Nov 18, 2024 Tourist Development Council

[ Items 1 - 3]

[00:00:10]

>>> I WANT TO CALL TO ORDER THIS MEETING, NOVEMBER 18, I WANT TO CALL TO ORDER THIS MEETING, NOVEMBER 18, 2024. 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. >> THANK YOU. OKAY. SO IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYBODY IS HERE.

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

>> MADAM CHAIR I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS BEFORE WE APPROVE THE AGENDA. MY FIRST ONE IS DIRECTED TO TARA , ABOUT, I NOTICED THAT THE SCORESHEET WAS IN THE BOOK. IS THAT INTENTIONAL BEING IN THE BLACKOUT PERIOD?

>> YES, THE SCORESHEET IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD AT THIS POINT SO IT IS POSTED ONLINE, IT WAS INCLUDED INTENTIONALLY.

>> OKAY QUESTION FOR LEGAL. ARE WE ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT THE SCORESHEET IN THE BLACKOUT PERIOD?

>> YES YOU CAN. >> OKAY. SO , I HAVE ONE QUESTION ABOUT THE SAME ITEM ON OUR AGENDA BECAUSE WE ASK IT BE BROUGHT BACK FOR REVIEW AND WITH LEGAL I KNOW THAT , YOU HAVE A THING IN HERE FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REVIEW BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN WRITING AS WE REQUESTED REGARDING THAT AND THERE WERE NO MINUTES IN MY PACKET. IS THAT OVERSIGHT?

>> THE MINUTES WERE NOT READY SO THEY WERE NOT INCLUDED. THEY

WILL BE AT THE NEXT MEETING. >> OKAY SO WE DID APPROVE SOMETHING IN THE LAST MEETING THAT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE GOING BEYOND THAT AT THIS POINT. THAT WAS TO RECEIVE REVIEW FOR THINGS COMING BEFORE US IN WRITING IN ADVANCE IN TIME TO REVIEW IT AND WHAT I GOT WAS A PAGE SAYING CITY ATTORNEY WILL REVIEW IT SO THAT'S IN THE AGENDA, BUT I WOULD STILL LIKE TO SEE THAT IN WRITING IF POSSIBLE INSTEAD OF JUST GETTING ORAL REPORTS IS THAT POSSIBLE SIR? WHAT WE ASKED FOR IN THE LAST MEETING WAS THAT WE GET A REVIEW OF THE PROCESS BECAUSE WE VOTED, TO BRING THE REVIEW PROCESS FOR THIS MARKETING PLAN BACK TO THE TDC AND THAT WOULD BE IN THE MINUTES IF WE HAD THE MINUTES BUT WE DON'T HAVE IN THE

PACKET. >> IF I MAY, I WILL GIVE MY RECOLLECTION TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION YOU CAN ADD TO IT OR TELL ME IF WE RECALL THINGS SEPARATELY. I THINK AT THE LAST MEETING THERE WAS A REQUEST SPECIFICALLY FOR TWO SEPARATE THINGS, FIRST WAS THE TDC WAS LOOKING FOR UPDATE ON THE RFP PROCESS AND WE TALK ABOUT HOW THAT WAS IN BLACKOUT SO WE WOULD HAVE LIMITED DISCUSSION ON THAT BUT WE WOULD BRING THAT FORWARD AT THIS TIME AND THE SECOND ITEM REQUESTED BY THE TDC WAS TO HAVE A REPORT OR PRESENTATION, THE OPINION OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ON THE MANAGEMENT OF, OF THE CONTRACT, THE MARKETING CONTRACT AND WONDERING IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE TDC WOULD BE ABLE TO MANAGE DIRECTLY. THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE ARE PLANNING TO PRESENT HERE. I KNOW IT WAS VOICED IN A SEPARATE PART OF THE DISCUSSION

[00:05:06]

>> WE ASKED FOR A WRITTEN REPORT REGARDING WHAT IS THE TDC ROLE IN THE REVIEW OF THIS PROCESS ARE WE TO RELY ON STAFF OR ARE WE PART OF IT? I MAY BE WRONG, THIS IS MY RECOLLECTION, BUT IF WE HAD MINUTES WE WOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK AND SEE

EXACTLY. >> THAT'S OKAY WE DON'T HAVE TO GO OFF TRACK FOR THAT, THE SHORT ANSWER IS YOU ARE ADVISORY BOARD SO YOUR INVOLVEMENT IS TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE ADVISORY BUT YOU DON'T MANAGE THE PROCESS MANAGED BY STAFF WHEN YOU LOOK AT STATUTE AND YOUR OWN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THIS BOARD IT IS CLEAR WHAT YOUR ROLE IS.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE WERE ASKING FOR IN WRITING.

>> I WAS HERE TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION.

>>

>> THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, AS WELL.

>> IT WAS MY MOTION. WERE TALKING ABOUT THE SUBCOMMITTEE FORMED TO OVERSEE THE MANAGEMENT GROUP. OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY INDUSTRY PEOPLE IN THE AREA.

AND A LIMITING THAT AND MAKING US THE GROUP THAT MANAGEMENT EVER GETS THE AGREEMENT REPORTS TO. AS IT HAS BEEN DONE FOR THE PAST 28 YEARS. WHY GREAT ANOTHER COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE WHO GETS THE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT? THAT'S WHAT WE VOTED ON. AND THEN THERE WAS THE WRITTEN PIECE TO GET FROM LEGAL WHETHER IT WAS LEGAL, WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT US MANAGING THE CONTRACT. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT US BEING THE PEOPLE THAT GET REPORTED TO AND WE HAVE A SAY TO WHOEVER GETS THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT , THAT WE CAN DIRECT THEM ON THINGS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN MARKETING, BUT NOT A GROUP OF PEOPLE JUST PICKED OUT OF THE SKY THAT DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MARKETING

EXPERIENCE. >>

>> CAN WE ADD TO NUMBER SEVEN THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TOURISM, PROMOTION AND WORKING GROUP THAT MET A COUPLE OF

WEEKS AGO? >> I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

>> MONTH TO PROVIDE MINUTES AND THIS WOULD PROBABLY BE SPELLED OUT PRETTY QUICKLY IF THE MINUTES WERE DONE PROPERLY.

>> OKAY BUT SOMETIMES THEY DON'T ALWAYS GET DONE.

THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN THE PAST MONTH. SO FAR WE HAVE NOT EVEN APPROVED THE AGENDA YET.

[00:10:01]

>> GET A PACKET WHERE THERE ARE NO MINUTES, THAT SHOWS THERE IS NO CONTINUITY. SO WE CAN LOOK BACK WHAT WE VOTED ON, IT JUST IS DEPENDING ON SOMEBODY'S MEMORY OF WHAT WE SAID I'M GOING BACK IF YOU HAVE TIME TO LISTEN TO THE TAPES WHICH NOT ALL OF US HAVE TIME TO DO THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST ONE MORE TIME THAT MINUTES ARE INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA FOR THE MEETINGS AND WE ALSO HAVE ANY ITEMS TO PRESENT IF THERE IS WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT OTHER THAN HALF A

PARAGRAPH. >> ARE WE ALLOWED TO PROCEED WITHOUT MINUTES? AS A COMMISSION WE HAVE TO APPROVE MINUTES AT EVERY MEETING, ARE WE ALLOWED TO PROCEED AS

ADVISORY COUNCIL? >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COMPLYING.

>> CAN WE GET A MOTION FOR THE AGENDA WITHOUT THE MINUTES?

