Jul 21, 2025 Tourist Development Council

[Items 1 - 3]

[00:00:06]

>>> ALL RIGHT I AM GOING TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. IF WE COULD PLEASE STAND FOR 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.

>> MAY WE HAVE THE ROLL CALL? >> BLEVINS PRESENT MICHAEL GORDON HERE KASS HERE PHILLIPS THE MAYOR WILL BE ABSENT.

SIKES-KLINE HERE AND WICKS HERE. >> ALL RIGHT. WE ARE GOING TO

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT NOW WE WILL LOOK AT THE MINUTES. ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THE MINUTES? IF NOT MOTION TO APPROVE?

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. >> ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON TODAY'S AGENDA.

>> I HAVE TO READ THIS. AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT SCHEDULED FOR ACTION ON TODAY'S AGENDA, WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD PLEASE COME TO ONE OF THE THREE PODIUMS AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, EACH PERSON WILL BE PROVIDED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND WE ASK THAT YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE MICROPHONE, SPEAKERS WILL COMPLY WITH THE BOARD RULE OF CIVILITY AND DECORUM, SPEAKERS MAY NOT DEMAND IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM THE BOARD, NO PERSON WILL ADDRESS THE BOARD WITH PERSONAL AND PERTINENT AND SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR WITH BOISTEROUS BEHAVIOR. MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WILL REFRAIN FROM ANY DISRUPTIVE DEMONSTRATIONS OF APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF ANY COMMENT , ANY PERSON THAT FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THESE RULES MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE AUDITORIUM.

ANY SPEAKER THAT WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT MATERIALS PLEASE UTILIZE ÚTHE CENTER PODIUM, PAPER MATERIALS CAN BE PLACED ON THE X IN THE OVERHEAD CAMERA TO DISPLAY AND THE LAPTOP WILL BE SET UP FOR THE USB PRESENTATIONS , AFTER PRESENTING PLEASE PROVIDE MATERIALS TO THE STAFF OF THE CLERK OF COURT TO BE ENTERED INTO PUBLIC RECORD, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. BEFORE WE CALL UP THE FIRST PERSON FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. I GOT AN EMAIL AND I THINK SOME PEOPLE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE ART STUFF, BUT WOULD THAT FALL UNDER TOURISM RECOMMENDED BUDGET OR WITHOUT FALL IN NOW AS A NON-AGENDA ITEM BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE NEXT MONTH SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT FALLS. I DON'T WANT TO BUT IS NOT GET THEIR VOICE OUT.

>> THAT'S A DECISION FOR THE CHAIR, GIVING GUIDANCE NOW, IF IT IS MORE GENERAL ARTS IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE UNDER THE GENERAL COMMENT, BUT IF THEY ARE BUDGET RELATED REQUESTS THEN THEY WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE UNDER THE PUBLIC COMMENT. IT'S GOING TO BE CHAIR AND YOUR DECISION AS THEY COME INDIVIDUALLY.

>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T MISS ANYBODY AND WE DON'T TAKE AWAY THEIR VOICE. SO FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT NOT ON THE AGENDA

[7. TDC MEMBER APPLICATION RECOMMENDATIONS]

. I DON'T SEE ANY. >> OKAY TDC APPLICATIONS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS. >> THIS ITEM IS FOR, MEMBER APPLICATIONS. ONE OF OUR MEMBER TERMS IS SET TO EXPIRE IN AUGUST, IT IS AN ACCOMMODATION MEMBER AND THE COUNCIL CURRENTLY HAS THREE ACCOMMODATION MEMBERS AND FOUR NON-ACCOMMODATION MEMBERS. TO MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE WITH FLORIDA STATUTE 125 POINT TO MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE WITH FLORIDA STATUTE 125.01 FOR THIS POSITION MUST BE FILLED BY AN ACCOMMODATION MEMBER SUBJECT TO THE BED TAX, THE VACANCY WAS POSTED BY THE BCC OFFICE ON MAY 23 AND THE POSTING PERIOD ENDED JULY 14. A TOTAL OF 17 APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED AND THE FOLLOWING TABLE LISTS THE

[00:05:03]

POSITION. >> OKAY, SO I GUESS WE GO THROUGH TAKING NOMINATIONS AND IF THE PERSON GETS THE MAJORITY, THEN WE ARE DONE. IF NOT WE GO TO THE NEXT NAME. ALL RIGHT, WE

ARE TAKING NOMINATIONS. >> I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE

IRVING KASS. >> SECOND.

>> DO WE NEED TO DO ROLL CALL ?

>> HOWEVER YOU CHOOSE. >> PUBLIC COMMENT.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE OPPOSED? OKAY. NEXT.

[8. FY26 TOURISM BUDGET DISCUSSION]

>> THE NEXT ITEM WILL BE THE DISCUSSION OF THE FY 26 TOURISM

BUDGET. >> ALL RIGHT AND DO YOU HAVE A

PRESENTATION? >> I DO NOT, I WILL CERTAINLY NARRATE. SO, WE DISCUSSED THE INITIAL REQUESTED BUDGET DURING THE LAST MEETING AND AT THAT TIME, THE COUNCIL PROVIDED SOME FEEDBACK AND SOME QUESTIONS THAT WE WERE ASKED TO RESPOND TO.

EVERYTHING FROM CORRECTIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE PLACED IN THERE , FOR INSTANCE ON THAT SCREEN FOR THE CONTRACT MARKETING, THE VERY FIRST ONE THERE, COUNCIL HAD SET I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE AT THE 4.5 LEVEL SO WE HAVE MADE CORRECTIONS. ANYTHING FROM THAT TO WHAT ARE THE TERMS OF THE OUTSTANDING DEBT SERVICE AND COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED RESPONSE TO THOSE QUESTIONS. SO WITHOUT GOING TO THOSE QUESTIONS I GUESS MY FIRST QUESTION TO THE COUNCIL IS ARE THERE ANY FOLLOW-UPS RELATED TO THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED? AGAIN THAT WAS PROVIDED IN THE EMAIL. NOT PART OF THE PACKET TODAY IT WAS MORE OF A NARRATIVE RESPONSE. WE HAVE SINCE CORRECTED THE BUDGET AND/OR PROVIDED RESPONSES. AT THE SAME TIME AND I WILL NARRATE ON THE SCREEN, AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, TYPICALLY AND THIS IS UNDER THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET CONTINUES TO LOOK AT REVENUES SO SINCE THE LAST TIME THE BUDGET WAS PRESENTED, WE PROJECTED A SLIGHT DECREASE IN REVENUE, FOR TOURISM. AGAIN WE ARE NOT GOING TO RAISE ANY NECESSARY FLAGS BECAUSE WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THOSE OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER. WE HAVE FOUR MONTHS LEFT IN TERMS OF POSTING REVENUE. AS IS TYPICAL, WE WILL ADJUST OUR REVENUE ASSUMPTIONS, AS I IN A EMAIL THROUGH THE COUNCIL, WHEN WE HAD PROJECTED WAS A 3% INCREASE, FOR 25 , OVER 24.

LOOKS LIKE IT'S COMING CLOSER TO 1%. AT THIS TIME, WE CAN PIVOT AS WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS. AND THEN AT THAT POINT THE FY 26 REVENUE STILL MAINTAINING 3% INCREASE, OVER WHAT WE PROJECTED, FOR 25. IF YOU LOOK AT EACH OF THESE CATEGORIES GOING DOWN, YOU CAN SEE THE NATURAL PROGRESSION OF THE OVERALL USER EXPENSES , THE BUDGETS ARE GOING DOWN SO PARTICULAR CATEGORY ONE AT THE REQUEST A LEVEL WITH 3% ESTIMATED REVENUE, FOR 25, THE REQUEST WAS AT OR ABOUT $9.7 MILLION WITH THE UPDATED REVENUES AGAIN WE CAN ADJUST THEM AS WE GO LATER INTO THE SUMMER. WE ARE SEEING REVENUES COMING IN AT A LOWER AMOUNT THEREFORE IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATED AT $9.4 MILLION LEVEL . AS WE LOOK AT THESE LOOKING AT CAT ONE AS EXAMPLE THE COUNCIL PROVIDED A CORRECTION TO US ON THE FIRST ONE SINCE THE REQUESTED BUDGET.

SO WE INCREASED APPROPRIATION FROM 4.4, TO 4.5 MILLION. ALL

[00:10:03]

BEFORE THAT AS PART OF THE LAST TDC MEETING THERE WAS A CONSENSUS, TO ADD SPLASH PARK UPGRADES AT THE PARK , THAT WAS PRESENTED AS ONE OF THE ITEMS SO THAT WAS PROVIDED AT $125,000.

AGAIN, THE APPROPRIATION ITSELF WILL BE CONTINGENT UPON THE LOCAL AGREEMENT BUT OVERALL WE ADDED THAT EXPENSE WHEN WE LOWERED THE RESERVE BASED ON REVENUE PROJECTIONS. MOVING FORWARD SIMILARLY FOR CAT 4 WE HAD REDUCED A COUPLE OF ITEMS , DIRECT STREAMING WE HAD TAKEN OUT BRINGING THAT DOWN 2/3 OF THE WAY DOWN AT THE REQUESTED LEVEL AT 24, FIVE AT THE RECOMMENDED LEVEL WE BROUGHT THAT OUT. THERE WAS A ONE TIME AND AGAIN I THANK THE COUNCIL FOR ASKING ABOUT THE DEBT SERVICE TERMS BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE DEBT SERVICE TERMS WE NOTICED WHEN WE REFINANCED WE HAD NOT ADJUSTED THE DEBT SERVICE, SO THE SECOND TO THE LAST ITEM WHERE TYPICAL DEBT SERVICE IS ABOUT $454,000, WE HAVE A ONE TIME ABILITY THIS YEAR, TO REDUCE THAT TO 30,383. I THANK THE COUNCIL FORGETTING THAT ON THE RADAR. WE WOULD HAVE EVENTUALLY CAUGHT IT, BUT I AM GLAD WE WENT THROUGH THAT EXERCISE, SO THANK YOU FOR INITIATING THAT DISCUSSION OF ASKING THE TERMS AND MATURITY AND INTEREST RATE. THAT SAVINGS, WE WOULD PUT INTO RESERVES AND IT WOULD BECOME PART OF A SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION WILL HAVE TODAY RELATED TO THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS SO THOSE DOLLARS COULD BE AN OPTION FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER TOWARD THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION. SO THAT IS CATEGORY FOUR OVERALL GOING FROM THE 4.5 MILLION, TO A LITTLE LESS THAN 4.4 MILLION.

AND FINALLY CATEGORY FIVE. WE HAVE THE , PRIMARILY A REDUCTION IN THE RESERVE FOR THE CAT FIVE. AT THIS POINT I WOULD SAY UNLESS THERE ARE OTHER QUESTIONS, THAT IS REALLY CLOSER TO A LEVEL OF THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET THAT WE WOULD HAVE PRIOR TO THE NIGHTS

OF LIGHTS CONSIDERATION. >> I WANT TO THROW OUT A COUPLE THINGS BEFORE WE GO INTO SPECIFIC BUDGET QUESTIONS. ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED A READING LINE BY LINE AND THEN LOOKING BACK AND SEEING WHAT WE HAD GONE THROUGH IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF SELECTING THE MARKETING AGENCY AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO MANAGE MARKETING AND ALL OF THIS. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT ALL THE MARKETING WAS GOING TO BE DONE BY THE AGENCY AND SUBSEQUENTLY MANAGED BY THE VC BE . I HAVE NOTICED MARKETING EXPENSES AND AGENCY EXPENSES IN CATEGORY 2 IN CATEGORY THREE, IN CATEGORY FOUR. NOW A LOT OF THEM ARE SMALL, LIKE $50,000 HERE OR $100,000 THERE. BUT, IT SEEMS INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF SO I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED ON WHAT OUR INTENT WAS IF WE ARE JUST BUDGETING BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE USE TO DO IT OR

[00:15:02]

I WANT TO THROW THAT OUT AS A PHILOSOPHICAL DISCUSSION BECAUSE THERE'S PROBABLY TWO, THREE, $400,000 WORTH OF MONEY IN THOSE AREAS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATELY BUDGETED. ANYONE

HAVE ANY THOUGHTS? >> WELL, AS FAR AS CATEGORY THREE. MOST OF THAT IS DONE WITH PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT INDIVIDUAL BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT CATEGORY TWO. I WOULD LIKE TO GET CLARIFICATION ON CATEGORY TWO.

AND I HAVE A QUESTION. CATEGORY TWO, THE CONTRACT AT 1.4 AND THEN THE ANNUAL OPERATION THAT SAYS AID TO PRIVATE ORGANIZATION. IS THAT THROUGH THE CULTURAL COUNCIL? 1.4, THE CONTRACT FOR THE CULTURAL COUNCIL AND 851,000 ALSO GOING

TO THE CULTURAL COUNCIL? >> KNOW, THAT IS FOR THE ST.

JOHN'S CULTURAL EVENTS AMPHITHEATER.

>> OKAY CULTURAL EVENTS. 100% GOING TO THAT ? OKAY. JUST WANTED TO SAY PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, I SEE WHERE IT SAYS AND I HAD THAT AS THE CULTURAL SERIES. UNDERNEATH.

>> THEY ARE BOTH FOR THE CULTURAL EVENTS. OPERATIONS AND A PORTION FOR OPERATIONS AND A PORTION OF IT IS FOR THE SERIES

OF EVENTS THEY DO. >> THAT WAS CONFUSING. ARE WE GIVING MONEY TO THE SAME GROUP? THAT MAKES SENSE, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. WITH THE MONEY WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN CATEGORY FOUR RESERVES, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT SPOKE YET BUT I AM PRETTY SURE THEY WANT TO DEFEND THE ACH MONEY. CAN WE USE THAT RESERVES TO MAKE THEM GO BACK TO THE 632 FROM CATEGORY FOUR IF WE WANT TO DO THAT LATER ON? CATEGORY FOUR RESERVES REALLY GOT A GOOD BOOST SO I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN MOVE THAT MONEY OR IF WE HAVE TO LATER IN NIGHT OF LIGHTS USE THAT MONEY.

