May 20, 2024 Tourist Development Council

[Items 1 - 3 ]

[00:00:42]

CAN WE SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE?

>> 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.

>>

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ]

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]

THE AGENDA FOR TODAY. >> SO MOVED.

>> CAN I GET A SECOND? >> SECOND.

>> CALLING FOR A VOTE, ALL APPROVED?

>> AYE. >> ANY OF THOSE?

>> CAN WE GET THE APPROVAL FOR THE MINUTES FOR THE LAST TWO

MEETINGS? >> THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MARCH 18 MINUTES. THE REVISED ONES WERE INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA PACKET. YOU CAN TAKE IT UP AS TWO SEPARATE MEANING -- MEETING MINUTE APPROVAL TOGETHER AS ONE. FOR MOTION TO APPROVE THE REVISED MINUTES FROM MARCH 18 AND APRIL 15.

>> SECOND. >> A MOVE AND A SECOND. ANY

[7. RECOMMENDATION FROM TOURISM MARKETING RFP WORKING GROUP ]

DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSE? THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM IS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY. NEXT ITEM IS RECOMMENDATION FROM THE TOURISM MARKETING RFP WORKING GROUP. IS THERE A REPRESENTATIVE HERE? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON. RECOMMENDATION FROM THE TOURISM MARKETING RFP WORKING GROUP. THE WORKING GROUP THAT HAS BEEN MEETING DILIGENTLY SINCE THE FALL. THEY HAVE BEEN CONTINUING TO MEET. THEY HAVE HAD A LIST OF TASKS WHICH ARE HERE ON THE SCREEN. WE STARTED WITH FIVE TASKS THAT SAYS A REMINDER. THE SIX TASK WAS ADDED BY THE TDC ALONG THE WAY WHICH SUGGESTS AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH FOR THE DAILY MANAGEMENT OF THE SELECTED MARKETING AGENCY. PREVIOUSLY WE HAD A COUPLE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE GROUP WHO CAN BEFORE YOU ALL MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A SCOPE THE TDC HAS LOOKED AT THE SCOPE AND REVIEWED IT AND RECOMMENDED WE MOVE FORWARD AND IT IS IN PURCHASING. WE EXPECT IT'LL BE ADVERTISED HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT THE EVALUATION CRITERIA. THE ENHANCED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENHANCED SOLICITATION OF THE RFP WHICH INVOLVES SUGGESTION TO DIRECT , NOTIFY AGENCIES OF INTEREST. OF THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE SELECTION OF THE REVIEW PANEL AND A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT IN THE GROUP. THE WORKING GROUP CONTINUES TO MEET AND WHAT YOU FOCUS ON AT THE MOMENT. THE DETAILS OF EVALUATION CRITERIA PRESENT TO YOU ALL A THREE STEP EVALUATION PROCESS FOR THE RFP REVIEW FIRST STEP IS WRITTEN PROPOSAL.

SECOND STEP WAS THE IN PERSON MEETING OR THE ZOOM MEETING. OR DIGITAL MEDIA MARKETING SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS PARTICIPATING IN THE EVALUATION AND ASKING QUESTIONS OF THE RESPONDENTS.

AND THEN, THE THIRD STEP WILL BE FOR THE DESPONDING ORGANIZATIONS THAT MADE A STEP TO COME AND GIVE A

[00:05:02]

WHICH IS COME THE CRITERIA FOR THE LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT OF THAT SELECTED AGENCY. WHATEVER CRITERIA IS GOING TO BE USED TO ENSURE THAT WE ACTUALLY ARE RECEIVING EFFECTIVE MARKETING , FROM THE SELECTED ORGANIZATION. AND THEN, HAVING THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WELL THE MANAGEMENT AND THE CONTRACT BE HANDLED ON A DAILY BASIS? AT THIS TIME, THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD. WE DID NOT HAVE ANY RURAL SPECIFIC UPDATES OF ANY NEW MATERIAL THAT WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY

PRESENTED. >> DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY

QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE WE ARE? >> DO THEY GIVE TIME FRAMES OF WHEN THEY WOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF ANSWER OR RECOMMENDATION?

>> WELL, THEY ARE REGULARLY MEETING. WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IS WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES HERE AS FAR AS THE TIMELINE GOES? THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS GETTING THE RFP SCOPE BECAUSE IT HAS TO GO OUT. LIKE I SAID, THEY ARE WORKING ON THE NUMBER TWO, THE CRITERIA. THEY HAVE TO HAVE IT READY AND A PLACE. BEFORE THE EVALUATION TAKES PLACE. WHAT THE COUNTY WILL DO THROUGH PURCHASING AS THEY WILL NOTIFY THE PEOPLE WHO MADE IT THROUGH STEP WANT TO STEP TWO IF THIS IS WHAT THE FORMAT OF THE SECTION WILL LOOK LIKE AND QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE ASKED. THE DEADLINE IS ABOUT 30 DAYS AFTER WE SOLICIT IT. AND THEN, THE FINAL TWO, I DON'T THINK THEY CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT DONE IN THE SUMMERTIME.

AND A DISCUSSION HAS BEEN THEY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE UP NUMBER FIVE. BEFORE THEY TAKE UP NUMBER SIX. THERE HAS BEEN SOME MEMBERS OF THE GROUP YOU FEEL THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS HOW THE ORGANIZATION WILL BE EVALUATED. BEFORE WE DISCUSS WHO WILL BE DOING THE EVALUATION. SO, I THINK THE SOONER THE BETTER.

THEY KNOW THE CONTRACT EXPIRES ON SEPTEMBER 30 AND WE HAVE THE ROLLING DEADLINE AND THE NEED TO GET THESE THINGS DONE. THEY FEEL THE PRESSURE AND EVERY WEEK THAT THEY MEET THEY ASK ME WHAT IS OUR HARD AND FAST DEADLINE? SEPTEMBER 30 TO HAVE IT ALL DONE BUT WE WON'T HAVE IT DONE BEFORE THEN SO CAN BE PRESENTED AND REVIEWED AND APPROVED.

>> THAT WAS MY CONCERN CONSIDERING IF IT WENT OUT TOMORROW, WE STILL HAVE 30 DAYS. IF IT IS NOW AND JULY.

AND YOU HAVE TO GO REVIEW IT AND GO THROUGH IT AND TAKE IT AND MOVE FORWARD. MAYBE AT THE NEXT MEETING, IF YOU DON'T MIND SHARING FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I WANT TO GET OUT ON THE STREET.

>> WE WILL GO AHEAD TO ADVERTISE THE RFP BEFORE WE SQUARED AWAY ALL SIX OF THE STEPS. THAT GROUP, THE WORKING GROUP HAS ALREADY COME UP WITH THEIR RECOMMENDED SCOPE OF WORK WHICH HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE BOARD AND YOU APPROVED IT SO THAT IS CALLED PURCHASING. IT'LL HAVE IT ADVERTISED WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. START THE 30 DAY ADVERTISEMENT PERIOD THAT'LL BE GOING. IT IS TO FINALIZE THE LIST OF WHOEVER THEY WANT TO NOTIFY WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE LAST MEETING AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE WHEN HE ASK MULTIPLE PEOPLE WHO THEY THINK IS GREAT, EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT ANSWER. I AM WORKING ON CONSOLIDATING ALL THEIR ANSWERS AND SENDING IT BACK TO THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE OKAY WITH IT AND WE WILL SHARE IT WITH PURCHASING. PURCHASING DEADLINES IN THE COUNTY HAS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THE WORKING GROUP HAS MET ALL OF IT AND NOTHING THEY ARE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IS HOLDING UP THE PURCHASING PROCESS AND THEY ARE WORKING IN TANDEM.

>> I WANTED TO COME BACK TO YOU LAST MINUTE AND IT BE A RUSHED

SITUATION WHEN IT HAPPENS. >> AGREED, I DON'T WANT TO EITHER. IT'S NOT PLEASANT FOR ANYBODY. WE ARE VERY COGNIZANT OF THAT. THAT IS PRIORITIZING THE STEPS, TO MAKE SURE WHAT THEY ARE WORKING ON NOW IS THE MOST TIME SENSITIVE CRITICAL THING THAT NEEDS TO BE WORKED ON.

>> I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

>> OKAY, ANYBODY ELSE? >> AS FAR AS THE BUDGET THOSE.

[00:10:01]

>> THAT'S NOT PART OF THE WORKING GROUP TASK. LATER ON THE AGENDA WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET.

>> I WAS LOOKING THAT WAY, GO AHEAD?

>> THE TIMELINE SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE. MY CONCERN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS. IT IS ABOUT LIKE THIS YEAR. IF WE HAVE A CONTRACT BY SEPTEMBER 30, DOESN'T GIVE US ENOUGH TIME TO BE PROACTIVE FOR THE FALL. THE WHOLE MARKET IS HAVING A TOUGH YEAR. I THINK EVERYBODY WILL LOOK AT -- IT IS THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. MOST PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS. IT'LL BE THIS YEAR AND I THINK THEY WILL BE LOOKING AT THE TDC TO BE DOING A PROACTIVE APPROACH THROUGH THE FALL. THE PROCESS DOESN'T HANDCUFF US TO BE ABLE TO BE AGGRESSIVE FOR THE FALL.

>> IT SHOULD AND HANDCUFF US ON ANYTHING BECAUSE THE IDEA IS WE HAVE CURRENT MARKETING SERVICE UP TO SEPTEMBER 30 WITH THE NEW MARKETING SERVICE STARTING OCTOBER 1. REGARDLESS OF HOW THE PROCESS GOES OUT. WE HAVE THE BCD ON THE ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS LOCKED IN WITH THE CORE SERVICES. AS WE KNOW, THE VCP OVERSEAS MARKETING. WORST-CASE SCENARIO. WE GET A NEW CONTRACT ON SEPTEMBER 30 AS THE LAST ONE IS EXPIRING. PEOPLE DOING THE MARKETING AND OVERSEEING IT ARE THE VCP AND WE HAVEN'T TRANSITIONED. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT STARTING OCTOBER 1, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE US AT A NEW MARKETING CAMPAIGN ON ANYTHING. BECAUSE ANYTIME YOU'RE DOING THE MARKETING CAMPAIGN IT TAKES TIME TO DEVELOP THAT. SO, IF WE WANT TO, THE COLLECTIVE WE WANT TO, WE CAN FOCUS ON MASSIVE LIGHTS AND WE WANT TO START MARKETING THAT. BEFORE OCTOBER 1 OF IT IS SEPTEMBER, AUGUST AND JULY. WE CAN SHARE THE TDC SENTIMENTS WITH THE PCB. I'M SURE YOU CAN PREPARE TO COME BACK WITH THE PLAN AT A FUTURE TDC MEETING AND ADDRESS WHATEVER THE DIRECTION IS. THE GOAL ACROSS THE BOARD WHETHER IT IS OUT LOUD OR ANY TYPE OF KNIGHTS OF LIGHT OR ANY SPECIAL EVENT THAT IS ONGOING PROGRAM. WE DON'T HAVE A GAP IN THE SERVICE. OR NOTABLE SHE'LL OF A JOB I

[8. RECOMMENDATION FROM TDT FUNDING REQUEST CONSIDERATION WORKING GROUP ]

CHANGE. IT IS TO EASE IT OVER. >> NO FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE ABOUT .

>> NO, THERE WAS NO VOTE. >> THE REST OF THE AGENDA, THERE WAS NO MORE VOTES. YOU CAN VOTE ON SOMETHING IF YOU LIKE BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO PUT ON TODAY.

>> THE NEXT UPDATE IS DEPENDING RECOMMENDATION FOR THE OTHER WORKING GROUP WHICH IS THE CDC -- TDT FUNDING REQUEST CONSIDERATION WORKING GROUP. IT IS WHAT WAS PUT IN PLACE TO COME UP WITH AN IDEA OF HOW WE WILL HANDLE HIS GROUP THESE INCOMING FUNDING REQUESTS FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD. AS A REMINDER, AT THE PRIOR MEETING, THERE WAS A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE WORKING GROUP THAT WE APPROACHED IN TWO TIERS. TWO WAYS INTO PROGRAMS. THE FIRST WAS THAT IT WAS A SCORING MATRIX THAT A GROUP WHETHER IT IS THIS GROUP OR DIFFERENT SUBSETS OF RELATED INDIVIDUALS PROBABLY MOSTLY STAFF AND THE PARTNER AGENCIES. THEY'LL GET TOGETHER AND THEY WILL REVIEW THE INCOMING REQUEST FACED AGAINST THE MATRIX THEY WILL MAKE SURE IT IS A REQUEST THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR TDT. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'LL GIVE US A VALUED OUTCOME AND THEY WILL SCORE IT AND THEY WILL SEND IT TO YOU ALL FOR REVIEW AS PART OF THE REGULAR TDC AGENDA. THE GROUP DID MEET AND IT IS A LOFTY TASK WHEN STARTING WITH NOTHING. WE TALKED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF AND THEY WERE MANY IDEAS THROWN OUT AND THINGS THAT WERE IMPORTANT. I'M WORKING ON CREATING A DOCUMENT FOR THEM THAT SUMMARIZES THEIR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS ABOUT THE KEY CRITERIA. GROUP WILL RECONVENE I WILL GO OVER THE SCORING MATRIX WHEN THEY HAVE A GOOD SOLID TRAPPED THEY FEEL GOOD WITH AND THEY WILL BRING IT TO THE GROUP. I IMAGINE IT'LL BE AT THE NEXT TDC MEETING IN JUNE. DURING THE COURSE OF THE DISCUSSION, WE DID TALK ABOUT AS A GROUP, THE SECOND APPROACH TO FUNDING WHICH WAS TO POSSIBLY CREATE

[00:15:03]

THROUGH THE DISCUSSION OF THE TDC, WE ADDED IN TOWARD EDUCATION. WHEN THE GROUP WAS TALKING , WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WAS, HOW MOST OF THE EDUCATION , TOURISM EDUCATION THAT WE PARTAKE IN HERE WITHIN ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS EITHER EDUCATIONAL SIGNAGE THAT IS PLACED IN KEY PLACES TO INTERPRET WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PLACE OR LOCATION OF THE HOLE.

