Mar 18, 2024 Tourist Development Council

[Items 1 - 3]

[00:00:30]

I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER FOR THE ST. JOHN'S TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FOR MARCH 18, 2024. OKAY, HANG ON.

WE WILL ASK THE FOLKS IN THE BACK TO TURN UP THE VOLUME, I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE THE ABILITY UP FRONT THERE. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? I'D HAVE TO STAND UP TO GET ANY CLOSER THAN THIS. HOW ABOUT NOW? GREAT. WE WILL CALL THE MARCH 18TH MEETING FOR THE SAME JOHN'S COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TO ORDER AND STARTING WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

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, I BELIEVE WE HAVE EVERYONE PRESENT. WE WILL DO A ROLL CALL.

>> CAN WE DO ROLL CALL, PLEASE?

>>

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

AMENDMENT TO THAT. >> JUST A NOTE THE MEMBER OF

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

[6. PUBLIC COMMENT]

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 5TH MEETING TO

HAVE A MOTION . >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? SO MOVING FORWARD NOW COMING TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.

HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS THAT ARE 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, STATE HIS OR HER NAME AND ADDRESS AND EACH PERSON WILL BE PROVIDED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND SHALL COMPLY WITH THE BOARD RULES OF DECORUM. COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE AND NOT ANY INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONER AND MAY NOT INCLUDE A DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM THE BOARD. NO PERSON MAY ADDRESS THE BOARD WITH PERSONAL IMPERTINENT OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR BOISTEROUS BEHAVIOR. NUMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ANY DISRUPTIVE DEMONSTRATIONS TO THE APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF COMMENTS. FINALLY I'D ASK ANY SPEAKER THAT PRESENTS ANY MATERIAL, PLEASE PRESENT THAT MATERIAL TO THE STAFF TO BE ENTERED INTO PUBLIC RECORD, THANK YOU.

SILAS, PRESIDENT OF THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE, 83 BRIDGE STREET, DOWNTOWN, ST. AUGUSTINE. WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT THE PROPOSED SUNSET TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX DID NOT

[00:05:09]

MEANWHILE, THE TDC WILL BE UPDATING ITS STRATEGIC PLAN NEXT YEAR. I URGE YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE MISSION IS TO SERVE THE VOTERS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY WHO ELECTED TO ADOPT THE TDT. IT WOULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT THERE INTENT.

THEY WERE THINKING THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE WOULD BE IMPROVED WITH THE TDT, BUT THE CURRENT MISSION STATED IN THE TDC'S STRATEGIC PLAN IS TO STRENGTHEN AND GROW THE TOURISM SECTOR OF ST. JOHNS ECONOMY. THAT IS THE STRATEGY, NOT THE MISSION. IMPROVING THE TOURISM SECTOR IS A STRATEGIC TOOL TO ACCOMPLISH AN IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS, CITIZENS, VOTERS . IN 1984 THAT IMPROVEMENT WAS INTENDED TO BE IN THE AREAS OF CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LEISURE DEVELOPMENT. AND IT WAS RECOGNIZED THAT MARKETING WOULD BE AT KEY TACTIC TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.

LEISURE, HOWEVER, NOW HAS 30% OF THE TDC BUDGET IF YOU COUNT THE TOURISM ASSETS, WHICH IS REALLY THE BEACHES ONLY.

CULTURAL HAS SHRUNK TO 14%. THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.

CULTURE DEVELOPMENT IS NOT BEING TREATED AS A PRIORITY BUT IN SOME WAYS TREATED AS A BURDEN. I URGE YOU TO CORRECT

[7. TAX COLLECTOR'S PRESENTATION ON THE COLLECTION OF TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX]

>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM 7 WHICH IS THE PRESENTATION OF THE TAX COLLECTOR.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M JENNIFER RAVEN, ASSISTANT TAX COLLECTOR WITH THE ST. JOHN COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON TOURIST DEVELOPMENT. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW HIM WE BEGAN COLLECTING TOURIST DEVELOPING DOLLARS OR 1986 AND AT THAT TIME IT WAS CALLED THE LOCAL OPTION TAX. ON BEHALF OF OF THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE IS, THEY LOBBIED THE STATE TO KEEP THE COLLECTION LOCAL AND WE WERE THE FIRST IN THE STATE TO IMPLEMENT THE COLLECTION OF THE LOCAL OPTION TAX. THE ORDINANCE HAS BEEN AMENDED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE YEARS AND WE CURRENTLY COLLECT 5% PER ORDINANCE 2021 DASH 23 ON THE GROSS ORDINANCE AMOUNT. IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE THE MOST LAWFUL COLLECTIONS, SINCE MARCH OF 2018 WE USE A THIRD-PARTY VENDOR TO ASSIST US IN IDENTIFYING SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

WE HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF ACCOUNTS FROM 628 AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2017 TO CURRENTLY 4609 ACCOUNTS COLLECTING $1.7 MILLION FOR JANUARY OF 2024. WE ALSO IDENTIFY AN AVERAGE OF 40 TO 60 NEW RENTERS A MONTH THROUGH OUR THIRD-PARTY VENDOR AND FOLLOW-UP BY SENDING A LETTER OF COMPLIANCE. ONE QUESTION WE ARE ASKED A LOT, OUR OFFICE DOES NOT HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH ANY SHORT-TERM RENTAL COMPANIES SUCH AS AIRBNB OR BRB OH , OUR CONCERN WITH ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH ONE OF THESE COMPANIES IS THAT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE IDENTIFYING TAXPAYER INFORMATION. FLORIDA LAW REQUIRES THROUGH FLORIDA STATUTE 125- 124-04, 212 .13, THAT THESE COMPANIES MUST PROVIDE A COMPLETE RECORD OF RENTAL TRANSACTIONS AND THEY MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT ALL REASONABLE HOURS. THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL COMPANIES ONLY PROVIDEA LUMP SUM PAYMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN CANDIES WITH NO IDENTIFYING INFORMATION. SECONDLY THE RENTAL COMPANY CONTRACT WAIVES OUR ABILITY TO ENFORCE FLORIDA LAW AS WELL AS THE STATES ABILITY TO ENFORCE ITS CRIMINAL

[00:10:01]

FLORIDA STATUTE SHOULD REMAIN UNBIASED AND BE FAIR TO ALL CITIZENS. IF WE ARE NOT PRIVY TO ALL THIS INFORMATION FOR ALL PERTINENT ACCOUNTS WE WILL NOT HAVE OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ACCURATELY COLLECTED TAXES. FLORIDA IS A MAIN DESTINATION FOR FAMILIES, BUSINESSES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND THESE TAX DOLLARS MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN QUALITY OF LIFE IN RECREATION AND ENTERTAINMENT ENJOYED BY RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE. ANY QUESTIONS?

>> CHAIRMAN. >> YES.

>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP. I THINK I ASKED THIS QUESTION. BRB OH AND AIRBNB BOTH COLLECT , UNLESS YOU KNOW TO ASK FOR THE BED TAX BACK. WHAT IS OUR CLAWBACK AGAINST THEM OR IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO. BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE HOLDING MONEY AND A LOT OF THE AIRBNB INDEPENDENT PEOPLE MAYBE LIVING IN MISSISSIPPI, THINKING THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT , AND THEN THEY ARE NOT PAYING THAT TAX, WHAT CAN WE DO TO MANAGE THAT BETTER AND COLLECT THAT

MONEY? >> WE WORK WITH THE TAXPAYER AND EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT AIRBNB MAY BE COLLECTING THAT FIND AND THEN THEY NEED TO BE REMITTED TO US, IN OUR OFFICE.

IF THEY BECOME DELINQUENT WE WILL REACH OUT TO THEM, CALL THEM OR SEND THEM A LETTER TO LET THEM KNOW AND EXPLAIN THAT TO THEM. ONCE WE EXPLAIN THAT TO THEM, THEY UNDERSTAND AND THEY ARE GOOD FROM THAT POINT ON. HOWEVER, WE ARE WORKING ON AN EDUCATIONAL PIECE TO REACH OUT TO RENTERS AND SHORT-TERM RENTALS, ESPECIALLY THE NEW ONES THAT SIGN UP WITH US TO LET THEM KNOW FROM THE GET GO THAT AIRBNB IS NOT REMITTING

YOUR TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX. >> A LOT OF THESE ARE UNDER MANAGEMENT GROUPS, DO WE HAVE SOMETHING WE CAN SEND OUT TO THEM TO EXPLAIN TO THEM. SOMETIMES IT GOES THROUGH AIRBNB BUT IT IS A MANAGEMENT GROUP. THE OWNER MAY NEVER SEE IT. DO WE HAVE SOMETHING FROM THE TAX COLLECTOR SAYING, YOU NEED TO BE PAYING THIS, IT IS NOT JUST --

>> WE DO HAVE SOMETHING AND WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH THE CONJUNCTION OF THE CLERK OF THE COURT. WE ARE COMING UP WITH A NEW BROCHURE AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO GET THAT TO YOU SO WE CAN SHARE IT. WE'D ALSO BE SURE TO GET THAT OUT TO

MANAGEMENT COMPANIES. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> FIRST OF ALL GOING FROM THE MID-FOR HUNDREDS TO OVER 6000 IS IMPRESSIVE. DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT THE UNIVERSE IS? I KNOW THERE WAS A NEW LAW JUST PAST IN TALLAHASSEE A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT SEEMED TO STRENGTHEN MANAGING VACATION RENTAL TYPE THINGS. DO WE HAVE ANY SENSE OF, IF EVERYTHING WAS DONE RIGHT, THE UNIVERSE WOULD BE 7500, OR 7000 OR 8000 AND HOW WILL THIS HELP US GET TO THAT NUMBER , WHAT CAN WE DO AS A BOARD TO ASSIST WITH

THAT? >> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

SINCE IT WAS JUST PAST, WE HAVE BEEN READING INTO THAT AND SEE HOW WE COULD ALSO FOLLOW UP ON THAT. IF THAT'S OKAY, ONCE WE COME TO A CONCLUSION, WE'D LOVE TO SHARE THAT WITH THE

BOARD. >> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?

THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> MADAM CHAIR, I'D LIKE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT THE BILL THAT WAS JUST DISCUSSED WAS PASSED BY THE HOUSE AND SENATE BUT HAS NOT BEEN SENT TO THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS SIGNATURE YET. WE WAIT TO SEE IF IT ACTUALLY GETS VETOED OR IF HE OPTS TO PASS. SO WE'RE KIND OF STILL THINKING ABOUT

THAT ONE. >> GOOD OBSERVATION.

>> WE DON'T GET TO TALK OFF AIR, YOU MIGHT KNOW THIS

[00:15:03]

IT. >> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF WAYS IT WILL AFFECT US AND ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE. IT WILL RESTRICT OUR ABILITY TO ENFORCE PARKING, WHICH NOW, WE REQUIRE PARKING. IT WILL ALSO REMOVE THE CAP ON OCCUPANCY AND REPLACE IT WITH A DIFFERENT FORMULA FOR FIGURING OUT OCCUPANCY. SO WE HAVE BEEN OPPOSED. I'D ALSO SAY, I THINK THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INCREASE OF TRASH COLLECTION AT THOSE RESIDENCIES.

>> I BELIEVE THAT PORTION IS LEFT UP TO US AND THE WAY WE ARE NOW. I BELIEVE THAT THE ENFORCEMENT WE HAVE IS VERY FAIR. IT IS MANAGED CASE-BY-CASE. IT IS ALL IN A BLANKET WAY AND WE DO AN ANALYSIS ON EACH CASE OF, ARE THEY COLLECTING MORE AT ONE LOCATION VERSUS ANOTHER LOCATION AND TRY TO DISTRIBUTE THAT FAIRLY.

>> MADAM CHAIR, IF I MAY, THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH,

[9. RECOMMENDATION FROM TOURISM MARKETING RFP WORKING GROUP INCLUDING]

BILL 20. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMENT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS ? SO WE WILL , I'M SORRY, THAT WAS ITEM NUMBER 7, 8 HAS BEEN REMOVED AND 9 IS

RECOMMENDATIONS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. ITEM NUMBER 9, THE TOURISM WORKING GROUP INCLUDING A DRAFT RFP SCOPE.

AT TOURISM MARKETING WORKING GROUP WAS CREATED A NUMBER OF MONTHS AGO SO THEY COULD REVIEW AND CREATE RECOMMENDATIONS ON A NUMBER OF TASKS. THEY ARE LISTED HERE. FIRST AND FOREMOST, WHAT THE GROUP WAS WORKING ON WAS A RECOMMENDATION ON THE RFP SCOPE OF WORK TO BE SOLICITED FOR A TOURISM MARKETING ORGANIZATION TO TAKE ON THE TOURISM MARKETING FOR US FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. THE OTHER TASK THAT WAS SENT FORTH FOR THAT GROUP TO CONSIDER TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON INCLUDED THE RECOMMENDED SET OF EVALUATION CRITERIA IS TO EVALUATE THOSE RESPONDING PROPOSALS, RECOMMENDATION FOR ENHANCED SOLICITATION TO THAT RFP SO THE COUNTY DOES USE IT FOR A BASIS ON HOW TO SOLICIT THESE. WE ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER AVENUES AVAILABLE TO US SUCH AS DIRECT SOLICITATION TO AGENCIES WE IDENTIFIED. SO TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS THERE AS WELL. THEY WILL SUGGEST A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS TO ACTUALLY SERVE AS EVALUATORS FOR THIS RFP RESPONSES. A SET OF CRITERIA OR METHODS ON HOW TO EVALUATE THE PRODUCT RECEIVED FROM THAT AGENCY. AND THEN AS A RESULT FROM DISCUSSIONS OF THIS BOARD WE ALSO ADDED TO THE ORIGINAL SET OF FIVE TASKS, A SIXTH TASK WHICH IS TO SUGGEST AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH FOR THE DAILY MANAGEMENT OF THE SELECTED AGENCY. SO FAR, OUR GROUP, WHICH CONSISTS OF PHIL MCDANIEL, GABE, TODD HICKEY AND KIMBERLY WILSON , HAVE MET QUITE A FEW TIMES, IN TOTAL THEY'VE MET EIGHT TIMES SINCE NOVEMBER AND HAVE BEEN DILIGENTLY LOOKING AT THESE DESKS WITH PRIVATIZATION OF THE RFP SCOPE OF WORK. AND TODAY PHIL AND GABE ARE JOINING ME TO GO OVER SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY HAVE PUT TOGETHER WHERE THEY PUT TOGETHER A SCOPE THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA PACKET AND DOES LOOK VERY SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS AGENDA SCOPE . THERE WERE SOME PREVIOUS REQUESTS MADE, APPLICABLE TO TWO BULLETS IN PARTICULAR AND TO FINISH OUT SOME AREAS THAT HAVE NOT FULLY BEEN FILLED OUT IN THE PREVIOUS VERSION INCLUDING THE SCORING. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THESE TWO GENTLEMEN AND THEY WILL WALK THROUGH THE

