[00:00:04]
>> DEANNA, ARE WE READY? ALL RIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE MREEJ -- 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. ALL RIGHT. IF WE COULD HAVE ROLL CALL.
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.IF WE CAN GET AN APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA IF WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA? GIVE IT TO THE BOARD FIRST.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY? >> MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE
>> HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR?
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES? I KNOW WE HAD TO CHANGE THE
MAYOR'S SEAT FROM THE PREVIOUS. >> YES.
I SEE THAT IS CORRECTED. AND I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO
APPROVE THE MINUTES. >> SECOND.
>> ALL RIGHT. AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE? OPPOSED?
LIKE SIDE. >> DO WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT RELATED TO AGENDA ITEMS? I DON'T SEE ANY RIGHT NOW. SO I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT
[7. TDC BOARD MEMBER RECOMMENDATION]
FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA. ALL RIGHT.THAT TAKES US TO ITEM NUMBER 7. BOARD MEMBER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TDC. DO YOU WANT TO TALK US THROUGH
HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS OR... >> YEAH.
>> SO YOU'RE -- YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY MOVED AND SECONDED.
HISTORICALLY, ONCE YOU PICK SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN DISCUSS OTHER PEOPLE, AND IT'S KIND OF UP TO YOU HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHUFFLE THEM THROUGH. YOU CAN VOTE ON ONE.
YOU CAN GET AS MANY NOMINATIONS. WHOEVER IS NOMINATED FIRST IS WHO YOU WILL VOTE ON FIRST. THAT'S BEEN YOUR HISTORIC
>> YES. >> GAIL PHILLIPS IS A CURRENT BOARD MEMBER. IS SHE ELIGIBLE TO REAPPLY?
SHE HAS SERVED TWO TERMS. >> SHE HAS APPLIED.
>> SHE IS ELIGIBLE TO BE REAPPOINTED, YES.
>> AND SHE HAS APPLIED. >> AND SHE HAS APPLIED.
>> I MAKE A MOTION. >> I NOMINATE GAIL PHILLIPS.
A NOMINATION AND A SECOND. ANY -- I GUESS I HAVE TO ASK FOR THIS. ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? NOT SOO GREEEING ANY. I THINK WE CAN VOTE ON IT.
ALL IN FAVOR OF GALE RETURNING. >> AYE.
[8. FY27 ACH TOURISM GRANT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS]
TOURISM AND GRANT RECOMMENDATIONS?SO -- >> HELLO, BRENDA SCHWANN WITH THE ST. JOHNS CULTURAL COUNCIL. WE RECEIVED 26 APPLICATIONS THAT WERE SENT TO YOU ALL FOR A TOTAL OF 1.29 MILLION IN REQUESTS.
THE RECOMMENDED FUNDING IS 800,000 BASED ON THE BUDGET WE WERE GIVEN AND THE EVALUATIONS WERE SCORED IN A PUBLIC PANEL MEETING ON AUGUST 6TH, AND THE SCORES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE LISTED HERE. WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET, I'M HAPPY TO READ IT, BUT I ASSUME YOU'RE GOOD.
BUT DO LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR...
>> I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS, YES.
[00:05:01]
>> I DO. DO YOU HAVE ANY THINGS OUTSTANDING ABOUT THIS OR DIFFERENT?
ANYTHING UNUSUAL? >> WHAT WAS GREAT IT WAS THE FIRST FEW YEARS THAT EVERYBODY RECEIVED AN ELIGIBLE FUNDING SCORE. THERE WEREN'T ANY APPLICATIONS THAT DIDN'T RECEIVE FUNDING. AND I WOULD SAY THAT OVERALL THE PANELISTS MENTIONED TO ME THAT THEY WERE -- APPLICATIONS JUST KEEP IMPROVING SO -- AND WE DON'T HAVE TOO MANY NEW ONES.
JUST A COUPLE. >> WHICH ONES ARE OUR NEW ONES?
>> THE ANCIENT CITY FARMSTEAD CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE, SHEPHERD FEST. I THINK THAT IS IT.
THEY WEREN'T NEW EVENTS, BUT THEY WERE NEW TO APPLICANTS.
I'M JUST PERUSING THROUGH TO MAKE SURE I DON'T HAVE TO RECUSE
>> I DON'T THINK I DO. >> WELL, I AM A BOARD MEMBER.
I SIT ON THAT BOARD REPRESENTING THE CITY.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD MAKE ME NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF.
>> NO, IT'S -- AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT BEING PAID A SALARY FROM
THEM, YOU SHOULD BE OKAY. >> I AM AN EMPLOYEE.
MY SALARY DOES NOT COME OUT OF THOSE FUNDS.
>> YOU SHOULD RECUSE MYSELF. >> ALL RIGHT.
I SHOULD RECUSE MYSELF. I RECEIVE A SALARY FROM THEM WHICH IS IN NO WAY TIED TO TDC FUNDS.
I HAVE NO BENEFIT OF BEING FUNDED OR NOT.
JUST TO BE SAFE. >> THAT'S WHAT I WAS DOING.
I WAS GOING THROUGH. HAVE I CONSULTED OR DONE ANYTHING WITH THEM? I THINK I'M GOOD.
I WILL LOOK FOR A MOTION. >> I MOVE WE APPROVE THE FUNDING
LIST AS PRESENTED. >> ALL RIGHT.
AND THANKS FOR THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THIS YEAR.
[9. FY27 SPORTS TOURISM GRANT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS]
SPORTS TOURISM? >> BOBBY MCFARLANE, SPORTS TOURISM DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
WE HAD OUR FIRST YEAR OF FISCAL YEAR '27 APPROVED BY THE R.A.B., AND NOW IT'S RECOMMENDED TO YOU GUYS.
THE SPORTS TOURISM GRANTS PROGRAM OPERATES ON A BIANNUAL CYCLE CONSISTING OF TWO PHASES. PHASE ONE WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE. PHASE 2, APRIL 1ST TO SEPTEMBER 30TH. WE HAD A TOTAL OF 12 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED. ALL APPLICATIONS WERE REVIEWED AND SCORED BY THE GRANTS EVALUATION PANEL.
THE SCORES AND FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS WERE PRESENTED TO THE RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD FOR REVIEW AT THE MEETING OF AUGUST 12TH. THE EVENTS OR RESULTS AND PROPOSED FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS ARE LISTED AS FOLLOWS.
SO WE DID HAVE FOUR NEW EVENTS, FOUR GRANTEES.
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN THAT SHADE OF, I GUESS, WEIRD BROWNISH, TANNISH. AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS,
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER. >> ALL RIGHT.
I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION. THE TRIATHLON WITH EVERYTHING THAT WENT ON LAST YEAR, WHAT'S OUR INVOLVEMENT? IS THE SHERIFF APPROVAL? DO WE HAVE ALL THE PROPER PERMITS AND THE ROAD STUFF? BECAUSE I DON'T WANT OUR NAME ATTACHED TO WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE.
>> GOOD NEWS ON THAT IS THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH US HERE AT ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THAT WAS A VISIT JACKSONVILLE.
I DO KNOW THE SPORTS TOURISM PERSON UP THERE.
THAT WAS AN INITIATION COMMENT AFTER THE EVENT.
WE DIDN'T TAKE ANY PART OF APPROVING THAT EVENT ON PARKS
EVERYONE ACTS LIKE THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT EXISTED.