>> THAT IS AN OPTION FOR THE COUNCIL AND THAT IS , TO BRING THE FUNDING BACK FOR ACH , BUT AS WELL, THE SAME FUNDING IS ONE OF THE OPTIONS FOR THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS.

>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS AVAILABLE TO MOVE FROM CATEGORIES WITH IT BEING CATEGORY FOUR RESERVES. SO IT IS AVAILABLE TO HELP US SOLVE PROBLEMS LATER THANK YOU.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. IN CATEGORY ONE THAT THE SAME MONEY?

>> THEY ARE SEPARATE APPROPRIATIONS BASED ON THE CONTRACT THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAS SO

THERE IS NO DUPLICATION. >> SO IT'S TWO SEPARATE?

>> THERE IS ONE CONTRACT, THREE PORTIONS. ONE OF THEM IS OPERATING , THE OTHER IS OPERATING DOLLARS. ONE IS RELATED TO THE CULTURAL SERIES PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES SINGING OUT LOUD AND I DON'T KNOW THE WINTER PROGRAM, SORRY. THANK YOU. SO IF THE COMMISSION WOULD LIKE , THE CONSIDERATION IS IF THE COMMISSION WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATIONS TOWARD THAT. THE THIRD COMPONENT OF THAT CONTRACT IS MAINTENANCE, SO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAS MAINTENANCE BECAUSE THEY ARE A COUNTY ASSET SO THE ARRANGEMENT IS THE GROUP WILL PERFORM THE MAINTENANCE AND THE COUNTY WILL FUND THAT MAINTENANCE. SO THERE IS THREE COMPONENTS OVERALL TO THE

CONTRACT. >> THE THIRD PART UNDER THE

CAPITAL. >> I BELIEVE UNDER CATEGORY FOUR. YES. ALSO UNDER THE 58, 200 LINE.

>> SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON THIS BOARD THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE DISCUSSED AT ALL SO IT'S ALMOST 3 TIMES, LOOKS LIKE 1

[00:20:03]

DOESN'T JUST GO TO THE AMPHITHEATER. IT GOES TO SUPPORTING THE AMPHITHEATER AND THE PONTEVEDRA CONCERT HALL AS WELL AS SINGING OUT LOUD SO, SAYING IT JUST GOES TO THE AMPHITHEATER , JUST WANT TO CLARIFY.

>> I DID NOT MEAN TO SINGLE OUT THAT GROUP BUT IT IS THE SAME ORGANIZATION THAT'S DOING ALL THOSE THINGS AND IT IS SOMETHING MAYBE IN THE FUTURE WE WANT TO LOOK AT AGAIN BECAUSE I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT PRODUCE A LOT OF CULTURAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR THE COUNTY WE ARE FOCUSING ON THREE OR FOUR IN TERMS OF THE AMPHITHEATER, THE PONTEVEDRA CONCERT HALL, SEEING OUT LOUD AND THE FESTIVAL THAT HABITS IN FEBRUARY SO YOU KNOW WE HAVE TO SPEND A PORTION OF THE FUNDS THAT COME TO US AS A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION THAT DOES CULTURAL EVENTS ALMOST 1/4 HAS TO GO TO MARKETING. SO YOU KNOW WE DON'T GET THE EXTRA BUCKET OF MONEY FROM THE COUNTY DIRECTLY TO DO THAT MARKETING. PEOPLE I HEAR TODAY AND EMAILS I HAVE BEEN GETTING , WE'RE SPLITTING UP THE TINIEST PART OF MONEY AND GIVING 1/3 OF THAT , TO ONE ORGANIZATION TO MANAGE

AND I WANT TO BE ON THE RECORD. >> I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD EXERCISE TO GO THROUGH TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE COST AND BENEFITS OF THAT WHOLE GROUP. WE ARE FUNDING THEN WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS EFFECTIVE FUNDING AND DOLLARS THAT ARE WELL UTILIZED AND IN THAT SITUATION LOOK AT THE NUMBER EVENTS HELD AT THE AMPHITHEATER AND THE FINANCIAL IMPACT, THE EVENTS HELD IN THE CONCERT HALL AND THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THAT IN ADDITION TO SEEING OUT LOUD AND THE FACT THAT THE COUNTY OWNS THOSE FACILITIES AND OBVIOUSLY HAS TO HELP WITH THE MAINTENANCE THEY ARE COUNTY OWNED. I THINK IT IS WORTH EXAMINING THAT , IF THIS GROUP DECIDES TO DO THAT I THINK WE WOULD BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AT THE OUTCOME OF HOW EFFECTIVE THE INVESTMENT IN THAT ORGANIZATION IS BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD EXERCISE.

>> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH. >> OKAY I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.

IN THIS BUDGET IS THE NIGHT OF LIGHTS MONEY? I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE CAN FIND THE MONEY.

>> YES AND NO. THERE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT NOT REFLECT IT IN THE BUDGET WE LOOKED AT. THEY ARE CHANGES TO THE CURRENT BUDGET THERE, THAT JESSE HAS PUT UP WITH A DIFFERENT SHEET THAT SHOWS WAYS TO FUND. THE 850, BUT IT IS NOT REFLECTED IN THE

NUMBERS WE JUST LOOKED AT. >> THAT IS CORRECT BECAUSE AGAIN THESE WERE OPTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL HAD TASKED STAFF WITH LOOKING AT OPTIONS SO WE PROVIDED OPTIONS. WE DID NOT MAKE ANY ASSUMPTION WE WOULD PUT THESE IN THE BUDGET UNTIL THE

COUNCIL VOTED. >> I HATE TO GO INTO RESERVES SO I HAVE ANOTHER IDEA, BUT , YOU KNOW I KIND OF DON'T WANT TO GO ALL THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT GO TO THE ARTS.

HOW DID THE ARTS GET TAKEN OUT OF IT? WHO DID THAT?

>> SURE, LET ME SCROLL BACK HERE. CATEGORY TWO. SO, FROM THE REQUESTED BUDGET AT 633, THE REDUCTION, BECAUSE OF THE REDUCTION IN REVENUE I HAD TAKEN IT OUT OF THE PROGRAM YES. THAT HAD BEEN THE VARIABLE IN THE PAST.

>> SO THERE IS A PROJECT IN CATEGORY FIVE FIRST SUMMER HAVEN AND IT IS KIND OF A RESEARCH PHASE IN TYPE OF THING THAT COULD BE PHASED IN LATER. I TALK TO THE JUDGE AND HE AGREED IT COULD BE OFFSET A LITTLE BIT AND STARTED LATER IN THE YEAR OR PHASED INTO FURTHER IN ADVANCE SO WE CAN REPLACE THE MONEY INTO THE ARTS AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE FUNDED BECAUSE HONESTLY THAT'S

[00:25:01]

>> GOING BACK, JUST GOING BACK TO THE COMMENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE CONTRACT SO WHEN WE HAVE DISCUSSION I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTRACT. THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT. THAT'S INVOLVED BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF CONFUSING BECAUSE THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES , BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT THAT. BECAUSE IT IS A LOT, A BIG PIECE OF OUR BUDGET. I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND. I HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME AND DON'T RECALL US HAVING THAT DISCUSSION.

>> I THINK THAT WAS AT THE BOARD DECISION.

>> AT THE BOARD LEVEL. >> THAT WAS WHEN THEY WERE BRINGING IN PRIVATIZATION. WITH THE AMPHITHEATER PRESENTATION.

>> DID NOT GO THROUGH THIS BOARD.

>> IT WAS A COMMITTEE PUT TOGETHER BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. AND THEN THAT WAS PRESENTED MADE THE DECISION OF HOW THAT WAS STRUCTURED. AND PROBABLY LEX COULD TALK OR JESSE. THEY WERE BOTH A LOT MORE INVOLVED THAN I

WAS. IT WAS ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. >> THAT'S CORRECT. THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PUT TOGETHER REQUEST FOR THE P3 TO CONSIDER THE , I WILL USE THE WORD, THE OUTSOURCING OF THE SERVICES RELATED TO BOTH THE AMPHITHEATER AND PONTEVEDRA CONCERT HALL. I CAN TELL YOU FROM A BUDGETARY AND PROCUREMENT PERSPECTIVE I WORKED WITH THE AMPHITHEATER OVER A DECADE AND , THERE WERE TIMES WHERE IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR GOVERNMENT TO RUN THAT TYPE OF OPERATION. I FOUGHT AGAINST THAT INITIALLY BECAUSE WE THOUGHT WE HAD AN UNDERSTANDING, BUT THE ABILITY FOR THEM TO RESPOND TO AN ARTIST WITH A BID FOR HOW MUCH THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY FOR AN ARTIST. IT'S A VERY QUICK BUSINESS, TO GO THROUGH ALL THE CHANNELS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY , THERE WERE DELAYS. ABSOLUTELY. SO IT WAS BROUGHT THROUGH ADMINISTRATION AND ULTIMATELY BROUGHT TO THE COMMISSION AND THE COMMISSION DID A P3 SOLICITATION THAT WENT OVER , OF COURSE OVER A YEAR'S TIME AT THE DISCUSSION AND A CONTRACT WAS BROUGHT BACK PRIVATELY OF THE FIRST YEAR WAS FY 24 WAS THE FIRST YEAR OF THE CONTRACT. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF COMPONENTS, AGAIN TO THAT. BECAUSE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WAS, IF YOU WILL, SEPARATING FROM THE SERVICE THERE WAS A CONCERN ABOUT MAINTAINING COUNTY ASSETS. WE DID NOT WANT TO GET INTO A POSITION WHERE SOMEBODY ELSE WAS MANAGING THE ASSETS AND THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE. IT WAS, IF YOU WILL, DEFERRED AND KICKED DOWN THE ROAD SO IT WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT WE HAD AN ARRANGEMENT FOR MAINTENANCE AND THERE WOULD BE A TIMELY RESPONSE TO THE MAINTENANCE. WE DID NOT WANT THE ASSETS TO BE, IF YOU WILL, PUSHED TO THE WAYSIDE SO THERE NEEDED TO BE UNDERSTANDING ON THAT, THE COUNTY WOULD PROVIDE FUNDING FOR MAINTENANCE. AND AGAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR

[00:30:03]

SO AS PART OF THIS AGREEMENT , THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGREED TO PROVIDE TOURISM DOLLARS TOWARD THE OPERATION, THE OPERATION WAS BRINGING IN BED TAX, THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR DOLLARS TOWARD THE OPERATION. THAT WAS THE SECOND COMPONENT. THE THIRD RECURRING COMPONENT ON THIS WAS THE CULTURAL SERIES AND THIS IS KIND OF, IF YOU WILL, AN ANNUAL BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONSIDERATION AND THAT IS, THEY ARE CONTRACTING FOR SERVICE WITH SJSCC. SO IT'S A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT COMPONENT TO IT AND THAT IS EACH YEAR DOES THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WANT TO CONTRACT FOR SERVICE FOR THE SING OUT LOUD AND THE FORT MOWS A SERIES AND OTHER PROGRAMS. SO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONTINUES TO FUND THOSE SERIES. SO IT WAS SPLIT UP IN THE THREE COMPONENTS. THERE WAS A CAPITAL COMPONENT THERE. PRIMARILY WHEN THE PONTEVEDRA CONCERT HALL IS I SHOULD SAY BEING CONSTRUCTED . WE HAD TO TRANSFER THOSE DOLLARS OVER, SO THE SJSCC AGREE TO TAKE ON MANAGEMENT OF THE PROJECT, THE COUNTY WAS NOT OUT THERE. WE APPRECIATED THEY WOULD PUT THOSE EFFORTS INTO ALSO THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT. SO, WE AGREED TO TRANSFER THOSE APPROPRIATIONS OVER TO THE SJCCE. TO CONTINUE AGAIN TOWARD THAT COMPLETION. THE OTHER COMPONENT THAT WAS DISCUSSED AND I WANT TO CARVE OUT BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE DEBT SERVICE IS NOT PART OF SJCCE. THIS WAS A ORDINANCE CHANGE THE GAME TO THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND ULTIMATELY TO THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION. THAT IS TOURIST DEVELOPMENT DOLLARS PAY THE ONGOING DEBT SERVICE FOR THE ORIGINAL AMPHITHEATER IMPROVEMENTS. THESE DON'T GO TO SJCCE, THESE ARE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER OUTSTANDING DEBT SERVICE THAT THE ORDINANCE STRUCTURED SUCH THAT THE CATEGORY FOUR WOULD PAY THE DEBT SERVICE. THAT'S UNRELATED TO THE RELATIONSHIP THAT THE COUNTY HAS WITH SJCCE. EACH YEAR AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS THEY WILL BRING APPROPRIATIONS FORWARD AND IT IS ULTIMATELY PROVIDED TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET. WE UTILIZE BOTH TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAXES AS WELL AS GENERAL FUND WHERE

APPROPRIATE. >> DOES THAT EVER GO DOWN? ANY

OF THE NUMBERS? >> SURE, IN FACT, GREAT QUESTION. ON SOME OF THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS, LAST YEAR THE SJCCE CAME BACK TO US AND SAID HEY, WOULD YOU AGREE WE CANNOT COMPLETE THE ENTIRE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM THIS YEAR? WE HAVE SOME EVENTS COMING UP, VERY INTERESTING, THE TIMEFRAME THAT THEY HAVE WHICH IS VERY STRICT FOR COMPLETING MAINTENANCE, AS WELL AS CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION. THEY ASKED LAST YEAR APPROPRIATE FUNDING AND IT CAME IN LOWER. SO THEY DO COME IN LOWER. IT'S ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS ON THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONSENT TOMORROW IS TO KIND OF CLEAN UP THE LANGUAGE SWEAR IT WOULD UP IF IT AND WHEN THINGS COME IN PRIMARILY LOWER WE DO NOT HAVE TO PUT THOSE APPROPRIATIONS OUT AND WE CAN PIVOT , FOR EXAMPLE THE PAST YEAR WAS THERE WAS 2 MILLION ABOUT 2 MILLION FOR THE MAINTENANCE PROJECT, WE WERE ABLE TO LOWER THOSE APPROPRIATIONS . SO THE LANGUAGE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE TOMORROW AND THE CHAIR AS A COMMISSIONER WILL CONSIDER THOSE , THAT CLARITY OF THE LANGUAGE.