RECOMMENDATION WITH YOU. >> I WILL LIMP THROUGH THE

[00:20:05]

IT IS A SICKLY THE SAME RFP HE SAW A MONTH AGO. WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THREE KEY AREAS THAT WERE EMPHASIZED BY YOUR REPORT AS WE WORK THROUGH THE FINISHING TOUCHES. ALL ARE CENTERED AROUND DETERMINING THE BEST APPROACH TO THIS RFP UNDER THE GUIDELINES OF THE COUNTY PURCHASING. AND THAT IS HOW CAN WE SOLICIT THE BEST AD AGENCIES AND WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO REVIEW THESE AGENCIES AND ENSURE THEY ARE SOLID AND WILL GIVE GREAT WORK FOR US AND WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO SCORE AND MANAGE THESE AGENCIES. I WILL TALK ABOUT FOUR POINTS AND THEN TURN IT OVER TO GABE . ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS WE WANT TO DO IS ENGAGE THESE AGENCIES AND IN OUR PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR PREMIER MARKETING FIRMS MAY NOT BE SCOURING DEMAND AND OUR BID WAS SOLICITED SO TO ENSURE WE PRESENT OUR OPPORTUNITY TO THE BROADEST AND TOP AGENCIES IN THIS FIELD WE HAVE TAKEN A PROACTIVE APPROACH. WE'VE COMPILED AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF REPUTABLE AGENCIES. I REACHED OUT AND WORKED WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FROM FLORIDA AND THEY RECENTLY WENT AHEAD AND HAVE A RFP FOR THE OUR AGENCY AND HE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO GIVE US THAT WHISPERED WE WILL START THERE AND WE ALSO HAVE A LIST OF PAST AGENCIES THAT THEY'VE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST WITH MEMBERS OF THE BOARD INCLUDING TODD AND KIMBERLY , THEY'VE ALSO NAMED SOME SPECIFIC AGENCIES. AT THIS TIME, WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT BUT I WILL SUGGEST AN DIRECT TO YOU GUYS THAT IF YOU OR ANY OF THE COMPANIES YOU WORK FOR THAT HAVE A GOOD AGENCY THAT YOU'D LIKE US TO INCLUDE IN THIS LIST, PLEASE DO, GIVE IT DIRECTLY TO TARA, SHE CAN INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF FOLKS. WE FEEL VERY GOOD THAT IN ADDITION TO THE MAIN START, WHICH IS THE COUNTY'S MAIN TOOL TO SOLICIT BAITERS, WE WILL GO OUT MUCH BROADER AND HOPEFULLY ATTRACT A GREAT GROUP THAT CAN COME IN. THE SECOND, WE INVITE YOU GUYS, TO DO THAT.

OUR OBJECTIVE IS VERY SIMPLE. WE WANT TO ATTRACT THE HIGHEST CALIBER PARTNERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS RFP AND MAKE THE BEST PITCH FOR THEIR BUSINESS. WE WANT THAT TO HAPPEN AND REFLECTING ON SOME PAST FEEDBACK WITHIN THEM -- LIMITED NUMBER OF BIDDERS, WE ARE PREPARED TO HAVE DEDICATION BEYOND THAT. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT HOW WE ARE WORKING HARD TO GET THAT LIST AS BROAD AS POSSIBLE.

>> YOU WILL SEE A TREND HERE. THIS THING IS KIND OF CLUNKY IN TRYING TO ATTRACT AD AGENCIES. WE DON'T HAVE , I GUESS, THE RANKING PANEL AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH EACH OTHER. PRIVATE COMPANIES, THEY WOULD BRING IN AD AGENCIES AND YOU WOULD HAVE YOUR SUPER GROUP OF EMPLOYEES, YOU COULD CALL THEM LATER THAT NIGHT WITH A QUESTION AND FIGURE OUT WHO THE BEST COMPANY IS. THE RANKING PANEL DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO TALK TO EACH OTHER. IF YOU ARE PUTTING TOGETHER SOME SPECIALISTS, IT IS CHALLENGING. IN MARKETING THERE ARE ALL THESE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT SPECIALIZED . WHEN WE GOT TOGETHER, WE KNEW THAT THE LAST WAS A LITTLE LATER THAN WE WANTED AND WE STARTED TACKLING THAT ISSUE. SECONDLY WE THOUGHT THE HOTSPOT WAS DIGITAL MARKETING. THERE ARE TWO REASONS WHY, ONE, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ABLE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER. IF I'M A SPECIALIZED DIGITAL MARKETER I CAN'T REALLY INFLUENCE THE OTHER PERSON. THE OTHER PART IS REALLY, IT IS SO SPECIALIZED AND TECHNICAL AND IT IS MOVING AT THE SPEED OF TECH RIGHT NOW. THEY HAVE CHANGED THE ENTIRE LANDSCAPE OF DIGITAL MARKETING SO FOR US TO SIT HERE AND SAY HEY, WE ARE ABLE TO SORT THROUGH ALL OF THIS, WE WOULD BE LYING. TO BE ABLE TO STAY UP-TO-DATE ON MARKETING, THE RELEVANCY OF ADS AND HOW YOU ATTRACT THEM WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES, YOU'D HAVE TO DO THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY. YOU HAVE TO ALSO MAKE SURE YOU'RE TRACKING THE DATA, HAVE THE DATA DECISION-MAKING PROCESS IS MOVING FORWARD, AND JUST AS GENERAL MANAGERS AND CEOS WE ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO BE REALLY UP-TO-DATE WITH THAT. SO WE INTRODUCE THE DIGITAL

[00:25:03]

SOMEONE , THEY CAN PUT UP A SHOW ON SALE, A HOTEL CAN TYPE IN ST. AUGUSTINE, THEATER, MAKING SURE TO HAVE KEYWORDS AND SOMEONE CAN LOOK UP AT THE AMPHITHEATER AND THEY CONVENIENTLY HAVE 10% OFF HOTELS RIGHT HERE. THAT IS DYING THIS YEAR, THIRD-PARTY TRACKING GOOGLE IS PHASING THAT OUT. SO WHEN WE ARE SITTING HERE OR WHOEVER IS ON THE RANKING PANEL AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A STRATEGY AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE INCREDIBLE PLATFORMS THAT WILL WORK, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT GETTING THE WOOL PULLED OVER OUR EYES BECAUSE IF THEY ARE APPROACHING US AS A THIRD-PARTY TRACKING OPTION TO BE ABLE TO TARGET, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND AND INCLUDES THE RIGHT QUESTION SO YOU CAN GET AHEAD OF THIS STUFF SO WE CAN LOOK AT THE CURRENT TECHNOLOGY AND HOW WE ARE USING MOVING FORWARD. IT WAS A BIG CHANGE FOR US BUT IT IS ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF WHAT CAN WE DO AND CAN'T WE DO THROUGH THE PROPOSAL THAT GOT US SLATED INTO THAT SECOND TIER.

>> JUST WANT TO ECHO, GABE WAS SO SMART AND BRINGING THAT TO OUR COMMITTEE. THE WORK THEY DO AT THE END, THEY SEE IT AND LIVE IT EVERY DAY. THEY ARE DOING THAT REALLY WELL. HAVING THAT ABILITY, I'M SURE YOU HAVE CAREFULLY READ THE RFP, BASICALLY THERE ARE THREE SECTIONS, ONE SECTION WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO SUBMIT AND THAT GROUP WE WOULD CALL IT DOWN TO MAYBE 3 TO 5 AGENCIES THAT WE REALLY LIKE AND AT THAT POINT WE'D COMING INTO THE DIGITAL REVIEW TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT STUFF AND ONCE WE FIGURE OUT WHICH AGENCIES, THERE COULD BE THREE, THERE COULD BE FIVE, THE LAST STEP IS THAT IT WOULD BE BROUGHT IN FOR PRESENTATIONS, WHICH IS WHEN WE ARE REALLY LOOKING TO KICK THE TIRES. AND THAT IS WHEN WE ADVANCE THE REVIEW PROCESS.

TRANSITIONING ] WANTED TO BRING TO THIS POINT AND OPEN IT UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE AND THEN GET SOME DIRECTION.

>> WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS SECTION AS WELL. DO WE WANT TO DO COMMISSIONERS FIRST OR PUBLIC?

>> WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 9? SEEING NONE.

PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED. >> OKAY. ANY COMMISSIONERS

HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> I THINK THAT THE CLEAN SEPARATE PORTION IS VERY IMPORTANT. IF YOU HAD CARRYOVER POINT, I'M GLAD THAT YOU AGREE WITH THAT ASSESSMENT. WHOEVER IS ON THE RANK COMMITTEE, AND I'M SAYING THIS TO THE BOARD, NOT NECESSARILY YOU GUYS, THE FOUR PEOPLE THAT WE PUT IN PLACE, WE PUT THEM IN PLACE FOR REASON BECAUSE OF THEIR PROFESSIONALISM AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO GO ANYWHERE FURTHER AS FAR AS THE RANKING COMMITTEES THAT WE GOT HERE. THEY KNOW WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FOR. WE SELECTED THESE FOUR FOR A REASON. SO I STRONGLY FEEL LIKE THESE FOUR NEED TO BE ON THE RANKING SIDE OF THIS BECAUSE THAT WAY IT KEEPS IT VERY

[00:30:02]

FLUID. THAT IS MY COMMENT. >> THE PRESENTATION IS VERY THOROUGH IN THE BOOK. AND YOU BROUGHT UP A VERY GOOD POINT AS WELL. WITH CHAT GTP, THE WRITTEN EVALUATION MAY NOT BE THE TRUE GUIDE FOR WHAT THE GROUP MAY COME IN. WITH. SO THE FACE-TO-FACE AND THE ORAL IS GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST ONE.

TROY, I AGREE WITH YOU. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING STATUTORILY THAT IT COULD NOT BE A CLEAN SLATE. AND I THINK THAT THE FOUR OF YOU ALL SHOULD PROBABLY BE THE COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT IT.

YOU WROTE THE RFP. SO YOU ARE INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH THAT.

AND I BELIEVE THAT SHOULD BE THAT WAY AS WELL. SO I AGREE

WITH YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> FIRST OF ALL, GREAT JOB. WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY ON THIS. I WAS IMPRESSED WITH WHAT I READ. THE THING THAT STOOD OUT AND JUMPED OFF THE PAGE IS THE PROJECT OVERVIEW. I THINK WE'RE BEING SHORT SIDED ON BEING ABLE TO GET THE BEST AGENCY BY HAVING A TWO AND A HALF TO $3 MILLION BUDGET. I THINK WE'VE ELIMINATED 50% OF THE UNIVERSE IN MOST OF THE GOOD COMPANIES BY HAVING THAT SENTENCE IN THERE. SO EITHER THAT SENTENCE NEEDS TO COME OUT OR WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO MOVE IT UP TO 4 MILLION. BUT WEAR NOT GOING TO GET THE RIGHT PLAYER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ALL OF THAT WORK IF WE'RE GOING OUT THERE AND SAYING, COME BID ON JUST A VERY GOOD CONTRACT. WHY THE NUMBER WOULD GO DOWN, I HAVE NO IDEA. BUT IT IS CERTAINLY GOING TO AFFECT WHAT THE QUALITY OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT YOU COULD GET BACK. I THINK YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU'VE GUYS SPENT ON THAT AND ALSO AGREE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME VERY MUCH. >

>> YES, SIR? >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK WE NEED TO BE OPEN-MINDED WHEN IT COMES TO THIS UNDERSTANDING WHAT THESE THINGS CAN COST, OR WHAT THEY'VE IT COST US BEFORE AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE BEST OF THE BEST CHARTS ARE. I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE, WE WERE DEBATING ON HOW TO DO THIS FOR MONTHS IN DIFFERENT MEETINGS. I THINK MICHAEL BROUGHT UP THIS SOLUTION A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND BEEN SUCCESSFUL SO FAR. SO THANK VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I SAW THE NUMBER OF MEETINGS THAT YOU HAD. I THINK IT WILL BE THE BEST OUTCOME FOR

US. THANK YOU. >> I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. HOW DOES THE DIGITAL MARKETING PANEL WORK? IT SOUNDS LIKE I'M COUNTING VOTES. AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS MOVING FORWARD IF YOUR COMMITTEE WOULD STAY IN PLACE.

>> THERE COULD BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, IF THERE IS AN ASSOCIATED PARTY THAT APPLIES FOR THIS SO WE'RE REALLY MOVING TOWARDS -- IT SEEMS JUST FROM A FEW CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE THAT WE KNOW ARE NOT GOING TO BE INVOLVED WITH THIS AT ALL. ONE OF THEM IS THE DIGITAL MARKER. THAT IS

[00:35:04]

>> DID THEY GIVE YOU FEEDBACK RIGHT THEN AND THERE? DO YOU NEED ANOTHER OCCASION? I'M JUST WONDERING WITH THAT.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE IT WOULD BE RIGHT THERE. WHEN WE REALIZE THIS WOULD BE A HOTSPOT FOR US, WE KNEW IT WOULD BE A GOOD DIRECTION FOR US TO GO AND FLUSHING THAT OUT.

>> SO THIS WILL ALL BE SUNSHINE. IT WILL BE PRESUMABLY AT THE SAME MEETING. IF WE NEED A SUBSEQUENT MEETING, IT WILL BE A PUBLICIZED MEETINGS AND EVERYONE WILL GET BACK TOGETHER AND EXCUSE TO IT IN THE SUNSHINE. ONE MEETING, POSSIBLY

TWO. >> THANK YOU.

>> WE KNOW THAT WE'RE FOUR PEOPLE THAT CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE COMMITTEE AND THE INDUSTRY AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING A PAID A LOT TO COULD THIS. THAT IS OKAY. BUT IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. WE FEEL THAT WE WOULD BE PROBABLY THE MOST QUALIFIED GROUP TO DO IT. SO THAT WOULD BE OUR SUGGESTION TO YOU. THE FACT THAT YOU ARE SUGGESTING IT, MAKES THE DECISION MUCH EASIER. THANKS.

>> OTHER QUESTION IS -- I'LL DEFER TO THE EXPERTS ON THE BOARD, IS 4 MILLION THE MAGIC NUMBER? IS THAT GOING TO GET US ACROSS THE THRESHOLD TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF THE COMPANY THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO COMPETE FOR? I'M JUST ASKING THIS FOR THE RIGHT TARGET. IT THERE A WAY TO KNOW WHERE THE NUMBER IS.