AND THEN IT BECAME A BIG PRESS THING.
>> YEAH. I ASKED SYDNEY IF SHE COULD MAKE SURE SHE LETS ME KNOW NEXT TIME BEFORE WE GET GOING FOR THAT
[00:10:01]
ONE. >> THAT'S MY OTHER QUESTION.
>> THIS IS A TOTALLY SEPARATE EVENT; RIGHT? THIS IS A MUCH SHORTER DISTANCE TRIATHLON.
>> THIS TRIATHLON IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT IN THE AREA UP THERE.
IT'S NOT AN IRON MAN. IT IS AN OLYMPIC DISTANCE WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, STILL VERY SIGNIFICANT TO THE
>> SO THAT'S THE REASON I WAS ASKING.
>> YEAH. AND WE'VE HOSTED IT FOR THE LAST
COUPLE YEARS, SO IT'S NOTHING. >> THANK YOU.
I HAVE ONE COMMENT. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.
AND I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED SEEING THE WOMEN SENIOR AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP. THAT SOUNDS REALLY AMAZING.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THEM ON STRONGLY AND SUPPORTING THEM IN A STRONG WAY. AND I'M ALSO EXCITED ABOUT BRINGING BACK THE ST. AUGUSTINE AMATEUR.
I KNOW YOU'RE ABLE TO PRESERVE A GOOD LEVEL OF FUNDING FOR THEM BECAUSE THAT'S ALSO -- EVEN THOUGH IT'S YOUTH, WE HAVE GOT THE SENIOR AMATEUR BUT THEN YOU HAVE GOT THE YOUTH AMATEUR COMING ALONG. I THINK IT'S A GREAT -- I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS WE HAVE DONE IT.
IT'S GREAT. IT'S A GREAT EVENT.
THANK YOU. >> TWO GREAT EVENTS.
ONE OF MY GOALS IS TO CONTINUE TO DIVERSIFY EVENTS HERE IN ST.
AND THAT EVENT, WE HAVE HAD SOME OF THE WINNERS GO ON AND BE ON THE PRO TOUR, SO IT'S A REALLY BIG EVENT.
ALL RIGHT. ANY -- I GUESS WE NEED TO GET A MOTION, AND THEN WE'LL ASK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> WE ACCEPT THEM AS PRESENTED. >> I WILL SECOND.
>> I HAVE A SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT.
I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I DON'T THINK WE DID IT FOR ACH. SINCE WE APPROVED IT ALL, I DON'T THINK ANYONE COMPLAINED. I DIDN'T KNOW IF ANYONE WANTS TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THE SPORTS -- SPORTS GRANT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS. NOT SEEING ANY.
[10. FY2027 TDT BUDGET OVERVIEW]
WE ARE HERE AT THE BUDGET OVERVIEW.MR. DUNN. YES, WE DO HAVE A LETTER FOR OUR TDC MEMBERS. WE HAVE A LETTER FROM IRVING THAT'S ON YOUR INSERT. IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO READ IT OVER, HE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE, BUT HE HAD SOME COMMENTS
UPON AGENDA ITEM 10. >> ALL RIGHT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. JESSE DUNN DEPUTY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR BRINGING YOU THIS MONTH'S VERSION OF THE 2027 TOURISM TAX FUND BUDGET. WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A COUPLE I WOULD SAY ROBUST DISCUSSIONS ON THE BUDGET.
IN JULY, THE TDC PROVIDED SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I'LL WRING FORWARD IN THIS PRESENTATION AND THEN HOW THESE WERE RESOLVED.
ALSO IN JULY, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR JOY ANDREWS SENT A MEMORANDUM TO THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL RECOMMENDING USE OF ONE-TIME DOLLARS THAT SHE ACTUALLY HAS DECIDED TO DEFER ON PROJECTS POSSIBLY NOT UTILIZED IN THE FUTURE.
THOSE DOLLARS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH TWO PROJECTS.
ONE WAS THE HISTORIC BLACK MUSEUM.
THIS WAS PRIOR TO ANY STATE FUNDING.
THERE WAS SOME POTENTIAL DOLLARS IN THERE.
IF THERE WAS ANY MARKETING REQUIRED FOR THAT, THAT IS NO LONGER NEEDED. SO THOSE DOLLARS HAVE DROPPED OFF AS PART OF THIS PROCESS. AND IT ALLOWED US SOME TIME TO REVIEW THIS SOME MORE IN JULY IN OUR '26 OPERATION.
THE OTHER WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HALL OF FAME FACILITY.
THAT FACILITY WAS -- AS YOU KNOW IT IS NOW VACANT.
IT HAS BEEN UTILIZED ACTUALLY BY THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, BUT THERE WAS SOME CONSIDERATION BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO POSSIBLY UTILIZE IT FOR SOME OTHER TOURISM-RELATED INITIATIVES. AND SO THERE WAS SOME SET ASIDE IN CATEGORY 4. I THINK THAT WAS ORIGINALLY MAYBE IN THE LATE '25 BUDGET WE CARRIED FORWARD INTO '26 WHEN WE FURTHER REVIEWED THE BUDGET. JOY -- I'M SORRY.
ADMINISTRATOR ANDREWS SAID WE COULD FOREGO THOSE DOLLARS.
THIS AUGUST BUDGET RESOLVES MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL HAD BROUGHT UP DURING THE JULY MEETING.
AND THIS WAS IN A MEMO THAT WE HAD PROVIDED FROM DEENA, AND I
[00:15:06]
THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE GOOD TO KIND OF STATE INTO IT AS WAS OUTLINED IN THE JULY 29TH MEMO FROM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ANDREWS. THE COUNTY WILL UNDERGO 540,000 OF CATEGORY 4 APPROPRIATIONS IN THE '26 BUDGET TO ALLOW FUNDS TO BE REALLOCATED IN FISCAL YEAR OR TOWARDS '27.THE REALLOCATION OF FUNDS ALLOWS US TO MEET THE STATED PRIORITIES OF THE TDC TO, ONE, MAINTAIN STABLE FUNDING FOR VCB MARKETING INITIATIVES AND, TWO, INCREASE THE FUNDING OF ACH GRANT PROGRAM TO 800,000 WHILE MAINTAINING FUNDING FOR THE FULL SPECTRUM OF ESTABLISHED TOURISM SUPPORT INITIATIVES WHICH WERE CONSIDERED TO BE UNDER ELIMINATION AS PART OF THE JULY TDC RECOMMENDATION, INCLUDING PGA TOURISM PROMOTION PARTNERSHIP, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LED PRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT, NIGHTS OF LIGHTS EXPANSION INITIATIVES, BEACH FIREWORKS AND PLACER SOFTWARE. WITH THAT 540,000 WITH FURTHER REVIEW OF THE '26 BUDGET IN TERMS OF EXPENDITURES, MAYOR SWEENEY HAD BROUGHT UP AND IT WAS -- AND I'LL GOING THROUGH THE CATEGORIES. I BELIEVE THERE WAS ADVERTISING THAT WAS IN THERE. I ASKED THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT BUDGET TO RE-REVIEW THE PROJECTIONS FOR '26, AND WE WERE ABLE TO RESOLVE AGAIN WHAT I THINK THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL WAS TRYING TO ACHIEVE WITHIN THE JULY MEETING.
SO WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT JUST TO LET YOU KNOW. IF THERE ARE CHANGES TODAY, WE WILL PROVIDE THEM IN A MEMORANDUM TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR THEIR SEPTEMBER MEETINGS.