>> WE ARE ADDING THE , THERE WILL BE DISCUSSION ON SEVEN 7-A OF THE GROUP , THE TOURISM MARKETING GROUP.

>> MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA WITH CHANGES NOTED.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED ? THE MOTION CARRIES. I THINK WE'RE AT THE POINT OF PUBLIC COMMENTS.

>> DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY ON ANYTHING NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE AGENDA? HEARING DONE.

[6. TOURISM MARKETING RFP UPDATE ]

>> WE WILL MOVE FORWARD, THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER SIX ON THE AGENDA. A TOURISM MARKETING RFP UPDATE.

>> OKAY, GOOD AFTERNOON. AS WAS REQUESTED WE WERE PRESENTING AN UPDATE FOR WHERE WE STAND ON THE TORSO MARKETING MANAGEMENT UPDATE FOR THE RFP AND JOINING ME TODAY IN THE AUDIENCE IS WHO OVERSEES THE PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT, THE RFP HAS BEEN SOLICITED AND WE HAVE RECEIVED TWO RESPONSIVE PROPOSALS FROM QUALIFYING ORGANIZATIONS. THOSE PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN EVALUATED BY THE SELECTED COMMITTEE AND THERE ARE CURRENTLY PRESENTATIONS SET UP FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6 , FOR THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE TO GO PARTICIPATE AND TO FURTHER EVALUATE THE TWO PROPOSALS. FOLLOWING THAT PRESENTATION, THERE WILL BE A CONTRACT DRAFTED WITH THE CONSULTANT WHO RECEIVES THE HIGHEST EVALUATION SCORE CUMULATIVE IN THEIR CONTRACT TO BE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA. WE ARE IN THE BLACKOUT PERIOD FOR THIS PROPOSAL AND WILL REMAIN SO UNTIL THE CONTRACT IS FULLY EXECUTED. SO WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THE DETAILS OF THOSE PROPOSALS OR OF FUTURE CONTRACT

AT THIS TIME. >> OKAY I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THE QUESTION YOU HAD EARLIER. THE SAME SIX-MONTH

PROPOSAL? >> I HAVE A COUPLE.

>> THIS IS THE LONG-TERM NOT THE SIX MONTH.

>> I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. MY FIRST IS HISTORICAL PRECEDENT , THIS IS PROBABLY MORE FOR PURCHASING. LOOKS LIKE CUMULATIVE SCORES ARE 916 TO 645 WHICH IS A 33% MARGIN. THAT IS A LARGE MARGIN. I DID NOT KNOW HISTORICALLY, IF WE GO TO

[00:15:13]

ENLIGHTENED ON THAT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JIMMY LOCKLEAR, ST. JOHNS COUNTY PURCHASING. ANYTIME IT IS AN EVALUATION COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WE GO TO SECOND STAGE OF EVALUATION MEANING PRESENTATIONS OR INTERVIEWS, IN THIS CASE IT WAS PUT TO THE COMMITTEE AND THE CONSENSUS WAS TO GO FORWARD WITH PRESENTATIONS BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE PLACED THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS OF SELECTING THE APPROPRIATE FIRM TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SO THAT'S WHY THIS IS GOING TO THAT SECOND STAGE. HISTORICALLY

THAT'S HOW WE HANDLE IT. >> THAT MY NEXT QUESTION IS, IN THE MINUTES IT SAID THAT WE PROBABLY WILL HAVE A MEETING ON

THE SIXTH. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? >> AT THE TIME IT WAS TENTATIVE BECAUSE WE HAD TO MAKE SURE AVAILABILITIES AND EVERYBODY COULD ATTEND, AT THIS TIME I BELIEVE IT IS SET FOR THE

SIXTH. >> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.

IT IS NOT AN ACTION ITEM. >>

>> WE WILL FIGURE IT OUT, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND SHARE ONE

PLEASE. >> ALL RIGHT MADAM CHAIR I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS CONSENSUS, BUT IT WAS OPTIONAL , DID I HEAR YOU SAY THAT CORRECTLY? IF IT WAS PART OF IT ALL ALONG THAT'S ONE THING, IT HAS TO HAPPEN BUT IT WAS OPTIONAL AND THERE IS A GROUP OF NINE SELECTED WITH THE PRESENTATION

, DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY? >> THE PRESENTATION WAS AN OPTIONAL SECOND STEP DETERMINED BY THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE.

BASICALLY WE PUT TO THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE AND THE MAJORITY FELT MOVING FORWARD WITH PRESENTATIONS WAS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION. THAT'S WHY THE SECOND STAGE.

>> SO THE DECISION FOR THE PRESENTATION WAS MADE BY THESE NINE? OKAY I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HEARD THAT CORRECTLY.

>> WE ONLY HAD EIGHT, BECAUSE SOMEONE WITHDREW, BUT WE HAD AN AGREEMENT ON THE PRESENTATIONS FROM SIX OF THE EIGHT AND I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE TWO WITH STRICTLY BECAUSE OF SCHEDULING DIFFICULTIES AND THE OTHER WAS A QUESTION OF SCHEDULE, SO SIX OF THE EIGHT WERE AGREEABLE OR INTERESTED IN

DOING PRESENTATIONS. >> THANK YOU.

[7. UPDATE ON TOURISM MARKETING MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE]

>> MOVING TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS YOU ARE ASKING QUESTIONS WHETHER OR NOT THIS BOARD COULD OVERSEE THE ACTUAL MARKETING GROUP SELECTED THROUGH WHAT WAS DISCUSSED IN NUMBER SIX AND AFTER LOOKING AT THE STATUTES AND THE ENABLING ORDINANCES, THE STATUTES ONE 25.0.4 SPECIFICALLY SUBSECTION 4 ATE FIND THIS AS ADVISORY BOARD BY STATUTE AND IT INCLUDES LANGUAGE THAT REQUIRES LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORDINANCE WHICH ST. JOHNS COUNTY DID IN 1986. YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE 1986-62 OUTLINING POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD. BEING THAT THEY ARE GIVEN ADVISORY NATURE THERE IS NOT THE DELEGATED AUTHORITY ALLOWING THIS BOARD TO MANAGE OR OVERSEE THE CONTRACT. YOU CAN MAKE OR GIVE ADVISORY OPINION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS , YOU ARE DEVELOPING A PLAN, THE INITIAL PLAN IS TWO YEARS THAT GETS UPDATED AND HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY

[00:20:03]

QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> WHEN WE LOOK AT THE LAW, THERE, WHAT GIVES THE EIGHT LOCAL PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, OR JUST MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY LEGAL

STANDING TO MANAGE? >> NOBODY SAYS THEY HAVE LEGAL STANDING, THE COUNTY MANAGES ITS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CONTRACT THE CONTRACT IS IN THE NAME OF THE COMPANY NOT MADE IN

THE NAME OF THE TDC. >> BY THEIR BUILDING AN ADVISORY BOARD THAT , THERE ARE SEVEN MEMBERS OF. TO ADVISE HOW

IT IS MANAGED. >> THE COUNTY CAN CREATE AD HOC COMMUNITIES BUT HOW IT IS MANAGED IN THE END IS STILL UP TO THE COUNTY TO MAKE THOSE DETERMINATIONS.

>> MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE A QUESTION. AND I AM PRETTY WELL-VERSED ON A LOT OF THESE ORDINANCES THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT. I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED AND I AM CONFUSED BY , WHEN YOU'RE TELLING ME IT'S OKAY FOR THE COUNTY TO SIGN PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY , THE NOT PART OF OUR COMMITTEE , ARE YOU SAYING WE CANNOT BE INVOLVED IN THE COMMITTEE AT ALL? IF YOU ARE TELLING ME THAT, THEN I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO ASK FOR AN ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION OUT OF TALLAHASSEE.

>> UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT'S NOT ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINIONS COME OUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID I DID NOT SAY PEOPLE FROM THE TDC CANNOT BE INVOLVED IN THE WORKER.

>> IT DOES INCLUDE ONE MEMBER OF THE TDC WHICH WE WILL TAKE UP A DISCUSSION AT SOME POINT, I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR THE SUPPORT AS A WHOLE TO FIGURE OUT IF IT'S GOING TO BE WITH THE CHAIR OR HOW YOU WANT TO DO THAT BUT IT IS SET UP TO HAVE A TOTAL OF SEVEN PEOPLE, THE BCB, THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SOMEBODY FROM TOURISM, THE COUNTY TOURISM , CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH AND TDC BOARD MEMBER.

>> THE QUESTION IS WAS VERY BOARD MEMBER PRESENT AT THE

MEETING >> IS THE REASON WHY THERE WERE

EXCLUDED? >> WHEN WE WERE TAKING UP THE DISCUSSION WE DO NOT GET THERE IN THE DISCUSSION TURNED TO NOT HAVING MEETINGS. THIS IS FOR THE SHORT TERM, THAT WAS THE FIRST MEETING WE ARE LOOKING TO GET UP AND RUNNING CERTAINLY I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE UP THAT DISCUSSION AS SOON AS WE CAN.

>> SO THEN CAN WE DO THAT TODAY? TO PUT SOMEBODY ON THAT

COMMITTEE ? >> YOU CAN DISCUSS THAT.

>> LET'S DO THAT AS WELL. I GUESS I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE ROLE THEN OF THE TDC BECAUSE IN THE 25 YEARS THAT I HAVE FOLLOWED SOME OF THE STUFF, NOT EXTENSIVELY BECAUSE I HAVE NOT HAD THE NEED TO BUT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN THIS SITUATION WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A AD HOC MANAGING THE NEXT GROUP. SO WHAT IS THE EXPLANATION? WHY PAST AND

PRESENT? >> I CANNOT TELL YOU WHY THINGS HAPPEN IN THE PAST. I CAN TELL YOU WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STATUTE ORDINANCES HOW THEY ARE WRITTEN, I PRESUME IT IS GENERALLY FOR THE PROTECTION OF TDC MEMBERS THE STATUTE OUTLINES SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES AND PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY TO BE PART OF THE TDC. IN DOING THAT IF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP WERE TO ACTIVELY MANAGE THE MARKETING CONTRACTS FOR THE TOURISM EFFORTS YOU COME CLOSE TO NOT EVEN GRAY AREA, YOU COME VERY CLOSE TO THE SELF-DEALING ASPECT OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION STATUTE WHICH COULD BE A PROBLEM FOR MANY

MEMBERS. >> I DON'T THINK WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MANAGING THE CONTRACT OR ANYTHING. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE REVIEW PROCESS AND SELECTION. WHERE NOBODY FROM THE TDC IS ON THERE. SERVING IN A ADVISORY CAPACITY BUT THE ADVISORY CAPACITY IS BEING OVERSTEPPED IF NOBODY FROM THE TDC IS THERE WHEN THE REVIEW PROCESS TAKES PLACE. THAT'S THE CONCERN MOST OF THE MEMBERS ON THIS BOARD HAVE BECAUSE WE TAKE TIME OUT OF OUR BUSY SCHEDULES TO SERVE HERE AND ALL WE GET IS TWO SENTENCES ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW AHEAD OF TIME THAT A MEETING WILL

TAKE PLACE. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT CONCERN.

THE WAY I UNDERSTOOD, THIS WAS NOT A EFFORT TO MOVE THE TDC OUT OF THIS ROLE, IN FACT I THOUGHT THE TDC WAS GOING TO BE

PART OF THAT. >> THERE'S A MUCH LARGER ISSUE THAN LOOKING AT THIS. THIS IS A MULTIMILLION MAY BE BILLION DOLLARS ISSUE OF NEGLIGENCE ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE

[00:25:02]

>> I'M GOING TO INTERVIEW RIGHT THERE. IT WAS SCHEDULED BEFORE THE TDC MEETING, IN MULTIPLE CONTRACTS, IT IS NOT DONE WITH ANY MALICE OR NEGATIVE ANYTHING. IT HAD BEEN TALKED ABOUT SINCE AUGUST 2021, IT HAD BEEN MEMORIALIZED IN THE CORE SERVICES CONTRACT, THE CULTURAL COUNCIL CONTRACT. IT IS IN THE SHORT-TERM MARKETING MANAGEMENT CONTRACT.

>> NOTHING

BOARD. >> MONTHS BEFORE THAT WE SAID WE DID NOT WANT THIS TO BE THE REVIEW PROCESS. WE SAID WE NEEDED INVOLVEMENT FROM THE INDUSTRY. AND THEN LAST MEETING I HEARD THAT IT WAS BACK WITH THE SAME PEOPLE. SO YOU KNOW IT MIGHT BE IN THOSE CONTRACTS, IT MIGHT BE IN SOME OF THE OTHER SITUATIONS. I CAN TELL YOU WHEN THE VOTE WENT OUT , AND I DID NOT VOTE FOR IT BUT I HONORED THE VOTE IN PLACE. TO ME, IT WAS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO THE BOARD AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS TOOK IT, BUT , IT WAS AN INSULT TO WHAT TIME AND IT WAS INSULTING. I THINK, THE BEST THING WE NEED TO DO IS FIGURE OUT LEGALLY WHAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO DO. I STILL THINK THAT THIS BOARD CAN BE THE REVIEWER, WE ARE NOT THE MANAGEMENT OF IT, I THINK THE VERBIAGE USED IS NOT CORRECT.

BECAUSE THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CONTRACT IS WHAT'S ON THIS PIECE OF PAPER, THESE COMPANIES, THEY ARE THE MANAGEMENT OF IT. ALL WE ARE DOING IS REVIEWING AND SAYING THIS IS WHERE WE WANT THE MONEY TO GO AND GIVE THEM SOME GUIDANCE IN THAT DIRECTION. WE ARE NOT MANAGEMENT. THE ULTIMATE MANAGEMENT SITS HERE, THE FIVE THAT SIT HERE. THEY ARE THE ULTIMATE MANAGERS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE STEWARDS OF THE MONEY WE COLLECT. SO I DON'T THINK, I THINK SOME OF THE VERBIAGE IS GETTING THROWN AROUND TO MAKE IT AWKWARD , TO MAKE IT BENEFIT THE OTHER SITUATION. BUT, WE REVIEWED THESE FOR THE LAST , YOU KNOW GOING ON ALMOST 40 YEARS. WE HAVE REVIEWED AS AN INDUSTRY. NEVER NEEDED THIS COMMITTEE BEFORE SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE CHANGING SOMETHING BECAUSE OUR COMPANIES ARE GOING TO SEE IT BEFORE ANYONE ELSE AND WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO SEE IT BEFORE STAFF MEMBER THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TDC. SO, THAT'S MY OPINION. SO I THINK

[00:30:06]

>> I AGREE YOU ARE REVIEWING AND GIVING ADVISORY OPINION TO THE COMMISSION AND THE COMMISSION GIVES DIRECTION TO STAFF. I THINK WE ARE SAYING THE SAME THING. LOOK I'M SORRY I HAVE NOT BEEN AROUND AS LONG. I DON'T HAVE SOME OF THE HARD FEELINGS THAT ARE PRESENT IN THIS ROOM BUT WE ARE TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER FOR TOURISM. IT'S THE TOP REASON WHY ST.

