIRECTLY BEING PURCHASED BY VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU, CULTURAL COUNCIL, THIRD PARTY MARKETING, SEE THAT WE GET THE BEST BENEFIT BY SHARING IT TO EVERYBODY WHO
HAS THE RIGHT TO SEE IT. >> I'M HUNDRED PERCENT WITH YOU THERE. MAYBE IT SHOULD BE IN ONE OF THE
DRAFT SCOPES BECAUSE -- >> I THINK IT IS IN THE VCB, IT DOES TALK ABOUT REPORTS AND DATA I WOULD --
>> DATABASE MANAGEMENT. I SEE THAT AS TYPING DATA IN ANE
IT THE SAME WAY. >> REPORTS AND DATA.
TASK 8, REPORTS AND DATA. I CAN EXPAND UPON THIS.
I THINK THE VCB CURRENTLY PURCHASES ON THE COUNTY'S BEHALF A NUMBER OF THOSE THINGS AND I THINK --
>> I'M COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT THAT MEANS, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT. OKAY.
THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE, VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU SITTING ON THE WORKING GROUP, IF THEY DECIDE TO BID ON THE MARKETING SERVICES, IT SEEMS KIND OF CIRCULAR, THEN THEY ARE ALSO ON THE WORKING GROUP, REPORTING PARTIALLY TO
>> I'M NOT SURE I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, IT IS ODD.
>> WEARING TWO HATS. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE TWO PEOPLE.
IT COULDN'T BE THE SAME PERSON FILLING BOTH ROLES.
ONE PERSON WHO IS YOUR MARKETING CONTRACTOR IN THE ROOM WHO IS KIND OF HELPING TO FACILITATE THE DISCUSSION AND IS HELPING THE GROUP GET TO THE RIGHT ANSWER.
AND THEN YOU HAVE GOT SOMEBODY FROM THE VCB WHO IS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN THE WORKING GROUP.
SOMEBODY WHO IS ENGAGING IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND BRINGING THE VCB'S PERSPECTIVE TO THE TABLE.
>> IT SEEMS ODD TO ME BUT I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
I WILL WAIT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT IT.
>> KATHY, YOU HAVE MORE? >> I THINK I'M DONE FOR NOW.
>> I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON SOME OF WHAT YOU SAID AND SOME OF WHAT TROY SAID. I THINK THE WORKING GROUP POTENTIALLY HAS THE, AGAIN, POTENTIALLY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME THE POWERHOUSE HERE AND IF THE WORKING GROUP WANTS TO PLAY WITH THAT BRAND THAT WE HAVE COME TO KNOW AND RESPECT, THEY CAN DO IT. THE ONLY PERSON WHO COULD STOP
THEM WOULD BE TERA. >> THAT'S NOT TRUE.
ONE, YOU ALL, THE TDC, SO THE TDC IS SUPPOSED TO BE VETTING AND REVIEWING ALL THAT STUFF. THAT'S THAT ANNUAL PROMOTIONS PLAN. IF THERE IS SOMETHING LIKE A CHANGE IN THE BRAND, THE COUNTY SHOULD COME TO THE TDC AND ASK YOU ALL WHAT DO YOU THINK? WHAT'S YOUR INPUT.
I WOULD ALSO SAY THE COUNTY SHOULD PROBABLY GO TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND LET THEM KNOW WE ARE MAKING A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE, TO CHANGE OUR TOURISM BRAND, THAT'S A BIG DECISION. I'M PRETTY SURE IF JUST TERA DECIDED TO DO THAT ONE DAY, TERA WOULDN'T HAVE A JOB.
>> WE GIVE THEM AN OUTLINE, IS THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT.
IS COMES FROM US FROM THE PROMOTIONAL SIDE, THEY TAKE AND
EXPAND IT FROM THERE. >> YEAH.
SO IT IS TWO PARTS. IN MARCH WE DO THIS WORKSHOP.
A STRUCTURED AWKWARD WORKSHOP. THE IDEA THAT THE -- SO THE VCB COME. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE THINKING ABOUT DOING, AND THEY ALWAYS DO A GOOD JOB.
YOU HAVE BEEN AMEN ABLE. AMENABLE.LET'S SAY SOMEBODY SAYE DOING EVERYTHING PINK? WHAT'S THE DEAL BEHIND PINK? YOU COULD GUYS ADVISEMENT. YOU KNOW, WE HEAR YOU, WE HEAR
[00:50:01]
THAT YOU THINK IT IS PINK. WE ARE NOT SURE WE ARE ON BOARD WITH PINK. WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT NEXT YEAR. THEN WHEN THEY COME AND GIVE YOU THAT PROMOTION IN JUNE, THE PROMOTION PLAN SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE TDC DIRECTION, YOU HAVE TO APPROVE IT.SO IF THEY CAME AND JUNE AND SHOWED YOU SOMETHING WITH PINK SPLASHED ALL OVER, AFTER YOU TOLD THEM, NO PINK.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BUT THE RESPONSIBILITY TO SAY, HEY, NO, WE TOLD YOU, NOT PINK. WE ARE NOT APPROVING THIS.
GO BACK, CHANGE IT. BRING US BACK SOMETHING THAT IS IN LINE WITH THE DIRECTION THAT WE GAVE YOU.
SO YOU ALL HAVE THAT -- YOU ALREADY HAVE THAT NOW AND WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT IN THE FUTURE.
>> OTHER QUESTIONS? OR COMMENTS?
>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION. BY ADDING A WORKING GROUP, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE ACTUAL PUBLIC INPUT TO WHAT'S HAPPENING
WITH THAT WORKING GROUP? >> SO THE WORKING GROUPS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO SUNSHINE. SO THEY WOULD BE PUBLICLY NOTICED AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. SO IF SOMEBODY SHOWED UP, THEY COULD CERTAINLY LISTEN TO THE MEETING AND THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IF THEY SO CHOSE TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS. AND THEN WE WOULD STILL VET THINGS OUT AT THE TDC MUCH LIKE WE DO HERE.