[00:35:02]

>> THROUGH THE CHAIR. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE CONTRACT , THIS IS FASCINATING TO ME AND I'M VERY INTERESTED IN SEEING THAT.

HOW LONG THE CONTRACT IS RECURRING, HOW LONG IS THE CONTRACT FOR? DO YOU RECALL? I CAN LOOK AT IT IF YOU SEND IT.

>> IT IS ON PAGE 11 OF THE CONTRACT, LET'S SEE. I PULLED THE CONTRACT UP.

OH, OKAY I'M SORRY THIS CONTRACT IS THROUGH 2050. I

APPRECIATE THAT , THANK YOU. >> OKAY AND THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE. SOMETHING I CANNOT QUITE CATCH IT ALL. YOU SAID THAT ALL OF THIS, WHAT'S GOING TO FUND THIS CONTRACT ARE ALL THROUGH THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX OR OTHER FUNDS BEING USED TO

SUPPORT THE CONTRACT? >> PRIMARILY THE TVT , WE TRY TO OFFSET MAINTENANCE WHERE HE CAN TO THE GENERAL FUND AND THE GENERAL FUND HAS THE ABILITY TO BUT PRIMARILY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX IS THE PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE.

>> I'M CONFUSED, SO THERE'S MORE MAINTENANCE COST THAN

WHAT'S? >> THE MAINTENANCE IS ONE OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE CONTRACT. SO THERE IS A TIME WHERE IF WE CAN OFFSET PART OF THAT THROUGH GENERAL FUNDING.

>> SOMETIMES GENERAL FUNDS TO GET SENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY, YES. AND I CAN SEND THE COUNCIL THE SJCCE CONTRACT IF THAT IS THEIR DESIRE.

>> THROUGH THE CHAIR ONE THING THAT MIGHT HELP TO CLARIFY.

LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT BUDGET CATEGORIES. HISTORICALLY THE TDC HAS FUNDED BOTH WELL BEFORE WE HAD THEM AND THEY CAME THROUGH THEY WERE SEPARATE LINE ITEMS THEN. THE NEW ONE YOU HAVE SEEN LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR IS THE MAINTENANCE LINE ITEMS AND A LOT OF THOSE WOULD HAVE COME THROUGH AS ONE THROUGH THE TDC TO APPROVE AS WE DID LARGER MAINTENANCE ON THOSE BUILDINGS.

SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY NEW, IT'S JUST SHIFTED IS ANOTHER ENTITY THAT'S PASSING THROUGH TO DO THE MAINTENANCE.

>> YES. >> HAVE A QUESTION FOR JESSE.

BECAUSE WE ARE ON THIS AMPHITHEATER AND THE EVENTS DECISION. IS THERE A CIP IN PLACE FOR THE CANOPIES? THOSE WERE GUARANTEED 20 YEARS AND WE ARE 22 YEARS AND OR 20 YEARS IN NOW. I DID NOT KNOW IF THERE IS A CIP OUT BECAUSE WE TRY TO PROJECT FIVE YEARS OUT IF THAT HAS EVEN BEEN DISCUSSED.

>> THE CANOPY? >> THE BIG TENTS. THEY ARE RATED LEVEL THREE HURRICANE CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE. THEY ARE 20 YEARS OLD NOW. I THINK THAT WAS WHAT THE WARRANTY WAS.

>> YES, SO YES THAT IS IN THERE, IN THE PLAN, THE PROGRAMMING AND SO YOU'RE NOT LOOKING OUT FOR THE CIP , BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A COUNTY CIP, THIS IS ULTIMATELY CAPITALIZED ON OUR SITE. NOT CAPITALIZED, IT IS A REPLACEMENT PROGRAM SO IT'S FALLING INTO A

MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. >> EVEN THOUGH IT'S IN THE BIG

NUMBER? >> IT WILL BE YES ULTIMATELY.

>> STILL LOOKING GOOD. ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS LIKE OKAY THIS

IS COMING UP. THANK YOU. >> I WILL ADD, THERE IS AN EXAMPLE IF WE HAVE LARGER PROGRAMS . MAINTENANCE IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT GOES UP AND DOWN. THINK OF YOUR HOME ONE YEAR YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MAINTENANCE, THE NEXT YEAR, YOUR AC GOES SO MAINTENANCE IS ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE YOU ASK FOR FUNDING SO IF WE DO GET IN AN AREA WITH A HIGH INCREASE THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD LOOK TO THE GENERAL FUND TO OFFSET THAT.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO CHANGE GEARS AND LISTEN TO ANYONE ELSE.

>> ONE MORE THING COMMISSIONER JOSEPH BROUGHT UP CATEGORY WO , THE GRANT PROGRAM AND I FULLY AGREE IF IT WERE UP TO ME I WOULD PRIORITIZE GETTING THE NUMBER BACK AND NOT HAVING A DECLINE IN THE NUMBER. IT IS DISHEARTENING TO PEOPLE WHO

[00:40:03]

BACK UP. >> WHERE I WAS HEADED WITH HIS THERE'S MONEY THERE WHERE LOOKING TO FIND, PLUS LOOKING TO FIND MONEY FOR THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. IT MAY BE MORE EFFICIENT TO LOOK AT WHAT THE POTENTIAL SAVINGS ARE, NOT SAY THEY ARE FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS YET, BUT SEE HOW MUCH MONEY WE CAN FIND BY LOOKING AT THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHANGES TO SEE IF THERE IS $500,000 OR $1 MILLION OR WHATEVER THE POT IS.

ONCE WE IDENTIFY, WE CAN THEN GO THROUGH AND SAY WHAT ARE OUR PRIORITIES? SO WE CAN FUND, BUT UNTIL WE KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE WE CANNOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THAT'S MY ONLY THOUGHT PROCESS. YOU HAD SOME RECOMMENDATIONS. I HAD BROUGHT UP SOME OF THE MARKETING QUESTIONS SO I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE THAT AND I AM SURE THE MEMBERS ON THIS BOARD MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THE BACKUP OF WHERE WE MAY BE ABLE TO MODIFY THE BUDGET, FOR 2026 OR MAYBE WE CAN DO SOME THINGS IN 26 AND OTHER THINGS IN 27 AS CONTRACTS EXPIRE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THIS AS A TWO-YEAR PLAN AND SOLVE THIS YEAR AND THE

NEXT. >> THROUGH THE CHAIR I THINK AND I'M GOING TO AGREE WITH MIKE. I THINK WE TAKE CARE THE FIRST PROBLEM. THE 111,000 SHORTFALL. I THINK WE TAKE CARE OF THAT AND MOVE ON TO THE BIGGER PROBLEM. SO I THINK THE ORDER OF OPERATION IN THAT ONE SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD CONSENSUS WE WANT TO HELP THEM AND WE HAVE A GOOD CONSENSUS ON WE WANT TO HELP NIGHT OF LIGHTS, BUT TAKE CARE, PAY THE LITTLE BILLS BEFORE BIG BILLS AND I THINK THAT'S THE LITTLE BILL. I WOULD

LIKE TO HANDLE THAT, FIRST. >> MY ONLY CONCERN ON THAT AND I FULLY SUPPORT PUTTING ALL THE MONEY BACK IN THERE. I DON'T WANT TO MOVE, FOR EXAMPLE, TAKE THE MONEY OUT OF CATEGORY FOUR AND ONCE WE HAVE THE OTHER DISCUSSIONS, WE REALIZE THAT'S THE WRONG PLACE TO TAKE MONEY FROM AND IT SHOULD'VE COME FROM THIS CATEGORY BECAUSE WE MADE OTHER CHANGES AND IT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE. YOU DON'T WANT TO LOCK YOURSELF INTO DOING SOMETHING BEFORE YOU TALK IT THROUGH.

>> UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE GOING BUT TO ME THAT IS A PRIORITY FIRST AND THAT 111 DEFINITELY NIGHT OF LIGHTS IS IMPORTANT BUT WE HAVE A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED US FOR YEARS AND YEARS. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES ME FEEL MORE CONFIDENT FIXING THE PROBLEM IS LAST MEETING WE DID NOT KNOW THAT WE WOULD HAVE 479,000 CATEGORY FOUR. WE WERE AT 121. SO THAT EASES THE PAIN ON THE SOLUTIONS BECAUSE THE SOLUTION AND WE SPOKE THURSDAY OR FRIDAY OF LAST WEEK AND WENT THROUGH A LOT OF THESE THINGS. THAT WAS NOT EVEN IN THE SOLUTION BROUGHT TO US. SO I THINK, TO ME, WE USE CATEGORY FOUR LAST YEAR FOR THE SAME SHORTFALL WE HAD FOR THE ACH. AND WE USED THOSE RESERVES AGAIN AND MAKE THEM WHOLE AND START FROM THAT NUMBER, MY FEELING AND THEN WE ATTACK THE

NIGHT OF LIGHTS. >> IS THAT EMOTION?

>> I WANT TO ADD MY VOICE BECAUSE I HAVE NOT HAD A OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS. I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS UP.

I WANT TO SAY TO FOLKS WE HAVE PROVEN, THIS WHOLE BOARD HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE , LAST YEAR WE UP YOUR BUDGET TO PROVIDE FOR THE GAP THE GOVERNOR PUT ON YOU WHEN HE VETOED ALL THE PROJECTS.

SO YOU KNOW WE PUT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY FORWARD AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE US FOLLOW THROUGH ON THAT COMMITMENT THIS YEAR. I AM CERTAINLY IN FAVOR OF IT.

>> I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS AGAINST VOTING TO BRING THE

[00:45:03]

BUDGET BACK. >> I THINK I HEARD A MOTION AND

I WILL SECOND. >> I JUST, I WANT EVERYONE TO JUST THINK THROUGH, IDENTIFY THE SAVINGS AND THEN LOOK AT IT. I SEE A COUPLE OPPORTUNITIES AND CATEGORIES TO MAKE CHANGES THAT WILL CREATE THE SAME SOLUTION THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO WITHOUT MOVING RESERVES, BUT WE HAVE NOT DISCUSSED THOSE YET SO IT'S NOT , IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO DO IT? I JUST DON'T WANT TO LOCK YOURSELF INTO SOMETHING AND FIND OUT THERE WAS ANOTHER SOLUTION. WE ARE TRYING TO FUND THE MONEY. THAT IS A GIVEN, BUT THE SMARTEST WAY TO SPEND THE MONEY AND MOVE IT AROUND , UNLESS WE MOVE FROM CATEGORY FOUR AND THEN DECIDE WE FOUND MONEY IN CATEGORY TWO CAN WE THEN REVERSE IT AND CHANGE IT

AROUND? >> I DON'T SEE ANY RESERVES.

>> IF YOU READ THE DETAILED BUDGET GOING BACK TO THE BEGINNING THAT I READ FOR THE MEETING THERE'S $100,000 IN MARKETING CATEGORY TWO. WE SPEND A YEAR AND A HALF TAKING MARKETING AWAY FROM EVERYONE AND PUTTING IT ALL WITH AN OUTSIDE AGENCY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS $100,000 OF MARKETING IN CATEGORY TWO UNLESS WE ALSO HAVE A SECOND ADVERTISING AGENCY

THAT WAS NUMBER INTENT. >> WHAT I READ AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG THE MONEY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS ALREADY WITHIN THE CULTURAL COUNCIL CONTRACT. SO WE WOULD HAVE TO REOPEN THE CONTRACT TO REMOVE THE MONEY AND I'M NOT COMFORTABLE DOING THAT WITH THE CONTRACT THAT'S ALREADY BEEN AGREED UPON WITH THE BOARD. THAT MONEY FOR MARKETING IS INSIDE THE CULTURAL COUNCIL CONTRACT. THE MARKETING LINE. PART OF THE CONTRACT.

>> HOW COULD IT BE WHEN ALL THIS TIME FOR FOR THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE ONLY HAD ONE MARKETING AGENCY?

>> MR. CHAIR A QUESTION BEFORE YOU MAKE A MOTION. IS EMOTION GOING TO BE FOR THE REQUEST OR IS THE REQUEST GOING TO BE

SUFFICIENT? >> MY MOTION DOES NOT HAVE A SECOND AT BUT MY MOTION WOULD BE TO MOVE $110,089 FROM RESERVES OF CATEGORY FOUR , INTO CATEGORY TWO ACH GRANTS TO MAKE THEM AT THE NUMBER OF BUDGETED THAT WE HAD.

>> I'M SORRY BUT I DID SECOND.

>> OKAY I DON'T THINK I GAVE THE EXACT NUMBER. I WAS TRYING TO CLEAN IT UP ARE YOU GOOD WITH THAT?

>> I ACCEPT. >> OKAY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT? WE NEED PUBLIC COMMENT RIGHT?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON I AM COUNTY AND ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE SAINT AUGUSTINE ART ASSOCIATION.

WE ARE HERE TO ASK YOU NOT TO CUT FUNDING FOR THE ARTS CULTURE OF HERITAGE GRANT PROGRAM WHICH YOU SEEM TO BE GOING THAT WAY ANYWAY SO MY HEART IS FILLED WITH JOY. I UNDERSTAND THE LOGISTIC PRESSURES CREATED BY THE GROWING SUCCESS OF NIGHT OF LIGHTS. IT HAS BECOME AN ICONIC EVENT THAT DRAWS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS THAT I URGE YOU NOT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BY SACRIFICING THE VERY THING THAT GIVES ST. JOHNS COUNTY ITS SOLE, VIBRANT ARTS AND CULTURAL COMMUNITIES. AS STATED IN YOUR OWN GUIDELINES, THE ACH GRANT PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TOURISM BY ENCOURAGING OUTSTANDING ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE PROGRAMMING. THE KEY WORD HERE IS INCREASE. THAT'S WHAT THE ARTS DO. THEY DEEPEN THE TOURISM EXPERIENCE. THEY INSPIRE LONGER STAYS AND TURN CASUAL VISITORS INTO LIFELONG ADVOCATES. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT , WE HAVE THE BAD TAX MY UNDERSTANDING IS $23 MILLION. AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS

[00:50:01]

>> I HAVE BEEN ASKED BY THE TV PRODUCTION CREW TO REMIND THE COMMITTEE TO SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE'S WHEN YOU'RE TALKING, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU TRY TO TALK TO EACH OTHER YOU DON'T TALK DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE SO IT'S NOT CUT ON

TV. >> PLEASE WHEN I READ THE RULES , I KNOW THE URGE TO CLAP IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE THERE BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE SOMEBODY ON THE OTHER SIDE WE HAVE TO BE RESPECTFUL OF BOTH SIDES AND I WILL START THE CLOCK ON TIME THIS TIME.