JOHNS COUNTY IS SUCCESSFUL. THERE ARE MANY MARKET CONDITIONS THAT PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM TRACK. FROM COVID TO WATCHING REAL ESTATE MARKET, STOCK MARKET, I KNOW THOSE ARE CONSIDERATIONS EACH ONE OF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO AS PART OF YOUR INDUSTRY, BUT AS STAFF AND THE COMMISSION ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THAT, IT SEEMS WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RUN IN THE

SAME DIRECTION ON THIS. >> YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THAT. A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, I KNOW WITH THE PURPOSE OF THE TDC IS.

I KNOW WE ARE AN ADVISORY BOARD , I HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT.

ANYTIME WE APPROVE SOMETHING WE KNOW IT'S NOT STAMPED AND I WOULD SAY TYPICALLY, THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE APPROVED WHAT WE ASK FOR, SOMETIMES THEY HAVEN'T. WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT OF THINGS INCLUDING ADDING TO THE FED TAX, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO HELP AND SUPPORT TOURISM. IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE AN ADVISORY BOARD ANYMORE. IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE THE NEXT STEP IS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE THAT. LAST MONTH WHEN WE WERE IN YOUR, WE WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE A MEETING TODAY. WE ASKED FOR THAT, WE HAD A LOT GOING ON. WE KNEW WE HAD CRITICAL THINGS, TIME SENSITIVE THINGS, AND WE ASKED, WE GOT IT, YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT WE WOULD'VE HAD MINUTES BECAUSE OF HOW IMPORTANT THIS MEETING WAS SO FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER WE DON'T. TWICE I HAVE BEEN CHAIRMAN OF THIS, TDC AND I JUST FEEL, IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE ARE IN THESE ROLES THAT DON'T MATTER. WE HAVE EXPERTISE. I DON'T FEEL STAFF HAS ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF OUR IDEAS, THINGS WE WANT TO DO , AS A CHAIRMAN I KNOW PAST CHAIRMAN'S DON'T GET ANSWERS FROM STAFF WHEN WE CALL. TO FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

PHONE CALLS, VOICEMAILS AND EMAILS. SO I DON'T THINK THEIR SUPPORT COMING FROM STAFF TO THE TDC. I DON'T THINK IN OF QUESTIONS ARE ASKED BY STAFF OF THE TDC. HOW DO YOU SEE THIS HAPPENING OR WORKING? FUNDAMENTALLY IT IS BROKEN, THE RELATIONSHIP IS NOT GOOD. THERE IS NO TRUST AND IT HAS TO BE FIXED BECAUSE WE ARE EXPERTS, WE KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR TOURISM. I'M SURE WE HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS. TYPICALLY WE SHOULD BE FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER ABOUT WHAT'S THE NEXT BEST THING TO DO AND THAT IS NOT HAPPENING BECAUSE WE ARE SORT OF EMBOLDENED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY HAVE AN OPINION THAT WILL GET TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

SO I THINK IT'S BROKEN. IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I DON'T KNOW THE NEXT STEP IN DOING THAT, BUT I FEEL, I FEEL WE ARE NOT RESPECT IT AS A BOARD. SPECTOR THE CHAIR IF I MAY ASK A QUESTION. DOES THIS BOARD HAVE AUTHORITY OVER THE WORKING GROUP WE HAVE PICKED, COULD WE GO AHEAD AND TAKE THESE SCORES, THIS EVALUATION SHEET AS IT IS AND PUT A STOP TO THIS OTHER STUFF FOR OPTIONAL PRESENTATION AND ACCEPT AS IS? THAT WOULD BE

THE MOTION I WOULD MAKE. >> I WILL SECOND.

>> ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION?

>> DO WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT MOTION?

>> READY TO VOTE. SO THE MOTION.

>> SECOND. >> TO ACCEPT EVALUATION SCORES AS IS WITHOUT MOVING FORWARD WITH ADDITIONAL OPTIONAL

PRESENTATION COMPONENT. >> SECOND BY THE MAYOR. LET'S DO A ROLL CALL VOTE THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT.

>>

[00:35:18]

>> THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. SO, BASED ON THAT.

>> WHILE WE ARE STILL HERE LET'S PUT A BOARD MEMBER ON THAT NEXT GROUP FOR THE NEXT MEETING.

>> I RATHER PUT A HOLD ON THAT REVIEW . I PREFER TO PUT A HOLD ON THE REVIEW UNTIL WE GET A LITTLE MORE CLARIFICATION OF WHAT THE REVIEW COMMITTEE DOES. I AGREE WE NEED TO HAVE SOME PRESENT REPRESENTATION. I STILL BELIEVE AS A REVIEW BOARD, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ASSIGNED US TO WATCH OVER THIS, I STILL BELIEVE, I THINK THE VERBIAGE DOES IT OFF. WE ARE NOT MANAGING THAT. THE GROUP THEY GET THE CONTRACT IS MANAGING IT. ALL WE ARE DOING A SO I DON'T FEEL THE REVIEW BOARD IN PLACE IS NECESSARY WITH US BEING IN PLACE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND ON THAT, SORRY TO THE ATTORNEY THERE. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND ON THAT AND SEE HOW WE CAN STRUCTURE IT THAT WAY BECAUSE I WOULD PREFER, WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE IN ACCOMMODATIONS AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING ONE IN ACCOMMODATION. WE SEE IT ON IT DAY TO DAY BASIS. WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACCOMMODATIONS ON THIS BOARD. I THINK AS FAR AS THE REVIEW GOES AND WHERE THE MONEY WE ARE COLLECTING GOES, I LIKE TO HAVE A STRONGER VOICE ON THAT SITE.

>> HANG ON. >> I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR LEGAL. CAN WE APPOINT THAT BOARD , THE AD HOC BOARD? CAN WE GIVE THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSION TO HAVE THE AD HOC BOARD INSTEAD OF RANDOM PEOPLE? I THINK INITIALLY WE DID PICK A GROUP, A WORKING GROUP WHICH CHANGED A LITTLE BIT AND THEN ANOTHER BOARD SO IS THERE WAY AS AN ADVISORY BOARD, CAN WE GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHO WE WANT

INCLUDING ONE OF US? >> YOU CAN ALWAYS GIVE RECOMMENDATION AS TO WHAT THE BOARD THINKS IS APPROPRIATE. I WOULD CAUTION NOT HAVING SOMEONE ON THE BOARD BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN COMMENTS THAT YOU ARE NOT INVITED TO A MEETING AND IF THAT'S THE CONCERN I WOULD WANT SOMEONE

INVOLVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. >> MY QUESTION IS, TO THE QUESTION TO YOU THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME AND RESEARCH TO FIGURE IT OUT. MOVING FORWARD I DON'T WANT THE PROCESS TO STOP BECAUSE ADVERTISING IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT THING THAT AS WE MAKE THE AD HOC BOARD, I AGREE, BUT IN THE PROCESS OF TIMING FOR EVERYBODY ELSE , WE SHOULD CONTINUE DOING AND MOVING FORWARD BUT IF WE CAN PICK THAT WORKING GROUP, THAT HELPS INCLUDING ONE OF US ON THERE IF

THAT'S ILLEGAL. >> I SEE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT, A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WAY. THIS IS THE GROUP THAT APPROVES THE MARKETING PLAN FOR THE COUNTY EVERY YEAR IN THE BUDGET

CORRECT? >> WE ADVISE ON THAT.

>> WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION OF THE MARKETING PLAN. ALL WE ARE DOING IS MAKING SURE THE MARKETING PLAN IS BEING FULFILLED BY THE CONTRACTOR, WHICH WE ARE ASKED TO EVALUATE AND IF MARKET CONDITIONS CHANGE, WE HELP THEM UNDERSTAND SO WE DON'T PROCRASTINATE SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR UNTIL WE CHANGE DIRECTION. WE ARE ALREADY TASKED WITH MAKING SURE THE MARKETING PLAN IS ADHERED TO, SO WE HAVE ANOTHER PERSON DIFFERENT THAN US TASKED NOW TO MAKE SURE THE MARKETING PLAN, THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THE SUBJECT, AS WELL AND IT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COUNTY TO HAVE TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE MARKETING AND MANAGING IT SHOULD BE THE SAME ORGANIZATION SO THERE IS SYNERGY. SMOKE WHEN YOU'RE NOT , YOU JUST DESCRIBED OVERSIGHT, THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU ARE TASKED WITH. YOU DON'T DECIDE THE MARKETING PLAN FOR THE COUNTY, YOU CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATION AS AN ADVISORY BOARD TO THE

COUNTY. >> OKAY. PROBABLY RIGHT, TECHNICALLY, BUT FOR 30 YEARS THE PLAN AS PRESENTED TO THIS BOARD, THE COUNTY COMMISSION RESPECTS THIS BOARD AND I CAN'T REMEMBER A TIME WHEN THEY HAVE COME BACK TO US AND SAID NO DO NOT LISTEN TO THE TDC.

>> I DID NOT SUGGEST THEY HAVE OR WOULD.

[00:40:03]

>> TO KIND OF CLARIFY, IT'S A VERBIAGE ISSUE ALSO. WE ARE A, WE ARE ALREADY A REVIEW COMMITTEE AND THAT' MY POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE. WE DON'T NEED TO CREATE A REVIEW COMMITTEE OUTSIDE OF OUR GROUP. THESE DECISIONS ARE NOT MADE HERE, THESE ARE SUGGESTIONS OR ADVISORY GIVEN TO THE BOCC. WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER LEVEL OF BUREAUCRACY BETWEEN US AND THE BOCC. IT NEEDS TO COME DIRECTLY FROM US FROM OUR REVIEW. WE DON'T NEED IT GOING TO ANOTHER OUTSIDE GROUP, TO MAKE A DECISION FOR OUR INDUSTRY. SO THE ADVICE NEEDS TO COME AND THE REVIEW NEEDS TO COME FROM US, FOR THIS BOARD AND I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO MOVE THINGS ALONG, BUT ONE VOICE OUT OF SIX ON ANOTHER COMMITTEE DOES NOT GIVE ANY CONFIDENCE. THAT'S WHERE I THINK ME AND URBAN ARE AGREEING. WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE, IT ALREADY HAS A REVIEW, WE HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS USING THE WORD MANAGEMENT AND USE IT AS A REVIEW COMMITTEE WHICH THE WORDS TERROR IS USING IT IS A REVIEW COMMITTEE EVEN COMING FROM THERE , I UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE IS TRYING TO DO, BUT I THINK IT NEEDS TO COME DIRECTLY FROM OUR INDUSTRY TO REVIEW TO

GO TO THE BOCC. >> THAT'S WHY SUGGEST WE APPOINT THE GROUP BECAUSE THEN WE HAVE DIRECT APPOINTMENT OF THE WORKING GROUP THAT I WOULD ASSUME WE WOULD PICK TOURISM INDIVIDUALS TO MANAGE THAT SITE. IF THERE HAS TO BE THAT LAYER, MY UNDERSTANDING , AS MUCH AS A HATE BIG GOVERNMENT WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF LAYER IN BETWEEN US AND

MANAGEMENT OF THE CONTRACT. >> WE DON'T. WE CAN BE THAT REVIEW. WE CAN BE THE REVIEW WE ARE NOT A MANAGEMENT GROUP AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT GOT LOST. BECAUSE THE ULTIMATE GROUP IS FIVE MEMBERS ELECTED THAT HAVE TO ANSWER TO THE PEOPLE. WE HAVE TO ANSWER TO THE BOARD AND THE COMISSION.

>> IT'S NO DIFFERENT FROM THE VC BE OR CULTURAL COUNCIL COMING CARE BECAUSE THEY ARE CONTRACTED AND MANAGED BY TARA 'S OFFICE, BUT WE REVIEW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

>> YES AND THAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY. THEY WILL BE PRESENTING TO US AND IT KIND OF STREAMLINES IT BY TAKING OUT THE EXTRA REVIEW GROUP. THEY WILL ALREADY BE HERE, THE CULTURAL COUNCIL IS HERE EVERY MONTH. WHOEVER WINS THIS CONTRACT WILL BE HERE EVERY MONTH. SO WE WOULD BE THE REVIEW GROUP FOR THE BOCC. I DON'T THINK THE BOCC WANTS SOMEBODY ELSE REPORTING TO THEM ABOUT TOURISM. TO ME YOU KNOW I CANNOT SPEAK FOR THE FIVE OF THEM BUT THEY HAVE ENOUGH STUFF. THEY DON'T NEED ONE MORE PERSON REPORTING TO THEM WHEN WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR FOUR YEARS.

>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? I THINK, WHAT I AM HEARING IS PRE-MUCH CONSENSUS . WE KNOW WE ARE AN ADVISORY GROUP. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE, WE SIGN ON TO BE THE ADVISORY GROUP FOR THIS ORGANIZATION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. WHAT I ALSO HERE IS WE FEEL LIKE ADVISORY CAPACITY IS BEING OVERSTEPPED OR UNDERMINED IN SOME WAY, WHETHER FROM A TECHNICAL STANDPOINT OF HAVING ANOTHER GROUP THAT'S LOOKING AT STUFF AND WE'RE NOT EVEN GETTING THE DATA FROM THEM. WE ARE ONLY GETTING THIS MUCH INFORMATION AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM, A LACK OF INFORMATION. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO MAKE AN ADVISORY, AN INFORMED MISERY BASED ON THAT OTHER THAN LISTENING TO AN ORAL PRESENTATION. WHICH YOU KNOW ORAL PRESENTATIONS ARE GREAT, BUT IT IS GREAT TO HAVE SOMETHING IN WRITING.

>> I THINK IT IS PRETTY SIMPLE NOW. WE JUST SAY THAT THE ADVISORY GROUP WHICH MET TWO WEEKS AGO IS REDUNDANT. BECAUSE THERE IS ALREADY AN ADVISORY GROUP RIGHT HERE. THIS GROUP SHOULD CONTINUE THE ADVISORY ROLE THAT THEY HAVE DONE WITH

THE LAST 28 YEARS. >> I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. AT THIS POINT IT IS REDUNDANT. WE HAVE NOW ACCEPTED SCORES AS IS, WE AS THIS BOARD AND ADVISORY BOARD TO THE BOCC MOVE FORWARD.