OR, IT IS A SPECIFIC , LIKE A PROJECT. AN EXAMPLE OF THE PROJECT WOULD BE THAT WE WORKED WITH THE FLORIDA HUMANITIES COUNCIL YEARS AGO TO CREATE A SERIES OF WALKING TOWARDS.

SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOWARDS. THERE'S AN APP FOR IT AND BROCHURES WITH THE INFORMATION CENTER. ONE OF THE WALKING TOURS IS FOR --. THE GROUP AS A WHOLE WAS HAVING A HARD TIME THINKING OF FUNDING REQUESTS THAT HAVE COME FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD THAT WERE GENERAL TOYS IN EDUCATION. WE WERE WORKING -- WONDERING IF THE INTENT WAS TO PROVIDE DIRECTION OF OUR COLLECTIVE ANNUAL BUDGET AND MY OFFICE CULTURAL COUNSEL PCB THAT WE PRIORITIZE ADDITIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM TO WORK IT INTO THE BUDGET . I PUT SOME MORE FOCUS ON ACROSS THE BOARD.

OR WAS THE INTENT TO CREATE A PROGRAM AND ASK THE OUTSIDE WORLD , WE IDENTIFY TOURISM EDUCATION IS ONE OF THE PRIORITIES. WE WILL START A NEW PROGRAM, PROBABLY A GRANTS PROGRAM. AND, TO ACTUALLY SOLICIT REQUESTS FOR IDEAS FROM THE COMMUNITY. THAT IS KINDA TWO DIFFERENT WAYS TO TAKE THAT IDEA OF INCREASING TOURISM EDUCATION AS A REGULAR REOCCURRING FUNDING PROGRAM. THEY KIND OF STALEMATED. THE DISCUSSION STALEMATED BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT SURE IF IT WAS INTENDED FOR IT TO BE AN INTERNAL PROGRAM THAT WE PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE EMPHASIS ON. OR INTENDED TO BE A GRANTS PROGRAM THAT WE SOLICITED IDEAS FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE COMMUNITY ON.

WE ARE HOPING MAYBE THE GROUP AS A WHOLE CAN GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE DIRECTION OF THAT THE -- THAT PARTICULAR PIECE?

>> SO, SOMETHING THAT I HAD DISCUSSED OR ADDED. ADDED TO THE IDEA. I APPRECIATE THE SUGGESTION OF SIGNAGE AND I WOULD SAY WAYFINDING IS IMPORTANT. AND I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE WALKING TOUR. I THINK THAT IS A GOOD APPROACH. I LIKE THE IDEA OF APPROACHING THE COMMUNITY AND ASKING DIFFERENT WAYS TO EDUCATE OUR VISITORS. I CAN THINK OF 1 MILLION WAYS WE CAN EDUCATE THE VISITORS. ON HOW TO BE RESPECTFUL. WHEN IN THE COMMUNITY. I CAN ALSO, WHEN I THINK ABOUT EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC SPACE, I THINK WE COULD DO A NUMBER OF THINGS AND HAVE HISTORICAL MARKERS AND TO INTERPRETATION. THOSE ARE ADDITIONAL IDEAS AS FAR AS SPECIFIC PROJECTS. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY. PERHAPS A GRANT PROGRAM? FOR EDUCATION AND OFFERING. INSTEAD OF TRYING TO DO PROJECTS. PERHAPS, SETTING UP A PIECE OF A FUND AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE NONPROFITS TO COME UP WITH EDUCATION. OF THE VISITORS. HOW DO WE WANT TO EDUCATE THE VISITORS? WE HAVE THE STATE OF THE VISITORS. WHEN THEY COME OR DEEPEN THE EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY COULD. I THINK THAT IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET OUT. SOMETHING THAT'LL DEEPEN THAT EXPERIENCE.

>> I'M SURE THE COUNCIL HAS OTHER IDEAS.

>> MAYBE WE HAVE SOME SORT OF A WORKSHOP WHERE WE INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO COME AND GIVE US IDEAS? ON WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE? IF THEY HAVE NOVEL WAYS TO IMPROVE EDUCATION OF THE TOURISM ENTITY WHEN THEY ARE HERE? AND, GO AHEAD AND START OR AT LEAST PRESENT THE OUTLINE OF WHAT A GRANT PROGRAM MIGHT LOOK LIKE IF YOU WANT TO PUT ANNUAL FUNDING FOR THAT WITH

[00:20:02]

>> MAY I THROW OUT ANOTHER IDEA ALSO? IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS.

ONE OF THE BUSINESS MODELS OF EDUCATION WHICH WORKED EXTREMELY WELL. THE WOOD PAN VOTE CRUISES. EUROPEAN VOTE CRUISES. IF YOU LOOK AT THE EXPERIENCE OF SOMEBODY GOING ON A RIVER GROUP, IT IS LIKE GOING TO HIGH SCHOOL.

>> IT DOES SOUND LIKE FUN. >> PEOPLE OF IT. YOU LEARN MORE ON A RIVER CRUISE FROM AN EDUCATIONAL STANDPOINT AND VIKING CRUISES AND AVALON CRUISES AND ALL OF THESE PEOPLE. THEY HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF HOW THE PROGRAM . IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY GO INTO THE WINE COUNTRY OR GOING TO VIENNA. THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY TAILORED. THERE MAY BE SOMETHING TO LEARN FROM LOOKING AT THAT FROM 10,000 FEET AND LOOKING AT IT AS ANOTHER SEGMENT TO MARKET TO. OF SORT OF HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION TOWARDS HIM, AND IT'LL BE REALLY ATTRACTIVE TO PEOPLE WHO WERE 55 TO 75 YEARS OLD. WHICH SEEMS LIKE THE PREDOMINANT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT COME MIDWEEK. THERE MAY BE A WAY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. AND LEARN STUFF FROM WHAT MADE RIVER CRUISES SO SUCCESSFUL.

>> A RANDOM PIECE OF INFORMATION. I FIND EVERYBODY'S NOT AWARE OF AND I FIND IT NEEDS. YOU MENTIONED URBAN HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION WHICH IS AN AVENUE TO PURSUE.

>> IT WASN'T IN CLASSROOMS. IT WAS THE TYPE OF PROGRAMMING THAT WAS AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> UNDERSTOOD. BUT WE DO WELCOME MANY, MANY THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADERS HERE. THEY COME FROM ONE OF THE MAIN SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS FOR UPPER ELEMENTARY AND LEARN ABOUT COLONIAL HISTORY AND WE DO HAVE A REALLY UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT TO THE TOURISM. BUT I THINK IN ALL HONESTY I FORGOT ABOUT UNTIL WE GET TO THE TIME OF YEAR AND I WALKED DOWN GEORGE STREET AND I SEE THE MATCHING SHIRTS THAT SAYS I'M IN THE FOURTH GRADE. THAT IS AWESOME. THAT'LL BE SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT EXPANDING UPON THE POTENTIAL WAY TO ENHANCE THAT. BUT NOTED, WE WANT TO MAKE IT NOT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS SO IT IS NOT FUN.

>> --. >> AS A GROUP, WE WILL TAKE IT BACK TO THE WORKING GROUP. AS A GROUCOMING UP WITH THOSE HIGH-LEVEL IDEAS THAT'LL INCLUDE SOMETHING LIKE, THERE WILL BE A WORKSHOP FOR THE OUTSIDE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS A STRAWMAN PLAN FOR WHAT A PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE IF WE PROVIDE FUNDING TO OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS.

>> THIS MIGHT NOT BE EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. BUT COMING UP WITH WHAT THE MAYOR IS SAYING ABOUT MARKERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND LATE FINDING. THEY WILL NEED CONTINUED MAINTENANCE . DO WE HAVE A COMPONENT OF CONTINUED MAINTENANCE FOR THE MARKERS AND FOR THE WAYFINDING WITH SOME THINGS WE HAVE IN PLACE THAT HAVE FALLEN OFF? I KNOW SOME OF THE COURT MARKERS AND OTHER MARKERS REALLY COULD USE SOME HELP.

>> WHAT DID YOU SAY. >> DO WE HAVE A COMPONENT FOR GENERAL MAINTENANCE FOR THESE TYPE OF THINGS? EVEN ART IN PUBLIC PLACES? SOMEBODY HAS TO MAINTAIN THAT TO KEEP IT LOOKING NICE. AND IN GOOD CONDITION. I DON'T THINK WE EVER HAD A MAINTENANCE COMPONENT.

>> THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES. THE CITY MAINTAINS THAT. LIKE TILES AND THINGS I NOTICED. I'M SURE THAT IS A CITY.

>> THAT IS WHAT I AM SAYING. I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT IS OUR MARKERS AT THE TDC . DO WE HAVE A COMPONENT THAT THE CITY CAN

ASK FOR? MAINTENANCE ? >> USUALLY THERE IS A MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHEN ESTATE MARKET GETS PUT IN.

SOMEBODY AGREES TO MAINTAIN IT AND USUALLY FOLLOWS THE CITY.

IT IS ON CITY PUBLIC PROPERTY AND BECOMES OUR RESPONSIBILITY

TO TAKE CARE OF IT. >> BECOMES CITY OR COUNTY

[00:25:01]

DOLLARS? >> THE COURT MARKERS AND I THINK PART OF THE CHALLENGE THERE IS EXISTING THINGS HAVE COME TO BE IN VERY DIFFERENT WAYS. THE ACCORD MARKERS WERE PUT IN PLACE TO A GRANT BETWEEN THE COURTS HE WILL WRITE THE EXAM AND THE NORTH AGREEMENT. THAT WAS ONE TIME FUNDING. I DON'T KNOW IF THE AGREEMENT REQUIRES ANY TYPE OF MAINTENANCE FROM THE CITY BECAUSE THEY ARE PLACED IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. I'M FEELING FAIRLY CONFIDENT WHOEVER PROVIDED THE INITIAL FUNDING COULD PROVIDE REOCCURRING CONTRIBUTION FOR UPDATED MAINTENANCE.

>> WHAT CAME TO MIND IS, THE SCENIC HIGHWAY. SOME OF THE MARKERS ARE A LITTLE LONG IN THE TOOTH.

>> THAT'S THE KINDEST WAY TO PUT IT. AND I WANT TO KEEP IT MAINTAINED BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT STILL EXISTS.

>> IT IS KIND OF A DOWN ORGANIZATION AND THE ONE TO PUT THE SIGN IN. I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE BUT I CAN SPEAK ABOUT SOME OF THE ACCORD MARKERS ARE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING. THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING TO PROVIDE THE ORIGINAL FUNDING. BUT I THINK WE SHOULD CONCERN OURSELVES WITH MARKERS IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE. ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.

>> I WANT TO SEE SOME TYPE OF GENERAL MAINTENANCE. YOU KNOW? EVEN IF IT IS HELPING THE CITY OR HELPING THE COUNTY TO SAY, SOMEBODY'S PUTTING THEIR EYES ON IT. YOU KNOW? I THINK WE KNOW, IT IS A VERY, REACTIVE ? LIKE YOU SAY. OH, OKAY. INSTEAD OF DOING GENERAL MAINTENANCE. A CRITIC HAVE TO GO ANOTHER 10 YEARS. JUST WITH GENERAL MAINTENANCE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S IN THERE. BUT I WANT TO SEE SOME TYPE OF MAINTENANCE

WHERE THE TYPE OF ACTIVITY. >> IN THIS TYPE OF OVER VIEW OF A POTENTIAL GRANT PROGRAM. HOW YOU THINK ABOUT THE ACH GRANT PROGRAM. SEVERAL DIFFERENT AVENUES TO GO THROUGH WITHIN THE GRANT PROGRAM. MAYBE YOU ARE PURSUING ONE-TIME EVENT FUNDING. SOMETHING ABOUT THE LIMELIGHT THE HEATER WHERE IT IS A REGULAR THEATER EVENT SERIES. WE COME UP WITH A PROGRAM FOR THE OUTSIDE WORLD SOLICITATION ON AN ANNUAL BASIS IF IT WAS APPROVED. WE DEFTLY HAVE A BUCKET WITH THE

MAINTENANCE CONSIDERATION. >> EVEN IF IT IS IN YOUR HOUSE.

THAT MEETS THE CRITERIA. >> WHERE WE FIND IT FROM IT'LL BE A SECONDARY DISCUSSION. WE SHARE IT WITH THE FIRST MARKETING GROUP. THE FUNDING GROUP. WE WILL WORK ON THAT THAT'LL BE PART OF THEIR UPDATED RECOMMENDATION. THEY TALK ABOUT THE OTHER REOCCURRING PROGRAMS WHICH ARE THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FOR THE PUBLIC PLACES. CHRISTINA WAS THE CULTURAL COUNSEL SHARED WITH US IS IN FISCAL YEAR 25, SHE PLANS TO HAVE THE CULTURAL COUNSEL CONDUCT AND ART IN PUBLIC PLACES MASTER PLAN. WE WANT TO CONSIDER PLACING A PAUSE ON ANY OF THE REQUEST FOR THE STANDALONE FUNDING FOR ARTWORK. WHETHER IT IS A STATUE OR SOME SORT OF MURAL OR ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES. IT IS A LITTLE BIT HARD TO JUSTIFY THAT THERE IS A TOURISM ENHANCEMENT BENEFIT WITH A SINGLE STANDALONE PIECE OF ART.

