Jun 16, 2025 Tourist Development Council

[Items 1 - 3]

[00:00:08]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. FIRST, 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. WILL CALL,

PLEASE. >>

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

>> WE NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? NOW, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE MINUTES. LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? PUBLIC COMMENT FOR SOMETHING ANYTHING THAT IS NOT ON TODAY'S AGENDA? SEEING NONE. WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC

[7. FY26 TOURISM BUDGET DISCUSSION]

>> ABSOLUTELY. GOOD AFTERNOON. JESSE DUNN, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR AND THIS IS AGENDA ITEM 7, WHICH IS THE TOURISM, TDT BUDGET AS OF THIS PART OF THE PROCESS . WE HAVE PRESENTED AN OVERVIEW AND I HAVE PRESENTED AN OVERVIEW OF THE LAST MEETING AND MORE THAN 10,000 , IF YOU WILL . IF WE FOLLOW UP ON THIS, WE WOULD HAVE A SPECIFIC LINE ITEM BUDGET TO THIS. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO PRESENT TODAY. FIRST, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PAGES THAT TRY TO BREAK IT DOWN REALLY BEYOND THE ACCOUNT LINE, BUT SPECIFIC REQUESTS WITHIN EACH CATEGORY. THE FIRST PAGE OF THE AGENDA PACKET BREAKS DOWN TWIST OF ELEMENT TAXES . FIRST, THE FIRST LINE IS INTERJECTED A PROJECTED BALANCE AND THOSE ARE REMAINING IN EACH CATEGORY. THEY ARE PROJECTED AT THIS POINT , BASED ON REVENUES AND EXPENSES PROJECTED FOR 2025. THOSE BALANCES WOULD BE CARRIED FORWARD INTO THE 2026 CONSIDERATION AS WE APPROPRIATE FUNDING. AS AN EXAMPLE, YOU CAN SEE CATEGORY 1 THAT IS PROJECTED BALANCES , $2,194,657 AND WE HAVE ONE FOR EACH OF THOSE CATEGORIES. WE ESTIMATE OUR TDT REVENUES AND REALLOCATE THOSE PER THE TDT ORDINANCE 2024 BASED ON THE PERCENT OF ANNUAL REVENUE . FOR INSTANCE, THE FIRST PENNY SPLITS -- THE FIRST PERCENTAGE SPLITS 25% CATEGORY 1 AND 25% CATEGORY 2 AND 10% CATEGORY 3 AND 40% CATEGORY 5. WE SPLIT THOSE REVENUES ACROSS EACH OF THESE AREAS AND WE DO THAT FOR ALL FIVE PENNIES. WE PROJECT THE LEVEL OF INTEREST EARNINGS AND REALLOCATE IT BASED ON THE TOTAL REVENUE, INCLUDING PROJECTED BEGINNING BALANCE . THE INTEREST EARNINGS, WE ARE CERTAINLY SEEING CONSERVATIVE IN ITS INVESTMENTS, BUT WE ARE SEEING SIMILAR TO THEIR OWN INVESTMENTS AND SEEING LOWER INTEREST RATES OVERALL FOR THE CONSERVATIVE RETURN . WE ALLOCATE INTEREST EARNINGS , NEVERTHELESS. THEN, WE CONTINUE TO PUT A 5% STATUTORY REDUCTION WITH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT AREAS AND

[00:05:05]

THERE ANY QUESTIONS? >> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

FIRST, IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS 4,900,000 OR SO , BECAUSE I AM LOOKING AT TDT 1% PER CATEGORY. IT'S ALL BY ITSELF. THAT IS

WHAT A PENNY IS WORTH ? >> YES, SIR.

>> CATEGORY 5, I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS 1%, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT

IS ONE .4% OR 1.3%. >> CATEGORY 5 RECEIVES 40% OF THE SECOND PENNY, 20% OF THE THIRD AND 40% OF THE FIFTH.

>> 1.4. >> YES. NOT SEEING ANY OTHER

QUESTIONS. >> NOT ON THE FIRST PAGE.

>> WE ARE GOING TO FLIP TO THE SECOND PAGE.

EACH OF THESE REVENUE WITHIN A LOCAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT BUDGET, THE REVENUES ARE GOING TO BALANCE TO THE EXPENDITURES , SO EACH TOTAL HERE IS APPROPRIATED EACH OF THESE LEVELS. THIS IS BEYOND AN ACCOUNT LINE . THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DISCUSSED DURING THE BUDGET SESSIONS WE HAVE WITH THE BREAKDOWN BEYOND THE ACCOUNT LINE AND WE REALLY GET INTO THE DETAIL OF EACH EXPENDITURES BEING REQUESTED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. HERE, WE HAVE THE BREAKDOWN. WE REFERENCE BOTH THE ACCOUNT AND ACCOUNT DESCRIPTION, BUT REALLY WHAT IS MORE THE INTEREST IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE REQUEST AND DOLLAR AMOUNT.

CATEGORY 1 WITHOUT READING ALL OF THEM, YOU CAN SEE UNDER OUR CONTRACTOR LINE THAT WE HAVE FOR MARKETING 4.4 MILLION AND FOR COURSE SERVICES, ANOTHER 3.2. WE CONTINUED THE INDIRECT COST ALLOCATION AND THERE IS THE ST. JOHN'S CULTURAL SERIES, THEN WE HAVE THE RESERVE AND I'VE HIGHLIGHTED OR BOLDED THE RESERVE IN EACH CATEGORY. THAT IS COUNT OF HOW EACH OF THESE FOLLOWS . OTHER QUESTIONS RELATED TO CATEGORY 1? THOSE ARE

SPECIFICS. >> THESE ARE REACHING ACROSS THE INDIRECT ADAMANT COSTS. CAN HE TELL US HOW YOU CAME UP WITH THE CALCULATIONS? EACH IS DIFFERENT. HOW DOES IT HAPPEN?

>> THAT IS AN INDIRECT COST ALLOCATION, WHICH IS ACTUALLY DONE BY AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT AND THE REASON IT'S BY AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT IS TO ENSURE OBJECTIVITY, WHICH IS THE COST OF COLLECTIONS FOR REVENUE FOR TAX REVENUE AND ANY ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ON THE SUPPORT OF COMMISSIONERS, USE OF THE BUDGET OFFICE OR ANYTHING RELATED TO THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT FOR COLLECTION AND EXPENDITURE. THAT IS DONE AS A METHODOLOGY THAT IS RECOGNIZED WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THE INDIRECT COST ALLOCATION ACROSS EACH

[00:10:02]

>> I WAS WONDERING HOW THE BREAKDOWN CAME TO BE, BECAUSE IT IS VERY SPECIFIC. WE ARE TAKING 32,000. IT'S VERY SPECIFIC, SO THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING PRETTY THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> OTHER QUESTIONS? >> WHAT IS RESERVES FOR? I KNOW THRE ARE QUITE A FEW OF THEM. IS THAT TO BRING THE BUDGET UP TO WHAT WE NEED ? HOW ARE WE USING RESERVES?

>> THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO LOOK AT IT. IT'S THE BALANCE OF REVENUE ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE. WE ARE STICKING WITH CATEGORY ONE AS AN EXAMPLE. THERE IS $9.7 MILLION WORTH OF REVENUE TO ALLOCATES AT THIS TIME IN THE BUDGET PROCESS. THEY HAVE ALLOCATED ROUGHLY 8.7 TO SPECIFIC ITEMS IN BALANCING THE CATEGORY WITHOUT RESERVE . ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO MAINTAIN A RESERVE FOR VARIOUS REASONS IF REVENUES DON'T COME IN AT THE LEVEL WE ESTIMATED AND/OR IF THERE IS A REQUEST THAT COMES UP TO THE TRUST OF ELEMENT COUNSEL AT ANY POINTS DURING THE YEAR, THEN THAT CAN BE A CONSIDERATION FOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. IN GENERAL, RESERVES ARE A GOOD

IDEA TO HAVE, AS YOU KNOW. >> OTHER QUESTIONS FOR JESSE? I HAVE A COUPLE. THIS IS MORE A GENERAL QUESTION AND IT RUNS THROUGH JUST ABOUT EVERY CATEGORY. I WAS GOING THROUGH AND LOOKING IN CERTAIN AREAS WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE PAYROLL AND OTHER ONES YOU CAN SEE , BUT IT STRIKES ME AS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAT I REMEMBER LIKE FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO. AS WE GO THROUGH THIS, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE CAN HEAR FROM EACH AREA ABOUT WHAT HAS CHANGED. IT MAY BE COMPLETELY APPROPRIATE , BUT IT SEEMS DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW WE ARE DOING BUSINESS DIFFERENTLY THAT THIS MAKES SENSE . THE OTHER THING AND THIS ONE IS MINOR, BUT I COULD HAVE SWORN THAT WE DID A CONTRACT FOR $4.5 MILLION MARKETING AND THE BUDGET ENDED UP BEING 4.4 MILLION , BUT I COULD HAVE SWORN THAT IT WAS TO GET A CONTRACT FOR 4.5 MILLION , WHICH IS WHAT WE HAD COME UP WITH A NUMBER BACK WHEN WE DID THE RFP.

>> I THINK IT WAS, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW THE CONTRACT LINES UP WITH THE COUNTY BUDGET AT THE SAME TIME, SO I WAS LOOKING AS IT COULD -- THAT THERE WAS 4.5 ALSO , BECAUSE THE COUNTY RUNS OCTOBER TO OCTOBER , BECAUSE I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW THE DETAILS AND SOME FALLS NEXT WINTER.

>> THOSE WERE JUST THE QUESTIONS WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT IT. NANCY,

YOUR LIGHT IS ON? >> I'M GOING TO TAKE NOTES ON THIS. HAVE THAT QUESTION RELATED WITH 4.4 VERSUS 4.5. GENERALLY,

WOULD LIKE TO --. >> IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S 2.2.

>> WE WILL CHECK. THIS IS WHY WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS. FOR THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING, THIS IS WHY THE BUDGET PROCESS STARTS EARLY ON TO MAKE SURE WE CAPTURE ALL OF THIS. THIS IS WHY LIVE ITEMS ARE IN THE BUDGETS. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS RELATED

TO CATEGORY 2. >> MAY I BE RECOGNIZED? I HAVE A QUESTION. I DO NOT SEE A LINE OF RESERVES AND I ASSUME THIS MEANS

ZERO. >> THAT IS CORRECT . THE GAP

THAT THE STATE LEFT >> CATEGORY 3 AND THE CHAIR IS

[00:15:02]

FOLLOWING THE SALARY, IT ALSO INCLUDES MEDICARE , WORKERS COMP, RETIREMENT AND HEALTH INSURANCE.

>> DO WE HAVE A TOURIST DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST? IS THAT A POSITION WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE?

>> AT THE TIME, IT IS A FILLED POSITION.

>> OKAY. >> WITH THE SPORTS MARKETING SPECIALIST, I SEE TWO DIFFERENT LINES. I'M NOT SURE. ONE IS ALL THE ADVERTISING FOR SPORTS MARKETING AND THE WAY I UNDERSTOOD IT WITH THE LITTLE WORKSHOP THERE IS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO GOT THE GRANTS WERE DOING MOST OF THE ADVERTISEMENT.

THE TWO SHOULD BE TOGETHER AND IT IS LINE ITEM ADVERTISING AND SPORTS MARKETING. WHAT ADVERTISING DOES CATEGORY 3 ACTUALLY DO THERE FOR THE 31,000 ? I'M KIND OF CONFUSED BY THE

SEPARATION OF THOSE TWO. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I MAY BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT. THE ADVERTISING THAT IS IN THAT LINE IS TYPICALLY PARKS AND REC ADVERTISES ON OTHER WEBSITES , THE GRANT PROGRAM AND OPPORTUNITIES TO APPLY AND GET FUNDING AND TO TRY TO SHOWCASE.

>> TO TRY AND RECRUIT PEOPLE. >> IT IS NOT PART OF THE ACTUAL

TOURISM GRANTS. >> ON CIP PARK , I'M HAPPY IT DOES, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW HAPPY IT'S QUALIFYING .

THIS RECOGNIZES THE REGIONAL TOURNAMENT OR NATIONAL

TOURNAMENT SITE. >> SPEAKING FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE PERSPECTIVE, THERE NEEDS TO BE A REQUIREMENT IN ORDER FOR

ELIGIBILITY TO TDC CIP. >> THAT IS TO REPAY A BOND

COURSE OF DEVELOPMENT? >> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> WHAT IS THE HUDDLE OF. >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HUDDLE

UP APP IS. >> I JUST DON'T KNOW IF I

SHOULD HAVE IT. >> THE ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELDS THAT ARE BEING REDONE PROBABLY THE REPAYMENT OF THAT BOND.

>> THAT IS THE 2024 AND THAT IS THE SPECIAL OBLIGATION . THAT IS THE TRIAL AND I LOOK AT THE SPECIFICS OF THAT ALLOCATION ON THAT, BUT THAT WAS THE MOST RECENT -- THAT WILL BE THE MOST RECENT . LET ME GET THE DETAILS OF THE SPECIFIC. I KNOW SOME OF THOSE TURF FIELDS ARE GETTING REDONE RIGHT NOW. AND I KNOW YOU GUYS DID SOMETHING WITH IT AND I WAS ASSUMING THAT AS PART OF FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE 2024 OF THAT SITUATION.

>> JUST TO NOTE THAT ON THIS CATEGORY IS A LITTLE OVER 781,000 AND AT THIS TIME IN THE BUDGET PROCESS. ANY OTHER

[00:20:01]

QUESTIONS? >> THE RIVERTOWN CIP, IS THAT A

ONE-TIME EXPENSE? >> CIP'S WILL BE ONE-TIME

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT. >> THE 2024 REVENUE BOND , WHAT ARE THE DETAILS ON THAT? WHAT IS THE TOTAL OBLIGATION, NUMBER OF YEARS AND INTEREST RATE . A SPECIFIC PROJECT RELATED TO.

>> OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS PAGE. HEARING NONE. LET'S MOVE ON TO

THE NEXT PAGE. >> NEXT, SMALLER ON HERE. THIS IS CATEGORY 4 . WE HAVE ABOUT 778 -- ALMOST 779,000 SALARY AND BENEFITS . THAT IS RELATED TO -- LET ME GET TO THAT. 488,000 OF THAT IS RELATED TO POSITIONS. THERE ARE FOUR PHYSICIANS IN THERE. THERE ARE ASSOCIATED BENEFITS AND TWO OF THOSE ARE VACANT AT THIS TIME. THAT HAS BEEN SINCE LAST YEAR AND HAS BEEN A RECURRING COST IN THERE. GOING DOWN, WE HAVE THE LINE ITEM BUDGET THERE. ALSO, JUMPING DOWN, I WILL TAKE CERTAIN QUESTIONS ON SPECIFICS OR GET BACK TO YOU WITH SPECIFICS.

>> IF WE ARE GOING DOWN THE TOURISM STRATEGIC PLAN , I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT. DO WE HAVE ONE WE ARE WORKING ON? IS

THIS AN IDEA TO DO ONE? >> TALKING WITH DANA AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A REQUEST FOR STRATEGIC PLAN .

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYONE ELSE FEELS ON THIS, BUT I THINK THIS IS COMING BACK TO THE SAME THING. DO WE REALLY NEED A CONSULTANT VERSUS HAVING THIS BOARD? I WOULD THINK THIS GROUP WOULD COME UP WITH A STRATEGIC PLAN . I'M NOT SURE THAT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE IN THE BUDGET, BUT THAT'S A PERSONAL OPINION.

>> ALSO, THE ORIGIN OF THE REQUEST . I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW. IT DIDN'T COME FROM THIS BOARD.

>> I WOULD LOVE THE DETAILS ON THAT. HOW DOES THAT MAKE IT INTO

THE BUDGET? >> ABSOLUTELY. ANY QUESTIONS, WE WILL PROVIDE THE FULL DETAILS. ALSO, THE AMPHITHEATER SERVICED BY THE TDT ORDINANCE, THE SECOND TO LAST ITEM TRANSFER THE FUNDS, THAT IS THE DEBT SERVICE ON THAT AND WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER $120,000 IN THE RESERVE BASED ON WHAT'S REQUESTED IN THE 27

BUDGET PROCESS. >> ALSO, THE SAME OBLIGATION BOND ON THE PREVIOUS CATEGORY AND IF WE COULD GET THE DETAILS . THAT SORT OF THING LIKE PAYMENTS, I WOULD BE CURIOUS.