WE ARE LOCKED IN AT THIS POINT IN TERMS OF, AGAIN, WHAT'S BEING ADVERTISED ONLINE FOR THE BUDGET.
IN SEPTEMBER, THE BCC WILL ADOPT THE BUDGET.
I BELIEVE IT IS ON SEPTEMBER 3RD AND SEPTEMBER 15TH, AND THEN THAT WILL ADOPT THE BUDGET. AND THEN JUST TO KIND OF KEEP EVERYBODY IN KNOWING THIS IN NOVEMBER, THERE IS REFERENDUM RELATED TO PROPERTY TAX REFORM VOTE, WHICH MAY HAVE -- MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE A DIRECT INFLUENCE ON HOW TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAXES
ARE APPROPRIATED FOR 2027. >> QUESTION BEFORE YOU MOVE ON?
>> OH, YES. >> DOES -- AS I RECALL, WE DID SOME LANGUAGE MODIFICATIONS IN LITTLE BIT MORE ROOM TO SPEND.A- MORE ROOM TO SPEND DIFFERENT, I THINK, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, SPEND TDC ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
I JUST KIND OF DIDN'T WANT THAT TO BE FORGOTTEN IN ANTICIPATION OF THE PROPERTY TAX AMENDMENT PASSING.
I THINK THAT THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM TO SPEND TDC DOLLARS, TDC ON OTHER THINGS BESIDES WHAT WE'RE SPENDING IN CASE IT'S NEEDED BECAUSE IT PROBABLY WILL BE.
I'M SURE IT WILL BE UNDER A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO SPEND THESE DOLLARS ON OTHER, YOU KNOW, MORE INFRASTRUCTURE-TYPE THINGS. THANK YOU.
>> SO WE'LL ALL STAY TUNED FOR THAT REFERENDUM IN NOVEMBER.
SO THE AUGUST VERSION OF THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT BUDGET AGAIN ON THE REVENUE SIDE CONTINUING TO PROJECT 3% REVENUES FOR BOTH THIS YEAR AND FOR 2027.
SO WE HAVEN'T ADJUSTED ANY OF THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS.
THEY ARE STILL COMING IN LOWER THAN 3%, BUT WE'RE COMFORTABLE
AT THE 3% FOR THIS YEAR. >> JOSE, WHAT IS THAT NUMBER YEAR TO DATE SO FAR? I SEE THE INDIVIDUAL MONTHS IN SUSAN'S REPORT, BUT DO WE KNOW WHAT THE AVERAGE IS?
>> OVERALL THE OFFICE MANAGEMENT BUDGET IS PROJECTING AS OF RIGHT NOW -- AGAIN, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK WE WERE AT 2.5%.
WE'RE A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN THE 3% PROJECTION.
>> WHAT HAPPENS IF WE COME IN UNDER 3%? DOES EVERY ENTITY THAT WE'VE FUNDED TAKE A CUT?
HOW DOES THAT WORK? >> IT'S A TWO-YEAR THING.
WE'RE PROJECTING 2026 AND ANTICIPATING 3% FOR 2027.
[00:20:02]
AS PART OF TDC DISCUSSIONS, EVERY MEETING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RE REVENUE. IT'S KIND OF A YELLOW FLAG AT THIS POINT, AND WE'LL SEE HOW THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAXES COME IN FOR '27. IF THEY START TRENDING HIGHER, THEN WE DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE. IF THEY'RE CONTINUING TO STAY AT THAT 2.5%, THEN WE HAVE TO CONSIDER A PAUSE, IF YOU WILL.>> THANK YOU. >> THE JULY RECOMMENDATIONS, AGAIN A LOT OF FEEDBACK, A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THE BUDGET.
I ALWAYS APPRECIATE THAT AS A FORMER BUDGET DIRECTOR.
WE REALLY DID GET INTO LINE ITEM INFORMATION.
SOME OF THE TDC RECOMMENDATIONS DID INCLUDE SOME ELIMINATION OF SOME ESTABLISHED TOURISM INITIATIVES.
WE WENT BACK. WE DISCUSSED THOSE WITH STAFF.
WE DISCUSSED THEM WITH ADMINISTRATOR ANDREWS.
AND, AGAIN, AS I READ EARLIER, THIS AUGUST BUDGET APPROACH UTILIZES A LITTLE OVER 540,000 IN CATEGORY 4 PROJECTS TO SECURE THESE TDC PRIORITIES, AS WE'VE MENTIONED EARLIER AND ARE UP ON THE SCREEN. SO GOING THROUGH THIS, WE HAVE -- THERE ARE THREE COLUMNS OF NUMBERS.
WHAT STAFF PRESENTED TO THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ON JULY, WHAT THE TDC RECOMMENDATIONS WERE BACK TO STAFF AND THEN WHAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD AS A RESOLVE.
AND I WILL USE THIS ONE AS AN EXAMPLE, AND THEN WE CAN EITHER GO THROUGH EACH ONE OF THEM, BUT YOU COULD SEE HERE, TDC RECOMMENDATION WAS TO RESOLVE, MAINTAIN THE VCB.
I'M SORRY. THE FIRST COLUMN THERE IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE VCB CORE SERVICES IN MARKETING BASED ON THE ALLOCATION FOR THAT CATEGORY PUT US IN A DEFICIT FOR THAT PARTICULAR CATEGORY ABOUT 541,000.
THE COUNCIL HAD RECOMMENDED SHIFTING A PORTION OF THE SJCCE CONTRACT, WHICH IS ELIGIBLE IN CATEGORIES 1, 2, AND 4 TO CATEGORY 4 IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THAT DEFICIT.
IN LOOKING AT THAT, WE'VE SORT OF DONE JUST THE SAME THING EXCEPT WE HAVE SHIFTED THOSE FUNDS FROM CATEGORY 4 INTO CATEGORY 1 AT THIS POINT IN THE BUDGET.
SO WE ARE RESOLVING THE ISSUE OF THE VCB CORE SERVICES AND VCB MARKETING BY MAINTAINING THOSE DOLLARS.
WE ARE MAINTAINING THE SJCCE CONTRACT IN HERE FOR CATEGORY 1, AND THERE'S A NEW REVENUE LINE. IT'S CERTAINLY NOT A NEW REVENUE. IT'S A NEW REVENUE LINE CALLED AN INTERCATEGORY TRANSFER. SO WE'RE UTILIZING THOSE DOLLARS THAT WERE SAVED PRIMARILY IN CATEGORY 4 BY RELOOKING AT THEIR PROJECTIONS, BY ELIMINATING THOSE TWO INITIATIVES I TALKED ABOUT IN ABOUT 540,000. OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT BUDGET ALSO LOOKS AT ANY INTEREST EARNINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
SO WE WAITED UNTIL THE END, WHICH IS WHY THIS WASN'T IN THE -- WE WANTED TO GET AS MUCH OF THE DETAIL AS POSSIBLE.
AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO TRANSFER IN DOLLARS THROUGH THIS CATEGORY TRANSFER AGAIN. PRIMARILY THROUGH CATEGORY 4 SAVINGS TO RESOLVE WHAT THE TDC WAS HOPING TO ACHIEVE IN
CATEGORY 1. >> I DO HAVE A QUESTION THERE.
THOSE INTERCATEGORY TRANSFERS, ARE THOSE LEGALLY ALLOWED?
