DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. PLEASE STAND BY. >> ALL RIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO [Items 1 - 3] [00:00:08] CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE. >> 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. >> PEOPLE DON'T GET TO SEE THE TOP OF MY HEAD A WHOLE PLOT. I OUTGREW MY HAIR. OKAY, DEAN, IF YOU CAN DO ROLL CALL PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER WILL BE ABSENT. >> EVANS. >> PRESENT. >> MICHAEL GORDON. >> HERE. >> YOU ARE VIN CAST. >> HERE. >> GALE PHILIPS? MAYOR KLEIN? >> HERE. >> AND MARIBETH SWEENY WILL BE ABSENT. >> ALL RIGHT, APPROVAL OF THE [4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ] AGENDA IF ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING TO ADD, REMOVE OR CHANGE? PLEASE LET ME KNOW. ALL RIGHT, IF I CAN GET A MOTION. >> SO MOVED. >> GOT A MOTION. >> SECOND. >> SECOND ALL IN FAVOR. [5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES] ?FM AYE. -- ~>> AYE. >> SAME FOR THE MINUTES OF APPROVAL. DO WE NEED TO DO THESE ONE AT A TIME? WE CAN DO THEM AT THE SAME TIME? ALL RIGHT WE'RE GOING TO DOT WORKSHOP AND REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TOGETHER. SO TOGETHER, IF ANYONE HAS HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK OVER THOSE. AND IF YOU CAN SHOW IN THE MINUTES, GALE IS PRESENT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT, THAT TAKES US TO PUBLIC COMMENT, CHARLES YOU HAVE YOUR LITTLE CHEAT SHEET THERE. ?MENT AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR GENERAL POSSIBLE COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT SCHEDULED ON AGENDA. WHEN ADDRESSED, PLEASE COME TO ONE OF THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. EACH PERSON WILL BE PROVIDED A THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND WE ASK THAT YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. SPEAKERS MAY NOT DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM THE RESPONSE AND MEET DEQUORUM. NO ONE SHALL APPROACH THE BOARD WITH BOISTEROUS BEHAVIOR OR REMARKS. MEMBERS WILL REFRAIN FROM ANY DISRUPTIVE DEMONSTRATION OF APPROVAL OR DISPROVE AL. FINALLY, ANY SPEAKER, PAPER MATERIALS CAN BE PLACED ON THE X AND A LAPTOP WILL BE SET UP FOR ANY U.S. B PRESENTATIONS. AFTER PRESENTING, PLEASE PROVIDE MATERIALS TO BE ENTERED INTO PUBLIC RECORDS. THANK YOU. >> DO WE HAVE ANYONE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ANYTHING THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA? SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> I READ ALL THAT FOR -- ~>> YEAH, BUT YOU DID BEAUTIFUL. IT WAS EXCELLENT. >> IN THE FUEL. >> WE ALL ENJOYED THAT, CHARLES. ALL RIGHT. DIANA? [7. SING OUT LOUD 25 REVIEW UPDATE] YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR US? THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: HELLO GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M DIE A INCOME TAXER 501C3 NONPROFIT THAT PRODUCES SING OUT LOUD FEST SCAL. --FESTIVAL. I'M HERE TO PROVIDE A UPDATE ON STRATEGY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AGAIN TODAY. FIRST LET'S DISCUSS SING OUT LOUD FESTIVAL. IN 2025, IT CELEBRATED ITS 9TH AREA. ONE THAT CELEBRATES OUR LOCAL MUSIC SCENE AND BOOSTS THE ECONOMY DURING A SLOW TIME OF YEAR. AS YOU CAN SEE, ZYNGA LOUD WAS [00:05:04] LOADED WITH EVENTS. WE HAD 4 WEEKENDS AND 16 DAYS OF PROGRAMMING BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 5TH AND THE 28TH. WE HAD 200 ARTIST WITH 13 HEADLINERS AND 32 SINGER SONG WRITERS. 17 VENUES PARTICIPATED IN SING OUT LOUD AND THAT IS ACROSS SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. WE HAD 165 EVENTS WITH THE MAJORITY OF THOSE 157 OF THEM BEING FREE LOCAL ARTIST SHOWCASES. WE ALSO HAVE THE SAINT AUGUSTINE AMPITHEATER. AND FESTIVAL. AND THEN, WE HAD THE MARQUEE WEEKEND, ALSO KNOWN AS A LIVE WELL SHOWCASE. THIS IS FRANCES FIELD ON SEPTEMBER 20TH WITH FRANCE JOY. LET'S REVIEW THE LIVE WILDLY SHOWCASE. THIS WAS OUR THIRD YEAR OF HOLDING THE WEEKEND. IT WAS HELD 20TH AND 21, 25,000 PATRONS CAME AND WE KNOW FROM TICKET SALESED, 85.7 CAME FROM OUTSIDE. WE HAD TICKET SALES FROM ALL 50 STATES. WE HAD A THIRD YEAR EFFICIENCY WITH POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM PATRONS AND BUSINESS OWNERS AND ESTIMATED ECONOMIC IMPACT OF 9 MILLION FOR THE WEEKEND. WE ALSO ARE CHARGED WITH INCREASING TOURISM DURING HISTORICALLY SLOW TIME OF YEAR, SO WE WANTED MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THAT IMPACT. SO WE MET WITH THE B.C. B AND GATHERED DATA ON HOTEL OCCUPANCY. THIS SHOWS THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY. IF YOU LOOK AT THE ORANGE LINE THAT'S LAST YEAR. EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND THAT THERE WAS A SING OUT LOUD SHOWCASE, YOU SEE PEAKS WITH THE PIEEST BEING 07.6 PERCENT DURING THAT LIVE LOUDLY. PLEASE NOTE ON AVERAGE, SEPTEMBER OCCUPANCY RATES ARE AROUND 54 PERCENT SO TO SEE IT INCREASE TO 76 PERCENT IS QUITE AN INCREASE. WE ALSO KNOW THAT 2025 WAS A TOUGH YEAR FOR THE ECONOMY AND BUSINESSES TOLD US THAT SING OUT LOUD WAS EVEN MORE IMPACTFUL. THERE IS ONE GLARING ISSUE THAT WE CAN NO LONGER AVOID TALKING ABOUT AND THAT UNFORTUNATELY, IS HURRICANE SEASON, SPECIFICALLY SEPTEMBER. THIS IS 171 YEARS OF DATA SHOWING THAT SEPTEMBER HAS 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF CATEGORY 3 OR HIGHER HURRICANE. SEPTEMBER IS PEAK HURRICANE SEASON AND WE FEEL VULNERABLE IF WE CONTINUE TO HOLD THIS LARGE SCALE WEEKEND IN SEPTEMBER. HURRICANE INSURANCE ALONE WAS OVER $500,000. IT'S FAR TOO RISKY SO WE BEGAN LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVE DATES TO SEPTEMBER. SOME OF THE CONSIDERATIONS FOR AN EVENT OUTSIDE OF SEPTEMBER, FIRST AND FOR MOST WAS WEATHER. IT MUST BE OUTSIDE HURRICANE SEASON WHICH AUTOMATICALLY ELIMINATES 6 MONTHS OF THE YEAR. WE ALSO NEED TODAY NOTE PROGRAMMING, IT COULD NOT BE HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER FESTIVALS AND THERE TO DRIVE TOURISM DURING A LOW VISITATION PERIOD. SO WE WANTED LOOK AT DATA TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE GOING TO HOLD IT