YOU WOULD HAVE THAT PUBLIC INPUT OPPORTUNITY.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? >> TO SOME DEGREE.
IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A DUPLICATION OF WHAT WE ARE DOING. I'M NEW.
I JUST READ THROUGH THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WEEKEND.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M STILL GETTING UP TO SPEED WITH WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. I'M SURE WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO REVISIT IT BEFORE IT BECOMES A FINAL.
WE WORK WITH THESE AGENCIES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE.
I CAN TELL YOU FROM THE STANDPOINT OF AN ATTRACTION, CULTURAL PERSON THAT IT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING JUST TO GET TO THOSE TABLES. SO NOW HERE'S ANOTHER TABLE, ANOTHER TIER HIGHER. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHERE IS THE PUBLIC INPUT. >> THAT'S HELPFUL.
THANK YOU. THE WORKING GROUP, THE FOLKS THAT ARE KEY IN THE COMMUNITY FOR KIND OF LEADIN AND THE ONES THAT YOU ALL HAVE -- SOME OF YOU HAVE MADE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OR BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH, SO YOU HAVE THIS WORKING GROUP THAT HAS THE VCB, CULTURAL COUNCIL, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ON IT.
SO IF YOU ARE WORKING WITH THE CULTURAL COUNCIL AND YOU ARE EXPRESSING THAT YOU WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE MORE EFFORT GEARED TOWARDS CIVIL RIGHTS AWARENESS TOURISM IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, LET'S SAY. THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD SHARE WITH THE CULTURAL COUNCIL.
WHEN CHRISTINA COMES TO THE TABLE.
SHE WOULD SAY, THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS COME UP.
IT IS A CARRY FORWARD OF THAT INFORMATION.
BUT WHAT I PERSONALLY SEE IS THE BIG BENEFIT, IT HELPS BUILD ON THE COLLABORATION. SO IT PROVIDES THAT REGULAR SPACE OR REGULAR TIME, REGULAR CATALYST TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND HELP US OVERCOME SOME OF THESE VARIOUS THINGS THAT WE STRUGGLE WITH. SO I THINK IT IS NOT PUTTING IT MORE OUT OF REACH, I GUESS. YOU WOULD STILL GO THROUGH REGULAR CHANNELS. IT IS LETTING THOSE CHANNELS GET TOGETHER AND HAVE A COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION.
>> MR. CHAIR, I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
ON IT BEING ON THE SUNSHINE, WHAT'S THE REASON WHY IT NEEDS TO BE ON THE SUNSHINE? I MEAN, SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE IDEAS POPPING IN AND OUT.
I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT'S THE IT HAS TO BE ON THE SUNSHINE? BECAUSE IT HAS TO DO WITH CONTRACTS? IF IT IS IN SUNSHINE, I CAN SEE THIS BEING CONFLICTING IF YOU ARE GOING TO BUY FROM THIS GROUP AND THIS GROUP SAYING PUBLICLY, HEY, WE ARE GOING TO BUY FROM THEM.
THAT GROUP COULD UP THEIR PRICE. THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN REAL ESTATE AND STUFF LIKE THAT, WE KEEP OUT OF SUNSHINE BECAUSE OF THOSE REASONS BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO HURT THE BUYING POWER
IF THIS GROUP IS IN SUNSHINE. >> SO OUR CURRENT CONTRACTORS ARE ALL IN SUNSHINE. SO ALL OF OUR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW COUNTY DOLLARS ARE SPENT, THAT'S ALL SUBJECT TO THE SUNSHINE. THERE ARE SOME -- JUMP IN IF I
[00:55:01]
AM WRONG -- THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS WITH TRADE SECRETS OUTSIDE OF SUNSHINE. AS FAR AS OUR GROUP DISCUSSING COUNTY BUSINESS AND HOW COUNTY DOLLARS WOULD BE SPENT ARE SUBJECT TO THE SUNSHINE. MUCH THE SAME WAY THAT THE VCB AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS AND COUNCIL HAVETO BE PUBLICLY NOTICED. >> THE DECISIONS ON BUYING THAT MIGHT TAKE PLACE WILL AFFECT THE BUYING POWER OF THAT INDIVIDUAL.
>> YES. SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT IN OUR ANNUAL PROMOTIONS PLAN WHEN PRESENTED, THERE'S USUALLY SOME INFORMATION ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY WE ARE GOING TO SPEND TOWARD PANDORA AND FACEBOOK AND THAT TYPE OF BUYING.
SO IT WOULD BE KIND OF THAT IS I AM TYPE OF DISCUSSION.
SO AGAIN, IF WE WERE GOING TO GET INTO SOMETHING SPECIFIC THAT WE THOUGHT WAS GOING TO HINDER US, WE COULD WORK WITH THE
COUNTY ATTORNEYS OFFICE. >> BUT IT IN SHADE.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS THE RIGHT TERM.
SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE?
>> TERA DID A GOOD JOB OF EXPLAINING WHY IT WOULD BE
GOVERNED BY SUNSHINE LAW. >> TERA --
>> MR. CHAIR. SO FUNDAMENTALLY, THE BIGGEST CHANGE IS WE ARE GOING FROM TWO CONTRACTS TO THREE CONTRACTS.
>> I WOULD SAY YES WITH THE ADDITION OF THE WORKING GROUP.
>> WITH THE ADDITION OF THE WORKING GROUP TO MANAGE THAT.
I WILL JUST KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON TROY'S POINT.