>> YES. >> DID THE COUNTY PASS AN ORDINANCE ALLOWING THAT? ACCORDING TO STATUTE, THAT'S
>> OKAY. WE HAVE WITHIN THE ORDINANCE -- AND THIS IS ORDINANCE 2024-42.
THE BALANCE -- AND THIS IS UNDER RESIDUAL FUNDS.
I MEAN, THERE'S REALLY TWO SETS OF INFORMATION IN THERE.
ONE IS CATEGORY FUND RETENTION THAT THE PREVIOUS YEAR CATEGORY USE APPROPRIATIONS WILL REMAIN WITHIN THE USE OF THE CATEGORY.
THE IDEA BEING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN CARRYOVERS FROM WITHIN A CATEGORY SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST OPEN FOR ANYBODY TO REALLOCATE IT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS LANGUAGE IN THERE FOR RESIDUAL FUNDS THAT SAYS, "THE BALANCE OF ANY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT EXPENDITURES REMAINING AFTER EXPENDITURES FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES MAY BE ALLOCATED AT DIRECTION OF THE BOARD FOR ANY USE CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF FLORIDA STATUTE 2025-104."
[00:25:01]
THE ORDINANCE ALLOWS FOR THAT REALLOCATION.>> JESSE ARE YOU DONE WITH YOUR PRESENTATION? I WOULD LIKE TO HOLD THE QUESTIONS UNTIL YOU'RE
>> SORRY. >> THAT'S HOW WE RESOLVED WHAT THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL WAS WANTING TO ACHIEVE IN CATEGORY 1. IN CATEGORY 2, THE -- KIND OF A SIMILAR DESIRE BY THE COUNCIL WAS TO MAINTAIN CULTURAL COUNCIL CONTRACT. THIS WAS AT THE CURRENT YEAR, I BELIEVE, WHICH WAS THE 1,376,316 AND ALSO MAINTAIN FUNDING FOR ACH GRANTS AT THE 800,000. WHEN WE PRESENTED THAT IN JULY, THERE WAS A DEFICIT IN THAT CATEGORY BY ABOUT $213,000.
THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE COUNCIL WAS TO SHIFT PART OF THE SJCCE CONTRACT INTO CATEGORY 4. THE RESOLVE WAS TO TRANSFER ADDITIONAL DOLLARS IN THROUGH THIS INTERCATEGORY TRANSFER.
IT SAYS UP THERE "FUND BALANCE," WHICH IS KIND OF THE SAME THING BUT IT IS AN INTERCATEGORY TRANSFER THE SAME WAY.
THE SAME METHOD WE USE FOR CATEGORY 1.
AGAIN RESOLVING THE NEED FOR COUNCIL FOR THE FUNDING FOR THE CONTRACTS AND THE ACH GRANT PROGRAM.
CATEGORY 3, PRIMARILY THE COUNCIL HAD LEFT IN TACT.
AGAIN, MAYOR SWEENEY ASKED US TO LOOK AT SPORTS MARKETING ADVERTISING, WHICH WE DID REVIEW AND FOUND WE COULD LOWER THE PROJECTIONS AND ALLOCATE LESS FOR 2027 FREEING UP SOME ADDITIONAL DOLLARS IN THERE. AS WELL, WE MOVED A PORTION OF THE WALDRON PARK AT 1.5 MILLION. WE LOWERED THAT APPROPRIATION TO $1.2 MILLION BECAUSE THE REQUIREMENT IN THE RESERVE RELATED TO THE MOST RECENT BOND WAS TO MAINTAIN AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL YEAR'S DEBT SERVICE WITHIN RESERVE.
SO THE DEBT SERVICE FOR THE TOURNAMENT PARKS IS $750,000.
WE ARE TO MAINTAIN AT LEAST $750,000 PER BOARD DISCUSSION WITHIN THOSE RESERVES. WE'RE A LITTLE OVER THAT RIGHT NOW. AGAIN, WE MAINTAINED ALL DESIRES THAT WERE WANTING TO BE ACHIEVED IN CATEGORY 3.
MOVING ON TO CATEGORY 4, LET ME GET THE -- WENT A LITTLE QUICK.
IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE WHAT THE -- AGAIN, WHAT THE COUNCIL WAS TRYING TO ACHIEVE IN CATEGORIES 1 AND 2, THERE WAS THE RECOMMENDATION TO SHIFT A PORTION OF THE SJCCE CONTRACT FROM CAT 1 AND CAT 2 INTO CAT 4. AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT AND STILL FUND, CATEGORY 4, THERE WAS SOME RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE TDC TO REDUCE WHAT IS UP THERE IN THE YELLOW LINES.
AS PART OF JOY'S MEMO TO THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, WE WERE ABLE TO RESOLVE THIS AGAIN BY FREEING UP THOSE DOLLARS AND MAINTAINING THOSE CONTINUING SERVICES AS PART OF THE CATEGORY 4 PROGRAM. STILL ACHIEVE WHAT WAS NECESSARY FOR CATEGORIES 1 AND 2, AND YOU CAN SEE THERE'S AN INTERCATEGORY TRANSFER OUT OF CATEGORY 4 INTO THOSE OTHER CATEGORIES.
THOSE WERE SAVINGS AGAIN ACHIEVED BY LOOKING AT PROJECTIONS. POSSIBLY INTEREST EARNINGS FROM THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.
AND THEN CATEGORY 4 -- I'M SORRY.
THE FINAL CATEGORY, CATEGORY 5, PRIMARILY THE TDC HAD RECOMMENDED THAT WE UTILIZE ONLY 500,000 OF THE BEACH TROLLEY DOLLARS AND PUT THE REST REALLY IN A RESTRICTED RESERVE.
AND THAT RECOMMENDATION WAS NOT TAKEN.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE FORWARD WITH THAT.
IT'S REALLY JUST A QUESTION OF -- IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A RESTRICTED RESERVE AT THIS POINT.
THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONTINUE FORWARD WITH THAT PROGRAM. I WILL REITERATE.
IF THAT BEACH TROLLEY PROGRAM DOES NOT COME IN AT THAT LEVEL, THOSE DOLLARS WILL BE PUT BACK INTO RESERVES.
THEY WON'T BE JUST SPENT. THESE ARE FOR BEACH ASSETS ONLY.
WITH THAT, THAT'S REALLY HOW WE ACHIEVED WHAT WE HOPED THE TDC
[00:30:01]
WAS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THROUGH THE JULY DISCUSSIONS.AND I'M OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >> OKAY.
>> ON THE TROLLEY, I GET IT'S -- WHETHER IT SITS IN RESERVE OR IT SITS THERE, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
>> WON'T BE UTILIZED UNTIL IT'S UTILIZED.
THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A SOLICITATION RELATED TO IT.
>> IT PROBABLY HELPS ON POSSIBLE GRANTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT IF IT SITS THERE. I'M OKAY WITH THAT.
>> THAT'S TRUE. >> THE OTHER ONES -- AND THANK YOU, STAFF, FOR FINDING THIS MONEY.
I HAVE BEEN WHERE YOU'RE AT. IT'S NOT EASY TO DO WHAT YOU DID. BUT I HAVE SOME REQUESTS FROM OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM MY SIDE AND THE WAY I LOOK AT THINGS.
THE FIRST ONE WITH THE FIREWORKS, I'M GLAD IT'S IN THERE. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE IT BECOMES A PART OF THE ACH NEXT YEAR BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE GIVING MUNICIPALITY TO MUNICIPALITY.