>> OKAY, ALBERT SILAS 83 BRIDGE STREET DOWNTOWN SAINT AUGUSTINE.

DELIGHTED TO HEAR THE DISCUSSION YOU ARE HAVING. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE WITH THAT MINDSET AND I WOULD LIKE TO FULLY ENDORSE AND SUPPORT THE ADDITIONAL AND RECURRING FUNDING FOR THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE TO IMPROVE THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS EXPERIENCE, THE TDC IS MAKING RESPONSIBLE ACTION TO SUPPORT THE TOURISM PRODUCT. ALSO THE ARTS COMMUNITY IS GREATLY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR RESPONSE TO THE EMERGENCY LAST YEAR CAUSED BY THE LOSS OF STATE FUNDING FOR THE ARTS. WHICH HAS CONTINUED THIS YEAR. YOU THREW US A LIFETIME LIFELINE BUT SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE YOU THREW US A BONE. WE ARE STUNNED AT THE PROPOSED REDUCTION IN THE ACH GRANT. I HOPE YOU FIX THAT AND ALSO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT THE STATE IS NO LONGER HELPING, THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT TAX WAS APPROVED BY THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY VOTERS ON THE PROMISE OF SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY ARTS, CULTURE AND LEISURE. SINCE THEN THE TDC HAS BEEN THE ONLY SOURCE OF PUBLIC FUNDING FROM THE ACH, THE TDC MUST SHEPHERD THE TBT FUNDS FOR THE STANDARD OF LIVING AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF ALL COUNTY RESIDENTS, WORKERS AND BUSINESSES. THE TDC HAS NEGLECTED TO FOLLOW ITS OWN OUT OF DATE STRATEGIC PLAN SINCE 2017. INSTEAD, IN RECENT YEARS IT HAS ADOPTED A CIRCULAR STRATEGY, SPEND TDC FUNDS TO GET MORE HEADS IN BEDS TO COLLECT MORE TDT FUNDS TO GET EVEN MORE HEADS IN BEDS. IT IS MONEY, MONEY, MONEY.

OVER PROMOTING NIGHTS OF LIFE , LOCALS DO NOT GO DOWNTOWN ANYMORE AND RESTAURANTS ARE MOVING OUT OF DOWNTOWN BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DEVELOP A RECURRING LOCAL CUSTOMER BASE. SING OUT LOUD IS A FINE EVENT, BUT THE TDC GIVES A LOT MORE MONEY TO THAT SINGLE EVENT THAN TO THE GRANT POOL WHICH AFFECTS 30 OTHER PRODUCTIONS. INSTEAD, YOUR BUDGET PROPOSES PROPOSED TO REDUCE OUR ACH GRANTS BY 20% , BUT I WANT TO MENTION THAT HEADS

[00:55:01]

YOUR DUTY IS YOUR COMMUNITY. >> THANK YOU.

>> NAME AND ADDRESS PLEASE? >> HELLO YVONNE I AM MARY CLARE BRANSON WITH LIMELIGHT THEATER THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, I LIVE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FUNDING US IN THE PAST AND I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO DO SO. I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT, A PIECE OF LIMELIGHT TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE GIVEN TO THE COMMUNITY. AND THANK YOU FOR IT, LIMELIGHT IS A THRIVING ARTS COMMUNITY THAT OPERATES YEAR ROUND, THE ONLY REGIONAL THEATER IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY WITH OUR OWN BUILDING AND THE RECORDER PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE EXPRESSING HOW LIMELIGHT IS A PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY AND SOMETHING REMARKABLE HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DAY AT LIMELIGHT. WE HAVE DIRECTORS WORKING WITH DESIGNERS, COSTUMES, CHILDREN, DANCING, KARAOKE FREE, STAFF MEETINGS WITH CREATIVE ARTISTS AND BUSINESS LEADERS, GUILD MEMBERS TRAINING TO VOLUNTEER, BUSY CARPENTERS BUILDING SETS, DESIGNER HANGING LIGHTS, VISUAL ARTISTS INSTALLING EXHIBITS, POETS PREPARING FOR SPOKEN WORD PERFORMANCES. LIMELIGHT IS A TRULY SPECIAL PLACE TO BE AND YOU GUYS HAVE GIVEN US THAT AND WE THANK YOU FOR IT. THE ARTS ARE CRUCIAL FOR ANY SUSTAINABILITY ENVIRONMENT AND LIMELIGHT ACTIVITY SPREADS YEAR ROUND AND HAS ENRICHING EVENTS ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE WEEK. WE DO NOT HAVE LARGE EVENTS THAT DO IMPOSE CONSTRAINTS TO TRAFFIC OR CONGESTION . ACTIVITIES ARE OCCURRING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR SO I WANTED TO SAY THAT AND WE HUMBLY ASK YOU DO NOT CUT ARTS FUNDING. WE TRULY COLLABORATE WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, PEOPLE, INSTITUTIONS IN THE COUNTY AND ALSO THE STATE AND NATIONWIDE NOW IN SOME OF THE PROGRAM WE ARE DOING. OUR TICKET SALES ARE PROBABLY JUST A FRACTION OF THE BUDGET THAT WE NEED TO OPERATE SO WE TRULY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE GIVEN US IN THE PAST AND WE HOPE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO SO AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME COME HERE AND SHARE THIS SENTIMENT OF THE LIMELIGHT AND WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO. PLEASE KEEP FUNDING. THANK YOU.

>> ANYONE ELSE? >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.

>> CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. SORRY SLOW ON THE ROLL.

>> PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED LET'S TAKE A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THE MOTION PASSES. OKAY LET'S MOVE INTO OTHER , THE PROPOSED SAVINGS FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS.

>> WE CAN FOCUS. THANK YOU. THIS IS WHAT WAS PROVIDED IN THE PACKET THAT THE COUNCIL HAS, TWO NUMBERS ON THE BOTTOM, THE FIRST , THIS INITIATIVE IF YOU WILL WAS TO PROVIDE OPTIONS FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER TO ADDRESS THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE REQUEST FOR THE $1 MILLION ADDITIONAL TOWARD THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS PROGRAM. THE COUNCIL RECEIVED OPTIONS WHICH I WILL GO THROUGH UP TO 850,000. I WANT TO PROVIDE TWO OTHER NUMBERS BEFORE I GO INTO DETAIL. ONE IS THE COUNCIL CONSIDER WILL CONSIDER REINSTATING ACH. REINSTATE UP TO 663 THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE OVER

[01:00:07]

THE THIRD ONE AND I WANT TO BE CAREFUL ON THIS AGAIN AS CONSIDERATION TO REAPPROPRIATE THE $325,000 CONTRIBUTION TO THE PGA. FROM CATEGORY FOUR FOR THESE PURPOSES INTO CATEGORY ONE. WE WOULD NOT REDUCE OTHER CAT ONE SERVICES, WE WOULD SIMPLY BRING 325 AND UTILIZE RESERVES AND I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT POINT, WE ARE NOT TAKING ANY OTHER PROGRAMS DOWN, THEY HAVE OVER 600,000 IN THE ONE-TIME RESERVES. WE COULD, IN ORDER TO RESOLVING THIS FOR THE FIRST YEAR WE COULD LOOK AT THE CONSIDERATION OF THE REAPPROPRIATION. SO THOSE BRING US ABOUT $443,000. I'M GOING TO SAY AT SOME LEVEL I DON'T KNOW IF THESE ARE RECURRING DOLLARS. THIS IS A ONE-YEAR CONSIDERATION. CERTAINLY LIKE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WE COULD LOOK AT ALL THE BUDGETS EACH YEAR. WE WOULD CONSIDER FISCAL YEAR 26, REVISIT AT A LATER DATE MAYBE 12 MONTHS FROM NOW AND MAKE CONSIDERATION FY 27. WE HAVE 443. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE MEETING WHEN THE COUNCIL ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE DEBT SERVICE WE NOTICED THE DEBT SERVICE WE HAD WAS INCORRECT. FOR TWO YEARS SINCE THE REFINANCING WE WERE ABLE TO CREDIT THE DEBT SERVICE FOR THE ONE YOU'RE PROVIDING APPROPRIATION OF UP TO $407,000.

AGAIN THE ONE-TIME THE DEBT SERVICE WILL BE PUT BACK INTO PLACE FOR FY 27. SO COMBINED BROUGHT UP $850,000 THAT WERE OPTIONS PROVIDED TO THE COUNCIL. AGAIN, TROY BLEVINS REQUESTED CONSIDERATION OF DIFFERING HIRING ON VACANCY IN CATEGORY FOUR WHICH WE COULD ACHIEVE A 25,000 AND AS THE COUNCIL HAS CONSIDERED REINSTATING, IF YOU WILL, THE ACH PROGRAM AT THE

[01:05:02]

WILL LET THE COUNCIL DISCUSSED. >>

>> YOU HAD MENTIONED EARLIER SOME FUNDING WAS IT SUMMER HAVEN STUDY THAT COULD BE DELAYED OR PHASED-IN? THE ISSUE, I HAD A MEETING WITH I DON'T WANT TO SAY WHO IT WAS BUT A MAJOR EMPLOYER IN THE CITY AND HE SAID IT'S REALLY FUNNY. I HAVE A $13,000 CONTRACT EVERY QUARTER TO CLEAN THE VACUUMS IN MY BUILDING. AND EVERY QUARTER $13,000, HE ASKED HOW MUCH THE VACUUMS WERE IN THEIR 200 EACH. HE SAID I HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS AND YEARS SO YOU MENTIONED MAKE SURE YOUR CONTRACTS ARE NEGOTIATED BECAUSE THERE'S THINGS YOU GO WITH EVERY TIME AND YOU DON'T LOOK BACK TO SEE IF WE COULD SAVE MONEY SO I THOUGHT IT WAS AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION.

>> MY QUESTION WOULD BE COULD WE MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE AND CAN WE ADD, WHAT COULD WE ADD BY USING THE SUGGESTION?

>> THE BOARD WOULD HAVE TO DISCUSS THAT.

>> IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT COULD BE ADJUSTED AND CONTRACTED TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BACK UP SO NIGHTS OF LIGHTS COULD BE FUNDED AT LEAST AT THE 850,000 YOU SUGGESTED.

>> ALREADY WE NEED TO REMEMBER THERE'S ALREADY IN THE BUDGET 200 TO 300,000 FOR THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NUMBER. I THINK THERE IS LIGHTS IN THE SHUTTLES.

>> I THINK THE RESTROOMS WERE 500 AND THE SHUTTLES WERE 300 OR

SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> THE VIC FUNDING.

>> THE REQUEST WAS 1 MILLION AND I BELIEVE THERE IS 250-ISH.

>> THERE WAS 300. GO AHEAD PLEASE.

>> THERE IS 300 ALLOCATED FOR THE CITY. 200 FOR THE SHUTTLES AND 100 FOR THE HOLIDAY LIGHTING PROGRAM.

>> SO, THE ORIGINAL REQUEST WAS REALLY 900,000 ADDITIONAL TAX

>> MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THE ORIGINAL REQUEST WAS 1.2 OF WHICH WE HAD 200,000 AND THE BUDGET. AND THEN LOOKING FOR THE

ADDITIONAL $1 MILLION. >> OKAY MR. CHAIR IS IT POSSIBLE

TO HAVE NAME FROM SPEAK? >> GOOD AFTERNOON, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. 200,000 LISTED FOR SHUTTLES , HALF FOR THE SPRING SHUTTLE SEASON AND HALF IS FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, THERE IS 100,000 FOR THE ACTUAL LIGHTING AND THAT IS WHAT WE PERCEIVE LAST YEAR. YOU'LL SEE SEPARATE LINE ITEMS HALF IS NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND THE FULL 100 FOR THE OTHER, 200 IS EXISTING THEY HAVE ASKED FOR THE ADDITIONAL 1 MILLION TOTAL OF 1.2, 850 INSTEAD OF ADDITIONAL 1 MILLION IT WOULD BE ADDITIONAL 850, 815 YOUR TALKED ABOUT LEAVING THE 200 SHUTTLE SEASON NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND 100 FOR THE LIGHTING. IS THAT CLEAR ENOUGH?

>> CHAIR? I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU GUYS FOR

[01:10:05]

IS THAT WHERE THE CITY WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE FUNDING EVEN GETTING BACK TO THE 850 YOU WILL HAVE A SHORTFALL. HOW ARE YOU

GUYS COVERING THAT GAP? >> WILL TRY TO HAVE THE MERIDIAN BARRICADES DONATED FOR THE EVENT IN A SIMILAR MANNER WE HAD THEM DONATED FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY. IF THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE WE WILL

HAVE TO SCALE BACK SHUTTLING. >> OKAY. THE LAST THING. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT RENTING OF THE BANK OF AMERICA BECAUSE IT HAS TAKEN 65 PARKING PLACES OUT OF THE MIX AND YOU'RE USING THAT INSTEAD OF CHARLOTTE. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT IN COST

SAVINGS OR ARE YOU LOCKED-IN? >> A POTENTIAL COST SAVINGS. WE DO KNOW THE CATHEDRAL BASILICA WILL BE USING THAT PARKING LOT FOR SERVICES DURING THE HOLIDAYS. SO WE DON'T HAVE A HARD NUMBER FOR THE RENTAL COST. THAT IS LIKELY TO GO DOWN.

