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>> I'M GOING TO ASK BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING ELSE DENA TAKE NOTE OF
WHETHER WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> DANNY BERENBERG.
>> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER GEORGE WILL BE ABSENT. GORDON.
>> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER NANCY
>> AND COMMISSIONER ROGER WILL BE ABSENT.
WE HAVE QUORUM. >> THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING, MICHAEL GORDON WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> WE HAD THE ROLL CALL, WE HAVE A QUORUM.
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA (Action Required)]
I WILL ASK FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.IS THERE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND. >> THE AGENDA HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. CAN WE HAVE A VOTE BY ROLL CALL.
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Action Required) Regular Meeting – July 20, 2020]
>> I WILL ASK FOR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING.
>> SECOND. >> DENA, WILL YOU GIVE US A ROLL
THIS WILL BE A TIME FOR PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON ISSUES NOT ON THE REGULAR AGENDA. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO MAKE A COMMENT AT THIS POINT? OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A MINUTE NOW, TERA, WOULD YOU EXPLAIN WHY WE HAVE A MINUTE
DELAY. >> YES, SO TODAY WE ARE PROVIDING AN OPTION FOR VIRTUAL CALL-IN ATTENDANCE.
SO THAT HAS A DELAY, A FEEDBACK DELAY FOR PEOPLE WATCHING ONLINE FOR UP TO 60 SECONDS. SO WE WILL COVER PUBLIC COMMENT AND WAIT 60 SECONDS AND IF WE DON'T HEAR FROM ANYONE, WE WILL
MOVE ON. >> AND TOM WILL LET US KNOW WHEN A MINUTE HAS PASSED. OKAY.
I'M GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE MOMENT HERE TO DRAW TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT IN FRONT OF EACH ONE OF US YOU WILL SEE A BOTTLE OF HAND SANITIZER. WHICH HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO US BY PHILIP MCDANIEL OF DISTILLED RADIANT, HIS EFFORT TO TRY TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. AND WE ARE GREATLY APPRECIATIVE TO IT AND IF [INAUDIBLE] CAN PUBLICIZE BEANS AND I CAN HAND SANITIZERS. I HEARD ST. JOHNS COUNTY 146 NEW CASES AND 46 DEATHS. AND YOU ARE WEARING MASKS AND WE CAME IN, IN MASKS AND WE APPRECIATE IT FOR THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY. AT THIS POINT I SEE THAT CHRISTINA STONE IS HERE AND BARBARA MCNIES IS HERE AND WE
[7. ARTS CULTURE HERITAGE GRANT AWARD RECOMMENDATION ]
NEED TO TALK ABOUT [INAUDIBLE]. >> SO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS
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ARTS CULTURE HERITAGE GRANT AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS.TO GIVE INSIGHTS AND OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE SAW AND FOR THE GRANT PROGRAM OF OCTOBER 1, 2020 AND CONCLUDE SEPTEMBER 30, 2021.
WE RECEIVED ONE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION.
12 VISIT EXPERIENCE GRANT APPLICATIONS AND 23 ANNUAL SPECIAL EVENT GRANT APPLICATIONS.
THERE ARE FOUR -- THERE WERE FOUR $64,000 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED FOR THE TIME PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1, TO 12-31.
THERE WERE 14 ANNUAL SPECIAL GRANT REQUESTS FOR THE FULL 65,000 AWARD AMOUNT AND EIGHT APPLICATIONS $30,000 OR LESS.
AND WE RECEIVED 12 TOTAL VISITOR GRANT APPLICATIONS.
11 OF WHOM WERE ASSIGNING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MARKETING OVER TO THE CULTURAL COUNCIL. WHICH IS A BIG SHIFT OF WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN PRIOR YEARS AND REMINDER GOING INTO THE FISCAL YEAR 2021, WE SEE GREATLY REDUCED AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM. THE ENTIRE FUNDING AMOUNT IS $275,000. THE GUIDELINES APPROVED EARLIER IN THE YEAR REQUIRE AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 80 POINTS TO RECEIVE FUNDING CONSIDERATION. AND THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, CHRISTINA WILL COME AND MENTION OPTIONS FOR DISBURSING FUNDS FOR 2021. AND I WANT TO SHARE IN LIGHT OF WHAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR WHICH IS A GREATLY REDUCED AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE FUNDING AS A RESULT OF A SITUATION THAT PROHIBITS THE GATHERING OF LARGE AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE.
THAT IS COUNTERINTUITIVE TO WHAT WE'RE DOING.
THE TDC BOARD HAS AN OPTION OF RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS YOU CAN RECOMMEND. SOMETHING TO CONSIDER GO AHEAD AND FUND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS THAT ARE YEAR-LONG PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY FOCUSED ON THE GATHERING OF PEOPLE AND THE ONE WE RECEIVED IS FUNDING VISITOR EXPERIENCE GRANTS. AS A REMINDER THOSE GRANTS ARE THE DESTINATION AS OPPOSED TO N- ATTRACT VISITORS TO THE DESTINATION. AND CONSIDER A DELAYED FUNDING OF SPECIAL EVENTS STARTING AT A DATE IN THE FUTURE, WHAT I THREW ON THE SLIDE IS JANUARY 1. WHAT YOU WOULD SAY THAT WE RECOMMEND FOR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO MOVE FORWARD FOR THE FUNDING OF EXPERIENCE GRANTS AND FUND AS YOU ALL CHOOSE TO DISPERSE FUNDING ACROSS THE PROJECTS.
NOT FUNDING THE PROJECTS PRIOR TO AGAIN THE DATE YOU ARE LOOKING AT. WITH THAT -- CHRISTINA IS GOING TO COME UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT OPTIONS SHE'S PUT TOGETHER.
I HAVE INCLUDED A SLIGHTLY PARRED DOWN VERSION TO GET ON THE SLIDE. THERE IS A VERSION ON THIS SHEET THAT HAS INFORMATION, SUCH AS THE SCORING PANELISTS INDIVIDUAL SCORES YOU HAVE AS WELL. IF YOU HAVE THAT MORE ROBUST SHEET IT ALIGNS WITH THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, THIS HAS LESS COLUMNS BUT THEY ARE THE SAME.
>> THANK YOU. CHRISTINA STONE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, IT'S GOOD TO SEE THOSE OF YOU HERE TODAY.
AS TERA SAID, WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED GRANT POOL. AND WE HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS. ONE THING YOU WILL NOTICE FIRST ON THE SHEET YOU WILL HAVE, THERE ARE NOT AS MANY APPLICATIONS AND A SMALLER TOTAL AMOUNT ON THE SLIDES BEFORE YOU THAT WERE PROJECTED FIRST. THAT'S BECAUSE WE DID OFFER APPLICANTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WITHDRAW APPLICATIONS OR RESCHEDULE EVENTS THAT WERE PLANNED FOR THIS FALL.
BEFORE WE REVIEWED THE APPLICATIONS AND A NUMBER OF APPLICANTS DID CHOOSE TO WITHDRAW AS THEY DECIDED NOT TO HOST EVENTS OCCURRING BEFORE JANUARY 1.
OF THE TOTAL 275,000 WE'RE RECOMMENDING ALLOCATING THE FUNDING AMONG OF THE THREE CATEGORIES IN A WAY THAT GIVES SIMILAR TOTAL AMOUNTS AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE OVERALL TOTAL
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AS WHAT WE HAD IN THE PAST. THAT WOULD BE $10,000 FOR RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT. $75,000 FOR VISITOR EXPERIENCE.AND $190,000 FOR ANNUAL AND SPECIAL EVENTS.
WE PROVIDED TWO SCENARIOS AND THE SHEET THAT YOU HAVE INCLUDES FUNDING FOR EVENTS THAT ARE SCHEDULED BEFORE JANUARY 1.
I HAVE ANOTHER SHEET WHICH I BELIEVE TERA CAN PROJECT AND I ALSO HAVE COPIES OF WHERE I WENT BACK IN AND I REMOVED THE EVENTS SCHEDULED BEFORE JANUARY 1 TO SHOW HOW MUCH MORE FUNDING THAT THE OTHER EVENTS WOULD RECEIVE. BUT LET'S TALK FIRST ABOUT THE CHART THAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU NOW.