IF YOU HAVE AN ART IN PUBLIC PLACE MASTER PLAN IT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE THE MASTER PLAN ITSELF. PROGRAM AS A WHOLE AND WHETHER ART IS. IT COULD BE MARKETED TO THE TOURIST FROM OUT OF THE AREA. AND IT CAN BE, SEEN AS AN ENHANCEMENT AND REASON FOR PEOPLE TO VISIT THE AREA. ONE THING THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN THAT MEETING WITH THAT, IN SOME DIFFERENT KEY DESTINATIONS AROUND THE STATE AND COUNTRY, THEY HAVE ACTUALLY STARTED A MURAL COLLAGE THROUGHOUT A DESIGNATED AREA WHETHER IT IS DOWNTOWN OR THROUGH THE COUNTY AND CITY AS A WHOLE. THAT HAS BECOME POPULAR WITH SOME OF THE YOUNGER TAURUS WHO ACTUALLY MAKE SURE THEY CAN GO AND FIND EACH ONE OF THE MURALS TO TAKE US HEALTHY WITH IT. AND POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ART IN PUBLIC PLACES IN THAT WAY AS A WHOLE AND THIS IS GREAT STUFF THAT WE HAVE AND MAKES IT EASIER TO SAY. THIS IS A JUSTIFIED TOURISM TO MAKE SURE THE SOMETHING THAT ENHANCES. THE REASON PEOPLE COME AND STAY LONGER. IT IS WARHEADS IN BEDS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE ON IT TODAY. BUT IF IT DID NOT SIT

[00:30:03]

ADDITIONALLY FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, WE DISCUSSED THAT SINCE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS WERE GOING TO BE DISCUSSED AS ONE OF THE MAIN TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT WE GET. UNSOLICITED FUNDING REQUESTS FOR THAT WE WANT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN HANDLE THESE UNREQUESTED CIP PROJECT. BEFORE WE GOT INTO REOCCURRING PROJECT AND PROGRAM FOR THE PROJECTS. THAT WAS KIND OF

THEIR THOUGHTS. >> DID WE HAVE A FUND

REQUESTED? >> UNREQUESTED TO THE SCORING MATRIX AT THE TOP. A LOT OF THE PROJECTS THAT COME IN ARE INHERENTLY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. KIND OF GOING BACK AND THINKING ABOUT THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDED AND PAUSED REQUEST FOR. I WILL SAY NEARLY ALL OF THEM ARE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND THEY ARE THE TRUE STEPS -- SINCE YOU SEEM TO APPROVE THE CAPITAL. OR SOMETHING WITH A LARGE ENOUGH DOLLAR THRESHOLD THAT IT TRIGGERS THE DOLLAR COUNTY DEFINITION OF WHAT A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WILL BE.

>> COMMENTS? >> THANK YOU. WE WILL HAVE A

[9. INITIAL DISCUSSION OF FY25 TOURISM BUDGET ]

REPORT FOR US IN WRITING. >> I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT IT'LL BE AT THE NEXT MEETING. THERE WAS A LOT OF THOUGHTS AND IDEAS THROWN OUT OF THE LESS MEETING. I THINK WE CAN GET IT ON PAPER BY THE JUNE MEETING TO GIVE A PRESENTATION OF

SOMETHING. >> THANK YOU.

>> THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS, NUMBER NINE. THE INITIAL DISCUSSION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 25 TOURISM BUDGET. SO, FOR ANYBODY WHO IS FOLLOWING GENERAL COUNTY BUSINESS, THE COUNTY IS WORKING THROUGH ITS ANNUAL ADMINISTRATOR BUDGET WORKSHOP. AND STAFF HAS BEEN MEETING WITH JOE ANDREWS, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, TO GO OVER THE HIGH-LEVEL IDEAS AND THOUGHTS FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, FISCAL YEAR 2025. I MET WITH JOY LAST WEEK AND PARTICIPATED AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TESTED CHRISTINA AND SUSAN. WE WERE ALL UP THERE. IT IS A REVIEW OF THE PRESENTATION I WENT THROUGH AS PART OF THE MEETING. IT KIND OF GETS AN OVERVIEW OF THE TORS AND BUDGET AS A WHOLE AND HIGH-LEVEL VIEWS OF WHERE WE ARE GOING IN THE FUTURE KIND OF KEEPING WITH HOW WE RUN THE BUDGET CYCLE FROM YEAR-TO-YEAR, THIS IS A REALLY HIGH LEVEL GENERAL TIMELINE. WE LET THE ADMINISTRATOR GET THE BUDGET SQUARED AWAY HOWEVER. HE OR SHE WOULD LIKE IT. AND WE BRING IT TO THE TDC, DETAILED DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN JUNE AND YOU GET TO REVIEW THAT AND GET THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON IT. WE CAN BRING IT BACK IN JULY IF THERE WERE ANY CHANGES OR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS NEEDED. WITH THAT IN MIND, HERE WE GO. AS A REMINDER TO EVERYBODY WATCHING.

TDT REVENUE IS GOVERNED BY BOTH FLORIDA STATUTE AND COUNTY ORDINANCE. ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE 5% OF TDT. THE REVENUE FROM THOSE FIVE PERCENTS MAY BE UTILIZED FOR QUALIFYING TOWARDS THEM EXPERIENCE IT EXPENSES AND THEY HAVE TO USE IT FOR TOURISM SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND EXPENSES AND IT CAN'T BE USED FOR THE GENERAL COUNTY BUSINESS. THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY TOWARDS THE BOWMAN PLAN WHICH IS ORDINANCE 20 $21.43 ESTABLISHING FIVE CATEGORIES OF USE FOR THE TAX REVENUE. THOSE ARE CATEGORY ONE, DESTINATION MIKING RECEIVING 1.6 PENNIES. WHICH RECEIVES .6 PENNIES. CATEGORY THREE, IMMIGRATION WHICH RECEIVES .6 PENNIES. CATEGORY FOUR, SPECIAL USES WHICH RECEIVES 20 PENNIES. AND CATEGORY FIVE, EACH ASSET RECEIVING 1.4 PENNIES. KIND OF HAS A LOOK BACK AT WHERE WE HAVE BEEN HERE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. A LOT HAS HAPPENED. IN TOURISM. DURING THAT TIME. FISCAL YEAR 19 WAS A RELATIVELY STANDARD YEAR. WE

[00:35:07]

HERE GIVES US ALL AN IDEA. OF WHAT IS PAID FOR OUT OF EACH OF THE CATEGORIES. ADD A CATEGORY ONE, DESTINATION MARKETING IS A PCB CORD SERVICES CONTRACT WHICH IS FUNDED AND TOURISM MARKETING CONTRACT WHICH WE ARE PURSUING THE RFP FOR CURRENTLY.

CULTURAL EVENTS AND CORPORATE ALLOCATION WHICH IS THE CULTURAL EVENT INC. ORGANIZATION THAT MANAGES THE ST. ANDREWS IN THE THEATER AND THE CONCERT HALL. CATEGORY TWO.

WE PAY FOR THE CULTURAL COUNSEL PROJECT. THERE IS AN ALLOCATION FOR THE ANNUAL ARTS CULTURE INHERITANCE GRANTS PROGRAM. AN ALLOCATION FOR CULTURAL EVENT INC. WHICH IS WHAT THEY MANAGE, THE EMPATHY A AND THE CONCERT HALL. THE TYPE OF EXPENDITURES HERE ARE IN LINE WITH WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. -- IS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PARKS AND RECREATION PROPOSE WE FIND WITH CATEGORY THREE DOLLARS. THAT IS IMPROVEMENT TO THE FIELD OUT OF THE FACILITY. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY ARE PLANTS FOR ADDITIONAL ALL FIELD IMPROVEMENTS AND EQUIPMENT FOR MAINTAINING THE BALL FIELD. THE

[00:40:07]

IF IT WORKS APPROPRIATELY. THERE WAS FUNDING FOR THE TOURISM MARKETING GRANT. FUNDING IN HERE FOR PAYING DEBT SERVICE AND THIS IS THAT SERVICE ON PRIOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT ARE PERKS ORIENTED. LARGELY FOR ALL THE PROJECTS. SPECIFICALLY. ONE OF THE REGIONAL PARKS IS LOOKING TO DEVELOP A SMALL STADIUM WHICH CAN BE USED FOR THE SOCCER TOURNAMENTS AS WELL AS OTHER EVENTS AND IT SUPPORTS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SPORTS TOURISM MARKETING PLAN. WHICH WAS COMPLETED BACK IN 2019. THERE ARE FUNDING IN THE CATEGORY FOR THE PARK IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT STAFF WHO PROVIDE THE SERVICES FOR THE PROJECTS HERE.

>> CATEGORY FOR IS THE SPECIAL USES. THERE IS FUNDING IN THE CATEGORY FOR THE INFORMATION CENTERS. HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND FIREWORKS WHICH ARE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS PROGRAM. AND NEW YEAR'S FIREWORKS FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY THAT ARE PUT ON BY THE MUNICIPALITIES. THE CULTURAL EVENT LLC L ALLOCATION COMES OUT HERE AS WELL. THIS GROUP MANAGES THE AMPHITHEATER AND THE CONCERT HALL. FUNDING IN HERE TO SUPPORT THE ANNUAL TBC EVENT. THERE IS MONEY IN HERE FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. THIS IS WHERE THE STAFF IS FUNDED. MYSELF AND MY STAFF. AND THE LAST CATEGORY IS THE BEACH ASPECT. LOOKING FORWARD WE WILL FUND THE BEACH OPERATION AND NOURISHMENT OUT OF THE CATEGORY. KIND OF A QUICK RECAP HERE AND I'M SUGGESTING WE MAINTAIN 4% REJECTED REVENUE FOR TDP FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. WE SUGGEST WE PLAN FOR AN INCREASE A 4% FOR NEXT YEAR REVENUE COLLECTION. AS I MENTIONED, WE WILL HAVE MORE DETAILED DISCUSSIONS GOING THROUGH ALL THE DOLLARS AT THE JUNE 17 MEETING. THIS IS IN PART TO ALLOW US ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE SITE TO KIND OF CLEANUP AND FINALIZE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO TO PRESENT TO GET YOUR INPUT ON THAT. IN ADVANCE, SOMETHING I WILL TALK ABOUT AT THE NEXT MEETING THAT I THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER. WE REVISIT SOME OF THE FUNDING COUNTS OUTLINED IN THE ORDINANCE. THERE IS A CAP FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHT THAT 100,000. WE HAVE $60,000 CAP PER FIREWORKS AND $350,000 CAP FOR INFORMATION CENTERS. THEY WERE PUT IN PLACE BEFORE 2010. I HAD A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT WHEN THEY WERE PUT IN PLACE BUT THEY WERE IN PLACE AT THESE LEVELS IN 2010.

SOMETHING WE HEAR FROM THE MUNICIPALITY TO HELP US WITH ALL THE ACTIVITIES HERE. THINGS ARE GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE.

ANNUAL FIREWORK COST ARE GOING UP. WE HAD THEM WALKING TO THE SAME BUDGET FOR 14 AND 15 YEARS. IT MAY BE SOMETHING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A LOOK AT TO SEE IF WE WANT TO INCREASE IT A LITTLE BIT. INCREASING IT REQUIRES A CHANGE TO THE ORDINANCE. IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT FOR NEXT YEAR.

ANY QUESTIONS? >> I THINK WE BROUGHT IT UP LAST TIME. MAYBE WE CAN GET THE SECTION SENT OUT THIS IN AN EMAIL. I WANT TO HAVE A VISUAL TO REFER BACK TO.

>> THE SECTION OF THE ORDINANCE?

>> THE SECTION YOU READ AND THE BUDGET ITEMS FOR HOW TBC BUDGET IS BROKEN DOWN IN A DIFFERENT CATEGORY.

>> IF HE ASKED FOR IT, I DID NOT SENT IT.

>> YOU ASKED FOR LAST TIME? >> IF THERE IS ANYTHING LIKE THIS, IF YOU CAN ADDED TO THE PACKET, THAT'LL BE GREAT. SO THAT WAY, IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE DON'T HAVE TO ASK YOU ON THE SPOT. I PREFER TO ASK YOU INDIVIDUALLY.

>> IT IS ALSO HELPFUL FOR US TO REFER BACK TO IT. A LOT OF NUMBERS GO BACK AND FORTH. AND WE DON'T HAVE A PHOTOGRAPHIC

MEMORY. >> I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND GET TO WORK ON THE ORDINANCE. INITIATE THE ORDINANCE OF POSSIBLE. INITIATE THROUGH THE BCC OR DO WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THEM? HOW DOES IT START?

>> A WAY TO DO IT BECAUSE THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS TO DO

[00:45:02]

WHEN THEY TAKE IT UP, YOU HAVE AT LEAST FOUR CONSENTING VOTES

TO MAKE ANY CHANGES. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. THIS IS AN INFORMATIONAL QUESTION. CATEGORY THREE. THERE WAS A DEBT SERVICE. AND SOMETHING FROM SOLOMON CALHOUN. I SAW IN

THEIR. SOLOMON CALHOUN, CIP. >> IS AN EXPANSION . THE NEXT

MEETING. >> IS GOING TO ASK THEM TO COME UP AND SPEAK SPECIFICALLY BUT THE DETAILS OF THE BUDGET.