THE BIGGEST SPEND IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE WITH THE DESTINATION MARKETING GROUP, I'M GUESSING, WHOEVER THAT VENDOR ENDS UP BEING. NOW ALL THOSE DISCUSSIONS WILL BE IN SUNSHINE AND I THINK RIGHT NOW, THE CONVERSATION ON WHERE THE ACTUAL SPEND TAKE PLACE TAKE PLACE BETWEEN THE CURRENT VENDORS, H VCB AND CULTURAL COUNCIL AND THE CHOSEN MARKETING FIRM. THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY DONE IN SUNSHINE. THAT'S, I'M WORKING WITH THE VENDOR. THERE IS A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE THERE. AND I THANK TROY FOR POINTING THAT OUT. COUPLE OTHER THINGS, CONTRACTUALLY, FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT TO COME BACK FROM THAT
I WOULD HAVE TO WORK WITH PURCHASING.
MOST COUNTY CONTRACTS ARE FIVE-YEAR CONTRACTS.
>> AND SINCE, AGAIN, THE MARKETING SIDE OF THIS IS GOING TO GO OUT AND THIS RFP, CURRENT VENDORS ARE LOCAL VENDORS.
ARE WE GOING TO HAVE ANY SORT OF STIPULATION IN THERE THAT THE VENDOR OF CHOICE WILL HAVE AT LEAST A BUSINESS OFFICE OR BE
BASED IN THE COUNTY? >> THE COUNTY'S PURCHASING -- I DON'T THINK IT IS A POLICY, GUIDELINES, IT GIVES PREFERENCE TO LOCAL BUSINESSES FOR ALL SERVICES THAT ARE PURCHASED BY THE COUNTY. SO THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE COUNTY'S PURCHASING. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS IN THE
CODE. >> IT CAN BE IN THE GRADING DONE. I USED TO DO A LOT OF RFP.
THERE'S A FAMILIARITY WITH THE COUNTY THAT CAN BE A PART OF THE GRADING AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN HOW THEY ARE GOING TO GRADE THAT RFP
YET. >> THERE'S ACTUALLY SOME POINTS GIVEN THOUGH NOW. THEY HAVE CHANGED IT OVER.
POINTS GIVEN SPECIFICALLY FOR LOCAL BASED BUSINESSES.
THEY GET ADDITIONAL POINTS. IT GIVES THEM -- IF EVERYTHING ELSE WAS EQUAL, IT GIVES THE LOCAL PEOPLE A COMPETITIVE
ADVANTAGE. >> THIS WOULD BE SPEAKING AS MY OPINION, I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR A CONTRACT LIKE THIS, PROMOTING THE COUNTY, THAT THEY ARE BASED
HERE IN THE COUNTY. >> GRADING SCALE IN THE RFP IS GOING TO BE VERY KEY TO THIS. HOW THOSE FIVE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO RATE THE RFP, HOW THEY DO THAT IS GOING TO BE VERY KEY TO OUR OUTCOME. I OBVIOUSLY WANT TO SEE THAT,
TOO. >> CAN I FOLLOW UP FOR CLARIFICATION FOR ME, TERA. THE MARKETING DOLLARS WILL, FOR THE DESTINATION, WILL BE ALL WILL FLOW ALL TO THE COUNTY.
THE VCB, CULTURAL COUNCIL WILL NOT BE ENTERING INTO A MARKETING CONTRACT AS THEY DO NOW. JUST ONE MARKETING CONTRACT DESTINATION SERVICES. THE VCB AND CULTURAL COUNCIL MAY ENTER INTO A CONTRACT TO MAINTAIN CORE SERVICES UNLESS YOU CAN GET -- BUT THEY WON'T BE THEN TURNING AROUND AND RETAINING THE SERVICES OF A MARKETING AGENCY.
[01:00:03]
THAT WILL COME FROM THE COUNTY'S SERVICE, CORRECT?>> YOU ARE LOOKING AT THREE BUCKETS.
THE VCB BUCKET DOES NOT INCLUDE MARKETING SERVICES.
YOU HAVE A THIRD BUCKET THAT IS MARKETING SERVICE.
NOTHING PRECLUDING FROM BIDDING ON THAT.
SO IF THEY BID ON THAT AND ARE AWARDED THAT, THEN KNOW THEY WOULD ALSO DO THE MARKETING. BUT IF THEY DON'T, IF THEY JUST HAVE EACH ONE OF THOSE RESPECTIVE INDEPENDENT BUCKETS, THEY WOULD NOT BE SUBCONTRACTING FOR A MARKETING AGENCY.
THEY WOULD, INSTEAD, BE PARTICIPATING ON THIS WORKING GROUP TO COORDINATE WITH THE LEAD OR THE ONE MARKETING AGENCY OR TWO, WE COULD HAVE TWO OR THREE.
>> I THOUGHT YOU WERE PROPOSING THIS TO GET AWAY FROM MULTIPLE
I WAS LOOKING FOR INPUT. ONE SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS PROBABLY THE PREFERRED BUT THERE WAS HESITATION HERE FOR POTENTIALLY A SECOND OR THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH.
THE WAY THAT WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, WE ARE LOOKING FOR A SINGLE MARKETING AGENCY BUT WRITE IT SO WE LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN FOR A SECOND IF THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE BASED
ON RESPONDENTS THAT WE GET. >> THE SMALL WORKING GROUP WILL HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INFLUENCE IN THE DIRECTION THAT THIS DESTINATION TAKES. IT ADDS ANOTHER LAYER AS WELL AS THE COUNTY OFFICE WITH WHOM THE SMALL MARKETING GROUP WILL BE WORKING, SMALL GROUP. SO IT CHANGES.
IT WILL CHANGE THE DYNAMICS OF HOW MARKETING HAS BEEN DONE AND PROMOTIONS HAVE BEEN DONE FOR THIS DESTINATION.
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THAN THE WAY IT HAS BEEN DONE.
I'M STILL NOT CONVINCED THAT THAT'S BETTER.