WE'RE GIVING IT TO A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION.
SO I FEEL IT FITS IN THE ACH, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THEY'LL DO VERY WELL WITH THAT. BUT I THINK THAT'S A BETTER LOCATION FOR IT. WITH THE PLAYERS, THERE'S SOME CRITERIA IN THE ORIGINL CONTRACTS THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO WORK WITH THE BCB ON MUTUAL ADVERTISEMENT.
IF THAT MONEY IS GOING TO STAY IN THERE, NOT A FAN OF THE EXTRA TICKETS. BUT I WANT TO -- I WANT THEM TO WORK WITH THE VCB ON HOW THAT MONEY IS BEING UTILIZED, AND I WOULD LIKE TO NOT DO AN EXTENDED CONTRACT WITH THEM.
I KNOW WE DID MULTIPLE CONTRACTS OVER THE YEARS, AND WE'RE OUT OF CONTRACT. BUT THAT'S MY THOUGHTS ON THAT ONE. AND WITH THE CHAMBER --
>> COULD YOU ELABORATE ON THE CONTRACT?
THE TERM? >> THE CONTRACT WITH THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP. IT'S EXPIRED THIS YEAR.
>> AND I DON'T WANT IT TO GO TO A MULTIPLE YEAR.
IF WE'RE LEAVING THIS MONEY IN FOR THIS ONE YEAR, I'D LIKE TO SEE HOW THEY WORK WITH THE VCB AND HOW THAT LOOKS.
AND I DON'T WANT TO JUST RUBBER STAMP ANOTHER CONTRACT AND EXTENSION. THAT'S MY --
>> ARE THERE CERTAIN KPIS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE ASSOCIATED WITH BCB? DO YOU WANT US TO WORK WITH BCB
IN TERMS OF -- >> I BELIEVE IN THE CONTRACT -- I BELIEVE IN THE CONTRACT -- YOU'VE READ IT TOO, CHARLES, HAVEN'T YOU? WHEN WE ORIGINALLY DID IT, THEIR ADVERTISEMENT HAD WORK IN COORDINATION WITH OUR ADVERTISEMENT. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BEEN TAKING PLACE. AND IF IT IS, I WOULD LIKE THE MONEY TO STAY SPECIFIC TO WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY FOR.
SO AND THEN WITH THE CHAMBER, I ALSO -- YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I'M GRATEFUL THAT THE MONEY IS IN THERE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REEVALUATE THAT AS A ONE-YEAR DEAL ALSO BECAUSE I THINK WE STILL NEED TO EVALUATE EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GETTING IN.
I DON'T WANT TO DUPLICATE SERVICES ALSO WORKING WITH THE BCB AND SOME OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT DOING A DOUBLE BUY. SO AND IN THE PLACER THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, CAN SOMEONE KIND OF REMIND ME WHAT THAT IS? I'M SORRY. I STILL DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
THAT IS. >> IT IS A SOFTWARE THAT HAS STATISTICS THAT WE CAN GET NUMBER OF VISITORS FOR VARIOUS EVENTS THAT WE HAVE. OUR ARTS CULTURE HERITAGE EVENTS, OUR SPORTS MARKETING EVENTS.
WE USE IT AND AS WELL AS PARKS AND REC TO FIND OUT THE NUMBER OF VISITORS FOR THEIR EVENTS IN CERTAIN TIMES OF YEAR.
AND WE CAN ALSO USE IT TO COMPARE EVENTS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AT THE SAME TIME. SO IT'S A TRACKING TOOL THAT WE
AND CAN WE -- BEFORE WE SPEND THAT MONEY, CAN WE CONFIRM THAT WE DON'T ALREADY? I GET A LOT OF NUMBERS FROM THE BCB SIDE ALSO. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT DUPLICATING WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT BEFORE WE SPEND THAT MONEY.
THOSE ARE THE ITEMS THAT I HAVE. I JUST WANT TO THROW IT OPEN TO
EVERYBODY ELSE. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT REALLY. I AM SO, SO THANKFUL AND SO GRATEFUL THAT STAFF WENT THROUGH THIS THE WAY THEY DID AND FOUND THAT MONEY OR, YOU KNOW, JUST REALLY SCRUTINIZED IT.
[00:35:03]
AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU GUYS HAVE MANAGED THIS BUDGET ALL ALONG. I JUST WANT TO SAY WITHOUT BELABORING, THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S JUST -- I'M JUST SO PROUD OF YOU AND PLEASED. I WAS SO HAPPY TO GET THAT LETTER. ALSO, I JUST WANTED TO SAY I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT YOU ALSO KEPT THE CHAMBE MONEY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S ANYTHING IN THERE THAT'S A DUPLICATION. I KNOW THE CHAIR'S CONCERN ABOUT THAT. BUT I HAVE HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ABOUT WHAT THOSE DOLLARS ARE FOR. AND THEY ARE DOING GOOD PROGRAMMING UP THERE. I APPRECIATE IT.I KNOW SOME OF IT IS FOR THE AUTISM CERTIFICATION.
THERE'S OTHER INITIATIVE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH AND MARKETING AND COLLABORATION.
I THINK WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS AMAZING BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING MORE THAN JUST MARKETING. THEY'RE ACTUALLY BUILDING COMMUNITY. AND I APPRECIATE THAT SO THAT'S
>> MR. CHAIR, I'LL JUST ECHO ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS.
I HAD NOTES ON PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. ESPECIALLY THE PLACER DATA.
I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR IT THROUGH THE COUNTY AND THEN PAYING FOR IT THROUGH THE OPERATIONS FUNDING THAT WE GIVE THE VCB. MAKES NO SENSE TO ME TO BE PAYING TWICE. AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO ASK ABOUT -- AND AS MY FELLOW MAYOR SAID, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK. YOU ALL SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THIS. THANK YOU FOR DIGGING BACK THROUGH THE NUMBERS. I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM.
DOES THIS CURRENT BUDGET ELIMINATE ALL RESERVES ACROSS ALL CATEGORIES? OR IS THERE ANY FUND BALANCE
LEFT IN ANY CATEGORY? >> SURE.
CATEGORY 5 ON THE SCREEN HAS ABOUT $2.5 MILLION.
CATEGORY 4 HAS ABOUT 16000 -- ACTUALLY 16,100.
CATEGORY 3 HAS THAT 822,062 WHICH AGAIN 750 OF THAT IS A DEBT SERVICE RESERVE. IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT OF A BOND DOCUMENTS. IT WAS A REQUIREMENT BY THE BOARD THAT WE MAINTAIN THAT. CATEGORIES 1 AND 2 AT THIS POINT
DO NOT HAVE RESERVES IN THERE. >> I THINK THAT'S WHY I MISSED IT. THE FIRST TWO CATEGORIES HAD THAT RED LINE DOWN THERE. I DIDN'T SEE IT ON THE OTHER
>> THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
I AM -- I MEAN, AS FAR AS WHAT WE HAVE HERE, I CAN SUPPORT IT WITH THE CAVEATS OF THE CHAIR MENTIONED.
BUT I WILL SAY I JUST -- FOR THE RECORD, I'M INCREDIBLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THIS PUTS US DOWN THE ROAD.
LOOKING AT WHERE THE NUMBERS ARE TRENDING RIGHT NOW, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO MAKE 3% THIS YEAR.
