[Items 1 - 3]
[00:00:15]
>>> YOU ALL NOTICE THAT THE CROWD HERE IS A LITTLE SPARSE BUT THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CALL IN REMOTELY.
ONE MINUTE. OKAY WE'RE READY TO GO.
>> IS THE CONFERENCE LINE IN? >> YES.
>> OKAY, WE'RE CONFERENCED IN. I'M GOING TO ASK COMMISSIONER WALDRON TO DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> IF WE CAN GET EVERYBODY TO PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF OUR COUNTRY.
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.
>> THERE IS SOME TIME DELAYS, SOME TECHNICAL PROBLEMS. BEAR WITH US, WE'LL WORK THEM OUT.
AND ONCE WE FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
OKAY CAN WE GET THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
>> COMMISSIONER WALDRON. >> HERE.
>> COMMISSIONER UNDINE GEORGE. >> HERE.
>> COMMISSIONER NANCY SIKES-KLINE.
>> THAT'S EVERYBODY. >> THAT'S IT, THANK YOU.
[Item 5]
WE'RE GOING TO NEED APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING. HAS EVERYBODY HAD AN OPPORTUNITYTO REVIEW THEM? >> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO
APPROVE THE MINUTES. >> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> I'LL SECOND. >> I'LL SECOND.
>> OKAY. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?
ALL IN FAVOR -- >> HOLD ON, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE MINUTES.
AND WE'RE GOING TO HOLD ON FOR 60 SECONDS BECAUSE THERE'S A
LITTLE BIT OF A DELAY. >> THE DELAY IS PEOPLE ON THE
PHONE? >> IT'S ACTUALLY PEOPLE WATCHING US REMOTELY THROUGH THE STREAMING GOVERNMENT TV LINK.
THE PEOPLE ARE REPRESENTATIVES ON THE PHONE ARE PARTICIPATING
WITH US IN REALTIME. >> THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
>> AYE. >> THERE WILL BE A ROLL CALL
[00:05:05]
VOTE. >> ALL RIGHT HERE WE GO, ROLL CALL VOTE. BERNENBERG.
>> AYE. >> COMMISSIONER GEORGE.
>> COMMISSIONER WALDRON. >> AYE.
>> ALL RIGHT. >> SO WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES. NOW I'D LIKE TO GET APPROVAL OF
THE AGENDA. >> I MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE
[Item 4]
THE AGENDA. >> I'LL SECOND IT.
>> OKAY WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
PUBLIC COMMENT? >> THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> SO WE'RE GOING TO DO A VOICE VOTE ON THIS ONE AS WELL.
>> COMMISSIONER UNDINE GEORGE. >> AYE.
>> COMMISSIONER NANCY SIKES-KLINE.
>> YES. >> AND COMMISSIONER WALDRON.
>> YES. >> THE AGENDA IS APPROVED.
WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT NOW FOR ITEMS NOT INCLUDED IN THE,
ON OTHER ITEMS IN THE AGENDA. >> ALL RIGHT SO WE'RE GOING TO
WAIT OUR 60 SECONDS. >> THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THERE WAS NO PUBLIC COMMENT SO WE'RE GOOD.
[Item 7]
>> OKAY, MOVING ON. FUNDING CONTRACTS AND THE PROGRAM UPDATES. TARA, WILL YOU READ THAT?
>> YES, I WILL. SO FOR EVERYONE WHO'S JOINING US BY PHONE, CAN YOU PLEASE GO AHEAD AND MUTE YOUR LINE, WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF FEEDBACK.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT SO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 7, THIS IS AN UPDATE ITEM. I HAVE A NUMBER OF BULLET POINTS LISTED UNDERNEATH THIS ITEM TO CATCH EVERYBODY UP TO SPEED BECAUSE THERE'S CERTAINLY BEEN A LOT THAT'S HAPPENED AND A LOT OF CHANGES THAT HAVE GONE ON SINCE WE LAST MET IN MARCH.
THE FIRST UPDATE IS ON OUR PROJECTIONS FOR FED TAX COLLECTIONS FOR THE YEAR. WE HAVE A TABLE THAT SHOWS HISTORIC COLLECTIONS STARTING IN FISCAL YEAR 15 AND THIS KIND OF GIVES YOU A LOOK GOING FORWARD THROUGH THE YEARS UP TO THE YEAR THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN FISCAL YEAR 20.
FISCAL YEAR 19'S ACTUAL PROJECTIONS WERE ABOUT $11.8 MILLION. AND GOING INTO FISCAL YEAR 20 WE HAD BUDGETED A COLLECTION OF ABOUT $13.2 MILLION.
WE WERE DOING PRETTY GOOD PRIOR TO MARCH.
WE HAD SEEN ABOUT A 5% TO 6% INCREASE FOR THE YEAR IN TAX
[00:10:04]
COLLECTIONS. HOWEVER WITH THE ONSET OF THE CORONAVIRUS WE SAW A LOT OF CLOSURES, WE SAW A LOT OF CANCELED RESERVATIONS, CANCELED PLANS.AND WE SAW A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DROP IN COLLECTIONS STARTING IN MARCH. YOU CAN SEE HERE BELOW MY TABLE THERE'S THE NOTES AND IT SAYS THAT MARCH COLLECTIONS WERE DOWN BY 51.8%. SO THAT WAS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FALL OFF THE CLIFF IF YOU WILL. WE KNOW THAT APRIL'S COLLECTIONS ARE GOING TO BE DOWN EVEN MORE THAN THAT.
MOST EVERYTHING WAS PRETTY STAGNANT IN THE MONTH OF APRIL.
AND HERE AS WE GO INTO THE MONTH OF MAY OR WE'RE MAKING OUR WAY THROUGH THE MONTH OF MAY THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT'S STARTING TO REOPEN BUT IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A LOT OF TIME BEFORE WE CAN GEAR BACK UP TO WHERE WE WERE BEFORE THIS.
SO THE COUNTY HAS REVISED THE PROJECTIONS DOWN TO $7.5 MILLION APPROXIMATELY. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT'S A 36.2% REJECTION FROM FISCAL YEAR 20'S PROJECTED REVENUE.
IT'S A 36.2% DECREASE. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE, WE'VE DONE A NUMBER OF THINGS AND I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM HERE. ONE OF THE THINGS TO REMEMBER IS THIS IS A MOVING TARGET AND ALTHOUGH THE COUNTY HAS MODIFIED AND AMENDED SOME CONTRACTS AND WE'VE REALLY PULLED BACK ON OUR EXPENDITURES OUT OF CATEGORIES 3 AND 4 AS WELL.
THE IDEA IS THAT IF WE HAVE OVER SEVERELY PROJECTED, IF WE'RE GOING TO REBOUND A LITTLE MORE QUICKLY OR A LITTLE BETTER THAN ANTICIPATED THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO CORRECT FOR THIS.
THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO RERECOGNIZE SOME OF THOSE FUNDS AND SPEND THEM AGAIN AS WE SEE APPROPRIATE BY STAFF AND THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. SO TWO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES OF NOTE THAT HAVE RESULTED FROM THE REDUCTION IS THAT WE HAVE MADE SOME AMENDMENTS TO OUR VCB CONTRACT AND OUR CULTURAL COUNCIL CONTRACT. THE AMENDMENTS WERE APPROVED EARLIER IN THE MONTH. AND WHAT THE AMENDMENTS DID IS THEY REDUCED THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR AND IT ELIMINATED THE ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD CAP.
SO BOTH OF THE CONTRACTS AS THEY WERE ORIGINALLY DRAFTED HAVE A 26% CAP ON OVERHEAD AND THEY HAD A PAYMENT SCHEDULE THAT ACCOUNTED FOR ABOUT 5.2 MILLION IN THE CASE OF THE VCB AND 1.1 FOR THE CULTURAL COUNCIL. AND THOSE REDUCED TO 3.2 AND 770,000 RESPECTIVELY. THIS IS FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 AND THOSE CHANGES OBVIOUSLY DON'T GO INTO EFFECT FOR 21.
21 WILL BE DICTATED BY THE BUDGET THAT GOES THROUGH.
THEN THE OVERHEAD CAP WILL BE REINSTATED FOR FISCAL 21.
THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS WHERE I MENTIONED IF WE HAVE SEVERELY OVER ESTIMATED WE CAN PUT SOME OF THAT MONEY BACK TOWARDS THESE
TWO CONTRACTS. >> IS THAT WITHIN OUR CONTRACTUAL CAPABILITIES TO MAKE THOSE AMENDMENTS?
>> WHOSE ABILITY? >> THE COUNTY'S.
>> SO WE DID A CONTRACT AMENDMENT THAT WENT TO THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. FIRST WE REACHED OUT TO THE VCB AND THE CULTURAL COUNCIL AND DISCUSSED THE SITUATION.
AND OBVIOUSLY SINCE THIS IS SUCH A WELL KNOWN SITUATION BOTH RICHARD AND CHRISTINA WERE AWARE THAT WE WERE SEEING SHORTFALLS IN REVENUE. AND WE TALKED THROUGH WITH THEM KIND OF WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO AND WHAT WE WERE GOING TO SEE AND HOW THE COUNTY ANTICIPATED MOVING FORWARD.
BOTH OF THOSE AGENCIES, BOTH OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AGREED.
THEY OBVIOUSLY WEREN'T THRILLED AND THEY'VE SEEN SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THEIR PLAN FOR THE YEAR.
AND IN SOME CASES THAT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT PAINFUL.
BUT WE WORKED WITH COUNTY ATTORNEYS AND THOSE TWO AGENCIES AND IT WENT TO THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND WE CAN AMEND
THAT CONTRACT. >> CAN THEY AMEND THEIR CONTRACTORS. I'M THINKING OF ADVERTISING CONTRACTS AND SO FORTH. DO THEY HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF
REDUCING? >> YES AND THEY DID.
THEY DEFINITELY HAD TO. THEY WERE FORCED TO GO AND AMEND THOSE EITHER DOWN OR TO GO AHEAD AND ELIMINATE SOME OF THEM FOR THE SHORT TERM. BUT I BELIEVE IN BOTH CASES AND THEY CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BUT I BELIEVE IN BOTH CASES THEY WERE ABLE TO SURE UP EVERYTHING AND I DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE IN A HARDSHIP BECAUSE OF THIRD PARTY
CONTRACT. >> WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THEM
LATER, ARE WE NOT, TODAY? >> YOU ARE.
[00:15:02]
BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO HEAR FROM THEM NOW IF YOU'D LIKE.>> AND DANNY, THE OTHER THING IS EVEN IF IT WASN'T CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS ANY COMPANY THAT WOULD NOT BE FLEXIBLE, GIVE THEM THEIR CHECK NOW AND FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS, THEY'LL NOT SEE A DIME. THAT'S JUST HOW IT WORKS.
THEY CAN HAVE ALL THEIR MONEY THEY WANT IF THEY WANT TO HOLD TO THEIR CONTRACT. AND ANYONE WHO TAKES THAT POSITION WON'T SEE ANY FUTURE BUSINESS.
SO YOU'LL FIND VIRTUALLY EVERY SMART COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES HAS ROLLED OVER ON CONTRACTS TO DEVELOP LONG TERM
RELATIONSHIPS. >> AGREE THAT I'M SEEING LIKE THE RESERVATION ORGANIZATIONS FOR ENTERTAINMENT.
>> AND THAT'S WHY IF THERE WAS A FRONT PAGE ARTICLE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES ABOUT AIRBNB MAY GO UNDER.
AIRBNB'S BUSINESS MODEL IS BEING DESTROYED BY THE ISSUE OF NOT BEING FLEXIBLE LIKE A MARRIOTT OR A HILTON AND PEOPLE ARE FLOCKING AS FAST AS THEY CAN AWAY FROM DOING BUSINESS WITH AIRBNB AND OWNERS OF AIRBNB'S ARE FLOCKING TO GO BACK INTO THE
TRADITIONAL RENTAL MARKET. >> TICKETMASTER IS I THINK THEY'RE NOT COMING AROUND, ARE THEY NOT?
>> WE HAD A MEETING WITH TICKETMASTER LAST WEEK.
TICKETMASTER SHOULD BE MAKING REFUNDS AT LEAST FOR THE SALES TO THE AMPHITHEATER AND CONCERT HALL.
THOSE REFUNDS SHOULD IF THEY HAVEN'T STARTED OVER THE WEEKEND SHOULD START THIS WEEK. BUT IT'S BEEN A NATIONAL ISSUE FOR THEM. IT'S PROBABLY CASH FLOW PROBLEM.
A LOT OF CONTRACTS CONTAIN A PROVISION.
WE ANTICIPATE THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN, THAT'S WHY YOU ANTICIPATE THE WORST CASE SCENARIO.
HOWEVER WE STILL HAD SOME LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACT, AT LEAST OUR CONTRACT WHICH WAS A NEGOTIATED CONTRACT THAT PROJECTED THE COUNTY'S INTEREST. WE'VE REACHED A PEACEFUL RESOLVE WITH TICKETMASTER AT LEAST LOCALLY FOR THE TICKET SALES FOR THE AMPHITHEATER AND THE CONCERT HALL SO REFUNDS SHOULD BE
STARTING TO PROCESS. >> THANK YOU.
SORRY TO INTERRUPT. PLEASE GO ON.
CAN I ASK A QUESTION? >> PLEASE DO, JACK.
>> YES, JACK. WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?
>> TARA, THE QUESTION IS THE REDUCTION TO RICHARDS GROUP.
WAS THERE A MATERIAL IMPACT TO HIS OPERATION AND/OR THE STAFF?
>> I'M GOING TO SAY YES. >> OUTSIDE THE ADVERTISING.
HAS THERE BEEN STAFF LAY-OFFS? >> I'M GOING TO LET RICHARD COME TO THE PODIUM IF YOU'LL HOLD ON JUST A SECOND HE'LL ANSWER THAT.
>> THANK YOU. RICHARD GOLDMAN.
GENERALLY I WOULD SAY WE ENDED ALL PAID ADVERTISING WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OUTDOOR, SOME OF YOU KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN MAINTAINING THOSE EXISTING OUTDOOR BOARDS AND IMPROVING THEIR LOCATIONS OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS.
SO THAT REMAINS. WE ALSO HAVE SOME PROGRAMS THAT WE THE TEAM ARE ADMINISTERING IN EARNED AND IN OWNED MEDIA.
THAT'S SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, PUBLICITY, AND ON THE WEBSITE.
BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT THERE'S NO PAID ADVERTISING.
WE'VE CUT ALL TRAVEL. WE'VE CUT EVERY TRADE SHOW THAT WE POSSIBLY COULD. WE DID HAVE SOME CONTRACTUAL CHALLENGES WITH SOME OF THE TRADE SHOW ORGANIZERS.
BUT THE TEAM HAS SUCCESSFULLY CLAUDE BACK NORTH OF $12,000 $13,000 AND THE TEAM HAS, ALL OF US HAVE AGREED TO A 20% PAY CUT.
SO ALL THAT SAID WE HAVE THE FUNDS TO GET US TO SEPTEMBER 30TH. DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION,
THANK YOU. >> OKAY SO THE NEXT AREA OF OUR OPERATION THAT WE SAW A NOTABLE IMPACT TO WAS OUR ARTS, CULTURE, HERITAGE GRANTS PROGRAM EVENTS. THIS IS A TABLE OF OUR EVENTS THAT WERE REMAINING FOR THE YEAR STARTING FROM MARCH 12TH WHICH IS REALLY WHEN WE STARTED TO SEE THE GOVERNMENTS COME IN AND PUT
[00:20:01]
RESTRICTIONS AND REGULATION ON LARGE GROUPS THAT RESULTED IN SOME CANCELLATIONS. THE EVENTS THAT ARE SHOWN HERE IN RED IN THIS TABLE WERE CANCELED OR WILL BE CANCELED.THE EVENTS THAT ARE SHOWN IN YELLOW HAVE BEEN POSTPONED OR HAVE BEEN RESCHEDULED. AND THE EVENTS THAT ARE SHOWN IN GREEN ARE MOVING FORWARD EITHER AS PLANNED OR WITH SOME SORT OF MODIFICATION TO ALLOW THEM TO MOVE FORWARD IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. AND THE LINES, THE EVENTS THAT ARE SHOWN IN WHITE WE HAD NOT HEARD FROM THOSE GROUPS AS OF THE DATE THAT THIS TABLE WAS MADE WHICH WAS LAST THURSDAY I BELIEVE. SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH EVERYBODY. WE'VE FOUND SOME REALLY CREATIVE APPROACHES TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A PRESENCE HERE IN THE AREA. THEY WENT TO AN ONLINE VERSION OF THEIR CONCERT SERIES WHICH WAS THIS PAST WEEKEND.