I GUESS THAT'S MY POINT. I'M NOT SEEING DATA THAT WOULD SHOW ME THAT THIS IS A BETTER WAY TO GO.
>> MR. CHAIR. CAN I REQUEST A TIMELINE ON WHERE WE ARE AT WITH ALL OF THESE AND WHAT IS -- I'M NOT HOLDING YOU TO IT, BUT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.
THEIR CONTRACT IS IN PLACE UNTIL NEXT YEAR, CORRECT? SO WHAT'S THE TIMELINE THAT THE COUNTY IS LOOKING FOR FOR THIS PROCESS? I MISSED LAST MEETING, I
APOLOGIZE. >> NO, SO WE ARE LOOKING TO MOVE FORWARD, GET THE RFT PROCESSP P. IT USUALLY TAKES THE COUNTY FOUR TO SIX MONTHS TO DO THE RFP PROCESS.
IT IS A ROBUST PROCESS. THE GOAL IS, THOUGHT IS, WE WILL START IT NOW, TAKE THESE SCOPES, START THE RFP PROCESS, START WITH THE COUNTY PURCHASING DEPARTMENT TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. IF WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO THE MARKETING AGENCY, THAT THERE'S SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE MARKETING AGENCY TO WORK WITH, THE VCB, CULTURAL COUNCIL AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO HAVE A TRANSITION OF INFORMATION SO WE DON'T END UP IN A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE AN OH, MY GOODNESS MOMENT.
THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THAT ALL DONE ABOUT SIX MONTHS IN
ADVANCE. >> AND THAT WAS MY CONCERN IS THAT IT TAKES SO LONG TO GET THROUGH THE PROCESS AND IT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE TWO MEETINGS HERE, TOO.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO PUSH UP AGAINST THOSE CONTRACTS.
>> THE DOCUMENTATION THAT GOES INTO THAT, TWO SEPARATE AND PARALLEL PATHS. .
[01:05:02]
>> DO YOU SEE ADDING STAFF TO THE TOURISM DEPARTMENT?
>> I HOLD THREE FTES. I HAVE THREE FTES.
WE ARE NOT REQUESTING ANY ADDITIONAL FULL TIME EMPLOYEES FOR 23 AND I WOULDN'T IMAGINE 24.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SIGH A FLOWCHART AT THE NEXT MEETING TO GIVE US AN IDEA OF HOW THIS WORKS.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. I KNOW WE ARE PRIMARILY TALKING ABOUT TDC DOLLARS, WHAT'S GOING TO PREVENT THIS THIRD ENTITY WORKING GROUP FROM USING THIS PROMOTIONAL DOLLARS FOR OTHER KINDS OF PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE COUNTY IN TERMS OF ATTRACTING OTHER BUSINESSES. WILL THEY BE SAFEGUARDS BUILT IN
TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING? >> YEAH.
SO, ONE, IT IS TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX MONEY.
THE FLORIDA STATUTE STIPULATES TO GO TOWARD TOURISM FUNCTION.
>> I WANT TO MENTION ABOUT THE SMALL WORKING GROUP, I DON'T SEE IT HAS A LOT MORE POWER. IT STILL HAS TO ANSWER TO US AND IT DOES ANSWER TO US. YOU HAVE THE VCB BOARD AND THE AGRICULTURAL BOARDS, THAT'S THEIR BOARDS.
IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH US.
THEY DON'T ANSWER TO US, COME TO US WITH DAILY THINGS.
I MEAN, WE PROMOTE AN ADVERTISEMENT, A COMPANY THAT USED TO BE IN CHICAGO, ONE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THEY SAY THEY RUN AN AD IN DETROIT, WE HAVE NEVER SEEN THE AD. SO THIS GROUP WOULD BE PRIVY TO THE AD, WHETHER THEY THOUGHT IT WAS SUCCESSFUL OR NOT AND EYE CATCHING. MAYBE HAVE A LITTLE MORE -- I THINK IT WOULD ADD ANOTHER CHECKS AND BALANCE TO THE MONEY AND STAFF AND WORKING GROUP. THEY ULTIMATELY ANSWER TO US.
AS FAR AS SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT'S GOOD, SOMEBODY IS IN IT.
TROY IS IN IT REGULARLY. I'M GLAD HE MADE THAT OBSERVATION. IT IS NOT SOMETHING I DO.
MY KIDS DO IT MORE THAN I DO. THANK YOU.
>> GAYLE, DID YOU HAVE YOUR LIGHT ON? NOPE, OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST FOR THE NEXT MEETING THAT WE HAVE A WRITTEN STATEMENT ABOUT WHY WE ARE DOING THIS. HOW WE EXPECT -- THE OUTCOMES WE EXPECT THAT WILL ENHANCE OUR PURPOSE IN BLACK AND WHITE.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT. BUT I DON'T THINK I HAVE SEEN ANYTHING THAT SAYS THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD DO THIS.
AND HERE'S WHAT WE CAN EXPECT, HOW WE CAN EXPECT TO BENEFIT.
WE AND THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY WILL BENEFIT
THIS WAY OR THAT WAY. >> SO THE WHY WE ARE DOING IT IS UP HERE ON THE SCREEN. THERE'S TWO COUNTY POLICIES THAT STIPULATE THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE -- WE HAVE THREE CONTRACTS EXPIRING. AGAIN, ONCE YOU LOOK AT THAT FIRST TRIGGER OF THE 250,000. IF FIVE YEARS OR MORE, IT SHOULD
[01:10:13]
BE SECURED WITH RFP. THE REASON WHY WE ARE DOING IT.THIS IS WHY WE ARE DOING IT, COUNTY POLICY INDICATES WE ARE SUPPOSED TO. AND THE IDEA OF THE BENEFITS THAT WE WILL RECEIVE. WE ARE SPENDING THE MONEY.