I HOPE I'M WRONG. AND THEN I DON'T KNOW.
IF WE DON'T MAKE 3% THIS YEAR, IS IT REALISTIC TO BE BUDGETING ANOTHER 3% FOR NEXT YEAR AND THEN TO BE ELIMINATING MOST OF OUR RESERVES AND FUND BALANCE, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THIS IS GOING TO PUT US. IF WE THOUGHT THIS WAS HARD NEXT YEAR, THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE IMPOSSIBLE.
WE'RE FACING REALLY BIG CUTS. I THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BE DILIGENT AND MAKE REALLY HARD DECISIONS NOW SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE THINGS NEXT YEAR.
>> I CON YOU ARE WITH THAT THOUGHT AS WELL.
IN LOOKING AT WHAT'S BEEN ADDED BACK, I THINK SOME OF THE POINT WAS MISSED ON THE TPC CONTRACT. THERE'S WORDING IN THAT CONTRACT THAT SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT WE WILL USE IT TO -- FOR THE ABILITY TO HOST TRAVEL INDUSTRY INFLUENCERS, CONFERENCE SITE SELECTOR POTENTIAL BUSINESS PARTNERS AND PACKAGE ACCOMMODATIONS TO KEY HOTELIERS. WE PUT THAT LANGUAGE IN THERE SO THAT IT QUALIFIED FOR TDC FUNDS. THE PAST TWO YEARS IF NOT THREE, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE USED IT FOR AT ALL.
THE VCB HAD VERY LITTLE INFLUENCE AS THEY HAVE IN THE PAST OF WHO CAME THERE WITH TRIPS, ET CETERA.
WE SPENT $150,000. THIS CONTRACT WAS WORTH $275,000. WE SPENT MORE ON EXTRA TICKETS AND FOOD TO USE IT AS AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FOR COUNTY STAFF TO GO HANG OUT AT THE TPC WHICH PROBABLY VIOLATES STATE STATUTE AND WAS THIS EVEN APPROPRIATE TO USE FUNDS FOR?
[00:40:01]
WE DIDN'T USE IT FOR ITS ORIGINAL INTENT.I WOULD BE IN FAVOR TO RENEGOTIATE THAT CONTRACT.
THE VCB NEEDS TO BE THE ONE MANAGING THAT HOSPITALITY HOUSE AND USE IT FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A CAP FOR RENEGOTIATIONS AND DO IT ON A ONE-YEAR TERM LIKE MR. CHAIRMAN SUGGESTED AS WELL.
I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THE CONTRACTUAL PLACER DATA.
I THINK THAT'S A DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS.
WE CAN FIND OUT WHERE THESE PEOPLE CAME FROM.
AND I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY RELEVANT WHO ATTENDED OTHER THINGS AROUND THE COUNTRY AT SIMILAR DATES.
SO THAT'S $48,000 YOU COULD GET BACK.
I DO THINK STILL THAT THE CHAMBER MONEY FOR THE VIC AND THE PROMOTION IS A DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS THAT THE VCB OUGHT TO BE DOING. MARKETING NEEDS TO FALL UNDER THE VCB AND NOT THE CHAMBER, SO THAT WOULD BE MY THOUGHTS ON THE
MONEY GOING BACK IN THERE. >> ANYTHING?
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I CONCUR WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BECAUSE THERE'S SOME DUPLICATION.
THE POSSIBILITY OF DUPLICATION IS THERE.
IF WE CAME TO THE END OF A CONTRACT, WE SHOULD LOOK AT IT A
LITTLE MORE CLOSELY. >> I ECHO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS SAYING. I'M APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYONE FINDING THE MONEY. MY CONCERN WOULD BE WHAT MAYOR SWE SWEENEY, A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED ABOUT THE RESERVES. DO WE TAKE ALL OF THIS MONEY AND SPEND IT AND SET IT ASIDE FOR SHORTAGES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OR FACE NEXT YEAR? SO THAT WOULD BE MY CONCERN.
>> ALL RIGHT. HAVE ANYBODY ELSE THERE?
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD ONE THING ABOUT THE CONCERN ABOUT THE 3%. I THINK IF THIS PROPERTY TAX AMENDMENT PASSES, THEN EVERYTHING'S ON THE TABLE AGAIN IMMEDIATELY ACROSS THE BOARD EVERYWHERE.
SO I'M NOT SO CONCERNED. I THINK IT'S A GOOD SOLID BUDGET. I THINK I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE HERE FOR US. YES, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT YOU COULD PROBABLY LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER AT WHAT THE BOARD IS SAYING. BUT I DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS OF THE PLAYERS CONTRACT, BUT I TEND TO THINK THAT THESE GUYS KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO I'M GOING TO GO WITH THEM ON THAT.
AND I WAS IN A DIFFERENT POSITION WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PLAYERS.
AND ITS INTENT WAS TO GENERATE HOSPITALITY.
JAY MONAHAN, I THINK IS ABOUT TO RETIRE AS COMMISSIONER, WAS IN CHARGE OF PLAYERS WHEN WE DID IT.
AND IT WAS ABOUT BRINGING IN TRAVEL GROUPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT COMPONENT COME BACK INTO PLAY ON HOW WE'RE MANAGING THAT PARTICULAR SO WE'RE MAXIMIZING OUR DOLLARS.
JESSE, IT SEEMS LIKE THE PLACER SEEMS TO BE AN ITEM THAT'S OUT THERE. IF WE DISCOVER IT'S NOT -- IF IT IS A DUPLICATE, CAN WE JUST ROLL THAT MONEY STRAIGHT INTO RESERVES IF WE DO THAT INVESTIGATION ON THE PLACER
WE CAN MOVE A BUDGET FORWARD. IF IT'S DETERMINED THAT IT IS A DUPLICATION, YES, IT CAN ROLL INTO RESERVES WITH CERTAINLY THE DIRECTION FROM THIS COUNCIL BUT DID NOT REQUIRE A BCC APPROVAL.
>> YEAH. LIKE I SAID, I'M OKAY WITH THE CHAMBER, BUT I WOULD LIKE IT TO WORK IN COORDINATION JUST TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE WE HAVE ZERO RESERVES, SO EVERYTHING IS REALLY TIGHT. THEY'RE WORKING IN COORDINATION WITH EACH OTHER. I KNOW THEY HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS A PART OF OUR
SO, ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR JESSE? I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> WHILE YOU'RE WAITING, THROUGH THE CHAIR, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL BACK. IT WAS PRETTY RIGOROUS.
THIS WAS LINE ITEM BUDGETS, YOU KNOW, ON A SCREEN FOR EVERYONE TO SEE. AND WE -- YOU KNOW, AGAIN, NO HOLDS BARRED ON THIS. REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
THIS IS ACCOUNTABILITY. THIS IS TRANSPARENCY.
WHEN YOU PUT A BUDGET UP ON THERE, AND WE GO BACK AND FORTH
[00:45:03]
ON THIS, MAYOR, IT DID TAKE STAFF.I APPRECIATE IT AND THANK YOU AND THANK YOU ALL.
IT TOOK SOME TIME TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.
AND, AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF THIS COUNCIL.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> OKAY.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE FROM PUBLIC COMMENT TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET? I'M NOT SEEING ANY. I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD.
SOMEONE PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION?
>> I VOTE THAT WE APPROVE THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED.
>> ALL RIGHT. BEFORE I SECOND THAT, I STILL WANT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THERE IF WE CAN.