WE CAME UP WITH TWO DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.
ONE WAS A TIERED FUNDING SCENARIO THAT WOULD GIVE APPLICANTS WHO RECEIVED HIGHER SCORES ON THEIR APPLICATIONS A LARGER PERCENTAGE OF THEIR REQUESTS THAN APPLICANTS WITH LOWER SCORES. AND WE VARIED IT BECAUSE THERE WERE DIFFERENT NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS IN EACH CATEGORY AND THE PERCENTAGE REQUEST AND THE PERCENTAGE AVAILABLE WAS DIFFERENT. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME BETWEEN VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND ANNUAL AND SPECIAL EVENTS.
BUT WE FELT THAT THE TIERED APPROACH WAS A GOOD WAY TO REWARD THOSE APPLICANTS WHO PUT TOGETHER A REALLY GREAT APPLICATION. AND WHO THE PANELISTS FELT HAD THE STRONGER EVENTS. AS ASIDE THE PANELISTS IN THEIR TRAINING WERE TOLD TO CONSIDER THE EFFECTS OF COVID AND TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE APPLICANTS IN THEIR APPLICATION SHOWED THEY WERE AWARE AND TAKING NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS.
AND I THINK THAT'S REFLECTED IN THEIR SCORES.
THE OTHER METHOD THAT WE PROVIDED EQUAL FUNDING REGARDLESS OF THE SCORE OF ANY APPLICANT ABOVE 80.
AND YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE WERE A COUPLE OF APPLICATIONS THAT RECEIVED SCORES BELOW 80 FROM THE GRANT PANEL.
WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING FUNDING FOR THEM AS THE GUIDELINES REQUIRE A MINIMUM SCORE OF 80. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT METHO METHODOLOGY?
>> THE ONE WE ARE LOOKING AT KRICHRISTINA IS BASED ON SCORIN?
>> THE FIRST SHEET YOU HAVE HAS TWO COLUMNS AND THE TIERED FUNDING BASED ON SCORING. AND ONLY ONE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT GRANT FROM LIGHTNER, THEY SCORED WELL AND 10,000 IN THAT CATEGORY, BASED ON OUR RECOMMENDATION, YOU OF COURSE CAN CHANGE THAT. AND THEY RECEIVED THE ENTIRE 10,000 OR A THIRD OF THEIR REQUEST.
AS YOU GO DOWN THE TIER FUNDING COLUMN AND THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE THAT THE APPLICANTS THAT RECEIVED A SCORE OF 90, RECEIVED 65% OF THEIR FUNDING REQUEST.
AND BETWEEN 85 AND 90 RECEIVED 55%.
AND THOSE BELOW 85 RECEIVE 45. I APOLOGIZE I BEING LOOKING AT THE WRONG SHEET, THE ONE THAT TOOK OUT THOSE THAT FUND BEFORE JANUARY. IT'S SLIGHTLY LOWER PERCENTAGES BUT IT'S THE SAME BASIC SCENARIO.
THE HIGHER SCORING VISITOR EXPERIENCE WILL RECEIVE 55%.
THE MIDLEVEL RECEIVE 40 AND THE LOWER LEVEL 35.
SIMILAR TIERS UNDER THE ANNUAL AND SPECIAL EVENTS.
THE HIGHEST SCORING APPLICANTS WOULD RECEIVE 33% OF THEIR REQUEST. THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD SCORES WOULD RECEIVE 28%. AND THE BOTTOM FEW WOULD RECEIVE 15%. THAT'S THE FIRST COLUMN THAT SAYS TIERED FUNDING. THE OTHER COLUMN PROVIDES EQUAL PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL POT TO ANYONE THAT SCORED OVER 80%.
EVERY VISITOR EXPERIENCE APPLICANT THAT SCORED OVER 80% WOULD RECEIVE ABOUT 48% OF THEIR REQUEST.
AND EVERY APPLICANT AND ANNUAL AND SPECIAL EVENTS RECEIVE UNDER
27% OF THEIR REQUEST. >> OKAY, I WILL ASK THE COUNCIL IF EVERYBODY COMPREHENDS WHAT WE ARE TOLD HERE.
>> HOLD ON BEFORE EVERYONE WEIGHS IN ON THAT.
JUST TO PUT INTO CONTEXT OF WHAT IT THIS BOARD TYPICALLY CONSIDERS AND AWARDS. IN THE PAST AT LEAST FOUR YEARS WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND ALWAYS ENACTED IS WHAT CHRISTINA IS PRESENTING AS THE EQUAL FUNDING COLUMN. THAT'S IN LINE WITH WHAT TDC TYPI TYPICALLY RECOMMENDS FOR THIS PROGRAM. THE TIERED FUNDING COLUMN IS A
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NEW OPTION THAT CHRISTINA IS BRINGING FORTH TO YOU ALL.THAT GIVES A HIGHER AMOUNT OF TOTAL REQUESTED MONEY TO THOSE THAT GOT A HIGHER SCORE AND REDUCES IT AS THAT SCORE IS LOWER. YOU HAVE YOUR OLD TYPICAL OPTION, YOUR EQUAL FUNDING OPTION AND KIND OF THE NEW WEIGHTED FUNDING IS THE TIERED OPTION.
>> TERA, I MAY BE WRONG IN THIS BUT I RECALL THAT WE DISCUSSED
THIS LAST YEAR. >> YOU ACTUALLY LAST YEAR WHAT YOU GUYS DISCUSSED WAS ONE BUCKET VERSUS THREE BUCKETS.
LAST YEAR WE TALKED ABOUT SHOULD THE MONEY BE EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED ACROSS ALL THREE GRANTS OR SHOULD EACH ONE BE TREATED AS A
SEPARATE GRANT POOL. >> WHAT WAS DECIDED?
>> SEPARATE GRANT POOL. YOU ALL DECIDED TO LOOK AT IT AS EACH CATEGORY AS ITS OWN FUNDING POOL, IT'S OWN INDIVIDUAL BUCKET. WE TOOK LAST YEAR'S GUIDANCE -- ACTUALLY THAT WAS THE GUIDANCE FROM TWO YEARS AGO AND REAFFIRMED LAST YEAR. AND THE THIRD YEAR OF OPERATING ON THE GUIDANCE OF ONE POOL, ONE BUCKET.
DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? NO, WE ARE OPERATING ON THREE POOLS, THREE BUCKETS. WE ARE DISTRIBUTING THE MONEY -- SO FOR INSTANCE, LET ME TRY TO EXPLAIN THAT A DIFFERENT WAY.
>> I'M CONFUSED. >> I'M CONFUSED TOO -- RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS. SO THE QUESTION WAS, RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS ARE PROVIDED IN THE GUIDELINES A SET AMOUNT OF MONEY. SAME WITH VISITOR EXPERIENCE GRANTS. AND THEN ANNUAL AND SPECIAL GRANTS WE AWARDED THAT SO THAT WAS THE CATCH ALL.
IT HAD A FLOOR, BUT IT DIDN'T HAVE A CEILING.
IF WE DIDN'T AWARD THE MONEY THAT WE SET ASIDE, WE REWARDED IT TO ROLL UP IN ANNUAL AND SPECIAL EVENTS DOES THAT MAKE
>> SO THE QUESTION CAME, IF WE DON'T HAVE MONEY TO FULLY FUND EVERYBODY -- WHICH WE NEVER DO BECAUSE WE HAVE GREAT REQUESTS AND THEY SCORE WELL AND WE HAVE MORE NEED THAN FUNDING.
HOW DO WE HANDLE THAT? DO WE FULLY FUND EVERYTHING IN THE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY UNTIL THE ALLOCATED DOLLARS RUN OUT? AND THE SAME WITH VISITORS EXPERIENCE GRANT. BUT WHAT WE USUALLY SEE FOR THOSE TWO CATEGORIES IS THERE IS OFTEN MONEY LEFT OVER.
IN THE CASE OF THIS YEAR WE ONLY RECEIVED ONE GRANT FOR $30,000.
AND THE MAX WAS HIGHER THAN THAT.