>> OKAY ALL RIGHT AND MY FINAL QUESTION, LAST MEETING AND I CAN ABOUT THE QUESTION TO YOU ABOUT THE PARKING STRUCTURE BECAUSE YOU GUYS DO CREATE A LOT OF REVENUE DURING NIGHT OF LIGHTS

FOR THIS. >> EXCUSE ME, TROY. WE ARE GOING

TO NEED . >> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK.

DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.

>>> WE ARE GOING TO SEE IF WE CAN START UP THE MEETING AGAIN.

I UNDERSTAND WE ARE ON THE AIR. INTERMISSION, FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE, ROLL. YOU WERE SAYING DAVID?

>> COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?

>> ABOUT THE PARKING STRUCTURE , THE LAST MEETING I WAS TOLD PARKING STRUCTURE MONEY CANNOT BE USED AT ALL AND I WANT TO KNOW , WE RAN OUT OF TIME LAST TIME TO FIND OUT WHY CAN'T IT BE USED AND IS IT SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT?

>> THE PARKING GARAGE BUDGET REVENUE THAT COMES IN IS FOR OPERATIONS PERSONNEL AND OPERATIONS, THE DEBT SERVICE THIS YEAR FISCAL YEAR 26 WILL BE 1.5 MILLION, A PORTION IS PAID BY REVENUES AND FROM THE CRA. OUR COMMISSION HAS AUTHORIZED FUNDS TO BE USED FOR THE MOBILITY PROJECTS WITH THE MOBILITY PROGRAM GROWING TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS FUNDS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED FROM THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER AND FOR ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. THE VISITORS COME HERE FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY GET AROUND SO THOSE ARE THE REASONS THE COMMISSION HAS AUTHORIZED USAGE, THE GARAGE REVENUE IS USED FOR A SINKING FUND SOMETIMES $200,000 PER YEAR WITH A PLAN FOR MAINTENANCE TO BE SURE THE GARAGE CAN LAST AND CONTINUE GENERATING REVENUE SO THE REVENUES ARE USED FOR THOSE SPECIFIC THINGS BECAUSE ITS OWN ENTERPRISE FUND AND AS WE LOOK TO EXPAND PARKING GARAGE IS WE LOOK AT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. SO THAT IS THE LONG ANSWER TO WHERE THE FUNDS ARE, HOW THEY'RE USED, OTHER REVENUES ARE USED AND ALLOCATED AND WHY WE DO NOT USE FOR GENERAL FUND EXPENSES EXCEPT HER HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND MOBILITY, THE FUNDS FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND GENERAL FUND IN THE CITY PORTION GOES FROM 325,000 TO 450,000 AS WE INCREASE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC

SAFETY. >> SO IT'S ALLOCATED, NOT

[01:15:01]

SOMETHING YOU CAN MOVE AROUND. >> CORRECT PORTIONS ARE

RESTRICTED AND COMMITTED. >> I KNEW THE MOBILITY PART I DID NOT KNOW THE HISTORIC SIDE AND THAT'S WHY I WAS QUESTIONING WHEN IT CAME ACROSS THAT WAY. THANK YOU FOR CLEARING

THAT UP. >> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE PARKING GARAGE. IS THERE ANY DIFFERENCE IN PRICE DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, IS THERE A PREMIUM PEOPLE PAY TO PARK DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS VERSUS A RANDOM TUESDAY IN APRIL?

>> IT IS THE SAME BUT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT CHANGING TO MAKE IT A RESERVE SYSTEM MOSTLY FOR MOBILITY SO WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE TRYING TO COME AND FIND A SPOT BUT THAT WOULD BE REVENUE NEUTRAL $20 ENTRY PER VEHICLE. ONLY THE DAYS WE ARE SHUTTLING WOULD BE RESERVED SO WE WANT PEOPLE TO GO OUTSIDE THE CITY PARK AND COMING AND NOT COME INTO THE CORE CENTER MAKING MOBILITY MORE DIFFICULT TO LOOK FOR THE SPACE EVEN THOUGH THE GARAGE MAY BE FILLED SO THERE IS INCREASE IN REVENUE IN DECEMBER

BUT THE PRICING DOES NOT CHANGE. >> HAS THAT BEEN DISCUSSED? CHANGING THE PRICE LIKE IT COSTS MORE TO GET UBER ON CERTAIN NIGHTS. SEEMS TO ME THAT WOULD BE A GOOD TARGET FOR PREMIUM PRICING WHETHER RESERVE OR DRIVE-IN IT SEEMED TO SHOULD BE MORE EXPENSIVE DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS THAN ON A RANDOM TUESDAY.

>> WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT. MOST LIKELY WE WILL RAISE THE GARAGE FEE DURING THE DAYS WE SHUTTLE , BUT WE ANTICIPATE WE WILL HAVE LESS PEOPLE PARKING IN THE GARAGE ON ANY GIVEN DAY DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS WE WILL TURN THE GARAGE OVER 2 1/2 TIMES SO IF WE INCREASE FEES INSTEAD OF $20 ENTRY TO $60 WE DON'T REALLY ANTICIPATE SEEING A TRIPLING OF REVENUES. BECAUSE LESS PEOPLE WILL BE PARKING THERE , THAT'S THE GOAL WITH MORE PEOPLE PARKING HERE AT THIS PROPERTY AND BEING SHUTTLED IN

FOR FREE. >> GOTCHA.

>> A LITTLE BIT OF EXPERIENCE ON THE PARKING SIDE I WOULD STAY AWAY FROM RESERVATION STUFF BECAUSE OF THE TURNOVER. REVENUE WISE IT'S GOING TO HURT YOUR. IT SEEMS COSTLY BUT THE TURNOVER AND IT SHOWS AT THE AMPHITHEATER. THEY END UP HAVING EMPTY SPACES NOT MAXIMIZING PARKING WITH THE WAY THEY HANDLE SOME OF THE STUFF SO JUST FROM EXPERIENCE OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN I WOULD STAY AWAY FROM RESERVATIONS. I DO LIKE RAISING OF THE PARKING TICKETS BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE PARK IN NEIGHBORHOODS SAYING I WILL PAY $35 .

>> WE ARE RAISING THE FINES FROM $35, TO $100 IN THE CORE

DOWNTOWN AREA ALSO. >> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU.

>> AS WE TALK ABOUT PARKING FEES, I THINK TAKING PARKING FROM 20 TO 30 IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 1 HALF OF JANUARY OR WHATEVER YOU COULD RAISE IT TO $30 AND HAVE ZERO IMPACT ON DEMAND AND YOU COULD LOOK IF YOU'RE DOING $1 MILLION YOU PICK UP HALF $1 MILLION WITHOUT CHANGING ANY DYNAMICS WHATSOEVER , BUT MORE CASH. SO I THINK IF WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT RESERVES THAT'S LOW FRUIT AND I DO NOT THINK YOU WILL SEE ANY IMPACT.

IT IS NO DIFFERENT THAN TODAY IF YOU WANT A ROOM DOWNTOWN SAINT AUGUSTINE IT WOULD BE 200 AND IN DECEMBER 400. THE DEMAND IS ACTUALLY HIGHER SO I THINK THAT IS LOW FRUIT. IT DOES NOT ATTACK ANY OF THE MOBILITY ISSUES, BUT IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR UNENCUMBERED MONEY , THERE'S HALF $1 MILLION OF LOW FRUIT

RIGHT THERE. >> IT IS A DELICATE BALANCING ACT WHEN WE INCREASE THE RATE FOR THE GARAGE WE SEE LESS TURNOVER IN THE GARAGE. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING AND AS YOU KNOW PARKING RATES ACROSS THE BOARD IN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LOTS HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT GO UP OVER TIME SO THERE WILL BE A DAY WHEN THE RATES GO UP. YES OR.

>> THAT GOES BACK TO FINDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING, SO ANYWHERE

[01:20:06]

>> ONE OF THE THINGS AND THIS IS FAIRLY CONTROVERSIAL. BUT I THINK IF WE START LOOKING AT THE BUDGET AND SOME OF THE CONTRACTS THAT EXPIRE , NOT THIS YEAR, BUT NEXT YEAR FOR EXAMPLE, THE CHAMBER CONTRACT HAS ONE YEAR LEFT. DO WE SIGN OF, IF WE HAD CHOICE BETWEEN NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONTRACT AND I'M NOT PICKING ON THE CHAMBER I'M JUST USING IT AS AN EXAMPLE. IF WE HAD TO PICK ONE OR THE OTHER WOULD WE LOOK AT IT THAT WAY? WOULD WE LOOK AT VISITOR CENTERS THE SAME WAY? I WAS THINKING, I READ EVERY LINE IN THE BUDGET AND LOOKED AT EVERYTHING AND I ASK FROM 10,000 FEET DOESN'T MAKE SENSE? THEN I SAID TO MYSELF, YOU TRAVEL A LOT, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU USED A VISITOR CENTER FOR ANYTHING BUT GO TO THE BATHROOM

PERSONALLY? >> CAN WE LET THESE GUYS SIT DOWN? THEY'RE STANDING HERE BEING SO POLITE.

>> YEAH. I LOOKED AT THE QUESTION. ARE VISITOR CENTERS STILL, IS IT EFFECTIVE USE OF MONEY? WHEN WE STARTED VISITOR CENTERS THERE WAS NOT A SUCH THING AS AN APP. ARE WE USING THESE THINGS BECAUSE WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD IT AND IT IS CONVENIENT OR IS IT THE SMARTEST USE OF MONEY? I THINK WE HAVE TO START HAVING REAL HARD CONVERSATIONS. I DON'T WANT TO CANCEL ANY CONTRACTS, BUT I WANT TO LOOK THAT IF WE CAN ONLY CHOOSE ONE, NOT TWO THINGS, ARE WE LOOKING AT IT HARD ENOUGH WHERE WE MADE A SMART DECISION? I'M NOT ADVOCATING THAT THE CHAMBER CONTRACT GOES AWAY OR VISITOR CENTERS, I'M JUST THROWING THOSE OUT AS EXAMPLES, BIG NUMBERS IN THE BUDGET THAT , DO THEY MAKE SENSE ANYMORE? AND I'M JUST THROWING THOSE OUT SO WHEN WE LOOK AT 2027 WE NEED TO HAVE HARD DISCUSSIONS OR WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO FUND NIGHTS OF LIGHTS.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY I AGREE. MAYBE WE NEED TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE CONTRACTS AND SEE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE RENEGOTIATED OR WHERE THERE IS FAT.

>> I AGREE, I LIKE THE IDEA LOOKING AT THE CONTRACT. THE VISITOR CENTER HAS A VISITATION OF 650,000 PEOPLE PER YEAR. SO THERE IS GOOD USE OF YOUR DOLLARS IF YOU ASK ME. BUT I WOULD LIKE, AS I WAS SINGULARLY I WOULD LIKE TO ASK STAFF TO LOOK AT SUMMER HAVEN, INLET MANAGEMENT BUDGET. IT IS A $500,000 BUDGET, PERHAPS YOU CAN SCARE UP 35,000 YOU CAN SCARE UP 35,002 THAT NUMBER 850,000. I KNOW IT MIGHT BE A HEAVY LIFT AT THE BCC, BUT I WOULD LIKE IT IF WE COULD MAKE UP A MOTION TO FUND NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AT 850 IT PROVIDED THAT THE BCC WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND MANAGE THE INLET MANAGEMENT STUDY. I SEE YOUR EYES GETTING WIDE. ARE WE GOOD?

>> I HAVE A SLIGHT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE 850 AND AGAIN

[01:25:05]

>> NO DISRESPECT I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE HEARD CONSENSUS OF EACH ITEM IN HERE THAT EVERYONE IS COMFORTABLE ELIMINATING THESE THINGS SO BEFORE WE LOOK AT THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE

FOR EXAMPLE MOVING THE BUDGET. >> I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A MOTION.

>> THE MOTION IS 850,000 TO BE RECOMMENDED AS PART OF THE

BUDGET. >> SECOND.

>> I WILL SECOND FOR DISCUSSION. >> YES, THANK YOU.

>> I THINK WE TAKE THE LIST AND THIS IS A SUGGESTION, TAKE JESSE'S LIST AND GO SEE IF WE ARE OKAY WITH THESE ITEMS AND IF WE ARE NOT OKAY THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO GET TO THE 850 AND I AM ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THE MAYOR IF WE CAN GET THE 35 FROM RESERVES OR ONE OF THE RESERVES AND NOT HEARD ANYBODY ELSE THAT'S THE WAY I WANT TO GO. DOES ANYBODY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DEFERRED TOURISM STRATEGIC PLAN 68,000?

>> I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS WITH THE TPC . THE PLAYERS THAT WERE MOVING FROM CATEGORY FOUR TO CATEGORY ONE.

>> I'VE NOT GOTTEN TO THAT YET. THAT'S THE THIRD ONE. I'M TRYING TO WORK DOWN THE LIST SO NO ONE HAS A PROBLEM WITH NUMBER ONE. ON HIS LIST. DOES ANYONE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH NUMBER TWO ON THE LIST? OKAY AND I'M PRETTY SURE YOU'LL SAY SOMETHING BUT GO AHEAD ON NUMBER THREE. I WILL LET YOU BE THE BAD

GUY. >> TO MY QUESTIONS AND ONE OF THEM, I READ THE CONTRACT VERY CLOSELY AND IT IS FOR THE HUDDLE HOUSE. IT IS NOT FOR SUPPORT OF THE PLAYERS LIKE I THOUGHT IT WAS , BUYING AN ENTERTAINMENT TENT FOR MARKETING. I HAD ORIGINALLY THOUGHT YEARS AGO WE WERE DOING IT TO HELP WITH TRANSPORTATION BUT I READ LINE BY LINE IN THE CONTRACT WE ARE BUYING TICKETS TO THE HUDDLE HOUSE. IF WE ARE DOING THAT AND MOVING TO CATEGORY ONE THEN IT NEEDS TO BE A REAL LIVE TRIP AND NOT A SITUATION WHERE THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHO ARE ATTENDING THAT EVENT NOT DRIVING TOPLINE BECAUSE $325,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY TO RENT A PARTY SWEET IF WE ARE NOT TRYING TO BRING IN CUSTOMERS. AND IF IT IS BEING PUT IN AS ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE COUNTY AND NOT BRINGING CUSTOMERS THAN IT IS NOT A MARKETING EXPENSE. SO I HAVE A HARD TIME SIGNING OFF ON A BOONDOGGLE FOR $325,000. I HAVE NO PROBLEM SIGNING OFF ON A VERY INTENSE FAMILIARIZATION TRIP AND HAVING IT MANAGED LIKE THAT , IF THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN MAKE WORK BUT THAT GETS COMPLICATED BECAUSE WHERE DO YOU FIND THE HOTEL ROOMS AT TPC AND THINGS LIKE THAT? I HAD ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS TRANSPORTATION BUT I'M WRONG IT WAS TO RENT THE HUDDLE HOUSE.