WHEN WE GO TO DIGITAL, I THINK CHANGES. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU'RE INTO THE DIGITAL AND MARKETING, MR. BEAST IS ALMOST A BILLIONAIRE BECAUSE HE STUDIED THE ALGORITHMS AND HE KNEW HOW TO GET TO PEOPLE. IS 4 MILLION THE RIGHT NUMBER? AND WHO DO WE ASK WHAT THE NUMBER SHOULD BE? IF WE CAN PUT SOMETHING IN THE RFP, WHAT DO THEY THINK THE NUMBER WOULD BE? I KNOW THAT IS AMBIGUOUS AND IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT IT INTO A GOVERNMENT CONTRACT. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE NUMBER IS NOT TWO AND A HALF OR 3? THE NUMBER IS JUST OUT THERE. IS IT FOUR,

FOUR AND A HALF? >> EXACTLY.

>> 3.8? I DON'T THINK THE NUMBER SHOULD GO DOWN. BUT GO

AHEAD. >>> SO THIS CAME UP IN OUR DISCUSSIONS. USUALLY OVERHEAD, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THIS THING HAS ALLOVER HEAD WRAPPED IN BECAUSE YOU CANNOT SAY THAT A COMPANY WHO HAS INCREDIBLE RELATIONSHIPS IF THEY HAVE HIGHER OVERHEAD AND THEY'RE GETTING BETTER RESULTS, WHY DOES IT MATTER? BUT 6% OVERHEAD OR MAYBE 10%. THAT IS A LOT. IF YOU TAKE 10%, HOW MUCH ARE THE COMPANY -- IF YOU WERE A GOOD MARKING COMPANY, WOULD YOU DO THIS JOB? THAT IS WHAT WE WERE ASKING OURSELVES, ACTUALLY. WE STAYED AWAY FROM THAT BECAUSE IT WASN'T A BUDGET DECISION. I'M THROWING THAT OUT THERE

FOR THE HECK OF IT. >> I WOULD SAY THE HIGHER THE NUMBER, THE MORE LIKELY WE'RE GOING TO ATTRACT SOMEBODY. IF YOU'RE TOO LOW, YOU'LL GET A LOT OF FIRMS WILL NOT TOUCH. A GOVERNMENT ENTITY, IT IS MORE CHALLENGING. SO THE BIGGER THE

[00:40:02]

>> THIS MIGHT BE FOR TARA. CAN WE DO A NUMBER NOT TO EXCEED THAT NUMBER? SOME OF THESE AGENCIES MAY COME IN, WE CAN KNOCK THIS OUT AND 4 AND THE OTHER AT 4.4 AND STILL GET THE SAME QUALITY. AND THAT COMES OUT IN THE PRESENTATION . I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER IS. I DON'T HAVE EXPERTISE, I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE FLEXIBILITY ON WHAT IS THERE RIGHT NOW. I DON'T KNOW IF I

EXPRESSED MYSELF CLEARLY. >> I GUESS IT IS A STAFF QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR THE REFRESHER FOR LAST YEAR .

>> WE HAVE 3 MILLION AND 27,225,000 ALLOCATED TO

MARKETING IN CATEGORY 1. >> THAT WOULD REQUIRE A BUDGET

CHANGE. >> THIS WILL BE STARTING N FISCAL YEAR 25. SO CERTAINLY, WE CAN LOOK AT PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS. WE CAN LOOK AT THE FUND THAT ARE IN THERE. WE CAN LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND HOW WE BREAK IT UP BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT ITEMS THAT ARE FUNDED IN THE CATEGORY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE'RE LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN CATEGORY 1. IF WE WANT TO -- I THINK THAT WHAT WAS SAID WAS THE HIGHER NUMBER YOU HAVE, THE BIGGER FIRMS THAT YOU HAVE AND A BETTER PRODUCT. I THINK THAT IS TRUE AND PROBABLY ACROSS THE BOARD, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE BUYING A CAR. BUT I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BUDGET IN CATEGORY 1. SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT. IF WE'RE HAVING CONCERNS, WE CAN GO BACK TO THE 2.5 MILLION. BUT WE USUALLY GIVE A RANGE BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT SET A BUDGET YET. AND THIS WILL PRESUMABLY BE A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT AND WE'LL HAVE TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE ARE WILLING TO SPEND PER YEAR. BUT I CAUTION GIVING A REALLY HIGH

NUMBER. >> WITH FUNDING COMING JUST FROM THE ONE CATEGORY OR COVERED ACROSS THE BOARD IN A DIFFERENT CATEGORY? IT MAY BE MARKING THE BEACHES AND

MARKETING CULTURE. >> MARKETING COMES OUT OF THE MARKING CATEGORY. SO EACH CATEGORY HAVE ONE TO PREVIEW.

>> >> I'M SLIDELY CONFUSED HERE.

I THOUGHT THE PROCESS WAS TO CONSOLIDATE THE MARKING AND THE MARKING DOLLARS AND CATEGORY 4 AND THE MARKING DOLLARS IN CATEGORY 3 AND THE MARKING DOLLARS IN CATEGORY 2 AND HAVE AN OUTSIDE AGENCY DOING THAT SO THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE CROSSOVER AND REDUNDANT CITIES. AND REDUNN REDUNDANT. I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED. AND THE OTHER PART IS THE PRESENTATION THAT ALBERT PUT UP, JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO HAD MARKETING THIS CATEGORIES FOR MORE THAN $7 MILLION. I KNOW THAT WAS INACCURATE. BECAUSE I KNOW IT WAS IN THE 5 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS RANGE. BUT WE JUST SEEM TO THROW OUT NUMBERS HERE AND HERE. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT .

[00:45:18]

>> WE'LL TAKE THE PORTIONS FROM EACH CLASS.

>>I THINK I HAVE THE SAME QUESTION. I'D LIKE TO SEE US GET TO THE 4, IF 4 IS WHAT WE NEED. I SEE JESSIE DUNN IN THE BACK. COULD YOU COME UP HERE. HE'S THE HEAD OF OMB FROM THE COUNTY. HE MAY GIVE US SOME ANSWERS HERE.

>> THAT CONVENIENT. >> THANK YOU, JESSIE. HOW CAN YOU HELP US BE CREATIVE HERE? GOOD AFTERNOON. JESSIE DUNN DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET. IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PLANNING FOR 2025, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IN THE BUDGET PROCESS. WE CAN LOOK ACROSS CATEGORIES. I GUESS THE QUESTION I HAVE AND MAYBE THIS IS BECOMING A CONVERSATION. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED IT MAKE A DECISION WITH 24

APPROPRIATIONS? >> NO H THE IDEA IS WE NEED TO SOLICIT THIS SCOPE IN THE NEAR FUTURE BECAUSE THE RFP PROCESS TAKES A LITTLE WHILE. THE IDEA OF THAT FIRST SENTENCE THERE THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED IS THAT IF YOU PUT OUT A SOLICITATION TO THE WORLD FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND BID ON SOMETHING FOR YOU, TO COME AND PROVIDE YOU A SERVICE, THE FIRST QUESTION EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY ARE YOU SPENDING? THIS IS A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT. WE DON'T KNOW NECESSARILY HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE SPENDING. WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE FOLKS THE IDEA OF THE AMOUNT BEING BUDGETED IS. I WILL SAY I BELIEVE THAT 2.5 TO $3 MILLION COMES FROM WITH WE FIRST STARTED WRITING THE SCOPE. THAT I BELIEVE IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE WORKING GROUP GRABBED OUT OF THAT ORIGINAL VERSION.

IT MAKES THE NUMBER A LITTLE OLDER. WE'RE NO LONGER SPENDING $2.5 MILLION. WE INCREASED THAT BUDGET. SO WE CAN TAKE THE 2.5 OUT. PERHAPS WE CAN TURN INTO SOMETHING LIKE APPROXIMATELY 3 MILLION OR 3 MILLION TO 3.5 MILLION WITH A GOAL OF ONE DAY SPENDING. YOU GUYS CAN WORD IN SOME WAY OR WE CAN WORD IN SOME WAY THAT GIVES THE SENSE THAT IT WILL BE A LITTLE HIGHER THERE. BUT WE'RE NOT SETTING THE BUDGET TODAY. I THINK THIS DISCUSSION NOW OF PULLING MONEY FROM DIFFERENT CATEGORIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT IS THE BUDGETING DISCUSSION FOR GOING FORWARD INTO 25. AS A REMINDER, THE WAY OUR CATEGORIES ARE SET UP, SPECIFIC A MARKETING CATEGORY,

THAT IS CATEGORY ONE. >> SO OUR PROCESS BEGAN MARCH 4TH. WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS SINCE SEPTEMBER.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. WHAT WE'RE IN IS THE REQUESTED BUDGET PROCESS. AS YOU MAKE A DETERMINATION OF AN UP TO AMOUNT FOR MARKING. AS WE MOVE ON INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS. WE'LL SEE WHAT THE TAX DOLLARS LOOK LIKE AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE COMMUNICATION BACK AND FORTH. IT COMES DOWN YOU NEED THE TAX DOLLARS THERE TO ADDRESS THE REVENUE THAT IS NECESSARY. IF THERE IS A SENSE OF A DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE IN THE PROCESS, THERE COULD BE DIRECTION PROVIDED AND THAT COULD BE A STARTING PLACE FOR US IN THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR 25. AGAIN, A LOT OF TIME LEFT. IT IS A FAST PROCESS. BUT IT IS MARCH. AND WE DEAL WITH THIS ON A DAILY BASIS. WE'LL BE BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO THE COMMISSION IN JULY AS A RECOMMENDED BUDGET.

EVEN THEN IT IS NOT OVER. AND IT GOES TILL SEPTEMBER. IF THERE A SENSE FROM THE COUNCIL WHERE TO GO, WE CAN DO THAT.

>> THANK YOU. WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THIS AND LOOKING AT THE LAST

[00:50:02]

>> WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE A MINIMUM OR NOT TO AN AMOUNT.

>> IF YOU TO NOT EXCEED 4 MILLION, YOUR RFP GROUPS ARE GOING TO COME IN CLOSER THAN THE 4 MILLION THAN THE 2.5 BECAUSE IT BENEFITS THEM. BUT I DON'T WANT TO EXCLUDE A GROUP BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY AND THE NUMBER THAT IS HERE.

>> I THINK THAT THE WAY THIS IS SAID UP, THOUGH -- I'LL GRAB WHAT GABE SAID. MOST MARKETING AGENCIES HAVE AN OVERHEAD THAT IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 6 AND 10%. SO THE IDEA HERE IS THE MORE MONEY THAT ST. JOHN'S COUNTY IS GOING TO SPEND ON MARKETING, THE MORE MONEY EACH OF THESE RESPECTIVE BIDDING AGENCIES IS GOING TO MAKE BECAUSE THEY'RE CHARGING A PERCENTAGE AS OVERHEAD. SO I THINK THE IDEA OF PUTTING A FLOOR IN THERE GIVES PEOPLE THE SENSE THAT IF WOULD TAKE $3 MILLION AT 6%, I'M GOING TO MAKE AT LEAST THIS MUCH MONEY PER YEAR IN A TAKE THIS CONTRACT. I THINK IF YOU PUT A CEILING IN THERE, ALTHOUGH CEILING IS NICE, IT MIGHT GIVE SOME GROUPS PAUSE BECAUSE THEY MIGHT SAY, GREAT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND MORE THAN 4 MILLION. BUT WHAT IF YOU SPEND 1 MILLION. I THINK THAT IS THE IDEA OF PUTTING THE RANGE IN THERE. TO GIVE THEM A SENSE OF WHAT THEY'LL BE MAKING THEY'RE NOT SAYING IF YOU SPEND 5 MILLION, I'M GOING TO CHARGE YOU $500,000. IT IS A PERCENTAGE OF THE EXPENDITURES MOST OF THE TIME. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE STRUGGLE WITH IN EVALUATING WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AND WE DISCUSSED AND TRIED TO ACCOUNT FOR OR MITIGATE FOR IN THIS WORKING DOCUMENT. BUT I THINK THAT IS THE IDEA. IF YOU JUST PUT A CEILING, SOME AGENCIES MIGHT BE TURNED OFF BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW VALUABLE THE

CONTRACT IS TO THEM. >> AND THEY MAY NOT BE THE RIGHT AGENCY FOR US IF THEY'RE TURNED OFF BECAUSE THAT IS ALL THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE. I PROBABLY DO MORE BIDS THAN ANYBODY ELSE THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN THE ROOM. I CAN TELL YOU ON THE BUDGETING SIDE, WHAT YOU DO A PROJECT THAT IS NO DIFFERENT THAN DOING A PROJECT. YOU HAVE A ENTER BUDGET. WE CANNOT AFFORD THAT GROUP. NOT EVERYBODY CAN AFFORD THE MASERATI AND TAKE THE HONDA AND PUT 200,000-MILE ON IT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF CEILING. I'M NOT SAYING, THESE ARE THE NUMBERS AND WHAT THEY ARE BECAUSE BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE I DON'T HAVE TO SAY IT. BUT THERE HAS TO BE A CEILING SOMEWHERE. IS SO THAT IS WHY I'M SAYING NOT SO EXCEED THE 4 MILLION AND MAYBE NEXT YEAR IT GOES TO A HIGHER THERE. AND WE PUT THEM ON A CRITERIA AND GOAL AND THAT COULD MOVE UP, IF THAT IS HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE IT. EVERYONE SAYS THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD WORK MORE LIKE BUSINESS. HERE IS OUR OPPORTUNITY.

>> SEVERAL PEOPLE WAITING TO SEE. I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS

FIRST. CHARLES? >> I THINK THE ORIGINAL QUESTION WAS IS FOUR AND A HALF RIGHT NUMBER. I'D LIKE TO SEE IT READ INSTEAD OF TWO AND A HALF TO THREE, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY BETWEEN 4 AND 4 AND A HALF. I AGREE IF WE'RE DOING MARKING FOR ALL THE CATEGORIES, SOME OF THE MONEY SHOULD COME OUT AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT IN THE FUTURE. SO THAT CAN WORK ITSELF OUT. BUT I THINK THE NUMBER NEEDS TO BE 4, 4 AND A HALF. THERE ARE SOME AGENCIES THAT YOU CAN AFFORD.

BUT MOST AGENCIES ARE GOING TO LOOK AT IT, CAN I MOVE THE NEEDLE AND KEEP THIS JOB? THEY DON'T WANT TO GET FIRED AFTER A YEAR OR TWO EITHER. THAT LOOKED BACK ON THEIR REPORT CARD MOVING FORWARD WITH OTHER PEOPLE THAT THEY MAY DO WORK FOR. SO I THINK YOU CAN WITH THAT MONEY. I THINK YOU CAN DO

[00:55:01]

IT BETTER THAN A DECENT JOB. >> I WOULD LEAVE THE RECOMMENDATION UP TO THE WORKING GROUP. THEY CAN LOWER THE NUMBER SO THAT IS THE BASE. SO THEY'RE SAYING 4 IS THE HIGHEST. MAYBE IT IS THE BASIS THREE AND LET SOMEBODY GO FROM THERE. I THINK BACK TO IRVING'S QUESTION EARLIER, FROM THE WORKING GROUP, ARE YOU COMFORTABLE UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS AND ALL-ENCOMPASSING MARKET PLAN?