>> I THINK THEY WERE DOING SOME TYPE OF FIELD OR SOMETHING OUT

THERE. >> I KNOW I CLARIFIED IT WAS FOR BALL FIELD WHEN I SAW IT AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I SAW IT FOR THE AMENITIES. WHICH IS GREAT BUT LESS TOURISM

FOCUSED. >> THE DEBT SERVICE. IS IT ALTOGETHER? IS IT A NEW BOND? WHAT IS THE DEBT SERVICE ON THE CATEGORY THREE? SOME OF THE PREVIOUS BOND SHOULD BE PAID

OFF BY NOW. >> THIS'LL BE NOT PREVIOUS DEBT SERVICE BUT NEW DEBT SERVICE. I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS THE FIRST YEAR OF IT I THINK IT IS A CARING BOARD FROM PRIOR YEARS. IT IS FROM NEWER PARKS AND RECREATION'S. CIP PROJECTS.

THE SOCCER STADIUM THEY ARE BUILDING AS PART OF THE REGIONAL PARKS. SOME OF THE DEBT SERVICE I DO NOT HAVE A FULL BREAKDOWN WHAT IT IS. BUT I WILL ASK IF THEY CAN TELL US WHAT IS RULED IN THE DEBT SERVICE.

>> I'M CURIOUS HOW MUCH IT IS COMING FROM TDC? HOW MUCH IS COMING FROM GENERAL FUNDS. IT'LL GET BOTH USES WITH TDC COMPONENT BUT MOSTLY A GENERAL FUND SITUATION?

>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? >> THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

>> I ALSO WANT TO AND CERTAINLY I DID NOT REALIZE THE CAPS WERE IN THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE. BUT I WOULD TAKE HIM A BETTER IDEA AS OPPOSED TO MOVING THEM UP AS OPPOSED TO TAKING THEM OUT. IT IS NEEDED BASED ON THE CURRENT SITUATION FROM HERE TO HERE. AS THINGS GET MORE EXPENSIVE. MAYBE HAVE THE ACTUAL FUNDING ITEMS IN THERE. BUT WITHOUT CAPS. WHILE ADDRESSING THE ORDINANCE THEMSELVES, WE CAN PUT BACK THE LANGUAGE THAT CAME OUT WHEN WE PASSED --. DISTRIBUTING EXCESS MONTH FOR CATEGORY ONE TO CATEGORY 12 AND THREE LIKE IT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO. ALONG THE LINES, AND ADDITION TO THE $25.1 MILLION THAT WE ARE GOING TO BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WE NEED TO PUT IN THERE THE EXTRA FOUR POINT SOMETHING MILLION DOLLARS IN RESERVE RIGHT NOW. THE CATEGORIES GET TO SPEND AS WELL AND PLACE IT IN THE BUDGET.

>> ON A GENERAL HIGH LEVEL. WHAT I DISCUSSED WITH JOY LAST

[00:50:06]

SOMETHING WE STARTED DOING THIS YEAR WAS WE BROUGHT IN THIS MUCH REVENUE ACROSS THE CATEGORY AND SPENT THIS MUCH MONEY. LOOKING AT THE SAME STRATEGY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 25 AS YOU BRING IN THIS MUCH REVENUE, YOU SPEND THIS MUCH IN THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. A CHALLENGE OR CONCERN OR CONSEQUENCE SPENDING DOWN ALL THE RESERVES THAT WE HAVE IN THE FISCAL YEAR 25 AND SPEND RESERVES N0, WE WILL HOLD THAT PERCENTAGE NO MATTER WHAT. THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR, FISCAL YEAR 26. IT IS A PERCEIVED BUDGET CUTS BECAUSE YOU ARE BRINGING IN THIS MUCH REVENUE AND SPENDING THIS MUCH REVENUE AND GOT RID OF THIS RESERVE THAT YOU HAVE. STARTING IN FISCAL YEAR 26, YOU GO FROM 25 EXPENDITURES TO THIS IS NOW THE 26TH EXPENDITURE. THE IDEA THAT, WE COLLECTIVELY HAD BEEN WORKING ON AN ADMINISTRATION AS YOU ARE SPENDING AT AN ELEVATED RATE EACH YEAR. AND SPENDING THEM RESERVES. TRYING TO DO SO IN A WAY WHERE WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A BUDGET CUT WHEN WE WRITE A RESERVES. WE ARE GROWING EACH YEAR AND THE REVENUE EACH YEAR. WE SPENT IN THIS MUCH MONEY AND ANTICIPATE THIS PERSON AND PERCENTAGE OF GROWTH EVERY YEAR. THE GAP GET

SMALLER AS THE YEARS GO BY. >> I'M SURE IT SOUNDS GOOD.

THAT IS NOT ACTUALLY WHAT IS HAPPENING. YOU BRING IT AND MORE EVERY YEAR ANY BUDGET RIGHT TO THE LEVEL. WE WILL GET THE YEAR ESSENTIALLY THE 25 MILLION. YOU MENTIONED EARLIER.

WE HAVE A BUDGET IN 25.1 MILLION. IF YOU WERE BUDGETING 28 MILLION, THEN THE LOGIC WILL PLAY OUT.

>> THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING. WE ARE BRINGING IN 25 MILLION BUDGETING OUT 25 MILLION. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING. WE ARE BRINGING IN THIS MUCH REVENUE ACROSS THE CATEGORY. BUT WE ARE EXPANDING ACROSS THE CATEGORY, THE HIGHER RATE. AND I WILL HAVE THE NUMBERS FOR THE NEXT MEETING AND WE WILL LOOK AT IT.

THAT MAKES MY SENSE WHEN WE CAN SEE THE NUMBERS. BUT I THINK FOR CATEGORY ONE, THE INITIAL NUMBERS THAT I HAD SHARED WITH YOU. THE SPENDING AT ABOUT $550,000 OF NEW REVENUE. IT IS

SPENDING DOWN THAT RESERVE. >> OKAY. I DID NOT SEE ANYWHERE WHERE IT HAS 28 MILLION. THAT MAKES SENSE.

>> I DON'T KNOW FOR THE 28 MILLION

>> I DON'T KNOW FOR THE 28,000,027 OR 30, I DO HAVE A BROKEN DOWN AND I WILL HAVE A BROKEN DOWN FOR EVERYBODY TO LOOK AT IN THE CATEGORY SHOWING THAT. THAT IS SOMETHING. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK YOU KNOW, THAT I THINK FORWARD ON.

>>> I PERCEIVED ONE, SO I WILL HAVE THOSE NUMBERS AND I WILL SHOW THE OVERAGE YOU CAN SEE AND I THINK THAT WILL HELP

SHOW WHAT'S GOING ON. >> SOUNDS GOOD, THANK YOU.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION ON TOP OF WHAT CHARLES SAID. BUDGETING ABOVE WITH THE CARRYFORWARD OR FROM RESERVES OR A COMBINATION

OF BOTH? >> FROM RESERVES, SO FOR THE MOST PART ACROSS CATEGORIES , WE DON'T REGULARLY HAVE MANY CARRYFORWARDS SO CATEGORY THREE HAS STARTED TO HAVE A CARRYFORWARD BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING PROJECTS AND OFTEN THOSE HAVE CARRYFORWARD. OTHERWISE, WE USUALLY PROJECT WE WILL SPEND ALL THE MONEY FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. USUALLY WE DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF IT, SOMETIMES THERE WILL BE AN EXTRA 50,000 OR SOMETHING SOMEBODY DID NOT SPEND THROUGH UNCOLLECTED GRANTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT , BUT WE ARE PRETTY GOOD AT NOT HAVING EXCESSIVE HIGH CARRYFORWARD.

>> MOSTLY FROM RESERVES , THE EXTRA EXPENSE ABOVE WHAT WE ARE

BRINGING IN. >> THE ONE THING THAT DOES HAPPEN IN TOURISM FUNDS WHICH IS UNIQUE TO TOURISM FUNDS IS , I THINK IT IS UNIQUE SO, THAT'S THE 4% I TALKED ABOUT PROJECTING FOR THE REVENUE. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAW,

[00:55:02]

>> MORE THAN ANTICIPATED REVENUE THAN IT IS CARRYFORWARD. THANK YOU. YOU ANSWERED IT. APPRECIATE IT.

>> WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE CAP WE'VE GOT FOR SOME OF

THOSE EVENTS? >> I WILL ASK, SHE IS OUR

INAUDIBLE ] >> BACK IN 2010 THEY WERE, IN ORDER TO PAY FOR THOSE SPECIFIC EVENTS THEY HAD TO BE CONSIDERED SPECIAL USE TO USE THE TDC MONEY AND WHENEVER THEY DID , THE SPECIAL USE, THEY PUT CAPS ON THEM AT THAT TIME BECAUSE BACK IN 2010 I'M NOT SURE IF THEY FELT LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO NEED TO BE INCREASED SO MUCH, BUT TPC HAS GROWN AS WELL SO THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN EXPANDED.

>> BACK IN 2010 COLLECTION WAS SIX OR 7 MILLION SO CERTAINLY IT WILL SCALE AND LOCKED IT IN FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE AND THEN WE CHANGED IT AND WE HAVE SEEN PHENOMENAL GROWTH COLLECTIONS WE HAVE SEEN SUBSTANTIAL INFLATION OVER THE

LAST FEW YEARS. >> ONE OTHER QUESTION. WHEN YOU ARE BUDGETING FOR 25 YOU'RE TAKING SOME RESERVES AND USING THAT AS PART OF THE BUDGET? IF SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MONEY SENT UNTIL HURRICANE SEASON IN CASE WE HAVE TO THROW MONEY INTO THE CORE CATEGORIES TO MOVE FORWARD. I KNOW IT IS A MOVING BUDGET BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND AND AS WE GET INTO OCTOBER THAT'S KIND OF THE END OF THE HURRICANE SEASON BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT THERE IN

CASE OF EMERGENCY. >> LIKE I SAID, THE BUDGET I'M GOING TO BRING IN JUNE IS NOT GOING TO EAT ALL RESERVES.

CERTAINLY ACROSS MANY CATEGORIES , THE CATEGORY WITH THE LEAST RESERVES AVAILABLE IS CATEGORY 2 AND THEN CATEGORY 3 ALSO THEY HAVE PRETTY GOOD RESERVES WITH A PRETTY HEALTHY EXPENDITURE PLAN SO I THINK THEY PULLED RESERVES OUT PRETTY WELL. THERE WILL BE RESERVES ACROSS FUNDS SO IF WE HAVE EITHER EMERGENCY OR ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY WE WON'T HAVE SPENT DOWN TO ZERO UNLESS TDC MAKES A RECOMMENDATION AND

SENDS IT. >> I HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE I GUESS I'M GOING BACK TO NUMBER EIGHT. WE. I'M SAYING IN TERMS

[01:00:01]

>> A PORTION. WE DID THAT THIS YEAR, TOO. SORRY.

>> I AM TRYING TO WORK ON POLICY THAT'S WHAT THE WORKING GROUP WAS CALLED TOGETHER FOR.

>> ABSOLUTELY. IF YOU LOOK HERE, WHEN WE HAVE SEEN IS REALLY GOOD GROWTH WHICH HAS GIVEN US ROBUST RESERVES. GOING TO FISCAL YEAR 24 WE HAVE RESERVES SO WE DID 24 IS RESET ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE THIS MUCH NEW INCOMING REVENUE AND THIS MUCH RESERVES. PRETTY GOOD RESERVES SO THE IDEA OF NOT WANTING TO GIVE US A PERCEIVED BUDGET CUT IN THE FUTURE WE TOOK A PIECE OF RESERVES AND PUT IT ON TOP OF EACH OF THESE CATEGORY BUDGETS. THERE IS THE INCOMING AND HERE IS THIS SO KEEPING THAT , MY INTENT IS THAT I SHARE WITH JOY WHO WILL BLESS COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE ADMINISTERED A BUDGET. THE INTENT IS NEW REVENUE, SOME RESERVES AND YOU KEEP IT GOING. IN THE MEANTIME WE HAVE HEALTHY RESERVES AND WE HAVE FUNDED SOME OF THESE PROJECTS LIKE RECONSTRUCTION, MOVING OF THE CAMP RIGHT HOUSE AND THE IDEA OF THE WORKING GROUP IS TO COME UP WITH A POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR HOW TO HANDLE INCOMING REQUESTS AS THEY COME IN BECAUSE THAT WILL COME IN THE MATTER BUT. WHETHER WE HAVE RESERVES ARE WE DON'T AFTER FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET AGAIN IT WILL BE PRESENTED IN JUNE, WE WILL HAVE HEALTHY RESERVES SO WHAT'S BEING DONE IN NUMBER EIGHT IS NOT NEGATED BY FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET. IT IS JUST CONTINUING THE PROCESS OF USING RESERVES FOR REGULAR , SO ONE DOES NOT UNDO THE OTHER.

THEY'RE BOTH MOVING FORWARD. >> GETTING CLARITY BECAUSE WE ALWAYS USE RESERVE BASED ON WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IN THE BUDGET IN PREVIOUS YEARS. SOME RESERVES USED IN THE BUDGET TO GO FORWARD IN THE NEXT YEAR. SO I HAVE IT CLEAR IN MY MIND.