>> AFTER READING THE DETAILS OF TODAY'S AGENDA, I NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT ASK . IT IS LARGER THAN WHAT IS IN THE BUDGET. IF WE WANT TO MAKE OUR COMMITMENT, WE WILL HAVE TO SHARPEN THE PENCIL A LITTLE BIT IN CERTAIN AREAS. IT CAN'T JUST COME FROM THERE AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THE PRIORITIES. WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE PRESENTATION. HOW ARE WE GOING TO MATCH IT MANAGE THE BUDGET AND I ASKED FOR 1 MILLION, TOO, WHICH I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS DOABLE , BUT IT'S ABOUT THIS BUDGET RELATED TO

[00:25:07]

>> I AGREE WITH YOU. I SAW THE LIST FROM THE CITY AND I UNDERSTAND THE REQUEST OF WHERE THEY ARE AT AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET CLOSE TO THAT AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. MY QUESTION IS ON PROFESSIONAL FEES . MY COMPANY IS GOING THROUGH THE AUTISM CERTIFICATION. HOW DOES THE MONEY LEAVE US? IS IT GOING FROM US TO THE CHAMBER? IS IT GOING FROM US TO THE CERTIFICATION GROUP ITSELF? I UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS THROUGH

THE CHAMBER AT THAT POINT. >> THE CHAMBER SENDS US AN

INVOICE FOR IT. >> IT IS TO THE CHAMBER TO PAY AND I WOULD LIKE IT READING MORE LIKE THAT AND IT FLOWS . IF THERE ARE ADMINISTRATIVE FEES THAT COME OUT OF THE CHAMBER, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT. IF THERE IS, I WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO PAY IT. I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE STUFF AWAY FROM THE CHAMBER, BUT IF WE ARE FUNDED, I WANT TO KNOW WHERE

THE MONEY IS GOING. >> WE WANT TO FIND THOSE DETAILS

OUT FOR YOU. >> OTHER QUESTIONS? THOUGHTS?

>> THE BIGGEST QUESTION I HAD WAS ABOUT SALARIES. EVEN FOR STAFFED PEOPLE, THAT BREAKDOWN WOULD BE HELPFUL. I MIGHT HAVE LEFT THE COUNTY TOO EARLY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT

BREAKDOWN, IF YOU DON'T MIND. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> IF THERE AREN'T ANY QUESTIONS, WE WILL GO TO THE LINE ITEM FOR C.A.P. 5. THAT IS THE ASSETS CATEGORY AND THE ALLOCATIONS ARE PROVIDED HERE WITH A COUPLE -- THERE ARE TWO RESERVES HERE, IF YOU WILL. ONE IS A 5,000,680 , WHICH IS REALLY A BALANCE AT THIS TIME . CERTAINLY, THERE ARE PROJECTS IN THE WORKS WITH TWO AREAS SPECIFICALLY AND THE NORTH PROJECTS. I KNOW THAT OUR COASTAL TEAM IS WORKING ON IT, THEN IS A RESTRICTED RESERVE , WHICH IS AN ALLOCATION AND I BELIEVE THAT HIS BOARD APPROVED, BUT NOT YET NEEDED, SO WE SET THAT ASIDE IN WHAT IS A RESTRICT IT RESERVE OF THAT 667 THOUSAND DOLLARS. THOSE DOLLARS HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN UTILIZED OVER THE YEARS AND WE ARE CERTAINLY SEEING A LARGER DEMAND ON THEM.

THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSIONS ON WHAT THIS MEANS IN TERMS OF A DISCUSSION AS EARLY AS THE NEXT MEETING WITH SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS ON WHERE FEMA IS AND HOW THEY WILL CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE . CERTAINLY THAT HAS BEEN AN AREA FOR US FOR A MAJOR ALLOCATION OR APPROPRIATION FOR PROJECTS WITH SOME DISCUSSIONS

[00:30:01]

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. DID WE APPROVE THE SUMMER HAVEN INLET MANAGEMENT ? I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.

>> LET ME CHECK THAT. LET ME SEE IF THAT'S A BBC ITEM.

>> I DON'T MEMBER IF WE DID THAT.

>> COMMISSIONER , I WILL GET YOU THE DETAILS OF THAT IS A REQUEST

FOR AN APPROVED INITIATIVE. >> IT'S A LOT OF MONEY RIGHT

THERE. >> IT IS.

>> MAYOR? >> THROUGH THE CHAIR, ON THE BEACH SERVICES, CAN YOU BREAK THAT DOWN WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE JUST LIKE THE OTHER LINE ITEMS? I ALSO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW AND LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT IF THEY HAVEN'T SEEN IT THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS OVER IN TALLAHASSEE THAT IS AWAITING THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE NOW, THERE ARE TWO TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TASKS ON THERE THAT MADE THE BUDGET. THE FIRST IS TO ALLOW PHYSICALLY CONSTRAINED COUNTIES ADJACENT TO THE GULF OF AMERICA TO USE TDT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. ALSO, THE OTHER IS TO ALLOW ALL COUNTIES TO USE TDT FOR BEACH LIFEGUARDS. I KNOW THAT LIFEGUARDS HAVE BEEN SCARCE BECAUSE OF FUNDING AND AT THE BEACH THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING IMPORTANT FOR NOT JUST US, BUT OTHER AREAS THAT HAVEN'T HAD LIFEGUARDS . THAT IS IN THE BUDGET COMING OUT AND I WOULD ASSUME THAT WOULD COME FROM

CATEGORY FIVE. >> THAT'S CORRECT. IN TERMS OF THE DETAIL, ALMOST $2 MILLION THERE, THE BEACH SERVICES SUBSIDY , I PRIMARILY TALK ABOUT THE EAST COAST LINE , WHICH IS ABOUT 42 MILES OF THE BEACH AND THE ONLY REVENUE WE BRING IN IS FOR ON BEACH DRIVING, WHICH IS CERTAINLY LESS AND A SMALLER SUBSET OF THAT . OUTSIDE OF THAT REVENUE, THERE ARE TWO OTHER REVENUE SOURCES FOR FUNDING THE HABITAT CONSERVATION , BEACH OPERATIONS , PUBLIC SAFETY ASSOCIATED WITH SPEECH SERVICES AND MARINE RESCUE PUBLIC SAFETY . THAT IS THAT CATEGORY, CATEGORY FIVE . THEN, THE GENERAL FUND IS THE OTHER THAT SUBSIDIZES THE BEACH OPERATIONS. AGAIN, IT'S A LIMITED REVENUE ON BEACH DRIVING REVENUE. THE OVERALL BEACH ANNUAL SERVICES IS SUBSIDIZED BY THOSE TWO AREAS. IT IS A FORMULA THAT DERIVES THE 1.9 AND WE CAN PROVIDE WITH THE OVERALL BEACH OPERATION LOOKS LIKE FOR 2026, THEN HOW THE ON BEACH DRIVING AND GENERAL FUND AND THE TDT SUBSIDIZE THOSE. TDT CATEGORY FIVE HAS REALLY BEEN EVERYTHING PRIMARILY ACCEPT THE PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE OF THAT . IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE MARINE RESCUE IS ACTUALLY A CONSIDERATION, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT HAS COME UP WITH THE PAST AND THAT HAS BEEN MY BUDGET CAPACITY WHERE WE HAVE ALWAYS ASKED AND IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE AST THAT IT WAS A NO. THAT LANGUAGE IS CHANGING AND THAT IS OF INTEREST TO US. RIGHT NOW, THE GENERAL FUND SUBSIDIZES PUBLIC SAFETY , BECAUSE OF THE

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT. >> ALSO, LINE 47 IN THE BUDGET FROM THE HOUSE SIDE, WHICH THE SENATE AGREED TO , SO JUST BE AWARE OF THAT, BECAUSE THERE IS STILL TALK ABOUT REMOVING TAX IN TALLAHASSEE, SO I SPENT A LOT OF TIME FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT, ALONG WITH OTHERS BEFORE THAT. THERE IS STILL RUMBLINGS AND IT'S NOT DEAD YET, BUT AT LEAST FOR THIS SESSION, SO KEEP THAT

IN MIND. >> THE SUMMER HAVEN INLET, IS THAT THE ONE THAT KEEPS BUSTING OPEN AND WE KEEP FILLING IT? HAVE WE DONE IT MULTIPLE TIMES? IS IT SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

>> I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS. AS THE COMMISSIONER REQUESTED, I WILL PROVIDE DETAIL AS TO WHAT THE PROJECT IS, WHETHER IT IS A REQUEST OR COMMISSION INITIATIVE AND WHAT THE SPECIFICS -- THERE ARE A COUPLE OF VARIABLES DOWN IN THE AREAS PRETTY

>> IT'S ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN HAVING FOR DECADES, SO I'M CURIOUS IF IT'S THE SAME ONE WE HAD 25 YEARS AGO.

>> I HAVEN'T BEEN DOWN THERE, SO I CAN'T SAY.

[00:35:02]

>> WE WILL PROVIDE THAT CERTAINLY BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING. WE CONTINUED THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATION WILL BE RECOMMENDING A BUDGET TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION IN JULY AND NOT TO SAY THAT IT'S THE ANY OF THIS PROCESS, BUT WOULD LIKE TO GET THE INFORMATION BACK TO YOU, SO WHEN WE GET TO THE NEXT MEETING , WE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE ON IN THE BUDGET PROCESS AND YOU GUYS ARE ALL READY WITH ANSWERS TO MAKEA RECOMMENDATION.

>> GREAT. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE BUDGET?

>> I HAVE ONE COMMENT. THERE IS A TYPO ON THE WORD CONTINGENCY

AT THE BOTTOM. >> THAT IS GOOD TO KNOW AND I WILL NOTE THAT IS ACTUALLY IN OUR ACCOUNTING SYSTEM, AS WELL.

THAT IS WHERE THESE DERIVED FROM. THANK YOU.

>> I GUESS THE NEXT THING IS PUBLIC COMMENT. ANY PUBLIC

COMMENT? >> DO WE NEED PUBLIC COMMENT? I GUESS I GOT TO READ THIS. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS . EACH PERSON WILL BE PROVIDED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND WE ASK THAT YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. SPEAKERS WILL COMPLY WITH THE BOARD RULES OF CIVILITY AND A QUORUM AND COMMENTS ARE TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE AND NOT ANY INDIVIDUALS.

SPEAKERS MAY NOT DEMAND ANY IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM THE BOARD. NO PERSON WILL ADDRESS THE BOARD WITH PERSONAL IMPERTINENT OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR WITH BOISTEROUS BEHAVIOR. MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WILL REFRAIN FROM ANY DISRUPTIVE ADMINISTRATION AND APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF ANY COMMENTS. ANY PERSON THAT FAILS TO COMPLY MAY BE REMOVED FROM

THE AUDITORIUM. >> DO I HAVE TO READ THE REST OF IT? IS THAT GOOD ENOUGH? GO AHEAD.

>> HELLO. ALBERT, PRESIDENT OF ALMANZA. 83 BRIDGE STREET DOWNTOWN SAINT AUGUSTINE, LINCOLNVILLE. I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE ACH GRANT BUDGET. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID LAST YEAR. IT MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR ALMANZA AND EVERYBODY ELSE. WE EXPERIENCED WITH THE FESTIVAL ANOTHER RAINY YEAR. THREE OF THE LAST FOUR HAVE BEEN RAINY AND THE TWO BEFORE THAT WERE COVID. WE HAVE HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME AND OUR RESERVES ARE ALMOST GONE. BECAUSE YOU DOUBLED THE GRANT POOL LAST YEAR , WE DO HAVE ENOUGH TO COME BACK AGAIN THIS COMING YEAR . THAT REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE, HOWEVER IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT BACK ON SOME THINGS . IF IT RAINS AGAIN NEXT YEAR , WE WILL SHUT DOWN CERTAIN OPERATIONS AND I THINK WHAT MIGHT GO IS THE ST. PATRICK. MIKE MIGHT STOP, BECAUSE IT IS $12,000 AND HAS NO REVENUE AT ALL. THE SECOND THING WOULD BE A LARGE PORTION OF THE FESTIVAL, WHICH DOESN'T MAKE MONEY EITHER. AGAIN, THE FESTIVAL IS A PREMIER EVENT AND THIS YEAR EARNED THE RECOGNITION AS THE FOURTH BEST CULTURAL FESTIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES BY USA TODAY. WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO CUT BACK AT SOME POINT. THAT IS SOME OF THE INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS WE BRING OVER HERE IF THE THINGS KEEP GOING DOWNHILL. IT DOES NOT HELP THAT LAST YEAR THE STATE GRANT GOT VETOED AND THIS YEAR THEY CHANGE THE RULES FOR THE STATE GRANT AFTER THE FACT AND ONLY THREE OF 18 APPLICANTS FOR THE STATE GRANT ARE GETTING FUNDED . I LOOK TO YOU AGAIN TO SEE IF YOU CAN FIND SOME MAGIC AND GENEROSITY TO HELP OUT LOCAL GRANT APPLICANTS. YOU ARE THE ONLY SOURCE, ESPECIALLY NOW, FOR ARTS AND CULTURAL FUNDING FOR THE PUBLIC IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

[00:40:01]

THAT HAS BEEN SHRINKIG OVER THE YEARS, BUT THANK YOU FOR THIS

AND LAST YEAR IN PARTICULAR. >> DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT?

>> MY NAME IS BONNIE ADAMS AND I LIVE AT 844 OCEAN PALM WAYS SAINT AUGUSTINE. I'M THE CODIRECTOR OF THE SAINT AUGUSTINE PALM FESTIVAL AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US AND ALL OF THE ART ORGANIZATIONS IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. IT REALLY BRINGS A GREAT ELEMENT TO THE CITY AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO THE FESTIVAL APPRECIATED. I HOPE

THAT YOU. THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE?

>> MY NAME IS MARY CLAIRE BRANSON AND I LIVE AT 100 SILLY TOLLWAY IN ST. AUGUSTINE. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS. WE HAVE DONE SOME REALLY GREAT PROGRAMMING THIS YEAR AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL DO SOME NEXT YEAR. DUE TO FEDERAL AND STATE BUDGET CUTS IN THE ARTS LIMELIGHT THEATER IS STRUGGLING, BUT WE ARE THRIVING IN THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE HAVE GREAT ATTENDANCE AT OUR SHOWS AND ON THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR . I HOPE YOU DO APPROVE THE BUDGET, BECAUSE WE PROVIDE A LOT OF WONDERFUL PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THANK YOU VERY

MUCH. >> ANYONE ELSE?

>> MY NAME IS OLIVIA AND I REPRESENT THE ST. AUGUSTINE BALLET , 1711 LAKESIDE DRIVE HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS OF THE GRANT AND FUNDING FOR THE ARTS. ST. AUGUSTINE BALLET IS PUTTING ON THE 17TH YEAR OF THE NUTCRACKER OVER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS DURING THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. WE DEFINITELY DEPEND UPON THIS FUNDING, ESPECIALLY AND WE ARE THE ONES THAT SCORED ALMOST 90 AND FALLEN BELOW THE THRESHOLD TO RECEIVE STATE FUNDING THIS YEAR, WHICH IS THE NEW REQUIREMENT THAT THEY MADE AFTER THE GRANT WAS SUBMITTED. THIS FUNDING THROUGH THE GRANT IS IMPORTANT TO US TO KEEP THIS WONDERFUL SHOW AND SUPPORT DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON THAT BRINGS SO MANY PEOPLE IN AND OUT

OF COUNTY. THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE?

>> IT LOOKS LIKE PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED. ANYTHING ELSE IN THE

BUDGET OR ARE WE DONE? >> WE ARE DONE AND THE COUNSEL PROVIDED QUESTIONS AND WE WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION BACK THROUGH EMAIL, THEN SUBSEQUENT MEETING.

>> PERFECT. LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE BEACH FUNDING REQUEST. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, BORED. I'M MAX ROYLE, CITY MANAGER OF ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH. I THOUGHT I WOULD SHOW YOU THE AREA WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, SO YOU HAVE A CLEAR IDEA. THIS IS WHAT WE CALL /PARK AND WE OBVIOUSLY SEE THE PIER, BEACH AND THIS MUSHROOM AREA IN THE CENTER , WHICH IS THE CENTER OF THE PARK. THE LITTLE HOLES ARE FOUNTAINS AND

[00:45:06]

>> GOOD MORNING, BORED. RUSSELL ADAMS WITH ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH.