AND THE QUESTION CAME ARE WE GIVING TOO MUCH FAVORITISM TO VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND PUNISHING SPECIAL EVENTS WHERE WE GET THE MOST REQUESTS. AND WHAT WAS DECIDED TO TREAT EACH AS A SEPARATE GRANT PROGRAM, IF YOU WILL.
AND WE COULDN'T PUNISH, AND THERE IS A VARIETY OF VIEWS ON THIS. SO IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THE WORDS I'M USING, MY APOLOGIES. WE WEREN'T GOING TO PUNISH THE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT APPLICANTS AND THE SPECIAL ANNUAL AND WE TREATED EVERYONE EQUAL IN THEIR CATEGORY BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE CATEGORY EQUAL TO EACH OTHER IN DISTRIBUTING FUNDS.
>> OKAY, DO WE ALL HAVE IT? IT'S CONFUSING.
>> SO THAT'S WHY I SAY, THE TAKE HOME IS WE DID TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE WAY THAT YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN US DIRECTION TO FUND FOR PREVIOUS YEARS. AND THE APPROVED RECOMMENDATION THAT GOES TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR LAST THREE YEARS -- I THINK FOUR BUT KNOW THREE IS REFLECTED WHAT IS PRESENTED IN THE EQUAL FUNDING COLUMN.
IF YOU LIKED WHAT YOU DID LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE AND THE YEAR BEFORE, THEN YOU VOTE EQUAL FUNDING COLUMN.
HOWEVER, WHAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR IS A NEW APPROACH.
AND THAT NEW APPROACH IS A WEIGHTED SYSTEM.
IT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL REWARD TO APPLICANTS WHO RECEIVED A HIGHER AVERAGE SCORE. AND IT GIVES LESS REWARD TO PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSER -- OR ORGANIZATIONS WHO WERE CLOSER TO DO THAT FLOOR OF 80 POINTS. HOWEVER, LET ME MAKE SURE BEFORE I SAY THIS -- HOWEVER, IT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE PRIOR DIRECTION FROM THE TDC BOARD. IT STILL TREATS THE THREE-GRANT CATEGORIES THE SAME AS EQUAL FUNDING DOES.
IT'S JUST THE WEIGHTED OPTION OF IT.
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>> BEFORE I ASK CHRISTINA AND YOU, TERA FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION ON THIS THING. BECAUSE I AM SURE YOU HAVE DONE A LOT OF THINKING. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE COUNCIL AS TO THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE TIERED APPROACH.
AND ABOUT THE EQUAL FUNDING. DOES ANYONE HAVE A FEELING? JACK? MICHAEL?
>> I DON'T. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT YOU
HAVE TO SAY. >> I HAVE -- MR. CHAIRMAN.
I HAVE A QUESTION THAT IS NOT ABOUT TIERED FUNDING BUT I THINK IT HAS A LOT OF IMPACT. AND I'M CONCERNED FOR EXAMPLE WE'LL USE THE CAL ACCESSIBLE AS AN EXAMPLE, BECAUSE WE USED THAT AS AN EXAMPLE THIS YEAR. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE DOES NOT ALLOW THE EVENT TO HAPPEN? ARE WE GOING TO ALLOW THE [INAUDIBLE] TO SPEND ANY OF THAT MONEY IF WE APPROVE AND THEY HAVE NO GOVERNMENT APPROVAL TO HOLD THE EVENT? WHAT DO WE DO THEN?
>> IRVING IS THAT YOU SPEAKING? >> YES, IT IS.
>> OKAY. YOU PICKED THE PERFECT ONE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT THE [INAUDIBLE] APPLY THIS YEAR, DID
>> THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION DEPENDS, SO THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION DEPENDS ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY RECEIVED THEIR GRANTS IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO THE CELTIC FESTIVAL IS TYPICALLY IN MARCH. AND WHAT WE SAW THIS YEAR WAS THAT THE CELTIC FESTIVAL WAS AWARDED AND GIVEN GRANTED THEIR PERMITS TO UTILIZE [INAUDIBLE] FIELD.
AND WITHIN 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE EVENT, THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE CAME BACK AND CANCELED THEIR PERMITS DUE TO CONCERNS ABOUT CORONAVIRUS. AND SO THE CELTIC FESTIVAL WAS CANCELED. IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENED NEXT YEAR, WHERE THIS ORGANIZATION OR ANY OTHERS UP HERE TRADITIONALLY SECURED THEIR REQUIRED PERMITS AND LATER HAD THE PERMITS CAN -- CANCELED. AND WE LOOK AT EACH GRANT ON INDIVIDUAL BASIS, HOW FAR OUT WAS IT CANCELED AND WHY CANCELED AND WE WOULD WORK WITH THEM TO TRY TO MAKE THEM WHOLE ON THIS.
BUT RETAIN AS MUCH FUNDING AS POSSIBLE.
IF THE CELTIC FESTIVAL FOR 2021 NEVER RECEIVES ITS PERMITS FROM THE CITY. IF THEY APPLY AND THE CITY SAYS, YOU KNOW, COME MARCH WE DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT THINGS, WE'RE NOT ISSUING PERMITS RIGHT NOW. THEN THE GRANT AWARD IS NULL AND VOID. PART OF THE REQUIREMENT OF THIS GRANT IS THAT YOU HAVE ALL OF THOSE PERMITS IN PLACE.
SO IF THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO SECURE THE PERMIT THEY DON'T HAVE AUTHORIZATION TO SPEND THE MONEY UNDER THE GRANT.
>> I BELIEVE THAT'S GOING TO BE THE ISSUE.
I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE AND MAYBE COMMISSIONER SIKES-KLINE COULD SPEAK ON THIS. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ANY EVENT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET A PERMIT UNTIL A MONTH OR TWO OUT. WHICH MAY MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT
FOR THEM TO PULL OFF AN EVENT. >> SO I THINK --
>> YES, THIS IS COMMISSIONER SIKES-KLINE.
AND I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT SAY AT THIS POINT EVERYTHING IS SO UP IN THE AIR. AND I WILL SAY THAT, THAT IS AT THE DISCRETION, AT THIS POINT THAT IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CITY MANAGER, WHETHER THE PERMITS OR ISSUED OR NOT.
I THINK THAT THE BEST WAY TO PROCEED IS TO PROCEED AS IF, THE ONLY FAIR WAY TO PROCEED AS IF WE ARE ASSUMING THAT WE CAN DISPERSE THE MONEY AND PROCEED IN THAT FASHION.
>> AND SO SPEAKING TO YOUR POINT, IRVING.
THE THOUGHT THERE OF THAT SUGGESTED DELAY FUNDING FOR EVENTS UNTIL A FUTURE DATE, SUCH AS JANUARY 1.
NONE OF US KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT THREE, SIX, NINE MONTHS. THERE IS LOTS OF SPECULATION BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
BUT HOWEVER WE PROBABLY FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT WE ARE NOT HAVING LARGE EVENTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE, 30, 60 DAYS.
IF PERHAPS IT'S THE OVERALL SENTIMENT OF THIS BOARD THOUGH WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS OCCURRING IN MARCH MAYBE WE FEEL
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COMFORTABLE THAT WE ARE NOT HAVING EVENTS IN OCTOBER.AND PERHAPS THE THOUGHT THAT WE DON'T WANT TO FUND ANNUAL AND SPECIAL EVENTS IN OCTOBER BUT CONSIDER ANY EVENTS THAT CAN SUCCESSFULLY TAKE PLACE IN NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH. AGAIN WHATEVER TIME PERIOD THAT THE BOARD IS THINKING SEEMS REASONABLE.
AND I JUST THREW OUT JANUARY 1 FOR CONSIDERATION AND
DISCUSSION. >> I WAS THINKING DIFFERENTLY, I DON'T THINK IT'S THE TDC'S ROLE TO DECIDE IF THEY CAN GET THE APPROVALS OR NOT. I THINK IT'S THE ORGANIZATION'S ROLE, BUT THEY NEED TO BE FULLY COGNIZANT OF THE FACT AND NOT CRY IF THEY THINK THEY CAN SPEND MONEY, THEY START SPENDING MONEY AND THEN THEY CAN'T GET APPROVAL AND IT CAN'T HAPPEN EVEN IF NEXT APRIL. I THINK IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO GO AND GET THE GOVERNMENT APPROVAL AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE. >> AGAIN THEY HAVE TO, ANY ORGANIZATION GETTING A GRANT IS REQUIRED PER THE GRANT AWARD AGREEMENT TO SECURE ALL OF THOSE APPROVALS ON THE FRONT END.