JUST SO THAT WE ARE USING A PORTION OF THAT TO GO INTO EACH CATEGORY, EACH YEAR FOR MOST OF THE BUDGET SO WE DON'T, IN CASE WE DON'T MAKE THAT AMOUNT THEN WE CAN STILL MEET THE BUDGET. AND I THINK WHAT WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT WAY BACK IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR OR SEPTEMBER WAS THE SURPLUS OVER AND ABOVE WHAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AS RESERVES BASED ON THE ORDINANCE , YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE THAT GO TO RESERVE AND THERE WAS A SURPLUS BEYOND WHAT YOU ARE SPENDING INTO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. USING THAT AMOUNT WILL BE THERE OR SOMETHING SIMILAR WILL BE THERE OR PART OF THAT WILL BE WRITTEN INTO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AND I GUESS THE HARDEST PART IS WE ONLY SEE THIS WHEN WE COME HERE AND WE LOOK AT IT IN ADVANCE TO SAY THIS IS THE PORTION GOING INTO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. THIS WILL BE RESERVE GOING FORWARD AND HOW DO WE DO WITH THAT BECAUSE WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT RECOMMENDATIONS AND HOW WE DO A SURPLUS AND THIS SOUNDS LIKE THE WORKING GROUP IS STILL WORKING ON IT AND MOST OF THAT IS GOING TO GO AWAY. BECAUSE IT WILL BE ON THE BUDGET.

>> A COUPLE OF THINGS. THIS PRESENTATION DOES NOT INCLUDE TOO MANY NUMBERS FOR THE SPECIFIC BUDGET ITSELF SO I ALWAYS THINK HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN THE FUTURE WITHOUT HAVING NUMBERS GETS A LITTLE HARD TO CONTINUE TO GRASP JUST BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS AND NOT HAVE A DOLLARS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. WE DON'T HAVE THIS UNTIL JUNE USUALLY WE HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE NUMBERS AT THE LAST MEETING THERE WAS A REQUEST TO GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET SO DID NOT PUT ALL THE NUMBERS IN HERE BECAUSE WE ARE GIVING ADMINISTRATION TIME TO WORK THROUGH ALL THE WORKSHOPS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A BUDGET THAT THEY FEEL IS THE RIGHT BUDGET AND WILL BRING THAT TO YOU IN JUNE. I WILL GIVE THE NUMBERS FOR THE BUDGET WITH YOUR PACKETS SO YOU HAVE THAT IN ADVANCE. THIS IS

[01:05:02]

>> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> ANYBODY ELSE?

>> DO WE NEED THE ORDINANCE TO BE CREATIVE WITH RESERVES ?

>> SORRY DO WE NEED AN ORDINANCE?

>> DO WE DO IT TO THE ORDINANCE AND I WILL GIVE AN EXAMPLE AND TELL ME IF IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION THE NEXT MEETING OR SOMETHING WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WITH THE ORDINANCE. FOR EXAMPLE, CATEGORY FIVE LAST TIME I REMEMBER SEEING THE SPREADSHEET WITH $5 MILLION . FOR EXAMPLE IF THIS ROOM SAYS $5 MILLION IN RESERVE IS ENOUGH TO HAVE IT THERE AND ACCESS SHOULD GO TO CATEGORY FOUR ARE WE ALLOWED TO MAKE A DECISION LIKE THAT?

>> WELL, SEE YOU CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATION FOR WHATEVER YOU WANT. IF YOU THINK WE NEED TO GO BY PINK ELEPHANTS YOU CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATION TO DO SO. I WOULD SAY UNFORTUNATELY SHE HAS NOT BEEN HERE. MORE OR LESS HOW THAT WOULD GO IS, YOU CAN HAVE THE DISCUSSION. TDC CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATION FOR WHAT YOU FEEL IS APPROPRIATE. IF IT IS WE DON'T FEEL THERE NEEDS TO BE ANY MORE THAN $5 MILLION OF RESERVES IN CATEGORY FIVE YOU FEEL THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING SHOULD BE UTILIZED OR WE FEEL IT SHOULD BE REDISTRIBUTED TO RETHINK IT SHOULD BE USED TO PURCHASE X , YOU CAN MAKE WHATEVER THE RECOMMENDATION IS AND WHAT WE WILL DO ASKED STAFF IS SIT DOWN AND WORK WITH LEGAL BECAUSE PROBABLY THE ANSWER DEPENDS A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT IT

[01:10:01]

>> TO KIND OF ADD. THERE IS GUIDELINES THAT HOLD YOU IN PLACE WHEN IT COMES TO THE AUDIT IT WILL GET KICKED BACK.

SO THERE ARE SOME GUIDELINES IN PLACE TO KIND OF KEEP EVERYBODY IN LINE. YOU KNOW COLLECTING MONEY WE CANNOT SPEND IT ON

TOURISM. BUT THE GUIDELINES. >> GOING BACK TO MY THOUGHT OF YEARS AGO THIS WAS NOT UNDER THE CURRENT ORDINANCE WHEN THERE WAS LEFTOVER MONEY , IT WAS REALLOCATED.

>> ONE, TWO AND THREE. SO IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT GOES TO CATEGORY FIVE IT MUST OF BEEN LEGAL .

>> IT WOULD STILL BE LEGAL TODAY BECAUSE IT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE STATE ORDINANCE AND AS LONG AS IT QUALIFIES THAT'S THE REASON THAT ORDINANCE WAS GOOD. AS LONG AS IT QUALIFIES SO CATEGORY FIVE COULD MOVE WITHIN ALL THE DISTRIBUTION WITHOUT VIOLATION.

>> THE REASON I BRING IT UP IS IF WE HAVE IT MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF RESERVES I DON'T WANT TO ONLY LOOK AT 2 1/2.

>> CATEGORY FIVE SHOULD BE HEALTHY WITH GRANT WE HAVE GOT ON THE STATE APPRECIATION SO I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE GOING

WITH THAT. >> DO WE NEED TO ASK THAT

AGAIN? >>

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK FOR CLARIFICATION IF THAT'S OKAY.

WILL BE BE LOOKING IF WE DID WHAT WAS SUGGESTED AND REMOVED THE CAPS SIMPLY AMENDING THE ORDINANCE WHAT WOULD THE TIMELINE BE? LOOKING TOWARD SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> TIMELINE IS WE WILL BE LOOKING AT. THE SPORT CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATION, IT WOULD GO TO THE BCC AND ONCE BCC GIVES LEGAL AUTHORITY TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE THE OFFICE WOULD BEGIN WORKING ON THAT PROCESS SO YOU BRING BACK AND FORTH WHAT IS SUFFICIENT TO THE BOARD.

>> THANK YOU, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE DISCUSSION WITH THIS BOARD.

>> I WILL HAVE THAT ON THERE. I AM THINKING I WILL ROLL IT UP WITH THE BUDGET DISCUSSION. THOSE THINGS GO HAND-IN-HAND SO I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE IT IS A SEPARATE AGENDA ITEM. YOU CAN TAKE IT UP AS TWO SEPARATE ITEMS BUT AS I THINK ABOUT THE DISCUSSION I THINK WE WANT TO HAVE THEM TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET

AND ORDINANCE. >> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT TAKING OUT THE CAP AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IF THERE IS EXCESS IN CATEGORY FIVE WHICH IS SOMETHING

DIFFERENT. >> THERE ARE TWO SUBJECTS , BUT THEY BOTH MAY BE WRITTEN INTO THE ORDINANCE. SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS WRITTEN THIS TIME, IT KEPT ALL THE MONEY IN CATEGORY FOUR VERSUS ALLOWING IT TO GO BACK TO CATEGORY THREE AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS A FIRM FIRM THING OR YOU KNOW HOW MUCH FLEXIBILITY WE HAVE AS A BOARD IF WE FELT WE WANT TO CHANGE THAT. I SUSPECT IT WILL TAKE REWRITING THE ORDINANCE TO GIVE THAT FLEXIBILITY, BUT IF WE THINK THAT IS A GOOD IDEA AS A GROUP WE SHOULD THROW IT OUT IF WE REDO THE ORDINANCE, WE SHOULD DO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE THINK OUR IT.

>> QUICK QUESTION. CAN WE THEN DISCUSS, CONSIDERING THE TIMELINE THE REMOVAL OF THE ORDINANCE FOR THE FIREWORKS AND FOR THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS SO WE CAN GET IT ON?

>> THE CAP? >> THE CAP, CAN WE DISCUSS THAT TODAY, AND MAYBE GIVE DIRECTION TO BRING TO THE BCC SO THAT WAY

[01:15:09]

>> I DON'T SEE WHY WE COULDN'T BRING IT UP TODAY AND

HAVE A VOTE FOR THE BOARD. >> CONSIDERING A TEMPORARY

SUSPENSION? >> IN MY MIND I THINK , I CANNOT SPEAK FOR MR. COX BUT MY MIND IS MAYBE WE ARE MOVING THE CAP BECAUSE I THINK, AS THE MAYOR IS PREPARING AND WE ARE PREPARING AND THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH PREPARE FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND FIREWORKS YOU ARE JULY 4, WE ARE DECEMBER AROUND NEW YEAR'S EVE, THE 31ST. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT MOVES FAIRLY FAST SO WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE HEADED SOONER THAN

LATER. >> HERE, HERE. WHICH IS WHY I ASK WHAT'S THE PROCESS. AND I WOULD BE PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION IF WE FELT APPROPRIATE. JUST AT THE VERY LEAST TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE BCC TO KEEP MOVING.

>> THE THREE YOU HAVE LISTED, ARE THOSE THAT ONLY THREE WITH THE CAP , TO THE PLAYERS HAVE A CAP?

>> OF THE ORDINANCE. YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF THINGS WITH A CAP ON THEM. A CAP FOR SERVICE THAT IS STILL FINE. YOU HAVE THIS CAP FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, A CAP FOR FIREWORKS. THERE IS A CAP FOR THE PLAYERS TOURNAMENTS , A CAP FOR THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER. I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL THE CAPS , THE CAPS ARE RIGHT

HERE. >> I KNEW YOU HAD MORE THAN THOSE LISTED SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE LIFTED THE CAP AND ALL THE ITEMS NOT THAT THE THREE LISTED. BEFORE A VOTE FOR THE MOTION. I AM GOOD TO SECOND BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHAT I

VOTE ON. >> THE PLAYER HAS A CONTRACT ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. CERTAINLY WE COULD LIFT THE CAP ON THAT AND SAY IT IS IN LINE WITH THE ANNUAL OR THE RECURRING CONTRACT FOR THE MULTIYEAR CONTRACT . I THINK IT IS A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT SO THAT ALLOWS FOR THE EXPENSE GOING INTO THE FUTURE BUT AT THE MOMENT WE ARE IN LINE WITH THAT 250,000 AND CERTAINLY I WILL SAY THE 460 WE HAVE THE DEBT SERVICE SCHEDULED FOR THE REST OF THE DEBT SO THAT ONE WILL NOT GO UP AND IT IS KIND OF WITH YOUR LOGIC OF TAKING OUT AND REVIEWING EVERY YEAR, THE ADDITIONAL THAT WOULD APPLY TO,

THE PLAYERS. >> THAT IS A CONTRACT ON THE PLAYERS CURRENTLY? WHEN DOES THAT CONTRACT EXPIRE?

>> I BELIEVE THERE IS ONE MORE YEAR SO IT GOES THROUGH

CHAMPIONSHIP 25. >> AT SOME POINT THEY WILL COME

BACK TO ASK. >> EVEN WITH THE AMPHITHEATER I UNDERSTAND IT HAS A SCHEDULE BUT AT SOME POINT DAMAGE IS DONE OR CAPITAL WITHIN THE ORDINANCE THEY WILL STILL HAVE SOME CONTINUATION. I UNDERSTAND IT HAS TO SCHEDULE A PAYMENT NOW AND IT FALLS UNDERNEATH THAT, BUT WE GET A NASTY STORM THAT TEARS THAT APART IS GOING TO CHANGE.

>> THAT WOULD CHANGE, BUT THIS STATEMENT IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE DEBT SERVICE FOR THE ORIGINAL , NOT THE ORIGINAL THE RENOVATION, THE REDO THAT TOOK PLACE QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO AND LIKE I SAID WE COULD APPLY THE LOGIC HERE, BUT IF WE WANT TO TAKE OUT ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR REPAIR THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT.

>> I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE COVER EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE SO WE DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK LIKE NEXT YEAR WHEN THE PLAYERS ARE RENEGOTIATING FOR CONTRACTS OR THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER IS RENEGOTIATING. I GUESS THAT'S

GOING TO THE CITY. >> MY CONCERN , I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT AS A RANGE SO ANY AMOUNT SOMEBODY COMES TO THE TABLE

THERE IS AT ALL. >> I'M GOING TO DEFER TO THE MAYORS BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT IS HOLIDAY LIGHTING AND NIGHT OF

LIGHTS IS EVERYBODY. >> WE KNOW THINGS ARE GOING UP

[01:20:02]

>> THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT CAN FLUCTUATE DEPENDING ON INFLATION, DEPENDING ON I AM OKAY MAYBE DOUBLING IT INITIALLY, BUT AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO COME BACK AGAIN TO LOOK AT IT. BUT I DON'T THINK I THINK DOUBLING IT MAY BE UP TO 200,000 UP TO YOU KNOW 120,000, UP TO 500,000. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WILL WANT TO LOOK AT IT. I DON'T KNOW , I DON'T HAVE A CONCRETE NUMBER FOR WHAT IT WILL COST I DON'T KNOW IF THE MAYOR HAS A CONCRETE COST.

>> I CAN TELL YOU IT IS LOW. HASN'T BEEN ADJUSTED IN 10 YEARS.