WHATEVER PART OF THE REQUEST IS TO REPLACE THESE TWO SHADE STRUCTURES , AS WELL THE ONE OVER AT THE PLAYGROUND . IN

ADDITION, THE PLAYGROUND . >> SO, YOU WOULD REBUILD THE PLAYGROUND THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK

LIKE? >> IT IS A PLASTIC STRUCTURE . I HAVE A PICTURE HERE . THERE ARE SOME AREAS WE HAD PREPARED . THE AGE RANGE IS BASICALLY FROM 5 TO 12 TO ACCOMMODATE THE PEOPLE AT THE SPLASH PARK AREA. THE INITIAL PLAYGROUND WAS ACTUALLY THERE PRIOR TO THE SPLASH PARK FOR THE SPLASH PARK WAS THERE IN 2008 AND THEY MOVED THE PLAYGROUND OVER AND BUILT A

SPLASH PARK. >> THAT IS PLAYGROUND NUMBER FOUR. WE ACTUALLY HAD ONE THAT CAME IN AND SAID IT WILL LAST FOREVER AND IT LASTED THREE YEARS. I'M ASSUMING YOU ARE USING RECYCLABLE? THAT ONE SEEMED A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

>> THAT WAS OUR RECOMMENDATION WITH THE HARDWARE.

>> IT IS THE SAME SIZE. THAT IS THE FUTURE FOR THE SPLASH PARK.

>> DOES THE PLAYGROUND FALL UNDER THE COUNTY OR DOES IT FALL UNDER THE MUTUAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND CITY? THE CITY CONTROLS THE SPLASH PARK AND THE COUNTY CONTROLS THE REST OF THE PARK. WHERE DOES THE PLAYGROUND FALL?

>> IT'S WITHIN THE LEASE AGREEMENT.

>> IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE.

>> I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND I DEFINITELY WANT TO SUPPORT THIS. FOR THIS MONEY, CAN WE TAKE IT OUT OF CATEGORY FIVE OR WOULD IT BE A CATEGORY THREE SITUATION?

>> INITIALLY, IT LOOKS MORE LIKE A CATEGORY THREE. IT IS RECREATIONALLY SURE MORE SO THAN BEACH ASSETS.

>> BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT ON THE BEACH, WE HAVE SO MUCH IN CATEGORY FIVE THAT I WOULD PREFER IT TO BE COMING OUT OF FIVE INSTEAD OF THE RESERVE. THIS IS 121,000. THAT IS WHAT A PLAYGROUND COSTS. WHAT ARE YOU GUYS PARTICIPATING IN? THAT CAN'T BE ALL THE COST OF WHAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR.

>> THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, WE REPLACED A LOT OF THE PUMP FEATURES INSIDE OF THE SPLASH AREA. THE SMALLER PREGROUND, I GOT AN INITIAL QUOTE AND TO REPLACE THE JURORS WAS 50 TO

60,000. >> DOES THAT INCLUDE FALL

PROTECTION? >> YES, SIR, FALL PROTECTION.

>> THAT'S KIND OF IMPORTANT. TO ME, THE MOST IN QUESTION IS CATEGORY 3 AND CATEGORY FIVE. EPIC IT'S VERY REASONABLE REQUEST AND HEAVILY USED FACILITY BY LOCALS AND TOURISTS.

>> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH? >> DOES THIS COME BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR APPROVAL? COULD WE GET MORE DETAIL? A PICTURE OF THE EQUIPMENT AND WHEN IT COMES TO

US, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANKS. >> ANYTHING?

>> I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FROM THIS BOARD AND COUNTY COMMISSION, AS WELL. FROM SPRING BREAK UNTIL OCTOBER, WE GET ABOUT 25 TO 30,000 PEOPLE PER WEEKEND, SO I THINK WE ARE THE MOST HEAVILY TRAFFICKED AREA PROBABLY IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY , THE BEACHES AREA, WHICH IS NOT INCLUDING THE TRAFFIC AND EVERYTHING. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PHONE CALLS I GET ABOUT THE SHADE STRUCTURE. IN TRANSPARENCY, THE COUNTY IS

[00:50:02]

DIRECTOR. >> 2033 FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY.

>> THERE IS A REASON WHY THE CITY TO GET OVER. THE COUNTY DIDN'T HAVE STAFF TO DO THE TESTING EVERY SINGLE DAY , EVEN THOUGH IT'S A WATERPARK. IT'S TREATED AS A PUBLIC POOL AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THE STAFF TO DO THAT AS A COUNTY. THAT MUTUAL USE AGREEMENT WAS ESTABLISHED WHERE WE WORKED ON THAT MANY YEARS AGO. I WOULD STILL QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT THE COUNTY WOULD WANT TO TAKE OVER THAT AGAIN. I'M PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THIS 125,000 BUT I WOULD LIKE IT TO COME OUT OF CATEGORY FIVE. IF NOT, COME OUT OF CATEGORY THREE. BOTH OF THEM CAN SUPPORT IT IS WHAT I'M LOOKING AT.

>> DO WE DO PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE THE MOTION?

>> I THINK WE WOULD MAKE A MOTION, SECOND AND PUBLIC

COMMENT. >> IT'S UP TO YOU AS CHAIR IN CASE THERE WILL BE MULTIPLE MOTIONS AND EXPECT THAT THE

MOTION IS TO PUBLIC COMMENT. >> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE A MOTION. PREFERABLY, CATEGORY FIVE, THEN CATEGORY THREE AT CATEGORY FIVE IS NOT AVAILABLE. I KNOW IT QUALIFIES FOR THREE, BUT IF IT QUALIFIES FOR FIVE, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMIT FOR IT TO

COME OUT OF THERE. >> 125,000. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RAISING USING RESERVES AND WHICHEVER CATEGORY IS APPROPRIATE, CATEGORY THREE OR CATEGORY FIVE FOR 125,000 TO THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH.

>> I'LL SECOND THAT. >> THROUGH THE CHAIR, IS THAT TO BE PROGRAMMED WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET ?

>> DO NEED ME TO PUT THAT IN THE MOTION?

>> WE CAN ACCEPT THAT . IF IT'S COMING OUT OF RESERVE AND SINCE THE MONEY IS THERE THAT WE CAN WORK ON THAT NOW TO TRY TO GET IT IN BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR? IF IT DOESN'T, IT'LL BE OCTOBER . RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE NO PLAYGROUND AND THE SHADE STRUCTURE AT SOME POINT IS FALLING APART. IF IT'S COMING OUT, CAN WE USE THAT CURRENTLY AND NOT WAIT TOWARDS THE END OF

THE YEAR? >> I'M FINE WITH THAT. ARE WE

ABLE TO DO THAT, JESSE? >> IT WILL STILL REQUIRE THE

BOARD. >> ASSUMING THAT.

>> I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN BEFORE OCTOBER 1ST. I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH IT BEING IN THE BUDGET FOR THEM TO GET STARTED OCTOBER 1 INSTEAD OF --. WE ARE AT THIS PROCESS RIGHT NOW.

>> CAN WE MOVE AS FAST WITH THE APPROVED WITH THE PLANNING AND ORDERING EVEN IF WE DON'T MAKE ANY PAYMENTS? DO YOU ALREADY

HAVE IT PLANNED? >> IS OUT FOR BID. IF WE ARE GIVING IT STRAIGHT TO THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH, IT CAN ALMOST BE REIMBURSABLE AND NOT GOING TO SLOW DOWN ON IT.

THAT'S THE WAY I ENVISION IT AND YOU GET THE CHECK ON OCTOBER 1. THAT WAY IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S AN EMERGENCY BUDGET ITEM FROM MY SIDE . IF I WAS SITTING IN THE BUDGET OFFICE AT ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT VOTED ON IT, I WOULD PREFER TO STAY IN OCTOBER AND DO IT AS REIMBURSABLE IF THEY CONTINUE TO

MOVE FORWARD. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. I'VE HEARD TWO THINGS -- SEVERAL THINGS ABOUT WHICH BUDGET THE MONEY IS COMING FROM AND I ALSO HEARD HOW THE MAYOR SUGGESTS THAT IT COMES OUT OF RESERVES. I NEED CLARIFICATION ON THE

DIRECTION THE MOTION IS GOING. >> IF ACCORDING TO BOTH HIS CATEGORY FIVE AND CATEGORY THREE OF RESERVE MONEY.

>> I DON'T THINK --. >> CATEGORY THREE HAS ABOUT 700

[00:55:05]

SOMETHING . >> 781 IN CATEGORY THREE.

>> CATEGORY FIVE HAS LIKE 5 MILLION IN RESERVE.

>> OKAY. GOTCHA. >> IT IS WHAT IS AN APPROPRIATE ACCOUNTING STANDPOINT AND THERE IS OBVIOUSLY MORE MONEY IN CATEGORY FIVE AND THREE. IT IS WHERE IT TECHNICALLY BELONGS . I THINK EVERYBODY THINKS IT'S A GOOD IDEA AND THAT IS SORT OF

HIS NEIGHBORHOOD TO DECIDE. >> MY QUESTION IS REALLY, I WANT TO SUPPORT THE MOTION OR IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY REQUEST OUT OF RESERVE OR STICK WITH CATEGORY 3 OR 5. IN MY MOTION, I WAS FEELING IT WAS COMING OUT OF THE BUDGET YEAR AS PRESENTED 25 OR 26. PEOPLE COMING UP ASKING FOR EMERGENCY TO HELP US RIGHT NOW AND IT HELPS US PLAN IT . THEY WON'T KNOW UNTIL THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. IT IS JUST OUR SUGGESTION ON THIS BOARD. MINE WAS FROM 25 TO 26. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.

>> DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> YES, CHARLES SECONDED IT .

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE. LET'S TAKE A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? I BELIEVE IT PASSED.

>> THANK YOU , BOARD. >> THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. NIGHTS

OF LIGHTS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU ARE DETAILED NIGHTS OF LIGHTS FINANCIAL ESTIMATES FOR THE UPCOMING 2026 FISCAL YEAR. THIS IS CITY MANAGER DAVID WHO IS HERE, AS WELL , AND CAME HERE EARLIER .

PLANNING TO APPROVE THE EVENT THIS YEAR, SO WHAT YOU HAVE A SLIGHT ITEM DETAIL BASED ON WHAT HE PRESENTED. THIS IS BROKEN OUT IN CATEGORIES. I HAVE SHUTTLE, RESTROOMS, CROWD CONTROL, LIGHTING AND VARIOUS. THE AMOUNTS WE ARE ASKING FOR HAS TO DO WITH TOP FOUR CATEGORIES AND THE BERRIES ARE THINGS THAT THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE WILL CONTINUE TO FUND. CURRENTLY, THE TDC PROVIDES GEORGIA THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND 100,000 SPECIFICALLY FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. UNDER THE 200,000 IS FOR SHUTTLES, BUT THAT IS FOR SHUTTLES YEAR-ROUND AND THE FESTIVAL SEASON AND NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. I WILL SHOW THE EXISTING BUDGET OF $130,000 IN SHUTTLES. YOU CAN SEE MY CABBIE OUT THERE.

IT'S ALL BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE CAN USE PARKING LOTS LIKE WE NEED TO IN ORDER TO FULLY IMPROVE AND INCREASE SHUTTLE DAYS. AT THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS YOU SEE ARE FULL INCREASE OF SHUTTLING DAYS IN THE BUSIEST TIME OF YEAR. FOR THAT CATEGORY ALONE, WE ARE ASKING FOR A TOTAL OF $550,000 FOR SHUTTLES. OF COURSE, WE ONLY ASK FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO ACTUALLY SPEND. FEWER SHOULDERS RUN, FEWER DOLLARS SPENT AND FEWER DOLLARS REQUESTED. THE SECOND CATEGORY IS RESTROOMS. WE HAVE A PLAN THAT WE WILL PILOT IT FOR FOURTH OF JULY. WE HAVE A PLAN TO ADD TEMPORARY RESTROOMS TO THE BANK OF AMERICA AND CATHEDRAL PARKING LOT ON CATHEDRAL. SHUT DOWN THE PARKING LOT, RENT IT AND FILL IT WITH PORTABLE TOILETS THAT WILL HOPEFULLY ASSIST IN PUBLIC RESTROOMS FOR THOSE COMING TO NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. WE ALSO PLAN TO ADD ADDITIONAL PORTABLE RESTROOMS AT THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER . AGAIN, IF WE ARE ABLE TO USE THE BANK OF AMERICA LOT FOR AS MANY DAYS AS

[01:00:02]

THAT HAS GONE UP TO 141 AND WE ARE ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THAT FULL AMOUNT. THE AMOUNTS THAT YOU SEE LISTED INCLUDE MANY THINGS THAT THE CITY DOES TO PUT ON THIS EVENT. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE NET CITY EXPENSE WOULD BE ABOUT $450,000 AND THE REQUEST GOES FROM ABOUT 200,000 TO 1.2 MILLION -- 1.2 -- 101 200 --. THAT IS OUR REQUEST TODAY AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THE DETAILS OF THE NUMBERS. AGAIN, HERE FOR ANY DETAILS ON THE PLAN. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT YOU MAY BE AWARE OF AND WE CAN SHARE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM

THIS, AS WELL. >> LET'S OPEN IT UP FOR

DISCUSSION. >> AS FOR SERIOUS CONSIDERATION OF THIS REQUEST COME AND THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT COSTS TO THE CITY NOT BEING REQUESTED . THE POINT IS ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

$125,000 THAT TDC CAN'T REIMBURSE US FOR THAT , BUT THOSE ARE COSTS HAVING TO BE BORNE BY CITY TAXPAYERS FOR THE EVENT , SO I WILL JUST POINT OUT AGAIN HOW THIS COST, ASSUMING THAT THE CITY IS GRANTED THE REQUEST 1.2 MILLION OVER 1.2 MILLION, THE SHARE COST TO THE CITY WOULD STILL BE 450,000. THE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT BY THE CITY IN THIS CONTINUES TO BE AND WE BOARD THE COST, BUT THE COSTS ARE GOING UP CONSIDERABLY JUST BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF VISITORS WE ARE GETTING NOW. WE WANT THIS TO BE A SUCCESS. WE WANT THIS TO BE A SAFE , WELCOMING WONDERFUL NIGHT OF LIGHTS FOR EVERYONE IN THE CITY.

WE RELIGIOUSLY OURSELVES AT YOUR FEET HERE TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND TO FIND

A WAY TO FUND COSTS. >> I STEPPED AWAY FOR A LITTLE BIT AND I HAD TO ANSWER A TEXT. THE SHUTTLE, THE 581, IS THAT EVERY NIGHT OR PEAK NIGHTS? IT'S A BIG JUMP , SOME JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT AND JUSTIFY.

>> I BELIEVE THAT IS EVERY FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY BUT I WILL HAVE TO ASK IF HE HAS MORE DETAIL ON THAT. IT IS AN EXPANDED NUMBER OF DAYS AND I THINK WE WENT FROM NINE DAYS OF SHUTTLING TO OVER 30 DAYS OF SHUTTLING. WE HAVE MORE DETAIL

ON THAT, I'LL LET HIM ANSWER. >> SIX DAYS TO 35 DAYS.

>> ALL RIGHT. THE OTHER THING IS THAT I'M LOOKING AT THE BIG EXPENSES OF WHERE -- WE OBVIOUSLY WANT TO HELP IN THE BEST WAY WE POSSIBLY CAN AND TO THE LEVEL THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN.

WITH THE RESTROOMS, HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT AND WE PROBABLY CAME UP IN SEVERAL MEETINGS AND BEING REDUNDANT . HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT CLOSING OFF LIKE YOU DO FOR LIGHT OF NIGHT IN CHARLOTTE DURING THAT TIME ? WE ARE GOING TO PUT THE RESTROOMS THERE , WHICH WE HAVE FOR THE 450 CELEBRATION AND SUCCESSFUL.

IT AFFECTS MY COMMUTE , SO IF WE CAN SAVE MONEY THAT IS WHERE WE

[01:05:03]

SIDE. >> THE GOAL FOR LIGHT OF NIGHT IS TO MOVE THE PORT-A-POTTIES INTO THIS BANK OF AMERICA PARKING LOT. ONE FOR THE AESTHETICS, LOOK AT PICTURES IN FRONT OF THE TREE AND LIGHTS TO MOVE IN THERE. TO KEEP THEM FOR SO LONG, AND ENCLOSED SPACE IS EASIER FOR SERVICING EACH OF THEM. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUT STANDALONE PORT-A-POTTIES AROUND THE CITY WHERE WE FEEL LIKE THEY MAY BE NEEDED, BUT THIS WILL BE A LOCATION THAT WE CAN DIRECT PEOPLE WITH SIGNAGE ON OUR WEBSITE AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE TO AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIND THEM ON DIFFERENT STREETS.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WE HAVE DOWNTOWN WAS THE TRASH SITUATION. HOW CAN WE HELP WITH THAT ? WHERE IS THAT IN THIS

BUDGET? I DON'T SEE IT. >> IN THE RESTROOMS CATEGORY, WE HAVE LINE ITEMS FOR STAFF AND LITTER PICKUP. WE GOT QUOTES FROM A COMPANY, SO WE CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. WE HAVE CUSTODIAL STAFF FOR A NORMAL BUSINESS DAY. IT'S THE $10,000 LINE WITHIN THE RESTROOMS CATEGORY.