>> I WILL WITHDRAW MY MOTION. >> THANK YOU.
>> I'LL MAKE A NEW MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE CHAIR MADE.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> WELL, CAN YOU CLARIFY WHAT THOSE TWO ARE?
I UNDERSTAND THERE WERE TWO. >> THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE THINGS PRETTY MUCH ARE STAYING THE SAME, BUT THE PLAYERS, I WANT THEM TO LOOK AT THAT ORIGINAL CONTRACT WORKING WITH THE VCB ON THAT ADVERTISEMENT AND HOW -- WHO'S IN THAT ROOM.
YOU KNOW, SHOULD BE TRAVEL WRITERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND NOT -- NOT TO PICK ON ANYBODY. IT SHOULDN'T BE JUST SOMEBODY WHO'S GOT A BADGE ON THAT SAYS "COUNTY" ON IT.
I THINK WITH THE CHAMBER ALSO FOR A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT WORKING WITH THE VCB TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T DUPLICATE.
I KNOW THEY DO DIFFERENT THINGS. JUST TO MAKE SURE.
AND THEN THE PLACER IN MY OPINION IF WE DISCOVER THAT IT'S A DUPLICATE, THAT MONEY GOES STRAIGHT INTO RESERVE.
AND THE FIREWORKS STAYS IN PLACE.
NEXT YEAR, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN APPLICATION WITH IT BEING WITH THE ACH BECAUSE IT IS A PRIVATE INDUSTRY.
>> I'M SORRY. I'M NOT CLEAR ON THE CHAMBER.
>> THEY'RE GETTING THEIR MONEY. IT'S JUST THEIR COORDINATION SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE A DUPLICATE OF BUYING OR ADVERTISEMENT WITH
SO THESE ARE KIND OF REQUESTS OF THE VCB.
>> EXACTLY. >> WOULD YOU JUST LOOK AT THESE
>> ON THE PLACER DATA, ARE YOU SAYING EXIT OUT? ARE YOU SAYING WOULD YOU ASK THEM TO CONSIDER?
>> I WANT THEM TO INVESTIGATE IF THAT PLACER IS AVAILABLE THROUGH
ALL RIGHT. >> THEN I WANT THAT MONEY GOING
INTO RESERVE. >> SO IT'S BASICALLY THE BUDGET APPROVED WITH THESE WOULD YOU LOOK ATS, KIND OF CONSIDER A
LITTLE DEEPER. >> MORE INVESTIGATIVE.
>> I CAN SUPPORT THAT. >> IT'S MORE INVESTIGATIVE INSTEAD OF A DEMAND. THAT WAS MY --
>> I WANT TO BE SURE I CAN SUPPORT IT.
>> YOU WANT THE FULL $325,000 FOR THE PGA.
>> I WANT ONE-YEAR LIMITED. IF IT GOES TO TRAVEL WRITERS AND GOING TO THE RIGHT PERSON, THEN I'M OKAY WITH IT.
>> WELL, A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THAT WAS EXTRA TICKETS WHICH THERE'S ABOUT 50 THAT COME WITH THE CONTRACT.
SO THIS IS ADDITIONAL TO THAT. PRETTY SIGNIFICANT TO ME.
I WOULD LIKE TO -- AND I'LL GO ALONG WITH THE REST OF IT.
BUT I'D LIKE TO REDUCE THAT TO 250 MAX.
>> OKAY. >> 325 IS WHAT IT'S IN THERE
THE LAST CONTRACT IF WE JUST -- >> THE CURRENT ONE WAS 275.
>> I CAN SUPPORT DROPPING IT TO 275 AND ELIMINATING THE EXTRA
TICKETS. >> I CAN GET BEHIND THAT.
>> YEAH. >> THAT'S INCLUDED IN MY MOTION.
SO THERE IS ACTUALLY A CHANGE IN THE BUDGET.
>> YEAH. >> JUST NOT AS APPROVED.
>> YEAH. >> IT'S GOT RECOMMENDATIONS.
ELIMINATE -- STICK WITH THE CONTRACT, ELIMINATE THE EXTRA
THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION WE'RE SENDING UP TO THE BCC, AND IT'S GOING TO INCLUDE -- CUT THE PLAYERS.
AND WHAT YOUR GOAL IS TO CUT THE TICKETS OUT.
>> YEAH. THE CONTRACT ITSELF, THE BASE CONTRACT IS THE EXTRA TICKETS THAT --
>> OKAY. IF THEY'RE GOING TO STAFF, BUT DO YOU WANT TO CUT IT OUT IF THEY SAY, NO, WE'RE GOING TO USE
THOSE TICKETS TO HAVE THE BIG -- >> WELL, THAT'S A COUNTY OPERATIONAL, SO WE'RE GOING TO HOLD THE COUNTY TO THAT BECAUSE
[00:50:03]
THE COUNTY IS MANAGING THAT -- >> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING -- I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS SORT OF FORCING A DISCUSSION. I GET THE LEVER THERE.
I CAN SUPPORT THAT. >> I'M NOT AGAINST THE PGA OR THE TPC. I THINK IT'S THE BEST EVENT WE HAVE GOT IN THE COUNTY BY FAR. I JUST WANT TO USE IT FOR WHAT IT WAS INTENDED FOR IN THE BEGINNING, AND THAT'S WHAT
HADN'T BEEN HAPPENING. >> OKAY.
YOU'RE OKAY WITH THOSE ADJUSTMENTS TO YOUR MOTION?
>> YEAH. >> YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT FOR
>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, GUYS. >> SORRY.
I'M GOING TO CLARIFY THE MOTION JUST SO THAT IT'S ON THE RECORD CLEARLY. SO IT IS RECOMMEND THE BUDGET AS APPROVED WITH DIRECTIONS TO STAFF TO DO THE INVESTIGATIONS THAT YOU SUGGESTED AND WITH A REDUCTION TO THE TPC TO 275.
AND THEN WAS THERE ANYTHING BEYOND THAT?
>> NO. THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE
EXTRA TICKETS. >> SPECIFICALLY, OKAY.
>> AND THEN WHAT YOU REDUCED IT BY, WHAT GOES INTO RESERVE
OR -- SORRY. >> I THINK EVERYTHING THAT WE REDUCE GOES INTO RESERVE BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL HAVE THE SAME
>> SO IS THAT CONSENSUS? >> OKAY.
SO EVERYBODY CLEAR ON THE MOTION.
ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JESSE.
THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE STAFF, DEENA, EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
[11. MONTHLY REPORTS PROVIDED IN PACKETS]
IT'S NOT EASY WHAT YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO DO THERE.MONTHLY REPORTS PROVIDED IN PACKETS.
DO YOU GUYS WANT TO COME UP AND GIVE ANY MONTHLY REPORTS THAT WE
WANT TO TALK ABOUT? >> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M SUSAN PHILLIPS WITH THE BCB. WHILE I DON'T WANT TO GO OVER THE REPORT UNLESS IF YOU GUYS HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS BECAUSE I KNOW THIS WAS A VERY IMPORTANT MEETING TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGETS. I HAVE TO SAY WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU IN THIS ROOM FOR THE WORK THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS AND THE ABILITY TO BE FORWARD-LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE VERY BEST THING POSSIBLE FOR THE COUNTY AND THAT WE'RE MAXIMIZING THE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AND GIVE SOME GOOD NEWS.