>> YES. >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.

>> MADAM CHAIR. THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR STAFF, I'M OKAY WITH THAT 4 TO 4 AND A HALF MILLION RANGE. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SIMILAR SIZE COUNTIES AND WHAT THEY HAVE SPENT BECAUSE THAT MAY GET US A GOOD GAUGE OF WHERE ST. JOHN'S COUNTY SHOULD BE AND WHAT NUMBER THAT SHOULD COME IN AT. IT IS HARD WHEN YOU DO AN RFP SIDE, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THE MONEY WHENEVER. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT OUR MUNICIPALITIES AND LOOK AT WHAT THE NUMBER HAS BEEN AND GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT. IF IT IS 5 MILLION, THEN WE NEED ANOTHER CONVERSATION. IF IT IS 3. 8, 4.2, AND THEN TALK. I'M JUST HERE TO GIVE ADVICE. YOU ALL GO BACK AND SEE WHAT THE NUMBER IS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.

MARKETING DOLLARS SPENT, THEN FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU GO TO JACKSONVILLE, THEY ARE MUCH MORE DRIVEN ON THE GROUP THINGS. SO THEY HAVE A LARGE STAFF OF GROUP SALES SO THE MARKETING DOLLARS , HOW THEY SPEND THEIR DOLLARS ARE SPLIT UP A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY. WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT SAME SIZED COMMUNITIES THEY MAY HAVE TOTALLY DIFFERENT NEEDS AND THE DOLLARS MAY NOT MATCH UP.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. YOU CANNOT LOOK AT POPULATION, IT IS MORE ABOUT VISITATION. WAKE COUNTY, THE ENTIRE TAX IS $5 MILLION. THEY SPENT 700,000 ON ADVERTISING AND IT'S TOO MUCH. THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF VISITORS , HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVING THERE. THEY SPEND A DECENT AMOUNT ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH ROADS AND SCHOOLS AND ALL THESE THINGS. IT IS MORE ABOUT VISITATION THAN REALIZING THIS IS THE NATIONS OLDEST CITY. PEOPLE WANT TO COME HERE AND WE NEED TO HELP THEM MAKE THAT DECISION. THAT IS THE MOST UNIQUE THING AND THAT ONE THING WILL PIQUE THE INTEREST OF SOME GOOD AGENCIES BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DEAL WITH THE NATIONS OLDEST CITY.

>> IN MY MIND, I AM THINKING OF MONROE COUNTY, OTHERS WITH THE SAME TYPE OF THINGS WE OFFER HERE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE AND SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH, NOT JUST THE SIZE BECAUSE AGAIN WE CANNOT COMPARE TO JACKSONVILLE, 1.8 MILLION PEOPLE, WE ARE 320,000. I DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT SIZE, SIMILARITIES I WANT TO LOOK AT SIMILARITIES TO WHAT SAINT AUGUSTINE, ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

>> THE VISITATION NUMBER IS PROBABLY A GOOD NUMBER TO LOOK

AT. >> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD I'M NOT QUITE SURE PROCEDURALLY HOW WE DO THIS. I AM HEARING WE WANT TO GET YOU WHAT YOU NEED WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS.

DOES THERE NEED TO BE ANY SORT OF MOTION OR CONSENSUS FROM THE BOARD? I'M NOT QUITE SURE PROCEDURALLY HOW YOU WOULD LIKE US TO DO THIS, BUT I AM HEARING THE BOARD WANTS, WE NEED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER FIGURING OUT THE MAGIC RANGE.

WE NEED A LITTLE MORE DETAIL TO DO THAT. IN THE MEANTIME LOOKING THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS WHERE WE COULD FIND IT,

THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS?

>> WHEN DOES THIS ACTUALLY HIT THE PAVEMENT?

>> YESTERDAY. >> THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT WHERE IT IS FLEXIBLE. 3.5 , MOVE THOSE

[01:00:01]

>> I WAS GOING TO ADDRESS THE LAST PIECE, THANK YOU. ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT INTERNALLY IN THIS, IS THE IMPORTANCE AND AGAIN I WANT TO CREDIT GABE FOR THIS. METRICS ARE A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF MEASURING WHOEVER THE COUNTY HIRES. KNOW, AND THERE ARE TWO THINGS LEFT FOR ME ON THE AGENDA. ONE IS MAYBE FORMALIZING OUR GROUP TO BRING BACK RECOMMENDATION. I THINK YOU SAID AT THE LAST MEETING YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATION ON WHAT ENTITY SHOULD MANAGE THE DAY-TO-DAY, SO IF YOU TELL US TO DO THAT WE WILL BRING IT BACK, MAYBE NOT AT THE NEXT MEETING BUT WE WILL GET THERE. EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS COMING UP WITH WHAT IS A SCORECARD FOR THE MARKETING AGENCY AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE GRADED ON WHETHER IT'S EVERY MONTH OR COUPLE MONTHS WITH DAY TO DAY MANAGING ENTITY SO YOU GET EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID, MAKING SURE THEY ARE

DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY. >> I THINK IT IS DAILY, THINGS NEED TO BE MEASURED AND YOU NEED TO HOLD AGENCIES ACCOUNTABLE DAILY. THAT IS HOW IT IS. THAT'S THE TRUTH. IT MOVES SO FAST SO I DO THINK THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE A DASHBOARD TO ESTABLISH BENCHMARKS TO REALLY GIVE DATA TO EVERYONE SO EVERYONE CAN UNDERSTAND IF THEY ARE HITTING THOSE AND THAT'S WHERE THE RETURN IS, IT IS HARD WITH MO'S BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A CONVERSION LIKE I CAN TELL THIS ADVERTISING IS WORKING, BUT THERE ARE ENOUGH THINGS THAT YOU CAN MEASURE TO SEE IF THESE ADS ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ADJUSTING CREATIVE CONTENT. JUST LIKE EVERY VIRAL VIDEO WE HAVE SOMEBODY COULD HAVE 100 MILLION VIEWS THIS WEEK AND THEN NEXT WEEK IT COULD DROP OFF, WE COULD ATTACH ADS, IF YOU ARE DOING THAT AND OVER THE COURSE OF A MONTH IT IS A WASTE OF MONEY BECAUSE IT IS NO LONGER VALID. THESE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES HERE, ESPECIALLY IN THE DIGITAL WORLD AS YOU HAVE DATA DECISION-MAKING AND ADJUSTING, WE WANT TO GET BACK AND STUDY THAT AND SEE HOW WE CAN OFFER IT AT THE LEVEL OF THE COUNTY TO HAVE A DASHBOARD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE. WHAT IS SUCCESS? WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT AND EVERYONE HAS AN IDEA, BUT IF WE CAN IDENTIFY CERTAIN BENCHMARKS THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THIS IS A GO, SPEND MONEY . I DID NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND THE MAX UNTIL EVERYONE WAS TALKING, AT THE LAST MEETING AT YOU HAVE PROPOSAL WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN IN PLACE? I THOUGHT THOSE ARE SEPARATE THINGS. WE CAN GET THE RFP, BUT NOW I AM AGREEING WITH BOTH OF YOU. I CAN CHANGE MY MIND, BUT UNTIL WE HAVETHIS FEELING OF CONFIDENCE THAT WHEN WE SPEND MONEY WE KNOW IT'S BEING SPENT THE RIGHT WAY, YOU CAN ALL LOOK AT THE SAME THING UNDER THE SAME MEASURABLE'S AND UNDERSTAND WHAT SUCCESS IS, IT'S ALWAYS OPEN-ENDED. SO WE ARE EXCITED TO TRY TO KEEP VOLUNTEERING OUR TIME TO MOVE FORWARD AND GET THE INFORMATION TO YOU BUT I AGREE, WE SHOULD NOT BE SPENDING MONEY IF IT'S NOT

WORKING. >> WITH DIGITAL IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. SO WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THOSE SITUATIONS. I LOOK AT DIFFERENT THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND AC WE HAVE 10 MILLION FOLLOWERS, BUT THEY POST ONE THING AND ONLY 20 PEOPLE RESPOND, THAT MEANS THERE ARE 20 MILLION BOATS SO DEFENDING AGAINST THOSE, THIS COMPANY HAS TO BE AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH AND PROFESSIONAL ANY OF TO HANDLE

THAT. >> THINK YOU. WHAT WE WOULD LOVE IS SOME CLOSURE WITH A MOTION TO SAY THE RFP IS GOOD TO GO, SET THE PRICE RANGE WHATEVER YOU GUYS WANT TO DO, CLOSE IT OUT AND IF YOU CAN VERBALLY SAY YEAH, WE WANT YOU TO DO THOSE OTHER THINGS. THAT ALL DOES NOT NEED TO BE IN THE

MOTION. >> SO, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR TODAY. WE ARE LOOKING FOR CONSENSUS THAT THE RFP SCOPE IS WORTHY OF MOVING FORWARD TO THE PURCHASING PROCESS. WE NEED TO

[01:05:03]

THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT DOLLAR AMOUNT, SOUNDS LIKE IT IS FOCUSING SOMEWHERE AROUND $4 MILLION?

>> I THINK THAT'S FAIR. >> THAT'S THE CONSENSUS. THE ONLY QUESTION IS IF WE HAVE ENOUGH IN THERE. WE WOULD LIKE

TO CONTINUE TO PROCESS. >> I GUESS I WOULD ASK ARE YOU COMFORTABLE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION AND TAKING VOTE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT SCOPE AS IT IS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DOLLAR VALUE?

>> WE HAVE A MOTION. >> YES. I AGREE. I WILL SAY I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER HAD A MEETING WE DID NOT DISCUSS MORE DOLLARS AND IT'S ALWAYS A PUSH. ALWAYS A PULL AND I APPRECIATE WHAT MR. ALBERT HAD TO SAY LETTING US KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. WHAT OUR MISSION IS AND THE GOALS . I DO APPRECIATE DISCUSSION ABOUT MORE DOLLARS TO ADVERTISE , JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT IF WE DO TRY TO PUSH THE NUMBER UP TO 4.5 MILLION IT WILL COME FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. WE ARE GOING TO SUBTRACT SOMEWHERE. I AM FINE WITH IT. WANT ME TO MAKE A MOTION, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO.

>> ANY COMMENTS? >> I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST I HAD A MOTION I WAS PREPARED TO MAKE. I WOULD MOVE WE ACCEPT THE RFP WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT AT THE PRESENTATION LEVEL IT GOES TO CLEAN SITE SCORING, THE RANKING COMMITTEE OR THE RFP IS THE SAME FOR THE SERVICE ON THE CURRENT RFP COMMITTEE AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNT MOVES FROM 24 TO

4.5 MILLION. >> SECOND.

>> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED?

[10. POLICY FOR CONSIDERATION OF TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX FUNDING REQUESTS AND TDT]

>> I THINK WE'RE GOOD. >> DO YOU GUYS NEED MORE CLARIFICATION? POLICY ON NUMBER SIX?

>> WE WILL KEEP ON GOING. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE HARD WORK YOU PUT INTO THIS. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

AGENDA. POLICY FOR CONSIDERATION OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT TAX FUNDING REQUEST AND RESERVE FUNDING.

DISCUSSION FROM SEVERAL TDT MEETINGS. POLICY OR APPROACH FOR CONSIDERATION OF TOURIST FUNDING REQUEST, AND TDT RESERVE FUNDING. SO RUNNING THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF THE HISTORY. WE DO HAVE TWO FUNDING REQUEST THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BEEN PUT ON HOLD. AS A FROM THE AND THE REQUEST FOR THE STATUE. SO AT THE

[01:10:09]

[01:15:04]

THIS CAN GIVES AN OVERVIEW OF A PERIOD OF TIME THAT I CAN SPEAK TO, BUT THE YELLOW COLUMN IS WHEN THE FIFTH CATEGORY WAS INTRODUCED. AND WHEN THE FOUR PENNIES WERE REALLOCATED.

ANOTHER WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT WHEN THAT CAME INTO PLAY SO THERE YOU GO, TAKING ON FISCAL YEAR 19, BUT IN THE GREEN COLORS ARE ALL THE FISCAL YEARS IN WHICH WE LEVIED 5% SAID TAX. STARTING FISCAL YEAR 22 WE STARTED TO LEVY THE FIVE CENTS AS A NOTE WITH FISCAL YEAR 22 CATEGORY FIVE CHANGED AS WELL AND IT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN TOURISM ASSETS AND WHEN WE LEVIED WE CHANGE CATEGORY FIVE TO EACH ASSET. YOU WILL NOTE OR YOU WILL NOTICE DOWN HERE THAT HAVE A LITTLE ASTERISK FOR THE PER PENNY GROWTH FOR FISCAL YEAR 21 AND AS I NOTED ON THE BOTTOM, FISCAL YEAR 21 PER PENNY GROWTH COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR 19 PER PENNY GROWTH BECAUSE FISCAL YEAR 20 WAS THE YEAR COVID IMPACTED US MOST SIGNIFICANTLY AND WHEN WE TOOK THE PAUSE STATEWIDE IN TORYISM, SO IT KIND OF THREW THE NUMBERS OUT OF WHACK. BUT TO GIVE US MORE OF A COHESIVE SENSE OF HOW THINGS WENT MINUS THE YEAR WE HAD WOULD BE A TOURISM APOCALYPSE IN MY OPINION, IT CHOSE TO COMPARE THAT WAY. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT

THIS TABLE? >> I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION.

IS THERE A WAY FROM THE INFORMATION THAT THE TAX COLLECTOR GAVE US OF THE AMOUNT OF ROOMS AS AN EQUATION TO THE MONEY WE ARE TAKING IN? BECAUSE IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, YOU PROBABLY KNOW THIS BEST, 21 WAS THE HIGHEST OCCUPANCY YEAR, BUT THE REAL RATE WAS 22. SINCE THEN, OCCUPANCIES IN THE MARKET HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN GOING ON BUT OUR COLLECTIONS ARE GOING UP WHICH TRANSLATES MORE UNIVERSE OF COLLECTIONS .

SO I DON'T WANT TO GIVE ANYONE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY THAT WE ARE DOING SUPER WELL IF ALL WE ARE DOING IS COLLECTING BETTER THAN WE USE TO AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MARKET ISSUE , BUT WE SEE THAT WE ARE GOING UP SO WE SAY WE ARE DOING GREAT.

>> IS IT PERHAPS THAT I ADD A ROAD DOWN UNDERNEATH WHERE

IT SAYS TOTAL PER PENNY? >> WE WENT FROM 460 462 6000

OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? >> WITH THE ANSWER BE TO HAVE A ROW THAT SHOWS EACH YEAR THE NUMBER OF UNITS THEY ARE

COLLECTING FROM? >> I THINK THAT WOULD BE BECAUSE INTUITIVELY I AM GUESSING WE ARE GOING UP ABOUT $1 MILLION EVERY YEAR AND VACATION RENTAL AND COLLECTIONS IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. SO THAT THROWS OFF THE NUMBERS

FROM ANALYTICAL STANDPOINT. >> HAPPY TO TAKE THE MONEY.