THE IDEA HERE IS WE ARE SETTING THIS UP SO THAT WE HAVE A GOOD BENEFIT. THAT WAS THE THOUGHT OF THIS WORKING GROUP, IS THAT THE WORKING GROUP GIVES YOU OVERSIGHT, SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT ME LEADING ALL OF THESE THINGS.
SO I'M IN CHARGE. I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT. OF THE CONTRACTS. I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CONTRACTS WE HAVE NOW.
THIS WORKING GROUP IS THE GROUP THAT IS MAKING THOSE DECISIONS ON WHAT DOES OUR MARKETING LOOK LIKE, WHAT MAKES SENSE TO SPEND OUR MARKETING DOLLARS. THEY ARE DOING SO WITH THE ADVISEMENT OF THE TDC. CHECKING IN WITH THE TDC.
WE ARE SHOWING YOU PROMOTIONS, PLANS, INPUT.
DEALING WITH OVERSIGHT OF THE TDC.
AND SO I MEAN, AGAIN, THE WHY IS COUNTY POLICY.
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT. IS THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE WAY THAT GIVES US THAT COLLECTIVE.
>> WEREN'T WE IN COMPLIANCE FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN WE DID THIS? WE DIDN'T DO IT THIS WAY? FIVE YEARS BEFORE THAT, WHEN IT STARTED IN 2010, WE HAVE BEEN BEEN, TO THE BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE COUNTY POLICY.
>> WE HAVEN'T. COUNTY OF BOARD COMMISSIONERS MADE AN EXCEPTION TO THE RULES. WE HAVEN'T BEEN IN COMPLIANCE.
WE HAVE BEEN GOING AND GETTING EXCEPTION FROM THE BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. >> SO ARE YOU SAYING WE HAVE NEVER DONE THIS CONTRACT BIDDING, AWARDING IN COMPLIANCE
WITH THE COUNTY. >> THE VCB ONE HAS NEVER BEEN
OUT TO RFP. >> ARE WE SURE ABOUT THAT?
>> THAT'S WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD. CULTURAL COUNCIL WENT OUT TO
RFP. >> I THINK IT WENT OUT WHEN WE ORIGINALLY PULLED IT AWAY I KNOW WE HAD SOME RFP PROCESS.
I WAS SITTING ON THAT SIDE. THRTHERE WAS SOME RFP PROCESS.
IT MIGHT HAVE WENT AS SINGLE SOURCE.
I KNOW THERE WAS AN ENTIRE PROCESS ATTACHED TO IT.
SO WE ARE GOING BACK 12 TO 14 YEARS.
>> I AM TOLD WE HAVE NEVER TAKEN A VCB CONTRACT TO RFP.
THAT'S WHAT HAS BEEN SHARED WITH ME OVER THE YEARS.
AND THAT WHEN WE DECIDED TO INCORINCORPORATE OR HAVE A SECOD CONTRACTOR, WE DID GO THROUGH THE RFP PROCESS FOR THAT.
>> I THINK THE THING THAT -- EXCUSE ME -- IS THAT -- THAT CONCERNS ME ABOUT IT IS JUST THAT IT IS A DIFFERENT TIME RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, YOU CAN REALLY SEE THE CHANGES IN TOURISM AND WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS UNDER THE CURRENT SYSTEM. WHATEVER WE DO, I DON'T WANT TO BREAK IT. I DON'T WANT TO GET SIX, SEVEN MONTHS INTO A RECESSION, IT GETS WORSE, GETS BETTER.
I DON'T KNOW. I CAN'T FORETELL THE FUTURE.
I KNOW MY OWN ATTRACTION HAS LOST A LOT OF PEOPLE.
COMPARING IT TO LAST YEAR IS KIND OF HARD.
BUT IT IS SLOWER RIGHT NOW. YOU CAN DRIVE OUT AND DRIVE DOWN THE STREET AND NOT SEE ANY TRAFFIC, WHICH I'M SURE RESIDENTS REALLY ENJOY. THAT'S GREAT.
I ENJOY IT, TOO, AS A RESIDENT. AS ATTRACTION MANAGEMENT, I DON'T. WE HAVE DONE IT RIGHT FOR A LONG TIME IN TERMS OF WHAT'S GOOD FOR TOURISM.
SO I'M SORT OF IF IT IS NOT BROKEN, DON'T FIX IT KIND OF THING. IT FEELS A LITTLE BIT TO ME LIKE WE ARE TRYING TO FIX SOMETHING. I GET THE IDEA THAT WE WANT THE
[01:15:01]
CHAMBER, I HAVE SAT ON THAT BOARD, CULTURAL COUNCIL, AND THE VCB TO WORK TOGETHER, EVERYBODY TO BE PART OF ONE THING, THAT'S FABULOUS. I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS TO DO THAT. THAT'S MY WORRY FOR BUSINESSES?ST. JOHNS COUNTY. >> THAT'S PART OF THE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ON THE FRONT END OF IT AND THAT WE ARE THOUGHT WAITING UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.
THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME. THEN MAKING SURE THAT YOU DO HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT IS THAT KIND OF DIVERSE, REPRESENTS EACH OF THOSE AREAS SO THAT YOU ARE NOT LOSING ANYBODY'S VOICE OR NOT LOSING SOME OF THAT, I'M GOING TO CALL IT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS QUITE THE RIGHT TERMINOLOGY FOR THAT, THE LESSONS LEARNED AND THINGS THAT WE KNOW THAT WORKS SO WE DON'T LOSE THAT AS WE GO FOR
FORWARD. >> I AGREE WITH YOU ON SOME OF THE STATEMENTS BUT I THINK WE DO HAVE TO MAKE CHANGES TO IMPROVE.