DURING LOW SEASON. ONCE AGAIN, WE LOOKED AT DATA WITH THE B.C. B AND YOU HAVE OCCUPANCY RATES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WITH MAY COMING IN OVER 70 PERCENT. WE KNOW THAT FRANCIS FIELD CAN DRIVE THIS ONE. WE LOOKED AT AVERAGE DATES IN MAY, 180 DOLLARS, WE CAN CONTINUE TO DRIVE THAT UP. SO, WHAT ARE SOME BENEFITS OF SHIFTING TO THE THIRD WEEKEND IN MAY WHILE RETAINING SING OUT LOUD IN SEPTEMBER. FIRST MAY IS A IDEAL FOR WEATHER. IT REDUCES POTENTIAL STRAIN ON EMERGENCY SERVICES AND IMPROVES ATTENDEES COMFORT AND ALSO HAS INCREASED ARTIST AVAILABILITY. WE SPREAD TOURISM SPIKES ACROSS THE YEAR SO WE CAN BALANCE WHILE SUPPORTING RESTAURANTS, HOTELS AND SMALL BUSINESSES. AND RETAINS THE LOCAL PARTIST PROGRAM AND FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS, ACTIVATION OF VISITATION DURING THE SLOWEST TIME OF YEAR AND CONTINUES TO BUILD ON LOCAL ARTIST SPOTLIGHTS. THIS IS OUR IDEAL TARGETED DATE FOR MAY OF 2027, IT IS MAZE 14, 15 AND 16, AND WE'RE AIMING TO EVOLVE INTO A THREE-DAY [00:10:04] FESTIVAL FORMAT. ADDING A FRIDAY EVENING WOULD IMPACT AND BENEFIT LOCAL LODGING BUSINESSES AS PEOPLE START TO COME IN FROM FRIDAY AND SPEND THE ENTIRE WEEKEND HERE IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. ON FEBRUARY 23ND, THE CITY APPROVED OUR REQUEST TO MOVE THE WEEKEND TO THE THIRD WEEKEND IN MAY AND REQUESTS TO EXTEND OUR CURRENT AGREEMENT TO 2023 WHICH PROVIDES STABILITY AND PLANNING HORIZON NECESSARILY TO STEWART OUT LOUD WEEKEND. AS A REVIEW THESE ARE UPCOMING DATES, SEPTEMBER 2026 WILL HAVE MULTI WEEKEND EVENTS, MULTIPLE VENUES, LOCAL ARTIST SHOWCASE THAT'S WILL BE FREE ALONG WITH THE ARTIST FESTIVAL AND MUSIC PANEL. LOOKING INTO FUTURE, STARTING IN 2027, WILL SHIFT FRANCES FIELD WEEKEND TO MAY 14TH THROUGH THE 16 AND THESE ARE OTHER IDEAL DATES LEADING UP TO 2033, NONPROFIT PARTNERS AND A PHILANTHROPIC TIE-IN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT SING-OUT-LOUD FESTIVAL. >> QUESTIONS FOR DIANA? >> JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION, I'M ASSUMING IN THE PRESENTATION THIS SEPTEMBER THERE WOULD NOT BE A FRANCES FIELD EVENT. >> NO, NOT ON FRANCES FIELD, THAT WILL MOVE TO MAY BUT WE WILL HAVE ALL THOSE WEEKENDS IN SEPTEMBER ACTIVATING. >> GREAT JOB, THANKS. >> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT, MY QUESTION IS AND IT'S PROBABLY FOR DENA, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT? WE ALREADY SHOWCASED FOR THIS TO BE IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER IS THE NEW BUDGET YEAR HOW IS THAT WORKING OUT BETWEEN THE CULTURAL EVENTS AND THE BUDGET OFFICE THERE? >> I WOULD HAVE TO GET WITH OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND I CAN REPORT BACK. USUALLY IF THE FUNDS ARE NOT USED THEY CAN BE CARRIED OVER TO THE NEXT YEAR. >> YEAH, THAT'S WHERE I WAS--IS THERE A PLACE. THE REASON I'M THINKING OF THIS, IS THERE A PLACE THAT THE MONEY CAN GO FOR THIS YEAR? FOR SOMETHING MARKETING OR SOMETHING ELSE? WE WANT TO SUPPORT SING OUT LOUD BUT THE WAY THE BUDGET WORKS, IF THAT MONEY IS AVAILABLE FOR US TO DO MARKETING IN ANOTHER LOCATION, WOULD I LIKE THAT MONEY TO BE AVAILABLE TO US. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR NOT TAKE AGO WAY FROM YOUR MONEY BUT THE ONE THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO LAND IN THIS BUDGET YEAR. IT'S SUPPOSE PUSHED. >> WE'LL STILL START TO ADVERTISE THE FESTIVAL. >> BUT THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE A LITTLE, I WANT TO MAXIMIZE WHAT IS AVAILABLE NOW, NOT SHORTING YOU GUYS BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB AND I APPRECIATE, CAUSE I WAS PRETTY VOCAL WITH THE FIRST DATE. I APPRECIATE THIS DATE BECAUSE AFTER MOTHER'S DAY, WE FALL OFF ON OCCUPANCY RATE. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. >> ONE THING, IF WE LOOK AT SING OUT LOUD OVER THE YEARS IF WE TALK ABOUT THE MONEY, WE SPEND A LOT ON THE BIG WAOK END BUT WE DIDN'T SPEND AS MUCH MARKET ING GRASS ROOTS FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. I WOULD ADVOCATE LOOKING TO TAKING SOME OF THE MONEY AND REALLY MAKE ING THE SEPTEMBER PERIOD HAVING A MUCH BETTER LOCAL PUSH SO WE COULD HELP ALL THE COMMUNITY. >> I CAN GET BEHIND THAT. >> AND GET THAT A MUCH STRONGER BRAND NOW THAT IT'S LOSING ITS ANCHOR. >> AND I CAN GET BEHIND THAT. I DON'T WANT THAT MONEY JUST TO BE SITTING DORMENT WHEN WE WERE BE USING IT. AND ANOTHER THING, DO YOU MIND GOING BACK TO THE SLIDE. IT WAS IN 23? THE LITTLE BAR RIGHT THERE, IT LOOKS LIKE 23 IF YOU LOOK AT THE PEAK OF SING OUT LOUED. IN 23, DID WE DO FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT? >> IN 23, THAT WAS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT, 2025, WAS SATURDAY, SUNDAY, YES. >> AND 2024, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. OKAY, MY NUMBERS WERE BETTER [00:15:05] WHEN WE DID SATURDAY NIGHT. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. HOW DO YOU SELECT THE VENUE THAT'S ARE PART OF SING OUT LOUD. CAN I PUT MY NAME IN. >> WE HAVE AN APPLICATION THAT WILL OPEN IN MAY FOR VENUES. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DIANYA? OKAY, THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. >> THANK YOU. >> THAT BRINGS US TO SAINT JOHNS CULTURE COUNCIL UPDATES. JEFF? LEX, DO WE NEED TO DO PUBLIC COMMENT? I DON'T THINK WE HAD ANY BUT. >> YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO. IT WAS JUST A REPORT. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. >> IF THE CHAIR FEELS THERE IS A NEED EVEN ON REPORT ITEMS BUT THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT. >> ANYBODY WANT TO TALK ABOUT SING OUT LOUD OUT THERE? ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I [8. ST. JOHNS CULTURAL COUNCIL UPDATES] COVERED THE BASED. I STALLED FOR YOU, JEFF. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. JEFF POTTSS FROM THE CULTURAL COUNCIL. LAST MONTH, WE PRESENTED THE ACH GRANT SCORING. YOU SEE THE RUBRIC FOR IT FOR THE SCORING CRITERIA AND WE DID HIGHLIGHT THE NUANCE CHANGE THAT WE MADE WAS IN REGARDS TO PEAK PERIODS. I WANT TODAY --WANTED FOR A CHANCE TO LOOK THROUGH IT. WE'RE ACTUALLY PROUD THAT THIS IS A EXTREMELY DIFFICULT GRANT APPLICATION BECAUSE IT TIER UP OUR FRIENDS TO TRANSITION OTHER GRANTS SUCH AS STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS. BUT IF YOU TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO LOOK AT THAT, IT WILL ANSWER A LOT OF QUESTIONS. YOU'LL NOTICE THAT WE GIVE BIG ADVANTAGES RIGHT AWAY TO NEW EVENTS AND FREE EVENTS. ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY THROUGH THERE, ONE OF MY FAVORITE ASKED CAN THIS TAKE PLACE ONLY IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY? I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES SO YOU CAN SEE THE RUBIC THAT WE USE. WE'RE IN THE HEART OF FESTIVAL SEASON, SO JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND, CELTIC TOOK AND WE HAD HAD THE SPANISH FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL AND WE'RE REALLY--EXCUSE ME, WE'RE REALLY STARTING TO ROLL WITH THE ACH GRANT EVENTS. AND I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS ON THE GRANT SCORING. >> JEFF, ON ONE THING I NOTICED, ON THE PEAK DATES, WE PICKED JUNE, WE SHOW THAT AS A HIGH-DEMAND PERIOD. AND I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY OVER ON THE BEACH HAS A HIGH DEMAND MONTH IN DOWNTOWN SAINT AUGUSTINE, THAT'S NOT A HIGH-DEMAND MONTH. OVER IN PANAVIDRA, THAT'S NOT A CORPORATE BUSINESS MONTH, WHERE THEY WOULD ENJOY BETTER IN LIKE MAY OR APRIL. SO, I'M NOT SURE WE'RE BEING SMART WITH THOSE AND WE MAY NEED TO JUST REVISIT, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TALKING WITH SUSAN, AND YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT. BUT I'M THINKING THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE SAYS IT'S REALLY BUSY IN THE SUMMER, THAT'S TRUE ON THE BEACH. BUT JUST LIKE IT'S REALLY BUSY DOWNTOWN IN TIMES LIKE NOW, THE BEACH IS MUCH SLOWER. SO OUR COUNTY CAN BECOME A LOT MORE COMPLEX. >> THANK YOU, IRVIN. 100 PERCENT. WHAT WE DID PRIOR TO LAST MEETING, I ASKED SUSAN TO PULL DATA. SHE LOOKED AT NIGHTS THAT WERE 80 PERCENT AND ABOVE AND CONSIDERED THOSE PEAK. SO THE SMALL NUANCE CHANGE, WE MADE ON TO PAGE 2 THAT IS HIGHLIGHTED IS TO HELP ENCOURAGE EVENTS TO GET THOSE POINTS BACK BY ADDING A THURSDAY OR A MONDAY TO THEIR [00:20:03] EVENT AND THEN YOU'RE STRETCHING IT INTO THE DAYS WHERE YOUR RENTS ARE JUST TANKING. SO IT'S THIS LITTLE TINY SHIFT THAT WE HOPE HELPS BUT IT'S IN THE SPIRIT OF UNDERSTANDING AGAIN, THE GEOGRAPHY HERE, CHANGES SO DRAMATICALLY. NA WAS OUR ATTEMPT AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW IF IT HELPED WITH SOME EVENTS THINKING OF GETTING OFF JUST SATURDAY SUNDAY, OR FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THIS PORTION OF JEFF'S PRESENTATION? CAUSE YOU HAVE TWO, RIGHT? >> YEAH. >> ALL RIGHT. >> GREAT. >> GO AHEAD. >> I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE, ONE OF THE CORNER STONE WAS WORKING ON BLACK HERITAGE TRAIL AND A FEW MONTHS BACK, I SHOWED YOU A BOOKLET THAT WE CREATED. IT'S DUCK TAILED INTO SOMETHING SPECIAL. WE'RE GUILTY AS EVERYBODY OF HIGHLIGHTING OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND MORE SO THAN OTHER TIMES OF THE YEAR AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK TO FIX THAT. BUT IT'S STILL THE EASIEST TIME TO TALK ABOUT THINGS AND WE DID PRETTY WELL IN FEBRUARY. ONE OF OUR BIG HIGHLIGHTS WAS WE INCORPORATED ALL THE CORPORATION TO VISIT SAINT AUGUSTINE'S BLACK HISTORY APP WHICH GIVES US A WHOLE NEW AUDIENCE AND REMINDS THEM THAT WHILE WE'RE TALKING HISTORY, ALL OF THESE STORIES CAN BE REFRESHED AND UPDATED. THAT WAS GREAT AND THE VCB HELPED TO DO THAT SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO SEASON. --SUSAN. YOU SEE OUR ADD UP THERE ON THE BIG SCREEN. AND THIS YEAR, WE DOVE INTO INFLUENCER, THIS IS FINDING UNIQUE PERSONALITIES THAT CAN TELL OUR STORIES EFFICIENTLY. AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT. THIS YOUNG MAN IS CRAZY HOPE, AND HE MAKES HIS WAY AS AN INFLUENCER. WE, WE HIRED HIM FOR A COUPLE OF THOUSANDS DOLLARS AND BROUGHT HIM TO TOWN AND HE FOLLOWED THE BLACK HERITAGE TRAIL AND PUT TOGETHER SHORT LITTLE, WHAT WE WANT TO CALL SHORT VIDEOS BUT HOPE THAT IT GAINS A LOT OF AUDIENCE AND IT DID. WE'RE PROUD OF THESE RESULTS. AT THIS POINT, HE'S AT OVER 1 MILLION VIEWS. THIS YOUNG MAN THAT NO BUSINESS TO BE ON FACEBOOK BECAUSE HE IS TOO YOUNG, BUT HE JUST REACTIVATED HIS FACE BOOK. SAMPLE OF SOME OF THE COMMENTS IS MOST PEOPLE HAVE NEVER HEARD HIM BEFORE AND THEY'RE SO POWERFUL. >> SPEAKER: BLACK PEOPLE FREEING PLACE NZ FLORIDA. I'M AT HISTORICKET PORT WHERE BLACK PEOPLE ACTUALLY BUILT AND USED THIS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THE BRITISH, WHY? BECAUSE THE BRITISH WANTED TO PUT THEM BACK INTO SLAVELY. >> SO THE COMMENTS ARE ARGUING WHETHER HE'S TELLING THE TRUTH OR NOT. JUST TWO MORE EXAMPLES. >> SPEAKER: MARTHA' KING WAS CONSTANTLY FIGHTING TO SAVE HIS LIFE. BY SO MANY HATERS THAT WHEN HE CAME DOWN TO FLORIDA, HE COULD ONLY STAY AT ONE PLACE PER NIGHT. IT WAS HOSTED BY LADY CALLED DR. CORA TYSON. SOME BLACK HISTORY AND EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW. THIS IS BLACK COMMUNITY WAS HERE EVEN BEFORE THE UNITED STATES WAS CREATED. FREE BLACK COMMUNITY IN SAINT AUGUSTINE FLORIDA, ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS BECOME CATHOLIC. FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WAS FINE BECAUSE THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENTATIVE THEIR PEOPLE. THIS IS A SAMPLE OF A FIGHT FOR FREEDOM. >> AND WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR INFLUENCERS. SHE IS A POET AND SHE IS GOING TO BE STAYING IN THE FORMER HOME, EXCUSE ME, OF OF SORA KNEEL HERTSTEN WHICH IS NOW A BED AND BREAKFAST HOTEL. AND WHILE SHE IS THERE, WE'RE COMMISSIONING HER TO WRITE A PIECE. AND SHE WILL COME BACK AND HOLD A PRESENTATION EVENT ON POETRY. AND ALL OF THIS GETS FILMED FOR SOCIAL MEDIA. AGAIN I JUST WANTED GIVE YOU A SHORT SAMPLE OF TARGETED SOCIAL [00:25:02] MEDIA CAMPAIGNS THAT IS PUSHING THE NEEDLE OF TOURISM. >> ALL RIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS FOR JEFF. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE YOU WORK WITHING PEOPLE FROM FISH ISLAND AND INCORPORATING THAT INTO YOUR THEME AS WELL AS WE HAVE A NEW ONE TO ADD. BUZZ THE DOUGLAS STATUE AND THAT TO ADD TO THE TRAIL. BUT BINGE IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU'RE REACHING OUT WITH THESE STORIES TO TELL IN A LANGUAGE TAT YOUNG PEOPLE UNDERSTAND. IT'S FASCINATING IT'S A DREAM COME TRUE, TO SEE, STATED FIRST ALL FREE BLACK TOWN. APPRECIATE HOW YOU'RE MAKING THESE INNOVATIVE CHANGES. >> THANK YOU. >> I HAVE ONE QUESTION. ARE YOU GOING TO PRINT ANYMORE? >> WE DO. IF YOU NEED MORE, THIS IS TOURISM FUNDED A BIG BATCH OF EVENTS IN THE COUNTRY AND REGION, BUT I DO HAVE A SUPPLY TO EITHER SEND ME AN EMAIL OR STOP BY. >> WE GET A LOT OF QR CODE. LAST TIME WE HAD A GROUP FROM PRINCETON UNIVERSITY AND THEY WEE GOING ALL OVER THE STATE IN FLORIDA. A LOT OF INTERESTING PEOPLE AND WE TRIED TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. >> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JEFF. [9. SIGNATURE SEASONS INITIATIVE FOLLOW UP DISCUSSION ] ALL RIGHT. IRVIN, I THINK WE'RE HERE WITH THE SIGNATURE. >> I WAS NOT SURE I WAS GOING IT DO A PRESENTATION. >> YOU JUST RATED YOURSELF, YOU DIDN'T READ THE AGENDA. >> I DID READ THE AGENDA. >> YOU DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS YOU. >> I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS ME. THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT SIGNATURE SEASONS BUT ALSO A BUNCH OF DISCUSSION I THINK ABOUT EACH EVENT IS IMPORTANT AND CONCERNS ABOUT HAVING FIVE MACRO BRANDS AND MAYBE, IT'S MORE HOW DO WE TAKE ALL THE EVENTS AND JUST, YOU KNOW, FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO BRAND OUR WHOLE DESTINATION WITH ALL THE EVENTS THAT WE DO. AND SO I THINK WE WALK OUT OF THAT MEETING WITHOUT REAL SOLID DIRECTION OF WHERE WE WANT TO GO. I BELIEVE IF WE CAN HAVE FIVE NIGHTS OF CONCEPT, IT WOULD DRIVE BUSINESS LEVELS BECAUSE IT GIVES PEOPLE SIX REASONS A YEAR TO COME TO OUR DESTINATION AND BY DOING THAT IN A, I'M ON 10,000 FEET, BY DOING THAT TYPE OF THING, WE CREATE A LOT MORE IF YOU GET SOMETHING TO COME TO A PLACE THREE TIMES, YOU HAVE A CUSTOMER FOR LIFE. THAT'S WHAT THE WHOLE MOTIVATION WAS. AND I THINK WE WENT WAY DOWN TOWARDS THIS IS GOING TO HURT MY EVENT AND I CAN'T BRAND THIS OR THAT AND AT 10,000 FEET, IT'S MORE, HOW DO WE, ENSURE THAT WE GROW THE MARKETPLACE? AND SO, WE'RE ON TWO DIFFERENT PAGES. AND YOU KNOW, I'M, I THINK WE SOULD GO THAT DIRECTION BUT I'M NOT GOING TO STAND ON MY HEAD FIGHTING FOR IT T UNDERSTANDING FROM A MACRO POINT, WHAT WE WANT TO DO AS A TEAM. THERE ARE A LOT OF MERITS IN EITHER ONE BUT I UMMMM TRYING TO MAKE ONE AND ONE EQUALS THREE. THAT'S WHERE THAT COMES FROM. >> AND YOUR NEXT BURDEN, IT'S MUCH EASIER ONCE THEY'RE HERE TO GET THEM TO COME BACK. DO YOU HAVE ANY STRATEGIES WITHIN OUR CURRENT MAKE UP OF HOW GETTING, THEM THAT SECOND AND THIRD VISIT LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? >> YES. AND IF WE HIT A TIPPING POINT, AND I GO BACK OF TEN YEARS AGO, WHEN NIGHTS WENT FROM A SMALL EVENT TO, YOU KNOW, IT EXPLODED ABOUT THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC [00:30:07] TIME. THE MOST POWERFUL OF MARKETING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS TO ME FROM THE COMMUNITY IS WHEN SOMEONE IS IN A RESTAURANT IN JULY, THE EMPLOYEES SAYS YOU NEED TO COME BACK IN DECEMBER FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. NOBODY IN JULY SAYS YOU NEED TO COME BACK FOR THE CELTIC FESTIVAL. >> YEAH. >> AND THAT WHEN YOU CREATED A TIPPING POINT. HOW DO YOU CREATE FIVE BRANDS THAT EVERY TIME YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION, YOU HAVE TO COME BACK FOR SING OUT LOUD? OR DO YOU COME BACK? IF YOU NOTICED WHEN SING OUT LOUD STARTED TEN YEARS AGO AND RYAN AND GABE PUT THAT TOGETHER, IN THIS MEETING, EVERYONE WAS KIND OF PISSED OFF THAT WE HAD IT AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE SPENT. AND IT TOOK ABOUT FIVE YEARS, BEFORE EVERYBODY THOUGHT IT WAS THEIR IDEA. AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN MOVE IT TO ANOTHER MONTH AND STILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT. WE NEED TO THAT WAY, IF WE WANT TO LOOK IN THE NEXT GENERATION HOW TO MAKE THOSE IMPACTS. SO IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH, YOU KNOW, IS THIS A EVENT, OR SHOULD WE DO THIS? JEFF IS TALKING ABOUT, THE THIS HERITAGE EVENT AND WEBSITE AND ALL THAT, THAT'S A PRETTY POWERFUL. AND IT SHOULD BE, WE TALK ABOUT IT YEAR-ROUND BUT IF WE COULD HAVE COME UP WITH A WAY TO MAKE SHAH REALLY POWERFUL FOR SAINT AUGUSTINE FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, THEN ALL THE OTHER STUFF CAN STILL BE WORKING, BECAUSE WE'RE NOW EXPANDING SING OUT LOUD TO TWO MONTHS AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S ONE BRAND, IT'S NOW IN TWO SPOTS. SO WE JUST NEED TO THINK IN MY MIND AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL THAN WHAT WE WERE DISCUSSING AT THE LAST MEETING. BUT, IT'S, A VERY LONG TERM VERY COMPLICATED APPROACH AND PEOPLE ARE FEELING, A LITTLE BIT PROTECTIVE INSTEAD OF UNDERSTANDING AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH SING OUT LOUD. IT WAS, I REMEMBER PEOPLE GOING BALLISTIC THAT WE SPENT THE 150,000 AND IT WAS A COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY. >> ANYONE ELSE COMMENT ON THIS TOPIC? DENA ANYTHING? YOU GOOD. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. >> I'M INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE THIS. AND THE REASON WHY IS PROBABLY THE REASON THE WINERY IS IN BUSINESS RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE OF MARKETING AND WHAT WE DID IN CLAREMONT. AND YOU GET INTO THIS STATE OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOR WHERE THEY SAY, THE NATION'S OLDEST CITY IS GOING TO STILL THERE. LET'S GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND SO YOU GENERATE THIS ATTITUDE OF OH MY GOSH, THIS IS GOING ON DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME AND THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF FUN. SO THEY BOOK IT THEN. WE DID THE EXACT THING WITH LAKERIDGE. AND IT TOOK OUR ATTENDANCE, PROBABLY, MULTIPLIED BY 10 IN A MATTER OF FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AND GAINED FROM THERE AT THE WINERIES WHICH IS WHAT WE NEEDED AT THE TIME. WE NEEDED PEOPLE TO COME TO THE WINERY, TRY THE WINES, VISIT THE FACILITY, LEARN ABOUT IT, BE EDUCATED AND BUY OUR PRODUCTS THERE. WE WENT FROM HAVING A THOUSAND PEOPLE A MONTH TO WE WOULD HAVE A WEEKEND AT THE HEIGHT OF IT. AND THAT'S GENERATED OFF THE EVENT AND WHATEVER THAT UNIQUE EVENT IS. AND BROUGHT YOU, AND WE WERE PROMOTING THE NEXT TWO OR THREE. SO THIS ABSOLUTELY WORKS. I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT PROBABLY NEEDS TO CHANGE A LITTLE BIT IS WITH THE RESENT UPDATE OF THE TIME FRAME OF SING OUT LOUD, WHICH, ALL MUSICIAN S ARE CONSIDERED ARTIST, SO THAT FITS INTO THE THEME OF ARTS. [00:35:10] I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO MOVE FORWARD. AND THE AGENTS WILL CREATE THINGS AROUND AND IN SOME WAY ONCE YOU GET IT ORGANIZED, IT SIMPLIFIES IT A BIT. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE ON THIS TOPIC? ALL RIGHT. [10. MONTHLY REPORTS] WE'LL MOVE ONTO THE REVIEW OF THE T.D. T COLLECTIONS. GO AHEAD. >> SPEAKER: INCLUDED IN THE PACKET IS IS THE OCCUPANCY REPORT, THAT'S THE DASHBOARD, REVENUE COLLECTED. THE NET WAS 1,657,887 AND THAT'S 9.2 PERCENT FROM LAST YEAR. AND, THE FISCAL YEAR TO DATE IS 7,MILLION AND THAT'S UP JUST A LITTLE LAST YEAR. AND BELOW THAT, ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACCOMMODATIONS AND IT'S JUST THE TOTAL ACCOUNTS THAT THE TAX COLLECTOR COLLECTS FROM AND THEY'RE BROKEN DOWN. AND THE APARTMENT HOUSE AND MOBILE HOME MOST ARE LIKE YOUR AIRBNB PLATESES. AND BELOW THAT, ARE THE COLLECTIONS FROM THE VARIOUS MUNICIPALITIES LIKE THE VARIOUS SIP ROADS IN THE MUNICIPALITIES. >> DENA, WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THIS THE OTHER DAY ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP WHEN I SAW THE TOTAL 4823 ACCOUNTS, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN SEE HOW MANY ROOM NIGHTS PER DAY WE HAVE? BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS HEARD, WE'RE AROUND 20,000 AVAILABLE ROOMS PER NIGHT. SO WE CAN GET A SENSE FOR HOW MANY ROOMS WE'VE DONE AND WHAT --YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR RATES ARE AND FACTORS. THIS YEAR, WE DID, WE'RE DOWN, 9.2 PERCENT IN REVENUE BUT IF WE ADDED ANOTHER 1,000 ROOM NIGHTS, THEN WE'RE DOWN A LOT MORE THAN THAT. SO THE NUMBERS GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A FALSE READ. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A WAY TO GET THAT NUMBER FROM THE? >> I'M NOT. >> THE COLLECTOR. >> I'M NOT SURE IF THE TAX COLLECTOR COLLECTS THAT FOX. --INFORMATION. >> I KNOW IN THE FORM FROM MY PROPERTY, SAYS 35 ROOMS. >> THE TAX COLLECTOR WILL BE UPDATING NEXT MONTH. SO THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN ANSWER AT THAT TIME. >> OKAY. >> MR. CHAIR, I HAVE A QUESTION. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BREAK DOWN COLLECTION BY MUNICIPALITY, IS THAT STILL BY ZIP CODE? >> YES. >> SO WHEN WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION BY THE TAX COLLECTOR NEXT WEEK, I'VE ASKED IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO BREAK THAT OUT BY THE MUNICIPALITY BY THE FOOTPRINT OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. OUR ZIP CODE GOES ACROSS THE ISLAND AND, AND I THINK NO, I'M SORRY THE ISLAND IS COUNTED IN THE BEACH. ZIP CODE. >> IT'S GO TO VOLANO. SO WHEN YOU SAY MUNICIPALITY, I THINK THE ACTUAL FOOT PRINT WHICH IS 10 SQUARE MILES. SO IF WE CAN TEASE THAT OUT OR FIND A WAY TO TEASE THOSE OUT, WOULD BE A BETTER INFORMATION FOR US TO HAVE. >> THIS--IT DOES BREAK IT DOWN THERE A LITTLE BIT. BUT I AGREE WITH YOU, IT'S NOT THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, IT [00:40:03] INCLUDES, THERE IS THREE HOTELS THAT ARE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SIZE AND VERY BIG CAMP GROUND OVER THERE THAT KIND OF THROWS OFF WHETHER OR NOT IT'S 100 PERCENT THE CITY OR NOT. SO. >> YEAH, I THINK IT'S BEEN VERY CONVENIENT TO USE THE ZIP CODE BUT IT WOULD BE A LOT MORE USEFUL FOR US AS WE BECOME MORE DATA DRIVEN TO KNOW THE SPECIFICS. >> THERE ARE DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL BARRIERS THAT AFFECT THIS. SO. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THE REPORT? NOT SEEING ANY? ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE'RE AT VCB. >> SPEAKER: GOOD AFTERNOON I'M SUSAN PHILIPS WITH THE VCB. GOOD TO SEE YOU. LAST MONTH, I PRESENTED A LOT OF DETAIL AND I KNEW FROM IF THE AGENDA, THERE WAS A LOT. SO I DIDN'T PREPARE REPORTS BUT I CAN GO THROUGH ANYTHING YOU WANT. WHAT WAS MORE IMPORTANT WAS TO SEE THE VIDEO. WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU AND I KNOW DENA IS QUEUING THAT MONTH. AND NEXT MONTH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SAINT JERMAINE RESEARCH COME PRESENT NOT ONLY THE ANNUAL IMPACT AND VISITATION STUDY BUT ALSO THE KNIGHTS OF LIGHT STUDY, THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE HAD A STUDY ON VISITATION AND IMPACT. AND I WILL GIVE YOU A LITTLE TEASER, I'LL SPOIL THIS THIS. THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS ESTIMATED TO BE 120 MILLION DOLLARS FOR KNIGHTS OF LIGHTS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT SURPRISE BUT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THE DETAIL NEXT MONTH. THE FOLKS WILL BE HERE TO PRESENT THAT. SO NOW, DEAN, IF YOU HAVE IT READY, WOULD I LIKE TO SHOW THE SPOT. >> WHAT MAKES FAMILIES CLOSER? LONG WALKS ON ENDLESS BEACHES. LEARNING HISTORY TOGETHER. OR JUST SPENDING SOME QUIET TIME IN NATURE. GET MORE OUT OF YOUR NEXT FAMILY VACATION IN SAINT AUGUSTINE, AND THE BEACHES, WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD. >> THIS SPOT WILL BEGIN RUNNING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THAT WILL TAKE US INTO SUMMER. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER SPOTS THAT YOU SAW LAST MONTH. AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO MENTION TO YOU AND JEFF CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, ON THURSDAY, WE'RE DOING OUR ANNUAL TOURISM WORKSHOPS. JEFF AND I DO THESE JOINT', IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STAKEHOLDERS TO COME SEE US AND WE SOLICIT THEIR INPUT ON WHAT IS WORKING AND WHAT IS NOT WORKING AND ANY IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE CHANGE AND ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT AND ANY INSIDE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE TO US. WE HAVE ONE THAT WILL OCCUR ON THURSDAY, AT THE SAWGRASS MARRIOTT AND THURSDAY WE'LL BE AT THE EMBASSY SUITES. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND, LET US KNOW AND WE'LL ADD YOU TO THE V.I.P. LIST. AND OUR NOTES, WE WILL BRING THAT BACK TO THE FOLLOWING MONTH TO SHARE THAT INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY. AND WITH THAT T I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> I'LL OPEN IT TO THE BOARD. NOTHING. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> THAT BRINGS US TO MEMBERS COMMENTS. [11. MEMBER COMMENTS] ALYSSA, IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING UP, I PUT YOUR FLIER OUT FOR THE MEMBERS UP HERE. BUT, YOU CAN TALK TO US ABOUT THIS EVENT THAT WOULD BE GREAT. YES, PROBABLY BEST RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE. EITHER ONE WORKS. >> SPEAKER: OKAY, THANK YOU. CHAIR AND TDC BOARD. THE CITY OF IS PARTNERING TO CREATE A COMMUNITY TABLE EVENT [00:45:12] AND SHARING FOOD, SHARING FOOD, SHARING STORIES, SHARING HERITAGE AND IT'S INSPIRED BY THE EASTER FESTIVAL EVENT IN ABOLENE WHICH IS OUR SISTER CITY AND THAT FESTIVAL IS CALLED THE EL BOYO, WHICH IS TRANSLATED INTO A BISCUIT BUT IT'S A STREET EVENT AND THEY LINE MILES AND MILES OF CITY STREETS WITH THESE CONTINUOUS LONG TABLES AND WHEN COMMISSIONER CAME BACK FROM HER VISIT LAST YEAR, SHE WAS INSPIRED BY THE EVENT. AND ESSENTIALLY CHALLENGED ME TO RECREATE IT. IT'S BEEN A FUN PARTNERSHIP TO WORKING WITH SISTER CITIES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, THE ACTORS WILL BE DRESSING OUT. IF YOU GO REGISTER FOR A LUNCH, IT'S A $20 LUNCH AND JUST TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. IN SPAIN, IT'S FREE. IT A POTLUCK TYPE OF MEAL IN SPAIN. SO IN THE INTEREST OF JUST, WE DIDN'T WANT TO OVER PREPARE FOOD AND THEN HAVE PEOPLE NOT SHOW UP, BUT WE ALSO DIDN'T WANT TO ASK PEOPLE TO BRING A POTLUCK BUT THAT IS A LITTLE STRANGE. IT'S A NEW TRADITION, WE'RE TRYING IT THIS YEAR. YOU'LL GET A SOUVENIR CUP WHICH IS ALSO A NOD TO A SPANISH TRADITION OF POURING CEDRA WHICH IS--IT'S GOING TO BE OUR FIRST YEAR. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS MANY AS 300 PEOPLE. WE'VE RESERVED 200 CHAIRS AND WE FIGURE IF THAT'S POPULAR, WE CAN PIECEMEAL THE CHAIRS. BRING A FRIEND, FRIDAY OTHER FRIENDS, BRING MEMBERSHIPS OF YOUR ORGANIZATIONS AND JUST COME AND JOIN US. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. >> THANK YOU. BACK TO THE BOARD. >> THANK YOU, MELISSA. ALL RIGHT, I HAVE ONE IN THE MEMBER COMMENT SO I'M GOING TO GO FIRST HERE, BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE IS THE INPUT OF EVERYBODY UP HERE AND IN THE AUDIENCE. SO, THE MAYOR AND I WERE AT EVENT THAT THE STATE DID FOR FREDERICK DOUGLAS ON THE BENCH THAT WAS REVEALED. AND, IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BENCH BUT I DON'T THINK THEY DID A GREAT JOB IN THE PLACARD IN TELLING THE STORY. AND I THINK, WHAT I'VE NOTICED SINCE THAT TIME, IS, IF YOU'RE DOWNTOWN, YOU SEE A LOT OF FOURTH GRADERS AND THEY COME THROUGH. AT THIS BENCH, THE FOURTH GRADERS ARE INTERACTING WITH THIS BENCH AND THEY'RE TAKING TH PICTURES AND THEY'RE INVOLVED IN THIS. FOR SAINT AUGUSTINE I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE SOMETHING BEHIND FOR THE 250 COMING BEHIND US. SO MY PROPOSAL IT'S CALLED PARK BENCH HISTORY, I'M NOT ATTACHED TO ANY NAME. SO IN HONOR OF THE 250 ANNIVERSARY, I PROPOSE THAT WE HAVE BENCH FOR FUTURE GENERAL RAISESINGS. MY GOAL IS TO AT TWO STATUE, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO TEN. EACH WILL DEPICT A HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE THAT HAS HELPED SHAPE THE SAINT AUGUSTINE. THE TYPICAL COST IS $100,000 TO $150,000. HOWEVER AFTER DISCUSSION THE CREATOR OF HENRY PARK BENCH STATUTE, WHICH IS THERE AT POTTERS, WE PRODUCE EACH STATUTE FOR ABOUT $40,000. THE TOTAL 320,000 DISTRIBUTED OVER FOUR YEARS, 80,000 PER YEAR. SAINT JOHNS COUNTY AND CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AND SAINT AUGUSTINE HISTORIC SOCIETY AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. WITH PRIVATE DONORS TO DEVELOP WHAT COULD BE THE PARK BENCH HISTORY TOUR. AND I GAVE SOME NAMES, WE ALREADY HAVE A PAGE OF MENENDEZ SO THE NAMES THAT I HAVE AND I HAVE A LIST OF 14 HERE THAT [00:50:06] REALLY STOOD OUT. WE NEED FROM NEW YORKINHERITAGE, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., SISTERS OF SAINT JOHN, FRANKLIN SMITH, JACKIE ROBINSON, FRANK P THOMPSON,/ROBERT SMOLDY, TOMAS EDISON, SIR FRANCES, FRANCISCO MENENDEZ, RAY CHARLES ALONG WITH NO RO HERTSTON AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP AND DR. ROBERT HALEY. I'M NOT ATTACHED TO THIS LIST, I JUST WANT TO START THE PROCESS AND IT'S SOMETHING--IF WE CAN GET THE FIRST 8 DONE IN THE FUTURE, I THINK FUTURE LEADERS OF EVENTS CAN COME UP WITH NEW NEW PARK BENCHES AND NEW STATUTES FOR THESE KIDS TO PARTICIPATE. IN MY VISION, THEY WOULD NOT BE PUT DOWN THEIR PHONE, WE WOULD HAVE QR CODE AND ACTOR'S VOICE TELLING THE STORY AND GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT AND ALLOWING THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HISTORY. THAT'S MY PROPOSAL. I ALREADY HAVE A COMMITMENT FROM HISTORIC TOURS. I HAVE A $40,000 DONATION ALREADY IN PLACE TO START 10,000 FOR EACH YEAR AND I HAVE ANOTHER DONATION, FOR THE FRANKLIN SMITH, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHO THAT IS, HE'S THE ONE THAT CREATED THE CONCRETE, SO THE CERETA MUSEUM SAID THEY WOULD PARTICIPATE. I JUST WANT TO OPEN IT UP TO TALK ABOUT AND THROW DARTS AT IT. >> I HAVE A COMMENT MR. CHAIR. YES, SO I SUBSTITUTE FOR ROBERT HAILING, IT'S NOT A BENCH STATUE, IT'S A STATUE OF HIM