>> OUR OCCUPATION IS DOWN AT THE ADR IS UP.

>> THE PRICING IS STARTING TO GET MUCH MORE CHALLENGING AND I WANT TO SHARE A CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH EXPEDIA AND BOOKING LAST MONTH. THEY ARE NOW SEEING FOR SAINT AUGUSTINE

[01:20:04]

SO I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR THOSE NUMBERS.

>> THIS IS ALL ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM AND HOW IT'S COMING IN. THE QUESTION IS HOW WILL BE HANDLE HOW WE SPEND THIS SURPLUS THAT WE HAVE NOW .

>> WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IS THAT IF WE NOW HAVE MAXED OUT COLLECTING AIRBNB AND WE NOW HAVE THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE OF WHICH WE DON'T KNOW, THE GROWTH WILL STOP. AND WE ARE SEEING 6.5% GROWTH , BUT THE MARKET DOES NOT SAY 6.5% GROWTH. SO THERE IS SOME TIME OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO MONTHS OR SIX MONTHS OR TWO YEARS WHERE THIS IS GOING TO STOP AND THIS IS GOING TO GO AWAY. NEW YORK CITY WENT FROM 22,000 AIRBNB , TO 5000 THIS YEAR IN AN ARTICLE IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL OR THE NEW YORK TIMES I DON'T REMEMBER. IT IS , THAT NUMBER CANNOT BE GROWING FOREVER. IT HAS TO STOP AND I DON'T WANT US TO MAKE THIS FALSE THING AND WE'RE GOING UP FIVE OR SIX OR 7% EVERY YEAR AND WE HAVE THIS MONEY AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMETHING SMACKS US IN THE FACE AND KNOWING WHERE WE ARE BEFORE WE DECIDE HOW TO SPEND

IS VERY CONCERNING. >> I GET THAT, BUT WHAT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IS THE PROCEDURE IN PLACE FOR WHAT WE HAVE NOW AND IN THE FUTURE WHETHER THERE SURPLUS OR NOT WE HAVE TO HAVE A PROCEDURE IN PLACE SO IT'S NOT JUST HAPPENSTANCE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE LAST SIX OR EIGHT MONTHS SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD GET MAYBE CHRISTINA PARRISH TO TALK ABOUT WHAT OTHER TDC'S ARE DOING ANOTHER COMMUNITIES? HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THAT AT ALL? WOULD YOU MIND SHARING SOME OF THAT IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ON

THAT? >> BY ALL MEANS COME ON UP.

IF WE CAN JUST TO FINISH UP THIS TABLE. PART OF THE REASON WHY I PUT THIS IN HERE AS LAST TIME THERE WAS A REQUEST ABOUT LOOKING BACK, YOU GUYS WERE TALKING ABOUT FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN BACK FURTHER BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN ANOMALIES IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS WITH COVID SPECIFICALLY AND IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS WE HAVE HAD RELOAD -- RELOCATION WITH NEEDS. WE WENT BACK A LITTLE BIT FURTHER. I STOPPED AT FISCAL YEAR 16, THE REASON WHY, THAT WAS MY FIRST YEAR HERE SO IF ANYBODY HAD QUESTIONS BACK TO THAT POINT I COULD ANSWER THOSE READILY. BEYOND FISCAL YEAR 16 I HAVE TO LOOK TO DENA WHICH IS FINE SHE'S INCREDIBLY KNOWLEDGEABLE, BUT THAT'S THE LOGIC. PART OF WHAT WE ARE SHOWING IN THIS TABLE AND PART OF THE DISCUSSION LAST TIME WAS, THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTION ABOUT GROWTH, WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE COLLECTIVELY LOOKING BACK WHAT DID THE PATTERN LOOK LIKE? WHAT IS THE OVERALL GROWTH AND TREND? SOME OF THE SHOWS WE HAD SIGNIFICANT GROWTH, ESPECIALLY LOOKING FROM 19 TO 21 TO 22. A LOT OF GROWTH WHICH DID BUMP UP RESERVES A LITTLE BIT. JUST BECAUSE WE WERE GROWING SO FAST. AS WE TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME NOBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD OF THOUGHT FISCAL YEAR 22 TO PROJECT FORWARD 21% GROWTH FOR FISCAL YEAR 21 WHEN WE WERE COMING OUT OF THE COVID PANDEMIC. THIS WAS REALLY CREATED , ALTHOUGH YOU ARE RIGHT WE WERE NOT SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT BUDGET. THIS WAS AT REQUEST AT THE TDC TO GIVE YOU GUYS A LITTLE BIT OF AN EASY ONE STOP VIEW OF WHAT THE HISTORY LOOKS LIKE. YOU DID US FOR FIVE YEARS, I WENT BACK A LITTLE BIT FOR THE BECAUSE A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN THE WORLD AND SPECIFICALLY IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY TOURISM. SO THIS IS THE

INTENT OF THIS. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. AS MENTIONED, WE

[01:25:01]

WHETHER THEY INVOLVEPUBLIC INPUT OR NOT THEY SHOULD BE VETTED CAREFULLY TO TO THE SUBJECT AND MATERIALS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THE PROPOSED LOCATIONS. WHEN YOU HAVE CONTRACTS WITH ARTISTS TO CREATE PIECES OF ART THERE ARE A LOT OF ITEMS TO BE COVERED THAN MOST ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH. EVERYTHING FROM INSURANCE FOR THE INSTALLATION TO HOW YOU HANDLE OWNERSHIP RIGHTS, THE ART ONGOING RIGHTS REGARDING THE SCULPTURE AND LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE , ONCE INSTALLED HOW IS IT CARED FOR IN THE FUTURE AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT? TYPICALLY FUNDING FOR PROJECTS NOT INITIATED BY GOVERNMENT ENTITY ITSELF WOULD INCLUDE MATCHING FUNDS FROM THE ORGANIZATION OR INDIVIDUAL PROPOSING THE PRODUCT TO SHOW THAT THERE IS COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT THAT THEY PLAN. WHO IS GOING TO OVERSEE INSTALLATION AND LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE OF THE PROJECT? HOW WILL IT BE PROMOTED TO ENSURE VISITORS ARE AWARE THAT IT EXISTS. CONSTRUCTION OR RENOVATION OF THE CULTURAL FACILITY IS EVEN MORE COMPLICATED AND REQUIRES GREATER OVERSIGHT. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME THIS AFTERNOON FOR ME TO GO THROUGH ALL THE THINGS INVOLVED IN THAT TYPE OF PROJECT, THE MAYOR NOTE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A BUILDING AT SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH FOR MANY YEARS AND HE IS HURT A LOT OF REPORTS ON ALL THE THINGS INVOLVED WITH MANAGING THAT PROJECT AND HOW THINGS CHANGE AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GROUP ACCOUNTABLE IN A CONTRACT THAT ESTABLISHES HOW THE PROJECT WILL BE MANAGED. I KNOW YOU ARE AWARE OF THOSE THINGS BASED ON DISCUSSIONS I HAVE HEARD THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS. SO AS I SAID WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES AND TREMENDOUS NEED AND WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS CREATE NEW GRANT PROGRAMS THAT HAVE THE APPROPRIATE OVERSIGHT WITH THE APPROPRIATE GUIDELINES TO HELP TO FUND PUBLIC ART PROJECTS AND FOR CULTURAL FACILITIES PROJECTS. SO I WOULD SUGGEST THE CULTURAL COUNCIL COULD DEVELOP TWO PILOT GRANT PROGRAMS, WE COULD INITIATE THIS FISCAL YEAR FUNDED BY A COMBINATION OF RESERVES IN THE CULTURAL COUNCIL BUDGET. ONE PROGRAM WOULD FUND PUBLIC ART AND THE SECOND WOULD FUND A CULTURAL FACILITY GRANT PROGRAM. I SUGGEST A MINIMUM OF $150,000 FOR PUBLIC ART AND $500,000 FOR CULTURAL FACILITY RENOVATION, THAT IS A LOT LESS THAN THE NUMBER DISCUSSED HERE.

ONE REASON FOR THAT, WE DON'T HAVE REQUEST TO THE $6 MILLION REQUESTED IN ACH RESERVES AND IF WE'RE DOING SOMETHING THIS

[01:30:05]

>> ANY COMMENTS? >> I THOUGHT WE WERE TALKING MORE ABOUT CAPITAL PROJECTS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT , I DID NOT REALIZE IT WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR ARTS.

>> THE TWO THINGS BEFORE US THAT PROMPTED THE DISCUSSION WAS FUNDING FOR CONSTRUCTION FOR THE MUSEUM AND THE PRESENTATION ABOUT THE SCULPTURE SO THAT'S HOW ART AND FACILITY IS INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS FOR CONSIDERATION. TOURISM FUNDING REQUESTS AND HOW RESERVES ARE

SPENT. >> I LIKE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING WITH POLICIES BUT IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKING AT ALL PROJECTS LIKE WHEN PRESENTED I WAS THE ONE WHO WOULD REFUSE TO VOTE FOR THOSE BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE A POLICY. WE NEED A POLICY FOR ALL OF IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. SOMEONE SAYS I WANT TO BUILD A BOAT RAMP IS A PRIVATE NONPROFIT , BUT IT NEEDS TO BE UNDER THE SAME CRITERIA THAT'S WHERE I WAS

AT. >> HOW DO WE GET TO POLICY BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING A SEPARATE DISCUSSION ABOUT WHERE

THE FUNDS COME FROM. >> THEY HAVE A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM THAT GOES TO THE COUNTY, AT LEAST HAVE SOME SIMILARITIES . UTILITIES HAS TO GO TO THAT, THEY ARE A ENTERPRISE. THEY PROVIDE ALL THE OWN FUNDING, BUT THEY STILL HAVE TO GO TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROCESS BEFORE THEY GET FUNDING FOR THE NEW WATER PLANT AND THEY HAVE ALL THEIR OWN MONEY. WE HAVE ALL OF OUR OWN MONEY, BUT AS A BOARD WE CANNOT VOTE ON ANYTHING UNLESS THERE'S SOME CRITERIA WHERE THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM I LOVE THE IDEA, ASKING FOR $6 MILLION I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ON THE BOARD WILL GIVE THAT. I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY ON AWAY FROM THE 20 OTHER ONES THAT HAVE TO BE TURNED DOWN. I WANT TO SEE SOME TYPE OF , YOU KNOW IT STARTS WITH STAFF BEFORE IT GETS TO A LOT OF THE OTHER BOARDS AND BEFORE IT GETS TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER BOARD. I WANT A CRITERIA SIMILAR TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM HAS. WE HAVE THE. NEEDING FOR 30 YEARS HOPEFULLY WITH THE COMMISSION WAS ABLE TO DO WITH LEGISLATION IN THE STATE MIGHT PROVIDE MONEY HOW MUCH WAS THE GRANT? LIKE $30 MILLION , WE GOT $30 MILLION WE WERE PLANNING TO PAY FOR, WITH THE FIFTH PENNY. NOW WHAT DO WE DO WITH THAT MONEY IF IT IS AVAILABLE? HOW DO WE SET THAT CRITERIA? SO THAT'S THE POINT I'M TRYING TO GET ACROSS. I LOVE ALL OF THESE PROJECTS , BUT I CAN'T VOTE FOR THEM UNLESS IT'S GOT SOME TYPE OF CRITERIA ATTACHED.

>> I THINK WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE. PART OF THE CRITERIA HAS TO BE WE GOING TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS , EXCUSE ME FOR A SECOND, ALL THE THINGS PRESENTED INCLUDING MANY THAT CAME TO THE MUSEUM, THERE WAS NO ESTABLISHED PROCESS, WE WENT TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION, THE COMMISSION APPROVED IT AND IT CAME OUT OF TDC FUNDS BUT WE DID NOT COME TO THE TDC AND ASK FOR MONEY. SO EVEN THAT PROCESS IS A LITTLE BIT FLAWED IS WHAT I'M SAYING. SO IF WE DON'T FIX THE PROCESS BY WHICH PEOPLE CAN COME ASK FOR MONEY THAT IS FOR PROJECT NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE ARE DOING, WE'RE STILL GOING IN CIRCLES.

DON'T LOOK AT THE DETAILS. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT FROM 30,000 FEET LEVEL AND FIX THE WHOLE PROCESS BEFORE WE GET DOWN TO THE DETAILED LEVELS AND 100% THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAS DONE A GOOD JOB PICKING GOOD QUALITY PRODUCTS THEY HAVE IMPROVED. ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE THE

[01:35:03]

>> SO. >> WE HAVE TO FIX 30,000 FEET.

DETERMINE HOW WE WILL SPEND SURPLUS FUNDS IF WE HAVE

SURPLUS FUNDS. >> WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY PROJECTS . START TALKING ABOUT DOLLARS AT OF THE PROJECTS THEY ARE ALREADY SITTING THERE. THERE IS PROBABLY 30 PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO ALL HAVE A PROJECT THAT THEY WANT TO EITHER GET FROM US IN SOME WAY AND THEY PROBABLY HAVE 10 OTHER FRIENDS WHO WANT TO DO IT BUT IT'S NOT FAIR FOR US TO PICK AND CHOOSE BECAUSE THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM WAS FIRST TO THE TABLE.

>> I AM NOT DISAGREEING WITH YOU ON ANYTHING YOU HAVE SAID.

I AM LOOKING FOR SOME CLARIFICATION TO SEE HOW DO WE FIX IT? DO WE FIX IT BY TALKING ABOUT WE HAVE SURPLUS THIS YEAR WE MAY NOT NEXT YEAR? THAT'S A GIVEN. IF WE HAVE FEWER PEOPLE COMING AND PAYING TAXES THEN WE WILL HAVE LESS MONEY TO SPEND. WE STILL HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF PROCESS. SO WE CAN KEEP TALKING HERE ABOUT WHAT WE WILL SELECT AND IF WE PICK ONE THING AND COME UP WITH A PROCEDURE FOR THAT, WHAT DO WE DO AFTER THAT THERE IS NO PROCEDURE IN PLACE?

>> THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. THE CIP IS ALREADY SITTING THERE. ALREADY A PROCESS USED IN EVERY OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITY WITHIN ST. JOHNS COUNTY WHY ARE WE NOT USING THAT? THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. THEM COME TO US TO REQUEST MONEY AND REQUEST MONEY AND MAKES US LOOK LIKE THE BAD GUYS LIKE YOU HATE THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OR YOU HATE THE STATUE.

>> IT IS SOMETHING FOR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS NO DOING BECAUSE TELLING THEM TO GO TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION TO GET APPROVAL THEN THEY SEND IT BACK TO US TO GET APPROVAL? SEE THOSE ALLOCATIONS KEEP COMING BACK ON THIS BOARD AND NOTHING IS DONE. I HAVE BEEN SAYING THE SAME THING FOR SEVEN MONTHS NOW. CREATE A POLICY. IT IS NOT THAT HARD. IT IS SITTING IN FRONT OF YOU, JUST DO IT.