MY UNDERSTANDING WAS IT HAD PRETTY GOOD VIEWERSHIP FOR IT.
SO THEY KIND OF REDIRECTED PRETTY QUICKLY.
AND I THINK THAT'S TRUE WITH ANY OF THESE EVENTS THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD. THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO LET THEM CONTINUE TO BE HERE IN SOME FORM OR
FASHION FOR THE SHORT TERM. >> WHERE IT SAYS PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT HOW ARE Y'ALL WEIGHING IT?
>> HOW ARE WE WEIGHING IT? >> IF AN EVENT WAS CANCELED, THIS IS BEEN GOING ON SINCE MARCH.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO PARTIALLY REIMBURSE?
>> WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED ONE OF THOSE.
BUT WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THEM ONE BY ONE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS. SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A BLANKET RULE FOR ANYBODY. SO FOR INSTANCE IN THE CASE OF THE CELTIC FESTIVAL THEY WERE CANCELED WITH LESS THAN 24 HOURS
NOTICE. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT ONE.
THEY DID THEIR PART FOR ADVERTISING.
>> SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT.
IS WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF TIME BETWEEN CANCELLATION, WHAT EFFORTS DID THEY MAKE TO GET THEIR MONEY BACK. HOW MUCH MONEY DID THEY GET BACK, WHAT DID THEY END UP PAYING FOR, WHAT DID THEY NOT AND USING SOME REASONABLE FILTER TO TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT IS A DUE JUST AMOUNT FOR THEM. BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR LIKE FOR ROMANZA WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO CHANGE THE VENUE IF YOU WILL OR DELIVERY OF THEIR SERVICE TO THAT ONLINE SERVICE, WHEN THEY REACHED OUT AND TOLD US ABOUT THAT WHAT THEY SAID WAS THEY WERE ORIGINALLY AWARDED ABOUT $47,000 FOR THE EVENT.
HE SAID THEY HAD ALREADY SPENT $7,000 ON IT.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO REDIRECT AND HAVE THIS ONLINE AND WOULD THAT BE ADEQUATE FOR US TO CONSIDER REFUNDING OR REIMBURSING THE $7,000 THAT THEY ALREADY SPENT. AND SO SINCE MOST OF THAT WAS ADVERTISEMENT WE SAID YES, THAT SEEMS REASONABLE AND ASKED HIM SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. LIKE CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOU'RE GOING TO SHOW ON THE SCREEN THAT THIS IS TDC AND ST. AUGUSTINE AND GOT THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM HIM.
SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW WE'RE HANDLING IT.
IT WAS DEFINITELY INDIVIDUALLY. >> THAT MAY HAVE BEEN A GREAT PLACE TO SELL ADS TOO OR HAVE ADS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
>> YEAH AND I THINK IT WAS WELL RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK WE WERE STILL KIND OF IN THAT SHUTDOWN PHASE THIS PAST WEEKEND AND I THINK THEY HAD A PRETTY GOOD VIEWERSHIP FOR IT.
ALL RIGHT OUR OTHER GRANTS PROGRAM IS THE SPORTS MARKETING GRANTS PROGRAM. SO WE'VE SEEN ONLY TWO OF THESE EVENTS HAVE RESCHEDULED AND THE REST OF OUR REMAINING EVENTS ARE FOR, WELL THAT'S NOT TRUE. THERE'S ONE OF THE PERFECT GAINS THAT'S THIS WEEKEND, WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM.
BUT THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE LATER IN THE YEAR.
SO EVERYBODY IS IN A WAIT AND SEE PATTERN FOR SPORTS MARKETING. BUT I IMAGINE THIS WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE A BIT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
MY FINAL PIECE OF PAPER FOR THIS ITEM IS KIND OF A LOOK FORWARD.
SO OBVIOUSLY AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR US IN TERMS OF TOURISM AND CORONAVIRUS AND THERE'S A LOT OF SPECULATION. HOWEVER THE COUNTY IS IN THE PRELIMINARY STAGES OF BUDGETING FOR FISCAL YEAR 21.
SO HERE'S THE TABLE THAT LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONE I SHOWED YOU JUST A COUPLE OF PIECES OF PAPER BACK.
WHAT THIS SHOWS INSTEAD IS IT DOES SHOW THE REVISED FY20 PROJECTION WITH THAT 36.2% REDUCTION AND THEN IT SHOWS MOVING FORWARD A PROJECTION FOR FISCAL YEAR 21.
THIS WEEK THE COUNTY IS HAVING ITS ADMINISTRATOR WORKSHOPS FOR
[00:25:06]
BUDGET AND TDT BUDGET WILL BE ON FRIDAY.AND WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS HAVING A REVENUE PROJECTION THAT IS STILL A LITTLE BIT FLUID AT THIS MOMENT.
AND THIS IS KIND OF THE RANGE THE COUNTY IS LOOKING AT.
AND WE ARE GOING TO ADJUST THAT REVENUE PROJECTION THROUGH THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS OVER THE BUDGET PROCESS TO REFLECT THE SITUATION AS IT CONTINUES TO PAN OUT.
>> I THINK THE PROJECTION IS $2 MILLION TOO HIGH.
>> THE HIGH-END OR THE LOW END? >> THE LOW END.
I THINK $10 MILLION IS A REALISTIC NUMBER AND LET ME SEE IF I CAN OVER SIMPLIFY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE MARKETPLACE AND THERE IS SOME FALSE READS. FOR EXAMPLE THIS WEEKEND, LAST WEEKEND WERE VERY BUSY ON THE BEACHES.
THEY WERE SOMEWHAT BUSY DOWNTOWN, THEY WERE NOT THAT BUSY IN PONTA VEDRA. AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT ACTIVITY VERSUS REVENUE. THE PRICING IN THE MARKETPLACE FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS HAS BEEN ABOUT 30-ISH MAYBE 40% BELOW NORMAL PRICING IN THE MARKETPLACE.
SO WHILE IT LOOKS LIKE THE VOLUME IS THERE, THE DOLLARS ARE NOT THERE. SO THAT'S THE FIRST THING.
SECOND THING IS WE HAVE QUITE A NUMBER OF PROPERTIES THAT ARE GROUP RELATED. AND MOST OF IT IS CORPORATE GROUP RELATED VERSUS ASSOCIATION.
THE CORPORATE MARKET AND RICHARD CAN SPEAK BETTER AT THIS AND I'M SURE MICHAEL OR TOM COULD SPEAK BETTER AT THIS THAN I.
THE CORPORATE GROUP MARKET IS GOING TO BE VERY LOW FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS FOR A COUPLE REASONS.
ONE IS ECONOMIC, SECOND IS LEGAL.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF CORPORATIONS THAT THEIR LEGAL COUNCIL TELLS THE CEO JUST DON'T HAVE A MEETING THIS YEAR.
SO THE MARKET IS GOING TO SHRINK.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF GROUP ROOMS THAT ARE TYPICALLY OCCUPIED IN THE MARKETPLACE ON A TYPICAL BUSY DAY, IT'S PROBABLY 2500 TO 3,000 ROOM NIGHTS. AND SO BY NOT HAVING THAT MARKET THERE ALL OF A SUDDEN IS LIKE TOMORROW OR TODAY A 3,000 ROOM HOTEL OPENED UP IN TOWN. WHEN YOU OPEN UP A 3,000 ROOM HOTEL, WHAT HAPPENS? EVERYONE STARTS LOWERING RATES.
EVERYONE IS FIGHTING FOR THE SAME BUSINESS.
AND PEOPLE WHO ARE HISTORICALLY IN THE GROUP BUSINESS ARE NOW IN THE LEISURE TRAVEL BUSINESS. SO THE COMPETITION FOR THE SAME CUSTOMER IS MUCH GREATER. THAT COUPLED WITH DECREASED DEMAND OF PEOPLE WHO FEEL SAFE TO TRAVEL, YOU ADD THOSE THREE TOGETHER AND THEY'RE ALL NEGATIVE TRENDS.
SO SEEING A POSITIVE TO EQUAL TREND I THINK IS NOT BEING REALISTIC. I THINK IT'S BEEN OPTIMISTIC AND SEEING OH THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS IT LOOKED BUSY BUT FOR EXAMPLE, THIS WEEKEND I HAD A VERY GOOD WEEKEND COMPARED TO WHAT I EXPECTED. BUT MY DEPOSIT IN MY BANK WAS 50% OF WHAT IT WAS LAST YEAR. SO THE REVENUES WERE NOT ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT THEY WOULD NEED TO BE.
SO A GREAT WEEKEND TURNED OUT TO BE 50% OF NORMAL.
SO IF THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS I DON'T WANT US TO THINK WHEN WE START SEEING THESE ACTIVITIES THAT WE'VE HIT A HOME RUN.
AND THE SECOND PART IS THE REAL SECRET IS HOW BUSY ARE WE ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND THURSDAY.
IF PEOPLE HISTORICALLY WERE RUNNING 50% AND NOW WE'RE RUNNING 30% BECAUSE THERE'S NO CORPORATE BUSINESS IN TOWN, ALL OF THE NUMBERS START SHRINKING, THE RESTAURANTS AREN'T DOING THE REVENUES, THERE'S ALL SORTS OF COMPLEX ISSUES THAT COME IN.
BUT THAT'S HOW I SEE IT. WE SHOULD PROBABLY GET OTHER HOTELS POINT OF VIEW ON IT. BUT I'M SCARED IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS THAT WE'LL GET ANYTHING ABOVE 80% OF 2019 IS REALISTIC.
>> I'LL JUMP IN. I AGREE WITH IRVING 100%.
[00:30:01]
YOU HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEAD.AND ALSO WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME REGIONAL TRAVEL, THAT MIGHT HAPPEN OVER THE SUMMER. I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH IRVING
ABOUT THAT. >> OTHER COMMENTS, TOM MANNO? OKAY I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, TARA, CAN YOU WORK ON A
MODIFICATION? >> SO I CAN GIVE A LITTLE INSIGHT INTO THE PROJECTION. TYPICALLY I DON'T PROJECT OUT BY MONTH BUT I ACTUALLY SAT DOWN BY MONTH AND DECIDED WHAT DO I THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN. AND I REALLY HAVE NO CRYSTAL BALL AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BUT I GAVE IT MY BEST SHOT. WHEN I WAS DOING THESE PROJECTIONS OUT BY MONTH, I CERTAINLY GAVE US A PROJECTED REDUCTION FOR THE MONTHS OF OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER.
BUT THEN I FIGURED IF WE GO OUT FAR ENOUGH, JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, MAY OF NEXT YEAR THAT WE SHOULD START TO SEE SOME LEVEL OF REBOUNDING. AND SO MAYBE I WAS OVERLY OPTIMISTIC WITH IT BUT JUST SO WE HAVE A SENSE OF THESE NUMBERS HERE IS IT DOES DEFINITELY INCLUDE FOR A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF REDUCTION IN THE REMAINDER OF THE CALENDAR MONTHS PER YEAR WHICH IS THE FIRST MONTH OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
>> AND THIS IS AGAIN A PURE GUESS, BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET A FULL SENSE OF OPTIMISM FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS.
AND THIS HAPPENED DURING THE RECESSION ALSO.
ALL OF A SUDDEN NIGHTS OF LIGHTS CAME AND IT WAS LIKE KUMBAYA.
AND THEN JANUARY CAME AND THE NEXT 3 OR 4 MONTHS DROPPED RIGHT BACK DOWN. AND THIS IS GOING BACK TO 2008, 2009. AND WE HAD A DIFFERENT DEMAND CHARACTERISTIC IN THOSE YEARS. BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED IN 2008 IS COMPANIES DIDN'T CANCEL THEIR MEETINGS, THE CANCELLATION FEES WERE TOO GREAT. WHAT THEY DID IS THEY IN 2009 THEY ELIMINATED MEETINGS. BUT THEY HAD MEETINGS ALL THROUGH THE FALL SO THERE WAS FOR EXAMPLE SEPTEMBER WAS TERRIBLE, OCTOBER IN THE HOTEL BUSINESS AND OUR MARKET WAS ACTUALLY QUITE GOOD. BUT THAT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE DIDN'T CANCEL THEIR BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO CLOSE IN ON THE CANCELLATION FEES. SO THEY KEPT THE BUSINESS.
BUT THEY SAID IN OUR BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR WE'RE NOT HAVING ANY MONEY. SO THE REAL QUESTION IS WHEN PEOPLE ARE SETTING THEIR BUDGETS AS CORPORATIONS FOR 2021 AND IF A PERSON IS ON A FISCAL, A CALENDAR FISCAL YEAR, THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE THOSE DETERMINATIONS SOMEWHERE IN AUGUST OR SO. IF THE OUTLOOK IS STILL SCARY, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BUDGET MONEY FOR MEETINGS FOR NEXT YEAR AND IT CAN CARRY ALL THE WAY OUT.
OR THEY MAY JUST KICK THE CAN AND SAY WE'LL DO IT AFTER NEXT SUMMER. BUT I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME PRETTY CONSERVATIVE THINGS AND THAT'S JUST ON THE VIRUS.
ON THE ECONOMICS WITH 30 MILLION UNEMPLOYED IS FOUR TIMES AS SEVERE AS 2008. AND THE IMPACT FINANCIALLY OF WHAT COMPANIES CAN AFFORD TO HAVE MEETINGS IS A WHOLE OTHER SUBJECT THAT I'M NOT SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING
TO EFFECT THE DEMAND. >> CAN I REVISE THIS, SURE I CAN. THIS IS JUST GIVING UPDATES AND SOME INSIGHT INTO I GUESS OUR THOUGHTS GOING INTO BUDGET.
AND AS I PREFACED THIS, IT'S I GUESS AT BEST.
>> WE'RE NOT REALLY FUNDING THESE NUMBERS, WE'RE ESTIMATING
THEM? >> WELL SO OUR PROJECTED REVENUE DICTATES OUR BUDGET. SO AT SOME POINT WE NEED TO HAVE A PROJECTED REVENUE. THE COUNTY NEEDS TO HAVE A PROJECTED REVENUE THAT THE COUNTY FEELS COMFORTABLE WITH.
AND THAT WILL DICTATE THE PROJECTED REVENU IS WHAT WE THEN DISTRIBUTE ACROSS THE FIVE CATEGORIES AND THEN WE BASE ALL OF OUR BUDGETS FOR FISCAL YEAR 21 OFF THAT.
SO AT SOME POINT WE ARE PROJECTING AND WE ARE GIVING IT OUR BEST GUESS BUT IT DOES HAVE A REAL WORLD IMPACT TO IT.
WHICH LEADS ME TO MY QUESTION. OR YOU ASKED, DANNY, IF I COULD REVISE THIS, AND YES I CAN. I CAN REVISE IT TO ANYTHING.
I CAN REVISE IT ABSOLUTELY TO ANYTHING.
CAN I GET A LITTLE BIT OF MAYBE INPUT.
[00:35:03]
ARE WE LOOKING FOR, BECAUSE THE 11,846,184 IF YOU LOOK THAT IS THE ACTUAL COLLECTIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 19.AND THAT'S THE LOW LEVEL OF MY PROJECTIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 21.
I'M GOING TO KEEP AT A RANGE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WITH OUR OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.
HOWEVER I CAN CERTAINLY SHIFT MY RANGE DOWNWARD.