SO CERTAINLY GOING BACK TO THE CELTIC FESTIVAL, NOT TO PICK ON THEM BUT TO CONTINUE THE EXAMPLE.
IF THE CELTIC FESTIVAL GOES TO THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE TOMORROW OR ON JANUARY 1 OR WHEN THEY PROCEED WITH THE PERMITS AND AT THAT TIME THE CITY SAYS SORRY WE CANNOT ISSUE A PERMIT BECAUSE OF X. THEY CANNOT -- THE CELTIC FESTIVAL MAY NOT SUBMIT A REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST TO THE COUNTY. BECAUSE THEIR CONTRACT IS VOID.
THEY NEVER RECEIVED THE PERMITS AND NEVER HAD ALL THE PARAMETERS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE EVENT AND SPEND MONEY THAT CAN BE REIMBURSED WITH THE EVENT. THAT'S SCENARIO 1, AND IF THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUTS A CONCERN OF THE COUNTY IN BEST OF TIMES. IF YOU WORRIED ABOUT LAST-MINUTE OR SHORT-TERM CANCELLATIONS. I THINK THE BEST WE CAN DO IS
HANDLE THAT ON CASE BY CASE. >> TERA [INAUDIBLE].
>> [INAUDIBLE] FIRST POINT. [INAUDIBLE]
>> WE'RE NOT HEARING YOU. >> I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE FIRST ONE THAT PEOPLE SHOULDN'T SPEND MONEY UNTIL THEY GET GOVERNMENT APPROVAL. I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR.
>> DANNY, I WOULD SAY GIVEN THE SITUATION, I MEAN AS TERA HAS POINTED OUT. THESE WOULD BE ISSUED PENDING APPROVAL OF ANY CITY OR COUNTY PERMIT APPROVAL ANYWAY.
SO I'M NOT SURE I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH APPROVING UNDER THAT CONDITION. BECAUSE AS TERA SAID, IF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE DECIDES THAT THESE THINGS CAN'T HAPPEN.
THE FUNDING WON'T GO THROUGH. >> AND TERA, I THINK THERE IS SOME CONFUSION. BECAUSE LAST YEAR WE HAD A DIFFERENT SITUATION I BELIEVE. AND THAT WE HAD AWARDED THE GRANTS, THEY QUALIFIED FOR THE GRANTS AND THEN WE HAD TO SHUT IT DOWN. SO WE MADE PROVISION FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ALREADY HAD MADE EXPENDITURES.
BUT THAT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN THIS YEAR, WOULD IT? UNLESS IT GOT TO A WEEK BEFORE THE EVENT?
>> YEAH, SURE. WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR COULD HAPPEN AGAIN THIS YEAR. AND TO CONTINUE PICKING ON THE CELTIC FESTIVAL, THEY COULD GET THEIR PERMITS FROM THE CITY, SAY MARCH IS THE EVENT. AND IN EARLY MARCH THERE IS RESURGENCE IN THE COVID-19 OR MARCH HURRICANE.
WHATEVER REASON. AND THE CITY PROVES TO PULL THE PERMIT AND THAT'S THE CITY'S STANCE AND WE WILL NOT PUNISH AN ENTITY THAT HAS TO CANCEL THEIR EVENT DUE TO NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN. IT COULD HAPPEN.
BUT THE GOAL IS TO TRY NOT TO HAVE IT HAPPEN.
AND WE TOLD EVERYONE THIS YEAR, PRETEND IT'S YOUR MONEY AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET IT BACK. AND COME TO US WITH RECEIPTS AND JUSTIFICATION AND WE WILL WORK WITH YOU ON WHAT WE FEEL IS FAIR AND REASONABLE. BUT YOU COULD ALWAYS HAVE UNPRECEDENTED, UNEXPECTED ANYTHING AT ALL TIMES.
>> WE DON'T WANT TO BE UNREASONABLE.
ONE ADDITIONAL QUESTION, CHRISTINA.
ARE ANY OF THESE GRANTS GIVEN OR PROPOSED TO GO TO VIRTUAL
EVENTS? >> NO, NONE OF THESE ARE VIRTUAL
>> I HAD A QUESTION, TERA, GOING BACK TO THE PERMITTING FOR THE
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COUNTY OR CITY. DO ANY OF THESE EVENTS NOT NEEDPERMITS? >> IF I MAY SPEAK, I CAN SAY, A NUMBER OF EVENTS THAT ARE HELD IN LOCATIONS WHERE PERMITTING IS
NOT REQUIRED. >> SO SOME OF THEM ARE HELD AT PRIVATE FACILITIES. FOR INSTANCE, PONTE VEDRA CULTURAL CENTER AND THEY CAN HOLD AT THEIR BUILDING AND DON'T
NEED PERMITS FOR THAT. >> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
FROM OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL O. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS IS DIANA MATARAZA AND I BELIEVE THIS IS BEST TO TAKE THIS ON CASE BY CASE BASIS AND I AM COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
>> OKAY, I WILL ASK TERA AND CHRISTINA TO TAKE ON THE HARD QUESTION, WHAT IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION BETWEEN TIERED
FUNDING AND EQUAL FUNDING? >> IF I MAY, THE CULTURAL COUNCIL BELIEVES THAT TIERED FUNDING IS PREFERABLE BASED ON INPUT FROM THE TDC. WE BELIEVE THERE IS A CONCERN THAT WE FUND HIGH-QUALITY EVENTS.
AND WE REALLY STRESS THAT IN THE APPLICATIONS AND THE SCORING THIS YEAR. AND YOU DO SEE SOME PRETTY BIG DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN EVENTS AS FAR AS HOW HIGH THEY SCORED.
AND THE PANELISTS WERE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK AT ECONOMIC EVENTS AND THE ONES WITH HIGHER SCORES ARE EVENTS THEY FELT WOULD DRAW MORE VISITORS TO THE COUNTY AND HAVE A GREATER ECONOMIC IMPACT. WE BELIEVE WITH THE TIERED FUNDING WE'RE GETTING THE BEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THE MONEY THAT WE PROVIDE TO THESE GRANTEES.
>> TERA, THE FEELING OF THE COUNTY?
>> THE COUNTY DEFERS TO THE CULTURAL COUNCIL ON THIS.
>> OKAY. IS THERE ANY COMMENT ON THESE
TIERS FROM THE COUNCIL? >> BEFORE THAT, CHRISTINA I'M JUST CURIOUS, WHAT EXACTLY IS THE NATIONAL SCENIC BIWAY FOUNDATION CONFERENCE? [INAUDIBLE] $38,000.
>> JUST CURIOUS. >> IT'S ACTUALLY A GREAT EVENT.
THIS YEAR IS THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL SCENIC BIWAY. I WILL GIVE THE NAME INCORRECTLY, BUT IT'S A FOUNDATION THERE ARE BYWAYS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND THAT THEY ATTRACT A LOT OF VISITORS AND OUR AWA BIWAY HAS GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION RECENTLY AND WON AWARDS OF BEING THE SIGNIFICANT BIWAY AND FOCUS ON THE AREA WHEN THEY PROMOTE THESE BYWAYS. AND THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING HUNDREDS OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM BYWAYS ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY TO ST. AUGUSTINE FOR THEIR CONFERENCE.
AND THOSE PEOPLE WILL BE TRAVELING WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
THEY ARE HOSTING EVENTS THAT ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AS WELL AS EVENTS JUST FOR THE CONFERENCE ATTENDEES.
AND THE EVENTS FOR THE PUBLIC ARE FREE EVENTS.
THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB OF WORKING WITH A LOT OF OTHER CULTURAL PARTNERS TO TRY TO GET PEOPL OUT TO VISIT OUR DIFFERENT HISTORIC SITES. AND TO GET OUT INTO THE COUNTY AND EAT AND DRINK AND HAVE A GOOD TIME AT OUR LOCAL
BUT JACK BRINGS UP AN IMPORTANT POINT I THINK BEFORE WE ASK FOR A MOTION ON THIS. I'M GOING TO ASK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS AND I SEE IN THE AUDIENCE MR. ROD MORRIS, AND HE WAS ON THE PANEL THAT WORKED WITH KRICHRISTINA TO LOOK AT TH GRANTS AND MAKE JUDGMENTS ABOUT THEM, MR. MORRIS, COULD YOU COME
UP FOR A MOMENT. >> AND WHILE MR. MORRIS IS ON HIS WAY. I DID WANT TO BRING ONE OTHER THING UP, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION TERA MENTIONED THE CONVERSATION DO WE CONSIDER NOT FUNDING EVENTS THAT ARE SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE JANUARY 1.
I KNOW WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
ONE IS THE LATER EVENTS LIKE THE CELTIC FESTIVAL THAT MAY OR MAY NOT GET THEIR PERMIT. IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO PROJECT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN MARCH.
BUT PERHAPS YOU MAY FEEL YOU HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF PREDICTING WHETHER OR NOT AN EVENT COULD OCCUR IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR. THE TYPE OF EVENT THAT WOULD DRAW A LOT OF PEOPLE. SO I DID WANT TO GIVE YOU ONE MORE PIECE OF INFORMATION TO CONSIDER AS YOU ARE MAKING YOUR
[00:35:02]
DECISIONS ABOUT FUNDING. WHEN I RECEIVED THIS SLIDE FROM TERA, I WENT BACK IN AND I CREATED A CHART THAT ELIMINATED FUNDING FOR EVENTS THAT ARE SCHEDULED TO OCCUR BEFORE JANUARY 1. AND REALLOCATED THE FUNDS AMONG OF THE OTHER EVENTS. SO YOU COULD SEE HOW MUCH MORE FUNDING THAT THE EVENTS HAPPEN LATER IN THE YEAR RECEIVE AND IF OKAY I CAN BRING THIS HAND OUT TO YOU.>> YES, WE WOULD LIKE THAT SEE THAT.
>> SO I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE PROJECTOR EITHER BUT WE'RE GOING TO GO SHOT THOUGH. THE TAKE-HOME AND IT'S KIND OF INTUITIVE TAKE-HOME. THAT IF YOU WERE NOT TO FUND ANY OF THE PROGRAMS UNTIL OCTOBER 1, FOR ANNUAL AND SPECIAL EVENTS.
SO AS REMINDER WE ARE SUGGESTING THIS AS AN OPTION FOR ANNUAL AND SPECIAL EVENTS AND WE WOULD GO AHEAD AND FUND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS. WE ONLY HAVE ONE.
WE WOULD FUND VISITOR EXPERIENCE GRANTS BECAUSE THEY ARE INHERENTLY MORE GEARED TOWARDS DISPERSED SMALLER GROUPS OF PEOPLE. AND WE WOULD FUND LESS OF ANNUAL SPECIAL EVENTS GRANTS. AND THEREFORE THE EVENTS THAT YOU ARE FUNDING GET MORE MONEY BECAUSE YOU ARE FUNDING LESS.
SO THE BENEFIT TO THIS IS THAT IF WE, WE BEING THE TDC BOARD, IF WE GENUINELY FEEL WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE EVENTS PRIOR TO -- AND AGAIN I THROW OUT JANUARY 1. THEN THE BENEFIT OF DEFERRING FUNDING FOR THE GRANTS PROGRAM UNTIL JANUARY 1 OR FEBRUARY 1 OR MARCH 1, WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE DO.
THAT THE RECIPIENTS OF THE GRANT RECEIVE A HIGHER AWARD AMOUNT WHICH IS VERY HELPFUL. THE CON, OF THIS, ANYONE THAT HAD AN EVENT IN THE FALL LOSES OUT ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET FUNDING IN THE CHANCE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR EVENT. CERTAINLY IT HAS PRO'S AND CON'S AND WE HAVE TO USE OUR CRYSTAL BALL A LITTLE BIT.
THAT'S THE BEST WE CAN DO AT THE MOMENT.
>> I AM LOOKING AT BERNARD CIRCUS FOR EXAMPLE [INAUDIBLE] KEY EVENTS. AND THEY WOULD GET ZERO FUNDING IF WE WENT TO THIS OPTION OF NOT FUNDING EVENTS THAT OCCUR
BEFORE. >> WELL, VERNARDO'S HAVE EVENTS IN DECEMBER AND FIRST WEEK IN JANUARY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER AND AN EVENT CONSIDERED FOR THE WEEK AND AFTER THE FIRST.
THAT'S UP TO YOU TO DECIDE IF THAT EVENT RECEIVE PARTIAL FUNDING OR NOT. AGAIN I DID NOT MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION NOT TO FUND EVENTS THAT WERE NOT HAPPENING BETWEEN NOW AND JANUARY 1. BUT BASED ON CONVERSATIONS WITH DIFFERENT FOLKS IN THE COUNTY AND DECISIONS THAT THE COUNTY HAS MADE NOT TO HOST EVENTS AT THE AMPHITHEATER AND OTHERS UNTIL THAT DATE, WE DID PREPARE THIS CHART.
AND FOR EXAMPLE, THE FILM FESTIVAL RATHER THAN RECEIVING 20,000 WOULD RECEIVE 24,000 BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF END OF YEAR 2020 EVENTS THAT MIGHT NOT BE FUNDED. SO IT'S -- WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THEM BUT PROBABLY NOT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FILM FESTIVAL BEING ABLE TO HOST AN EVENT OR NOT HOSTING AN EVENT.
>> WE HAVE NOW TIER 1 OR EQUAL FUNDING AND ANOTHER ISSUE OF WHETHER WE FUND GRANTS THAT WERE APPROVED BY THE ACH MEMO BUT NOT GETTING ANYTHING OR GET A VERY SMALL PORTION.
>> I WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE IT UP TO TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
I WOULD ASK THE TDC TO THINK ABOUT EQUAL FUNDING, WHAT WAS PRESENTED AS QUOTE UNQUOTE EQUAL FUNDING OR TIERED FUNDING.
AND BASED ON THAT, AS CHRISTINA ELUDED TO, AND OCTOBER 1 AND REST OF THE CALENDAR YEAR WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME FROM DISCUSSIONS OF THE COMMUNITY. AND SO IT WAS BEING PRESENTED MORE OR LESS TO LET THE TDC KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THAT OPTION.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE'VE EVER DONE BEFORE
[00:40:03]
IN HISTORY. BUT YOU HAVE THE OPTION.I CALLED LEGAL COUNSEL AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN RECOMMEND.
IT'S BEING THROWN OUT THERE SO YOU ARE AWARE AND THREE MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD AND YOU SAY YOU DIDN'T REALIZE.
WE ARE NOT SUGGESTING THAT YOU DO THAT BUT IT'S AN OPTION IF
YOU SO CHOOSE. >> TERA, IF FOR EXAMPLE, VERNARDO'S, AND IF WE SAID,OKAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO FUND THEM EXCEPT FOR THAT SMALL JANUARY PORTION.
BECAUSE THE COUNTIES NO. BUT THEY WOULDN'T GET FUNDED ANYWAY. IF THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PUT ON THEIR PROGRAM, IS THAT NOT RIGHT? THEY WON'T GET THE MONEY UNLESS THEY CAN ACTUALLY PERFORM?
>> THAT'S RIGHT. SO THE BENEFIT IS -- AGAIN WE HAVE TO CONSULT OUR CRYSTAL BALL A LITTLE BIT HERE.
IF WE FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT THOSE EVENTS WERE NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAYS. WHAT IT ALLOWS THE TDC TO DO, IT ALLOWS THEM TO DIVERT A HIGHER AMOUNT OF MONEY TO EVENTS THAT OCCUR LATER ON IN THE FISCAL YEAR.
SO THOSE EVENTS GET MORE MONEY. AS WE POINTED OUT OUR FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS GREATLY REDUCED.
NO ONE IS GETTING REGARDLESS OF THEIR SCORE AND ANNUAL EVENTS IS NOT GETTING A WHOPPING SUM OF MONEY, WE DON'T MUCH MONEY.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN. >> YES, SIR, GO AHEAD.
>> CAN I GO -- I THINK WE'RE MOVING INTO A PRETTY DANGEROUS AREA OF CUTTING BACK FUNDING IN THE FALL.