[00:45:01]

>> AGREE. >> DOES THAT NEED TO BE IN THE FORM OF A MOTION TO DISBAND THE ADDITIONAL GROUP AT THIS POINT SEEING AS HOW THERE IS NO PURPOSE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO. >> OKAY THANK YOU.

[8. MONTHLY REPORTS PROVIDED IN PACKET]

>> OUR NEXT ITEM IS NUMBER EIGHT.

>> WHAT IS NUMBER EIGHT? >> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

SUSAN PHILLIPS WITH THE VCB. THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT COMMUNICATION. AFTER TELL YOU IT'S DIFFICULT TO SIT IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM AND TRY TO LISTEN TO EVERY WORD AND GO BACK AND FORTH AND MAKE SURE I AM INTERPRETING THIS PROPERLY.

I REALLY APPRECIATE. I KNOW EVERYONE HAS PASSION FOR TOURS OF, WE MAY NOT HAVE THE SAME IDEAS ON HOW TO GET DOWN THE PATH TO WHERE WE WANT TO GO BUT COMMUNICATION IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW I AM CONTINUIG TO LISTEN TO ALL OF YOU AND MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THE BEST JOB POSSIBLE. I HAVE A LOT OF IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE, BUT WE WILL SHARE THAT AT A LATER TIME. FOR TODAY'S REPORT YOU HAVE ALL THE NUMBERS. WE ARE SEEING OVER THE PAST YEAR A LITTLE BIT OF DECIMATION OF TRAFFIC TO THE MARKET AND WE TALK ABOUT THE REASONS FOR THAT. WE ALSO TALK ABOUT THE POINT THAT ALL THE RESEARCHERS AND ECONOMISTS WERE SAYING YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE ELECTION. WE HAVE ISSUES WITH THE ECONOMY, YOU WILL NOT SEE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENT, WE SAW IN SEPTEMBER NUMBERS WERE PRETTY BAD. NOT EVEN LOCALS, LOOKING AROUND IN SEPTEMBER, IT WAS VERY CONCERNING. AS WE WENT TO OCTOBER WHAT DID WE HAVE? HURRICANE MILTON SO WE STARTED ADVERTISING ON OCTOBER 1 UNDER THE SIX MONTH AGREEMENT FOR MANAGING ADVERTISING AND WE HAD TO PULL IT BACK FOR A WEEK STOPPING FROM OCTOBER 7 THROUGH OCTOBER 13 AND THE REASON WAS WE CANNOT HAVE ADVERTISING TALK TO VISIT TO SEE THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE STORM. WE STARTED ADVERTISING AFTER THAT AND WE ARE ON TRACK NOW FOR OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER TO GENERATE 43.3 MILLION IMPRESSIONS, THAT'S THE GOAL. WE HAVE ALL MACHINERY IN THE MARKETPLACE AND I WILL TELL YOU I'M NOT GETTING THE BAT PHONE CALLS OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE MARKETPLACE, PEOPLE STOPPING BY MY OFFICE TO SAY WHERE ARE WE AT? WE ARE SEEING A GLIMMER OF HOPE. THE NUMBER OF REPORTS ARE IMPROVING WE ARE FLATTENING OUT AND WE ARE NOT SEEING THE NEGATIVES AND I AM HEARING THAT OUR HOTEL WORKERS AND ATTRACTIONS SAY BUSINESS IS COMING BACK. THERE GETTING ADVANCED BOOKINGS. YOU HAVE SEEN THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS CALENDARS JUST PRINTED SO EVERYTHING DOING IS FOCUSED ON NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND MR. GORDON ON LUXURY TRAVEL FOR THE HOLIDAYS. SO THAT'S EVERYTHING WE ARE FOCUSING ON FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. I CAN GO INTO MORE DETAILS IF YOU WOULD LIKE BUT I AM HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND I AM HERE TO SERVE ALL OF

YOU. >> MADAM CHAIR. CAN YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT? I SAW VISIT FLORIDA'S NUMBERS AND A LOT OF THAT IS MISPLACED AND DISPLACED PEOPLE FROM THE HURRICANES. THE NUMBERS WE ARE GETTING, HOW MUCH OF THAT COMES INTO PLAY? BECAUSE IT IS A FACTOR. YOU HAVE MORE RELATIONSHIPS WITH VISIT FLORIDA THAN I DO. WHEN I SAW

IT I WAS LIKE COME ON. >> TALKING ABOUT NUMBERS BEING

UP? >> YEAH.

>> WE JUST HAD A MEETING LAST WEEK AND WHAT IS HAPPENING, THERE'S INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC RETURNING THAT GOES TO ORLANDO AND MIAMI. THE DOMESTIC IS STILL OFF SO IT'S VERY SOFT WITH SOME CANADIAN TRAVEL COMING BACK, AS WELL. THE NUMBERS ARE LOOKING AT IN AGGREGATE SO IT MAKES IT LOOK LIKE EVERYTHING IS UP, MORE BUSINESS CONVENTIONS CAME BACK THIS LAST PART OF THE YEAR. THE NUMBERS ARE STILL OFF FOR

LEISURE. >> OKAY. WHEN I SAW THAT I WAS LIKE COME ON. I SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AND IRVING, YOU AND MICHAEL CAN RELATE. WHEN I SAW THAT I WAS LIKE OKAY I KNOW WE ARE NOT THERE. IS THERE A COUNT THAT'S GOING INTO A PLACE? WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE FROM TAMPA AND THE WEST COAST THAT ARE DISPLACED AND IN HOTELS. ARE THOSE COUNTS GOING INTO THE NUMBER? IF IT IS, IT IS SKEWING THE NUMBERS QUITE A BIT.

THAT'S WHY I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE REALISTIC.

[00:50:02]

>> IN HERE WHAT HAPPENED AFTER HURRICANE ANDREW IN MIAMI, FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS SOLD OUT TO HAVE MONTHS, 400 ROOMS A NIGHT, MY CUSTOMER WAS FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT. MOST, THERE WERE THREE HOTELS DOWNTOWN. ONE WAS ALLSTATE, ONE WAS STATE FARM AND I FORGET THE THIRD ONE. SO, THE MARKET HAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF BUSINESS. I KNOW BURGER KING CORPORATE OFFICE BLEW DOWN, THEY MOVED THE ENTIRE CORPORATE OFFICE INTO THE RESORT AND TOOK OVER THE WHOLE PROPERTY. SO YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THINGS LIKE THAT IN THE AREAS THAT WERE DAMAGED THAT ARE GOING TO SKEW THE NUMBERS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR. SOME DIRECTOR OF SALES ARE IN TROUBLE .

>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND THEY SEE THE REPORTS DON'T GET EXCITED. WE ARE STILL IN A RECESSION. THOSE NUMBERS CAN BE VERY DECEIVING.

>> ONE OTHER THING I WILL ADD. A COUPLE MONTHS AGO WHEN TRAFFIC WAS DOWN WE GOT WITH A RESEARCH COMPANY IN SAN FRANCISCO. WE HAVE A STUDY BEING DONE TO LOOK AT BARRIERS TO PEOPLE BOOKING HERE AND WE WILL HAVE THAT AVAILABLE THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER AND TERRIBLE SEND THAT OUT TO YOU.

THERE'S NO SENSE IN WAITING FOR ANOTHER MEETING BECAUSE SHE

WILL HAVE THE RESULTS ON THAT. >> ONE OTHER THING, COMMENTS I AM HEARING A LOT IS MORE FROM RESTAURANTS AND ATTRACTIONS.