>> I SEE LITTER PICKUP NOW THAT YOU HAVE THAT. THAT'S ALL I'VE

GOT. >> DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO BE AND

ASK EACH YEAR? >> POTENTIALLY IF IT WORKS. WE WILL SEE HOW IT WORKS IF IT MADE A DIFFERENCE. SAME THING WITH THE RESTROOMS. AS HE HAS EXPLAINED IN THE MEETINGS THAT WE HAD WITH THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE GOING TO TRY THIS OUT AND CHANGE BEHAVIORS AND HOPEFULLY WE GET MORE PEOPLE USING THE SHUTTLE AND THAT MAY TAKE TIME. THE ANSWER AT THIS POINT, WE HOPE IT WORKS. IF IT DOES, WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU BASED ON WHAT WORKS AND ASK YOU FOR DOLLARS FOR THE THINGS THAT DID

WORK. >> THANK YOU.

>> I AM TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE SHUTTLE AND FUNDING FOR RESTROOMS. THE REST CAN BE BUILT-IN TO HOW TO FIGURE OUT FOR THE CITY. THAT'S IN MY OPINION , BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE REST OF THE BOARD WAS FEELING ABOUT THAT. THAT'S ABOUT 800 OR 900,000 RIGHT THERE. THANK YOU.

>> CHARLES? >> IN REGARDS TO THE SHUTTLE , DID WE GET CONFIRMATION THAT WE CAN CLOSE LANES ON THE WAY IN AND OUT OF THE CITY AND TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE MEETINGS.

>> WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED FINAL WORD FROM THE D.O.T.. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO THEM AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT LEVELS AND THEY ARE OPEN TO THE IDEA OF CREATING A TRANSIT LANE ON SAINT MARCO AVENUE SOUTH BOUND. WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN A FINAL WORD FROM THEM

THAT THEY WILL ALLOW THAT. >> THIS MAY BE AN ASPECT OF THE KNIGHTS OF LIGHTS THAT WE CANNOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DURING THE COMING SEASON, BUT WE WILL WORK TOWARDS IT IN FOLLOWING YEARS.

>> OKAY. FOR THE SHUTTLE TO WORK, I THINK YOU NEED THAT.

>> WE HAVE SPOKEN TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION ABOUT HAVING MORE PARKING AVAILABLE FOR SHUTTLING AND THEY ARE OPEN TO THE IDEA AND I SPOKE TO DAN THIS MORNING, DIRECTOR OF THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AND HE IS WORKING THROUGH THAT REQUEST RIGHT NOW AND SPOKE TO JESSE AND ON THOSE MATTERS, AS WELL. THEY'RE OPEN TO THE IDEA, BUT AS MEREDITH SAID, THIS IS AN ALL IN FIGURE IF THE COUNTY DECIDES THAT THE NUMBER OF DAYS WE ARE REQUESTING FOR PARKING IS TOO MUCH, THEN THE PARKING AVAILABILITY WILL ALSO AFFECT THE SHUTTLING, SO THOSE NUMBERS WILL GO DOWN IF WE DON'T HAVE THE AVAILABLE PARKING IN THIS FACILITY. WE WOULD JUST INVOICE WHAT WE USE.

>> THANK YOU. >> WAS AT OVER $1 MILLION? THAT MONEY HAS TO STAY FOR THE PARKING GARAGE, CORRECT?

>> WHAT DO YOU DO TO PAY OFF THE PARKING GARAGE?

[01:10:01]

>> FOR THE PARKING GARAGE, USE THE HISTORIC AREA CRA FUNDS AND WE USE PARKING GARAGE REVENUES . AT SOME POINT, THEY HAVE GOTTEN TO ALMOST FULLY COVERING THE DEBT, BUT IN YEARS PAST, IT HAS BEEN A VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER WITH REVENUES AND PARKING REVENUES, WHICH COVER STAFFING, MAINTENANCE AT GARAGE AND DEBT SERVICE THAT THEY DID NOT PICK UP.

>> WHAT IS THAT AMOUNT YEARLY? >> GOODNESS, 800 -- THAT MIGHT BE THE PRINCIPAL. I WAS GOING TO SAY 800,000, BUT THAT MAY BE

PRINCIPAL. >> YEARLY?

>> LET ME GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.

>> IS THERE A WAY SINCE YOU TALKED ABOUT CLOSING DOWN THE STREET, INSTEAD OF PAYING 70,000 FOR THE BANK OF AMERICA, CAN USE

THE CITY PARKING LOT? >> THE PARKING LOT , WHICH WE CALL THE LOT, THAT IS WHEN WE LOOKED AT TO PUT THE PORT-A-POTTIES IN AND IT WAS LOGISTICALLY VERY DIFFICULT JUST TO GET THE TRAILER IN NOT ONLY TO DROP THEM OFF , BUT TO SERVE AS THE AMOUNT OF TIMES THEY WOULD NEED TO BE. WE HAD A COMPANY GO OUT AND IT WAS TOO CHALLENGING TO GET DOWN AND MAKE

THE TURN . >> BIG TRUCKS AND EVEN PICKUP TRUCKS HAVE A PROBLEM GETTING OUT OF THAT.

>> WE DO HAVE A PLAN TO USE THE LOT POTENTIALLY FOR WORKFORCE PARKING, SO WE DO WANT TO STILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

>> HAS ANY PRIVATE BUSINESS OWNER PAID FOR OVERTIME OR

ANYTHING FOR POLICE? >> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

>> I WAS TOLD THAT THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN PAYING A PORTION

IS WHAT I WAS TOLD. >> TRANSFER VOLUNTEERING MY

BOSS. >> I HAD HEARD THAT. I JUST WANT

TO MAKE SURE. >> WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS IN FRONT OF HIS PROPERTIES IS WHERE HE WOULD BE WILLING TO DO IT WHERE THE CROSSWALKS ARE IN FRONT OF THE PROPERTIES. NOT FOR EVERYBODY. IT'S VERY CONGESTED RIGHT THERE.

>> DOESN'T HE HAVE ALL OF THE PROPERTIES?

>> WE ARE WORKING ON THAT. I WAS JUST DOING THE NUMBERS ON THE PARKING AND I SEE HOW YOU CAME UP WITH THE NUMBER WITH THE DATES. IF WE TOOK SUNDAYS OFF, EXCEPT DURING WEEK, HOW MUCH SAVINGS? IT LOOKS LIKE SIX DAYS OUT. WOULD THAT BE PROPORTIONATE TO THE PERCENTAGE OF DAYS OF THE 581? SUNDAYS NORMALLY ARE NOT TERRIBLE. IT IS BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S EVE.

>> REDUCING SHUTTLING DURING THOSE DAYS, WHICH WE ANTICIPATE BEING THE LEAST VISITATION DAYS. THOSE MAY BE THE SUNDAYS. WE WERE JUST TRYING TO PROVIDE SHUTTLING DURING THE 35 DAYS DURING THE 50 EIGHT-DAY EVENT, WHICH WE SEE THE MOST

VISITATION. >> YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S EVE. I WAS JUST DOING THE MATH ON MY CALENDAR AND THE ONLY STATEMETS I SEE POSSIBLE IS MAYBE ON THOSE SUNDAYS.

>> WITH THE BRIDGE BEING DOWN, WITH NORTH UPTOWN ON OUR WAY FINDING , BUT INSTEAD OF GOING ALL THE WAY , BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS NOT ABLE TO MANAGE AS MUCH IN THAT AREA.

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION OR WE STILL HAVE PARKING AT THE SITE.

IT IS NOT A LOT OF PARKING, BUT 300 SPACES OF SURFACE PARKING .

OF COURSE, THE LIQUOR STORE IS STILL OPEN AND STILL HAS A BUSINESS TO RUN THERE. THE KING STREET BRIDGE, WE HAVE ASKED D.O.T. TO HOLD OFF ON CONSTRUCTION OF THE BRIDGE UNTIL AFTER THIS KNIGHTS OF LIGHTS SEASON, THEY HAVE NOT COMMITTED TO THAT YET. WE HOPE THAT THEY WILL. THAT WILL GIVE SOME BREATHING ROOM, BUT THAT JUST MEANS THAT NEXT YEAR WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT DETOUR. THERE WILL BE A CIVILIZATION AT THE STREET IN U.S. ONE THAT WILL DETOUR PEOPLE TO COME DOWN TO KING STREET , WHICH WILL BOTTLENECK THE PART OF TOWN AND ALTER ONE OF THE

VISITS DURING THE EVENT. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. ON THE BARRICADES, IS TALLAHASSEE LOANING THEM TO YOU FOR FOURTH OF JULY? HAVE YOU ASKED THEM ABOUT KNIGHTS OF LIGHTS?

[01:15:02]

>> NOT YET . WE WOULD LIKE TO TEST OUT THE BARRICADES. THE %-ÚE SATISFACTORY, WE HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND TALKED TO THEIR REPRESENTATIVES. THERE ARE OPTIONS TO ACQUIRE THEM AND WE CAN EITHER RENT THEM IN WHICH CASE I BELIEVE TDC FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE . IF WE WERE TO PURCHASE THEM, I DON'T BELIEVE TDC FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE THEM THROUGH THE NUANCES OF THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS. IF THAT WAS THE CASE, WE WOULD SEEK GRANT FUNDING TO PURCHASE WITH THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT , BUT WE WANT TO TEST THEM OUT FIRST TO SEE WHETHER THEY WORK FOR US.

>> THEY ARE GIVEN FOR FREE FOR FOURTH OF JULY?

>> WE HAVE TO PICK THEM UP AND DELIVER THEM.

>> HAVE YOU ASKED THEM ABOUT DOING THAT FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS?

>> WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO ASK THE CHIEF OF POLICE WEATHER THAT CAME UP DURING THE COURSE OF THE CONVERSATIONS. THEY HAVE NEEDS AND EXTRAS FOR FOURTH OF JULY THAT WE CAN USE. I'M NOT SURE IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO COMMIT BARRIERS FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, BUT WE CAN ASK.

>> THE STATE WOULD PROBABLY BE INTERESTED AND I SAW SOME GRANTS WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH CHIEF OF POLICE FOR BARRICADES. WE DON'T NEED THEM, BECAUSE WE SCALE DOWN THE BLASTOFF FROM THE ZOO TO MORE FAMILY FUN EVENT. THERE WERE SOME FULLY FUNDED GRANTS AND NOT EVEN MATCHING GRANT THAT WERE IN THE LAST CYCLE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY FOR BARRICADES. IF YOU NEED HELP OR ANYTHING TALLAHASSEE, LET ME KNOW AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO MAKE A FEW PHONE CALLS ON YOUR BEHALF OVER TO THEM. I THINK IT WOULD BE LESS TIME OF YEAR FOR THE USE OF BARRICADES AND I'M SURPRISED THEY ARE DOING IT FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY WITH ALL OF THE EVENTS GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE STATE, SO GOOD JOB ON GETTING THOSE DONE. THAT'S REALLY GOOD.

>> YOU ARE PURCHASING THE BIKE RACKS. YOU KNOW HOW MUCH FEET IS

THAT GETTING S? >> I WILL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT. WE HAVE SOME CURRENTLY THAT YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN THAT WE USE CONTINUOUSLY AND THIS IS TO INCREASE THAT, SO WE CAN PUT THOSE BIKE RACK BARRICADES ON EITHER SIDE OF CATHEDRAL TO HELP AND DISCUSS WITH PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS, SO THAT PEDESTRIANS ARE REALLY SENT TO THE RIGHT SPOT TO CROSS AND NOT ALL OVER. I DON'T KNOW THE UNIT ON THOSE, BUT THEY ARE USED FOR EVENTS LIKE PARADES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SO WE WANT TO ADD TO THE EXISTING THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

>> HOW MANY EVENTS WOULD YOU HAVE THAT TIME AND THE BIKE RACKS WOULD BE AVAILABLE THERE?

>> THE ONLY THING THAT WE HAVE DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS TIMEFRAME I BELIEVE IS THE CIRCUS. TYPICALLY, WE DON'T HAVE ANY SHOWS. IT GOES DARK FROM ABOUT THE END OF NOVEMBER TO LATE JANUARY EARLY FEBRUARY, SO I'M SURE WE CAN FIGURE

SOMETHING OUT. >> YOU PROBABLY HAVE 150 FEET

WORTH OF BIKE RACKS THERE. >> THAT'S GOOD.

>> I WOULD BE HAPPY. WHATEVER WE CAN DO FROM THE SIDE. TALKED TO GABE ABOUT THAT. THE OTHER QUESTION FOR THE LIGHTS. HAVE YOU LOOKED AT SHOPPING THAT AROUND? WE LOOKED AT THE ARCHITECTURE FOR THE BEACH AND THEY WERE ABOUT 40% HIGHER THAN THE FIRM WE HIRED TO DO IT AND WE DECIDED NOT TO PURCHASE THAT IT KNOW IF YOU PURCHASED THEM , BUT IT'S LIKE A LEASE AGREEMENT WHERE THEY PUT THEM UP, TURN THEM DOWN AND THE BOLTS CHANGE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO CONSTANTLY KEEP UP WITH IT. THE COMPANY THAT WE USE SUPPLIED EVERYTHING AND PUT THEM UP AND TOOK THEM DOWN, THEN YOU PAY THEM UP FRONT AND YOU DON'T PAY THEM UNTIL THE LIGHTS ARE DOWN . THEY TURNED OUT WONDERFUL . I DON'T

KNOW IF YOU HAVE SHOCKED AROUND. >> ON TOP OF PUTTING THE LIGHTS UP AND DOWN, THEY ARE DAILY CHECKING AND UNFORTUNATELY THINGS HAVE TO GET REPLACED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SEASON AND WE HAVE ANOTHER LINE ITEM FOR ELECTRICAL REPAIRS AND IT'S NOT UNCOMMON THAT SOME TYPE OF TROPICAL STORM WILL COME IN AND WE HAVE TO COMPLETELY FIX THE ELECTRICAL AND THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACT, BUT THE DAILY TESTING OF ALL THE LIGHTS THEY PUT UP IS INCLUDED. WE HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND WE SHOPPED I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT YEAR IT WAS, BUT HAVE TO LOOK AT

[01:20:04]

THIS YEAR. >> I NOTICED DOWN , YOU ARE SHOWING 10 WEEKS. ARE WE AT EIGHT DAYS OR 70 DAYS FOR THE

PLAN. >> 58. THIS NUMBER HERE WAS WHAT WE SPENT ON OVERTIME LAST YEAR. THAT WAS AN ACTUAL AMOUNT THERE

WORK FULL-TIME. >> OTHER QUESTIONS.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR JESSE. IF WE DECIDE TO VOTE FOR THE 1 MILLION, WHERE DO WE FIND THE MONEY? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

RIGHT NOW, WHAT IS REPRESENTED IN THE BUDGET IS 300,000 , SO WE

ARE TALKING 901,500. >> WE APPROVE EVERYTHING THAT'S

IN THERE. OKAY. >> THE BALANCE IN THE RESERVE , WHICH INITIALLY LOOKS LIKE CATEGORY FOUR WOULD BE THE ELIGIBILITY ON THIS. THE MATH DOESN'T ADD UP AND THE REQUEST

IS A LITTLE OVER 900,000 PER >> CAN WE PUT A LIGHT POLE ON

THE BEACH? >> THERE IS CREATIVE AND THERE IS CREATIVE, BUT THE RESERVE IS ABOUT $121,000 . AGAIN , YOU ARE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT THE LIGHT ITEM BUDGETS.

>> IT HAS TO COME FROM CATEGORY FOUR IS WHAT YOU ARE SAYING?

>> I BELIEVE SO, YES. >> WE WILL HAVE TO REVISIT CATEGORY FOR FOUR AND WE ALREADY SPOKE ABOUT MAYBE NOT HIRING THAT STUDY , WHICH BRINGS UP 50 OR $70,000 AND SOME OTHER THINGS. I THINK WE HAVE TO REVISIT AND BASICALLY HAVE EVERYONE TAKE A LOOK AT IT IN THIS GROUP. THAT IS IF IT'S THE ONLY OPTION FOR US WITH MONEY TO FIGURE IT OUT. WE ARE NOT GOING

TO BE ABLE TO FUND IT. >> MY QUESTION WAS WE HAVE FOUR STAFF PEOPLE IN CATEGORY FOUR AND IT WAS BUDGETED FOR THIS YEAR WITH FOUR, CORRECT? THAT MONEY WAS UNSPENT AND WILL BE

CARRIED FORWARD. >> THAT IS A SAVINGS OF THE VACANCIES THAT IS ALREADY PROJECTED.