UNLESS WE ALREADY HAVE THE MECHANISM OF COUNTY OR CITY APPROVAL. BUT IF WE THINK THE FALL IS TOO DANGEROUS, THEN WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE OVERALL TDC BUDGET.
BECAUSE THEN YOU ARE SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS WHICH MEANS WE NEED TO TAKE OUR TOP BED REVENUE DOWN $1
MILLION. >> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
I HAVE MR. GORE STANDING HERE AND I THINK HE CAN GIVE A MEASURE OF HOW MUCH WORK THAT THE PANEL GOES THROUGH.
I WANT TO THANK CHRISTINA AND THE PANEL, THIS IS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WORK. I DID APPEAR THE INTERVIEWS AND MOST IMPRESSED, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS MR. MORRIS?
>> YES, I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SEVERAL YEARS AND I SEE IMPROVEMENTS EVERY YEAR. AND THIS YEAR IS A STRANGE SITUATION AS WE KNOW. AND EVERYTHING THEY PUT TOGETHER WORKED WELL AND MADE GOOD SENSE. THE ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS WE WERE IN THIS MEETING, WE HAD PEOPLE, THE SAME PEOPLE READING THE SAME APPLICATION.
SOME OF THEM WOULD VOTE -- WOULD SCORE IT 10 OR 15 OR 20, 30, 50.
AND OTHER PEOPLE SCORE THE SAME EVENT 95.
SOME SORT OF GUIDELINES TO THE PANELISTS ON HOW TO SCORE WOULD PROBABLY BE THE MOST BENEFICIAL THING.
BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A RANGE OF SCORES FROM VERY, VERY LOW TO VERY, VERY HIGH FOR THE SAME EVENT AND SAME APPLICATION.
>> MR. MORRIS, LET ME ASK TERA TO SCHEDULE OUR OCTOBER MEETING TO LOOK IN-DEPTH AT THAT ISSUE AND OTHER ISSUES REGARDING THIS.
AND GIVING EVERYBODY TIME TO STUDY AND I'M SURE THAT YOU WILL WORK WITH CRISTINA. AND CAN YOU TELL US HOW MANY
HOURS YOU SPENT IN REVIEWING? >> 33 OR SO APPLICATIONS.
THEY VARIED DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH, YOU KNOW SOME APPLICATIONS WERE 20 OR 30 PAGES LONG. MY GUESS, I DIDN'T CLOCK IT BUT 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR, SOMETIMES MORE ON EACH ONE.
SO PROBABLY SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 50-60, OR 70
HOURS OF READING AND GRADING. >> OKAY, WE HAVE MUCH TO THANK YOU FOR AND WE DO THANK YOU AND CHRISTINA.
OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? >> I HAVE A QUESTION AND SORT OF WHAT IRVING WAS GETTING TO. SO THERE IS A JANUARY 1 START DATE BASICALLY, THE FIRST HALF OF 2021.
[INAUDIBLE] GRANTS. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, ANYTHING PRIOR TO THAT, THAT IS BEING MISSED?
>> I THINK THAT'S A DECISION YOU HAVE TO MAKE.
AND WILL BE PART OF YOUR DISCUSSION WHETHER YOU WANT TO FUND EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING BEFORE JANUARY 1 OR NOT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL EVENTS THAT ARE SCHEDULED THAT TAKE PLACE
[00:45:06]
BEFORE JANUARY 1. AND THEY INCLUDE THE EXP CONVENTIONS AND VERNARDO CIRCUS AND THE BEACH FIREWORKS SHOPS AND ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH AND ALL OF THIS AFFECTED IF YOU DECIDE NOT TO FUND EVENTS BEFORE JANUARY 1.THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CULTURAL COUNCIL PROVIDED DID NOT ASK YOU TO ELIMINATE FUNDING FOR THOSE EVENTS.
BUT WE BROUGHT INFORMATION BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE NEED TO POSTPONE FUNDING.
BUT THAT'S YOUR DECISION, THAT DECISION HAS NOT BEEN MADE.
>> OBVIOUSLY THEY CAN'T GET FUNDING IF NOT A PERMIT BASED ON
[INAUDIBLE]. >> I BELIEVE THAT IS CORRECT, THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH WILL MAKE THEIR OWN CALL IF THEY CAN HOST FIREWORKS. AND ECB WILL BE HOTELS AND UP TO LODGING TO HAVE THEIR EVENT. VERNARDO'S AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR STATUS USING THE AMPHITHEATER OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND THE CULTURAL CENTER DOES NOT REQUIRE PERMITS BECAUSE THEY
HOST AT THEIR FACILITY. >> OKAY, THANKS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? THEN I WILL CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
BARBARA [INAUDIBLE], WE ALWAYS LIKE TO HEAR FROM HER.
OKAY, I SEE NO PUBLIC COMMENT, WOULD A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. I THINK WE DEAL FIRST WITH TIERED APPROACH OR EQUAL APPROACH AND COULD I HAVE A
MOTION ON ONE OR THE OTHER? >> BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION I MOVE TO GO WITH THE TIERED APPROACH.
>> IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT JANUARY 1
AND FORWARD? >> NO -- THAT'S A SEPARATE MOTION AND COMMENT AFTER DECIDING THE
TIERED OR EQUAL APPROACH. >> I'LL SECOND THAT.
>> OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
I'M GOING TO ASK IS THERE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THIS? HEARING NONE. I'LL ASK DENA TO GIVE US A ROLL CALL PLEASE. AND WE'RE VOTING HERE -- JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE VOTING FOR THE TIERED APPROACH RECOMMENDED BY
THE CULTURAL COUNCIL. >> DANNY BERENBERG.
>> COMMISSIONER NANCY SIKES-KLINE.
>> YES. >> OKAY, NOW A SECOND MOTION, I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO ELIMINATE GRANTS PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, IS THAT FAIRLY STATED?
>> THAT IS FAIRLY STATED AND I GUESS JANUARY 1 WAS THROWN OUT TO ILLUSTRATE WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
IT WOULD BE AT THE DISCRETION OF THIS BOARD IF YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, SET WHATEVER DATE YOU WANTED?
>> ANYONE WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? >> LET ME INTERRUPT DANNY, AS PART OF THAT YOU WANT TO BE SURE THAT IT GETS IN THE RECORD.
WHILE WE ARE NOT ISSUING GRANT MONEY UNTIL JANUARY 1, THE MONEY WILL STILL BE REALLOCATED. IT'S THE SAME GROSS AMOUNT JUST
BEING PUSHED INTO 2021. >> THE THOUGHT HERE IS -- AGAIN IT'S THAT QUESTION OF SO WE NOW HAD CONSENSUS OF HOW WE MOVE
[00:50:01]
FORWARD WITH THE FUNDING, THE TIERED APPROACH AND REWARD PEOPLE THAT RECEIVED THE HIGHER SCORE ON THEIR APPLICATION.AND NOW THE QUESTION IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO DISTRIBUTE THAT MONEY ACROSS OUR APPLICANTS IN THAT TIERED APPROACH.
IS IT GOING TO HAVE A TIMELINE ASPECT TO IT.
AND REWARDING THE SAME 275,000 AND IF STARTING JANUARY 1 OR PUSH THAT TO SOME OTHER STARTING DATE IN THE YEAR.
AND AGAIN I THREW JANUARY 1 OUT THERE TO ILLUSTRATE MY POINT WITH THE DATE BUT THAT CAN CERTAINLY CHANGE IF THAT'S THE DESIRE OF THIS COMMISSION TO DO SO.
>> OKAY, I WILL ASK IF ANYONE WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION ON THIS OR JUST CONTINUE? I'M NOT HEARING A MOTION, SO I
GUESS IT FAILS -- >> WHOA, I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE GRANTS FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR AND RESTART THE
CLOCK JANUARY 1, 2021. >> [INAUDIBLE].
THIS IS NANCY SIKES-KLINE, I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION.
>> WE HAVE A SECOND. IS THERE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON THIS FROM THE COUNCIL? HEARING NONE.
IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS? SEEING NONE. I'LL GIVE A MINUTE FOR CALL IN.