SO I'M MORE ON THE PROCESS AND KEEPING AN EYE ON THE PROCESS OF HOW THAT IS GOING TO BE. I WAS INVOLVED WITH THE CHANGE TOOK PLACE AND I THINK IT WORKED IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION OF WHERE WE WENT FROM THE LAST TIME. WE MADE MAJOR CHANGE LIKE THIS, 12, 14 YEARS AGO, WE MADE A MAJOR CHANGE LIKE THIS.
I KNOW IT CAN WORK THIS THE POSITIVE, TOO.
I'M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT IT BUT THE PROCESS IS WHAT'S GOING TO KIND OF SET THE WHOLE TONE OF EVERYTHING.
>> TROY, YOU MENTIONED THIS WOULD BE A CHANGE FOR AN IMPROVEMENTS. WHAT AREAS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR
IMPROVEMENT? >> I CAN TELL YOU, OUR HOTELS ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. THE TDC IS A HUGE HELP FOR YOU.
WE DO A LOT OF OUR OWN NETWORKING AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS. SO SOME OF THE THINGS TO ME IS WORKING WITH THE CITY AND CLEARING THE WAY FOR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, SOME OF THEE THESE ENTITIES THAT NEED TO DO THAT GET TIED UP IN THE STATUTES OF 125.
LIKE BEING ABLE TO BUILD A PARKING GARAGE, BEING ABLE TO CREATE SOME THINGS THAT GET KIND OF CLOGGED UP.
I CAN SEE THIS WORKING GROUP POSSIBLY BEING ABLE TO HELP WITH THAT TRACK BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T CLEARED THAT TRACK VERY WELL IN THE YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN THERE.
SO I THINK THIS WORKING GROUP CAN KIND OF PULL SOME OF THOSE THINGS TOGETHER AS A GROUP. SO I SEE THAT AS A POSITIVE.
I THINK RICHARD IS DOING A GREAT JOB.
BUT I THINK THERE'S OTHER ENTITIES THAT ARE JUST OUTSIDE OF THAT THAT CAN KIND OF GET PULLED TOGETHER WITH THIS GROUP, TOO, THAT GET LOST IN THE MIX. THEY ARE FOCUSED ON THEIR TASK BUT THERE ARE OTHER TASKS ASSOCIATED WITH TOURISM.
>> OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? WE DON'T HAVE ON THE AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS BUT WE CAN ALLOW THAT, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOT TAKING ANY ACTION TODAY.
IF THERE'S ANYONE IN THE ROOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO CHIME IN WITH A THREE-MINUTE LIMIT. WE WOULD ENTERTAIN YOU AT THE
PODIUM. >> QUICK QUESTION, THESE ARE WITH COMPANIES OR GROUPS THAT ARE APPLYING OR GOING TO APPLY FOR THE RFP, CAN THEY COMMENT ON THE WORK, ON THE SCOPE OF THE
THEY CANNOT COMMENT. >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE BEFORE SOMEBODY STEPS WAY OUT OF -- KNOCKED OUT RIGHT AWAY.
>> YES. I BELIEVE, TERA, YOU MADE THAT CLEAR. I BELIEVE IT WAS IN THE MEETING IN MAY THAT THEY COULD NOT DO THAT.
>> SO I BELIEVE THE QUESTION IS BECAUSE WILLIAM -- YOU DO LOOK ALIKE, NOT REALLY. WILLIAM HAS GROWN A BEARD NOW.
SO DAVID IS NOT ACTUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH HIM DIRECTLY.
FOR ANYBODY WHO IS IN THE AUDIENCE WHO THINKS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO COME UP HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, WHAT WE WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF IS NOT INADVERTENTLY DISQUALIFYING ANYBODY FROM THE RFP PROCESS. ANYBODY WHO IS A CURRENT VENDOR OR EXPECTS THAT THEY WILL BE A POTENTIAL FUTURE VENDOR, YOU
[01:20:06]
CAN'T GIVE YOUR THOUGHTS, OPINIONS, OR ADVISEMENTS ON THE WAY THINGS SHOULD BE DONE. BUT DAVID SHOULD BE IN THE CLEAR UNLESS YOU ALL PLAN TO BID ON ONE OF THESE CONTRACTS.>> HI, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE TDC, DAVID REESE.
FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE TAKEN A LOOK AT PROCESSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, ALWAYS HELPFUL AND HEALTHY TO DO SO.
NEW IDEAS, EFFICIENCIES, SO FORTH, COME FROM THAT.
I HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH DEALING WITH COUNTY TDCS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. I HAVE GOTTEN TO SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT STRUCTURES AND CHANGES AND THE MAIN EXAMPLE -- I KNOW I AM SHORT ON TIME, WAS DUVAL COUNTY WAS CONSIDERING SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT I THINK IS PROPOSED IN 2016, 2017, THEY DID THREE SEPARATE RFP FOR VISITOR SERVICES, CONVENTION SALES AND DESTINATION MARKETING. VISIT JACKSONVILLE ENDED UP BIDDING ON ALL THREE OF THEM AND GOT IT.
AND LAST MONTH THE TDC DECIDED TO COLLAPSE THEM INTO ONE AND AWARDED VISIT JACKSONVILLE THE CONTRACT FOR TEN YEARS.
THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE THAT. >> DAVID, CAN YOU GIVE YOUR FULL
NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> DAVID REESE.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> ANYONE ELSE? >> HELLO, JENNIFER JENKINS, CURRENTLY WITH THE HYATT PLACE ST. AUGUSTINE.
BUT I AM HERE TO READ SOMETHING THAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE PRESENTED BY MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM BUT UNABLE TO ATTEND AND ASKED ME TO READ IT FROM ELITE HOSPITALITY.
I AM REPRESENTING ELITE HOSPITALITY.
WE HAVE 16 HOTELS IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA WITH SEVEN OF THOSE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY INCLUDING CASTILLO REAL, HAMPTON AND ST.
AUGUSTINE BEACH, HILTON GARDEN AND ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT, ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH.