AND THIS IS ALWAYS -- WE HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT THIS.
WHEN I LOOK AT THE SMITH TRAVEL REPORTS THIS MONTH, I BREAK THEM DOWN AND LOOK AT THEM WEEKLY AND SEE IF THERE ARE TRENDS OF THINGS THAT ARE FLAT OR GOING UP.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO HOLD ME TO THIS COMPLETELY.
I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED IN JULY AND ALSO WHAT HAPPENED THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST. I'M HOPING THAT SOME OF THESE NUMBERS THAT I'M GOING TO SHARE WILL BE A TREND TO LOOKING TO THE FUTURE. BUT, AGAIN, YOU NEED SOME GOOD NEWS BECAUSE EVERYON IS WORKING SO HARD.
WE'RE ALL TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT JULY -- LET ME JUST LOOK AT JULY.
LET ME GET MY GLASSES HERE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE MONTH OF JULY, WE RAN 4.9% POINTS UP IN OCCUPANCY YEAR OVER YEAR.
OUR ADR WAS UP. WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO THE REVENUE, THE REVENUE WAS UP 7.8 PERCENTAGE POINTS.
THIS IS JUST THE MONTH OF JULY. LOOKING AT THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER THE SEASON THAT STARTS WITH AN "H" THAT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT WE OPT OUT OF.
I FOUND A GLIMMER OF HOPE. THE JULY TRENDS THAT WE SAW CONTINUE INTO AUGUST. THESE NUMBERS, WHEN I LOOKED AT FOR THE CURRENT WEEK, THE FIRST WEEK, WE WERE UP 10.7 PERCENTAGE POINTS FOR OCCUPANCY. OUR ADR WAS UP 4.1.
WE WERE UP 15.3. WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO REVENUE, REVENUE WAS UP 14.5. AGAIN, THIS IS JUST LOOKING AT JULY AND LOOKING AT THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST.
WE WON'T ACTUALLY KNOW THE IMPACT ON THE TAX DOLLARS UNTIL THE REPORTS ARE FILED. THIS IS WHAT I HAVE TO SHARE AS OF TODAY. I JUST FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO COME UP AND SHARE THIS WITH YOU AFTER THE GOOD BUDGET DISCUSSION THAT YOU HAD. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, SUSAN.
THAT WILL GIVE US A CHANCE TO GET TO THAT 3%.
OUR NUMBERS ARE ALMOST RIGHT ON THERE WITH THAT.
[00:55:01]
IN AUGUST, WE'RE FLAT 7%. WE'RE 7% UP IN JULY.SO I THINK YOUR NUMBERS ARE RIGHT.
>> I DID HAVE ONE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD NEWS.
IN YOUR REPORT FOR THE JUNE -- WELL, IT'S REALLY THE WHOLE YEAR NUMBERS. I AM CURIOUS.
A LOT OF THE MONTHS BY ZIP CODE WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT BY ZIP CODE ARE EITHER BELOW OR MOST OF THEM ARE BELOW THE PRIOR YEAR EXCEPT
FOR VIDRA. >> THEIR HOLDING RATE ARE DOING
A FABULOUS JOB. >> JUNE WAS UP 18% OVER LAST
YEAR. >> THEY HAD A CONSTRUCTION.
>> THEY HAD CONSTRUCTION. >> THEY HAD CONSTRUCTION ON ONE OF THEIR MAJOR PROPERTIES THAT WAS ELIMINATED LAST YEAR THAT
CAME BACK INTO PLAY. >> EXACTLY.
SO THAT'S MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
AS WE LOOK DID I -- >> DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
IT'S BEEN HELPING US IN OTHER AREAS WHERE WE'RE FLAT.
THE RENAISSANCE IN THE VILLAGE ARE GOING UNDER CONSTRUCTION TO RENOVATION. THEIR NUMBERS HAVE BEEN DOWN DOUBLE DIGITS. IT WILL BE PROBABLY ANOTHER YEAR BEFORE WE'LL SEE THAT TURNAROUND.
WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION IS COMPLETE, THEY SHOULD HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO HOLD RATE HIGHER AND GET MORE TRAFFIC BACK. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. CASA MONICA.
WE HAVE OTHER PROPERTIES THAT ARE DOING RENOVATIONS.
WE HAVE A NEW PROPERTY. SOMEBODY IN THIS ROOM KNOWS ABOUT THE NEW BUILD AT THE CORNER OF U.S. 1 AND SAN CARLOS.
WE WILL HAVE MORE INVENTORY IN THE FUTURE.
>> HEARD ABOUT THAT PLACE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU. I THINK WE'RE GOOD WITH REPORTS.
ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO GO OUT THERE?
[12. MEMBER COMMENTS]
HOW ABOUT LET'S GO TO MEMBERS' COM COMMENTS. ANYTHING?
>> I HAVE ONE COMMENT. CONGRATULATIONS, GAIL.
I KNOW YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.
I'M GLAD YOU HAVE BEEN REAPPOINTED.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE GRANT EVALUATION PANEL.
WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THEY DO FOR THE ACH GRANTS.
AND WE KNOW IT'S A LOT OF WORK. THEY DO IT AS VOLUNTEERS.
I WANT TO EXTEND OUR THANKS TO THEM.
GRATITUDE. AND THE SAME FOR THE RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD BECAUSE I KNOW THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THEIRS DOING THIS WORK. AND I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY.
AND I KNOW THEY TAKE THEIR JOB SERIOUSLY.
AND SO I JUST LIKE TO THANK THEM.
>> GAIL. >> THANK YOU, GUYS, FOR YOUR VOTES. CHIMING IN.
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
THE ACH GRANT PANEL, I THINK YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB.
I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE LISTENING IN.
IT'S ALWAYS, LIKE, HOW DID I DO? YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN VERY FAIR, I THINK, AND VERY THOROUGH IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
IT'S A LOT OF WORK, LATE HOURS READING THROUGH ALL OF THOSE PROPOSALS. THANK YOU, GUYS, FOR WHAT YOU DO. AND THANK YOU GUYS UP HERE FOR STILL BEING WILLING TO LOOK AT THINGS AND NOT JUST RUBBER STAMP EVERYTHING BECAUSE TO ME WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING. IS THERE A ROLE THAT WE'RE PLAYING? ARE WE JUST WASTING OUR TIME TO BE HERE? THANK YOU.
>> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU GAIL FOR VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME AGAIN AND SIGNING UP AGAIN. AND I HAVE ONE COMMENT.
I DON'T KNOW. I HAD TO DEFEND THE TDC PUBLICLY THIS PAST WEEK. WE HAD A GROUP THAT RECEIVED SEVERAL GRANTS. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THAT DISCUSSION, IT WAS -- THERE WAS A LOT OF FALSE STATEMENTS MADE IN A PRESS RELEASE, AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU
[01:00:02]
KNOW, SOME OF THE RECORDS WERE SET STRAIGHT.AND I DIDN'T SPEAK FOR THE TDC. I JUST SPOKE FOR TROY IN THAT SITUATION. SO IF I OFFENDED ANYONE, I APOLOGIZE. IF YOU AGREE WITH ME, I APPRECIATE IT. BUT IT NEEDED TO BE -- IT NEEDED TO BE CLARIFIED WITH SOME OF THE PUBLIC OUT THERE.
SO ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS FROM STAFF OR LEGAL? WE'RE GOOD? ALL RIGHT.
WITH THAT,
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.