>> AND AS A POINT OF CLARIFICATION I BELIEVE THAT THE CONVERSATION WAS EARLIER THAT WOULD BE FOR NOT AFFECT RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS THOSE ARE NOT TYPICALLY PROVIDED BASED ON ANY TIME FRAME. THE CHART THAT I PROVIDED YOU DOES GIVE YOU NUMBERS FOR ELIMINATING GRANTS FOR VISITOR EXPERIENCES THAT ARE HAPPENING BEFORE DECEMBER 31.
BUT I KNOW EARLIER IN TERA'S PRESENTATION SHE MENTIONED THE POSSIBILITY THAT YOU WOULD NOT ELIMINATE FUNDING FOR THAT CATEGORY BECAUSE THOSE EVENTS TEND NOT TO BE EVENTS THAT HAVE A LOT OF CLOSE CONTACT WITH LARGE CROWDS.
YOU MAY WANT TO CLARIFY IN YOUR MOTION WHETHER YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ALL THREE CATEGORIES OR JUST ONE CATEGORY FOR POSTPONING
FUNDING. >> OKAY, WE WILL CLARIFY IT.
WE NEED REGINA HERE. >> REGINA IS WITH US.
WE CAN REFER TO HER IF WE NEED TO.
>> REGINA CAN YOU HELP CLARIFY THAT?
>> I AM AVAILABLE ONLINE, SIR. >> OKAY.
WELL THEN THE MOTION WOULD BE TO SUSPEND THE REMAINING GRANTS THIS YEAR, ONLY RELATED TO THE SPECIAL EVENT GRANTS AND RESTART
THE CLOCK AT 2021. >> AND THAT ALSO THE
[INAUDIBLE]. >> THAT WOULD BE THE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, THAT WAS THE CLARIFICATION.
ARE WE LOOKING AT ALL THREE GRANT CATEGORIES OR THE MOTION ONLY FOR ANNUAL OR SPECIAL EVENTS.
>> OKAY, I THOUGHT IT WAS SPECIAL EVENTS.
>> SPECIAL EVENTS. AND THE SECOND.
NANCY SIKES-KLINE. >> YES, I WILL SECOND THE
AMENDMENT. >> OKAY, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL CALL THE QUESTION, PLEASE DENA.
>> COMMISSIONER NANCY SIKES-KLINE.
>> YES. >> OKAY, THE MOTION PASSES.
AS OFFERED BY MR. PETERS AND WE'LL MOVE ON.
>> SO BEFORE WE MOVE ON, SO EVERYBODY IS AWARE OF WHAT WE DID AND WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
WE WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON BEHALF OF THE TDC, THAT THE RECOMMENDS MOVING FORWARD WITH FY21 GRANT FUNDING IN THE TIER METHOD AND SPECIAL EVENT GRANTS NOT RECEIVING FUNDING UNTIL 2021.
>> THAT PASSED. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WORK ON THIS PROJECT. MUCH APPRECIATED.
MOVE ON NOW TO AGENDA 8. ACHIEVING THE STRATEGIC GOALS OF
[8. ACHIEVING THE STRATEGIC GOALS OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT]
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT. BEFORE WE DID THAT, I WANT TO MENTION TO ALL OF US, THIS IS A TIMED MEETING AND CONCLUDE[00:55:03]
SHARPLY AT 3:30 AND AS YOU KNOW I AM SHARP ABOUT THOSE TIMELINES, WE HAVE AN HOUR LEFT ROUGHLY.COUNCILMEMBER MATARAZA MADE A VERY IMPORTANT MEMO AND I THINK COGENT OF HOW WE MOVE ALONG IN THE FUTURE.
AND IT'S TIMELY SO I'M GOING TO ASK DIANE TO EXPLAIN HER
THOUGHTS ON THIS. >> BEFORE WE DEFER TO MRS. DIANE MATARAZA. I WILL TEE THIS UP IF THAT IS ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A LOVELY TITLE THAT I CAME UP WITH HERE, ACHIEVING THE STRATEGIC GOALS OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT. WHAT THAT IS INTENDED TO DO AND BE A PLACE HOLDER ON THE AGENDA TO PROVIDE THE TDC BOARD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE CONSTRUCTIVE INPUT TO THE COLLECTIVE STAFF.
AND STAFF IS MYSELF AND OUR CONTRACTED STAFF WHICH IS CULTURAL COUNCIL TDC AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND PARKS AND AMPHITHEATER. AND TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR FACILITATED DISCUSSION, TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR OVERALL OPERATION AND FOR STAFF TO PRESENT YOU ALL WITH NEW INITIATIVES THAT WE PUT IN PLACE AS A RESULT OF THAT INPUT.
AND THIS OF COURSE IS SOMETHING THAT WAS AN ITEM THAT WAS GENERATED DUE TO A REQUEST FROM TDC BOARD MEMBERS, MRS. MATARAZA SENT OUT E-MAIL THAT I SHARED AND SOMETHING THAT I DISCUSSED WITH OTHER TDC BOARD MEMBERS. THE THOUGHT IS THAT FOR THE NEXT 18 MONTHS AS WE GO THROUGH THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR.
WE'LL COME ACROSS CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN 10 YEARS, SINCE THE LAST DOWNTURN OF TDC AND WE WANT TO BE MINDFUL TO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES TO BE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT AND UTILIZE THE FUNDS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES.
I DID PUT TOGETHER A SLIDE BASED ON DISCUSSIONS THAT WAS E-MAILED OUT. WHAT I FELT WAS A BULLET-LIST OF WHAT WAS SHARED. THE FIRST BULLET IS TDC REQUEST AS I UNDERSTAND IT NOW IS TO HAVE INCREASED COLLABORATION AMONG QUOTE UNQUOTE STAFF. AGAIN COUNTY STAFF AS WELL AS OUR CONTRACTED STAFF ON THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS AND SOCIAL SERVICES RENDERED. AND DRILLING DOWN IN THAT A LITTLE BIT SOME SPECIFICS THROWN OUT WAS TO LOOK AT PROMOTIONAL FUNCTIONS AND THE PRODUCTS THAT WE CREATE FOR THAT PROMOTION.
AND IF THERE IS INCREASED COLLABORATION TO STREAMLINE OUR EXPENSES AND MAXIMIZE OUR INVESTMENT INTO OUR RESOURCES.
AND AGAIN DRILLING DOWN ANOTHER LAYER TO BE MORE SPECIFIC.
SOMETHING THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED WAS BEING ABLE TO LINK THE WEBSITES THAT WE HAVE AND PAY FOR IN THEIR ENTIRETY OR IN PART TO EACH OTHER. AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE TDC WEBSITE AND CULTURAL COUNCIL WEBSITE AND CHAMBER WEBSITE.
AND I WILL THROW OUT A FOURTH WEBSITE THAT WE DON'T PAY FOR AND GETS EYES ON IT, VISIT ST. AUGUSTINE.
WE PROBABLY WANT TO LOOP THEM IN TO TALK ABOUT WEBSITES.
AND LOOKING AT OUR COLLABORATIVE SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS AND THAT EVERYONE MANAGING A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN ON OUR BEHALF AND PROMOTING EACH OTHER TO GET CROSS TRAFFIC.
AND ANOTHER SPECIFIC BULLET POINT THAT WAS MENTIONED LOOKING AT OVERHEAD AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND MATERIAL COSTS TO SEE IF THERE IS COLLABORATIVE PATHS TO STREAMLINE THOSE EXPENSES AND MAXIMIZING OUR EFFECTIVENESS. AND THE SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS THROWN OUT TO ME ARE LOOKING AT OUR OFFICE SPACE THAT WE PAY WITH TDT AND LOOKING AT OFFENSE SITE STORAGE SPACE THAT WE PAY WITH TDT AND WEBSITES. WHAT I PLAN TO DO FOR THE NEXT MEETINGS WITH TDC UNTIL A SENSE THAT WE WANT TO DO THIS.
AND HAVE AGENDA ITEM ON THERE THAT SAYS THE SAME LOVELY MOUTHFUL AND HAVE A TDC REQUEST AND SUMMARIZE WHAT YOU TOLD US LAST TIME OR IN THAT 30 DAYS FROM ONE MEETING TO THE NEXT.