>> THAT IS PART OF THE RESERVE ALREADY THAT IS PROJECTED TO CARRY FORWARD. OKAY, WELL FORGET MY RDF IDEA, YOU SMARTY-PANTS.

>> I WAS GOING TO TRY TO SAVE THAT SALARY TO PUSH TOWARDS

THIS. >> YOU ARE HALF RIGHT, BECAUSE IF THERE ARE ARE PEOPLE BUDGETED AND WE THINK WE ONLY NEED TWO , THEN WE HAVE SAVED PAYROLL FOR TWO PEOPLE FOR THE 2026 BUDGET.

THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THERE AND LET'S SAY IT'S AROUND 300 GRAND. THEN, YOU HAVE ANOTHER 75 FOR THE CONSULTANT AND WE MAY BE ABLE TO FIND SOME , BUT WE HAVE TO SEE IF AS A BOARD WE WANT TO

SPEND THAT LEVEL OF MONEY . >> 250,000 WITH THOSE NUMBERS?

>> ANY OTHERS , THE CIRCULATOR , WHICH IS ANOTHER 100,000.

>> THE AMOUNTS THAT YOU SEE NOW INCLUDED 200,000 FOR SHUTTLES.

THAT IS FOR BOTH NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND THE SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON. ABOUT HALF OF THAT IS WHAT WE CONSIDER GOING TOWARDS NIGHTS OF LIGHT SHUTTLES. THAT IS ABOUT $150,000 ON SHUTTLES.

HALF OF THAT IS SPRING SEASON SHUTTLES AND HALF OF LIGHTS. WE RECEIVED 100,000 FOR LIGHTING AND THE AMOUNT THAT YOU SEE IS

[01:25:06]

THAT HOW IT'S INTENDED? >> YOU WOULD CERTAINLY KNOW MORE DETAIL. IT WAS PRIMARILY 200,000 AND NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. THAT IS

ABOUT HALF OF THAT. >> THE SPRING BREAK REALLY THE MARCH SEASON IS THE OTHER TIME WE RUN THE SHUTTLES, SO HALF OF

IT GOES TOWARDS THAT. >> WHAT ARE WE GIVING TO PGA FOR

325,000. >> THAT IS A AGREEMENT FOR THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP. THAT IS OUR CONTRACTED AMOUNT FOR THE

PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP. >> HOW LONG IS THAT CONTRACT?

>> I BELIEVE WE JUST RESIGNED IT A YEAR AGO OR MORE YEARS. DOES THAT SOUND CORRECT? THE AMOUNT CHANGED AND I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WITH A LITTLE HIGHER PRICE. USED TO BE LIKE 200,000

OR 250,000. >> I CAN GET BACK WITH YOU WITH

HOW LONG THE CONTRACT IS. >> MY OTHER COMMENT IS MAYBE WE HAVE TO ADJUST THE SHUTTLE AMOUNT , BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET TO ONE POINT. WE HAVE AT LEAST 200,000 IN THE BUDGET ALREADY FOR SHUTTLES AND THEN YOU KNOW IT'S FOR FESTIVALS, TOO , BUT THESE ARE WHAT WE WANT TO ROLL BACK ALSO ON OUR GENERAL FUND AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW YOU CAN SAVE MONEY AND DO IT AFFORDABLY. I THINK THE BATHROOMS ARE THE MOST

IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. >> THAT IS WHY I WAS SUGGESTING.

I AGREE WITH YOU AESTHETICALLY. THAT IS THE BEST SPOT. HE SAVE THE SPOT, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN AFFORD THE BEST SPOT RIGHT NOW FOR THE BATHROOMS . JUST TRYING TO GET YOU TO A NUMBER IF WE CAN COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE THERE. I DO AGREE THAT WE NEED SOME MORE AND I AGREE WE NEED SOME MORE AT PLAZA, BUT LEARNING THAT FOR 70,000 AND PART OF THE PLACES

OFF THE STREET. >> WHAT IS OUR BEST PROCESS TO FIND FINE TUNING CATEGORY 4 BUDGET TO SEE WHAT SORT OF REALISTIC MONEY WE CAN COME UP WITH? I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE UP A NUMBER OUT OF THE AIR THAT IT'S 300,000 MORE ABOUT 400,000 MORE , THEN WE CAN REALISTICALLY KNOW WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE. I GUESS WE FIRST HAVE TO HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE GROUP THAT WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING . AT WHAT LEVEL, THEN WE NEED TO SIT DOWN WITH STAFF AND SEE A WAY WHERE WE CAN MODIFY HOW WE APPROACH THE BUDGET, SO THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH A BUDGET FIGURE THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE BOARD THINKS IS APPROPRIATE. I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER WAY OF DOING THIS. I THINK WE ALL WANT TO DO SOMETHING, BUT DO WE WANT TO DO 100 GRAND OR 1 MILLION? WE CAN GO DOWN AND FINE-TUNE AND COME BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING AND SAY THAT IT LOOKS LIKE , HERE IS A REVISED BUDGET. DOES THIS MAKE

SENSE TO EVERYONE? >> IS THERE A WAY TO MAKE REVENUE? VIP PARKING WHERE THEY PAY A LOT FOR PARKING? IS THERE A PLACE TO GET SOME REVENUE FROM THIS? FOR THE CITY?

>> I THINK THEY HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES . THAT IS REALLY FOR THEM TO CHOOSE TO DO. THE COMMENT THAT I KNOW I'VE HEARD A FEW TIMES AND THEY SEEM NOT IN COMPLETE SUPPORT FOR IT IS CHARGING TO USE FRANCE'S FIELD. AND, GENERATING REVENUE THERE. I HEARD THAT AT THE FIRST MEETING. I THINK YOU WROTE IT UP BACK IN FEBRUARY. THAT IS THE CITY. THE OTHER IS THE EXTENDING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS FOR ANOTHER WEEK WHERE IT IS $40,000 A DAY IN ADDITIONAL

[01:30:04]

IT BACK TO 70. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. IF FRANCE'S FIELD BECOMES AN OPTION, WOULD THAT MONEY BE STUCK IN THE PARKING OR WOULD THAT BE ABLE TO BE USED TO SUPPLEMENT ? THE WAY THAT THE PARKING GARAGE IS STRUCTURED, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE MORE FREEDOMS IF IT'S FRANCE'S FIELD OR IF IT'S BOUND TO THE SAME RULES.

>> FRANCE'S FIELD REVENUE STAYS IN THE GENERAL FUND.

>> IT'S NOT BOUND? OKAY. THERE'S ABOUT 600 CARS THAT CAN FIT ON THERE IF I REMEMBER WAY BACK WHEN. IS THAT ABOUT RIGHT,

DAVID? DO YOU REMEMBER? >> I DON'T KNOW. I HAVE TO GO

BACK. >> I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE IDEA OF PARKING. WE DID DISCUSS IT AND I DID ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

THE OVERALL PHILOSOPHY OF WHAT THE CITY IS TRYING TO DO AND ACCOMPLISH WITH THE SHUTTLES THAT WE ARE DOING IS TO PARK ON THE PERIMETER AND NOT BRING THAT LEVEL INTO THE CITIES. IT IS EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF WHERE THE CITY HAS BEEN GOING FOR YEARS AND IT'S BEEN WELL SUPPORTED BY THE COUNTY IN THE SHUTTLING SYSTEM , AND IT IS SUPPORTED BY THE D.O.T. I WOULD CAUTION NOT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT YOU GET AT THE CITY FOR MOVING AND DOING A COMPLETE 180 IN THE DIRECTION WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GO IN FOR YEARS.

>> MY QUESTION WAS , WOULD THE REVENUE BE AVAILABLE EVEN IF WE USED IT UNDER THE SAME AS THE PARKING GARAGE. IT WOULDN'T DO

US ANY GOOD. >> THAT IS WHAT MY QUESTION WAS.

>> ALONG THE SAME LINES , JUST AN IDEA OR SUGGESTION. WE ARE USING THE COUNTY LOTS TO PARK AND GIVING HIM A FREE SHUTTLE RIDE. IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN CHARGE A FEE FOR PEOPLE TO

PARK? >> YOU JUST READ MY MIND.

>> IF YOU HAVE TO PAY TO GO DOWNTOWN TO PARK AT A PARKING GARAGE OR PARKING LOT, THEY ARE PAYING REGARDLESS UNTIL 9:00.

CAN WE CHARGE THE PEOPLE AS A SHUTTLE SPOT AND CHARGE THEM $10? THAT'S THE CHEAPEST EVER PAY FOR A FULL DAY IN DOWNTOWN ST. AUGUSTINE TO RIDE THE SHUTTLE AND SUBSIDIZE THE COST

OF THE SHUTTLE . >> THAT'S AN OPTION. WE WERE TRYING TO INCENTIVIZE THE SHUTTLE AND PARKING IS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THAT'S WHY WE NEED IT FREE . IF WE STARTED CHARGING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD DO . THAT IS A WAY TO INCREASE

REVENUE STREAM. >> CAN WE PUT SIGNS OF THE CITY DOWNTOWN FULL PARK YEAR OR SOMETHING. YOU GO TO FAIRFIELD, WHICH IS AN OPEN PARKING LOT THAT CHARGES 10 OR 20 BUCKS A NIGHT, SO I THINK PEOPLE ARE ACCUSTOMED TO BARKING AND JUST

ANOTHER THOUGHT. >> YOU CAN INCLUDE ALSO --.

>> EXCEPT THE PARKING ON THE STREETS. WE ARE TRYING TO BREAK THE HABIT OF DRIVING DOWNTOWN, DRIVING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS. GRADING RESIDENTS PARKING ONLY ZONES. THE TICKET WOULD BE $100. THIS INCENTIVIZE WITH PARKING AND SHUTTLING HERE . IF WE CHANGE THAT MODEL, WE HAVE TO SEE HOW IT CHANGES THE

PATTERNS . >> I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK OF

A WAY. >> YOU ARE GOING TO USE MONEY FOR MARKETING ANYWAY. PART OF YOUR MARKETING IS, YOU CAN GO ROUND AND HOUR LOOKING FOR A PLACE THAT DOESN'T EXIST OR YOU CAN TO GO DOWNTOWN AND GET A FREE PARKING SPACE FOR $10 OR HOWEVER LONG YOU ARE GOING TO BE HERE, WHICH IS CHEAPER AND YOU WILL GET A FREE SHUTTLE RIDE AND ARE STILL OFFERING SOMETHING FOR

PRACTICALLY NOTHING. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE THE MONEY IS NOT THERE. HOW ELSE CAN WE HELP SUPPORT NIGHTS OF LIGHTS? IT IS

[01:35:04]

>> PEOPLE ARE RESILIENT TO GETTING ON SHUTTLES. EVEN AT THE AMPHITHEATER, IT'S FREE AND PEOPLE STILL DON'T WANT TO GET ON THE SHUTTLE. THEY DON'T WANT TO BE BUNCHED IN THERE. IF THEY WROTE THE SHUTTLE LAST YEAR AND GOT CAUGHT UP IN TRAFFIC, IT'S HARD TO GET THEM BACK ON THE SHUTTLE AGAIN. I SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING WITH CREATING REVENUE , BUT I THINK IT WILL BE A TOUGH SELL TO GET PEOPLE. I SEE THEM DRIVE RIGHT BY MY HOUSE AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THE CHEAPEST ONE AND WHAT PEOPLE WERE DOING LAST YEAR AS THEY ACTUALLY LOOKED UP ONLINE , PARKING TICKETS ARE $35 FOR THEM IN A PARK.

>> HAS A FESTIVAL EVERY YEAR AND OFFER THE FREE SHUTTLE AND YOU CAN'T PARK THERE AND THERE'S NO OTHER WAY OR NO PLACE ELSE TO GET THERE. PEOPLE RIDE THE SHUTTLE GLADLY. I GO PRETTY MUCH EVERY YEAR. YOU JUST HAVE TO RETRAIN PEOPLE. WE HAVE TO RETRAIN THE WAY PEOPLE THINK ABOUT IT. HE START SOMEWHERE.

>> MR. CHAIR, MR. WOULD LIKE TO BE RECOGNIZED.

>> IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THE CITY HAS AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH ST. JOHNS COUNTY TO ALLOW THE CITY TO USE THE PARKING LOTS AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION FOR SHUTTLING AT NO COST , SO IT WOULD NOT DISPUTE HIS CHANGED, BUT IT WOULD BE AN AMENDMENT BETWEEN THE LOCAL AGREEMENT OF THE CITY AND COUNTY TO ALLOW THAT. I JUST WANT TO THROW THAT

OUT THERE. >> THIS IS PROBABLY A QUESTION

FOR JESSE. >> ARE WE COMPLETELY RESTRICTED TO USING CATEGORY FOUR FOR THIS? IF YOU TALK ABOUT LEISURE AND RECREATION , THERE IS A LOGICAL WAY THAT IF IT'S IN THERE. IF YOU TALK ABOUT MARKETING, IT LOGICALLY FITS IN THERE, AS WELL. IT IS CERTAINLY USED TO MARKET THE DESTINATION, SO WHY COULDN'T YOU SPLIT UP THE AMOUNT INTO THREE CATEGORIES?

>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I THINK THE CHAIR IS ORIGINAL AND IT IS GETTING SUPPORTS AND IF THERE IS A DOLLAR AMOUNT AND WE CAN CERTAINLY GO BACK AND LOOK AT DIFFERENT CATEGORIES FOR DIFFERENT ELIGIBILITY. THE FIRST IS TO JUMP WITH CATEGORY FOUR, WHICH IS THE MOST OBVIOUS. I WOULD CERTAINLY WORK TO SEE IF ELIGIBILITY DOES FALL INTO CATEGORY THREE, THEN HOWEVER MANY CATEGORIES THAT THERE IS WITH ELIGIBILITY , I THINK AT SOME LEVEL, IT'S AN ONGOING PROCESS AND WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WHAT IS IN EACH OF THE CATEGORIES. THIS IS AN ADVISORY ULTIMATELY TO THE BOARD AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET. WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT THE ITEMS CURRENTLY IN THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ON IT, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT THE OTHER CATEGORIES, AS WELL , TO SEE IF THIS WOULD FALL INTO ELIGIBILITY FOR CATEGORY THREE OR CATEGORY ONE, AS WELL.

>> IN AN EFFORT TO SPEED THIS ALONG, I THINK THERE IS SUPPORT FROM EVERYBODY HERE TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR IT. THERE IS PROBABLY SAVINGS THAT WE CAN GET IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, ESPECIALLY FOR CATEGORY FOUR AND OTHERS. IT IS TIME FOR SUPPORTIVE OF THE AMOUNT AND FIND THE MEANING. COME BACK TO

US WITH A RECOMMENDATION. >> I HAVE RECOGNIZED IT VERY HIGH AND QUITE A BIT OF FOCUS AND PRESSURE ON THIS BOARD TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION . ADVOCATES A REASONABLE APPROACH FOR US TO ESTABLISH A NUMBER , THEN ASK STAFF TO FIND A WAY , THEN SEND IT INSTEAD OF SENDING IT WITH SO MANY QUESTIONS. I WOULD SAY THAT WITH THE LEVEL OF INTEREST WE HAVE SEEN IN THE WORKSHOPS , ACTUALLY A LOT OF CITY STAFF CONDUCTED AND I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS A HIGHER PRIORITY OF THE COMMUNITY , BUT

[01:40:01]

>> ADULT TICKET WOULD COME BACK TO US IN JULY . WE WOULD APPROVE IT AND LET'S SAY HYPOTHETICALLY IT COMES BACK . IT IS 1.2 AND WE LOOK EVERYWHERE UNDER EVERY ROCK AND COME UP WITH 800,000, THEN WE HAVE THE MAKE A DECISION OR MAYBE IT CAME UP WITH 1.2 AND WE DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. WHATEVER WE THINK IS A REASONABLE THING BASED ON WHAT WE LEARN, THAT IS THE MOST WE CAN MAKE TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

>> THAT'S MY MOTION. >> I WILL SECOND.

>> THANK YOU. VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S WILLINGNESS TO WORK THROUGH IT.

>> DO WE NEED TO OPEN UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT? ANY COMMENTS? ALL IN FAVOR OF DIRECTING THE STAFF TO SEE IF WE CAN COME UP WITH $1.2 MILLION. HOPEFULLY WE GET A GOOD ANSWER NEXT MEETING.

>> SEND THE CUPCAKES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

>> AS PART OF THEM AND ONE OF THE BIGGER LINE ITEM EXPENSES AND AT THE 156,000 , AS WE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS, THERE ARE TWO WAYS WE CAN FIND IT. THAT IS TO SHIFT COST INTO OTHER CATEGORIES OR REDUCE COSTS. I THINK PART OF THAT MAY MAKE SENSE TO PROVIDE US WITH SOME ANALYTICS ABOUT THE COST PER IMPACT ON BOTH OF THOSE VISITORS, BUT PARTICULARLY THE

BEACH VISITORS. >> THERE IS ONE AT THE DOWNTOWN

PARKING GARAGE. >> THOSE ARE JUST BIG EXPENSES.