WALKING AND TAKING CRIMINAL ACTION. BUT MY SUBSTITUTE WOULD BE TO CHIEF SALOY, THE MULAKU CHIEF. WHO PROVIDED HI COUNCIL HOUSE. THAT MAY BE CHALLENGING PUT HIM IN A SEATED POSITION. PERSONALLY, I HAVE ADVOCATED FOR PUBLIC ART AND THIS IS EXTREMELY GREAT IDEA TO FIT INTO A THEME. I WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT YOU IN ANY WAY I CAN AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, WE HAVE A SUNSHINE THING HERE SO WE CANNOT REALLY TALK ABOUT IT OUTSIDE OF THIS VENUE, BUT I WOULD, WILLINGLY OFFER MY SUPPORT AND FOR IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE. >> AND ONE OTHER. >> IS ASSUME A LOT WOULD BE LOCATED IN THE CITY SO THERE WOULD BE. >> AND THE CONCEPT WE THOUGHT OF, AND I'M A TRUSTEE IN THE HISTORIC SOCIETY, ALONG WITH GALE, GALE, YOU DIDN'T MAKE FRIDAY'S MEETING SO I CAN TALK ABOUT IT. SO BUT HISTORIC SOCIETY, IF THERE IS GRANTS TO GO AFTER MEGHAN AND OUR GROUP VOTED THEY WOULD HELP WITH MANAGING THAT THROUGH THE GRANT SYSTEMS. BECAUSE A LOT OF GRANTS ARE REQUIRED FROM A 501C3. >> QUESTION, DO YOU HAVE A 501C3 YOU OFFER THIS? >> SAINT AUGUSTINE. >> SO YOU CAN TAKE DONATIONS. >> I WISH YOU THE BEST, I CAN HELP IN MY WAY. >> DO YOU HAVE LOCATIONS? >> I DON'T. I WOULD LIKE A COMMITTEE. RIGHT NOW IT'S A BRAIN CHILD AND JUST SEEING THE KIDS. A LOT OF YOU KNOW THAT I WAS PARKS DIRECTOR HOW WE ENDED UP WITH AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, A KID WAS WALKING BESIDES ME WITH A KEY AROUND HIS NECK AND I FIGURED OUT THIS KID WAS SIX YEARS OLD AND GOING HOME. AND THIS IS SIMILAR WITH THAT KIND OF MOMENT, I WAS WATCHING THE KIDS AND INTERACTING WITH THE STATUE, SXIFS LIKE, THEY DON'T REACT THIS WAY IN ANY OTHER LOCATION, AND IT WAS WARM TO MY HEART, AND I WAS LIKE, WE NEED TO DO THIS WHERE THEY UNDERSTAND OUR CITY. >> YEAH, I'M REMINDED A YEAR OR SO AGO WHEN WE WERE SITTING HERE AND SOMEBODY CAME FORWARD THAT WANTED PUT A STATUE UP, AND WE PRETTY MUCH THREW HIM OFF THE TABLE. [00:55:04] WE DON'T WANT TO OVERLOOK THAT THAT SOMEBODY WANTED A MARTIN LUTHER KING STATUE. >> YEAH, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS RESPECTFUL OF THAT GROUP AND WHERE THAT GROUP WAS DOING IT. IT WAS KIND OF AWAY FROM THE OTHER. I STILL WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL AND NOT STEAL THEIR IDEA. BUT I THINK THE REASON, WE COULDN'T VOTE FOR IT IS WE DIDN'T HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE. >> AND WE STILL DON'T. >> THAT'S WHY I'M GETTING AHEAD OF THE BUDGET CYCLE. THEY CAME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUDGET AND ASKED FOR MONEY. AND I DON'T KNOW, DEPENDING ON THE GRANTS THAT IS NECESSARY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT MONEY IS STILL OUT THERE. I WOULD LIKE, I'M ASKING FOR A TEAM TO HELP ME. >> I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND, WOULD IT BE PARKS AND RECREATION? >> I THINK IT FALLS, I THINK IT FALLS MORE UNDER THE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES. AND, AND FROM THE HISTORIC PERSPECTIVE OF IT AND IT'S, I MEAN, THERE IS GOING FOB BUSINESSES THAT WILL POP OUT OF THIS WALKING TOWARDS THAT ARE GOING TO POP OUT OF THIS AND THE SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO USE THIS. SO. >> I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT IT AND I'LL TELL YOU Y.I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA BUT I ALSO HAVE CONCERNS THAT ON MY WAY HERE TODAY, THERE WAS A GOLF CART TOUR GUIDE PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM ON MOORE STREET WHERE THERE IS NO PARKING AND HAD A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHERE HE WAS POINTING AT MY BUILDING, AND TELLING THEM STUFF. WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE CULTURE COUNCIL TO PROMOST BLACK HISTORY IN SAINT AUGUSTINE AND EVERYTHING THAT WE SEEM TO BE DOING, IS LIKE DRAWING PEOPLE AWAY FROM. HISTORY THAT WE HAVE HELPED TO PRESERVE IN THE LINCOLNVILLE COMMUNITY AND OTHER PARTS. WHAT WE DID IN CULTURAL COUNCIL IS TAKEN PEOPLE TO ACTUAL HEIGHTS WHERE PEOPLE HAD HISTORY THAT WAS ALREADY THERE INSTEAD OF CREATING SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO DRAW PEOPLE INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA RATHER THAN OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY WHERE HISTORY HAS ALREADY BEEN CREATED. >> AND MY INTEND WAS, THE WAY THE KIDS ARE ENGAGING AND I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE BEING TOTALLY RESPECTFUL. WE HAVE A GROUP AND WE CAN TELL OUR MESSAGE BETTER, THOSE FOURTH GRADERS CAN'T GET ON THE BUS AND GO HERE AND THERE AND THERE. WE ALREADY HAVE THEM HERE, AND THAT'S MY INTENT WAS, IT'S ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING THE HISTORY OF WHERE IT'S AT. AND IF I DON'T KNOW OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE MORE IMPACTFUL IF MARTIN LUTHER KING IS USING HIS VOICE, TELLING HIS STORY IN SAINT AUGUSTINE TO THESE FOURTH GRADERS ON THEIR OWN PHONE. YOU KNOW, AND IT'S NOT TO, PULL AWAY FROM BUSINESSES, IT'S TO GET THEIR BRAINS GOING TO ASK MORE. >> I GET IT. I JUST SUBMITTED A GRANT THIS PAST FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7:05 TO THE MUSEUM TO CREATE SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BECAUSE ALL THE STUDENTS CAN'T COME INTO THE DOWNTOWN IF YOU'RE IN THE NORTHWEST OR EAST, WHEN THE BUSES HAVE TO BE IN THEIR LINE UP. IT'S DIFFICULT SO WE'RE WORK TO GO TRY AND CREATE SOMEBODY THAT CAN CREATE HISTORY THAT THEY CAN TAKE OUT INTO THE SCHOOLS. I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU ON THIS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT CUTTING OUT PARTS OF AUTHENTIC HISTORY THAT IS ALREADY HERE BECAUSE, I CAN TELL YOU WE HAD A LITTLE STATUE AT THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM AND THE KIDS CAME AND THEY TOOK PICTURE. IT WAS NOT SUPER STRUCTURAL SO I TOOK IT OUT. I THINK THAT PEOPLE WILL GO, WE HAVE, WE HAVE TROLLEYS COMING THROUGH LINCOLNVILLE, WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF BUSES THAT COME TO THIS COMMUNITY EVERY WEEK BRINGING STUDENTS HERE. AND I THINK THAT HAVING SOME SF THESE THINGS IS