>> THROUGH THE CHAIR. I AGREE WITH YOU AND I HAVE WRITTEN MY OWN CHECK FOR MY TICKETS EVERY TIME. I DON'T KNOW IF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS DO OR NOT, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR TICKETS AND BEING ABLE TO GO THERE IS A WONDERFUL THING FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> ONE OF THE KEY THINGS FOR ME IS THAT WAS NOT COMING OUT OF CATEGORY ONE. IT IS IN THE RESERVES, ON THE RESERVES CATEGORY ONE. ONE OF THE STIPULATIONS IS AS MONEY AVAILABLE FOR RESERVES THAT GETS RESTORED CATEGORY ONE FIRST.

AFFAIR USING 325 FROM THE RESERVES BECAUSE THAT WAS A KEY CMPONENT FOR ME. I DID NOT WANT ANYTHING TOUCHING ADVERTISING

MARKETING OR ANY OF THAT. >> I THINK IF WE HAVE A HURRICANE WE WILL WANT EVERY PENNY OF THE RESERVE SO I DON'T

[01:30:03]

>> I AGREE I THINK JUST SO WE CAN HAVE NICE SEATS AND WHAT HAVE BEEN IN THERE IT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL LOCALS, NOT REALLY .

>> WE ARE UNDER A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION SO WE HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH THE CONTRACT WHICH I BELIEVE HAS A COUPLE MORE YEARS ON IT. I HAVE IT ON MY LAPTOP SOMEWHERE I CAN PULL IT UP. IT IS NOT A THIS YEAR THING, BUT IF IT IS GOING TO MARKETING THEN IT NEEDS TO BE A MARKETING EVENT AND IT CANNOT BE HOW WE HAVE BEEN USING IT IN THE PAST. IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE IN CATEGORY FOUR AND HAVE IT RUN BY STAFF, I CAN'T CONTROL THAT DECISION-MAKING, BUT IF IT FALLS UNDER MARKETING WE WILL HOLD THE CONTRACTOR OF THE VC BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR HOW THEY SPEND THE MONEY. SO I THINK WE NEED TO REALIZE THERE'S A LOT OF IMPLICATIONS. WE ARE ALL TRYING TO FIX NIGHTS OF LIGHT , BUT THIS IS A REAL BOONDOGGLE WE HAVE TO MANAGE WELL .

>> BIFURCATION. YOU HAVE DONE MORE RESEARCH ON IT THAN I HAVE OBVIOUSLY COMPARED TO WHERE IT USED TO BE AND WHAT IT WAS. SO THE 325 100% GOES TO THE HUDDLE HOUSE? SO WHAT IS THE PLAYERS , WHAT DOES THE PLAYER GET? SO WE ARE JUST A SPONSOR? OKAY.

>> MR. CHAIRMAN. >> CHARLES? THAT'S WHAT I

THOUGHT IT WAS. >> I'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT LINE ITEM AS WELL. IT USED TO BE 200,000 WHEN WE FIRST STARTED AND THE VCB OPERATED THE HOSPITALITY TENT AND IT WAS USED AT OPERATORS AND WHATNOT AND BROUGHT TO THE AREA AND I THINK IT WAS USED FOR THE INTENDED PURPOSE. IT HAS GOTTEN WAY OUT OF THAT NOW. I DID NOT SEE MUCH OF THAT GOING ON AT ALL THIS YEAR. ONE OF THE REASONS CAT 4 WAS CREATED , WAS TO TAKE THINGS LIKE THAT FOR FIREWORKS, SHORT FUNDING ON THE DEBT SERVICE. FOR THE PGA CONTRACT, CREATED SPECIFICALLY TO TAKE THOSE AND I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO PULL THEM BACK INTO OTHER CATEGORIES WHEN THAT'S THE REASON CAT 4 WAS CREATED SO I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF MOVING IT. I AM FAVOR FOR A BEING USED IN THE FUTURE FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE AND HAVE THE VCB RUN IT. I WILL SAVE MY COMMENTS ON OTHER LINE ITEMS FOR LATER.

>> OTHER STATEMENTS ON THE 325 EXPENSE?

>> SO I HAVE A QUESTION. SO THE WAY YOU ENVISION THIS WORKING IS IT WAS MADE FROM CAT 4 TO THE CAT 1 AND THEN TO RESTORE IN CAD 4 YOU WOULD TAKE OUT RESERVE CORRECT?

>> IT WOULD HAVE TO COME OUT OF CAT 1 RESERVES.

>> CAT 1 NOT CAT 4. >> THE CONCEPT WAS THIS. STAFF OPTIONS, PULL OUT OF RESERVES AND THE REASON, I'M GOING TO READ TO YOU KIND OF THE , I WILL SUMMARIZE A CONTRACT. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE TPC AGREEMENT IS TO RAISE STATUS AND STATURE OF THE EVENT THROUGH INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL TRAVEL THEMED MARKETING. THERE IS THE KEY, MARKETING. AS WELL AS PROVIDE ON-SITE HOSPITALITY. SO THERE IS ANOTHER COMPONENT AND IT IS MARKETING. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS, AGAIN AS A LAYMAN THIS IS NOT A JACKSONVILLE AREA EVENT , THIS IS PONTEVEDRA SO IT RAISES IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. PONTEVEDRA AND THERE IS MARKETING. THAT CONTINUES ON ALLOWING HOSTING OF TOURISM, ECONOMIC AND SPACE FOR INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL EVENT SEEKERS TO EXPERIENCE THE TOURNAMENT. WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT WE SAID WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS AS A MARKETING TOOL, IF YOU

[01:35:03]

>> I HEAR HOW IT IS CHARACTERIZED. I DON'T THINK I HAVE BEEN THERE SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN THE TENT.

BUT IT CERTAINLY COULD BE RENEGOTIATED NEXT YEAR.

>> I WENT ON ONE DAY THIS YEAR. AND I WAS THERE INTENTIONALLY FIVE HOURS. I DID NOT MEET A SINGLE CUSTOMER. THERE WAS NO

CUSTOMERS IN THE ROOM. >> WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT?

I DON'T KNOW WHO MANAGES THAT. >> I KNOW EXACTLY WHO MANAGES.

>> YOU ARE SAYING NOT A MARKETING TOOL AT ALL? IS YOUR

IMPRESSION. >> FACTUALLY IT HAS NOT BEEN A

MARKETING TOOL SINCE COVID. >> THROUGH THE CHAIR WHEN I WAS THERE I DID MEET A GROUP FROM TEXAS THAT DOES ALL THE OIL CHANGES FOR ALL THE CARS IN THE WHOLE AREA, IT WAS THEIR MAIN COMPANY AND HAD COME TO GET TICKETS. THEY WERE THROUGH ST.

JOHNS COUNTY SO IT WAS NOT EMPTY, BUT I DID MEET A FEW TEXANS WHO WERE INTERESTING PEOPLE AND YEAH.

>> I HAD SOME PEOPLE WITH ME FROM THE HILTON BRAND AND STUFF LIKE THAT FROM THE NATIONAL HILTON THAT WAS WITH ME BUT I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE AT. I WAS LITERALLY THE ONLY PERSON IN THERE, EVERYONE LEFT. BUT I THINK WE DO NEED TO LOOK.

>> I DID NOT BRING THIS UP TO GET RID OF THIS. I AM SAYING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MOVING $325,000 WHICH WILL DESTROY RESERVES IF WE HAVE A HURRICANE WHICH IS A VERY QUESTIONABLE THING TO DO. AND IF WE SPEND THIS LEVEL OF MONEY , WE SHOULD GET OUR MONEY'S WORTH OR NOT DO IT , THAT'S THE POINT I'M

TRYING TO MAKE. >> I AM WITH YOU ON THAT. WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD SAID ABOUT SUMMER HAVEN, IF THE MONEY IS AVAILABLE I WOULD PREFER THAT WE USE THAT WHICH CATEGORY FIVE IS MUCH HEALTHIER RIGHT NOW WE KEEP ADDING TO IT AND WE HAVE HUGE PROJECTS COMING UP, BUT IF THE MONEY IS AVAILABLE TO GET PAST THIS ONE TIME DEAL I WOULD PREFER TO USE THE 325 FROM THAT CATEGORY I GUESS WE HAVE TO ADD ANOTHER 30. WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS TO GET US, TO THE 850 I WOULD PREFER IT COME FROM CAT FIVE RESERVES OVER CAT ONE RESERVES. THAT'S WHERE I AM AT.

>> SO I THINK I'M FOLLOWING ALONG AND IT'S INTERESTING TO ME BECAUSE LIKE THE MAYOR MENTIONED TODAY SHE DOES NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE CONTRACTS WITH THE CULTURAL ARTS GROUP.

AND I KNOW NOTHING OF THE CONTRACT WITH THE PGA TOUR AS IT RELATES TO THE $325,000 SO OBVIOUSLY WE OPENED UP THE BOX FOR THE CONVERSATION AND I FIND IT INTERESTING IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT TO THEM DURING THE $25,000 IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

HUGELY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY, TO THE PGA TOUR $325,000 IS NOT SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY. THE PURSE FOR THIS PAST YEAR FOR THE TOURNAMENT, THE PLAYER PRIZE PURSE WAS 25 MILLION. SO OUR TURN TO 25,000 IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET TO THAT GROUP AND TO THAT EVENT. SO UNLESS WE CAN REALLY QUANTIFY THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT OF THAT 325,000 WHEN THE CONTRACT COMES UP WE NEED TO TAKE A HARD LONG LOOK AT THAT AND WE NEED SOME

[01:40:04]

TO BE ANSWERED. >> THROUGH THE CHAIR, I THINK THE WAY JESSE LAID IT OUT IS A GREAT IDEA AS A ONE-TIME THING AND WE HAVE THE PLAYERS AND IT WOULD BE NICE NOT TO JUMP INTO SUMMER HAVEN , NICE TO KNOW IT'S THERE AND WE COULD FAZE IT BUT THAT'S A TECHNICAL ISSUE I CAN BRING TO THE BOARD. I AGREE WITH THE PGA TENT, IT HAS TO BE LESS. LAST YEAR WAS THE 17TH, THIS YEAR WAS THE 16TH SO WE ARE NOT VERY HIGH ON THE LIST. THEY ARE MOVING US. BUT I AGREE WHAT YOU JUST SAID. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR US. SO THANK YOU. LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

>> YEAH, I'M TRYING TO SAVE 850,000, FOR THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. WHERE IS IT GOING TO COME FROM? NOW WE ARE DOWN

325,000. >> I THINK THERE ARE SOME OTHER IDEAS THAT ARE STILL ON THE TABLE. THIS IS WHY I WANTED TO WORK THROUGH THE WHOLE BUDGET BEFORE WE FIGURED OUT HOW WE WOULD PAY FOR IT BECAUSE CHARLES MENTIONED A COUPLE IDEAS OF POTENTIAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ALSO. SO WE ARE GOING TO WORK

THROUGH THOSE. >> SO THROUGH THE CHAIR. WE HAD A CONSENSUS TO ACCEPT ITEM 1 AND TWO. THREE I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE GOTTEN CONSENSUS AND HAVE YOU ADDRESSED FOUR ON THE LIST?

>> I THINK WE ARE OKAY WITH THE NUMBER, JUST WHERE IT'S COMING FROM ON ITEM 3. ITEM 4 IS THE ONE WHERE WE TOOK MONEY ALREADY BUT ADDED 75 BACK TO GIVE $35,000 SHORTFALL.

>> WE HAVE NOT AGREED ON 75 YET.

>> 75 WAS IN THE OPTION. >> WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT IT.

>> IT IS PART OF ITEM 4. I'M TRYING TO CLEAN UP WHERE WE ARE WITH LEX . ONE AND TWO WE ARE CLEAR. ITEM 4 UNLESS THERE IS A PROBLEM NOT HIRING THE OTHER PERSON AT 75.

>> MY QUESTION. I ONLY KNOW OF TARA AND DENA. AND SO , BUT I SAW A THIRD GAME ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE THAT I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH ON THE DESTINATION MANAGEMENT .

>> NO, THE THIRD PERSON IS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF COMMUNITY AND

DESTINATION BUT IS NOT FUNDED. >> THERE IS TWO OPEN POSITIONS.

>> THERE ARE TWO, THAT'S CORRECT.

>> HOW DID WE COME UP WITH 75? >> THOSE ARE APPROPRIATED WITH A DISCUSSION WITH TROY, ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS WE PLAN TO ADVERTISE AND SOLICIT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, THE OTHER ONE WE TALKED ABOUT , TROY ASKED ME CAN THAT BE DEFERRED AFTER THE NEW YEAR? AGAIN THE BUDGET PROCESS WE APPROPRIATE EFFECTIVE 10/1 AND I SAID TROY, THAT'S GREAT POINT LOOKING FOR SAVINGS FOR THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND I SAID YES WE CAN DEFER ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS AND HE ASKED ME TO CALCULATE THAT. IT IS AT OR ABOUT $75,000. THAT'S WHERE THAT CAME FROM.

>> MY RECOMMENDATION LOOKING AT IT YOU HAVE TWO VACANT POSITIONS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG, BUT IF IT'S MORE THAN A FEW MONTHS YOU PROBABLY DON'T NEED THEM AND IF YOU ADD THEM UP , YOU GET ABOUT 250 RIGHT THERE BY PERMANENTLY DEFERRING THEM. AND RESTART MAKING SOME ATTRACTIVE KNOCKED DOWN.