>> WE CAN ASK . IF WE MAKE RECOMMENDATION IT WOULD BE SORT OF OPEN ENDED. IN THE INTEREST OF TIME , WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM ADDRESS THIS. IT'S GOING TO BE THERE DECISION, NO MATTER WHAT WE RECOMMEND. WE CAN RECOMMEND A COUPLE THINGS AND SAY WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO REMOVE IT OR WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO DOUBLE IT OR WE LIKE TO GO TO SCALE, WHATEVER IS APPROPRIATE, WHATEVER YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE. LET THEM SORT

THROUGH IT. DOES THAT SOUND ? >> I THINK SO , MAYBE YOU GUYS CAN HELP US BETTER BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU SPEND IN THE PAST

YEARS. >> I AGREE, THAT'S JUST IN THE INTEREST OF TIME BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS HERE , BUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN IT CAN GET SCHEDULED FOR REQUEST THERE COULD BE MORE BETTER NUMBERS.

>> THE REASON ALL OF THESE ITEMS ARE IN HERE AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS WE DO IN CATEGORY FOUR ARE NOT, THESE ARE THE ITEMS FOR BETWEEN CATEGORY ONE, TWO AND THREE. SO WE PUT THEM IN CATEGORY FOUR AND MOVED THEM OUT. PROBABLY, IF THERE WAS CATEGORY FOUR THIS DECISION WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN MADE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BUDGETED AND NOTHING WOULD'VE BEEN LISTED.

>> I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY WITH THIS. I WAS COMMUNAL PARKS AND RECREATION AND TDC WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS ONE. IT CAME TO BE WITH THE CAPS BECAUSE OF THE AMPHITHEATER AND THE PLAYERS AND THE OTHER ONES GOT CAUGHT UP IN IT. YOU KNIT IS 14 YEARS OLD. IT WAS PROBABLY 2010 WHEN THIS TOOK PLACE I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH , THE MONEY IS GOING TO BE WHAT THE MONEY IS GOING TO BE AND LET IT GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS. I DON'T FEEL THAT CAPS ARE NECESSARY BECAUSE THE BUDGET WILL CONTROL WHAT THE BUDGET CAN CONTROL AND IT WILL BE A REQUEST FROM THE CITY. THE CONTRACT IS GOING TO DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE PLAYERS.

DEBT SERVICE WILL BE WHAT THE DEBT SERVICE IS GOING TO BE SO I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAPS GOING AWAY DOING IT AS A REQUEST FROM MY SIDE OF THE BUSINESS SIDE BECAUSE LIKE THE MAYOR SAYS IT SHOULD NOT HAVE THE NUMBERS, BUT THOSE NUMBERS WILL CHANGE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT FIREWORKS WILL COST IN THREE YEARS, SO I WOULD RATHER LEAVE IT MORE OPEN-ENDED AND LET THE BUDGET PROCESS TAKE CARE OF IT NOT TRY TO RESTRICT THE GOAL WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE IF EVERYONE IS

AGREEABLE. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION?

>> I LIKE THE FACT THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD EXPEDITIOUSLY.

SO THE MAYOR CAN GET THE MONEY THEY NEED. I THINK WHILE WE TINKER AROUND WITH THE ORDINANCE WE OUGHT TO PUT THE PART IN THERE ABOUT SPLITTING EXCESS FUNDS IN CATEGORY FOUR BACK TO THREE LIKE IT WAS BEFORE AND WE PUT THE SAME

LANGUAGE BACK IN THERE. >> FOR CLARIFICATION THAT IS 40, 30, 30, CATEGORY ONE, TWO AND THREE. THE WAY THE

ORDINANCE WAS VOTED. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. IS THERE A WAY, I HEAR THAT THERE IS SOME , I STARTED THIS I

[01:25:06]

WHAT I'M HEARING IS IF WE MAKE ORDINANCE CHANGES WE WANT TO MAKE SOME OTHER THINGS AS WELL AND THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT MAYBE WE WANT TO EXPEDITE PRESUMABLY BECAUSE WE FEEL WE MAY WANT TO CHANGE OR EXCEED LIMITS FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 SO MY QUESTION IS , IS THERE A WAY WHEN THE TDC REVIEWS THE BUDGET IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS OR FIREWORKS OR THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER THE TDC CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AS PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THEY RECOGNIZE THERE ARE SOME LIMITS IN THE EXISTING ORDINANCE THAT ARE OUTDATED, HAVE NOT BEEN UPDATED IN MORE THAN A DECADE IN THE BUDGET RECOMMENDED BY TDC INCLUDES SOME FUNDING FOR THESE ACTIVITIES THAT EXCEEDS THE AMOUNTS IN THIS ORDINANCE.

IS THERE A WAY FOR THE BCC TO ACCEPT THAT TO MAKE EXCEPTION TO THE ORDINANCE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THE TDC WILL BE TAKING UP THE ORDINANCE AS A WHOLE IN THE NEAR FUTURE STARTING AT THE NEXT MEETING AND THEY WILL ADDRESS THESE LIMITS HOWEVER THEY WANT TO ADDRESS, REMOVE OR DECREASE AS WELL AS COME FORWARD WITH OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE ORDINANCE CHANGE SO THAT BCC ONLY MODIFIES THE ORDINANCE ONE TIME?

>> I'M SURE THERE IS A WAY. I WOULD NEED TO LOOK INTO IT TO GIVE YOU THE EXACT ANSWER ON HOW WE GO ABOUT DOING THAT. AS YOU KNOW IT WOULD BE CUMBERSOME IF WE REVISED THE ORDINANCE MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

>> I THINK THESE LIMITS ARE ONLY CRITICAL BECAUSE WE ARE ENTERING FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET AND HONESTLY THE BUDGET I'M GOING TO PRESENT, UNLESS IT IS CHANGED BY ADMINISTRATION BEFORE JUNE IT DOES NOT EXCEED THESE COSTS. MUNICIPALITIES HAVE BEEN ADHERING TO THESE FOR A PERIOD OF A LONG TIME AND WE WILL BE UPDATING THE VISITOR CENTER CONTRACT WITH THE CITY.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE CHANGED THE WAY WE RUN THE INFORMATION CENTER SO EXPENSES COME OUT OF TEMPORARY STAFFING SO THEY DON'T CAUSE US TO HAVE A CRISIS. GOING INTO FISCAL YEAR 25 , YOU KNOW, WE PROBABLY SHOULD MAKE CHANGES. I'M SURE THE CITIES WOULD LIKE THAT. IF WE CAN FIND A WAY WHERE WE SAY FOR 25 WE WILL BE FLEXIBLE ON THE DOLLARS, THEY ARE OUTDATED THEN THAT GIVES YOU GUYS TIME TO LOOK AT IT AS A WHOLE AND MAYBE NOT RUSH DECISIONS ABOUT CATEGORY FOUR OR FIVE RESERVES AND WHATEVER ELSE YOU ARE LOOKING AT. JUST AS A THOUGHT.

>> GOING BACK TO CHARLES. WHY WAS IT DROPPED FOR ORDINANCE TO ORDINANCE? DO WE KNOW THE REASON THAT WAS DROPPED?

>> WE MADE A CHANGE TO THE ORDINANCE, WE CAME UP WITH CATEGORY FIVE, THE 40, 30, 30 WAS BASED ON THE WAY THAT PENNY WAS ALLOCATED ACROSS THOSE CATEGORIES. THAT WAS NO LONGER IN PLACE SO WE GOT RID OF THE ALLOCATION FOR THOSE PENNIES WITH THE ACTUAL FEE THEMSELVES WITH REVENUE COMING IN WE CHANGED THE ALLOCATION AND CREATED A FIFTH CATEGORY SO THAT PIECE OF INFORMATION BECAME OUTDATED AND THROUGH THE DISCUSSION OF UPDATING THE ORDINANCE IT DID NOT APPLY

ANYMORE ) >>

>> I AM WONDERING. I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID. TO AVOID HAVING TO DIVIDE THE ORDINANCE INTO PIECES AND CHANGE IT 100 TIMES. THE ANSWER WAS YES WE CAN DO THAT? SO WE DON'T NEED

[01:30:02]

>> WE NEED RECOMMENDATION THAT YES THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN DOING. WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE REQUEST IN LIEU OF THE FACT THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS NEXT MEETING IN JUNE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK LEGAL TO VET FOR US. WE CAN FIND A WORKAROUND FOR THIS YEAR SPECIFICALLY ON THE PIECES UNDERLINED WHICH IS THE DOLLAR CAP AND IT WOULD BE A WORKAROUND WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS GROUP THE ADVISORY BODY TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON HOW TO UPDATE AND MODIFY THIS, AS A WHOLE BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO BUDGET AND THAT IS A TIME SENSITIVE THING. WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE PROVIDE EXCEPTION OR A PAUSE ON THESE CAPS SPECIFICALLY FISCAL YEAR 25. OR BY 26 WE

SHOULD MAKE A CHANGE. >> OKAY I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE COUNCIL FILLS AND I KNOW HOW THE COMMISSIONER FEELS SO IT WOULDN'T GO ANYWHERE IF WE DO NOT HAVE YOU ON THE BOARD.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND I WOULD SUPPORT IT. I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A TIME SENSITIVE MATTER BUT I AGREE WITH YOUR TAKE. I DON'T WANT TO DISSECT IT INDIVIDUALLY. I WANT TO LOOK AT IT AS A WHOLE AND I WANT TO LOOK AT REMOVING THE CAPS AS OPPOSED TO THE SCALABLE THINK , THAT LEAVES US TO COME BACK TO DO THIS AGAIN AT SOME POINT. SO I WOULD APPRECIATE BEING ABLE

TO DO IT. >> I AGREE WITH ALL OF THAT, MY ONLY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE IF FOR SOME REASON THIS HAS TO GO TO THE BCC IT GOES ON THE JULY AGENDA. SO IN BETWEEN NOW AND YOU FIGURING OUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE I DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE THIRD MONDAY OF JUNE AND THEN MISSING JULY AND THEN IT GOES TO AUGUST FOR PURPOSES OF MAKING SURE THIS GOES THROUGH. SOONER THAN LATER BECAUSE OF THE BUDGETING. IF IT HAS TO GO TO THE BCC FOR A VOTE MAYBE WE CAN GIVE THEM RECOMMENDATION. GIVES YOU A MONTH TO FIGURE IT OUT INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR A MONTH FOR IT TO COME BACK.

>> FIRST MEETING IN JULY IS CANCELED.

>> CORRECT AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ON IT IF THE FIRST IS CANCELED THE SECOND WILL GET REALLY FULL SO I AM TRYING TO AVOID THE AUGUST MEETING ONLY BECAUSE AT JULY THE MAYOR WILL HAVE FIREWORKS AT THE BEACH WHERE WE PLAN FOR OURS AND THEN DECEMBER AT THE BEACH NEXT FISCAL YEAR SO I THINK FOR SPEED AND EFFICIENCY I WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THE JULY AGENDA.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. WHAT STAFF SAID, THE RECOMMENDATION. HOW DOES THAT SOUND?

>> THE WAY YOU STATED IT. EVERYBODY GOOD WITH THAT?

>> I NEED YOU TO REPEAT WHAT YOU SAID.

>> THE IDEA IS WE HAVE BEEN MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, TDC MAKES A RECOMMENDATION THAT FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUSPEND THE MONETARY CAPS FOR ST. AUGUSTINE AND THE DEBT SERVICE, NIGHTS OF LIGHTS HOLIDAY FIREWORKS THE PLAYERS AND VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER.

WITH A CONFERENCE OF RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CDC FOR

ORDINANCE CHANGES. >> SO MOVED.

>> I WILL SECOND THAT. >> I KNOW WE HAVE MADE A MOTION AND SECOND. IS IT BETTER TO DO THAT OR ASK FOR THE ADDITIONAL

$15,000 WITH THE BUDGET? >> I THINK THE SUSPENSION COVERS IT IN THE BLANKET. WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S 50,000 OR 20,000. INSTEAD OF PUTTING THE NUMBER ATTACHED.

>> I JUST

[01:35:12]

>> WE BLAME THAT ON GOOGLE. >> THE CITY GETS 40, YOU GET 20? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BREAKDOWN IS.

>> WE HAD 25 LAST YEAR. >> BEFORE YOU VOTE WE NEED TO

HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THAT'S WHAT IT IS NOW.

>> WE ARE IN DISCUSSION. >> WHAT IS PROPOSED GIVES US WAY MORE FREEDOM. THAN PUTTING THE ACTUAL NUMBER ON IT.

>> OKAY THE MAYOR SATISFIED WITH THE MOTION?

>> THE ONLY THING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, IT'S ON THE AGENDA FOR

THE BCC AT THE JULY MEETING. >> I WILL AMEND THAT. ACCEPT

THE AMENDMENT? >> I WILL ACCEPT AND SECOND.

[10. MONTHLY REPORTS PROVIDED IN PACKETS ]

>> FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING THAT THERE IS NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED?

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH ADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU

COMMISSIONERS. >> SO WE HAVE ONE MORE .