GREAT. BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO ALSO BE MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO TELL A STORY, PART OF IT NEEDS TO BE IN A CONTEXT. WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER SERVED ON ST. GEORGE'S STREET IT ACTUALLY CAME. >> YEAH, NEAR THE OPERA HOUSE. AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I WANTED TO BE WITH THAT, IS PLACING THEM IN AREAS THAT ARE [01:00:07] SIGNATURE LIKE STANDING WHERE HE STOOD. I HAVE TOMAS EDISON, I DON'T KNOW IF IF HE MAKES THE LIST, I HAVE THOMAS EDISON IN FRONT OF THE POWER PLANTS. >> HOW ABOUT MOTREY? >> YEAH, EXACTLY. IT'S NOT WALKING DISTRICT BUT I UNDERSTAND. AND THERE IS A MONUMENT OUT THERE ON MULTRY BUT PROBABLY 350,000 PEOPLE IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, I THINK I'M THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN THERE. YOU'VE BEEN THERE? YOU'VE GOT TO GO THROUGH THE YARD SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO FIND AND SO SOMETIMES, SOMETIMES YOU'VE GOT TO BRING HISTORY TO PEOPLE AND I KNOW IT'S NOT AUTHENTIC AND YOU AND I ARE ON THAT BOARD TOGETHER AND WE WANT TO BE AUTHENTIC BUT IT'S WAKING UP THE MIND IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO WITH THIS. LIKE I SAID ACCOUNTSER I LIKE THE CHIEF, I'M NOT LOOKED --LOCKED IN ON ANY OF THIS. I THREW OUT NAMES SO EVERYONE IS CLEAR. THERE ARE GREAT STOIR HE'S ON THESE 14 PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE. >> ANYTHING ELSE? >> NO. >> I LOVE IT T.I THINK IT'S GOING TO REACH FAR PAST THE YOUNG CHILDREN. I SEE ADULTS TAKING PICTURES ON THOSE EXISTING ONES ALL THE TIME. AND SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA AND FULLY SUPPORTIVE. >> YOU GUYS GOOD? ANYBODY FROM. PUBLIC WANT TO TALK ON THIS? I DON'T THINK OF US WANT TO GO OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW. >> SPEAKER: SUSAN PHILIPS. I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT WITH THE INFORMATION I WAS ABLE TO TALK TO RVC BOARD CHAIR ANDIER IN 100 PERCENT HOWEVER THE COMMITTEE WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD, WE'LL FIND A WAY TO SUPPORT WHETHER IT'S FINANCIALLY OR RESOURCES IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND IT GIVES PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN SO MUCH MORE ABOUT OUR RICH HISTORY. SO THANK YOU. >> YEAH. WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR JEFF, THERE IS GOING TO BE A BREAK AND THEN THERE WILL NOT BE. >> SPEAKER: JEFF, REAL QUICK. COUNCIL DIGS THIS IDEA OF THROWING STORIES. I'LL THROW A STORY, WE'VE GOT TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR LOCAL ARTIST AND THERE IS SOME PREFAB THINGS OR COMPANY. BUT IF YOU SLOW IS THE PACE, WE CAN WORK WITH LOCAL ARTIST AND IT WOULD MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE PATIENCE AND COSTS WILL GO UP. I'M ALWAYS GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR LOCAL ARTIST. WITH THAT, WE WOULD LOVE TO PARTICIPATE. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. MAYOR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, IF YOU CAN FIND SOMEBODY WITH THE CITY THAT YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION. I THINK SOME OF THE LOCATION RIGHT SIDE GOING TO BE ON CITY PROPERTY. >> AND MELISSA WHISTLE IS HERE, AND SHE CAN ASSIST SINCE WE HAVE IS THE SUNSHINE LAW CONFLICT, SHE IS HERE, THAT'S WHY SHE IS HERE SO SHE CAN WORK WITH YOU ON THAT AND WE CAN GO FROM THERE. IT REALLY IS AN AMAZING IDEA. REALLY IS S.I THINK THINK OF A LOT OF THINGS TO SUPPORT. BUT THE TIME HAS COME SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. AND DENA, IF YOU CAN CAN THE COUNTY ALSO, IF YOU'RE NOT THE PERSON, IF YOU CAN ASK THE COUNTY CAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMEBODY WITH THE CITY AND COUNTY AND JEFF AND SUSAN, IF IT'S NOT YOU TWO SOMEBODY FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION. I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS GIVING ME THAT TIME. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? MIKE? >> THANKS JUST QUCKLY. OVER THE WEEKEND THERE WAS AN EVENT OVER IN PANA VIDRA. VERY SUCCESSFUL. LOTS OF OCCUPANCY, I BELIEVE EVERY MOTEL WAS FULL. SO AGAIN, PGA TOUR HAD A GREAT EVENT. [01:05:05] THE WEATHER HELD OFF YESTERDAY SO WE WERE FORTUNATE. I LOOK FORWARD TO START PLANNING FOR NEXT YEAR. >> THANKS, TROY. >> NO, JUST REMIND OF OUR NEW EXHIBIT AT THE VIC, IT'S CREATED BY THE NATION OF IRELAND AND WE HAD A RIBBON CUTTING AND IT WAS FABULOUS, WE HAD FUN. THIS TELLS A STORY ABOUT OUR IRISH ROOTS AND PLEASE SEND PEOPLE DOWN. IT FREE, AND I MENTIONED THIS AT THE COMMISSION MEET ING. BETWEEN THE VIC FREE EXHIBIT AND THEN THE FREE EXHIBIT DOWN AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE, WHICH IS IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO SEE T IT'S A NEW FLORIDA WATERS, FROM THE HARM MUSEUM IN GAINSVILLE, PART OF THE VICORS EXHIBITION. THOSE ARE TWO FREE THINGS TO DO. IF YOU WANT TO SO THE DOUGLAS STATUE BENCH. BY THE WAY, TROY, ON YOUR THEME, PEOPLE INTERACTING WITH THAT. I SAW SOMEBODY PUT A GREEN SAINT PATRICK'S HAT ON THAT STATUE. I THOUGHT IT WAS FUN THAT PEOPLE WERE INTERACT WITHING THAT THAT WAY WITH ALMOST LIKE IF HE'S A PERSON. ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, PLEASE, WE HOPE THAT THIS LITTLE TINY, MELISSA WAS CALLING IT A MICRO SPACE IN THE VIC WHERE THIS NEW EXHIBIT IS, CAN BE THE BEGINNING OF MORE, I'M HOPING SOME DAY WE CAN HAVE A MINORCAN, MAYBE A 250TH EXHIBIT, JUST DIFFERENT THINGS POPPING UP. IT'S SMALL ENOUGH THAT IT'S CONTINUE AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO CREATE AN EXHIBIT. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU DOWN AND THEY HAD MERCHANDISE THAT THEY WERE SELLING THAT IS LOVELY. VISIT THE STORE AS WELL. >> I THINK THE TELEMOTO CEMETARY IS OPEN THIS WEEKEND. ALL RIGHT. GALE DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? YOU GUYS GOOD? >> TROY, DON'T FORGET YOUR VANILLA ICE STATUE. >> YEAH. HE'LL BE RIGHT UP THERE. I'LL PENCIL HIM IN RIGHT THERE. ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE'RE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.