THEY ARE REALLY HAVING A TOUGH TIME. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE GETTING IMPACTED GREATER. IT WILL BE INTERESTING. TYPICALLY NIGHTS OF LIGHTS IS A HOME RUN TIME FOR RESTAURANTS AND IT WILL BE VERY TELLING HOW THE FIRST COUPLE WEEKS OF NIGHTS OF LIGHTS GO, IF THAT IS BACK OR PEOPLE ARE CUTTING BACK AND THEY COME DOWN TO LOOK AT THE LIGHTS, BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING

TO SPEND AS MUCH. >> IS THE SLOWDOWN UNIQUE TO OUR PARTICULAR MARKET OR IS IN AMONGST THE PEER GROUP LIKE SAVANNAH AND CHARLESTON, ASHEVILLE IS DIFFERENT. THE GROUPS WE COMPARE OURSELVES TO, PEER GROUPS, ARE THEY EXPERIENCING THE SAME RECESSIONARY PRESSURES?

>> THEY ARE. SOME OF OUR NUMBERS HAVE LOOKED WORSE AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE CONDUCTING A RESEARCH STUDY. WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THERE A BARRIER OF SOMETHING IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA WE NEED TO LOOK AT? IT MAY JUST BE THE ECONOMY, BUT THE BOARD FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO DO THE STUDY. ANOTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND, VISIT FLORIDA HAS FUNDING FOR THE BLUEWATER LIKE WATER HORIZON FROM A FEW YEARS AGO. THERE IS FUNDING THEY HAVE TO SPEND ON THE PANHANDLE AND THAT MONEY IS DUMPED INTO THE MARKETPLACE TO GET PEOPLE TO GO TO THE PANHANDLE WHICH IS HELPING THEIR NUMBERS MORE SO THAN US AND IT'S NOT ANYTHING ADDITIONAL THEY CAN DO FOR US.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY, THANK YOU.

[9. MEMBER COMMENTS]

>> MEMBER COMMENTS. >> I HAVE SOME. SO, SATURDAY THE 23RD IS LIGHT OF NIGHT IN THE CITY, WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT, THE ELVES ARE OUT PUTTING UP LIGHTS AS WE SPEAK. WE ARE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEAR. SOME OF THE HONOREES ARE MEMBERS OF THE SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION. WE CELEBRATED OUR 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR SISTER CITY ASSOCIATIONS. SO THEY WILL BE SENDING THE FORMER MAYOR AND BAND PLAYING AND IT WILL BE WONDERFUL, THE CROWDS WILL BE ENJOYING THE EVENING AND I INVITE YOU ALL TO COME AND ENJOY THE EVENING WITH US. IT IS ONE OF MY PERSONAL FAVORITE EVENTS IN THE CITY . BECAUSE IT IS A FAMILY AFFAIR AND I KNOW IT'S A LOT TO GET TO, BUT IT IS FUN. SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THE SHUTTLES AGAIN AND YOU CAN FIND THAT INFORMATION ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. YOU CAN GOOGLE CITY OF SAN AUGUSTINE AND IT WILL BE ON THE FRONT PAGE FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. HOPEFULLY, THAT WILL BRIGHTEN YOUR PROSPECTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND

[00:55:03]

BRING A LOT OF VISITORS. >> MADAM CHAIR.

>> GO AHEAD. >> I WAS GOING TO GO DOWN THE

LINE. >> FOR US DECEMBER 7 5:00 UNTIL 8:00 LEAD IS SURF ILLUMINATION CITY OF SAN AUGUSTINE BEACH. WE WILL LIGHT OUR TREE AT 5:25, SANTA WILL MAKE A SPECIAL APPEARANCE ALONG WITH OTHERS AND ARTS AND CRAFTS . DECEMBER 7 5:00 UNTIL 8:00 LEAD AT THE PIER SO I WELCOME EVERYBODY TO

COME OUT TO THAT. >> I WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE SHOUT OUT TO THE TROLLEY. THIS YEAR THEY HAVE ADDED SEVEN ELVES THAT WILL BE HIDDEN THROUGHOUT THE CITY. KIND OF HIDDEN, NOT REALLY, BUT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY. IF YOU HAVE SEEN IT FOR THE LAST 30 PLUS YEARS, IT GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO, TO FIND THE ELVES. ESPECIALLY

WHEN YOU HAVE LITTLE ONES. >> NOTHING FROM YOU?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN PONTE VEDRA BEACH RECENTLY, TO SEE ANY OF THE PROGRESS WITH THE PONTE VEDRA CONCERT HALL. AS SOMEBODY WAS A HUGE SUPPORTER OF THAT FACILITY AND GABE AND HIS GROUP I WANTED TO ENCOURAGE YOU. MAYBE WE COULD INVITE GABE TO AN UPCOMING MEETING TO GIVE US A PROGRESS REPORT ON THE CONCERT HALL CONSTRUCTION. I THINK YOU MENTIONED HE IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT NEXT YEAR IN TERMS OF PROGRAMMING AND MAYBE HE CAN GIVE US A POST GAME DEBRIEF ON SING OUT LOUD. IT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE TO INVITE GABE TO ONE OF OUR NEXT MEETINGS AND BE ABLE TO ASK HIM QUESTIONS AND GET SOME UPDATES.

>> ARE YOU PLANNING ON PUTTING A FRONT DOOR THE BUILDING?

>> GABE WAS AT MY ROTARY, HE HAS A GREAT PRESENTATION OF THE FIRST YEAR OF THE NONPROFIT AND THE NUMBERS. AND SOME OF THE PICTURES. REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE PONTE VEDRA CONCERT HALL.

>> ANYBODY ELSE? >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BOTHERED ME AGAIN WHEN I RECEIVED THE PACKET IS WE SEEM TO HAVE A CHALLENGE ON HAVING THE AGENDA MAKE SENSE. I WAS WONDERING IF WE COULD LOOK INTO CHANGING OUR PROCESS. TO ME, JUST ABOUT EVERY BOARD I HAVE EVER SAT ON, THE CHAIR WILL SET THE AGENDA, NOT STAFF. SO, IN MY MIND I WAS THINKING WE WOULD RECEIVE AN AGENDA, TWO WEEKS OUT FROM STAFF THAT WOULD GO TO THE CHAIR TO PROVE AND ANYONE WHO WANTS , THE AGENDA CAME OUT WE WOULD HAVE A WEEK TO GO BACK TO STAFF BECAUSE WE CAN'T COMMUNICATE WITH THE CHAIR BECAUSE I WOULD BE VIOLATION OF SUNSHINE TO SAY I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THIS TO THE AGENDA. THAT GOES BACK FROM THE STAFF TO THE CHAIR, THE CHAIR APPROVES IT AND THAT BECOMES OFFICIAL AGENDA. IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD DO? I THINK THAT WOULD SOLVE A LOT OF ISSUES OF HOW COME WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS OR THAT AND I REALLY THINK IT IS THE CHAIR'S PREROGATIVE TO DECIDE WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE MEETING. I JUST WANTED TO THROW IT OUT TO

THE GROUP. >> SURE, AND I'M NEW TO THIS POSITION. I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DONE THE WAY IT'S DONE NOW. THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING?

>> THROWING IT OUT AS A THOUGHT.

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. KIND OF GOING ON THE COATTAILS OF SOMETHING MENTIONED EARLIER. BY MICHAEL. THE RELATIONSHIP THAT THIS BOARD HAS WITH STAFF HAS BEEN DETERIORATING DRASTICALLY. IN JUST THE TIME I HAVE BEEN HERE. I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT DIRECTION THIS BOARD HAS GIVEN AND WHAT HAS BEEN EXECUTED FOLLOWING THAT. SO I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO ALL THINK ABOUT THAT AND MAYBE SEE IF WE CAN'T RECTIFY THAT RELATIONSHIP.