>> WE HAVE MONTHLY REPORTS AND BOTH SUSAN AND CHRISTINA HAVE ASKED IF THEY CAN COME UP AND RUN THROUGH A PRESENTATION FOR THEM BOTH TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE OF WHAT THEY HAVE GOING ON.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE SUSAN PHILLIPS WITH BE, I APOLOGIZE IF I START COUGHING PLEASE BEAR WITH ME. I THINK IT'S JUST THE NORMAL SEASONAL ALLERGIES THAT KEEP ME FROM ENJOYING THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER. I THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE YOU AN UPDATE A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THAN NORMAL I KNOW YOU HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION IN YOUR PACKET BUT I WANTED TO GO OVER AND TALK ABOUT SOME THINGS HAPPENING TO US AND I MADE A LOT OF NOTES SO BEAR WITH ME. FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY TOURISM. RECENTLY SEVERAL OF YOU WERE ABLE TO ATTEND AND I HOPE YOU ENJOYED STATE OF TOURISM INDUSTRY ON MAY 10 AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO CELEBRATE HIS WE GAVE STATE OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IMPACT AWARD TO THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY CULTURAL EVENTS DIVISION. WE HAD A GREAT VIDEO AND ALSO WE HAD OUR OWN MAYOR WHO WAS THERE TO ACCEPT THE AWARD SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON THAT. THIS HAS MADE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT TO TOURISM IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND IT WAS AN HONOR TO BE ON STAGE AND CELEBRATE WITH THEM. THANK YOU.

I WANT TO COMMENT CHARLES COX I THINK HE THOUGHT I WOULD GET OUT OF IT BUT HE BECAME THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER. I PROBABLY CAUGHT HIM IN A WEAK MOMENT. I TOLD HIM IF YOU WANT TO HANG UP THE PHONE NOW THAT'S OKAY. IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH VERIZON THAT'S OKAY I HAVE HAD PEOPLE HANG UP ON ME BUT HE WAS GRACIOUS AND HE DID SUCH A PHENOMENAL JOB. ANY OF YOU WHO WERE THERE IT MADE ME PROUD HE WAS, I SHOULD NOT USE THE WORD IN PUBLIC, BUT I WILL HE WAS SO VULNERABLE. HE WAS VERY AUTHENTIC. HE TOLD HIS STORY THAT'S WHAT I ASKED HIM TO DO.

I WANT YOU TO TELL YOUR STORY AND ON THE PHONE HE SAID WHAT DO YOU MEAN? HE TOLD IT WELL, BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE BUT IT WAS HUMBLING FOR ALL OF US AND FOR ME BECAUSE FROM A TOURISM PERSPECTIVE HE HAD GREAT HISTORY OF HOW IT CAME TOGETHER AND IT WAS NOTHING LIKE I THOUGHT AND IT WAS NOT WHAT OTHER FOLKS THOUGHT SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, THAT WAS SPECIAL.

STATE OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY WHEN WE LOOKED AT LAST YEAR YOU GUYS KNOW WE STARTED TO SEE PRECIPITOUS DECLINE IN TOURISM , THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF 2023. WE SAW THAT CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND RENEW IT WAS PART OF THE MARKET SOFTENING RESET WHERE PEOPLE WERE GOING TO EUROPE , THEY WERE GOING ON

[01:40:01]

FUTURE PARTNERS, DAVID CAME TO SPEAK AT THE STATE OF TOURISM INDUSTRY EVENT AND HE NOTED THERE IS AN EXCITEMENT FOR THE TRAVEL STILL ELEVATED. PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN TRAVELING UP TO 86%. HE NOTED STRENGTH OF GROUP TRAVEL AND BOOMERS AND GEN Z ARE BUDGETING MOST FOR TRAVEL FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS SO THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR US. KEY DATA VACATION RENTAL WEBINAR FROM LAST WEEK , THE SECOND HALF OF 2024 EXPECTED TO PAY SIMILAR TO THE SECOND HALF OF 2023 WITH EXPECTED IMPROVEMENT IN SOME METRICS ON THE VACATION RENTAL SIDE IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR. TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS AT EYE PW THE TRAVEL ASSOCIATION LEADING INTERNATIONAL INBOUND TRAVEL SHOW. WE HAD 5700 PEOPLE THERE IN LOS ANGELES AND THESE WERE TRAVEL REPRESENTING TOUR OPERATORS, WHOLESALE AND OPERATORS. THERE WAS GREAT INTEREST IN ST. AUGUSTINE AND PONTE VEDRA BEACH, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH THEY KNEW A LOT ABOUT OUR HISTORY. OVER 42 APPOINTMENTS OVER THREE DAYS , THIS WAS SPEED DATING. WITH INTERNATIONAL FOLKS WHO HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING THE LANGUAGE BUT WORLDWIDE PEOPLE CAME TO US FROM CHINA, VIETNAM, FROM BRAZIL , FROM THE NETHERLANDS, GERMANY, FROM THE UK, FROM ARGENTINA, FROM MEXICO. THESE FOLKS WANT TO COME VISIT. ONE OF THE THINGS THEY MENTIONED IS PRIOR TO COVID THEY WERE STARTING TO SET UP RELATIONSHIPS AND COME HERE BUT THEN COVID TOOK EVERYTHING APART SO NOW THERE IS A PENT-UP DEMAND FOR INTERNATIONAL

[01:45:01]

AUGUSTINE AND PONTE VEDRA. THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND IT WON'T BE UNTIL LATER THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEIR BOOKING NOW FOR LATE THIS YEAR INTO 2025.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE ASK FOLKS THAT WE MET WITH WAS THE VISA PROCESS. IT IS GREAT FOLKS HAVE PENT-UP DEMAND AND FOLKS ARE WANTING, THEY TALKED CONSISTENTLY ABOUT WANTING FOR FIVE STARS OR FIVE DIAMOND PROPERTIES THEY WANT TO SPEND MONEY HERE, SPEND TIME TWO OR THREE NIGHTS AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THESE INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS HERE BUT WE ASK WHAT THE PROCESS AND TYPICALLY IT IS A LONG WAIT TIME. CHINA BEING ONE OF THE LONGEST AND THEY SAID MOST OF THE TIME FOLKS APPLY FOR VISAS AND IT IS A 6 TO 12 MONTH PROCESS BUT THEY WANT TO PLAY NOW SO THEY CAN COME NEXT YEAR AND THEY TALK ABOUT BRINGING FAMILIES, GROUPS WITH THEM NOT TO OR THREE TRAVELERS. THINK HOW WONDERFUL IT WOULD BE TO GET THOSE FOLKS HERE. I WAS INSPIRED WHEN I LEFT THE CONFERENCE AFTER BEING AROUND THOSE FOLKS IT GAVE ME MY ALLERGIES OR WHATEVER BUT IT WAS GREAT WE WERE THERE PRESENTING ST. AUGUSTINE IN PONTEVEDRA. I WANT TO MENTION ABOUT CAMPAIGNS TO REMIND YOUR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. WE HAVE THE IT'S ABOUT TIME CAMPAIGN, HAPPY TO COME IN AND SHOW IT TO YOU ALL, THE CAMPAIGN IS DOING WELL IT IS A HORIZONTAL BROAD-BASED CAMPAIGN ACROSS ALL CHANNELS AND PLATFORMS INCLUDING DIGITAL, SOCIAL, RADIO STREAMING, PRINT , TV AND RADIO SO THAT'S THE CAMPAIGN WE HAVE GOING ON. WE ARE RUNNING NEW VERTICAL CAMPAIGNS FOR VERTICAL WHERE WE HAVE SPECIA NICHE PRODUCTS WE WANT TO FOCUS ON. SPORTS TOURISM, WEDDINGS, WE LAUNCHED A LUXURY PONTEVEDRA CAMPAIGN AND WHAT IT DOES, IT GIVES US A PRESENCE WHERE WE DID NOT HAVE PREVIOUSLY YEAR-ROUND SO FOLKS SEE THE CAMPAIGN AND THEY ARE CONSTANTLY REMINDED OF DIGITAL AND SOCIAL AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND REASONS TO VISIT . WE HAVE A NEW ATTRACTION COME STAY AND PLAY CAMPAIGN . 500,000 FOLKS WE ARE TARGETING. WITHIN A 3 HOUR DR.

MARKET AND THIS HAS BEEN UP AND RUNNING THREE MONTHS WE HAVE HAD 6.7 MILLION IMPRESSIONS. THESE ARE FOLKS INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT COMING FOR A SHORT TRIP. WHAT CAN I DO WHEN I AM HERE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE ABUNDANCE OF ATTRACTION WE HAVE AVAILABLE. WE ALSO LAUNCHED A MONTH AGO A NEW LAUNCH A TOTALLY SEPARATE CAMPAIGN SOCIAL DIGITAL AND PAID SEARCH IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING MENTIONED AND THIS HAS ALREADY HAD 1.8 MILLION IMPRESSIONS AND AGAIN THAT'S RUNNING A LITTLE OVER A MONTH. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WILL SEE AND HEAR ABOUT IN THE UPCOMING FUTURE IS WE'RE TRYING TO LINE WHAT WE DO ON THIS SIDE WITH GREAT THINGS WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY. WHEN WE LOOK AT SINGING OUT LOUD LOOKING AT IT IS ABOUT THE MUSIC I HAVE TALKED WITH SEVERAL OF YOU GUYS ABOUT THAT HOW CAN WE TAP INTO THAT AND LEVERAGE IT AND TIE INTO MUSIC TOURISM? WE HAVE RECENTLY LAUNCHED WILL BE CALLED THE SOUNDS OF FLORIDA HISTORIC COAST AND THAT IS OUR RADIO CHANNEL. WE HAVE DIFFERENT GENRES OF MUSIC, DIFFERENT PLAYLIST , YOU CAN GO AND HEAR THE MUSIC YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR SOMETHING AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN PONTEVEDRA, COLONIAL COURT, ALL THE MUSICAL VENUES WE WANT TO SHOWCASE AND GIVE -- GET PEOPLE JAZZED UP .

WE CAN CONTINUE TO ADD TO THOSE. IT ALSO SETS DESTINATION AND WEBSITE APART. THAT IS WHAT I HAVE FOR THE PRESENTATION FOR TODAY. I AM CERTAINLY HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL HAVE.

>> IS THAT RADIO STATION ONLINE?

>> YES THEY ARE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S HELPFUL AND I'M SURE THE MAYOR CAN HELP WITH THIS. ANYTIME WE GET MUSICIANS TO HAVE MUSIC ON SPOTIFY THAT'S HOW WE PULL IT IN. THEY NEED TO GET ONLINE WITH SPOTIFY. A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE SHOWCASED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[01:50:12]

>> HI SINCE WE'RE 3/4 OF THE WAY THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR I WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE AND THE CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS WE WORK WITH HAVE BEEN DOING TO CREATE ALL THE EXCITING CULTURAL EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THINGS THAT SUSAN AND HER TEAM ARE HELPING US TO MARKET AND WHAT WE WERE MARKETING, AS WELL. I HAVE A COUPLE OF ULTERIOR MOTIVES IN ADDITION TO INFORMING YOU OF WHAT'S HAPPENING. WE ARE FINISHING UP PROMOTION PLAN WE WILL BE SHARING IN JUNE AND AS WE GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION IF YOU HAVE ANY FEEDBACK FOR ME ON WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE US WORKING ON IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE ARE DOING ALREADY I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THAT SO WE CAN INCLUDE IT. I ALSO WANT TO SEE WHAT THE LOCAL CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING BECAUSE WE ARE ADVOCATING AND HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR INCREASE IN THE SIZE OF THE GRANT POOL FOR ST. JOHN'S COUNTY CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS.

TARA GIVE YOU SOME OF THE BREAKDOWN OF THE BUDGET AND I DID ATTEND THE LAST BUDGET MEETING AND ON THE TABLE AT THE MOMENT THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE FROM THE 666 THIS YEAR TO THE 725 AND I WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY I THINK THAT'S NOT QUITE ENOUGH AND I WILL HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER ADVOCATING FOR SOMETHING CLOSER TO 1 MILLION FOR NEXT YEAR ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE GRANTS POOL. LET'S LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING AND WHO IS DOING IT SO YOU HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT. FIRST LINE FOR EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN ELEVATE WHAT THE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING WITH GRANT FUNDS.

WHEN I CAME HERE FIVE YEARS AGO THERE WERE NOT A LOT OF REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO THE QUALITY OF WHAT THEY WERE BRINGING REQUIRING NEW AND DIFFERENT THINGS EVERY YEAR.

WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION , RAMAN'S A AS THEY USED TO DO A TWO-WEEK FESTIVAL IN THE SPRING THEY ALSO PRESENT THE CELTIC FESTIVAL. NOW THEY ARE DOING PROGRAMMING YEAR-ROUND 12 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR EXPENDING THE FESTIVAL TO THREE MONTHS AND INSTEAD OF HAVING JUST LOCAL BANDS WHICH WAS PRIMARILY WHAT THEY DID THEY ARE BRINGING IN HEADLINERS.

LAST MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND THEY BROUGHT IN THE ORCHESTRA WHICH SOLD OUT THE LEWIS AUDITORIUM. NOT ONLY DID THE 30 MUSICIANS SPEND TWO NIGHTS IN A HOTEL SO THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO TRAVELED VERSUS THE BAND THAT IS ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW WE HAVE BEEN ELEVATING THE ENTERTAINMENT WE ARE PROVIDING.