CAN I GET A SENSE OF WHAT WE THINK THE FLOOR OF THAT PROJECTION IS. IS IT 10% BELOW 19? BECAUSE I HEARD 10, 15, AND 20. AND SO THAT'S A PRETTY BIG
SPREAD. >> TARA, I MAY, I'VE ONLY BEEN ON THIS A SHORT WHILE. BUT I AM AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER I'M ALWAYS MORE HAPPY FOR YOU TO TELL ME THAT YOU HAVE MORE MONEY THAN NEEDING MONEY OUT OF RESERVES.
I WOULD THINK MAYBE THE BOTTOM WOULD BE AROUND THE 2017 ACTUAL AND MAYBE THE TOP FOUR BE THE 19 ACTUAL.
>> SO 9.9 TO 11.8. >> THAT $10 MILLION RANGE.
>> I THINK THAT'S PRETTY REALISTIC.
>> I GOT A FEELING OUR ENTIRE BUDGET IS GOING TO DEPEND.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP LOOKING AT IT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
>> OH YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE SET BACK.
>> BECAUSE I MEAN IF YOU LOOK AT OUR BUDGET NOW THERE'S A LOT OF
TO BE DETERMINED. >> YES THERE IS.
>> BECAUSE WE HAVE NO IDEA GOING FORWARD.
>> LET ME INTERRUPT. CAN WE ALL MUTE OUR PHONES.
WE'RE GETTING SOME FEEDBACK AGAIN.
OKAY WELL, I THINK THERE'S DIRECTION GIVEN.
AND TARA, WE DO NOT NEED A MOTION ON THIS WHOLE MATTER, DO
THIS IS JUST AN UPDATE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT
>> IS THERE ANY COMMENT FROM COUNCIL? ANY PUBLIC COMMENT THAT ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS?
[Item 8]
OKAY LET'S MOVE ON THEN. >> SO OUR NEXT ITEM IS RECOVERY NEXT STEPS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 8. AND RICHARD IS GOING TO COME JOIN US UP AT THE PODIUM AND HE IS GOING TO RUN THROUGH HIS
PRESENTATION. >> SO IF I MAY BRIEFLY ON THE SUBJECT PREVIOUSLY ADDRESSED, JUST A LITTLE REMINDER THAT OUR SALES TEAM IN THE FIELD AND A NUMBER OF DIRECTORS OF SALES FROM THE CORPORATE SIDE HAVE TOLD US THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME NOTED SUCCESSES IN MOVING BUSINESS AS OPPOSED TO CANCELED BUSINESS. THE CONCERNS FOR FISCAL 21 ARE REAL IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT FROM THE ECONOMY.
BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING A FALL OFF THE CLIFF.
WE KNOW WE'VE GOT PROPERTIES NOW THAT CAN HOST MORE MEETINGS THAN WE DID BACK IN 19. AND CERTAINLY IN 21 WE WILL HAVE THE RENAISSANCE DOWNTOWN OPENING AND ALSO THE MILANO BEACH PROPERTIES. THAT WILL MEAN SOME SUPPRESSION OF AVERAGE RATE BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE MORE INVENTORY.
BUT IT ALSO IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SELL MORE.
SO WE'RE NOT QUITE AS, AND OUR TEAM IS NOT QUITE AS CONCERNED THAT THE PROJECTIONS ARE HIGH THAT TARA HAS WORKED WITH.
AND WE DID CONSULT ON THAT, THAT FIGURE.
SO I WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
SO IN LOOKING FORWARD, IN LOOKING AT WHAT WE ARE PROJECTING. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW WHAT IMPACTS TOURISM HAS. I KNOW I'M PREACHING TO THE CHOIR HERE IN TERMS OF THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY. BUT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT OTHERS IN THE AUDIENCE MIGHT HAVE FORGOTTEN.
BUT CLEARLY IT'S AN IMPORTANT INDUSTRY WITH $1.1 BILLION IN DIRECT SPEND FROM 2017 WHICH IS THE LAST YEAR THAT WE HAVE THAT DATA. TOTAL DIRECT AND INDIRECT IMPACTS THE ECONOMY BY $2.4 BILLION AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY WHERE THE RUBBER REALLY HITS THE ROAD IS
[00:40:07]
$884.5 MILLION IN TOURISM PAYROLLS.THAT'S THE MONEY THAT WE PUT TO WORK AT THE LOCAL AUTO SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, THAT'S WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD.
ALL OF THAT SPENDING PUTS 29,000 PEOPLE TO WORK IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND GENERATED $52 MILLION IN LOCAL SALES AND PROPERTY TAXES. SO THE SITUATION CLEARLY WE'RE FEELING THE IMPACT OF THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.
THAT IMPACT WILL INDEED LAST THROUGH 2021.
WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE ULTIMATELY ARE YET TO BE DETERMINED.
WE KNOW THAT THIS PAST WEEKEND WE HAD A SPIKE IN INTEREST AND IN VISITATION, BUT THAT WAS THE FIRST WAVE.
THERE'S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE, AND A WHOLE LOT OF PENT UP DEMAND FROM LOCALS. SO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT BUSINESS IS GOING TO BE AND WHAT'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE.
THE FIRST THING WE HAD TO DO THOUGH WHEN WE HEARD THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE NO MORE MONEY COMING IN WAS TO BASICALLY SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN. YOU HEARD ME BRIEFLY EARLIER INDICATE WHAT THOSE WERE. JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION THE DECISION THAT WAS MADE FOR ALL OF US TO TAKE A 20% PAY REDUCTION WASN'T JUST OUT OF AFFECTION FOR MY TEAM.
THAT WAS OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE RUN AT 110%. WE DON'T HAVE LAYERS AND LAYERS OF SUPPORT. SO EVERYBODY HAS A ROLE.
IF ANYBODY WHO'S HOURS WERE REDUCED OR ANYBODY WAS CUT, THAT WOULD MEAN WORK NOT DONE TO SUPPORT THE DESTINATION.
SO THAT WAS NOT A CAVALIER DECISION.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE HAVE TO GET OUR ACT TOGETHER WITH A HIGHLY S STRAY -- STRATEGIC PLAN.
SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO MAKE SENSE AND GET US WHERE WE NEED TO BE. IF YOU'LL GO TO THE NEXT ONE YOU'LL SEE WE HAVE BEEN MONITORING WEEK TO WEEK THE BEHAVIOR OF TRAVELERS. WE RECEIVE A REPORT CALLED DESTINATION ANALYTICS THAT REPORTS ON WHAT THE CONSUMER SENTIMENTS ARE. AND WE GET THOSE REPORTS EVERY MONDAY. WE NEED TO PROCESS THAT BEHAVIOR AND THAT SENTIMENT SO THAT WE CAN ADJUST OUR COMMUNICATIONS AS WE HAVE. EARLY IN THE PROCESS NOBODY WAS TRAVELING SO WE MADE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNICATIONS FOCUSED SIMPLY ON HEY, WE ARE STILL HERE.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU REMEMBER ABOUT THE DESTINATION.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY TO MAKE LIFE GOOD HERE. AND WE'VE RECEIVED A GREAT DEAL OF ENGAGEMENT. I'VE BEEN VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT WE HAVE SEEN NO EROSION FROM OUR FACEBOOK FAMILY OF MORE THAN A HALF A MILLION FOLLOWERS AND LOTS OF ENGAGEMENT.
WE'VE ALSO SEEN INCREASES IN OUR INSTAGRAM PRESENCE.
SO PEOPLE ARE STAYING ENGAGED. PARTLY BECAUSE OF THOSE COMMUNICATIONS WE'VE BEEN SHARING.
BUT WE HAVE TO LEVERAGE SECONDARY RESEARCH AS WELL THAT TELLS US WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE CORONAVIRUS.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO MOVE FIRST.
THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO TRAVEL EARLIER.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAW THIS PAST WEEKEND IS A LOT OF YOUNGER PEOPLE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY COMFORTABLE WITH TRAVELING AS SOON AS THE RESTRICTIONS WERE EASED.
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO UNDERLYING CONCERNS. CONCERNS FOR SAFETY.
THINGS THAT WE CAN IMPACT WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS.
AND WE NEED TO MAP HOW THOSE ATTITUDES ARE CHANGING OVER TIME. SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU IN THE FOLLOWING PAGES IS BASICALLY OUR PATH FORWARD TO GET THE RIGHT MESSAGE TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TIME.
WE TALKED ABOUT CONTINUOUS DATA MONITORING.
THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE MONITOR, THE TRAVEL DEMAND, ARE PEOPLE SEARCHING FOR A DESTINATION, ARE PEOPLE BOOKING THE DESTINATION ONLINE. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN MONITOR. I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED THE CONSUMER SENTIMENT STUDIES. WE GET TWO OF THEM EVERY WEEK.
WE HAVE OUR AUDIENCES OF PURPOSE PURSUERS, WE'RE TRACKING THEM AND WHAT THEIR EXPECTATIONS ARE. AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE HOW OUR MESSAGES ARE BEING ACCEPTED. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO THROUGH OUR DIGITAL MESSAGING SO WE CAN SEE WHAT ENGAGEMENT IS.
AND FINALLY TRACKING WHAT THE MEDIA IS DOING.
[00:45:06]
VIEWERSHIP AND LISTENERSHIP OR ENGAGEMENT TO DIGITAL MEDIA IS.WE CONCEDE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG TIME BEFORE WE'RE BACK TO NORMAL. WE KNOW THAT SOME TRAVELERS ARE GOING TO BOUNCE BACK QUICKLY. BUT THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE CAUTIOUS. AND OUR BEST CUSTOMERS ARE GOING TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS. ONE OF THE VERY RECENT REPORTS WE ASKED OPERATIONALLY WHAT DO PEOPLE WANT TO SEE FOR THEM TO FEEL SAFE IN A DESTINATION. 64% SAID THEY WANTED TO SEE HAND SANITIZER PROVIDED. AMAZINGLY THE CORE ISSUE BY A LOT. 57% WANTED TO SEE DISINFECTANT WIPES MADE AVAILABLE. 56% WANTED TO SEE CLEANING ACTIVITIES GOING ON. AND ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER WANTED TO GET INFORMATION ON WHAT THOSE CLEANING PROCEDURES WERE TO GIVE THEM COMFORT. HALF WANTED TO SEE THAT EMPLOYEES WERE REQUIRED TO BE SCREENED BEFORE THEY BEGAN WORK AND THAT SOCIAL DISTANCING WAS ENFORCED.
AND FINALLY 43% REQUIRED EMPLOYEES TO WEAR, WANTED TO SEE EMPLOYEES REQUIRED TO WEAR FACIAL COVERING AND ENCOURAGING VISITORS AND GUESTS TO DO THE SAME.
SOME MORE RESEARCH INFORMATION TO BACK UP WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT THE YOUNGER FOLKS WHO APPEAR LESS VULNERABLE WILL BE AMONG THE FIRST TO TRAVEL. WE'VE MENTIONED THAT, THAT'S ALSO SHOWN IN THE RESEARCH FROM WORLD TRAVEL TOURISM.
THE ENVIRONMENT RETURNING TO A FAVORITE PLACE IS THE KIND OF THING THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FEEL MOTIVATED BY.
TWO YEARS AGO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ADVENTURE.
FOLKS LOCKING FOR NEW EXPERIENCES.
IN THE EVENT OF THIS ENVIRONMENT WE'RE IN NOW, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THINGS THAT MAKE THEM FEEL GOOD AND THAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH. ROAD TRIPS, TRIPS TO THE BEACHES, TRIPS TO SMALL CITIES AND PARKS ARE THE NEXT LEVEL THAT ARE GOING TO BE MOST ATTRACTIVE.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE AIRCRAFT ARE STILL CAUSING PEOPLE A LITTLE CONCERN. THIS GRAPH SHOWS YOU OVER TIME THAT PEOPLE'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS TRAVEL IS IMPROVING BUT THEY STILL FAVOR AUTOMOBILE WHICH MEANS DRIVE DISTANCE WHICH MEANS OUR BEST AUDIENCE IS GOING TO BE IN THOSE DRIVE MARKETS.
BUT YOU'LL NOTICE BY AGE THOSE WHO ARE MORE WILLING TO TRAVEL ARE THE YOUNGER AGE GROUPS. THIS NEXT CHART SHOWS YOU WHAT PEOPLE PLAN TO DO ON THEIR FIRST TRIP AFTER THE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ARE EASED. AND AS WE MENTIONED BEACHES AND RESORTS, SMALL TOWNS, PARKS, THINGS OUTDOORS ARE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO FAVOR FIRST. ACCORDING TO TRIP ADVISER WHO'S CONSTANTLY MONITORING, THEY ARE THE TOP TRAVEL WEBSITE, THEY'RE CONSTANTLY MONITORING AND SERVING THEIR AUDIENCES.
WHEN THEY FIRST TRAVEL THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO DO ARE TO FOCUS ON RELAXATION AND REJUVENATION AND TO MAKE MEMORIES WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.
SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE ASPECTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE BUILD THOSE RECOVERY PROGRAMS. AND BASED ON THE COLLECTIVE SENTIMENT STUDIES WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THERE'S BASICALLY FOUR STAGES THE TRAVELERS ARE EXPERIENCING RELATING TO THEIR INTENTION TO TRAVEL.
THE CHALLENGE TO THIS IS THAT DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE IN DIFFERENT PLACES IN THESE STAGES OVER TIME.
WE MENTIONED EARLIER THAT SOME FOLKS, YOUNGER FOLKS, AND FOLKS WHO FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH TRAVEL, THEY WERE THERE THIS WEEKEND. BUT THE OTHERS ARE WAITING TO SEE. AND IN FACT OUR BREAD AND BUTTER AND OUR LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE AUDIENCE ARE THE FOLKS WHO ARE WAITING TO SEE. SO WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE RIGHT MESSAGING OUT THERE THAT REACHES EVERYONE WHEN THEY'RE IN THESE STAGES. SO WE'RE COMMUNICATING THAT WE'RE A SAFE AND CLEAN PLACE TO RETURN TO.
THAT WE'RE COMFORTABLE, THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT US, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE ALSO NEED TO AT THE RIGHT TIME HAVE MESSAGING THAT FOCUSES ON THE DEALS THAT CAN BE MADE AND THE ACTUAL TRANSACTIONAL
[00:50:04]
BUSINESS THAT WE CAN DO AND THAT OUR STAKEHOLDERS ARE PREPARED TO DO. SO IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT ONE, WE'LL SEE WHAT THOSE CREATIVE CONSIDERATIONS ARE.SO IN DEVELOPING OUR MESSAGING WHICH WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING NOW, THE TONE OF VOICE, SPECIFIC ASSETS MEANING IMAGES AND CALLS TO ACTION, ALL LEVERAGE FROM THE INSIGHTS THAT WE'VE GAINED FROM THAT RESEARCH THAT I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE.
COMMUNICATING THE SAFETY OF OUR DESTINATION, HEALTH PRECAUTIONS, AND YOU MAY BE HEARING VERY SOON ABOUT SOME PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO AT THE COUNTY LEVEL AND ALSO IN OUR CITIES TO DEMONSTRATE THAT. THE DESTINATION IS ONE THAT YOU KNOW AND LOVE. THAT'S SOMETHING WE KNOW BECAUSE WE'LL BE TALKING PRIMARILY TO THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE. WE'RE GOING TO CHOOSE IMAGERY THAT CONVEYS NATURAL WIDE OPEN SPACES, OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE AN EASE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING.
AND FINALLY THAT WE ARE A CLOSE, EASY DRIVE.
AND THAT WILL BE DONE BY FOCUSSING ON DRIVE MARKETS.
THE IMAGES THAT YOU SEE ON THIS SLIDE ARE SAMPLES OF THOSE THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE MESSAGING THAT WE'RE REFERRING TO THAT CONVEY THOSE THINGS THAT WE SPOKE TO.
ON THE MEDIA SIDE AS WE BUILD THE PLAN THAT WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER, WE HAD TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NEW MEDIA CONSUMPTION BEHAVIORS.
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT MEDIA AND CONSUMING IT DIFFERENTLY.
THE SHIFT TOWARDS REGIONALITY, DRIVE MARKETS VERSUS FLYING.