THE PONDS HOTEL ST. AUGUSTINE, HOLIDAY IHOLIDAY INNN EXPRESS AW HYATT PLACE. WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY SINCE 1988 AND ALL THE HOTELS WE HAVE IN OUR PORTFOLIO HAVE BUILT FROM THE GROUPED UP. GROUND UP.OUR EMPLOYEES LIVE HE.
WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY DESTINATION MARKETING SERVICES DRAFT SCOPE RFP. REASON ONE, IF IT IS NOT BROKEN, DON'T TRY TO FIX IT. THE VCB HAS HAD MANY YEARS OF PROVEN SUCCESS GROWING THIS MARKET WITH THE KIND OF HIGH END VISITORS AND DESTINATION WOULD BE HAPPY TO HOST.
THE DATA THAT THE VCB PROVIDES IS INVALUABLE ON HOW WE RUN OUR BUSINESS AND HOW WE PROVIDE SERVICES FOR OUR GUESTS.
BY RUNNING TOURISM AND DESTINATION MARKETING THROUGH A SINGLE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, ALL THE INFORMATION CAN BE TRACKED, MANAGED AND DISTRIBUTED TO LOCAL USERS.
REASON TWO, ASK THE JACKSONVILLE CBB HOW SPLITTING THESE SERVICES WORKED FOR THEM. THEY SEPARATED OUT THESE SERVICES ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO AND IT WAS A DISASTER.
THE ADVERTISING AGENCY DID NOT REPORT TO THE CBB.
THE MESSAGING HAS CHANGED AT A WHIM OF THE COMMISSION.
THEY BROUGHT IT BACK TOGETHER WITHIN THE LAST MONTH AND ARE SCRAMBLING TO THE UNFORESEEN CONSEQUENCES OF DIVIDING THE RESPONSIBILITIES. REASON THREE, THE VCB IS NONPROFIT, NON NONPOLITICAL ORGANIZATION THAT REPORTS TO MANY STAKEHOLDERS. THE VCB BOARD REPRESENTS ALL ASPECTS OF THE H INDUSTRY ACROSS THE BREADTH OF THE MEMBERSHIP.
IF DESTINATION MARKETING IS CONTROLLED BY ACCOUNT STAFF, IT WILL DECREASE THE INDUSTRY VOICE AND DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE POLITICS THAT WILL AFFECT THE MARKETING AND MESSAGING.
THE VCB BOARD CAN HOLD RICH AFTERWARD GOLDMAN ACCOUNTABLE.
THEY CANNOT FIRE COUNTY STAFF. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
[01:25:02]
CONSIDERATION. AGAIN, WE ARE OPPOSED TO TAKING DESTININGDESTINATION MARKETING M THE CURRENT VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU. THANK YOU.>> TIME TO COME BACK TO THE AGENDA.
[9. MONTHLY REPORTS PROVIDED IN PACKETS ]
TERA, ANY CLOSING COMMENTS? >> NO, I DON'T HAVE.
>> I THINK YOUR VOICE IS GOING TO LEAVE BEFORE THE TIME IS UP
ANYWAY. >> I HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH SOME STUFF. IT IS NOT COVID.
I HAVE TESTED. IT IS SOME OTHER STUFF.
>> SORRY YOU HAD TO DO SO MUCH TALKING TODAY.
THE MONTHLY REPORTS ARE IN -- WERE DISTRIBUTED TO US.
THE CULTURAL COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE, THE VCB REPRESENTATIVE WANT TO MAKE A PRESENTATION TO US? IT IS NOT FORMALLY ON THE AGENDA, BUT TIME WOULD ALLOW THAT IF YOU ARE PREPARED AND WISH TO DO SO.
NOPE. I GUESS EVERYBODY IS -- RICHARD, CHRISTINA. LET THE REPORTS STAND.
OR YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME UP AND HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING THAT'S IN THOSE REPORTS. RICHARD?
>> THE ONLY THING, I TEND TO FIND THAT THE NUMBERS ARE IMPORTANT. BUT IN YOUR REPORT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SUMMARY, WHERE REPORTS CONSOLIDATED SIGNIFICANTLY, BUT IN THE JUNE REPORT THAT INCLUDES TRADITIONAL AND VACATION RENTALS, I WANTED YOU TO HEAR THAT IN ADDITION TO THE DECLINES THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN JUNE WITH OCCUPANCY AND REV PAR AND DEMAND, THE YEAR TO DATE, HOWEVER, PERFORMANCE IS ALL DOUBLE DIGITS UP. AND WILL LIKELY CLOSE THAT WAY BECAUSE AUGUST, WE ARE LOOKING, TRACKING AUGUST WEEKLY DATA. AND THAT'S LOOKING FLAT, TOO, THIS PAST YEAR. WE WILL CLOSE THE YEAR SIGNIFICANTLY AHEAD. IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SEEN A DOWNTURN OR SOFTENING IN JUNE AND YOU WILL SEE JULY. THAT'S ALL THAT I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ANY FOLLOW-UP,
PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CALL. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I COULD -- MR. RICHARD, HAVE YOU SEEN AN AVERAGE DAILY RATE DROP SINCE --
NO. >> I NOTICE PROFITS ARE UP 40%
UP. >> SO WE ARE NOT DROPPING PIEWLS
TO COUNTERACT FUEL PRICES. >> I POLL THE ATTRACTIONS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SAYING IS SOME OF THEIR GUESTS ARE FEEDING BACK, WELL, WE COULDN'T SPEND AS MUCH WITH YOU, ATTRACTION, BECAUSE WE WERE SPENDING IT ON ACCOMMODATIONS.
SO THAT'S A THING. >> I JUST TOOK A THREE-WEEK TRIP. I HATE TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I SPENT ON ACCOMMODATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
THANK YOU. >> RICHARD, ARE YOU THE ONE OF DOING THE CIVIL RIGHTS TOURIST PRODUCT, FROM YOUR GROUP THAT IS
DOING THAT? >> WHICH IS IT THAT YOU ARE
REFERRING TO IN. >> THE?>> THE ONE ABOUT THE HOT.