>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? >> YES I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT. I CAN SAY THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, WE HAVE FOUND, FOR ME PERSONALLY HAVE FOUND STAFF TO BE INCREDIBLY COOPERATIVE AND HELPFUL TO THE CITY. ANYTIME WE ASK FOR INFORMATION OR WE HAVE RECEIVED OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE, WHICH WE

[01:00:04]

AND I RESPECT THAT, SO THANK YOU.

>> CAN WE MAKE A CHANGE TO THAT PROCEDURE OR IS THERE ANYTHING LEGALLY PREVENTING US FROM IT? BECAUSE I THINK IT IS JUST A

HOUSEKEEPING ITEM. >> IN THE BYLAWS , THE RULES OF THE CHAIR ARE LAID OUT IN THE ROWS OF THE CHAIR INDICATE THAT THE CHAIR IS TO SET, IS TO CARRY OUT THE ORDER OF THE MEETING. THE WAY YOU ARE TO SET UP YOUR GENDER NOW IS PART OF MEMBER COMMENTS IF A TDC BOARD MEMBER WOULD LIKE SOMETHING TAKEN UP AS THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, YOUR TO RAISE THAT AS PART OF MEMBER COMMENTS AND THEN THERE IS TO BE CONSENSUS FROM THIS BOARD TO BE ON THE NEXT AGENDA, THAT'S WHAT THE BYLAWS SAY. I DO NOT KNOW HOW YOU GO ABOUT CHANGING THE BYLAWS, BUT THAT'S HOW IT IS LAID OUT, THAT'S WHY WE DO IT THAT WAY, THAT'S THE WAY THIS GROUP WAS SET UP YEARS AND

YEARS AGO. >> THIS MONTH IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. SOMETHING HAPPENED TWO WEEKS AGO THAT WE NEEDED TO PUT ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE IT HAPPENED TWO WEEKS AGO AND I'M NOT GOING TO WAIT SIX WEEKS TO DEAL WITH IT. THAT'S THE SAME THING , IF I SEE THE MARKET CHANGING TODAY ADVERTISING AGENCY WILL CHANGE DIRECTION TOMORROW, NOT SIX WEEKS FROM NOW WHEN IT IS TOO LATE. SO WHILE I APPRECIATE IT, WE NEED TO BE NIMBLE AND EFFECTIVE. IT'S ONE REASON THE AMPHITHEATER IS NOW PRIVATIZED. WE WERE TYING THEIR HANDS AND BEING NIMBLE AND REACTIVE TO THE MARKET. SO WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE CAN BE REACTIVE AND I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE CHAIR CAN'T SET THE AGENDA. I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THIS GROUP.

>> IN MOST CASES IT WOULD BASICALLY BE A COURTESY KIND OF CALL TO PUT IT OUT AND GIVE TIME TO REVIEW IF ANYONE WANTS TO ADD SOMETHING TO IT. IT'S NOT LIKE SAYING THEY WON'T BRING THE CONTENT BECAUSE THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO RELY ON

STAFF TO DO THAT. >> CAN YOU MAKE A SUGGESTION AND TELL ME IF THIS IS POSSIBLE. STAFF WOULD STILL MAKE A SUGGESTED AGENDA AND THEN APPROVE BY THE CHAIR. IS THAT PERMISSIBLE BY WHAT YOU JUST READ? OR IS IT JUST

CARRYING OUT? >> I DO NOT KNOW I WOULD HAVE

TO TAKE THAT UP WITH LEGAL. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT STRUCTURED LIKE THAT, STAFF, WE KNOW WHAT EVERYBODY KIND OF HAS AND THEN IT'S KIND OF JUST LIKE YOU SAID A PHONE CALL OR EMAIL SAYING HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKINGAT. I'M OKAY WITH THAT AND I THINK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS.

>> FOR EXAMPLE THERE WAS SOME FUNDING REQUEST THAT CAME UP A FEW MONTHS AGO. I THINK IF THE CHAIR LOOKED AT THAT, THEY MAY HAVE SAID WE NEED HOMEWORK BEFORE WE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.

THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. I THINK THAT IS JUST PROACTIVE. WE WERE PUT IN A VERY COMPROMISED POSITION WITHOUT ANY ADVANCED WARNING AND I DON'T THINK THAT IS ACCEPTABLE. SO I DON'T THINK THINGS SHOULD GO ON THE AGENDA THAT THE CHAIR DOESN'T STRONGLY BELIEVE IS APPROPRIATE.

>> ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? >> I HAVE ONE FOR THE COMMENT, IT IS ACTUALLY POSITIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONER CHAIR ARNOLD FOR THE LAST YEAR SERVICE HERE ON THE TDC BOARD, THIS MAY BE HER LAST MEETING DEPENDING ON HOW THE ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS GO TOMORROW AT THE COMMISSION MEETING, BUT IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO SERVE WITH YOU ON THIS BOARD COMMISSIONER ARNOLD AND THE BEST OF LUCK MOVING

FORWARD. >> THANK YOU MAYOR. IT HAS BEEN A HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE WITH ALL OF YOU, AS WELL. THANK

[10. NEXT MEETING DATE]

YOU. >> WITHOUT FURTHER COMMENTS, NO PUBLIC COMMENTS, I MOVE THAT WE ADJOURNED.

>> WE HAVE TO DO NEXT MEETING.

>> AS A NOTE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 10 NEXT MEETING DATE JANUARY 27, AS A REMINDER TO EVERYBODY THAT IS NOT THE THIRD MONDAY OF

[01:05:05]

>> ARE THERE NEW MEMBERS VOTING ON THAT MEETING OR INTRODUCED?

>> AT THAT MEETING ONE OF THE ITEMS WILL BE FOR THE BOARD TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE NEW MEMBERS, SO I BELIEVE THIS POSTING, THE CURRENT, AS A REMINDER WE HAVE THREE CURRENT TDC BOARD MEMBERS WHOSE TERM IS COMING TO A EXPIRATION. THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR SERVING ON THE BOARD IS POSTED ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE. IT WILL BE POSTED THROUGH JANUARY 6 IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. SO THEN AFTER THAT WE WILL, I ALWAYS MAKE A SUMMARY TABLE FOR YOU GUYS, SO I WILL HAVE THAT SUMMARY TABLE.

THAT WILL BE ONE OF YOUR AGENDA ITEMS TO GO THROUGH LOOK AT THE SUMMARY TABLE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THREE MEMBERS. WE HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE THAT IS ACCOMMODATION, AT LEAST ONE THAT IS NOT ACCOMMODATION AND YOUR THIRD ONE CAN BE EITHER/OR BASED ON THE WAY THE STATUTE IS

SET UP. >> A LITTLE ADVICE I WENT ON TODAY TO TRY TO DO MY APPLICATION AND THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A GLITCH GOING ON, BUT JUST GET A HOLD OF THE BOCC AND THEY WILL BE GET THROUGH THAT PROCESS. IF YOU SEE IT AND THEY KEEP KICKING YOU AROUND IT'S NOT JUST YOU.

IT HAPPENED TO ME. WHEN YOU CALL, THEY WERE VERY ACCOMMODATING.

>> COMMENTS AND NO OTHER ITEMS I SEEK TO

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.