WE'RE ABLE TO TARGET AUDIENCES THAT ARE VERY INTERESTED IN TRAVEL AT THIS POINT IN TIME AND MONITORING WHAT THEIR PERCEPTIONS AND SENTIMENTS ARE AS WE MOVE FROM THE ABSOLUTE LOCKDOWN OF APRIL THROUGH TO THE EASING OF PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO. AND OF COURSE WE HAD CONSIDERED BUDGET LEVELS. I'M GOING TO MENTION FLEXIBILITY A COUPLE OF TIMES HERE. FLEXIBILITY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS THINGS CHANGE WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ADJUST.
SHOULD IT HAPPEN THAT THERE IS A RESURGENCE WE NEED TO GET OUT AND HOLD THOSE RESOURCES FOR A RETURN.
THE NEXT MESSAGING WE WANT SHARE WITH YOU IS BASICALLY THE TAKE AWAY FROM THIS IS PEOPLE ARE ALREADY, AND THIS IS FROM LAST WEEK, PEOPLE ARE ALREADY SEEING ADVERTISING FOR TRAVEL.
THEY'RE REASONABLY FAVORABLY DISPOSED TO IT.
THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE LATE TO THE GAME ESSENTIALLY THAT ARE INDICATING THAT THEIR DESTINATIONS ARE DESIRABLE.
>> LET ME INTERRUPT YOU. IT SEEMS LIKE THE RIGHT MOMENT.
THE NEW YORK TIMES PUBLISHED THIS ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
AND I'LL LEAVE IT SO YOU CAN LOOK AT IT.
BUT THIS THING IS AMAZING. >> ST. PETE CLEARWATER.
>> RIGHT. >> SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON OUT THERE. WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN POLLING MY COLLEAGUES AND A NUMBER OF THEM HAVE SOME FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL RESERVES THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE TAPPING.
THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE MARKETING IN THE SAME PLACES WE ARE. THEY'RE GETTING THAT SAME INFORMATION ABOUT DRIVE MARKETS BEING ESSENTIAL.
LET'S LOOK AT THE NEXT WHICH TELLS US ABOUT HOW AMERICANS ARE CONSUMING MEDIA. THE GOOD NEWS IS 71% SPENT TIME LAST WEEK PLANNING OR RESEARCHING THEIR NEXT TRIP.
THAT'S GOOD. THEY HAVE TRAVEL ON THEIR MINDS.
BUT THEY ARE THOUSAND SPENDING 7.3 HOURS A DAY ON MOBILE MEDIA.
THAT'S UP 20% SINCE JANUARY. MOBILE MEDIA NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE PRESENT IN. SINCE THE OUTBREAK OF COVID, PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO FACEBOOK 53% MORE THAN BEFORE THAT TIME. AND 32% MORE TIME ON INSTAGRAM.
THE AVERAGE ADULT ACCORDING TO AUDIO STREAMING RESEARCH
[00:55:02]
COMPANIES SPENT FOUR HOURS A DAY LISTENING TO EITHER PANDORA OR SPOTIFY OR ANOTHER STREAMING AUDIO.OVER THE TOP TELEVISION, THAT'S ACTUALLY RECEIVING YOUR TELEVISION ONLINE. SO MANY OF YOU ARE DOING IT, IF YOU'RE NOT, YOUR CHILDREN ARE. MINE CERTAINLY ARE.
THAT THEY ARE CONSUMING MEDIA THAT WAY MEANS THAT WE NEED TO BE THERE WITH OUR MESSAGING. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IT'S EASIER TO TARGET. TRADITIONAL BROADCAST TELEVISION IS MUCH MORE FOCUSED AND LIMITED TO DEMOGRAPHICS.
BUT THIS MEDIUM ALLOWS US TO FOCUS ON THEIR ACTUAL BEHAVIORS.
AND FINALLY THERE'S BEEN A 60% INCREASE IN TELEVISION VIEWERSHIP DURING SOCIAL DISTANCING.
SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THINGS? IN BUILDING THE PLAN THAT WE'RE SHOWING YOU, WE HAD THE ADVERTISING AGENCY THOROUGHLY EXAMINE THE MEDIA PLAN.
WE CAN'T COME BACK AS WE WERE AND WE WOULDN'T WANT TO.
THE MIX NEEDS TO BE DIFFERENT AND REFLECT THESE THINGS THAT WE'RE LEARNING. BUDGET ALLOCATIONS BY MEDIA TYPE, BY BIOGRAPHY. ALL OF THOSE THINGS CHANGED SO THAT NEEDED TO BE BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP.
OUR MEDIA EVALUATIONS AND HOW WE SELECTED THEM TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION THE TARGET AUDIENCE USAGE, WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CURRENT STAY AT HOME PROCESS.
HOW ARE THEY CONSUMING MEDIA. OBVIOUSLY THE INHERENT STRENGTHS OF MEDIA AND THE IMPACT ON MEMORABILITY OF THE MEDIA.
AND THEN THERE'S THAT WORD AGAIN, FLEXIBILITY.
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET IN OR GET OUT.
AFFORDABILITY AND EFFICIENCY IS ALWAYS A CONSIDERATION FOR US.
A REMINDER, MANY OF YOU RECALL WHEN WE PRESENTED THE MARKETING PLAN. WE EXPLAINED ABOUT THE PERSONAS THAT WE WERE TARGETING. THE PERSONAS ARE BASED ON RICH DATA THAT REFLECTS THE ACTIVITIES AND MOTIVATIONS AND INTENTIONS OF THESE GROUPS OF PEOPLE, NOT JUST THE OLD FASHIONED DEMOGRAPHICS. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID IS WE FOCUSED ON BOTH THE MATURE AND THE YOUNGER PURPOSE PURSUERS. BUT BECAUSE OUR AUDIENCE WAS PRIMARILY THE OLDER END OF THAT SPECTRUM, WE WEIGHTED OUR MEDIA ABOUT 60-40 TOWARDS THEM. WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THE MEDIA NOW WE'RE GOING TO FLOP THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO GO HEAVIER TOWARDS THE YOUNGER FOLKS AND SLIGHTLY LESS HEAVY TOWARDS THE OLDER FOLKS WHO ARE TAKING MORE TIME. WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO FOCUS ON THEIR INTEREST IN RELAXATION. BUT YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER THESE FOLKS ARE INTERESTED IN ENRICHMENT.
THESE ARE HIGHER SPENDERS. THEY SPENT MORE TIME IN THE DESTINATIONS. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE LIKE. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO LOOK AT FOLKS WHO ARE WILLING TO TAKE STAYCATIONS, DAY TRIPPERS BECAUSE WE NEED TO PROTECT THE INTEREST OF OUR ATTRACTIONS.
WEEKEND GET AWAYS, PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING THAT WE CAN TARGET, ANYONE THAT WE CAN TARGET IN THE NEAR TERM.
FROM A GEOGRAPHIC STANDPOINT, PRIMARY FOOTPRINT IS GOING TO BE IN STATE. WE'RE LOOKING AT GAINESVILLE, JACKSONVILLE, ORLANDO, DAYTONA WHICH IS ONE MARKET, TAMPA, ST.
PETE WHICH IS ANOTHER MARKET. WE'RE LOOKING AT REACHING INTO ATLANTA AND MIAMI, FORT LAUDERDALE.
YOU MAY SAY OKAY, BUT AREN'T THOSE HOT SPOTS.
WELL, THEY ARE NOW. BUT THE FEELING IS THAT THEIR AFFLUENT AUDIENCES WITHIN THOSE PRIMARY MARKETS ARE THE KINDS OF FOLKS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HERE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE AS WE AFFORD TO BE PRESENT IN THOSE LOCATIONS WITH AN AFFLUENT AND UPSCALE MARKET.
WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN, IT WILL BE LIMITED OUT OF MARKET, BUT THE SOUTH WE WILL BE TARGETING AS WELL.
AND ANY BLEED OUT THROUGH OUR ONLINE PRESENCE ON THINGS LIKE TRIP ADVISER. THOSE ARE GOING TO BE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE. ANYBODY WHO'S SEARCHING FOR DESTINATIONS LIKE OURS WE'RE GOING TO AMBUSH THEM WITH OUR MESSAGING WHEN THEY GO LOOKING FOR THAT.
AND THOSE FOLKS COULD BE IN OTHER PLACES BESIDES THE PRIMARY MARKETS THAT I MENTIONED. WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE MEDIA FOLKS OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY IS THAT OUR COLLEAGUES AT THESE
[01:00:01]
OTHER DESTINATIONS ARE ALREADY CHASING THEM FOR RATES.SO WE KNOW THAT OUR COMPETITORS ARE GOING TO BE THERE.
WE ALSO KNOW IT'S A NATIONAL ELECTION CYCLE AND THAT THE PURSUIT OF THAT INVENTORY IS GOING TO BE REALLY VERY, VERY STRONG AND THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT PRICING AS WELL.
WHEN WE LOOK AT TIMING, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY ON A DIGITAL BASIS, WE REALLY NEED TO BE ON ALL THE TIME. WE TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE BEING IN DIFFERENT STAGES AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
WE NEED TO BE PRESENT PRETTY MUCH THROUGH THE REST OF THE YEAR AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL DO MAINLY WITH OUR DIGITAL ADVERTISING. IT ALSO FOCUSES PEOPLE ON THE RESPONSE OF RESPONDING TO OUR WEBSITE, WHERE WE CAN CONSTANTLY BE MANAGING THE MESSAGE THAT THEY SEE, UPDATING IT FOR SPECIAL OFFERS AND SUCH. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT BACK LOADING. THIS IS BASICALLY A JUNE THROUGH SEPTEMBER PLAN THAT WE'RE SHOWING YOU.
WE WOULD BE BACK LOADING TO A CERTAIN EXTENT ALLOWING TIME FOR THE AUDIENCES TO DETERMINE AND SHOW US WHAT THEIR EXPECTATIONS ARE. IT ALSO ALLOWS OUR STAKEHOLDERS, OUR RESTAURANTEURS, OUR ATTRACTIONS TO GET UP AND GOING AND BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO OPERATE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT. SO YOU HEARD ME MENTION AT THE TOP WHAT OUR BUDGET AFFORDS US. RIGHT NOW IT AFFORDS US ACTIVITIES THAT OUR TEAM CAN PERFORM IN HOUSE AND OUT OF HOUSE IT'S THE OUTDOOR ADVERTISING.
THAT'S ABOUT $60,000. WE'VE MENTIONED TO YOU AT THE TOP THAT WE FEEL IT VERY IMPORTANT TO BE PRESENT.
THIS IS A BASELINE. IT ALLOWS US TO BE ON ALL THE TIME WITH MESSAGING THAT SUPPORTS THE DESTINATION AND THESE ARE HARD WON BOARDS. ONCE LOST IT WOULD BE DECADES TO GET THE QUALITY OF THOSE BACK AGAIN.
SO WHAT ARE WE SHOWING YOU, WE ARE ASKING FOR AN INCREMENTAL FUNDING OF OUR WORK AND THE PLAN THAT I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU OF $2 MILLION. THIS IS HOW THOSE DOLLARS BREAK OUT AND I CAN GIVE YOU THE GENERAL BREAKDOWN.
TELEVISION PORTION IS 36%. THE RADIO OR AUDIO STREAMING IS 28%. THE NEXT LARGEST PERCENTAGE IS PRODUCTION AND THIS IS VERY NORMAL, 11%.
IT USUALLY RUNS BETWEEN 11% AND 15% OF THE BUDGET.
SO WE'RE AT THE LOW END OF THAT RANGE.
SO THE FIRST COLUMN, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SPENDING BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE YEAR BASED ON THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE NOW.
THE PROGRAM THAT YOU SEE TO THE RIGHT IS HOW WE WOULD SPEND $2 MILLION OF INCREMENTAL FUNDING.
NOW LET'S GET BACK TO THE PROGRAMS THAT I DISCUSSED FOR SALES AND PROMOTIONAL INITIATIVES.
RESCHEDULING TRADE SHOWS, WHAT TRADE SHOWS? THOSE THAT ARE PRIMARILY TARGETED TO ASSOCIATIONS.
ORLANDO IS HOSTING THE FLORIDA SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES. IT'S NEARBY.
WE HAVE A SPONSORSHIP THERE THAT WE HAVE RETRACTED AT THIS POINT IN TIME. BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO GET BACK INTO, AND OUR STAKEHOLDERS WANT BACK INTO THAT BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN AUDIENCE THAT THEY CAN GET BUSINESS FROM RIGHT AWAY. THE OTHER CONNECT ASSOCIATION, CONNECT TOURS, SMALL MARKET MEETINGS, THOSE ARE ALL CATEGORIES THAT WE FEEL THAT WE CAN GET SOME TRACTION WITH RIGHT AWAY. SMURF IS AN ACRONYM IN OUR INDUSTRY THAT REFERS TO SOCIAL MILITARY EDUCATIONAL RELIGIOUS AND FRATERNAL. AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT AGAIN WE THINK THOSE FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE MORE LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO MEET IN PART BECAUSE MANY OF THOSE ASSOCIATIONS THEY MAKE THEIR MONEY AS AN ORGANIZATION BASED ON THE MEETINGS AND THE SHOWS THAT THEY DO. SO THEY HAVE AN INCENTIVE TO
[01:05:01]
CONDUCT THOSE MEETINGS. UNLIKE CORPORATE WHERE THE DECISION IS MADE BY THE BOSS SIMPLY TO SPEND OR NOT TO SPEND.SPORTS ALSO REMAINS ON OUR LIST. WE PLAN ON ATTENDING THOSE SHOWS BECAUSE WE FEEL AS WE ENTER INTO PHASE TWO THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO HOST SPORTING EVENTS.
WE'RE ALSO ON THE PROMOTIONAL SIDE, WE'RE ARRANGING MORE SWEEPSTAKES. THOSE THINGS ARE HAPPENING QUICKLY. WE'RE ALREADY RESPONDING TO THOSE WITH IN KIND OFFERS. OUR STAKEHOLDERS HAVE BEEN VERY GENEROUS OFFERING ROOMS AND TICKETS.
THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO RIGHT AWAY, BUT IF WE HAVE A BUDGET THEN WE CAN LEVERAGE THOSE SPENDS AND DOUBLE UP THOSE KINDS OF PROMOTIONS. RETURNING TO THE NEEDED LEVELS OF SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION. THAT'S BASICALLY PUSHING OUT DIRECTION AND INTEREST ON THE CONTENT ON OUR WEBSITE FOCUSSING ON THAT CONTENT THAT INCLUDES OUTDOORS, THAT INCLUDES ACTIVITIES THAT ARE DONE OUTDOORS THAT ARE FELT MORE SAFE BY OUR AUDIENCES. THAT REQUIRES MONEY TO DO THAT KIND OF OPTIMIZATION. AND ALSO WE ARE PLANNING ON DOUBLING UP ON OUR EMAIL MESSAGING TO OUR TARGET AUDIENCE WHICH IS A DATABASE OF 170,000 RIGHT NOW.
WE WOULD PUBLISH OUR VERSIONS OF THE GUIDE WHICH IS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON SOCIAL TYPE MEETINGS, THINGS LIKE WEDDINGS, BAR MITZVAHS, THOSE TYPES OF PARTIES AND EVENTS AND PRINTING A CALENDAR OF EVENTS. WITHOUT THE BUDGET WE WILL PRODUCE THE NEW VERSIONS, THEY WILL SIMPLY BE ONLINE.
WE WOULD PRODUCE VIDEOS FOR THE WEB.
WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE MORE VIDEOS.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HAD IN OUR PLAN TO DO AND HAVE HAD TO CUT THEM. WE WOULD WANT TO FOCUS ON THOSE KINDS OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES THAT PEOPLE FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE ON AND GET THOSE ON TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUR WEBSITE.
AND VERY IMPORTANTLY RETURN TO SOME BASE LEVELS OF PUBLICITY INCLUDING SPANISH LANGUAGE AND THAT'S AN INVESTMENT OF $112,000. PAID SEARCH, THESE ARE BASICALLY SEARCH TERMS THAT WE WOULD FOCUS ON.