>> THAT GETS INTO HELPING OUT NEXT YEAR ALSO.

>> I THINK THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS THAT HAD NOT BEEN LOOKED AT, SEVERAL BUSINESSES INCLUDING MYSELF WOULD PURCHASE SOME LEVEL OF SPONSORSHIP TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT AS WELL AND I KNOW SOME HOTELS HAVE ALREADY MADE OFFERS THAT THEY WOULD DO THE SAME. I THINK THERE IS SIGNIFICANT FUNDING THERE. MY CONCERN MORE

[01:45:02]

ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE SAINT AUGUSTINE POLICE DEPARTMENT, I DON'T THINK THEY ARE AS LARGE AS THE CROWD REQUIRES. THERE IS PROBABLY WORK BACK AND FORTH WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE A COORDINATED EFFORT INCLUDING

HIGHWAY PATROL. >> AS I RECALL THAT IS THE PLAN.

>> CERTAINLY TPC USES A LOT OF HIGHWAY PATROL.

>> THE PSA WORKS GREAT AT THE AMPHITHEATER AND IT ALLOWS THE CITY LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PSA AND THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT HANDLES TRAFFIC. I THINK IF WE CAN REPLICATE THAT , OVER TO THE NIGHT OF LIGHTS I THINK WE WILL HAVE A GOOD FORMULA. THAT'S GOING TO SAVE MONEY BECAUSE WE USE PSA'S INSTEAD OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR CITY

DEPARTMENT. >> WHATEVER THE COST OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND PSA IS ON THE CITY BECAUSE TDC CANNOT

PAY FOR THOSE. >> SPONSORS CAN, THAT'S WHERE

WE ARE. >> SPONSORSHIPS. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA TO TALK ABOUT IN THE FUTURE. WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT TIME NOW TO RAISE SPONSORS BY NOVEMBER 15. I KNOW THAT THE CITY MANAGER IF HE IS HERE AND WANTS TO TALK. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PUBLIC MEETINGS ABOUT THIS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HEARD THIS FROM YOU GUYS.

>> WE HAVE ENTERED A MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR HIM TO PROVIDE DEPUTIES AND PSA'S FOR THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. THAT IS TO SUPPLEMENT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT OVERTIME EXPENSES FOR OUR SECURITY COMMITMENT FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. THAT'S PART OF THE $450,000 COMING OUT OF OUR GENERAL REVENUE BUDGET BECAUSE WE CANNOT ASK YOU , TDC CANNOT FUND THAT SO WE ARE PICKING UP THE COST FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, OVER TIME FOR THE POLICE AND OVERTIME FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT JUST FOR THIS EVENT. IT WAS $325,000 LAST SEASON.

$450,000 THIS COMING UP SEASON. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO

THAT WITH SPONSORSHIP FRANKLY. >> I THINK IT IS AVAILABLE AND I THINK IN A MEETING HE COMMITTED TO HELPING FINANCIALLY WITH SOME STUFF. IN FRONT OF THE HILTON AND BEST WESTERN AS FAR AS LAW ENFORCEMENT. THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE, WE HAVE THE MOTION AND A SECOND AND TO ME THE STICKING POINT IS, WHERE IS ITEM NUMBER THREE COMING FROM? THANK YOU,

DAVID. >> OTHER IDEAS ON WHERE WE CAN FIND MONEY LOOKING TO THE BUDGETS?

>> I LIKE THE SECOND POSITION, I THOUGHT ONE WAS VACANT, I LIKE THE SECOND POSITION IF THAT IS A POSSIBILITY.

>> I AM IN FAVOR OF SAVING AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO CHANGE JESSE'S PLAN ON HOW THE COUNCIL IS BEING

RUN. >> WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO MR. CHAIR IS MODIFY MY MOTION, TO REQUEST THAT THE 850,000 TO BE THE GOAL FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS WITH CERTAIN SUGGESTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS BY THIS BOARD. ONE OF THEM LOOKING AT THE PERSONNEL ISSUE THAT CHARLES BROUGHT UP WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RAISE MORE MONEY. THE OTHER ONE WOULD BE SUMMER HAVEN MANAGEMENT STUDY AND THAT WOULD BE SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED AT A WAY TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT THE BOARD DOES NOT WANT TO PROVE WHICH IS THE $325,000. I AM HEARING PRETTY GOOD CONSENSUS THAT THIS BOARD DOES NOT WANT TO SEE THAT $325,000 COMING OUT OF RESERVES FROM CAT ONE. WHICH EVER CAT IT IS. SO, DOES THAT MEET WITH THE WISHES OF THIS BOARD OR ANYWHERE CLOSE?

[01:50:07]

>> IF YOU ARE OKAY WITH THE AMENDMENT?

>> YES I SUPPORT. I AM OKAY TAKING 325 OUT OF THE REVERSE COMMITTING OUR BACKS ARE AGAINST THE WALL. WE DON'T REALLY HAVE TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHERE EVERY NICKEL IS GOING TO COME FROM.

ULTIMATELY MY BIGGER CONCERN IS WHAT WE DO MOVING FORWARD AFTER THE YEAR BUT AS A STOP GAP MEASURE TO DEAL WITH THIS YEAR I THINK THAT'S THE MOST LOGICAL AND FEASIBLE AND QUICK ANSWER TO SOLVE THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. I WOULD NOT AGREE MOVING FORWARD BUT AS A ONE-TIME THING THIS YEAR KNOWINGLY HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY CONCERN AND WE HAVE ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED WITH NIGHTS OF LIGHTS I THINK WE WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE TO NOT DO THAT AND THAT IS WHAT I WOULD SUPPORT , I WOULD SUPPORT YOUR

MOTION. >> PARDON ME A QUESTION FOR JESSE. WHEN THAT 325 COMES OUT OF RESERVES HOW MUCH REMAINS?

>> 300,000 . >> ANOTHER THREE.

>> IF IT COMES FROM CAT ONE. THAT'S WHY I WAS LOOKING AT CAT 5/5,000,000. 275,000. I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY SIDE I WILL VOTE FOR IT IF WE CAN'T GET IT OUT OF CAT FIVE BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THE MECHANISM OF GETTING IT OUT OF CAT FIVE AND A MATTER

WHAT WE DO. >> DO YOU MEAN CAT FOUR?

>> OUTER OTHER CAT FIVE THAN CAT ONE. AND IT IS GOING TO FALL ON THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. SO I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION OF IF YOU CAN TAKE IT OUT OF CAT FIVE TAKE IT OUT OF CAT FIVE AND IF YOU CAN'T WE ARE IN A JAM HERE. THEN REFER BACK.

>> WHAT'S THE REASON WE COULDN'T TAKE IT OUT?

>> IF IT'S ASSIGNED TO SOMETHING ELSE AND THAT'S SUMMER HAVEN IF WE CAN DO FOR SUMMER HAVEN $500,000 IT MIGHT GIVE MORE FLEXIBILITY BUT WE DON'T KNOW AT THIS TIME. MY QUESTION RIGHT NOW IS, IF WE DO THESE MOVES RIGHT NOW WHAT DOES THAT LEAVE IN CAT FOUR RESERVES? BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE IT SHOULD BE COMING OUT OF. WE ARE ALREADY AT ZERO ON CAT TWO RESERVES SO WE MIGHT AS WILL BE AT ZERO ON CAT FOUR BEFORE WE HIT THE OTHER ONES.

>> THE ORIGINAL QUESTION IS IF WE WERE TO PULL THIS ONE TIME OUT OF CAT ONE RESERVES THE 325,000, IT WOULD LEAVE IN CAT ONE RESERVES FI 26, 275,000. A LITTLE OVER $275,000. IN CAT FOUR NOW, THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATION AND THE 110, TO REINSTATE THE ACH PROGRAM WE HAVE $72,763 IN RESERVES. WE WOULD BE PULLING OUT TO KEEP THE 850 AND THAT'S THE WORKSHEET.

WE NEED ANOTHER 34,000 OUT OF RESERVES SO THAT WOULD MAINTAIN

$35,000 RESERVE IN CAT FOUR. >> OKAY I WANT TO ADD ONE THING FOR EVERYONE TO BE COGNIZANT OF. WHEN WE ENTERED THE MEETING STARTING TODAY JESSE SAID BASED ON LAST MONTH COLLECTION WE HAD TO BRING EVERYTHING DOWN AND HE BROUGHT THE BUDGET DOWN IN ONE MONTH BY $300,000. GOING INTO 2026, WITH A $280,000 PIGGY BANK FOR MARKETING OF THE DESTINATION, IS AN AWFULLY RISKY

MOVE. >> THAT'S WHY I WANT TO BE CAT FIVE. WE CAN TO LEAVE THE CITY OUT THERE AS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST REVENUES FROM YOU AND I AND ANYBODY ELSE IN THE INDUSTRY DOWN HERE IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST REVENUES SO WE CAN LEAVE THE CITY OUT THERE AND THAT'S WHY I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH CAT FIVE AND I WOULD SUGGEST CAT FOUR , GOING TO ZERO SO GRAB 35 FROM THERE BECAUSE THIS IS THE CATEGORY IT SHOULD BE FROM. SO THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERRED METHOD , CAT FIVE IS NOT AVAILABLE THEN GO CAT ONE OR WHATEVER IS NECESSARY.

[01:55:01]

>> SO JESSE, EXCUSE ME, THROUGH THE CHAIR. WHAT DO THEY NEED OUT

OF SUMMER HAVEN, 325 ? >> IF THEY WERE TO DEFER THE

PROJECT? >> IF THEY WERE TO PHASE IN HOW MUCH THEY HAVE TO START WITH? IF WE TOOK OUT THE THREE , THE 325?

WHAT'S THE TOTAL? >> 35 CAME FROM CAT FOUR

RESERVES. >> 325, FROM THE FIVE.

>> YOU WOULD LEAVE $200,000 TO DO THE PROGRAM.

>> WE COULD START THE PROGRAM WITH THAT, I THINK THAT WOULD

WORK. >> THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERRED

METHOD. >> WE CAN LOOK AT THE PROGRAM AS DEFERRING , WE WOULD DO FOR SUMMER HAVEN?

>> I MEAN I THINK THEY ARE JUST STARTING. I CAN'T IMAGINE THEY NEED THAT UPFRONT. I THINK IT WOULD BE PHASED IF THEY START

PHASING WITH THE FIRST 200. >> WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT THAT AND I CAN TALK TO THE DEPARTMENT. IF I MAY ON THE BALANCE IN THE CAT5. THAT CAT5 DOES HAVE A RESERVE OF $5.3 MILLION AND I'M GOING TO THROW THIS OUT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN BUDGETING FOR THIS. THIS IS A SIMILAR COMMENT WE GET WITH IMPACT FEE FUNDS AND PEOPLE WILL COMMENT, YOU HAVE A LARGE BALANCE AND THE PURPOSE OF THOSE BALANCES, IF YOU WILL, ARE TO ACCUMULATE DOLLARS TOWARD THE NEXT PROJECT. CAT5 IS BEACH ASSETS FOR THE COASTAL PROGRAMS, FROM NORTH PONTEVEDRA ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SOUTHERN TIP AND WE ARE CERTAINLY SEEING ACTIVITY. SO THERE IS GOING TO BE YEARS WHEN WE HAVE ACCUMULATION OF RESERVES AS WE ACCUMULATE ENOUGH FOR THE NEXT PROJECT SO THE DOLLARS ARE NOT JUST CITY BUILDING UP . IT IS DELIBERATE ACCUMULATION , WE HAVE MULTIPLE PROJECTS THAT GO ON, PONTEVEDRA, SOUTH PONTEVEDRA. VILLANO, SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH AND WE ARE LOOKING, PROJECTS SOUTH OF SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH. SUMMER HAVEN IS ONE OF THOSE, BUT THERE IS OTHER PROJECTS INCLUDING CRESCENT. ANY DISCUSSION ON CATEGORY FIVE WILL ULTIMATELY HAVE TO BE BROUGHT UP TO THE BCC, FOR CONSIDERATION.

WE WERE TRYING TO DO THIS WITHIN THE COUNCIL 'S MEANS. IT SEEMS THE MORE DISCUSSION ON THE PGA SOUNDS LIKE RELATED TO THE CONTRACT ITSELF AND THE MANAGEMENT, THIS WAS JUST A WAY WHERE WE SET THESE WERE ELIGIBLE EXPENSES THAT COULD COME OUT OF CAT ONE. IN TERMS OF THE MOTION HERE I THINK THE MOTION IS FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND IS EITHER ITERATION OF THIS AND/OR , IF WE CAN OUT OF CATEGORY FIVE IF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGREES TO THAT, BUT ULTIMATELY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 34,000 MORE SO OUT OF CAT FOUR RESERVES BUT ULTIMATELY THE CONCEPT IS TO GET TO THE 850,000 WITH THIS MOTION.

>> I BELIEVE THAT'S THE INTENT. >> THAT IS THE INTENT AND I HATE TO TIE HANDS IN CERTAIN AREAS FOR SOMEONE LIKE JESSE WHO IS OBVIOUSLY MUCH MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE THAN WE ARE ABOUT WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO. SO I WILL MAKE THE MOTION AS I ORIGINALLY MADE IT. FIND 850,000 THAT'S THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE BCC WITHOUT WELL LET'S TRY THIS WAY. LET'S JUST LEAVE THE MOTION LIKE IT IS. WE WOULD LIKE TO GET TO $850,000 WITH WHAT JESSE HAS PRESENTED TODAY LET'S TRY THAT. DO I HAVE A SECOND?

OKAY. >> DISCUSSION, ONE QUESTION JESSE BECAUSE I'M CONFUSED ON ONE POINT. IF WE LEFT THE PGA MONEY IN CATEGORY FOUR THEN ARE WE AT NEGATIVE , 300,000?

>> YES THE 850 IS REDUCED BY 325.

>> SO, THE 38,000 BALANCE IS ASSUMING MOVING THAT EXPENSE.