>> WHEN YOU SAY JUST CREATE A POLICY, WHO ARE YOU SPEAKING TO

WHEN YOU SAY THAT? >> I'M SPEAKING TO THE COUNTY.

IT IS ALREADY THERE. I AM SPEAKING .

>> SOMETHING IS ON THE SHELF TO BE USED?

>> THEIR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT SORRY. DO YOU MIND COMING UP HERE? YOU UNDERSTAND IT BETTER.

>> YOU ARE SPEAKING AS IF WE ALL WORK FOR THE COUNTY AND WE

DON'T. >> WE ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF

THE COUNTY. >> YOUR SPRING ABOUT SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. WHAT IS THE PROCESS THAT WE WOULD USE TO GET THIS STATUE BUILT?

>> YOU ARE REFERRING TO THE CIP PROCESS. THAT MECHANISM, THE CIP PROCESS IS A ONGOING PROCESS IN WHICH CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS SOMETHING $25,000 , THAT LOW AND UP , THEY ARE IDENTIFIED. THEY ARE COLLECTED AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT'S A COLLECTION OF POTENTIAL PROJECTS THAT COME FORWARD IN THE NEXT YEAR, AND THE NEXT YEARS OUR CIP PROGRAM IS FIVE YEARS PLUS WITH PROJECTS THERE FOR OVER 10 YEARS. OVER 15 YEARS, SOMETIMES PROJECTS GET ON A LIST AND GET FUNDED RIGHT AWAY, OTHERS TAKE A LONGER TIME. WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THE CIP IS SOMETHING AS FAST AS AND I DON'T MEAN FOR THIS TO SOUND BUREAUCRATIC, BUT TO GET ONTO A CIP LIST. IT IS A COLLECTIVE LIST OF PROJECTS THAT ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COULD CONSIDER FUNDING IN ANY FISCAL YEAR.

SUBSEQUENT OR YEARS OUT. IT IS A DOCUMENT THAT CAN BE BROUGHT FORWARD, IT CAN BE BROUGHT FORWARD BY THIS COLLECTIVE COUNCIL , TO GIVE DIRECTION TO PUT THE CIP TOGETHER FOR WHATEVER PROJECT. IT DOES NOT GUARANTEE FUNDING, IT PUTS IT ON THE LIST. AS THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES, BE IT

[01:40:01]

I NOTICED MY THE PROJECT DOES NOT HAVE FUNDING AND IT ALLOWS THEM AS A CONSTITUENCY TO ENGAGE THIS COUNCIL AND THE COMMISSION ON THOSE PROJECTS. THAT'S KIND OF THE CIP PROCESS IN A NUTSHELL. IT IS VERY INFORMAL. WE DO HAVE A PROCESS THAT IS OUT NOW WITH DEPARTMENTS AND WE UTILIZE DEPARTMENTS AT THE COMMISSION AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CONSTITUENCY. CERTAINLY WE MENTION UTILITIES, UTILITIES WILL IDENTIFY WHICH FOR STRUCTURE PROJECTS NEED TO BE DONE. AT THE SAME TIME LOOKING TO PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR TO IDENTIFY REGIONAL PARK OR SOME PARK OR A BEACH WALK OVER. THINGS LIKE THAT AND WE BRING IN THOSE PROJECTS AND THE LIST GETS LARGER AND LARGER AND LARGER AS CONSTITUENTS COME FORWARD, THE PRIORITY STARTS TO REALLY COME TO THE TOP. SO I BELIEVE THAT'S THE PROCESS YOU ARE

TALKING ABOUT. >> THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION BECAUSE FOR OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ANYBODY EXPLAINED IT IN THAT WAY. I THINK WE COULD HAVE STARTED HERE LAST YEAR WHEN WE FIRST TALK ABOUT THESE , ABOUT THE TAG PROJECT AND ASKED THEM TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS WHICH WOULD'VE ELIMINATED A LOT. AT LEAST IT'S GOT US TALKING ABOUT WHERE WE ARE SHORT AND WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE

IMPROVEMENT. SO THANK YOU. >> CAN MAKE A COUPLE OF FOLLOW-ON COMMENTS TO THAT? ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH CIP AND THAT COULD BE A GREAT WAY TO FUND SOMETHING LIKE A MUSEUM, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY A QUICK RESPONSE PEOPLE WANT, NOT SURE IT REALLY WORKS FOR A SMALL PUBLIC ART PROJECT LIKE THE SCULPTURE THAT WAS PRESENTED. THE SUGGESTIONS THAT I MADE WERE TO HAVE YOU THINKING ABOUT ANOTHER POSSIBLE SOLUTION. I HAVE SAT HERE SEVERAL MONTHS HEARING RESPONSES TO THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND I AM HEARING THERE IS SUPPORT FOR A SCULPTURE PROJECT. EVERYBODY LIKES IT. THERE IS A DESIRE WE PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT FOR ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS. SO WHILE WE TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS, A HUGE MUSEUM PROJECT THAT PERHAPS IS BEST SUITED FOR CIP AND A SMALL SCULPTURE PROJECT THAT'S NOT . MAYBE WE THINK ABOUT USING SOME CATEGORY TWO MONEY TO SUPPORT SOME THINGS IN ADDITION TO THE PROGRAMMING AND ANNUAL EVENTS WE HAVE BEEN DOING. SO I'M TAKING THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO THROW IT OUT TO YOU, WE COULD MANAGE A FANTASTIC PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO CREATE SOME REALLY ONDERFUL PUBLIC ART THAT TOURIST WOULD APPRECIATE. THAT WOULD BE EASY TO CREATE AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THINGS, AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE SO MANY CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. WHO HAVE A HUGE CHALLENGE GETTING FUNDING TO SUPPORT FACILITIES, THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS NOT DOING US ANY FAVORS. THE LEGISLATURE DRAMATICALLY CUT FUNDING FOR ARTS AND CULTURE AGAIN, WE HAVE EMERGENCY SITUATIONS WHERE YOU KNOW THE MUSEUM AND MAYBE NOT THE BEST EXAMPLE, BUT SOME MUSEUM WHO DOES NOT HAVE A LOT OF EXTRA RESOURCES AND THEY ARE IN A 250-YEAR-OLD BUILDING AND THE ROOF IS LEAKING IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE HAD A GRANT PROGRAM THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO APPLY FOR MATCHING FUNDS TO HELP DEAL WITH THOSE SITUATIONS. BECAUSE THOSE ARE FACILITIES MANY VISITORS ARE COMING HERE TO SEE. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING THESE PROGRAMS FOR YOU WOULD LIKE TO TEST ME WITH PRESENTING SOMETHING IN MORE DETAIL TO YOU, NOW WOULD BE A

GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. >> THANK YOU.

>> I'M GOING TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TACK ON TO THIS DISCUSSION. IF WE LOOK WHAT'S ON THE BOARD HERE . NOT ALL OF

[01:45:03]

POSSIBLY ALL OF THEM WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE. THESE ARE THINGS THAT, AS THE COMMUNITY AND IN SOME CASES US, WE WERE, TDC, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, WE WERE THE TWO WE WERE THE 220 23 REQUEST. IN A TDC DISCUSSION A BOARD MEMBER EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT TAX COLLECTIONS WERE SLOWING FOR THE SUMMER AND WE NEEDED A SUMMER INITIATIVE. IN AUGUST, AS THE SAME CONCERN OF EVERYTHING WAS SLOWING AND TICKET SALES WERE NOT AS ROBUST AS WE NEEDED THEM TO BE OR EXPECTED THEM TO BE, WE NEEDED THEM TO INCLUDE A LITTLE EXTRA MONEY IN IT. THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM, THEY APPROACHED THE COUNTY ON RELATIVELY SHORT ORDER FOR A SMALLER MONOPHONIC, BUT THEY CAME TO THE COUNTY AND SAID WE ARE LOOKING TO PURSUE A STATE GRANT AND WE NEED TO HAVE A FUNDING MATCH FOR THE PROJECT TO BE VIABLE AND THEY WERE LOOKING TO SUBMIT THE GRANT APPLICATION IN SHORT ORDER BECAUSE USUALLY THAT'S THE WAY THESE THINGS WORK. SAME THING WITH FISCAL YEAR 22 FOR THE FLORIDA STATE ARTS FOUNDATION. WE GAVE FORD MOWS A FUNDING TWICE, BOTH FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT AT THE PORT WHICH HAS BROKEN GROUND AND IS MOVING FORWARD BUT THEY FIRST CAME FOR $50,000 IN FISCAL YEAR 22 AND APPLYING FOR THE SAME GRANT AS LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM. THEY HAD A SHORT TURNAROUND TIME LOOKING FOR A COMMITMENT FROM THE COUNTY AND THEN THEY CAME BACK , I WILL SAY IN EARLY FALL OR LATE SUMMER, EARLY FALL SAYING THAT CONSTRUCTION COSTS HAVE GONE UP. WITH THE COUNTY BE WILLING TO KICK IN EXTRA FUNDING? SO I THINK HAVING THIS KIND OF CALL TO ACTION FOR LONG-TERM PLANNING IS A GOOD IDEA THAT WE SHOULD FURTHER CONSIDER. IT NEEDS A LITTLE MORE VETTING OUT ASKED ARE WE JUST GOING TO PRIORITIZE INTERNAL COUNTY PROJECTS, ARE WE GOING TO MAKE A CALL TO THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY UNIVERSE FOR ALL PROJECTS? ARE WE GOING TO FOCUS ON PROGRAMMATIC TYPE THINGS OR IS IT GOING TO BE FOR ROOF REPAIRS? THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION THAT GOES INTO THAT IF THAT'S A PROGRAM WE WANT TO PURSUE. KIND OF WHY I STARTED WITH THIS AND WITH THE SLIDES IS BECAUSE I THINK THIS QUESTION ALMOST OPENS UP PANDORA'S BOX FOR US AND I WATCH YOU GUYS TALK AND I TRY TO GET A SENSE OF WHERE YOU GUYS ARE AS FAR AS UNDERSTANDING AND WE ARE GRAPPLING WITH IN YOUR HEAD, NOT HOW YOU VOTE FOR THAT REGARD, BUT WHAT I FELT AFTER THE LAST DISCUSSION IS THAT THE TEAM WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS IN DIFFERENT WAYS. THAT'S WHY IT STARTED US WITH THIS REAL SQUARE ONE THOUGHT PROCESS. THIS IS THE WAY STUFF GETS TO YOU GUYS. THERE ARE THREE WAYS THAT IT GOES. ONE IT COMES FROM THE WORLD TO ME AND STAFF. A NEW ONE WE RECENTLY SAW WITH THE STATUE WAS THAT SOMEBODY CAME , A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS CAME TO A PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION AND THEY SAID WE HAVE THIS THING THAT WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER FOR FUNDING. THERE WAS GENERAL CONSENSUS. FROM THE BOARD TO ALLOW THIS GROUP TO COME BACK. SO WE'VE GOT THAT.

WE'VE GOT THE STUFF THAT COMES TO YOU GUYS FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO STAY IN PLACE NO MATTER WHAT POLICY, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL

[01:50:02]

SOME OF THEM ARE FUNDING FOR PROJECTS. SO, FOR A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. SOME ARE FUNDING FOR INCREASED MARKETING. SOME OF THEM ARE FUNDING FOR AN IMMINENT EVENT TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THE LAST ONE IS FUNDING THE LOCATION OF A HISTORICAL HOUSE WHICH HAS THE IMPOSING DEADLINE. IF WE CANNOT COME UP WITH A FUNDING QUICK ENOUGH THE HOUSE WOULD BE DEMOLISHED. SO DOES THAT HELP? OR WE CAN PUT A PIN IN THIS, THINK ABOUT IT AND I CAN CONTINUE ON.

>> MADAM CHAIR. >> I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR APPROACH TO LOOKING AT THE PROCESS AND HOW DID WE GET HERE AND HOW THIS IS WORKING. I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FIRST BEFORE WE START TALKING ABOUT MORE, I AGREE IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES WITH A LONG-TERM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IDEA FOR SHORT-TERM EMERGENCY FUND SO TO SPEAK. UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND , WHEN WE WORK ON ESTABLISHING THE PROCESS AND THEN MAYBE WE CAN AT LEAST FEEL LIKE WE ARE MOVING FORWARD. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD ABOUT WHAT I WOULD SAY AS A GOOD PROCESS, BUT I KNOW THAT GENERALLY, THE WAY WE DO IT AT THE CITY IS, WE DO GET FUNDING REQUESTS REGULARLY OF COURSE. WE ARE ALL APPROACHED FOR FUNDING. BUT WE TRY TO STAY IN THE BUDGET CYCLE AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A FIELDHOUSE WHICH COMMENTS TO THE PCC FOR SPENDING THAT MONEY. I THINK IT WAS VERY APPROPRIATE. I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS. I THINK THE FIRST STEP WOULD BE TO WORK ON THE PROCESS. SPECS OF THE FIRST IT WOULD BE DECIDING TO WORK ON THE

PROCESS. >> THAT'S WHAT I'M IN FAVOR OF. SO STARTING WITH THE PROCESS. HOW DOES IT COME TO

US. >> SUBSEQUENTLY ADDRESS WHAT WAS SAID, WITH A PROGRAM WE CAN LOOK AT A PROGRAM, WILL NOT BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT IN FISCAL YEAR 24. YOU WILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH GUIDELINES, IT WILL GO TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. IT WOULD HAVE TO ESTABLISH A NEW GRANT PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THE OTHERS SO THAT CAN BE A VIABLE OPTION.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE CAN IMPLEMENT NEXT MONTH. IF WE START A NEW PROGRAM THAT'S FINE, BUT IT HAS TO GO TO THE PROGRAM STARTING PROCESS SO, REALISTICALLY SETTING REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SET IT UP FISCAL YEAR 24 BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING SOME OUTSIDE ENTITY WORKS ON IN THIS CASE CHRISTINA AND HER GROUP , THEY BRING IT TO YOU, YOU HAVE TO REVIEW, MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, APPROVE. GO TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THEY WILL REVIEW AND APPROVE SO IF WE START A NEW PROGRAM THAT'S FINE AND GREAT BUT IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE PROBABLY SIX MONTHS TO GET IT UP AND RUNNING WHICH LIKELY MEANS FISCAL YEAR 25.