THIS IS VERY, VERY ACTIONABLE. WE KNOW THAT WE'D BE GETTING OUR DIGITAL MESSAGING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY SEARCH FOR THINGS LIKE ST. AUGUSTINE, BEACHES, FLORIDA BEACHES, GOLF, ITEMS LIKE THAT. THIS INVESTMENT OF $40,000 WILL BE PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON FLORIDA DMA'S BUT ALSO WOULD TARGET PEOPLE SEARCHING FOR OUR COMPETITORS LOCATIONS AS WELL.
AND BOTH OF THOSE CASES WOULD BE FOR THE FULL 16 WEEK PERIOD THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. PAID SOCIAL.
THAT'S ESSENTIALLY ADVERTISING ON LOCATIONS LIKE FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM. WE THINK AND WE'VE READ THAT 75% OF MILLENNIALS, OF OUR MILLENNIAL TARGET AUDIENCE, 56% OF OUR BOOMER TARGET AUDIENCE CAN BE REACHED WITH THIS MEDIUM.
THEY'VE INCREASED THEIR USE OF THAT WHICH WE'VE SHARED WITH YOU SINCE COVID-19. AND THEY'RE HIGHLY TARGETED.
WE WOULD RUN THE PROGRAM FOR THE FULL 16 WEEKS SO THE TIME PERIOD FOCUSED ON THE SAME FLORIDA MARKETS AND ATLANTA.
AND THE KINDS OF UNITS WE WOULD OFFER ARE NEWS FEEDS, CAROUSELS, WITH VIDEO IN THEM AND SOMETHING ON INSTAGRAM CALLED THE INSTANT EXPERIENCE. WE ESTIMATE 3.7 TO 4 MILLION IMPRESSIONS FOR THAT $75,000 BUDGET.
THESE ARE PRENEGOTIATED RATES BY THE WAY.
SO ONCE IN NEGOTIATION AND SO THEY'RE CONSERVATIVE.
SO ONCE NEGOTIATED WE BELIEVE WE COULD DO EVEN BETTER AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY YOU'RE SEEING A RANGE.
PROCHROMATIC DISPLAY NETWORKS. THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY DISPLAY STYLE ADS THAT APPEAR ON VARIOUS WEBSITES THAT PEOPLE LOOK AT THAT THEY RELY ON FOR THEIR NEWS, THEY RELY ON FOR THEIR ENTERTAINMENT. AND THESE VARIOUS NETWORKS ALLOW US TO TARGET THOSE. VERY GOOD TARGETING CAPABILITY
[01:10:01]
AND AS YOU CAN SEE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE IMPRESSIONS GENERATED THROUGH A 16 WEEK COVERAGE PERIOD.THAT'S AN $87,000 INVESTMENT. TRIP ADVISER IS THE NUMBER ONE TRAVEL WEBSITE. WE'RE TARGETING A PROGRAM THERE OF DISTRIBUTING DISPLAY ADS AND ALSO A GOOD DEAL OF BUT WE WOULD GET NATIONAL COVERAGE IN PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE SEARCHING FOR OUR COMPETITORS. SO SOMEBODY GOES TO THE CHARLESTON SITE, WE WOULD DELIVER OUR MESSAGE TO THEM.
LOOKING AT 2.2 TO 2.5 MILLION IN IMPRESSIONS.
AND THEN OUR STREAMING AUDIO. THIS IS REALLY WHERE WE TARGET THE MILLENNIALS, THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE VERY, VERY INTERESTED IN GETTING THEIR MUSIC THROUGH PANDORA AND SPOTIFY.
THEY CAN PROGRAM THE KINDS OF MUSIC THAT THEY WANT TO LISTEN TO AND ONLY HEAR THE MUSIC THAT THEY WANT TO LISTEN TO.
THEY GET DELIVERED COMMERCIALS WHEN THEY DECIDE NOT TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL SUBSCRIPTION. SO WE'RE ABLE TO TARGET THOSE FOLKS VERY WELL WITH OUR 30 SECOND SPOTS.
YOU CAN SEE THERE THAT A HUGE NUMBER OF THESE YOUNGER PURPOSE PURSUERS ARE LISTENING TO PANDORA AND SPOTIFY.
SAME MARKETS TARGETED. FOR US OLDER FOLKS, TRADITIONAL RADIO IS USED, IT HELPS BUILD MESSAGE FREQUENCY AND ALLOWS US TO TARGET THEM BASED ON THEIR MUSIC FORMATS AND THEIR ACTUAL LISTENING FIGURES. THERE ARE ALSO OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROMOTIONAL EXTENSIONS. LOTS OF THOSE SWEEPSTAKES THAT WE MENTION AND HAD CONTESTS. WE CAN AFFORD EIGHT WEEKS OF COVERAGE IN THIS MEDIUM INVESTING $375,000 FOR ROUGHLY 28 TO 28.5 MILLION IMPRESSIONS. WE CAN ALSO TARGET SPANISH LANGUAGE AS WELL IN THIS MEDIUM. SOME OF THE HIGHEST RATED RADIO STATIONS IN FLORIDA ARE SPANISH LANGUAGE STATIONS.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR OLDIES, THAT'S BASICALLY ADULT HITS, THEY'VE MADE THAT CHANGE I GUESS OUT OF DEFERENCE FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON'T LIKE TO BE CALLED OLD. GETTING INTO THE VIDEO REALM, DIGITAL VIDEO WHICH IS THE WAY MANY MILLENNIALS AND YOUNGER FOLKS ARE CONSUMING THEIR TELEVISION, WE WOULD ALLOCATE $226,000 TO THAT. THE BEAUTY OF COURSE IS THAT IT CAN BE HIGHLY TARGETED AS OUR MOST DIGITAL MEDIA.
WE CAN TARGET THEM BASED ON THEIR BEHAVIOR, THEIR INTENT TO TRAVEL, AND DO THAT FOR EIGHT WEEKS OF COVERAGE.
WE WILL BUILD 30 AND 15 SECOND UNITS AND BE ABLE TO REACH THEM ON THEIR MOBILE DEVICES AS WELL AS TABLETS AND ON THEIR SMART TELEVISIONS. THE MARKETS ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FLORIDA MARKETS PLUS SOME ATLANTA AND REACHING OR ACHIEVING ABOUT 8.7 TO 9.2 MILLION IMPRESSIONS. IN TRADITIONAL TELEVISION IT'S WHAT WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE THAT OUR ABILITY TO GENERATE SOME IMPRESSIONS ESPECIALLY AMONG OUR OLDER VIEWERS IN TRADITIONAL TELEVISION. WE REMEMBER ALSO THAT VIEWERSHIP OF TELEVISION HAS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE COVID CRISIS. WE'D ALSO BE BUYING EIGHT WEEKS OF COVERAGE AND WITH THAT TARGETING THOSE MORE MATURE PURPOSE PURSUERS WITH THE SAME TYPES OF UNITS.
30S AND 15S IN THE SAME MARKETS. THE IMPRESSIONS HERE ARE MUCH HIGHER, 22000022.5 MILLION FOR AN INVESTMENT -- 22 MILLION AND 22.5 MILLION FOR AN INVESTMENT OF $40,000.
EVEN IN TODAY'S WORLD CONSUMER PRINT IS AN ESSENTIAL MEDIUM.
IT ALLOWS US TO REACH FOLKS IN A LIFESTYLE ENVIRONMENT.
WE CAN BE LOCATED AMONG RELEVANT EDITORIAL LIKE TRAVEL LIKE
[01:15:07]
LIFESTYLE. THERE'S PASS ALONG READERSHIP AS WELL. WE'VE RUN FULL PAGE COLOR ADS AND LOOKING AT TWO INSERTIONS ROUGHLY IN 5 TO 7 TITLES.THESE TYPES OF TITLES THAT YOU SEE HERE.
WE WOULD BE ABLE TO EARN VERY PROMINENT POSITIONS IN THESE PUBLICATIONS GIVEN THIS INVESTMENT OF $55,000.
FINALLY BUSINESS TO BUSINESS AND TRADE PUBLICATIONS.
YOU'VE HEARD THAT THE GROUP BUSINESS WILL BE COMING BACK SLOWLY AND CORPORATE SLOWER THAN MOST.
THAT'S TRUE. BUT WE DO NEED TO MAINTAIN OUR PRESENCE BEFORE THEM AND BEFORE TRAVEL AGENTS WHO WILL BE SOUGHT, THEIR INPUT WILL BE SOUGHT TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT TRAVEL IN THE FUTURE. PARTLY BECAUSE WE AS CONSUMERS ARE GOING TO BE A LITTLE MORE CAREFUL AND THOUGHTFUL WITH OUR TRAVEL DOLLARS. WE DON'T WANT TO BE UNHAPPY ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'VE BEEN COUPED UP INSIDE FOR AS LONG AS WE HAVE. THAT'S WHY WE FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO BE PRESENT IN THESE PUBLICATION.
WE ARE ALSO REFILLING THE PIPELINE FOR THE FUTURE FOR 2020 AND BEYOND FOR MEETING PLANNERS. THEY'RE NOT JUST BOOKING THIS YEAR, THEY'RE BOOKING NEXT YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT. THAT INVESTMENT IS $75,000.
SO WITH THAT, THAT REALLY JUST BINGS US BACK TO THIS BUDGET ALLOCATION. WE THOUGHT THAT THAT WOULD BE USEFUL TO SHARE WITH YOU AT THIS POINT IN TIME IF YOU HAD ANY
QUESTIONS. >> QUESTIONS OF RICHARD?
ANYONE FROM REMOTE? >> THIS IS UNDINE GEORGE.
>> GO AHEAD, UNDINE. >> I JUST WANTED TO THANK RICHARD AND HIS TEAM FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AND FOR ALWAYS PROVIDING US THIS THOROUGH REPORT.
I THINK IT SPEAKS VOLUMES. SO THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. BUT OTHERWISE NO QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU.
>> I KNOW THAT WE FOCUS ON MARKETING.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE BUILT FOR YOU A MARKETING PLAN TO SOLVE A PROBLEM. BUT THE PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE CONTINUING. OUR COMPETITORS ARE AT THE DOOR.
IF WE THINK OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AS NOT JUST BRINGING VISITORS BUT PUTTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK, I THINK THIS SUM WHICH IS SUBSTANTIAL, I THINK THE SUM SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A MAJOR INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GENERATE WAY MORE THAN THIS IN TERMS OF JOBS AND ECONOMIC IMPACT.
I HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER IT AS SUCH.
>> I CAN ONLY SPEAK FROM MY LITTLE CORNER OF THE ROOM AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY BUSINESSES ARE LIKE MY BUSINESS OR IF THEY ARE DIFFERENT. BUT I KNOW AS AN EMPLOYER IF IT WASN'T FOR THE PPE I WOULD HAVE HALF THE STAFF I HAVE ON RIGHT NOW ON AND BASED ON BUSINESS LEVELS THAT I'M SEEING OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WHEN JULY COMES AND THE PPE RUNS OUT I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD ALL OF MY STAFF.
AND I THINK THAT TALKING WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT'S A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER WAVE OF UNEMPLOYMENT BECAUSE EVERYONE IS FEELING OPTIMISTIC, ALL OF A SUDDEN A LOT OF BUSINESSES AND WHEN I SAY A LOT, IT'S NOT AS MANY AS WE THINK BECAUSE NATIONALLY 45% OF ALL HOTELS ACTUALLY GOT THE PPE. WHICH IS ON AVERAGE I THINK THE OIL INDUSTRY AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW, GOT LIKE 60%, OR 65% FUNNED. I DON'T KNOW HOW ALL OF THAT WORKED BUT IT WAS AN ANOMALY. I READ IN THE PAPER AND SAID
[01:20:01]
THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT BUT I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO PROVE IT.BUT I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING WE'RE GOING TO WAKE UP ON JULY 1ST AND SAY OH MY GOD.
AND I THINK BEING AS PROACTIVE AND AS THOUGHTFUL OF SPENDING MONEY TO SAVE JOBS IS CRITICAL. AND THE OTHER THING THAT SCARCE ME AND IT SCARED ME WHEN I SAW THE BUDGET FROM RICHARD A MONTH AGO AND WHEN TARA PUT OUT THE REVISED NUMBERS THAT THERE'S NO FUNDING. WE'RE NOT ONLY WEIGHING THAT WE'RE IN THIS SITUATION BUT I SUSPECT IF WE GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE MONEYS WE SPENT FROM JUNE THROUGH SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR.
WE PROBABLY SPENT $2 MILLION. SO WE'RE ACTUALLY IN A BIGGER VACUUM BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DOING ANY MARKETING VERSUS HERE WE'RE ACTUALLY JUST KEEPING EVEN TO WHAT I SUSPECT WE DID LAST YEAR.
AND SO I THINK AS A BUSINESS OWNER I WILL FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IN THE FUTURE KNOWING THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND I HAD HEARD THAT THERE WAS THIS PRESENTATION COMING THROUGH AND I'VE BEEN TALKING TO PEOPLE AND EVERYONE'S REACTION THAT I'VE TALKED TO IS THANK GOD WE'RE DOING SOMETHING BECAUSE I'M SCARED TO DEATH OF WHAT THE SUMMER LOOKS LIKE.
AND EVERY POSITIVE THING WE CAN DO JUST MAKES ME SLEEP A LITTLE BETTER AND SHOWS THAT WE'RE REALLY A SMART COMMUNITY IN TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE. BUT I MAY BE LOOKING AT IT FROM JUST MY OWN LITTLE UNIVERSE AND OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM LOOK AT IT A DIFFERENT WAY. BUT THAT'S THE FEEDBACK I'VE BEEN GETTING FROM PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> OTHER COMMENTS? >> YES, MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS IS COMMISSIONER NANCY SIKES-KLINE AND I'D LIKE TO THANK RICHARD AND TARA FOR THEIR WONDERFUL PRESENTATIONS.
I THINK THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF HELPING US FOCUS AND CLARIFY WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. I WILL SAY THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE, WE WORKED VERY HARD TO CONVEY A SENSE OF GOOD HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELL BEING. WE HAVE PURCHASED FACE MASKS AS WELL AS DONE EXTENSIVE CLEANING AND SPRUCING UP VERY VISIBLY DURING THE DOWNTIME AS WELL AS IMPLEMENTING A SMART THERMOMETER MONITORING PROGRAM AS WELL AS WASTEWATER MONITORING FOR WHAT I CALL A MONITORING SYSTEM THROUGH THE HELP OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE HOPE THROUGH THESE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING OUR PART IN CONVEYING THE SENSE THAT WE CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT THE WELL BEING OF OUR VISITORS AS WELL AS OUR CITIZENS AND THAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HOSTING THEM IN THE SAFEST WAY POSSIBLE.
>> TARA. >> JUST FOR THE CONCURRENCY OF EVERYONE WHO IS LISTENING, WATCHING, OR MAY BE DOING SO IN THE FUTURE. I GUESS I WANTED TO POINT OUT HERE THAT WHAT THIS TABLE SHOWS IS IT SHOWS WHAT THE VCB IS ANTICIPATING TO SPEND HERE IN THE CURRENT SPEND COLUMN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR BASED ON THEIR REVISED BUDGET WHICH IS THAT $3.2 MILLION. WHAT THEY'VE PUT TOGETHER FOR US HERE TODAY IS A PRESENTATION THAT SHOWS IF THEY WERE GIVEN SOME ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF MONEY, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE BUDGETED PLUS AND THEY'VE EXPLAINED TO US THE BENEFITS OF EACH ONE OF THOSE TYPES OF MEDIA AND THEY'RE BROKEN DOWN HERE. THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN THE LAST MEETING ON TUESDAY, THE SPECIAL MEETING HAS PUT A PLACE HOLDER ON THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING TOMORROW AND IT IS A PLACE HOLDER TO CONSIDER ANYTHING THAT COMES OUT OF THIS BODY TODAY.