THE FIRST COUPLE SLIDES ARE SHOWING CULTURAL COUNCIL PRODUCED AND PROMOTING THE CULTURAL GUIDE WE DID HAS GONE OUT TO 100,000 PEOPLE ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR FASTEST MOVING GUIDES AT THE FLORIDA VISITOR CENTER. IT IS ONLINE AND WE HAVE BEEN SHARING IT WITH FOLKS LIKE THE FOUNDATION AND MICHELIN COMING TO LOOK AT OUR CHEFS, ONE OF THEM IS GOING TO BE COOKING AT THE HOUSE IN NEW YORK IN JUNE AND I WILL HAVE TO GET JOINING THAT MILL HE WILL SHOW OFF FOR FOLKS THAT WILL HOPEFULLY MAKE HIM A JAMES BEARD AWARD-WINNING CHEF NEXT YEAR. WE ARE WORKING ON ATTRACTING THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET SO WE HAVE HAD GUIDES TRANSLATED INTO SPANISH AND THE RECEPTION WE ARE GETTING ESPECIALLY ONLINE TO THE SPANISH CULTURAL GUIDE IS PHENOMENAL. IT HAS BEEN DOWNLOADED MORE THAN 500,000 TIMES IN THE DIRECTION ONLINE IN SPANISH WE ARE USING SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER ADVERTISING TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THAT GUIDE. THESE ARE AVAILABLE FOR LODGING PARTNERS. I'M NOT GOING TO THIS LIST BUT THIS IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE IN THE PACKET AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WERE POSSIBLE BETWEEN OCTOBER AND THE MIDDLE OF MAY BECAUSE OF THE TDC GRANT PROGRAM. SOME OF THESE ARE BIG EVENTS VERY EXPENSIVE TO PRODUCE AND A LOT OF THESE ARE NEW EVENTS THAT HAVE JUST COME ON BOARD IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. IN 2020 WE HAD A $600,000 GRANT POOL. ABOUT HALF OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU CAN SEE ON THE LIST WERE NOT EVEN APPLYING FOR GRANTS AT THE TIME AND SOME OF THE BIGGEST LIKE ST. AUGUSTINE FOOD AND WINE, WHISKEY WINE AND WILDLIFE SOME OF THE OTHER FESTIVALS WERE NOT PART OF THE EQUATION.

YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE HAVE A FAIRLY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY WE ARE DIVIDING BETWEEN MORE APPLICANTS PUTTING ON MORE EVENTS, WHEN WE HAVE HAD TO DO TO MANAGE IT WAS REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY EACH ORGANIZATION CAN APPLY FOR. SO

[01:55:02]

THE LIST ON THIS PAGE ARE EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR THE REST OF THIS FISCAL YEAR AND OF COURSE THINGS SLOW DOWN SOME IN THE SUMMERTIME AND ESPECIALLY IN SEPTEMBER THANKFULLY WE HAVE SING OUT LOUD TO FILL THE GAPS THERE AND WE ARE WORKING ON SOME OTHER THINGS. AGAIN, A LONG LIST OF ACTIVITIES WE ARE FUNDING WITH TDC GRANT PROGRAMS. SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT HAVE NOT YET GONE INTO THE GRANT PROGRAM BUT WILL BE COMING SOON. WE ARE FUNDING SOME EVENTS FROM ST. JOHN'S CULTURAL COUNCIL BUDGET BY CO-PRESENTING. THE FOLK FESTIVAL IS ONE OF THOSE. THEY ARE AN ORGANIZATION CELEBRATING THE 30TH YEAR OF THE FESTIVAL NEXT YEAR AND THEY'RE THE ONE FESTIVAL IN THE TOWN ASSOCIATED WITH SOMEONE FROM ST. AUGUSTINE SO IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT EVENT. INITIALLY THEY WERE AT THE AMPHITHEATER, BUT AS THE AMPHITHEATER HAS GROWN, I MET WITH THE OF THE THEATER COUPLE WEEKS AGO TO SEE IF WE CAN BRING IT BACK AND THERE IS NO WAY TO SCHEDULE THE THREE-DAY FESTIVAL AT THE AMPHITHEATER.

ALSO THE EVENT WHERE PEOPLE LIKE TO CAMP, A BIG PART OF THESE FESTIVALS IS STAYING ON SITE AND HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY , I HAVE BEEN TOLD I WAS NOT THERE BUT THEY WERE PLAYING BY THE CAMPERS AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING IN BETWEEN FESTIVAL EVENTS. WE STARTED WORKING TO MOVE THE EVENT TO THE FAIRGROUNDS WHICH IS CHALLENGING. AN INTERESTING FACILITY WHICH ALLOWS CAMPING BUT DOING A PRODUCTION AT THE FAIRGROUNDS IS TOUGH BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE FACILITIES IN PLACE. THEY HAVE PUT ON TWO AMAZING EVENTS WITH KNOWN HEADLINERS . REALLY IMPRESSIVE. WE WILL HAVE ONE MORE YEAR FOR THE CULTURAL COUNCIL TO CO-RESENTED WITH THEM TO HAVE THAT 30TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT WHICH YOU WILL SEE THE PROMOTION PLAN TO HELP THAT EVENT BE EVEN BIGGER THEY HAVE STARTED TO GIVE MOMENTUM ON MARKETING. A HAVE A WAY TO GO WITH THAT BUT THAT CAN BECOME A HUGE SIGNATURE EVENT TO COMPLEMENT THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING MONTHLY LIVE FROM THE WATERWORKS CONCERT WHERE WE BRING MOSTLY GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING ARTIST TO PLAY IN THAT VENUE AND AT LEAST HALF THE AUDIENCE EVERY MONTH TRAVELS FROM OUT-OF-TOWN. EVERY CONCERT SOLD OUT, WE PUSHED THE LIMITS OF THE FIRE MARSHAL CAPACITY WHEN WE HAD PETER ROWAN A SEVEN-TIME GRAMMY NOMINEE. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE COME TO THOSE EVENTS AND I AM USUALLY HOSTING, THEY SHARE WITH ME HOW THEY DRIVE HERE EVERY MONTH TO SPEND THE NIGHT TO GO TO THAT AND TO ATTEND EVENTS AT PONTEVEDRA CONCERT HALL AND AMPHITHEATER. IT GOES BACK TO MAKE THE POINT THIS IS BECOMING A MUSIC TOWN AND DESTINATION. AGAIN THEY WILL BE APPLYING FOR A GRANT NEXT YEAR WITH ANOTHER BIG EVENT THAT NEEDS THE MONEY AVAILABLE. THE NEXT EVENT IS FABULOUS. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ALL YEAR LONG AND PART OF US TO WITH HASTINGS MAIN STREET TO GET MAIN STREET STARTED. WE CO-PRESENTED TO HELP FUND DIRECTLY NOT TO THE GRANT PROGRAM THE MAIN STREET CABBAGE POTATO AND BACON FESTIVAL. THOSE OF YOU WHO ATTENDED WILL AGREE IT WAS WELL DONE. GREAT CROWDS, LIKE THE FAIRGROUNDS BRINGING PEOPLE TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY THAT DO NOT ALWAYS GET A LOT OF TRAFFIC. A LOT OF FOLKS ARE STAYING IN HOTELS IN ST. AUGUSTINE OR ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH DRIVING TO THE PART OF THE COUNTY TO HELP THE ECONOMY THERE. ANOTHER EVENT NOT INEXPENSIVE TO PRODUCE THEY WILL APPLY FOR THE GRANT THIS YEAR. WITH A SMALLER GRANT POOL WE WILL NOT HAVE AS MUCH MONEY TO DIVIDE BETWEEN THESE EVENTS. THIS IS A SMALLER PROJECT WE WORKED ON BUT IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE PARTNER MORE AND MORE WITH PARKS WHICH WE DID NOT DO IN THE PAST WHERE WE WILL COORDINATE AN EVENT IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THE COUNTY AT ALPINE GROVE AND I ATTENDED THE EVENT SPENT MOST OF THE DAY THERE AND I WAS AMAZED BY THE PEOPLE WHO HAD COME IN FOR THE LIVING HISTORY FESTIVAL WHICH WAS JUST OUTSTANDING. A LOT OF FAMILIES, PEOPLE WHO TRAVELED AND WE HELPED WITH PAYING FOR AND FINDING MUSICAL PERFORMERS AND DIFFERENT PRESENTERS THAT WERE THERE AND HOPE TO CONTINUE DOING THAT WORK IN THE FUTURE.

ONE THING THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHY THE GRANT FUNDS

[02:00:01]

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

SOMETHING MOST COUNTIES THAT ARE SOPHISTICATED AND FAST-GROWING AND SMART ABOUT HOW THEY DO THINGS ARE DOING AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH SOME EXCIING THINGS HAPPENING RELATED TO THAT. THE CITY CREATED HIS FIRST PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE AND WE ARE WORKING ON THE VERY FIRST SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF PUBLIC ART IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. THE COMMITTEE SELECTED THREE ARTISTS FROM 100 APPLICATIONS THAT CAME IN FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO DESIGN A SCULPTURE AND WE HAD AN AMAZING COMMUNITY EVENT LAST WEEK WHERE DOZENS OF MEMBERS CAME OUT TO MEET THESE ARTISTS WHOSE QUALIFICATIONS ARE STELLAR AND THEY WILL BE CREATING SOMETHING AMAZING THAT'S A NICE START TO THE BIGGER PUBLIC ART PROGRAM FOR THE COUNTY. WE WANT TO LOOK AT SOME THINGS LIKE THE POSSIBILITY OF A ART PLAN FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY AND HAVE SOME PLANS FOR HOW WE APPROACH PUBLIC ART AND PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES RATHER THAN HAVING ONE OFF SCULPTURES ERECTED WITHOUT AN OVERALL PLAN. STARTING ON SOMETHING RIGHT AWAY PART OF IT IS THROUGH THE OPPORTUNITY WHICH CAME TO US THAT TIES INTO SEEING OUT LOUD. WE ARE STARTING TO CREATE A MURAL TRAIL AND THE FIRST WILL BE OUT OF THE ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH PIER AND WE HAVE A SPONSOR COVERING

[02:05:04]

AUGUSTINE. WE ARE WORKING NOT JUST TO DO COMMEMORATION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY, BUT TO CREATE A FESTIVAL THAT CAN HAPPEN EVERY YEAR AND PERHAPS FOR ALL OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH FROM SEPTEMBER 15 THROUGH OCTOBER 15 YEAR AFTER YEAR NOT JUST ONE TIME AND AGAIN THAT TENDS TO BE THE SLOWER TOURISM TIME SO IT WOULD BE A GREAT TOURISM PRODUCT. HAVE A LOT OF MERCHANTS AND BUSINESSES EXCITED ABOUT PARTICIPATING WITH THAT. WE ARE HOSTING CONCERTS IN SEPTEMBER THAT TIE INTO HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH INCLUDING ONE WITH LPT FROM THE PIER THAT WE WILL CO-PROMOTE WITH SEEING OUT LOUD AS PART OF SEEING OUT LOUD EVENT AND HOSTING A THREE OR FOUR DAY GAMBLE ROGERS SHOWCASE AS PART OF SEEING OUT LOUD AT THE WATERWORKS. THE LAST THING I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF IN CONNECTION WITH BOTH THE GRANT BUDGET AND CULTURAL COUNCIL BUDGET IS WE ARE SPENDING A LOT OF MARKETING DOLLARS IN CATEGORY 2. I ENJOY COMING AND WATCHING ALL THE DISCUSSIONS MONTH AFTER MONTH AND I DON'T ALWAYS PARTICIPATE IN THEM AND YOU HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE NEED FOR SPENDING MORE MONEY ON MARKETING RATHER THAN LESS SO I WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT WE ARE PROJECTING 2024. NUMBER ONE GRANTEES ARE REQUIRED TO SPEND A MINIMUM OF 25% OF THE GRANT ON OUT OF AREA MARKETING. SO THAT IS MARKETING BEYOND COUNTIES ADJACENT TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY. WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THEM TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND IT IS HAVING A GREAT TREMENDOUS IMPACT WITH WHAT WE SEE AS FAR AS VISITORS THAT ARE COMING, YEAR-ROUND MUSEUMS , TO THE FESTIVALS AND WHERE THEY ADVERTISE. WHEN I STARTED FIVE YEARS AGO I THINK WE CONFIRMED THE NUMBER ONE MEDIA THAT MOST GRANTEES WERE WORKING WITH WAS THE MONEY PAGES. NOT GETTING THE WORD OUT FAR BEYOND . THEY CANNOT DO THAT ANYMORE BECAUSE THAT IS NOT AN OUT OF AREA MARKETING. SO THEY ARE DOING THINGS, THE HUSBAND WAS IN GEORGIA AND HE SAW THE MUSEUM ON GEORGIA PUBLIC TELEVISION ON AN AD WHEN HE WAS WATCHING SOMETHING ELSE DOING NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS, MARKETING IN GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, FLORIDA AND IT IS SHOWING IN THE REPORTS WE'RE GETTING FROM THEM ON WHERE VISITORS ARE COMING FROM. AGAIN THAT IS MINIMUM. MANY OF THEM SPEND ALL THE GRANTS ON MARKETING. MOST SPEND MORE THAN 25% MINIMUM, BUT A MINIMUM WOULD BE 175. WE STARTED A NEW PROGRAM THIS YEAR WHERE WE ARE MATCHING EVERY

[02:10:02]

THEY WILL BE FINISHING APPLICATIONS BY THE END OF MAY, THE EVALUATION TEAM WILL MEET TO REVIEW AT THE END OF JULY AND WE WILL BE BRINGING RECOMMENDATIONS IN AUGUST.

MEANWHILE WE ARE HOPEFUL WHEN WE BRING CONDITIONS IN AUGUST

[11. MEMBER COMMENTS ]

>> COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

[12. NEXT MEETING DATE ]

>> WE ARE AT THE MEMBER COMMENT SECTION. ANY COMMENTS? NO?

>> I WILL MAKE A QUICK AS TDC MONEY WAS USED THE HOUSE HAS BEEN MOVED TO PERMANENT LOCATION. IT GOT THERE SAFELY.

>> I HAVE NO COMMENTS. NEXT

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.