ANYTHING ON THE CURRENT CIP LIST THAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE

FOR TDC FUNDS? >> TO BE TOTALLY HONEST I AM LARGELY REMOVED FROM THE CIP PROGRAM AND PROCESS. WE NEVER USED OUR FUNDS TO FUND ANY CIP PROJECT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW THAT ARE PARK SPECIFIC, BALLFIELDS, I'M SURE THERE ARE SOME OTHERS ON THE CIP THAT ARE PARK SPECIFIC THAT

[01:55:06]

COME BACK WITH A REPORT. >> IT SEEMS TO ME THE CONSENSUS I AM STARTING TO GATHER AS WE ALL WANT TO USE THE RESERVES MOST EFFECTIVELY RIGHT? WE ALSO WANT TO ALL AGREE THERE SHOULD BE A PROCESS AND MAYBE WE FUND CAPITAL PROJECTS, MAYBE WE DON'T, MAYBE WE START A PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC ART, I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THAT, BUT I THINK I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PUT TOGETHER, THIS FORUM IS A CHALLENGING FORUM TO TRY TO FIGURE THESE ISSUES OUT. IT IS NOT A GREAT FORUM TO TRY TO MAKE DECISIONS. SO I WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SET UP A COMMITTEE OR DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT WE COULD BRAINSTORM AND COME BACK AND PRESENT THIS BOARD WITH AND SAY HERE IS THE PROPOSAL FOR HOW WE USED THE RESERVE DOLLARS AND WE IDENTIFY THEM AT THE END OF THE YEAR. WE KNOW FISCAL YEAR 2025, WE HAVE $1.5 MILLION AND OF THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN X NUMBER INTO CAPITAL PROJECTS, X INTO , YOU KNOW THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR THERE MAY NOT BE ANY RESERVES TO PUT IT ANYTHING AND THEN WE APPROACH YEAR-BY-YEAR. ONCE WE IDENTIFY HOW MUCH MONEY IS AVAILABLE, THEN WE HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE WHERE MAYBE WE LOOK AT THE CURRENT CIP LIST AND SAY OKAY THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PATIENT AND ON THE LIST, LET'S SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN FUND WITH THE RESERVE OR WE SEND IT OUT TO THE UNIVERSE AND SAY OKAY START NOW. KNOWING WE HAVE THIS MONEY TO ALLOCATE THIS YEAR. AND WE TAKE IT YEAR BY YEAR BY YEAR.

>> THE ONE PORTION OF YOUR QUESTION, SO AS FAR AS THIS NOT BEING A GREAT FORUM AND A CHALLENGING FORUM, YOU ALL ARE SUNSHINE BOARD MEMBERS, BUT THEN THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING OF GREAT CONCERN TO FOLKS. SO YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE SOME SORT OF A SUBSET GROUP OF YOURSELVES THAT CAN GET TOGETHER AND DISCUSS IT. IT DOES HAVE TO BE IN SUNSHINE AND IN SOME SORT OF A LARGE ROOM. PROBABLY GOING TO INCLUDE ZOOM BECAUSE THERE WILL BE WAY MORE FOLKS COMING TO A MEETING IF WE NOTICE THE MEETING ABOUT MONEY. SO IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YES WE CAN HAVE A DIFFERENT FORUM. IT NEVER BECOMES WHEN YOU THINK OF IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHERE WE JUST HAVE A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE GET TOGETHER AND SPITBALL. IT'S ALWAYS A LARGE SLIGHTLY CUMBERSOME AND SLIGHTLY AWKWARD WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS, BUT WE CAN LOOK AT THE PARAMETERS FOR THAT AND PURSUE THAT IF THE GROUP IS INTERESTED. AND YEAH, I THINK THAT IS A VIABLE OPTION.

I THINK CERTAINLY HAVING A TIERED OR BRANCHED APPROACH SO WE HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS TO LOOK AT LONG-TERM FUNDING REQUEST, COUPLE OF REQUESTS, SMALL REQUESTS, MAYBE ANOTHER PROGRAM IS NEEDED. WHAT DOES THE PROGRAM LOOK LIKE? WE FUND IT WHEN WE HAVE FUNDING , THOSE ARE THINGS TO BE TAKEN ON.

>> CATEGORY I AM THINKING IN MY MIND A RESERVE CATEGORY.

>> IF WE'RE GOING TO DO ANYTHING WITH CREATING ANOTHER CATEGORY , A RESERVE CATEGORY, WITH NEW FUNDING BETWEEN CATEGORIES, ALLOCATIONS OR ANYTHING THAT DOES REQUIRE ORDINANCE CHANGE WHICH IS FINE, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD MAKE RECOMMENDATION ON. IT WOULD GO TO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, REQUIRES A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE SO FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE HAVE TO VOTE FOR IT AND THEN WE CHANGE THE ORDINANCE, BUT THAT STUFF CAN BE DONE AS WELL.

>> THIS ALL STARTED WITH WE FOUND OURSELVES IN THE POSITION THAT EACH CATEGORY HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUNDS.

I'M NOT COMFORTABLE TAKING FUNDS OUT OF A CATEGORY AND DISPERSING THEM TO SOMEBODY WHO WALK IN OFF THE STREET AND SAID THEY HAD A PRODUCT THEY WANT TO DO. THIS WHOLE QUESTION GOES AWAY IF YOU SAY CATEGORY ONE GETS THE $1.6 MILLION IN RESERVES, LEAVE 20/50 OR LET CATEGORY ONE COME UP WITH WHATEVER LOGICAL RESERVE FOR SOME EMERGENCY SITUATION WHICH TYPICALLY IS POST HURRICANE OR SOME UNKNOWN EVENT THAT YOU NEED TO PUT MORE ADVERTISING OUT. CATEGORY TWO 600 695,000,

[02:00:03]

SO IT IS THEIR MONEY, THEY CAN DISTRIBUTE THEY WANT TO DISTRIBUTE. WE ARE AN ADVISORY BOARD BUT WE HAVE CERTAIN CRITERIA'S , FROM THE LAST REPORT THAT WE'RE OVER ON RESERVES ANYWAY SO WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN WHERE THAT'S GOING TO BE AND HOW THAT NEEDS TO BE SPENT. MY CONCERN IS WHEN THESE INDIVIDUALS COME TO US WE HAVE NO ANSWER FOR THEM FROM OUR SITE AND WE HAVE TO KICK IT TO THE BOARD. WE LOVE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT UNLESS WE COME UP WITH THE BASIC STRUCTURE. CAN WE VOTE OR CAN WE NOT VOTE ON THIS? IT SHOULD NOT BE THAT HARD TO DO. I HEARD IT'S GOING TO TAKE SIX MONTHS. I BROUGHT THIS UP SEVEN MONTHS AGO, NOW WE MISSED THE TIMING OF THIS BUDGET YEAR. WE WILL HAVE MORE MONEY HITTING THE RESERVES BECAUSE OF THE GRANT WE GOT WHICH CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THANK YOU TO THE STATE FOR THAT, BUT WE WILL HAVE MORE MONEY HITTING TWICE AS MUCH AS WHAT'S THERE NOW AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE A PLAN. NOW I AM HEARING WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN IN THIS BUDGET YEAR EITHER. IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING AND AFTER THE PROJECTS THAT ARE OUT THERE ARE

EQUALLY AS FAST DO. >> WE SHOULD HAVE A PLAN, BUT IF YOU WANT TO START A NEW GRANT PROGRAM WHICH IS WHAT WAS SUGGESTED THAT'S A FINE IDEA, BUT THAT IS AN IDEA THAT IS AS WORTHY OR PURSUING AS ANY OTHER IT WILL JUST REQUIRE THE CREATION OF A GRANT GUIDELINES, REQUIRING APPROVAL BY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN SAY MOVE FORWARD NEXT MONDAY WE WILL SPEND THE FUNDING. THAT WAS MY ONLY CLARIFICATION. NOT SAYING WE CAN HAVE A SUGGESTION IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE SIX MONTHS TO IMPLEMENT A NEW GRANTS PROGRAM.

>> WHAT IS OUR CRITERIA? I HEARD VERY CLEARLY THAT WE ARE WAY OVER ON RESERVES AND THE STATE WILL SOMETIMES START PENALIZING US BECAUSE WE'RE OVER IN THAT SITUATION. SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE PUSHING IT DOWN THE ROAD AND WE WILL BE IN THE

PENALTY SITUATION. >> I'M NOT SURE THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT WAS DELIVERED. WE CAN ALWAYS PUT A PIN IN THIS DISCUSSION AND CONTINUE WITH THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION AS WELL. THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS AT HAND. FOR A MOMENT DISCUSSING THE WOULD BE LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD MAKING A POLICY? I HEARD FROM YOU GUYS IN A PREVIOUS MEETING YOU WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MAKING A NEW POLICY. WE ARE KIND OF STRUGGLING WITH HOW TO DO THAT, BUT I'M GOING TO COUNT THAT AS ONE OF THE YEAR WE WILL DO, WE WILL WORK ON MAKING A POLICY FOR HOW TO HANDLE THE INCOMING REQUEST. I WILL DO MY BEST TO HELP US WORK TO THAT. I AM TRYING. AND THEN I HEARD THAT , THEN I HEARD MAYBE WE NEED NEW PROGRAMS, MAYBE WE DO NEED SOME MORE PROGRAMS AND MAYBE WE NEED SOME SORT OF GROUP TO LOOK AT THAT AND LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY OF DOING THAT CONTINGENT UPON FUNDING. I

[02:05:02]

MOVING FORWARD AND HOPEFULLY THE BOARD WILL AGREE. I THINK THE CITIES, SAINT AUGUSTINE AND SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS PARTNERS WITH THE COUNTY IN THE TDC. FOR US TO COME FORWARD , IT SHOULD BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM IF IT WERE NOT FOR PROFIT OR FOR PROFIT. THE MAJORITY OF THE BED TAXES ARE COLLECTED IN RESPECTIVE CITIES AND I KNOW PONTEVEDRA AS WELL. I REALLY BELIEVE MOVING FORWARD WHATEVER THE POLICY MAY LOOK LIKE I WOULD LIKE IT TO SPECIFICALLY STATE CITIES ARE PARTNERS AND THE WAY WE GO ABOUT FUNDING REQUEST SHOULD LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT. WE DON'T ASK FOR MUCH AND I DON'T THINK THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AS FOR ALLOTTED A.

THEY DO IT TONIGHT THE LIGHTS AND THE REQUEST TODAY REMOVED WAS ALSO FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. SO I THINK IT IS DIFFERENT IN RESPECT TO NOT-FOR-PROFIT OR FOR PROFIT.

>> OKAY. NUMBER EIGHT THAT WAS REMOVED? THAT WAS FOR SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH. WE WERE NOT CLEAR WHAT IT WAS.

>> THAT'S FINE, QUITE FRANKLY I ASKED FOR IT TO BE REMOVED.

WE DID NOT HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE. IN MY MIND IF I PUT ON MY MAYOR HAD AS GOVERNMENT I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A POLICY SOONER THAN LATER BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WAITING FOR ANSWERS AND I THINK IT'S HOLDING UP MUNICIPALITIES AS WELL. I THINK IN ORDER TO HAVE DIRECTION OF ANY FUNDING LEFT OVER OR FUNDING COMING IN OR NOT COMING IN. I THINK IT IS IMPERATIVE TO HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE IMMEDIATELY. WE CANNOT MOVE FORWARD , WE ARE IN THIS PERPETUAL HAMSTER WHEEL SPINNING WITHOUT DIRECTION.

>> WE HAVE A COUPLE THINGS ON THE TABLE. COMMENTS ON THIS?

>> WE HAD A PROGRAM THAT COMES TO MIND SIMILAR WHERE WE HAD FEDERAL DOLLARS COMING FROM ARPA AND WE PARTNERED WITH UNITED WAY TO GET A NONPROFIT DOLLAR GO TO THE COMMUNITY AND WE HAD TWO BUCKETS. N PROGRAMMING WITH DIFFERENT REQUIRED CRITERIA FOR EITHER AND PEOPLE CAN APPLY, WE HAD THRESHOLDS ON THE MONEY AND IT WORKED SMOOTHLY BECAUSE WE WENT TO LEE COUNTY WHO HAD INVENTED THE WHEEL SO I GUESS MY QUESTION. WHAT ARE OTHER COUNTIES IN FLORIDA DOING? WE CAN BE THE ONLY TDC BOARD OR THE ONLY COUNTY STRUGGLING WITH

THIS. >> SO, WE CAN THAT ALL OF

[02:10:02]

>> ONE MORE THING REAL QUICK IF I MAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE ONCE THE POLICIES ARE SET THAT THIS BOARD HOLDS POLICIES AND THAT THEY ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE DON'T OPEN UP PANDORA'S BOX. IF WE DO SOMETHING WRONG IS GOING TO COMPLETELY DERAIL ALL THE HARD WORK SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE

THE POLICIES ARE. >> I AGREE WITH EVERYONE ABOUT THE PROCESS. AND PART OF SITTING HERE AND GOING THROUGH 15 YEARS OF HEARING DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE GRANT PROGRAMS AND EVERYTHING ELSE IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF REQUESTS. WE HAVE REQUESTS THAT ARE LIKE UNDER 20 OR 25,000, REQUESTS THAT ARE LIKE $50,000 AND THEN WE HAVE $3 MILLION . THING WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE ONE POLICY FOR ALL THREE OF THEM. IN THE DIFFERENT SUBJECTS. SO IT MAY MAKE SENSE TO LOOK AT COMING UP WITH THREE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. WHAT I WANT TO GET AWAY FROM IS FINDING OUT ABOUT IT FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THIS MEETING WITHOUT DUE DILIGENCE. FOR EXAMPLE, AND NOT PICKING ON THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. I HAD ABOUT 60 FINANCIAL QUESTIONS THAT I THOUGHT NEEDED TO BE ANSWERED BEFORE IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE COURT. SO I WOULD THINK IF IT IS ONCE A QUARTER WE LOOK AT $25,000 MAYBE ONCE EVERY SIX MONTHS WE LOOK AT 60,000 AND ONCE A YEAR WE LOOK AT LARGER PROJECTS AND THEY NEED TO BE PRESENTED TO US PRIOR TO THE BUDGET PROCESS SO WE CAN SEE IF WE HAVE MONEY. I THINK IF WE START THINKING IN THAT FRAMEWORK WE WILL NOT JUST BE BROUGHT HERE PEOPLE STANDING IN FRONT OF US. OF COURSE THEY ARE GOOD IDEAS AND WE ARE IN A POSITION TO SAY NO WITHOUT DOING ANY HOMEWORK OR FINDING OUT IF THERE ARE SEVEN OTHERS AND WHY THESE PEOPLE CAME FIRST, IT MIGHT BE THE SEVENTH BEST PROPOSAL AND SIX OTHERS IF WE HAD KNOWN ABOUT WOULD HAVE GOTTEN FUNDED FIRST. SO WE NEED TO DO SOME SORT OF LOGICAL PROCESS. AND NOT JUST DO THIS JUST WHOEVER COMES FIRST GETS THE MONEY. AS WE TRY TO BUILD THIS PROCESS, SOME KIND OF THOUGHT PROCESS THERE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME I DON'T WANT TO PUT ALL THE MONEY IN THIS PART BECAUSE I THINK WHAT CHARLES BROUGHT UP ABOUT MONEY IN EACH CATEGORY GETTING ROLLED OVER HAS A LOT OF MERIT AND I THINK WE CAN DO BOTH THINGS AND BE SMART ABOUT IT. I AM HAPPY TO BE INVOLVED IN SOME SORT OF COMMITTEE TO HELP FIGURE THIS OUT BUT I THINK MAYBE WE START SORT OF LIKE HOW THE GRANT PROCESS IS WHERE TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES START AND NOT TRY TO AFFECT EVERYTHING. AT ONCE.