SO THE REQUEST WOULD BE FROM VCB WOULD BE WE'VE HAD OUR BUDGET CUT WE BELIEVE THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY IN THIS TIME. AND THE KIND OF CONSIDERATION FOR THE TDC IS DO YOU CONCUR AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT WILL LIKELY BE OUT OF GENERAL FUND RESERVES BECAUSE IN THE TDT CATEGORIES WE DO NOT
[01:25:04]
HAVE READILY AVAILABLE MONEY CATEGORIES 1 THROUGH 4.AND THERE'S SOME MONEY IN CATEGORY 5 THAT HASN'T BEEN ALLOCATED HOWEVER IT IS TENTATIVELY EARMARKED FOR PROJECTS. THAT'S WHAT'S HERE BEFORE YOU IS A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE VCB FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES TO THE TUNE OF 2 MILLION BUT IT COULD BE LESS.
YOU CAN KIND OF PICK AND CHOOSE. AND THAT JUST KIND OF HOPEFULLY PUTS IT SUCCINCTLY FOR US WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
>> I HAVE A COMMENT ON THIS AND THAT IS THE MOST DEPRESSING PART OF IT IS THAT IF WE DON'T MOVE ON WE'RE GOING TO LOSE 18,000 JOBS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. RICHARD, CORRECT ME WHERE I'M WRONG HERE. BUT THIS IS REALLY, IT'S BEYOND JUST THE HOTEL AND RESTAURANT BUSINESS, ATTRACTION BUSINESS.
THIS IS OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR RESIDENTS.
AND IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND I APPRECIATED YOUR STATEMENTS ABOUT FLEXIBILITY. YOU'RE GOING INTO THIS THING WITH OPEN EYES SAYING THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A RESURGENCE, WE MIGHT HAVE PROBLEMS, BUT I KNOW THIS MY CONSIDERATION IS NEIGHBORS, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE.
SO I WOULD SUPPORT A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE ASK THE COMMISSIONERS TO GIVE VERY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION NOT ONLY TO HELPING OUR INDUSTRY AND HELPING OUR CULTURAL EVENTS AND ATTRACTIONS BUT TO PROTECTING OUR NEIGHBORS.
SO I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS. >> I'D LIKE TO ADD TO THAT, THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT WE SUPPORT THIS REQUEST FROM STAFF GOING TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TOMORROW.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO TAKE THE FOOT OFF THE PEDAL.
WE LEARNED IN 2008 WHEN THE RECESSION HIT THAT WITH THE 450TH CELEBRATION COMING ON IT WAS TIME TO ACTUALLY JUMP IN AND MOVE FORWARD AND SPEND THIS MONEY.
YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT AFFORD IN ANY WAY NOT TO ALLOCATE THIS MONEY. SO I 100% SUPPORT IT.
OTHER COMMENTS? >> MR. CHAIRMAN, MATARAZA HERE.
I WOULD ECHO ALL THAT HAS BEEN SAID.
I WOULD SUPPORT THIS 100% AND SUGGEST THAT MAYBE IF RICHARD IS ASKED TO PRIORITIZE THESE IN CASE THE COMMISSION IS NOT WILLING TO SUPPORT 100% OF THIS $2 MILLION.
BUT I WOULD ALSO VOTE THAT IT'S APPROVED 100%.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> DANNY, THIS IS JACK PETER.
I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK RICHARD AND TARA FOR THE HARD WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE. AND AGAIN MAKING IT CLEARLY UNDERSTANDABLE. AND I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE COST -- I WOULD SUPPORT THIS 100% AND WOULD BE WILLING TO WEIGH IN TO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT COMMISSIONERS AND LET THEM KNOW
COMMISSIONER WALDRON. >> I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF PRIORITIZING. YOU MADE A GOOD POINT ABOUT JOBS. WE MAY NOT SAVE ANYTHING.
THAT'S THE SAD THING. WE DON'T KNOW.
THERE'S NO STUDY. YOU CAN GO OUT AND GET STUDIES AND THEY'RE SAYING THIS AND THIS.
WE DON'T KNOW. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DO, IF WE'LL HAVE A RESURGENCE.
WE CAN'T EVEN HAVE GROUPS OVER 50 RITE -- RIGHT NOW.
WE CAN'T HAVE A SPORTS LEAGUE COME BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT 4 TO 10 PEOPLE. WE WANT TO BE PREPARED BUT ARE WE GOING TOO FAR RIGHT AWAY IN PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE AND ADVERTISING. I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT AWAY, RUNNING BIG ADS THAT COST $716,000 THAT WE DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN EVEN FULFILL OUR END OF IT AT THIS TIME WOULD BE PRETTY ROUGH TO DO. AND WE CAN ALWAYS COME BACK NEXT MEETING IF THINGS OPEN UP AND THINGS LOOK GOOD.
[01:30:01]
WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE GOING TO BE OPEN.WE'RE GOING TO SEND A THING TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WHICH WE DON'T KNOW WHEN WE'LL GET AROUND TO IT OR IF THEY'LL APPROVE IT.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THE FUNNY THING IN ALL OF THIS ADVERTISING, I'VE GOTTEN MORE PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS WITH THE BEACHES BEING CLOSED AND OPENING FROM PEOPLE OUT OF TOWN THAN I HAVE IN TOWN. SAME THING WITH SHORT TERM RENTALS PEOPLE PLEASE GET THEM OPEN WE'RE COMING FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. AND OF COURSE I CAN'T GUARANTEE ANYTHING. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A NICE INCREMENTAL APPROACH WHICH I THINK YOU'VE TAKEN THAT.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO SAY WASTE MONEY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING, WE WANT TO KEEP EVERYONE GOING.
BUT WE'D HAVE TO HASH OUT HOW WE DO THE MONEY BECAUSE IT WOULD
HAVE TO COME OUT OF RESERVES. >> OUR PLAN DOES TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION A PHASED APPROACH TO THIS.
SO THAT WAS KIND OF, WE DIDN'T EMPHASIZE IT ENOUGH BUT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT BACK LOADING WE TALKED ABOUT BRINGING ON THOSE PROGRAMS AND CERTAINLY THE TELEVISION AND RADIO THAT'S A PART OF IT THAT WOULD HAPPEN LATER IN THE PROCESS.
BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT THE TIME FRAME FROM JUNE 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30. SO THAT ALLOWS US SOME TIME TO DETERMINE HEY, IT LOOKS LIKE A RESURGENCE OR SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS AND WE'RE GOING TO PULL THAT BACK.
IT ISN'T A RUSH TO SPEND ALL OF THE MONEY RIGHT NOW.
THE PLAN IS, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT BEING MEASURED.
SO WE WOULD WANT TO BE MEASURED ON THINGS LIKE THE TRAVEL REPORT
AND OUR OCCUPANCY. >> I'M NOT TRYING TO -- SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD I'VE NEVER HAD ANYBODY SAY WE DIDN'T USE THIS, HERE'S IT BACK. I'M NOT TRYING TO, WE JUST HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE NEEDS WILL BE AND WE'RE GOING IN THE SAME KIND OF BUDGET CYCLE.
AND I HEARD AN ADD ON THE RADIO THIS MORNING COMING IN THAT THE BIG PLACE DOWN ON PALM COAST OVER, THEY'RE DOING A PROMOTION RIGHT NOW FOR STAYCATION. GIVING RESIDENTS A DISCOUNT IF YOU'RE A LOCAL RESIDENT OR FLORIDA RESIDENT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THE INDUSTRY WILL HAVE TO TAKE ON TOO TO TRY TO MAKE SURE. BUT I'M FOR US FIGURING OUT A WAY TO FUND A LOT OF THIS BUT I WOULD BE VERY CAUTIOUS HOW WE MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS YET.
>> FORTUNATELY WE'LL HAVE THE GUIDANCE OF THE COUNTY RECOMMENDATION HERE AND I THINK THAT THEY AND YOU, COMMISSIONER WALDRON, ARE IN THE BEST POSITION TO BALANCE ALL OF THESE CONCERNS. AND WE JUST LOOK AT IT FROM OUR SMALL CORNER OF THE ROOM AND SAY WE'RE WORRIED AND WE FEEL YOU
NEED OUR SUPPORT NOW. >> AND I WAS GLAD MR. KASS WROTE OUT PRICES BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THAT ON OUR LEVELS.
WE SEE OCCUPANCY LEVELS WITH THE BEACH OPENING IT WAS TREMENDOUS
AND I HAD TRAFFIC DRIVING OVER. >> AND THE TOWN HAS PICKED UP TREMENDOUSLY. AND STILL WE HAVE THE VIRUS TO DEAL WITH SO WHAT IS OUR LEVEL OF OCCUPANCY GOING TO BE THAT EVERYBODY IN THIS TOWN IS OKAY WITH.
>> RIGHT. AND JUST TO CAUTION EVERYONE, THE FIRST TIME OUT OF THE BOX WE HAD ARTIFICIALLY A GROUP OF FOLKS, THEY'VE BEEN PENT UP. THEY LIVE IN OUR REGION.
SO WHAT YOU SAW LAST WEEKEND AND WHAT YOU'LL SEE THIS WEEKEND IS NOT WHAT WE CAN EXPECT JUNE AND JULY ON A TYPICAL WEEK OR WEEKEND SIMPLY BECAUSE ONCE THOSE FOLKS HAVE HAD THEIRS, WE NEED TO NOW INDUCE THE FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO BE GOING TO ST.
PETE. >> SCHOOL WILL BE OUT THIS WEEK.
IT'S PROBABLY BEEN OUT FOR TWO AND A HALF MONTHS REALLY.
>> AND THE OTHER THING IS THE BEACHES WILL DO BETTER IN THE SUMMER BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS DO BETTER IN THE SUMMER.
THIS IS THEIR SEASON. SO IF THERE'S TEN CUSTOMERS, FIVE OF THEM ARE GOING TO END UP AT THE BEACHES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO BY LOOKING AT THAT EVERYONE WILL SAY OH IT LOOKS FINE AND THEN WHEN YOU DELVE INTO ALL OF THE UNDERLYING AREAS AROUND THE COUNTRY YOU SAY OH THAT'S GETTING AN A, THIS IS GETTING A B, THIS IS GETTING A C.
PEOPLE USE THE BEACHES AND ST. GEORGE STREET AS AN INDICATOR OF HOW BUSY THE TOWN IS. AND THERE'S A LOT MORE TOWN THAN
[01:35:05]
JUST THOSE TWO. AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT ATALL. >> IT WILL BE HARD TO GET THE STATE PARKS, THEY HELD BACK FOR A FEW WEEKS TOO.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING WE JUST HAVE TO GET THROUGH IT.
AND SPEAKING FOR ME PERSONALLY, JUST LIKE ST. PETE RAN THIS BIG AD. TO ME ST. PETE IS A PRETTY BIG CITY. I'M NOT GOING TO ST. PETE.
I'M NOT GOING TO A BIG CITY. MAYBE NEXT YEAR BUT I'M NOT GOING. SO ANY AD I SEE FOR ST. PETE, ATLANTA, IT'S A WASTE OF MONEY TO ME.
COULD NOT BE FOR EVERYBODY ELSE BUT IT IS FOR ME.
>> ONE OTHER THING AND IT MAY BE MORE AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL THING, I'VE TALKED TO VIRTUALLY EVERY SINGLE GUEST WHO'S STAYED WITH ME THIS WEEKEND AND THEY'RE ALL SO GRATEFUL THAT WE'RE OPENED AND TO BE HERE. I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE HARDER TO RUN THE HOTEL IN THE POST ENVIRONMENT AND IT'S ACTUALLY EASIER BECAUSE ALL OF THE GUESTS ARE PREDISPOSED TO BE HAPPY AND ARE THANKFUL THAT THEY ARE STAYING AND THEY'RE LEAVING VERY NICE TIPS TO THE EMPLOYEES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO FROM A CONSUMER STANDPOINT PEOPLE ARE LEAVING ST. AUGUSTINE HAPPIER ON A BROADER SCALE THAN EVER BEFORE.
IT'S A REALLY INTERESTING DYNAMIC.
>> I HAVE TO MENTION BECAUSE I AM A PONTA VEDRA RESIDENT THAT THE NUMBERS THERE ARE PARTICULARLY TROUBLING TO ME.
AND I THINK WE ALL READ IN THE TIMES UNION OF THE LAY OFFS FROM PONTA VEDRA CLUB, THOSE ARE 30 YEAR EMPLOYEES, 40 YEAR EMPLOYEES. SO AGAIN OUR NEIGHBORS, I'M CONCERNED. IS THERE A MOTION TO MAKE A
RECOMMENDATION ON THIS? >> THERE'S ONLY THREE OF US.
>> FROM UP ABOVE IN THE CLOUDS? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE REQUEST A $2 MILLION FUNDING FOR ADVERTISING FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION. DOES THERE NEED TO BE ANYMORE
DETAIL? >> WHO SECONDED, PLEASE?
>> NANCY SIKES-KLINE, SIR. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND. >> DO WE NEED TO BE MORE
SPECIFIC ON THAT? >> WITH WE HAVE DISCUSSION?
>> YES. >> WITH RESPECT TO YOUR REQUEST FOR THE FUNDING IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY UNLESS YOU WANT IT TO BE MORE SPECIFIC AND BY THE ALLOCATION I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE ASKING FOR THE $2 MILLION TO BE ALLOCATED TO CATEGORY 1 FOR DESTINATION MARKETING. IS THAT CORRECT? IT CAN BE THAT RESTRICTIVE OR IT CAN JUST BE A REQUEST FOR THE FUNDING FOR THE FUNDING TO BE ALLOCATED USES IN COMPLIANCE
WITH THE PLAN. >> I THINK IT'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE PLAN? TARA YOU NEED TO HELP US ON THAT FROM A COUNTY STANDPOINT. IF IT'S GRANTED --
>> SHE'S THE ONE WHO HELPS YOU WITH THAT.
>> ALL I'M SAYING IS I THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT IN THIS ROOM THAT WE SUPPORT THE PLAN. THERE MAY BE SOME MODIFICATIONS IN YOUR PLAN AS YOU GO THROUGH BUT IN GENERAL CONCEPTUALLY WE LIKE THE PLAN, WE WANT TO GO FORWARD AND WE WANT TO REQUEST THE FUNDING FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION.
>> AND YOU HELP ME HERE AND I CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR MOTION.
IF IT'S JUST A REQUEST FOR THE FUNDING JUST TO GET THE FUNDING IN AND AT A TIME LATER YOU CAN TALK ABOUT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND THE FUNDING AND APPROVE IT HERE THROUGH THE MEETING.
BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO DESTINATION MARKETING YOU ALSO HAVE PROMOTION AND MARKETING AND THE ARTS, CULTURE, AND HERITAGE CATEGORY AS WELL. SO THAT WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE
USE. >> WHAT I WOULD LIKE ASSUMING THAT WE APPROVE IT TODAY HERE AND IT GOES TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION AND IT APPROVES TOMORROW, WHEN THE MARKET IS RIGHT WE CAN START ADVERTISING AND WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH ANYMORE HURDLES IS WHAT I THINK CONCEPTUALLY WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH. AM I SAYING THAT RIGHT, RICHARD?
>> THEN YOUR MOTION IS SUFFICIENT.
IT'S A REQUEST FOR THE $2 MILLION, A $2 MILLION ALLOCATION FOR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO BE DIVERTED TO THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OR TO FUND THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR MARKETING FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY
AS A TOURIST DESTINATION. >> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I MEANT.
>> NANCY, DO YOU AGREE TO THAT SINCE YOU'RE THE SECOND?
>> ABSOLUTELY 100%, ENTHUSIASTICALLY.
[01:40:03]
>> ARE YOU AGREEING WITH WHAT I'M SAYING, RICHARD?
>> WHAT WE LOOK AT FROM THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL SIDE IS THAT THERE IS THE OVERALL DESTINATION PLAN.
THE OVERALL DESTINATION PLAN, A PART OF THAT IS CATEGORY 1.
AND THE MARKETING PLAN THAT WE CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.
BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF THE DESTINATION.
>> SO JUST TO CLARIFY WHAT YOU ARE THINKING, IRVING, IS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE $2 MILLION TO FUND WHAT'S ON THE SCREEN?