IT IS THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF THOSE. I DON'T SEE THAT THIS EXPENSE IS GOING TO GO AWAY. WE ARE BEING ASKED TO FIND MONEY THIS YEAR, BUT I THINK WE WILL BE ASKED TO FIND MONEY AGAIN NEXT YEAR, SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SHARPEN THE PENCIL QUITE A BIT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE FUNDS ON AN ONGOING BASIS. THAT BRINGS EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE IN CATEGORY FOUR, BECAUSETHAT IS THE BIGGEST STRESSOR . THE CATEGORY WILL HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF STRESS TO IT MOVING

FORWARD WITH THIS CONTINUED. >> I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE NUMBERS AND OBVIOUSLY THE VISITOR CENTER AT THE ST. AUGUSTINE WITH THE PARKING GARAGE IS IS THE MOST VISITED, THEREFORE THE MOST FUNDED. I DO ALSO WATCH THE MARK NUMBERS EVERY MONTH ON THE BEACH, WHICH DOES SEE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE AND IT'S VERY REASONABLE TO CONTINUE THE BEACH FUNDING. I VISITED THERE MYSELF AND REGULARLY AND ENJOYED. THEY ARE VERY NICE. I HAVE REALLY QUESTION -- THE NUMBER OF VISITORS ALMOST AS A MAKE SENSE TO FIND IT , BUT I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT I'M SUGGESTING JUST WHAT YOU SAID TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE AND LET'S LOOK AT THAT AND SEE WHAT THE VALUE IS AND MAYBE THERE ARE SOME COST

SAVINGS THERE. >> I AGREE WITH BOTH OF YOU.

[01:45:02]

>> LET'S LET STAFF WORK ON THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE

SHOULD BE ANY. >> REGARDING THE VISITOR CENTER, IT'S A TERRIBLE LOCATION AND I AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT I FEEL BAD NOT SUPPORTING IT, BUT IT NEEDS TO

BE REASSESSED THERE. >> I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE BUDGET AND NONE OF THE MONEY, I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S COMING FROM TO FUND THE BEACH, BECAUSE IT'S NOT A LINE ITEM , SO I

DON'T KNOW. >> THE TEMPORARY STAFFING LINE IN THE CATEGORY FOUR BUDGET. THAT IS WHAT FUNDS .

>> I SAW THE OTHER ONES BROKEN DOWN AND MAYBE THEY ARE JUST

DOING IT. >> THE OTHER TWO ARE CONTRACT

AGREEMENTS. >> THERE IS NO MENTAL AND

AUTHORITY ACCOUNTING. >> AND LOOKED IN CATEGORY FOUR THAT THERE IS A VISIT FLORIDA ADVERTISING FOR 50,000 AND THE DIRECTORS STREAMING . HERE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS AS WE GET INTO THE NICKELS AND DIMES OF THIS, COULD THOSE POSSIBLY BE

SHIPPED INTO ANOTHER CATEGORY? >> WHAT SORT OF ADVERTISING DO WE DO WITH FLORIDA FROM THE CATEGORY FOUR?

>> WE HAVE PLATES TO ADD WITH VISIT FLORIDA AS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS OR CO-OP THAT WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO.

>> DOESN'T THAT MAKE SENSE TO COME OUT OF CATEGORY ONE OR TWO?

>> AND PREFER TO GET THAT BACK , BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS ABOUT $100,000 AND I THINK THERE ARE ABOUT 100,000 DOWN . I'D RATHER MOVE SOME MONEY OVER AND HAVE THEM DO THE ADVERTISEMENT AND HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP, BECAUSE THAT PROBABLY WORKS BETTER

TOGETHER. >> THAT MAKE SENSE. GOOD POINT.

THANK YOU. >> OTHER QUESTIONS AND THOUGHT ON THE SUBJECT. LET'S MOVE ON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF YOU NEED ANYONE TO HELP TO GET THROUGH THAT , JUST PICK UP THE PHONE

AND ASK US . >> AGAIN, WE WILL PROVIDE QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION TODAY BOTH REGARDING THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, BUT ALSO THE 2026 BUDGET. A LOT OF INFORMATION HERE THAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED. AND WE'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF THIS BACK PRIOR TO THE MEETING, BECAUSE EVERYONE IS PREPARED FOR

[8. FY26 PROMOTIONAL PLAN PRESENTATION FROM THE CULTURAL COUNCIL]

THE DISCUSSIONS IN JULY. >> EXCELLENT. JEFF?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. I'M EXCITED TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS. AS YOU KNOW, I STARTED BACK IN FEBRUARY AND MY FIRST 120 DAYS ON THE JOB HAVE BEEN A LOT ABOUT DISCOVERY AND ENGAGEMENT. IT'S BEEN ABOUT LOOKING AT OUR ORGANIZATIONAL OPERATION, PARTNERSHIPS AND PROMISES WE HAVE MADE TO YOU FOLKS AND OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE . I'M HAPPY TO REPORT OUT THAT THE ST. JOHNS COUNSEL IS A STRONG ORGANIZATION AND WE TAKE RESPONSIBILITIES VERY SERIOUSLY. I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND JUST HOW OUR EFFORTS HAVE IMPACTED CULTURAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE AND I'M PROUD TO LEAD THIS ORGANIZATION. THE CONTENTS OF TODAY'S REPORT WILL BE FAMILIAR TO SOME , BUT IT'S IMPORTANT

[01:50:04]

BRIEFLY, THE BACKGROUND ON WHAT WE DO AND WHY. WE WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE NEW YEAR.

SCOPE OF SERVICES ARE THE VERY ITEMS THAT WE PROMISED WE WILL DO IN OUR CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY AND OUR PURPOSE TODAY IS TO PRESENT A BUDGET ON HOW WE USE THOSE FUNDS IN THE NEW YEAR.

OUR MISSION, I POINT THIS OUT A LOT, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT WE EXIST TO DO AND IT IS TO SUPPORT ARTIST ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROMOTE OUR COUNTY AS THE DESTINATION FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS AND WE ALL KNOW THE VALUE OF ARTS, CULTURE, HISTORY AND HERITAGE AND WHAT IT DOES BRING AND I THINK THAT'S WHY WE ARE ALL PROUD TO LIVE HERE. THE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION EACH AND EVERY YEAR ARE TO MAXIMIZE EXISTING ASSETS AND TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN NEW VISITORS. IS TO INCREASE YEAR-ROUND TOURISM AND IT'S ALSO TO INCREASE TAURUS TO ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTY . WHEN YOU THINK OF ACH, IS ISOLATED TO A COUPLE OF POCKETS, BUT ONE OF THE GOALS IS TO REALLY EXPAND ALL ASPECTS, THEN IT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS WE ARE AN IMPORTANT AND PREMIER CULTURAL DESTINATION IN THIS COUNTRY. OUR BRAND PROMISE IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD AND I LIKE THIS A LOT. IT IS REALLY TO PROMOTE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF FIRST ANIMALS IN THE UNITED STATES AND THAT IS ALL MIXED IN HERE AMONGST OUR CULTURAL LANDSCAPE WITH THE BEACHES, FRIENDLY PEOPLE AND LET TO DO. FOR 2026, OUR OBJECTIVES ARE LOFTY AND THIS IS WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT'S SERVING AS EXPERTS IN OUR COMMUNITY ON ARTS, CULTURE, HISTORY AND HERITAGE. WE DO AN EXCELLENT JOB OF THAT THROUGH OUR GRANT PROGRAMS AND LEARNING ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS AND EVENTS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH CONTINUING EDUCATION AND THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND SHOWING UP AT MEETINGS LIKE THIS TO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE ON ALL ASPECTS OF COMMUNITY THAT WE TOUCH. THE SECOND MAJOR OBJECTIVE IS TO CONTINUE DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURAL PLANS. THIS IS A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO THE VALUE THAT ARTS, HISTORY, CULTURE AND HERITAGE BRING TO THE COMMUNITY. AS YOU KNOW OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IT HAS BEEN A BIG PART OF THE BUDGET TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THIS IN A WAY FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND GROWTH OF THE COMMUNITY. THIRD, MANAGING THE ACH GRANTS PROGRAM, WHICH IS A BIG FACTOR OF WHAT WE DO AND WE CAN TALK ALL DAY LONG ABOUT WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT THE ARTS AND YOU BOTH DO IT AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT. EVEN MORE SO, I THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE TO ALLOW US TO ADMINISTRATOR THAT PROGRAM . WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. WHEN I THINK OF OUR ROLE IN TOURISM, SUSAN AND HER TEAM DO A FANTASTIC JOB OF GETTING PEOPLE INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND THE ARTS, CULTURE AND HISTORY SIDE OF THINGS IS WE GIVE THEM THE EXTRA REASON TO STAY A LITTLE BIT LONGER AND WE GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT WHEN THEY GO HOME AND THEY BECOME EVANGELISTS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY UNTIL PEOPLE ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS THEY DID THAT MARKETING DOESN'T OTHERWISE ACHIEVE , SO IT IS REALLY THAT TESTIMONIAL ASPECT THAT WE FEEL THE BIGGEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT WITH. LASTLY, IT'S TO MARKET ACH SPECIFIC INITIATIVES.

MARKETING IS NOT OUR PRIMARY IN THIS, BUT WE DO EXIST TO MAKE SURE THAT ARTS, HERITAGE, HISTORY CULTURE ITEMS HAVE ORGANIZED AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT, SO THAT THEY GET A LITTLE BIT OF THE MARKET SHARE AND YOU DON'T GET LOST IN THE NOISE, SO A SMALL PORTION OF THE BUDGET IS DEVOTED TO HELP WITH THAT. THE FIRST WAS INDUSTRY EXPERTS , WHICH IS A SMALL SAMPLE OF SOME EVENTS IN AREAS THAT WE SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE ADDED THIS SLIDE, BECAUSE I WANT TO SHARE THE PURE SCOPE OF THIS AND HISTORIC DISPLAY AT THE BEACH HOTEL BUILDING TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THERE TO INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE WITH THE SISTER CITIES EXCHANGE AND TO MORE REPUTATION BASED THINGS SUCH AS THE JAMES BEARD DINNERS AND TOURISM ASPECT OF CABBAGE, POTATO, BACON FESTIVAL. ALSO THE MUSIC FESTIVAL, WHICH I HAVE TO INVITE YOU THIS THURSDAY NOW. DON'T MISS THE CONCERT. IT WILL BE THE HIGHLIGHT OF THIS SERIES OF MUSIC THIS YEAR, AS WELL. A BIG PORTION OF WHAT WE PROMISED YOU WAS IN OUR MOST RECENT CONTRACT. IT IS THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF CULTURAL PLAN FOR THE COMMUNITY AND I'M GIVING YOU THE FIRST OFFICIAL

[01:55:06]

>> MAY I INTERRUPT FOR A MOMENT? IT IS A RECURRING THEME AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT CULTURE AND THE INDUSTRY IN OUR COMMUNITY . AGAIN, AS A BOARD, WE ARE NOT KEEN ON ALLOCATING MONEY TO HIRING THIRD-PARTY CONSULTANTS TO DO WORK WHEN WE HAVE CAPABLE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT COULD ASSIST YOU WITH WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO, BECAUSE MOST CONSULTANTS COME IN AND TALK TO EVERYONE , THEN THEY JUST SUMMARIZE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SAID. SO, I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF THAT AND WHEN THEY PRESENT, THEY COME ACROSS AS EXPERTS, BUT SOMETIMES THEY ARE NOT AS MUCH AN EXPERT THEY THINK THEY ARE. I REALLY QUESTION IF WE NEED TO SPEND THAT TYPE OF MONEY.

>> CERTAINLY. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT MY PREDECESSOR WHO WAS A BIG PUSH OF HERS AND THAT IS WHY WE WERE ON THE BUDGET AND IT'S A FOCUS TO CONTINUE.

>> TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, THIS IS NOT TO BECOME THE CITY, BUT THAT WAS THE DIRECTION THEY WERE GOING TO GO INITIALLY WITH NIGHTS OF LIGHTS IF THEY ARE GOING THAT DIRECTION AND TODAY WE WOULD NOT HAVE APPROVED $1.2 MILLION. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. SOMETIMES WHAT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA IS ACTUALLY NOT AS SMART AS IT COULD POSSIBLY BE AND I THINK OVERALL THROUGH HIS TEAM WITH THE FEEDBACK THEY GOT FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN IF THEY BROUGHT IN A THIRD PARTY PERSON. YOU HAD A LOT MORE PEOPLE ENGAGED WHO ARE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE AREA AS A BOARD, I WOULD BE SKEPTICAL OF THE REPORT IF IT DONE BY A THIRD PARTY.

>> UNDERSTOOD. THAT IS THE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND WE WILL PROCEED WITH YOUR FEEDBACK. CULTURAL GRANTS IS A HUGE PART OF WHAT WE DO FOR THE COUNTY. WHAT YOU SEE UP THERE ARE THE CURRENT RECIPIENTS, SO FOLKS IN THIS FISCAL YEAR THAT RECEIVED MONEY LAST YEAR AND THIS IS ON THERE TO DEMONSTRATE AGAIN THE SHEER IMPACT THAT THE ACH GRANT FUNDING HAS ON THE COMMUNITY.

JUST TREMENDOUS EVENTS UP THERE AND THINGS THAT CREATE THE IDENTITY OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY. FOR 2026 WITH YOUR BLESSING LAST YEAR, WE DID CHANGE THE PROGRAM JUST A LITTLE BIT AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES WAS THAT WE INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT APPLICANTS COULD ASK FOR AND WE DID INCREASE THAT CAP TO $75,000 . THIS YEAR'S APPLICANT POOL IS 30 EVENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND THEY HAVE REQUESTED A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $1.43 MILLION, WHICH MEANS USING FIGURES WE WERE GIVEN. THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE GAP BETWEEN THE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THOSE FUNDS AVAILABLE. I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT TODAY , SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR

2026. >> JUST TO HELP YOU , THERE ISN'T ANY MONEY UNLESS YOU WANT TO MODIFY YOUR BUDGET AND IF YOU GO IN AND SAY, WHATEVER YOUR BUDGET IS, $3 MILLION, IF YOU WANT TO ELIMINATE FOUR OR FIVE THINGS, SO THAT YOU CAN ADD MORE MONEY TO THE CATEGORY, BECAUSE YOU THINK IT IS SMARTER, THEN THAT IS SOME INK THAT YOU CAN GET TO JESSE AND HE CAN PRESENT IT AT THE NEXT MEETING. IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE MORE IMPORTANT

[02:00:05]

PRIORITIES. >> UNDERSTOOD. THAT IS A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHO WE HOPE TO EXPECT . A PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT IS WHAT I WANT TO DEMONSTRATE HERE IS ALL OF THE ENTITIES OF 2025 THAT WE HELP FUND AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT 2026, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE CHANGE AND SOME ARE CONTINUING SUPPORT. ONE OF THESE THAT DO CHANGES THE BLACK HERITAGE TRAIL AND WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE WILL GO WITH OUR PUBLICATION AND AT THE END OF JULY, SOME SIGNAGE IS GETTING INSTALLED IN PHASE TWO IS TO SPREAD THE WORD, SO THAT PEOPLE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT CREATING THE TRAIL WITH HISTORIC SITES AND ACTUALLY DOING SOME MESSAGING TO GET PEOPLE OUT THERE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT PARTICULAR PRODUCT. MONITORS FESTIVAL IN CONCERT SERIES HAS BEEN A PRIORITY OF OURS FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS AND WE ARE DRAMATICALLY CHANGING OUR FOCUS WITH THEM AND WERE NO LONGER GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THE FESTIVAL ITSELF AND HELPING THOSE FOLKS WITH THEIR MONTHLY CONCERT SERIES AT THE WATERWORKS, WHICH HELPS BUILD REPUTATION AND AUDIENCE FOR THE LARGER FESTIVAL THAT THEY DO IN APRIL, BUT THIS WAS AN INSTANCE WHERE WE HAD FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS FOR THEM AND THEY ARE NOW IN A POSITION THAT THEY ARE TAKING IT OFF ON THEIR OWN AND THAT IS SOMETHING YOU REALLY LIKE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO WITH PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT BUDGET, WHICH IS THAT WE EXPECT EVENTS TO BECOME SELF-SUSTAINING TO SOME DEGREE.