[10. MEMBER COMMENTS ]
IT IS IN OUR PACKET, TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CIVIL RIGHTS AND IT IS TALKING ABOUT THE HOTEL.IS THAT CHRISTINA, OKAY. I WILL TALK TO YOU OFFLINE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW ABOUT THE FOOTAGE FROM THE
MOVIE THAT WE WILL USE. >> IT IS A REALLY GOOD MOVIE.
>> THANK YOU, RICHARD. >> MEMBER COMMENTS.
>> I HAVE ONE. I WOULD LIKE TO JUST RESPOND TO CHRISTINA'S COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT VARIOUS GROUPS IN THE
[01:30:06]
COUNTY, APPLICANTS OR JUST ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE KIND OF COMING UP AGAINST THE POLICY OF THE CITY TO HAVE NO NEW MULTIDAY EVENTS AT THE SPECIAL EVENTS FIELD.SO I DIDN'T RESPOND BUT I WILL BE HAPPY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT THAT AND MEET AND WE CAN TALK AND GO OVER THOSE IDEAS. I HAD ONLY HAD THE REQUEST FROM ONE ENTITY. SO I HAD NO IDEA THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS. BUT IT IS DEFINITELY WORTH A CONVERSATION. SO THANK YOU.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I COULD PIGGYBACK OFF THAT.
WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT REDOING THE FAIRGROUNDS, WE HAVE HAD THAT STUDY TO BE COMPLETE, BUT IT WOULD BE A WIN-WIN FOR ALL OF US IF WE COULD GET ONE OF THESE BIG MUSIC FESTIVALS TO GO OUT TO THE FAIRGROUNDS AND HOLD IT. PEOPLE WOULD STILL STAY IN TOWN, I BELIEVE. I KNOW IT IS NOT THE AL LURE OF DOWNTOWN FRANCIS FIELD. I WISH IT WAS A SOFTBALL FIELD BACK IN THE DAY. IT WOULD BE NEAT IF WE COULD GET
ONE TO TRY. >> WE DID THE LOOP TOUR.
IT IS A CHALLENGING LOCATION. IF YOU ARE GOING TO DID A FESTIVAL, YOU NEED TO BE COMMITTED TO IT FOR FIVE YEARS.
>> IT MAY BE WORTHWHILE AT LOOKING AT GIVING AN EXTRA GRANT TO BE OUT THERE FOR A COUPLE YEARS.
COACHELLA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET THERE. WHEN WE DID HARVEST TO HOPE, WE HAD 17,000 PEOPLE OUT THERE. WE STILL LOST MONEY.
SO IT IS KIND OF A CATCH-22. WHEN YOU DO A FESTIVAL, YOU HAVE TO BUILD AND BE COMMITTED TO IT. WHEN THE COUNTY GOES INTO IT, THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT IS A COMMITMENT TO THAT.
>> JUST SOMETHING FOR US TO LOOK AT AS A BOARD.
THANK YOU. >> I MAY BE OUT OF ORDER, IF I MAY SPEAK I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ABOUT THE FAIRGROUNDS AND SHARE SOME INFORMATION THAT WE DO HAVE A FESTIVAL THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH NOW THAT IS MAKING A DECISION ABOUT WHETHER TO HOST A LARGE MULTIDAY EVENT AT THE FAIRGROUNDS.
THIS IS THE FESTIVAL THAT HAS A WONDERFUL HISTORY AND WONDERFUL TIE TO ST. AUGUSTINE. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THE NAME BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T MADE THEIR FINAL DECISION YET.
BUT THE FAIRGROUNDS ARE ON OUR RADAR AS WE WH WE WORK ON PRODUT DEVELOPMENT AND BRINGING EVENTS TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
HOPEFULLY NEXT TIME WE ARE HERE, I WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. >> THANK YOU.
>> TROY IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK ME ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS TRAIL
WHILE I'M STANDING HERE. >> I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS CONNECTED TO THE FOOTAGE. I WILL MAKE THAT FOOTAGE
COMPLETELY AVAILABLE FOR YOU. >> WE DEFINITELY WANT TO WORK
WITH YOU ON THAT, THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER MEMBER COMMENTS,
BUT I HAVE GONE BACK WHILE RICHARD, WHERE OUR HOTELS ARE.
I THINK EVERYONE ACROSS THE BOARD IS ABOUT THE SAME.
WE WILL DO VERY WELL COMPARED TO WHAT 19 WAS.
MAY WAS FLAT, JUNE DOWN ABOUT 11%.
JULY DOWN 13%. FOR AUGUST, WE ARE TRACKING AT ABOUT 7% DOWN. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE AT. IT SEEMS TO -- SATURDAY SEEMS TO BE THE TANK OF GAS PEOPLE. I THINK WE ARE LOSING PEOPLE ON THE PERIPHERAL A LITTLE BIT. THE PEOPLE CLOSE TO US, THE ONES THAT ARE IN THAT TANK OF GAS ARE STILL HERE AND STIM STILL COMIG FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS ARE STILL STRONG, ADR IS STILL GOOD WITH THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE IN THE SAME BOAT WITH YOU.
>> BASICALLY. ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HAVE THE
[11. NEXT MEETING DATE – OCTOBER 17TH ]
MARKETING BUDGET YOU HAVE BUT WE HAVE THE NUMBER OF ROOMS THAT YOU HAVE TO FILL EITHER. ACTUALLY, WE ARE STILL DOING QUITE WELL. BETTER -- THIS AUGUST IS BETTER THAN 18 OR 19. NOT AS GOOD AS IT 1.21, BUT WHAT IS? ANY OTHER MEMBER COMMENTS
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.