>> I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD IDEAS TODAY AND I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, SENDING IN TO THAT PROCESS. IF IT IS LARGE ESPECIALLY OR BRAND-NEW I LIKE THE GRANT PROCESS FOR EMERGENCY FACILITIES BECAUSE

[02:15:02]

>> NOT RECOMMENDATIONS. WE HAD COME BACK AROUND TO TRY ASKING ABOUT TAX RESERVES SO WE DO HAVE THAT AND THAT IS WHY JESSE IS HERE. HE HAS BEEN VERY USEFUL. BUT THERE WAS A PURPOSE FOR HIM BEING INVITED. SO MY POWERPOINT WAS INTENDED TO ADDRESS DISCUSSION AND REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FROM LAST TIME. WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS, THE DISCUSSION THIS TIME TOOK A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PATH WHICH IS FINE SO I THINK WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH RESERVE DISCUSSIONS BEFORE, JESSE DID PRESENT IN DECEMBER SO COMING BACK TO MAYBE ELABORATE ON WHAT HE SAID BEFORE. BASED ON TODAY'S DISCUSSION, AND THE SEA WANT TO GO THROUGH RESERVES WE DON'T HAVE TO. SOUNDS LIKE WE WANT TO FIGURE OUT DO WE WANT TO EXPLORE COMING UP WITH A DESIGNATED WORKING THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE A SUBSET THAT TAKES THIS ON MORGAN A DISCUSSION TYPE FORMAT AND COMES BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS SIMILAR TO HOW GABE AND PHILIP DID TODAY OR WOULD YOU LIKE FOR STAFF AND COLLECTIVELY STAFF WOULD BE MY DEPARTMENT , THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, CHRISTINA AND WE WOULD GRAB SUSAN .

ANYTHING THAT'S PROBABLY ADEQUATE. WE MAY INVITE OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS LIKE PURCHASING AND BUDGET. PARKS AND RECREATION AND WE CAN HAVE A STAFF DISCUSSION OF MAYBE SOME OPTIONS . MAYBE NOT GOING INTO SO MUCH OF THIS IS THE DETAILS OF THE PROGRAM, THIS IS THE GUIDELINES, BUT SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT IRVING WAS OUTLINING. A MULTITIERED PROGRAM WAS STAFF RECOMMENDS A MULTITIERED PROGRAM. THIS IS HIGH LEVEL OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. GIVE INPUT ON WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT AND THEN FROM THERE WE CAN TWEAK THAT IN THE COMEBACK AND PROVIDE MORE DETAIL ON OKAY YOU SAID YOU DID WANT A NEW FUNDING PROGRAM THAT'S GRANT STYLE HERE IS THE OUT PIECE OF IT. I GUESS THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION. EITHER A GROUP OR STAFF PULLS TOGETHER SOME SORT OF HIGH-LEVEL PLAN FOR HOW TO HANDLE THESE REQUESTS AND IF THERE IS FUNDING LEVELS OR TYPES LIKE CAP OR ADVERTISING OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE. LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAS TO

CHOP IT UP. >> I LIKE THAT SUGGESTION.

SUSAN, CHRISTINA, YOURSELF, PARKS AND RECREATION AND SOMEONE FROM THE BUDGET. THAT MAKES FOR A GOOD GROUP AND YOU BRING US SIMILAR TO THE OTHER GROUP DID , BRING IT TO US, LET US LOOK AT THE POLICY. THROW SOME DARTS AT IT AND I THINK YOU WILL GET 85 TO 90% NAILED IT DOWN AND AT LEAST THAT GIVES US SOMETHING TO SET A BASE ON WHERE WE MAKE DECISIONS. I LIKE THAT SUGGESTION A LOT.

>> I LIKE THAT SUGGESTION. I WOULD MAYBE SUGGEST A HYBRID WITH AT LEAST ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE BOARD AS PART OF THE WORKING GROUP. THAT MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL AS

WELL. >> I ALSO LIKE THE IDEA. ONCE GOVERNMENT STARTS EXPANDING GOVERNMENT GETS BIGGER I LIKE TO KEEP IT TO A SIMPLE, SMALL AND HAVING THOSE PEOPLE AND ADDING SOMEBODY FROM TDC BECAUSE ULTIMATELY IT WILL COME BACK TO US ANYWAY. I SUPPORT THAT AS WELL.

>> IF WE ONLY HAVE ONE FROM HERE IT WILL TAKE US OUT OF

SUNSHINE. >> DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT?

>> I WOULD LOVE TO SERVE THAT I DON'T REALLY HAVE TIME. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU I HAVE A WHOLE TON OF THINGS. I WOULD

ACCEPT VOLUNTEERS. >> IRVING ALREADY VOLUNTEERED.

VOLUNTEERED.

[02:20:05]

>> I NOMINATE MIKE. >> I WILL SECOND THAT.

>> DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT?

>> NO VOTE REQUIRED. >> OKAY DO THEY NEED TO VOTE ON GIVING STAFF DIRECTION? PROBABLY NOT. JUST CONSENSUS.

GENERAL CONSENSUS DOES ANYBODY FEEL NOT OKAY WITH THAT PLAN? WITH NONE THAT'S WHAT WE WILL DO.

>> THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE REAL QUICK. DO WE HAVE A TIMEFRAME BECAUSE I'M ABOUT EXPEDITING THIS AS QUICKLY AS

POSSIBLE. >> MY LAST THING FOR YOU GUYS TO DISCUSS YOUR NEXT MEETING DATE SO I DID NOT GIVE A MEETING DATE BECAUSE I WAS NOT SURE HOW THIS DISCUSSION WOULD GO, BUT THE TWO THINGS YOU HAVE TO NEXT TAKE UP ARE THIS DISCUSSION AND THEN THE NEXT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE WORKING GROUP. I WILL SAY THE WORKING GROUP IS KIND OF TAKING ON A BIG PIECE OF THIS PUZZLE FOR THE TOUR IS A MARKETING LOOKING AT THE MANAGEMENT. BASED ON DISCUSSIONS NOW I DON'T THINK THEY WILL HAVE A MEANINGFUL RECOMMENDATION APRIL. I WOULD IMAGINE THE EARLIEST WOULD BE MAY AND I THINK THEY LEFT. I THINK THEY WON'T BE MEETING AGAIN UNTIL LATER IN THE MONTH. CONSIDERING THEY TOOK EIGHT MEETINGS TO DISCUSS THE SCOPE, I THINK THEY WOULD FEEL RUSHED IF WE TOLD THEM WE WANTED TO HAVE THAT BY APRIL. SO THE NEXT OPTION DATES FOR TDC MEETING WOULD BE APRIL 15TH OR MAY 20TH. I WOULD BE INCLINED TO SUGGEST MAY 20TH BECAUSE BY THAT POINT THE GROUP WILL COME BACK WITH MEANINGFUL PROGRESS ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS. OUTSTANDING RECOMMENDATIONS DO NOT HOLD UP THE RFP PROCESS ANYWAY SO THAT'S FINE. AND THEN THE OTHER THING TO CONSIDER. IS THIS. I MEAN, I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU GUYS IN APRIL, BUT MAY PROBABLY GIVES US MORE WIGGLE ROOM. THAT WAS REALLY MY LAST QUESTION , DO YOU WANT TO MEET IN APRIL OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO

HOLD OFF AND WAIT UNTIL MAY? >> MANAGER I WOULD LIKE APRIL ONLY BECAUSE I THINK THIS POLICY SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SEVEN OR EIGHT MONTHS NOW. YOU KNOW APRIL, IF YOU THINK YOU CAN GET SOMETHING REALLY ROUGH BY APRIL AND THEN MAY BE FORMALIZED IN MAY INSTEAD OF GETTING SOMETHING IN MAY FORMALIZING IN JUNE. AGAIN TO EXPEDITE I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE GETTING THIS TO US

IN APRIL. >> I AGREE WITH THAT 100%. I DON'T WANT TO MISS ANOTHER BUDGET CYCLE. I AGREE WITH

THAT 100%. >> EVERYBODY AGREE OR SHOULD

WE TAKE A VOTE? >> I AM AVAILABLE BOTH DAYS.

SO YES, APRIL 15TH. THIRD MONDAY OF THE MONTH.

>> DO WE NEED A MOTION ON THAT?

>> YES. >> MOTION THAT WE GET A PRELIMINARY POLICY DIRECTION BY THE APRIL 15TH MEETING AND THEN A FULL VOTE ON THE 20TH OF MAY.

>> I WILL SECOND THAT. >> ALL IN FAVOR? ANY A POST?

>> I THINK YOU NEED PUBLIC COMMENT SORRY.

>> ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? >> ANY PUBLIC COMMENT?

>> SEEN NONE. THANK YOU. NO PUBLIC COMMENT. SO WE WILL VOTE AGAIN ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? SO, WE ARE LOOKING FOR A POLICY , PERIMETER POLICY BY APRIL 15TH , SOMETHING TO VOTE ON BY MAY 20TH. CAN WE HAVE SOMETHING IN WRITING SO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT AND NOT JUST THAT THE PUBLIC MEETING BECAUSE I THINK THE EARLIER POINT WAS VERY SALIENT THAT IT'S HARD TO MAKE A DECISION WHEN YOU'RE

[11. MONTHLY REPORTS PROVIDED IN PACKETS]

FIRST TIME IN THE MEETING. >> MADAM CHAIR MAYBE WE CAN GET SOMETHING WHAT DO YOU THINK? A FEW DAYS AHEAD OF TIME?

>> YES, WE TRIED TO SEND OUT THE AGENDA PACKET BY WEDNESDAY

AT THE END OF THE DAY. >> OKAY.

[12. MEMBER COMMENTS]

[02:25:11]

>> READY TO OKAY VERY GOOD. UNDERSTOOD. READY TO MOVE ON

TO NUMBER 11? >> YEAH.

>> SO, MONTHLY REPORTS ARE WE DOING THAT , WE ARE NOT DOING THAT? WE HAVE THEM IN OUR PACKETS. NO? MEMBER COMMENTS? ON THE AGENDA FOR STAFF SPECIFICALLY. THIS ONE WAS NOT SO BAD BUT E WAS LIKE 394 PAGES. ON THE NUMBERED AGENDA ITEMS, CAN YOU PUT THE PAGE NUMBER WHERE THOSE START? THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> ARE WE STILL ON MEMBERS?

>> WE DO HAVE OUR VCB SLIDE REPORTS HERE SUSAN CAN COME UP IF NOT THEY ARE IN YOUR PACKET.

>> I THINK WE DECLINE, THEY WILL LOOK AT IT IN THEIR PACKETS. FOR THE SAKE OF TIME. WE HAVE ALREADY SELECTED OUR

NEXT MEETING DATE. >> THIS WOULD BE MEMBER COMMENTS, COMMENTS FROM THE TDC NUMBER 12.

>> OKAY. >> WELCOME TO THE MAYOR. TO

THE BOARD. >> THANK YOU.

>> MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE ONE BECAUSE WE ARE COMING UP ON THE BUDGET. I CAN'T TALK TO THE MAYOR OUTSIDE OF THIS ROOM ABOUT THIS, BUT IN THE CITY, THE CITY HAS TWO VERY VITAL NEEDS WHICH ARE CAUSED BY OVERUSE OF TOURISM AND THAT IS THE BATHROOMS . THEY HAVE A VERY LIMITED BUDGET SO IF THE TDC CAN POSSIBLY LOOK AT GIVING SOME ASSISTANCE TO THE CITY ON THE BATHROOMS AND THE OTHER IS STREETLIGHTING. THOSE TWO ITEMS , THE CITY , THEY JUST TAKE ALL THE IMPACT OF OUR TOURISM AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND IT IS KIND OF NOT FAIR TO THEM PUTTING SO MUCH ON AND WHAT I AM ASKING FROM THE TDC IS TO WORK WITH THE CITY ON HELPING THEM TO EASE THAT PAIN ON THESE ITEMS. SORRY I CANNOT TALK TO YOU BEFORE. NOT ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT IT OUTSIDE OF THAT.

>> VERY APPRECIATED, THANK YOU.

>> WHAT I WILL DO IS REACH OUT TO THOSE MUNICIPALITIES AND ASKED THEM FOR BUDGET REQUESTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.

>> YEAH. TALKING BATHROOMS WE ARE ABOUT TO GET BUSY IN THE SUMMER TIME. BUT NO, IF YOU CAN REACH OUT AND TALK TO EITHER MAX OR PUBLIC WORKS , TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY FUNDING REQUESTS AND WE DO A LOT OF STUFF ON THE BEACH AND WE ARE ABOUT TO GET INTO SEASON. THANK YOU.

>> I WILL NOTE TDT CANNOT BE USED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE BEACH. IT IS PROVIDED UNDER THE STATUTE, BUT BATHROOMS WE

CAN. >> YEAH, THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION. I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN RECENTLY SOME , SOME OPINIONS OR SOME I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT WORD IS. THERE HAS BEEN SOME COMMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF TOURISM. I THINK WE HAVE ALL SEEN DIFFERENT SIGNS OF THAT. SO, I KNOW IN THE PAST WE HAVE DONE STUDIES AND FUNDED STUDIES THAT HAVE ADDRESSED SPORTS TOURISM AND CULTURAL AND ARTS ENTERTAINMENT AND FUNDING STUDIES TO DO THAT. I WAS WONDERING IF IT WOULD MAKE SENSE IN WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY AND MAYBE THIS BOARD COULD FUND THE STUDY TO SEE WHAT IT IS WE COULD DO AND WHAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF DOING, WHAT ARE THE ISSUES, WHAT THINGS COULD BE DONE TO ALLEVIATE THAT ? AND THEN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ROLE IS WE COULD PLAY IN HELPING IN THAT AREA AND IF WE HAD TO SPEND A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ON A COMPANY TO STUDY WORKING WITH BOTH OF THOSE MUNICIPALITIES, WOULD THAT HELP AND SHOW THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE LISTENING AND WE CARE ABOUT THAT ISSUE.

>> I AM ALL IN. MAYOR, YOU PROBABLY FEEL THE SAME WAY.

>> WE CAN ROLL IT IN, I CAN PUT THAT IN THE BUDGET

[02:30:06]

[13. NEXT MEETING DATE]

>> JUST AS A NOTE. AS WE GOING TO B

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.