THE REST OF THESE ON THE LIST, THESE FALL INTO CATEGORIES THAT I SEE , WHICH IS THINGS THAT WE ARE UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO SUPPORT. HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH EVENTS WILL BE HAPPENING THIS SEPTEMBER AND THAT IS WORKING WITH SOME ENTITIES ON THE STREET TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A COMBINATION OF FOOD , ART AND MUSIC GOING ON TO CELEBRATE. HISTORY IN THE STREETS, THE HISTORIC FLORIDA MILITIA , THE ENTITY THAT THEY'RE MAKING SURE THAT THEY CAN SHOP RE-ENACTMENTS AND THAT THEY HAVE GUNPOWDER AND THINGS LIKE THAT. IT REALLY ADDS TO THE HISTORIC QUALITY OF EVENTS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. ART AND PUBLIC SPACES, WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR GREAT ARTISTS TO PUT IN THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS I WOULD SAY AS THREE TIMES A YEAR , LOCAL ARTISTS IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY AND IT ALSO BEAUTIFIES THE GREAT SPACE WHERE WE HAVE A MEETING . THE MURAL TRAIL DEVELOPMENT, ONE OR TWO MURALS EACH YEAR AND HOPEFULLY YOU ALL SAW ABOUT TWO WEEKENDS AGO AND WE PAINTED UP THE SIDE OF A FULL BUILDING, WHICH WAS A GREAT PROJECT BETWEEN HASTINGS , MAINSTREET AND SOME PRIVATE PARTNERS , BUT IN 2026, WE LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO KEEP ADDING MURALS AROUND THE COUNTY . LASTLY, THE LIVING HISTORY FESTIVAL , WHICH IS AN EXAMPLE OF A GREAT HISTORIC EVENT THAT IF WE WERE IN PLACE TO HELP MAKE SURE IT HAPPENED EVERY YEAR, IT PROBABLY WOULD GO AWAY, SO THAT IS WHEN WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN. FOR THE NEW YEAR AND NEW PRODUCT DEVELOP MEANT THAT I ARTIE MENTIONED, THE BLACK HERITAGE TRAIL WILL BE A CONTINUING FOCUS OF OURS TO TELL STORIES AND DRIVE TOURISM TO ALL OF THOSE SITES AROUND THE COUNTY . CULINARY TOURISM IS SOMETHING WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS IN. WE HAD GREAT SUCCESS WITH THE EVENTS THAT REALLY ADD TO THE REPUTATION OF THE COMMUNITY AND WE ARE GOING TO ADD TO DO THAT AGAIN AND UPDATING THE CULINARY GUIDE, WHICH HAS BEEN THOSE PUBLICATIONS THAT WE CAN'T KEEP ON THE SHELF AND IT IS DUE FOR A QUICK LITTLE REFRESH. ONE OF THE AREAS WE WILL DIVE INTO MARK IS AGRI-TOURISM . IT'S BUILT ON THE SUCCESS THAT WE HAD WITH THE MURAL PROJECT WITH THE BIKE TRAIL AND REALLY TRYING TO MARKET IT AS A UNIQUE RURAL DESTINATION FOR FARM TO TABLE MEALS AND IDEAS LIKE THAT . EARLIER TODAY, WE MET WITH THE COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN TIE IN AND BUILD SOME STORIES THAT THEY KNOW. IT IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A GROWTH MARKET FOR US. FINALLY, UNDER NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, WE HAVE SOME FUNDS FOR THE EVENTS. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU WITH CREATIVE ORGANIZATIONS IS THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT IT'S COMING UP IN 2026 WITH GREAT IDEAS THAT COME TOGETHER WITH UNIQUE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO BRING THESE THROUGH FRUITION.

[02:05:06]

AS I MENTIONED, WE DO A FAIR AMOUNT OF MARKETING, ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS. THESE ARE ALL GENUINELY GEARED SPECIFICALLY TOWARDS AREAS THAT WE FOCUS IN ON , SO WE DO WORK WITH A CULINARY PUBLIC RELATIONS COMPANY OUT OF CHICAGO AND IT HELPS MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CATCH THE ATTENTION OF FOOD WRITERS AND GET INTO FOOD MAGAZINES AND REALLY PLAY INTO THIS CULINARY TOURISM ASPECT. WE ALSO WORK WITH THE SAVER AGENCY WHO HELPS WITH SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS MANAGEMENTS AND THEY DO THAT ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL , SO THAT'S NOT THE ST. JOHN'S CULTURAL COUNCIL, BUT THE HISTORIC COAST CULTURE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS AND WE WORK WITH A COMPANY CALLED CAUSE INSPIRE THAT HELPS MAXIMIZE GOOGLE GRANT DOLLARS AND ONE THING THAT IS PRETTY COOL AND YOU LIKE TO SHARE WITH FOLKS IS THAT MOST NONPROFITS QUALIFY FOR ABOUT $10,000 A MONTH IN GOOGLE GRANT SUPPORT. MOST WILL CASH IN AT A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS AND WE GET ABOUT $8000 ADDED VALUE EVERY MONTH OUT OF GOOGLE GRANT . THAT IS FANTASTIC FOR US. LASTLY , IT IS ABOUT BUILDING STRONGER LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS. WE DO A LOT WITH THE VISITORS AND CONVENTIONS FROM THE PUBLISHED CALENDAR OF EVENTS IS SITTING ON THE TOURISM PROMOTION GROUP AND ME HAVING A SPOT ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AS WELL , BUT WE WANT TO EXPAND THAT TO THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY CULTURAL EVENTS AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND STRENGTHEN THOSE PARTNERSHIPS , SO WE ARE ALL MOVING FORWARD , ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WHERE YOU MIGHT SEE CROSSOVER. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING FOR OUR FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET. MY TASK WAS ULTIMATELY TO KEEP THE BUDGET FLAT. AS I MET WITH MY TEAM AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND WE LOOKED AT HOW WE DO THIS, IT WAS A MATTER OF CONTINUING MOMENTUM AND LOOKING TO OPTIMIZE THINGS WE ALREADY DO. MOST OF THESE CATEGORIES STAY THE SAME AS LAST YEAR AND WE WILL WORK WITH EXTERNAL PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN STAY UNDER BUDGET AND STILL ACHIEVE OUR GOALS. A COUPLE OF THINGS I WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS IS ADVERTISING. I DO HAVE A BREAKOUT ON ADVERTISING BUDGET HERE, SO I CAN EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING ON THERE. LAST YEAR, WE HAD $100,000 THAT IS AVAILABLE TO GRANT MATCHING FUNDS. WHAT THIS MEANS IS IF YOU GET ONE OF THESE GRANTS, WE WILL HAVE THEM GO EVEN FURTHER BY MATCHING SOME ADVERTISING DOLLARS, AND FOR THE NEW YEAR, I'M ASKING THAT WE INCREASE THAT BY $10,000 AND I WILL SHOW YOU THAT WE WILL GET MONEY FROM IN JUST A SECOND.

SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISING, IS FULL OF MONEY EXISTS AT ABOUT $2000 A MONTH, SO THAT WE CAN GIVE EXTRA SUPPORT TO EVENTS .

RADIO AND TELEVISION IS THE SAME CONCEPT AND A LOT OF IT DOES GET SPENT WITH FLORIDA PUBLIC RADIO , BECAUSE WE DO GET A LOT OF BANG FOR OUR BUCK WITH THEM AND THE PRINT CATEGORY, WE DO AN OCCASIONAL PRINT TO ADD AND MOST ARE NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS . FOR EXAMPLE, BLACK HERITAGE TRAIL WAS PART OF A SPECIAL SECTION IN USA TODAY LAST YEAR AND WE DO PLAN FOR A COUPLE OF THOSE EVERY YEAR IN OUR BUDGET IN THE LAST CATEGORY DOWN THERE IS THE VISIT FLORIDA WELCOME CENTERS, WHICH IS A COST TO MAKE SURE WE GET THOSE MATERIALS IN FRONT OF VISITORS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AS THEY GO INTO THOSE CENTERS. THAT WAS ADVERTISING CATEGORY.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, I TALKED TO YOU THROUGH THAT LIST OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IN THE NEW YEAR.

THE CHANGE FROM BUDGETARY PERSPECTIVE , I AM LOOKING TO SLIDE SOME DOLLARS INTO THERE TO SUPPORT THOSE ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES WE ARE ADDING . THE FIVE-YEAR CULTURAL PLAN, WE CAN DEFINITELY TALK ABOUT HOW THOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN SPENT AND I HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR AND I WILL GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT.

MR. R AND PUBLIC SPACES PLAN GETS COMPLETED THIS YEAR FOR THAT $40,000 THAT CAME UP THE BUDGET AND THAT IS HOW I ADDED SOME FUNDS TO PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND THOSE ADDITIONAL MATCHING GRANT FUNDS TO THE ACH GRANTEES , THEN ON THE NEXT PAGE THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL $5000 THAT WE PUT INTO PRINTING BOOKLETS FOR BLACK HERITAGE TRAIL. VIDEO AND PHOTOGRAPHY NEEDS, WHEN YOU DO ANY MARKETING OR SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT IS VERY CONTENT HEAVY ON HAVING GREAT IMAGES AND VIDEO IN THIS DAY AND AGE, SO WE HAVE A BUDGET TO WORK WITH THAT. OUR TRAVEL INDUSTRY

[02:10:01]

EVERYONE IS REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT, INCLUDING MYSELF WHO CAME AFTER THE FACT. BECAUSE MY ROLE IS ART ADVOCACY, I HAVE TO STAND APPEAR AND SEE IF YOU CAN INCREASE THAT AMOUNT FROM SIX CALL -- 633 TO ANYTHING. TO BE HONEST, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY WOULD COME FROM ANY MORE THAN YOU DO AND IF SOMEBODY HAS A GREAT IDEA, YOU KNOW THE VALUE OF THIS. BRING IT TO LIGHT, OTHERWISE MY MESSAGE IS THAT THE ARTS AND HISTORY COMMUNITY ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR WHAT ST. JOHNS COUNTY DOES DO, BECAUSE FOR BETTER OR WORSE, WE ARE AN ANOMALY THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF ART HISTORY, CULTURE AND WE SUPPORT IT AND WE WANT TO DO MORE AND WE ALSO UNDERSTAND A LOT OF GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN THIS COMMUNITY. WITH THAT, I SHOULD EXPLAIN THE SPECIAL EVENTS LINE IN THERE AND MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE TOURISM DEPARTMENT IS THAT IT SITS THERE IN CASE THERE IS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AND I WILL COME UP WITH ONE FOR NEXT YEAR. WITH THAT, THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR 2026 TO A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS WITH THE BULK OF THAT GIVING AND GRANT DOLLARS AND THAT IS OUR ROLE AND WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO. IT'S TO FACILITATE THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT PUT ON GREAT EVENTS THAT GIVE PEOPLE A REASON TO TALK ABOUT ST. JOHNS COUNTY . WITH THAT, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME . I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

>> DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ARE JUST MY SUGGESTION. PLEASE TELL YOUR COMMUNITY FOLKS ALBERT AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO GETS GRANTS TO SHOW UP IN TALLAHASSEE, BANG ON DOORS AND DO THE SAME THING THAT YOU DID, WHAT IRVING DID, TROY AND WHAT FOLKS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY DID AND KEEP THE TDC TAX INTACT. THAT WAS TO GET OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE A CULTURAL COUNSEL AND FORM SOME SORT OF COALITION. IT WILL REMAIN IN THE BUDGET AND BY GOING OVER AND DOING IT. IF YOU TALK TO THEM AND HAVE THEM BE ADVOCATES , AS WELL, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

>> I KNOW THAT FOR A WHILE, YOU ARE HIRING CHRISTINA TO STAY ON AS A CONSULTANT OR SOME TRANSITION. IS THAT IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET OR IS IT THE RELATIONSHIP?

>> THAT IS NOT IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. WHERE DID DOLLARS SHOW

[02:15:12]

>> I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO MY BOARD PRESIDENT OR THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. THEY ARE BOTH HERE TODAY AND I DON'T

KNOW IF THEY WOULD KNOW THAT. >> JESSE IS LOOKING.

>> I HAVE A COMMENT. I THOUGHT YOU DID A GOOD JOB AND YOU HAD A LOT OF AREAS THAT NEED TO BE HIT AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE TOURISM , BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO FORGET THAT SIDE OF THE COUNTY AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT GO AWAY, SO I THICK IT'S AWESOME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

>> IN BETWEEN NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND SUSAN WASN'T IN STOCK

TODAY. >> YOUR IDEAS AND SOME THINGS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT ARE GOING TO BE GREAT.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. >> I THINK FOR THE MOST PART WE KEPT IT FLAT, BUT HAVE SOME PART-TIME FOLKS TO HELP US WITH

THE WATERWORKS AND RUNNING THAT. >> THANK YOU. GOOD JOB. SUSAN?

[9. FY26 PROMOTIONAL PLAN PRESENTATION FROM THE VCB]

>> WELL, IT'S HARD TO BE LAST AND THAT IS WHAT I GET TO DO TODAY IS TO COME BEFORE YOU. YOU'VE HAD A LOT OF GREAT CONVERSATION AND I ALWAYS LEARN A LOT . I'M SUSAN PHILLIPS AT THE CONVENTION BUREAU. FIRST OF ALL, WHAT WE WANT TO COVER TODAY IS GOING TO BE THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 MARKETING PLAN . I'M NOT GOING INTO EVERY PAGE OR DETAIL . I THINK YOU WILL APPRECIATE ME NOT TO DO THAT . JUST TRYING TO GIVE YOU A HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW AND POINTS THAT MAY BE WERE NOT RECOGNIZED FROM GLANCING THROUGH THIS. I DID GIVE YOU CHOCOLATES, SO I WANT YOU TO SIT BACK AND ENJOY. IF NOTHING ELSE, THIS WILL MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT SWEETER. I WILL PANDER IF I NEED TO. I THINK NEXT YEAR HE IS BRINGING WINE. I GUESS CHARLES WILL BE GETTING WITH YOU. IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE PRESENTATION AND I'LL GIVE JUST A SECOND.

SMALL PRINT AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY, BUT WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS START OFTEN TALK ABOUT THAT THIS IS A LIVING DOCUMENT AND A DOCUMENT THAT WILL CHANGE OVER TIME AND WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON THIS YEAR AND THE ECONOMY IS ONE OF THE THINGS AT THE FOREFRONT, BUT I LOOK AT THIS AS A COLLABORATION. THIS IS THE MARKETING PLAN AND IT'S REALLY JUST NOT VCD, BUT COLLABORATION WITH THE CULTURAL COUNSEL AND THE EVENT DIVISION AND THE CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT WITH THE CHANGER CHAMBER TO VISIT FLORIDA AND ADVERTISING AGENCY. YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THAT A LOT OF US ARE DOING A LOT OF THINGS TOGETHER AND I LOVE THAT JEFF AND HIS PLAN, EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T COORDINATE OUR MESSAGING FOR THIS, I LOVE THAT HE HAS A LOT OF THE SAME THINGS WE ARE THINKING OF, AS WELL. WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GENERATE BEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR OUR TOURISM IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. IF WE START OFF WITH PAGES FOUR THROUGH SIX , A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO MENTION AS AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. THIS YEAR, IT IS A FOCUSED DATA-DRIVEN STRATEGY AND RESPONDING TO THE EVOLVING LANDSCAPE OF DOMESTIC TRAVEL WITH AMERICAN TRAVELERS NAVIGATING INFLATION AND ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY , THE DESTINATION REMAINS A BEACON OF AUTHENTIC MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES. THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 MARKETING PLAN AMPLIFIES OUR BRAND AND PROMISE AND TARNISHES FRESH CREATIVE IDEAS FROM OUR NEW ADVERTISING AGENT AND WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE TENSELY ADVERTISING AGENCY WORK BESIDE US AND IT USES DATA-DRIVEN INSIGHTS TO TARGET PURPOSE DRIVEN TRAVELERS ACROSS KEY MARKETS AND PLANT ARMS. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WILL SEE IS THAT I AM OUTLINING STRATEGIC PILLARS AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF FLAVOR REGARDING THAT. THIS IS REALLY OUR STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK MOVING FORWARD. OUR MARKETING ENGINE IS BUILT TO GUIDE VISITORS INTO LONG-TERM CONNECTION. WE WANT TO CREATE REPEAT VISITORS TO COME BACK AND ENJOY THE DESTINATION YEAR AFTER YEAR AND WE HAVE ORGANIZED OUR MESSAGING FOR THIS YEAR AROUND SCORE EXPERIENCE PILLARS THAT RANGES FROM HISTORY , CULTURE, WELLNESS, MUSIC, FOOD

[02:20:04]

THROUGHOUT THE MARKETING PLAN, YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF REFERENCES TO THE DESTINATION STORYTELLING AND EXPERIMENT CONTENT ENCOURAGING VISITORS TO PLAN EXTENDED STAYS , SUCH AS MULTI- -- FESTIVALS AND SO MUCH MORE. WE LOOK TO LAUNCH THE TRAILS UPTIME CAMPAIGN, WHICH CONNECTS HISTORICAL TOURS, NATURE TRAILS, PANELING BOOTS, ECO-EXPERIENCES AND RELIGIOUS PILGRIMAGE TOURS.