OVER? TO CATEGORY ONE? >> YOU WILL HAVE TO ASK THAT

[02:00:02]

QUESTION AGAIN. >> THE BUDGET YOU PRESENTED HAD $325,000 IN CATEGORY FOUR AT THE BEGINNING. IF WE DO NOT MOVE IT, WE HAVE $30,000 REMAINING IN RESERVES?

>> IF WE DON'T MOVE IT THAT'S KIND OF A TRICK. THERE IS 72,000 IN THERE AND I WAS TRYING TO RESOLVE IF WE DID THIS.

>> OKAY. >> THE QUESTION STILL BECOMES IF WE MOVE IT THERE'S 400,000 THEN WE ARE SHORT.

>> WE DON'T NEED TO MOVE IT AT ALL IF WE USE CATEGORY FIVE RESERVES WE DO NEED TO MAKE APPROPRIATION AND MOVE EITHER ONE OF THEM IF WE USE CATEGORY FIVE AND THAT'S THE PREFERRED MESSAGE I WOULD LIKE TO SEND BECAUSE THIS HAS TO GO TO THE BE OCC WE CANNOT MAKE IT BECAUSE THAT'S THE COMMITMENT FROM A DIFFERENT THING. WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO MOVE IT AT ALL IF IT COMES FROM CATEGORY FIVE RESERVES OR DEFERRED ON SUMMER HAVEN IS THE PREFERRED MESSAGE OR METHOD. SO IT TAKES AWAY THE MOVING OF FOUR IN ONE IF WE USE CATEGORY FIVE RESERVES OR THE

DEFERRED SUMMER HAVEN. >> CATEGORY FOUR , 479,000 .

>> THAT'S THE DEBT SERVICE RECONCILIATION PORTION. THE SECOND PART OF THE RESERVES IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR. THAT'S THE

MONEY WE JUST MOVED. >> THAT IS PRIOR TO THIS DISCUSSION, OF THE NUMBER YOU MENTIONED, 479 OR SO, 407 IS THE ONE TIME DEBT SERVICE WE WOULD PULL OUT OF RESERVES.

>> SO WE WANTED TO GET TO THE 850 SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE 375? AND 375 THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE 250 IN PAYROLL

AND NOW WE ARE ONLY 125 SHORT. >> LIKE I SAID THE SHORTFALL , HOW THEY GET THERE THE SHORTFALL COMING FROM CATEGORY FIVE NOT CATEGORY ONE IS THE PREFERRED METHOD IN MY OPINION FOR OUR

INDUSTRY. >> ONE MORE COMMENT MR. CHAIR MAYOR I AM IN FAVOR OF WHAT YOU HAVE PROPOSED. I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE, IF THIS DOES COME OUT OF CATEGORY ONE AND THERE IS A STORM THAT COSTS OF ADVERTISING MARKETING AND THE EXPENSE PLUS THE FACT THAT THE BED TAX DOLLARS ARE NOT COMING IN FOR A LONG TIME WE DON'T KNOW WE HOPE NOT. SO IT IS REALLY VITAL THAT SOMEHOW THIS GETS WORKED OUT IN FIVE BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO AT THAT TIME FOR THE

DESTINATION. >> AT THIS POINT WE ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN DO IT OUT OF FIVE OR NOT.

>> THE BUDGET GOES TO US ANYWAY. WE ARE JUST MAKING RECOMMENDATION. SO, THAT MAKES IT FLEXIBLE.

>> THAT'S WHY I WITHDREW THE STUFF I ADDED AND SAID I'M BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION. 850,000 PLEASE TRY TO MAKE IT WORK, MAKE MAGIC AND I DID NOT INCLUDE THIS BULK AT NUMBER THREE, I DO NOT INCLUDE THAT. I UNTIED THE HANDS.

>> GOOD THEN JESSE CAN GIVE PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD ON

THAT, TOO. >> I DON'T DISAGREE TO LOOK AT THE 325 IN THE FUTURE, BUT FOR NOW TIME IS SHORT SO THAT'S WHERE I STAND, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> OKAY, ANY MORE DISCUSSION? WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND, WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSION. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? HEARING NINE I THINK WE ARE READY TO VOTE.

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO DO ROLL CALL ON THIS ONE. IT IS

IMPORTANT ENOUGH. JESSE. >> WE ARE ABOUT TO GET THERE. IF THE BOARD DOES NOT, NOT SAYING I'M MAKING THE DECISION. IF THEY DON'T AGREE TO CAT FIVE, IS THERE A FALLBACK FOR THE REAPPROPRIATION? BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE WILL BE BRINGING

THIS BACK. >> I THINK WE STARTED THE

[02:05:01]

OF TURN >> THERE MIGHT BE A COUPLE OTHER ITEMS IN CATEGORY FOUR THAT MAY BE DEFERRED ALSO. I DON'T KNOW

I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK. >> FOR OUR PROCESS AND FOR TOMORROW BECAUSE THE BOARD MEETS TOMORROW, I THINK WE'VE GOT TO VOTE ON THIS AND WE CALLED FOR THE VOTE. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND I THINK WE ARE READY TO VOTE.

>> I WILL CALL THE QUESTION.

>> BLEVINS YES , COX YES, GORDON YES,

PHILLIPS, YES. >> MAYOR SIKES-KLINE YES AND WICKS THANK YOU.

[9. MONTHLY REPORTS PROVIDED IN PACKETS]

>> OKAY . I THINK WE ARE ON ITEM, MONTHLY REPORTS . I THINK EVERYONE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ THEM. SUSAN OR JEFF, IF YOU FEEL COMPELLED TO TELL US ANYTHING THEN YOU ARE WELCOME TO. IF YOU THINK WE HAVE READ THEM WELL ENOUGH YOU CAN PASS.

THAT IS UP TO YOU.

>> SUSAN PHILLIPS WITH THE BOCC WHEN I WILL BE VERY SHORT AND VERY BRIEF BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN EXCELLENT CONVERSATION THIS AFTERNOON. I WAS ABLE TO FOLLOW THE GYRATION WITH THE NUMBERS AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED EVEN WHEN I RAN TO TAKE BATHROOM BREAKS I WAS LISTENING. QUICK UPDATE ON ADVERTISING AGENCY. WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON WITH THEM, AS YOU SEE IN THE MARKETPLACE NUMBERS ARE RELATIVELY FLAT. WE SEE THAT ACROSS THE BOARD NOT JUST US. ALL THE DESTINATIONS IN FLORIDA TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET AHEAD OF THIS. FOURTH OF JULY WAS OKAY. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS BUT NOT ANYTHING I WOULD BE EXCITED ABOUT. HOWEVER I AM EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THE ADVERTISING AGENCY IS DOING, IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO THE NEW AGENCY WE HAD ROUGHLY 30 MILLION, 40 MILLION IMPRESSIONS A MONTH. WITH THE NEW CAMPAIGNS WE ARE AT ALMOST 70 MILLION IMPRESSIONS, THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WE START TO TURN FOLKS FROM LOOKERS INTO LOOKERS THAT'S THE CHALLENGE GETTING FOLKS TO GIVE UP THEIR MONEY.

OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WE WILL CONTINUE THE FOREVER SUMMER CAMPAIGN. AT THE NEXT TDC MEETING I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU THE NEW ADVERTISING FOR SINGING OUT LOUD NOT JUST FOR THE FESTIVAL. IT WILL BE FOCUSING ON THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER IS A MONTH OF MUSIC SO WE HAVE SOME GOOD CREATIVE , WE WORKED WITH THE AMPHITHEATER AS I CALL THEM THEY ARE TECHNICALLY SJ CCE, WORKING WITH THOSE FOLKS TO MAKE SURE ADVERTISING COMPLEMENTS WHAT THEY ARE DOING BUT DOES NOT DUPLICATE SO EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE THE SJCCE FOLKS DOING WILL FOCUS ON THE ARTIST AND THE VENUES, WE WILL FOCUS ON THE DESTINATION AND THE MESSAGE IS BY THE WAY DID YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU CAN EXPERIENCE DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER WITH THE SINGING OUT LOUD FESTIVAL SO THAT WILL BE ROLLING OUT SOON. I HAVE ONE OF THE FOLKS FROM TINSLEY WHO WAS IN MARKET THIS WEEK, IN THE PROCESS OF DOING PHOTO AND FILM SHOOT SCOUTING THIS WILL BE FOR SOMETHING OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK TO JANUARY WE ARE ROLLING OUT NEW CREATIVE. VERY EXCITING BUT WE NEED VIDEO ASSETS, A LOT OF PHOTOGRAPHY SO WE WILL BE SHARING THAT WITH YOU IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS. WITH THAT I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY

QUESTIONS. >> ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU,

SUSAN. JEFF? >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ST. JOHN'S CULTURAL COUNCIL. FIRST AND FOREMOST THANK YOU, ST. JOHNS COUNTY CONTINUES TO LEAD THE STATE OF

[02:10:02]

FINALLY REAL BRIEFLY IN TERMS OF THE CULTURAL COUNCIL. A COUPLE OF BIG THINGS HAPPENED THIS TIME OF YEAR, ACH GRANT REVIEW WE ARE ALMOST WRAPPED UP. WE HAVE A REVIEW PANEL JULY 29 , THAT IS IN THIS ROOM SO OUR PANEL GETS TO SIT IN THE BIG SEATS. I WOULD ASK YOU GUYS COME FOR THAT, THE THINGS WE HAVE PLANNED ARE AMAZING. ONE OF OUR BIG PRODUCTS IS THE LAUNCH OF THE BLACK HERITAGE TRAIL HOLDING THE KICKOFF EVENT AT THE WATERWORKS, YOU ARE INVITED TO COME. THE PRODUCT WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER IN TERMS OF PUBLICATION, SIGNAGE GOING UP IN DIFFERENT AREAS IS AMAZING AND WE WILL SHARE THAT STORY IN FULL COMING UP IN AUGUST. LASTLY, JUST WANTED TO KNOW I HEARD YOU LAST MEETING.

WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE BUDGET WE PROPOSED AND WE WERE 42,000 TOO HIGH WITH WHERE THE NUMBERS CAME OUT SO WE DID PENCIL SHARPENING AND WE DID LOOK AT THE USE OF CONSULTANTS.

IRVING ASKED ABOUT ONE IN PARTICULAR, WE HAVE ENDED THE AGREEMENT. IS A LOOK AT THESE AND WHAT I INHERITED EVERYTHING IS UP FOR REVIEW AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY IN FISCAL 26. IN TERMS OF ADVOCACY WE WERE ENCOURAGED TO GET INVOLVED AND WE ARE GETTING INVOLVED WITH ORGANIZING ALL THE OTHER LOCAL ARTS AGENCIES FROM AROUND THE STATE SO WE HAVE A MORE POWERFUL VOICE PLANNING TO BE THERE IN FEBRUARY FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY AND LAST WEEK WE WENT TO THE CHAMBER EVENT WITH ALL REPRESENTATIVES SO WE WANT TO BE A VOICE IN THE FIELD.

LASTLY AN UPDATED BUDGET TO SHOW YOU REMOVED WHERE WE WERE OVER, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE CONTRACT AND I SHOULD ALSO POINT OUT, THERE IS THE 175 SPECIAL EVENTS, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS THERE FOR AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T USE IT BUT THAT MIGHT COME INTO PLAY. JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE. IF THERE ARE OTHER QUESTIONS I AM HERE AND HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.

>> NOW YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT CAME UP WITH THE 100,000 NUMBER.

>> MR. CHAIR I WANT TO SAY HOW REFRESHING. HOW OFTEN DO WE HAVE ENTITIES COME BEFORE US AND SAY WE ARE TURNING MONEY BACK TO YOU. HOW OFTEN DOES THAT HAPPEN? KUDOS TO YOU AND WE APPRECIATE

[10. MEMBER COMMENTS]

YOUR COOPERATIVE SPIRIT. >> THANK YOU, FOLKS.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME, THANK YOU. >> MEMBER COMMENTS STARTING OVER

HERE COMMISSIONER. >> LOOKING AT YOUR COMMENTS TO COME. I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW HIGH VISITATION OF PONTEVEDRA WAS , 118 PLUS THAT'S GREAT THANK YOU.

>> JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE STAFF FOR ANSWERING QUESTIONS. PRESENTED FROM LAST TIME IT WAS GOOD TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT AHEAD OF TIME WITH A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION FOR WHAT WAS IN THE BUDGET FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT LOOK AT BUDGETS EVERY DAY. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THOSE ANSWERS TOGETHER

AND THANK YOU FOR REQUESTING IT. >> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> CHARLES? >> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE MAKING SURE THERE IS ONE AD AGENCY SUPPORTING ALL THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES IF WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THAT. INCLUDING THE MARKETING UNDER THE CONTRACT WITH THE CHAMBER , THEN NEEDS TO LIKELY GO BACK UNDER THE VCB , GOOD MEETING TODAY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I HAVE ONE QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT. WE JUST REBRANDED THE CAST BELOW IT IS A TAPESTRY COLLECTION BY HILTON OVER ON THE BEACH AND IT IS A RESORT BOUTIQUE WHICH IS KIND OF UNIQUE ITSELF SO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW PRODUCT AND I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WITH SUPPORT FROM SUSAN AND THE CHAMBER AND EVERYBODY OUT THERE FOR GETTING IT OPEN AND WE DID

IT LAST WEEK. >> CONGRATULATIONS THAT'S GREAT.

>> EXCUSE ME CAN I MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT? FORGOT TO MENTION THAT YOU KNOW, JEFF MENTIONED THE HERITAGE TRAIL COMING OUT BUT WE

[02:15:02]

NATIONAL EXPOSURE. >> THANK YOU. LIKE TO THANK THE GROUP FOR NOMINATING ME ANOTHER THREE YEARS. AND TROY, I WON'T BE HERE NEXT MONTH SO IT'S ALL YOURS, I WILL BE IN MAINE.

>> I FELT PUSHING THE BUTTON ON THE FIRST PERSON. I THINK I LOST

MY JOB AS A VICE CHAIR. >>

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.