>> YES. AND IF IT'S APPROVED WHEN THE MARKET IS RIGHT TO SPEND THE MONEY, WHEN IT'S RIGHT WE SPEND THE MONEY AND WE DON'T HAVE TO ASK AGAIN.
WE ALL AGREE THAT WHEN THE MARKET MAKES SENSE WE DO IT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET TO THE SITUATION WHERE WE SEE THAT THE IRON IS HOT BUT IT'S SUMMER AND WE HAVE TO DO A NOTICE AND IT'S A MONTH LATER BEFORE WE CAN DO SOMETHING AND BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. WE DON'T WANT TO GET TO THAT.
>> SO YOUR NEXT MEETING IS JUNE 15TH.
THE NEXT TDC MEETING IS JUNE 15TH.
RICHARD INDICATED ALONG THE WAY THAT THIS WAS A JUNE 1ST, SEPTEMBER 30TH PLAN. I THINK YOU GUYS COULD VERY EASILY GIVE THE DIRECTION OUTSIDE OF YOUR MOTION TO THE VCB THAT HE IS OKAY TO START PLANNING JUNE 1 THROUGH 15 OR HE NEEDS TO WAIT UNTIL THE JUNE 15TH MEETING AND YOU ALL GIVE HIM DIRECTION. I THINK THAT'S ADEQUATE.
>> AND THERE IS A PROCESS. I MENTIONED TO YOU THAT THIS IS A PLAN THAT'S WORKED OUT BASED ON PLANNING COSTS AND STRATEGIES. AND THE STRATEGIES ARE FIRMLY BASED IN THE RESEARCH THAT EXISTS NOW.
BUT WHEN WE GO TO NEGOTIATION THAT'S A PROCESS THAT TAKES TIME. SO ON JUNE 15TH WE WOULD START THAT PROCESS IF WE'RE NOT GIVEN THE GO AHEAD TO GO AHEAD WITH THIS PLAN OR SOME PORTION OF THIS PLAN.
NOW WE'LL STILL BE WAITING COME MID, WELL IT WILL EASILY BE JULY BEFORE WE CAN THEN GET OUT OF THE BLOCKS.
I HOPE I CAN GET SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC.
>> I THINK IT'S MORE PRUDENT WHAT WE ORIGINALLY, THE PROPOSAL WAS AND THEN EACH MEETING YOU GIVE US A VERY DETAILED UPDATE OF WHAT WE'VE SPENT AND HOW IT'S GOING AND WE CAN SAY YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'D LIKE TO TURN 20 DEGREES TO THE LEFT AND MOVE $50,000 OUT OF TELEVISION AND PUT IT INTO DIGITAL ADS.
AND I'M NOT ADVOCATING THAT WE DO THAT AS MUCH AS IT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S WORKING BETTER. WE'LL MOVE IT FROM HERE AND WE
CAN STEER IT ONCE A MONTH. >> THAT'S THE FLEXIBILITY.
AND WE PLAN TO DO THAT. WE WILL BE MONITORING THAT OUR REPORTING METHOD WITH THE TDC AND TARA IS BASED ON MONTHLY WE'LL BE MONITORING ACTUAL VISITATION AND OCCUPANCY AND TRADITIONAL MEDIA OR TRADITIONAL OCCUPANCY IN HOTELS ON A WEEKLY BASIS. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY
CAREFUL. >> THEN MY MOTION STAYS AS MADE.
AND I BELIEVE WE HAD A SECOND. >> FURTHER DISCUSSION?
>> ONE QUESTION I HAD THAT MAY ARISE BECAUSE WE ARE COMING AT HURRICANE SEASON WE HAVE COMING. IS THIS $2 MILLION YOU'RE LOOKING AT MORE AS A LOAN THAT WILL BE PAID BACK OVER TIME FROM TDC BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND RESERVES OR WHATEVER RESERVES WE GET IT OUT OF? IS THAT ACCEPTABLE TO EVERYBODY? I'M JUST TRYING TO LOOK AT A WAY.
ONCE EVERYTHING IS BACK THAT MONEY COULD BE RETURNED BECAUSE
WE DO HAVE OTHER PROJECTS. >> I'LL GIVE YOU MY PERSONAL OPINION AND I APPRECIATE THE IDEA OF THE LOAN.
I THINK IF $10 MILLION IS A REALISTIC NUMBER I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT TRANSLATES INTO YOUR BUDGET BUT I'M SUSPECTING WE'RE
LOOKING AT A $4 MILLION -- >> 3.7.
RIGHT NOW OUR ALLOCATION IS 37.5% OF THE TAX COLLECTIONS.
>> SO JUST UNDER $4 MILLION SO WE'RE GOING TO SPEND IN REAL DOLLARS IF WE IGNORE THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO SPEND 4 MILLION
[01:45:05]
AND THIS YEAR I THINK WE BUDGETED 5 MILLION BEFORE EVERYTHING HAPPENED. AND I THINK WE'VE BEEN SPENDING 5 MILLION FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU COME UP WITH THE --
>> I WOULD STILL LIKE TO SEE THAT BUDGET STAY THERE.
BUT WE HAVE GROWTH. >> THEN THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE GET IT. >> I'M JUST TRYING TO WORK IT.
>> THERE'S MANY PEOPLE WHO HIT UP THE GENERAL FUND.
>> AND HERE'S ANOTHER NOTE JUST I DON'T HAVE MY PHONE HERE BUT I DID SEE ON THE SCREEN MY DAUGHTER WORKS FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S TOLD THEM THEY CAN'T HAVE VACATION FOR JUNE AND JULY BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN WORKING PARTIAL SHIFTS AND NOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE BACK WORKING.
>> THAT'S ANOTHER HOLE IN THE BUCKET.
YEAH THAT'S ANOTHER ONE. >> IF I CAN WEIGH IN ON YOUR REQUEST, COMMISSIONER WALDRON. IF THAT IS THE DESIRE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CERTAINLY WE CAN LOOK AT SOME OPTIONS. WE CAN LOOK AT SOME OPTIONS AND PRESENT THAT TO THE VCB AS A WHOLE IF THAT'S OF INTEREST.
>> I LOOK AT RESERVES AS BEING EVERYBODY'S MONEY.
ANY DOLLARS WE TAKE IN IS EVERYBODY'S MONEY.
>> EXACTLY. >> WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND IT
ON IS YOU KNOW. >> IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION?
ANYTHING FROM THE PUBLIC? >> DANNY, COULD YOU READ BACK
THE MOTION? >> I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.
IT'S JACK? >> READ BACK THE MOTION.
>> READ THE MOTION, PLEASE. CAN WE HAVE THE MOTION READ?
>> I CAN. THE MOTION WAS A REQUEST OR A RECOMMENDATION BY THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO ALLOCATE $2 MILLION IN REVENUES TO FUND THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT MARKETING
DESTINATION PLAN AS PROVIDED. >> OKAY.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE --
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS IS UNDINE GEORGE.
>> YES, UNDINE. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I'M HEARING SOME OF THE SAME CONCERNS THAT COMMISSIONER WALDRON HAS VOICED. BUT I FEEL LIKE IN THIS ROLE I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE MOTION AND RELY UPON THE COUNTY COMMISSION TO WORK OUT ANY FUNDING ISSUES. AGAIN THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION, RIGHT. SO THE COUNTY COMMISSION IS ULTIMATELY GOING TO WEIGH THAT AGAINST ALL OF THIS OTHER NEEDS AND SHORTFALLS. SO I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF PUT ON THE RECORD WHY I'M SUPPORTING IT, BUT ALSO BECAUSE WE REALLY DO NEED TO RECOVER AND SO ANYWAY I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF PUT
THAT OUT THERE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
JUST FOR THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL SITUATION AWARENESS AS WELL AS THOSE LISTENING, ONCE THIS ITEM IS VOTED ON, OUR TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, AND IF THE RECOMMENDATION OR THE MOTION PASSES AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS FORWARDED TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION AS PRESENTED, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION IN PART, OR REJECTING THE RECOMMENDATION OR BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FUNDING.
ONCE THIS RECOMMENDATION IS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD, THE BOARD WILL HAVE SOME OPTIONS TO ACCEPT IN WHOLE OR IN PART OR
I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A VOTE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A ROLL CALL
VOTE. >> PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST, PLEASE.
>> I THOUGHT WE WENT THROUGH THAT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
JUST AS A REMINDER WE'RE GOING TO WAIT FOR 60 SECONDS BECAUSE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DELAY. AND AFTER THAT WE CAN MOVE
[01:50:31]
FORWARD. >> THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU. >> THE ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE.
>> DANNY BERENBERG. >> I'M IN FAVOR.
>> COMMISSIONER UNDINE GEORGE. >> YEAH.
>> COMMISSIONER NANCY SIKES-KLINE.
>> YES. >> AND COMMISSIONER WALDRON.
>> YES. >> THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE ACH GRANT PANELLING AND I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A FIVE MINUTE BREAK BEFORE WE GO TO THAT. WOULD THAT BE ALL RIGHT? OKAY, LET'S HAVE A SMALL BREAK. FIVE MINUTES.
[Item 9]
>>> THE NEXT ITEM IS THE ACH GRANT FUNDING PANEL.
TARA, WOULD YOU? >> I'M ON IT.
>> I SEE THAT WE HAVE CHRISTINA STONE HERE AND BARBARA AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. I WANT TO SAY ONE THING BEFORE WE BEGIN. IT WAS A LITTLE CONCERNING TO ME THAT THERE IS ONLY GOING TO BE ONE VETERAN MEMBER OF THE PANEL UNLESS WE CAN REAPPOINT A COUPLE THAT HAVE WORKED BEFORE.
WE'VE LOST MR. FEATHERSTONE WHO WAS OUR ONE PERSON WHO HAD A LODGING BACKGROUND. SO MY OTHER CONCERN WAS THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING APPLICANTS FROM THE LODGING INDUSTRY AND I HOPE IN THE FUTURE THAT WE'LL GET SOME MORE INTEREST IN THAT.
NOT THAT THAT IS THE ROLE OF THE CULTURAL COUNCIL.
WE KNOW THAT THEIR FOCUS IS DIFFERENT.
BUT STILL I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THAT INFORMATION INTO THE DECISION PROCESS.
OKAY, TARA. >> SO THE ARTS CULTURE HERITAGE GRANTS FUNDING PANEL. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF VACANCIES GOING INTO THIS GRANT APPLICATION REVIEWING PROCESS.
THERE ARE FIVE VACANT RESIDENT MEMBER POSITIONS AND THERE ARE THREE VACANT NONRESIDENT MEMBER POSITIONS.
SO WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY COLLECTING APPLICATIONS THEN WE ALSO HAD TWO SPECIFIC ADVERTISEMENTS, SOLICITATIONS FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND WHAT WE RECEIVED WAS A TOTAL OF EIGHT APPLICATIONS THAT WERE ALL IN COUNTY SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY OUT OF COUNTY WHICH WE WILL JUST MANAGE THROUGH THE PROCESS THIS YEAR.
BUT I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH IN COUNTY INDIVIDUALS HERE THAT WE CAN FOLLOW THOSE POSITIONS AND MAKE IT WORK.
>> HAVING NO OUT OF COUNTY APPLICANTS DO WE NEED TO FILL
THOSE? >> WE DON'T HAVE THE OPTION TO FILL THOSE WITHIN COUNTY. AND WE THINK THAT IN PART THE LACK OF INTEREST FROM OUT OF COUNTY IS OF COURSE THE CORONAVIRUS AND PEOPLE TRAVELING AND BEING A LITTLE HESITANT TO DO SO. LIKE I SAID WE HAVE EIGHT APPLICATIONS HERE. WE ONLY NEED TO FILL FIVE POSITIONS. I DID CREATE THE TABLE THAT I TYPICALLY CREATE FOR YOUR REVIEW.
AND THEY'RE LISTED HERE, THE APPLICANTS ARE LISTED HERE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. AND I'M LOOKING FOR A RECOMMENDATION OF FIVE OF THOSE APPLICANTS.
>> OKAY. IS THERE DISCUSSION OF THIS FROM THE COUNCIL? I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT LISA JOHNSON AND ROD MORRIS HAVE SERVED IN THE PAST AS MEMBERS AND SO THEY'LL GIVE US SOME I GUESS PORTABILITY OF WHAT'S GONE IN THE PAST. AND I HOPE WE CAN CONSIDER THEM.
IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? >> I WOULD ASK IF SHE COULD TALK
[01:55:02]
PLEASE WHEN THEY WILL BE NOTIFIED, AND THE TIMETABLE FOR APPLICATION DEADLINES. IF SHE CAN JUST PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THAT. IN RELATION TO TIMING IF SHE COULD ALSO ON THIS PRINT OUT, THE GRID WHICH I REALLY APPRECIATE INDICATE WHO ARE THE THREE WITH ARTS AND CULTURE.>> SO I BELIEVE IS THAT DIANE ASKING THAT QUESTION?
>> YES. >> YOU'RE CUTTING IN AND OUT THERE JUST A LITTLE BIT JUST SO YOU KNOW.
SO I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST TO INTERPRET WHAT I GOT FROM YOU AND YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE TIMETABLE FOR GRANT
>> WE HAVE THE APPLICATIONS FOR THE ARTS CULTURE HERITAGE GRANT FUNDING MEMBERS. AND THEN ONCE WE GET THOSE APPOINTED I GUESS THAT'S A PROCESS THAT IS CONCURRENT WITH AND NOT NECESSARILY TIED TO THE GRANTS, ACCEPTING THE GRANTS.
BUT I HAD BEEN TALKING WITH CHRISTINA WITH THE CULTURAL COUNCIL ABOUT ACCEPTING GRANTS AROUND THE JUNE 1ST TIMELINE AND THEN WE WOULD ADVERTISE THOSE FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS.
AND THEN WE TRY TO GIVE OUR GRANTS FUNDING PANEL MEMBERS AT LEAST TWO WEEKS BUT HOPEFULLY MORE THAN THAT IN ORDER TO REVIEW. WE WILL SET THEM UP A MEETING TO MEET EITHER IN HERE IN THIS ROOM IN PERSON OR WE MAY PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO CALL IN AS WELL AND GIVE THEIR SCORES.
AND WE WILL HAVE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE TDC BOARD TO REVIEW AND APPROVE AS PART OF MOST LIKELY YOUR AUGUST
TDC MEETING. >> DID THAT ANSWER YOUR
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM CHRISTINA WITH SOME SENSE OF THE STATE OF THE CULTURAL SECTOR HOW SHE FEELS THE APPLICATION PROCESS MAY GO IN LIGHT OF COVID AND ITS IMPACTS.
AND THE B PART OF THE QUESTION THAT I ASKED EARLIER WAS ON THIS LIST WHO DOES THE OFFICE CONSIDER TO BE THE ARTS CULTURE
AND HERITAGE PROFESSIONALS? >> WITH THAT RESPECT THE THREE OUT OF COUNTY INDIVIDUALS, THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE IN COUNTY RESIDENT MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD IS THAT THEY HAVE TO BE INDIVIDUALS WITH A DEMONSTRATED INTEREST IN TOURISM OR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION. THE OUT OF COUNTY MEMBERS ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO BE AN ACTUAL PROFESSIONAL IN THE ARTS CULTURE OR HERITAGE ORGANIZATIONS.
SO IT'S TWO SEPARATE CRITERIA AND SO FOR THIS SPREADSHEET THAT YOU HAVE WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A BACKGROUND, A PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND.
HOWEVER CERTAINLY SOME OF THEM DO.
LISA JOHNSON COOK IS SOMEBODY WHO HAS AN EXTENSIVE LONG TERM DEGREE IN ART MANAGEMENT, NOT DEGREE, TENURE IN ART MANAGEMENT
FOR EXAMPLE. >> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> CHRISTINA, CAN YOU GIVE US A RESPONSE?
>> HI, I'M CHRISTINA PERRY STONE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ST. JOHNS CULTURAL COUNCIL. MRS. MATARAZA ASKED SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STATE OF THE CULTURAL SECTOR HERE.