NOW, I WANT TO LOOK AT THE SITUATION ANALYSIS AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY. THIS IS WHERE WE LOOK AT THE TRAVEL AND MARKET TRENDS.

WHILE TRAVEL ENTHUSIASM REMAINS HIGH, CONSUMER, AND IS SHOWING SIGNS OF EROSION DUE TO INFLATION AND ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY WITH NEARLY 88% OF AMERICANS WITH STRONG ATTENTION TO TRAVEL , BUT BUDGET CONSCIOUS BEHAVIOR IS INFLUENCING DECISIONS AND WE ARE SEEING THAT EVERY DAY. IF YOU LOOK AT THE RESEARCH WITH THE PACKET, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT ST. AUGUSTINE ORIENTED TRAVELERS ARE MORE OPTIMISTIC THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. LAST WEEK, I PARTICIPATED IN A WEBINAR AND TALKED ABOUT THE RECESSION PROOF TRAVELER AND HOW TO TARGET INDIVIDUALS AND WHAT NEEDS ARE, SO WE WILL HEAR A LOT ABOUT THAT IN THE UPCOMING YEAR. WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR DESTINATION PERFORMANCE , WE CONTINUE TO PERFORM WELL AND WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY HITTING ALL OF THE NUMBERS , BUT WE ARE PERFORMING WELL COMPARED TO OTHER DESTINATIONS, BUT WE STILL KNOW THAT WITH A LOOK AT THE LEISURE DEMAND FIGURE OUT AS MUCH AS WE CAN. A GROUP STRONG AND WE DO SEE SOME FLOWS AND WE SEE THAT GROUPS ARE NOW SEEKING VALUE DRIVEN EVIDENCE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD , THERE ARE FOUR THINGS I WANT TO POINT OUT. RISING CAUSING CREATING VALUE PROPOSITIONS. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE DON'T HAVE TO GO TO A LOWER COMMON DENOMINATOR, THE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET VALUE OUT OF OUR DESTINATION. DIGITAL INSPIRATION CHANNELS ARE DOMINANT. WE ARE VERY STRONG IN SEARCH , EMAIL AND SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEOS.

HERITAGE CULINARY AND MUSIC TOURS CONTINUE TO GROW FOR US, AS WELL. THE SUSTAINABILITY EXPECTATIONS ARE INCREASING AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO CHANGE HOW WE ARE DOING BUSINESS, BUT WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT AND MAKE SURE IT IS REFLECTING THAT. NOW, PAGE 13. THIS IS REALLY OUR PRIORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS MANY TIMES BEFORE. WE WILL INCREASE OVERNIGHT VISITATION FOR WITH A FOCUS ON ON THE MIDWEEK. IT'S AN DESPITE ENGAGEMENT -- LET ME PUT MY GLASSES BACK ON. I CAN'T READ. WE WILL DEEPEN ENGAGEMENT WITH LEISURE AUDIENCES AND PERSONALIZED CONTENT FOR DIGITAL TOUCH POINTS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT AGENCIES WILL HELP WITH. WE WILL REINFORCE BRAND DISTINCTION DURING IMMERSIVE STORYTELLING AND EMOTIONAL RESIDENCE . WE WILL STRENGTHEN OUR GROUP SALES, ESPECIALLY TARGETING OUR EXECUTIVE MEETINGS AND NICHE SEGMENTS AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY WILL MEASURE AND OPTIMIZE CAMPAIGN EFFECTIVENESS THROUGH DASHBOARDS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE WORKING ON IS A WAREHOUSE AND AN INTEGRATED DASHBOARD. ONCE WE HAVE THIS COMPLETED, WE WILL GO BACK TO 2016 AND IT WILL INCORPORATE ALL OF OUR REPORTS AND ALSO INCORPORATE OUR WEBSITE DATA AND AGENCY DATA . THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS 24/7 AND BE A PROJECT THAT TAKES A LOT OF WORK AND WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING THAT WITH YOU. IF WE GO THROUGH SLIDE 16 THROUGH 20 , YOU HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE. WE ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THIS .

WE HAVE OUR YOUNGER PURPOSE PURSUERS THAT ARE ABOUT 7 MILLION EACH . THOSE WILL CONTINUE AND THOSE ARE AFFLUENT MILLENNIAL'S AND BOOMERS. IT RANGES FROM ABOUT 100,000 TO

[02:25:07]

>> I HAVE A COMMENT. I THINK THIS IS WONDERFUL AND I

[02:30:02]

ESPECIALLY THAT YOU SAY BY THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE. I JUST VISITED ITALY AND IT'S A SMALL COMMUNITY AND HAS HAD A LOT OF TOURISM AND INCREASING TOURISM IN A SHORT NUMBER OF YEARS AND I GOT TO SPEAK TO A SHOP OWNER WHO HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR THREE GENERATIONS AND SHE WAS SAYING , YES WE HAVE MONEY AND SUCCESS . IT IS OVERWHELMING AND EVERYTHING WE HAD EVER DREAMED OF. OUR CHILDREN CAN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE , WHAT ARE WE LEAVING THEM ? OUR CULTURE IS BEING ERASED. EVERYTHING HAS TURNED INTO ONE BIG TOURIST MECCA , SHOPS , HOTELS AND SHORT-TERM RENTALS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. WHAT ARE WE DOING THIS FOR? WHAT ARE WE DOING THIS FOR IF NOT FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FOR OUR FAMILIES AND PROSPERITY FOR THE FUTURE, SO I JUST WANT TO LEAVE IT AT THAT. IT IS AN IMPACTFUL.

SPEAKING TO HER AND SEEING HER ALMOST IN TEARS, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK WITH I DO OBVIOUSLY GET IT. THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING THIS. HE SELECTED A REALLY GOOD.

THEY LOOK REALLY GOOD. >> THEY ARE. THEY ARE FABULOUS.

>> I READ IT FRONT TO BACK A COUPLE DAYS AGO AND I AM IMPRESSED, BECAUSE I LIKE THE ANKLE AND BARCELONA HAS PEOPLE SHOOTING WATER GUNS , BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TOURISTS AND THE WAY YOU ARE DOING THIS AS IN THE CULTURE AND PEOPLE WANTING TO SPEND THE MONEY TO TRAVEL TO SAY THE BOSTON AREA TO SEE THE REDLINE. THE FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH IN OUR COUNTRY OR THE FIRST FOUR . I THINK THAT'S PART OF PARENTS WANTING TO OPEN WORLD TO OUR KIDS. THEY DID A REALLY NICE JOB.

>> I WANT TO TELL YOU IF I CAN COMMENT ON THAT, THEY DID NOT HAVE A PART IN THIS PRESENTATION THE MARKETING PLAN AND WE HAVE TO WORK ON THE MEDIA PLAN . HAVE TO TAKE ALL OF THE COMMENTS THAT YOU WILL GET. I HAVE A GIANT FOLDER AND ONE OF MANY ON MY DESK . AS I GO THROUGH AND COLLECT ARTICLES, COMMENTS OR TRENDS, AND THROW IT INTO THE FILE, SO THAT WHEN THESE PLANS ARE WRITTEN, I COULD SEE WHAT IS RELEVANT NOW AND WHAT'S COMING UP AND REALLY TAKING ALL THE COMMENTS THAT YOU GAVE TO US THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OR TRYING TO INCORPORATE THAT, SO WE ARE DOING THE BEST JOB POSSIBLE. I THINK YOU HEARD A COMMON THEME WITH ME TODAY HOW WE ARE TRYING TO COLLABORATE AND GET PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTY. WE HAVE SUCH A RICH VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. LET'S GET THEM IMMERSED AND DON'T HAVE THEM DOING THE SAME, BUT REALLY CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND CREATE THAT WONDERFUL VISITOR EXPERIENCE. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT.

>> GREAT JOB AND I HOPE I DIDN'T MISSPEAK EARLIER. IS YOUR BUDGET DOWN ABOUT 100,000?'S ARE IT IS. IF YOU LOOK AT MY NUMBERS, IT'S NOT DOWN, BUT THE NUMBER GIVEN. WE ALREADY HAVE THIS PREPARED, SO THERE WASN'T AN OPPORTUNITY.

THESE DOCUMENTS CAN EASILY BE CHANGED AND THIS IS JUST FOR PURPOSES OF THE PRESENTATION. WE ARE VERY GOOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I'M HUMBLED TO COME UP HERE WITH IDEAS WITH MY SCATTERBRAINED HEAD, BUT WE WANT TO DO THE BEST JOB AND LISTEN TO ALL OF YOU AND MAKE SURE WE ARE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO GET HER BACK TO 100,000. I WOULD HATE TO HAVE THEM START LESS THAN THE PREVIOUS AGENCY DID, SO I WOULD LIKE TO GET HER BACK TO WHERE HER BUDGET WAS LAST YEAR AS A FLAT BUDGET YEAR OVER YEAR.

>> I WILL SECOND THAT. >> I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IN THE BEGINNING. THE 100,000 GAP IN THE

BEGINNING. >> LOOKING AT EVERYONE'S HEAD, I DON'T THINK WE NEED ANY DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL IN

FAVOR? >> THANK YOU.

>> I HAVE A COMMENT, TOO. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY DIFFERENT MARKETING PLANS AND YOU ALWAYS HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS PROVIDING THE

[02:35:01]

THANKS A LOT. >> HE LIKED THE FIRST PICTURE.

>> YES, THERE IS ANOTHER ONE IN THE MIDDLE, TOO.

>> WOULD TRY TO TAKE EVERYONE INTO CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU

VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, SUSAN.

[10. MONTHLY REPORTS PROVIDED IN PACKETS]

>> WE WILL BRING THESE NEXT TIME, TOO.

>> THE MONTHLY REPORTS I THINK EVERYONE CAN READ THEMSELVES .

WE WILL GO INTO MEMBERS COMMENTS.

>> IF I MAY, I DID WANT TO SHOW REAL QUICKLY ON THE ADVERTISING, THE NEW ADVERTISING. WE HAVE A SECOND FOR THAT . THIS WILL BE QUICK. I JUST HAVE TO SHARE IT. IT'S REALLY COOL. THE AGENCY PUT THIS TOGETHER IN ABOUT THREE WEEKS, SO WE WENT TO MARKET AND IT'S JUST -- I'M SO EXCITED. LET ME SEE IF I CAN FIND THIS.

THIS IS A FOREVER SUMMER CAMPAIGN AND CREATED BY THE ADVERTISING AGENCY. YOU WERE THE DRIVER IN GETTING US BACK INTO THE BILLBOARD MARKETS AND SURPRISE AT EVERY TURN AND THESE COULD BE CHANGED OUT. THIS IS JUST A SAMPLE. THESE ARE PRINT ADS AND SOME ARE FOR DISPLAY ADS, AS WELL. YOU CAN SEE HOW THEY HAVE NOT DONE A PHOTO SHOOT OR VIDEO SHOOT. WE WILL DO A DRONE SHOOT THIS SUMMER AND DO ANOTHER CAMPAIGN AND BRING A TEAM IN WITH TALENT IN THE FALL, SO WE CAN GET AHEAD OF THE SUPPLIES AND GET ALL OF OUR IMAGERY DONE, BUT THIS IS USING THE EXISTING ASSETS. YOU WILL SEE MULTIPLE ASSETS. WE ARE TRYING TO SHOW A VARIETY OF THINGS YOU CAN SEE AND DO AND MAKE DIFFERENT PLANS. THERE IS NO END TO YOUR ADVENTURE, KEEP SUMMER PLANS WIDE OPEN. YOU ALSO SEE THAT WE ARE POSITIONING OURSELVES A LITTLE DIFFERENT WE NOW IT'S NOT TRYING TO ST.

AUGUSTINE ., IT'S THE BEACHES. DEFINITELY, WITH TICKETS IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE. THESE ARE JUST MORE DISPLAY ADS THAT YOU WILL SEE A DIFFERENT ONES WITH DIFFERENT SIZES. ONE I LIKE MOST IS THE TV SPOT. THAT PICTURE STARTS VERY NICELY.

>> DON'T YOU WISH THAT SUMMER COULD GO ON FOREVER? EVERY DAY IS AN ENDLESS BEACH DAY WITH A NEW ADVENTURE ON EVERY TIDE.

THIS PIECE FOR THE SENSES. LONG NIGHTS FILLED WITH MAGIC AND MYSTERY. SAINT AUGUSTINE, PONTE VEDRA AND THE BEACHES. EXPLORE

FLORIDA'S HISTORIC COASTS . >> GETS LOVELY. I ALSO HAVE A QUICK RADIO SPOT, THAT I LIKE TO GET ONTO THE OTHER DISCUSSIONS.

THAT IS THE STORYBOARD FOR THE TV AD.

>> ESCAPED TO A PLACE WHERE HISTORY ECHOES THROUGH THE STREETS. EPIC BEACHES EMBRACE BREATHTAKING SUNRISES AND DAYS ARE FILLED WITH ADVENTURES. FROM THE HISTORIC CHARM OF SAINT AUGUSTINE TO 42 MILES OF SCENIC COASTLINE IN PONTE VEDRA AND THE BEACHES, EVERY MOMENT BRINGS A PERFECT BLEND OF A CONCILIATION AND REJUVENATION. START YOUR GETAWAY NOW AT FLORIDA'S

HISTORIC COAST.COM. >> IT HELPS WHEN ONE OF THE CO-OWNERS HAS A GREAT VOICE AND HE CAN DO OUR VOICEOVER WORK, SO WE WILL USE HIS TALENT AS OFTEN AS WE CAN DO FOR FREE. THANK

YOU. >> MEMBERS, COMMENTS?

[11. MEMBER COMMENTS]

>> WILL START AT THIS AND END. >> I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE AMPHITHEATER AND IT WAS A GREAT REMINDER OF WHAT AN INCREDIBLE JOB THAT THE STAFF DO. I SAW A RANKING THAT RANKED

THE AMPHITHEATER NUMBER TWO . >> THAT'S AWESOME.

>> JUST REMINDER HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO HAVE GABE AND HIS STAFF AND THE JOB THEY DO AND ALSO TO UPDATE THE CONCERT HALL IS MAKING INCREDIBLE PROGRESS, SO IF YOU GET UP TO PONTE VEDRA TO SEE THAT AT ALL, THAT AS A PERSON WHO RIDES HIS BIKE BY

[02:40:10]

DOWN HERE? >> IT WAS A REALLY GOOD MEETING

TODAY. APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND VOTE. IT'S AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE AND I LOVE THE WAY THE COMMUNITY HAS COME TOGETHER IN THE BEST INTEREST FOR THE COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE STATE PARK MADE A LIST OF TOP 10 BEACHES IN FLORIDA BY USA TODAY AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT, BECAUSE IT IS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS AND IT'S ONE OF OUR GREAT ASSETS AND WE TEND TO FORGET THAT. IT IS ALSO THE SECOND MOST VISITED STATE PARK IN FLORIDA, SO I JUST WANT1 TO REMIND YOU OF THAT. IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE VERY PROUD

OF. THANK YOU. >> DYLAN?

>> THANKS TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVING FOR THE ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH OR THE PLAYGROUND AND SHADE EQUIPMENT . IT'S NOT CHEAP. WE WILL PROBABLY TELL YOU THAT BEING ON THE BEACH IS WEAR AND TEAR ALL THE TIME. ALSO, THANK YOU FOR THE SHOUT OUT FOR THE AMPHITHEATER. NUMBER TWO IN THE UNITED STATES AND NUMBER TREE IN THE WORLD FOR TICKET SALES . THE OTHER TWO THEATERS AHEAD OF US ARE ABOUT DOUBLE OUR SIZE, SO I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT THEY ARE IN THE TOP THREE AND TOP TWO IN THE COUNTRY AND THE STAFF OVER THERE IS OUTSTANDING. MIKE, GREAT JOB ON LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE CONCERT HALL IS COMING AUGUST 1ST. THAT IS THE OFFICIAL OPENING DATE, THE 31ST IS RIBBON-CUTTING AND WE ARE EXCITED TO GET THAT UP AND RUNNING AND ALLOWING THAT TO BE ANOTHER ASSET FOR EVERYBODY THERE, AS WELL. THANK YOU.

>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS?

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.