I HAVE A MONTHLY REPORT PREPARED TO GIVE LATER IN THE MEETING BUT I CAN SAY THEY HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE GRANT PROGRAM MOVING FORWARD. OF COURSE WE ARE ALL UNSURE ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR NEXT YEAR BECAUSE OUR GRANT PROGRAM IS SO HEAVILY EVENTS FOCUSED, IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG CHALLENGE WHEN WE DON'T KNOW AT WHAT POINT WE CAN START TO HOST LARGE EVENTS IN THIS COUNTY.
SO I WOULD SAY FIRST OF ALL THIS GROUP MAY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE GRANT PROGRAM ITSELF TO SEE IF WE NEED TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS IN LIGHT OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW AND THE STATE OF TOURISM AND TRAVEL.
THE LOCAL CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING.
UNFORTUNATELY MANY OF THEM ARE NON-PROFITS AND THE FEW GRANT PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED IN THE COUNTY HAVE SPECIFICALLY NOT INCLUDED NON-PROFITS IN THOSE PROGRAMS. SO THEY HAVE VERY LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES TO GET HELP RIGHT NOW. THE CULTURAL COUNCIL DID CREATE
[02:00:01]
AN EMERGENCY FUND AND WE'RE ABLE TO FUND GRANTS TO ABOUT 40 DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND WE ALSO HOSTED SIX WEEKS WORTH OF ONLINE PERFORMANCES AND WE WERE ABLE TO USE NON-COUNTY GRANT FUNDS THAT WE HAD AVAILABLE TO PATHOS PERFORMERS. BUT BEYOND THAT THERE HAVE NOT BEEN A LOT OF RESOURCES FOR LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND CULTURAL CREATIVES HERE. THEY ARE ALL VERY CONCERNED.THOSE WHO HAVE SPENT MONEY ON EVENTS THAT HAVE BEEN CANCELED ARE WORRIED THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANY REIMBURSEMENTS.
THOSE WHO HAVE POSTPONED EVENTS AREN'T SURE THEY CAN HOST THEM THIS YEAR AND IT GOES WAY BEYOND JUST THE FACT THAT THEY MAY HAVE SPENT MONEY ON ADVERTISING OR OTHER EXPENSES THAT THEY WON'T BE REIMBURSED FOR. FOR MANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THOSE BIG EVENTS ALSO THEIR FUNDRAISERS FOR THE YEAR AND SO
THEY ARE DEFINITELY STRUGGLING. >> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE
>> YES? >> THIS IS COMMISSIONER NANCY SIKES-KLINE. I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE THE PROCESS FORWARD. I DID REVIEW THE LIST FOR LEADERSHIP AND I AGREE THAT ROD MORA AND LISA JOHNSON AND DUE TO PRIOR EXPERIENCE AS MENTIONED BEFORE SHOULD BE NOMINATED AS
WELL AS GINA FIORI, JULIANNA -- >> IS IT STONE?
BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION MOVING FORWARD.
>> IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION?
I ASSUME THAT WAS A MOTION? >> MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS IS DIANE MATARAZA AND I WOULD SECOND THAT MOTION.
>> NAMES AGAIN ARE LISA JOHNSON, ROD MORRIS, GINA FEORI, JENNA
STONE AND WHO WAS THE LAST ONE? >> JULIANNA.
>> OKAY WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? PUBLIC COMMENT?
OKAY. >> MY ONLY CONCERN THERE IS YOU HAVE THREE PEOPLE FROM THE SAME DISTRICT.
IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR A BROAD MARKET.
WE ONLY HAD THREE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS SHOW UP.
>> I GUESS WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET.
OKAY PUBLIC COMMENT. GOING TO GIVE YOU A MINUTE HERE.
ONE OF THESE LENGTHY MINUTES. >> THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT
FOR THIS ITEM. >> HAVING NO PUBLIC COMMENT,
I'LL ASK FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE. >> DANNY BERENBERG.
>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER UNDINE GEORGE.
>> COMMISSIONER PAUL WALDRON. >> NO.
>> THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT ITEM IS MONTHLY REPORTS.
[Item 10]
>> IT'S MONTHLY REPORTS. YOU HAVE THE BED TAX COLLECTIONS
[02:05:06]
ARE IN YOUR FOLDER AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.AND CHRISTINA WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON CULTURAL
COUNCIL. >> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE BED TAX COLLECTIONS? HEARING NONE, CHRISTINA.
>> THANK YOU. RICHARD GAVE YOU A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE VCB IS DOING.
AND I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY UPDATE YOU ON THE CULTURAL COUNCIL EFFORT'S IN CONNECTION WITH MARKETING AND JUST OUR GENERAL OPERATIONS IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT BUDGET CUT. JUST LIKE THE VCB WE HAVE RENEGOTIATED THE CONTRACT WITH OUR ADVERTISING AGENCY, SHEPARD.
AND ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET CUTS THERE IS VERY LITTLE MONEY LEFT FOR PAID ADVERTISING. HOWEVER WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IMPLEMENT A NUMBER OF THINGS IN HOUSE THAT HAVE ALLOWED US TO CONTINUE TO REACH MANY PEOPLE AND WE ALSO HAVE A FEW PROGRAMS GOING ON WITH SHEPARD THAT I THINK ARE GOING TO BE EXTREMELY USEFUL. ONE THAT I THINK THAT WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON ESPECIALLY WITH THESE LIMITED RESOURCES IS MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING WE DO COMPLIMENTS WHAT THE VCB DOES SO THAT BETWEEN THE TWO OF US WE'RE ABLE TO REACH MORE PEOPLE.
WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT WE TALKED WITH YOU ABOUT BACK IN MARCH THAT WAS ALREADY FUNDED AND THAT WILL START SOON.
WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING OUR SURVEY OF THE MARKETS IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND NORTH CAROLINA, THE ASHEVILLE AND GREENVILLE AREAS.
THOSE ARE AREAS THAT WE HAVE NOT MARKETED IN IN THE PAST.
AND WE HAD ALREADY PAID TO CONDUCT THAT SURVEY.
SO THAT WILL START IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND WE'LL BE DOING SOME LIMITED DIGITAL AND PRINT ADVERTISING IN THOSE MARKETS FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER SURVEY THAT WILL EVALUATE HOW SUCCESSFUL THOSE MARKETING EFFORTS WERE. AND THE GOAL IS JUST TO RAISE AWARENESS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY ARTS, CULTURE, HERITAGE ACTIVITIES IN THOSE AREAS. WE HAVE ADJUSTED OUR ORIGINAL PLAN TO REFLECT SOME OF THE CHANGES RICHARD MENTIONED BASED ON ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT HE HAS PROVIDED AND THAT WE FOUND ON OUR OWN. WE DO BELIEVE THAT OUR AUDIENCE IS GOING TO SKEW A LITTLE BIT YOUNGER.
SO WE'VE ADJUSTED THE DEMOGRAPHIC SOME TO REFLECT THAT. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON A DRIVE MARKET. BUT WE ARE EXPANDING HOURS A LITTLE BIT BEYOND THE MARKETS THAT RICHARD DISCUSSED.
AS I SAID MOVING INTO THAT 7 TO 8 HOURS AWAY BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT THERE IS SOME OPPORTUNITY TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFE HERE AND INCREASE THAT MARKET.
WE ARE WORKING WITH SHEPARD ON NEW CREATIVE CONCEPT FOR RECOVERY ONCE THE BUDGET IS ADJUSTED AFTER SEPTEMBER 30TH AND OUR PLAN IS TO MORE HEAVILY TARGET THAT SLIGHTLY YOUNGER AUDIENCE AND ALSO TO REALLY FOCUS ON THOSE UNIQUE CULTURAL ASSETS THAT WE HAVE. WE DO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO VISIT PLACES THAT WILL NOT BE CROWDED.
THEY ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR THAT UNIQUE EXPERIENCE AND TRADITIONALLY WE HAVE REALLY FOCUSED ON MARKETING EVENTS.
BUT AS I MENTIONED A FEW MINUTES AGO WE DON'T KNOW WHEN WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE EVENTS THAT ALLOW MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE.
AS RICHARD SAID WE PLAN TO BE VERY FLEXIBLE SO IF THINGS CHANGE WE WILL MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. BUT WE'RE WORKING HARD BOTH WITH THE AD AGENCY AND WITH WHAT OUR STAFF IS DOING TO CREATE NEW CONTENT FOR OUR WEBSITES AND NEWS LETTERS AND FOR OUR MARKETING EFFORTS THAT REALLY FOCUSES ON ALL OF THESE GREAT CULTURAL ASSETS THAT WE HAVE. SO WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE.
WE HAVE MANAGED TO PRESERVE OUR STAFF.
WE APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED THE PPP LOANS.
WE ALSO ARE FORTUNATE AS AN ARTS AGENCY, WE'VE HAD ACCESS TO SOME GRANT FUNDING. WE'RE NOT SURE THAT WE'VE GOTTEN EVERYTHING WE'VE APPLIED FOR YET BUT WE BELIEVE THAT WE WILL RECEIVE SOME ASSISTANCE AGAIN, NON-COUNTY FUNDS THAT WE CAN USE. WE ALSO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE WE HAD SOME GRANT FUNDING PROGRAMMING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE PLACE IN PERSON WITH CONVERTING THOSE PROGRAMS FROM IN PERSON ACTIVITIES TO ONLINE ACTIVITIES AND BECAUSE THEY'RE ONLINE WE GOT APPROVAL FROM OUR STATE GRANTING AGENCY TO DO SOME MARKETING. SO WE FOUND A LITTLE POT OF MONEY THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE TO DO DIGITAL MARKETING.
I MENTIONED BEFORE THAT WE DID A CONCERT SERIES.
WE WERE ABLE TO FEATURE ABOUT 40 DIFFERENT LOCAL MUSICIANS.
IT TIES IN REALLY WELL WITH THE MUSIC STUDY THAT'S BEEN GOING ON AND WE LED FROM THE CULTURAL COUNCIL'S CONCERT SERIES INTO A JOINT PROJECT WITH THE GAMBLE ROGERS MUSIC FESTIVAL.
AND WE REACHED MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND HAD VIEWERS ALL OVER
[02:10:01]
THE WORLD WHO SAW THOSE 30 CONCERTS THAT WE PUT ON.AND WE HAD HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ENGAGEMENTS THROUGH THAT.
AGAIN ALL OF IT FUNDED WITH NONCOUNTY MONEY.
SO WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND HAPPY TO SEE THE REACTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO SEND OUT TWICE WEEKLY EMAIL NEWS LETTERS. THE TALK ABOUT THE EVENTS AND ARTS CULTURE HERITAGE SITES THAT ARE IN THE COUNTY THAT ARE GOING OUT TO ABOUT A 10,000 PERSON EMAIL NEWSLETTER LIST.
WE'RE USING THIS TIME TO UPDATE CONTENT ON OUR WEBSITES AND WORKING ON IMPROVING THOSE WEBSITES AS WELL.
SO ASIDE FROM THE MARKETING EFFORTS THAT WE'VE HAD GOING ON, I MENTIONED THAT WE DID ESTABLISH AN EMERGENCY FUND WITH CULTURAL COUNCIL FUNDS AND WERE ABLE TO HELP A NUMBER OF LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND THAT HAS ALSO CREATED A LOT OF GOOD WILL FOR US IN THE COMMUNITY. IT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED.
ONCE THINGS RETURN TO A LITTLE BIT MORE NORMAL SITUATION WE PLAN TO TAKE THE MARKETING PROJECT THAT WE'RE DOING IN GREENVILLE AND ASHEVILLE AND EXPAND THAT.
THAT PROJECT IS GOING TO EMPLOY SOME TYPES OF MEDIA THAT THE VCB IS NOT USING. WE ARE MORE FOCUSED ON PUBLIC RADIO AND TRADITIONAL RADIO THAN DIGITAL.
WE FIND THAT MOST OF OUR DEMOGRAPHIC PAYS TO AVOID HAVING ADS ON SPOTIFY AND PANDORA SO THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK AS WELL FOR US. WE ARE WORKING WITH SOME LIFESTYLE MAGAZINES THAT ALSO HAVE A ROBUST DIGITAL PROGRAM ASSOCIATED WITH PRINT. SO THE LOCAL MAGAZINES WE'RE STARTING WITH ASHEVILLE AND GREENVILLE MAGAZINES THAT ARE RELATIVELY EXPENSIVE BUT THEY ALSO DO EMAILS TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS THAT WILL INCLUDE ARTICLES ABOUT ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND THE THINGS WE HAVE TO OFFER HERE.
IF WE FIND BASED ON THE SURVEYS THAT WE'RE DOING THAT THAT PROGRAM IS SUCCESSFUL ONCE OUR BUDGET IS RESTORED WE PLAN TO EXPAND THAT TO SOME MAGAZINES AND ACCOMPANYING DIGITAL LIKE THE TRAVEL AND LEISURE, SOUTHERN LIVING, THAT REACH A LARGER
I WANT TO JUST MENTION ONE OTHER THING.
I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF THE STATE HUMANITIES COUNCIL.
AND THEY RECEIVED $850,000 FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHICH THEY HAD TO HAND OUT IN GRANTS IN A VERY SHORT TIMELINE.
AND SO I CONTACTED BARBARA, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURAL COUNCIL AND THEY TURNED IT ON A DIME. AND THEY TURNED THIS I THINK IN ONE DAY OR MAYBE EVEN THEY WERE AHEAD OF ME AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT BECAUSE THAT'S MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES COUNCIL.
FOR ME IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT ST. AUGUSTINE IS REPRESENTED
THROUGH THE COUNCIL. >> THIS ONE WAS VERY IMPORTANT.
>> WE'VE BEEN RECOGNIZED NOT JUST LOCALLY BUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND IN SOME NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS FOR THE PROGRAMS WE IMPLEMENTED TO HELP ARTISTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND I THINK THAT HAS HELPED US WITH GETTING A COUPLE OF GRANTS.
WE JUST FOUND OUT LAST WEEK THAT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HAS GIVEN US A $20,000 GRANT TO A TEMPORARY SCULPTURE EXHIBITION.
WE'RE WORKING IN ST. AUGUSTINE NOW.
AND THAT WILL BE AN EXHIBITION DESIGNED TO ATTRACT TOURISTS.
IT WILL BE INSTALLED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COUNTY'S 200TH ANNIVERSARY NEXT SPRING. AND WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE IN THE RUNNING FOR A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT NATIONAL HUMANITIES GRANT. AND AGAIN PART OF THE REASON WE'RE GETTING ATTENTION AND BEING ASKED TO APPLY FOR THOSE IS THAT WE'VE HAD SOME PRETTY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS THAT GOT
SOME RECOGNITION. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. >> TARA, ANYTHING MORE ON THAT? OKAY WE'RE COMING TO THE END HERE.
[Item 11]
SO MEMBER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL.>> I HAVE NOTHING. >> OUR MEMBERS ON THE PHONE?
>> I HAVE NOTHING, SIR. >> NOTHING, THANK YOU.
>> NOTHING HERE, THANKS. >> OKAY, I THINK THAT'S ALL OF
[02:15:01]
US. ONE COMMENT FOR ME.IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES YOU ALL HAVE HEARD AND SEEN A DEMONSTRATION OF HOW HARD IT IS TO CONDUCT MEETINGS WITH THE VIRUS BREATHING DOWN OUR NECK. BUT I WANT TO THANK TARA AND DENA MASTERS AND TOM STALLINGS FOR THE TECHNOLOGY HERE TO MAKE THIS THING HAPPEN THIS QUICKLY AND I WANT YOU TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THIS HARD WORK YOU'VE DONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S VERY HELPFUL TO CONTINUE ON. THIS IS A CASE WHERE WE CERTAINLY COULD HAVE DONE WITHOUT YOU.
[Items 12 & 13]
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? >> JUST AS A NOTE BEFORE THE MOTION TO ADJOURN, OUR LAST AGENDA ITEM IS JUST THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT OUR NEXT MEETING IS JUNE 15TH.
AND WE'LL HAVE SOME INFORMATION COMING AT A LATER DATE AS TO HOW
THAT WILL TAKE PLACE. >> MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> CAN I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.