AND SUBSEQUENTLY AFTER GOING THROUGH TDC REQUESTS I WILL GIVE YOU STAFF UPDATES. SINCE A DISCUSSION OF BEING MORE COLLABORATIVE SINCE THE LAST TDC MEETING.
[01:00:01]
I REACHED OUT TO OUR CONTRACTED PARTNERS, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT HAVING SOME COLLABORATIVE MEETINGS REGULARLY AND WE HAVEN'T QUITE DECIDED WHETHER THEY NEED TO BE MONTHLY OR EVERY OTHER MONTH. BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WORK ON KICKING OFF IN THE COMING WEEKS.AND WE WILL INTEND TO COME TO THIS BODY AS PART OF THE AGENDA ITEM TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH YOU.
SO FOR TODAY, I HOPE I HAVE AT LEAST LARGELY CAPTURED THE MAIN POINTS. AND SINCE THIS IS A NEW THING THAT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF STAFF UPDATES BUT CERTAINLY HAPPY TO TURN IT OVER AND LET ANY TDC BOARD MEMBERS FILL IN AND TAKE ANY QUESTIONS
>> DIANE. >> I WANT TO THANK TERA FOR THE SUMMARY. I THINK THAT -- I KNOW THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED IN SEPTEMBER.
BUT I WOULD REQUEST THAT WE DO CONDUCT A MEETING IN SEPTEMBER.
AND WE ASK FOR THE FIRST COLLABORATIVE MEETING OF RICHARD AND OF CHRISTINA AND TERA AND OTHER CONTRACTORS TO DISCUSS SOME STEPS. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME PROGRESS ON THIS. IN THIS BUDGET AND WHEN WE GET TO BUDGETS IN A FEW MOMENTS IN THE AGENDA.
MAYBE THE IDEA IF WE APPROVE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE BUDGET BUT NOT YET APPROVE THE BUDGET LINES BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE FURTHER COLLABORATION REFLECTED IN THE BUDGETS THAT WERE SENT TO US FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL TODAY.
I THINK THAT -- I'M CURIOUS TO LEARN IF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE TDC HOW THEY FELT ABOUT THE MEMO.
AND IF THERE WERE ANY ASPECTS OF THAT CAN WHICH THEY DID NOT
AGREE. >> OKAY, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL,
CAN WE HAVE COMMENTS? >> DIANE, THIS IS JACK PETER.
I APPRECIATE THE E-MAIL AND THE THOUGHT THAT WENT INTO IT.
MY THOUGHT PROCESS ON THIS IS THAT I REALLY WANT TO BE LEERY OF THE TDC GETTING INTO MICROMANAGING SITUATION ON THESE BOARDS. OUR ROLE ON THE TDC IS REALLY AS A VOLUNTEER GROUP. IS REALLY TO RECOMMEND FUNDING TO ADVANCE TOURISM. HOWEVER THAT IS [INAUDIBLE].
BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO GET INTO A LINE ITEM DEBATE ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S BUDGET.
EACH OF THESE ENTITIES HAVE THEIR OWN BOARDS AND DIRECTORS AND WE ARE ALL ON THIS BOARD WELCOME TO THOSE MEETINGS.
AGAIN THE COLLABORATIVE NOTION THAT YOU ARE RAISING AND THE JOINT MEETINGS TO HAVE PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER IS A GREAT IDEA AND SHOULD BE HAPPENING ANYWAY. AND I AM LEERY OF DIVING INTO THE BUDGETS THAT IS IN MY VIEW FOR THIS BOARD TO GET THAT FAR IN THE WEEDS ON SOME OF THIS. JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
AGAIN THEY ALL -- THERE IS A LOT OF BOARDS HERE.
WE HAVE OUR BOARD AND THE COUNTY BOARD AND RICHARD HAS HIS BOARD AND CHRISTINA HER BOARD. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH -- HOW MUCH INPUT THESE PEOPLE CAN TAKE AND STILL GET THEIR JOBS DONE.
>> IF WE LOOK AT THE GOALS OF THE TDC, ONE -- WELL THE DIVERSIFY THE RANGE AND TYPES OF EXPERIENCES AVAILABLE TO VISITORS. VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND BRAND AWARENESS AND MANAGING TOURISM INVESTMENTS I THINK ARE THE ROLE OF THE TDC. AND I AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE MICROMANAGING BUT I BELIEVE THERE ARE GOALS OVERALL IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT THE TDC AT THE 35,000 FOOT LEVEL COULD BE ENCOURAGING AND SUGGESTING AND THAT WE CAN BE DOING BETTER IN THE APPROPRIATION OF DOLLARS THAN WE
CURRENTLY ARE. >> OKAY, FURTHER COMMENTS?
NANCY OR IRVING? >> I HAVE A COMMENT ON THAT IF I
MAY, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> GO AHEAD.
>> I ALSO AGREE THAT WE SHOULD NOT GET INTO THE MICROMANAGING OF THE DOLLARS. BUT THE CONCEPT THAT THERE ARE REDUNDANCIES IN WHAT THE AGENCIES ARE DOING, AND IF IT
[01:05:02]
WERE MY OWN MONEY AND I WAS RUNNING THREE THESE PLACES.I WOULD LOOK FOR SAVINGS. AND MY GUT FEELING THERE IS ABOUT $300,000 WITH THE REDUNDANCY WITHIN THE THREE AGENCIES. AND WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS TAKING ROUGHLY 5% OF EACH PERSON'S BUDGET AND MAKE THAT A CATEGORY TO CREATE EFFICIENCIES AND SAVINGS.
SO WE CAN REALLOCATE THAT TO DIRECT MARKETING DOLLARS.
I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME LEVEL OF EXPECTATION GIVEN BACK TO THE AGENCIES TO FIND SAVINGS THAT GET TO BE USED FOR MARKETING DOLLARS. VERSUS JUST LET'S HAVE A KUMBAYA MEETING AND NO MOTIVATION TO FIND THE MONEY.
I THINK WE SHOULD FORCE THE SUBJECT.
AND MY GUT FEELING THAT I COULD FIND ONE-QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS IF I WANT TO BE INFLEXIBLE.
IN THESE TIMES WHEN REVENUES DOWN 25%, I THINK THAT A CORPORATE APPROACH THAT MOST BUSINESSES ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW. I DON'T CARE ABOUT IF IT HURTS FEELINGS, WANT TO BE SURE THAT MY COMPANY SURVIVES.
I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE THAT KIND OF APPROACH IN LOOKING AT DOLLARS AND REALLY HARD. BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT BE THERE NEXT YEAR. THE STATE JUST REALIZED THAT $5.4 BILLION SHORT ON REVENUE. SO YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF CHANGES IN THEIR BUDGETS FAIRLY QUICKLY.
I THINK WE NEED TO FORESEE THE ISSUE.
>> NANCY. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS IS NANCY SIKES-KLINE. I WILL DECLINE COMMENTS STRICTLY ON THE BASIS OF WHAT I SEE AS A POTENTIAL SUNSHINE VIOLATION.
I AM NOT ACCUSTOM TO RECEIVING LETTERS FROM FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE NOT PUBLISHED AND PUBLICIZED AND PROVIDED AS PART OF AN AGENDA ITEM. MY ONLY THOUGHT ON THE REMEDY FOR THAT SITUATION THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN RIGHT NOW.
WOULD BE TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE A COPY OF THAT LETTER AND AGENDA IT AT A FUTURE MEETING. IN ORDER TO AVOID A SUNSHINE VIOLATION. I THINK REGINA COULD PROBABLY WEIGH IN ON THIS. I DID SPEAK TO MY OWN CITY ATTORNEY, EVEN THOUGH SHE IS NOT THE ATTORNEY FOR THIS BOARD.
PERHAPS REGINA COULD PROVIDE SOME GUIDANCE ON THIS.
BUT I JUST IN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION WILL DECLINE COMMENTING
>> MR. CHAIR. THE COMMUNICATION IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, THE COMMUNICATION WAS DISTRIBUTED TO EACH OF THE BOARD MEMBERS. WITH INSTRUCTIONS NOT TO RESPOND TO ALL. OR TO DISCUSS.
AND THEN TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE HAVE BEEN NO DISCUSSIONS OTHER THAN THAN IN THIS MEETING. ONE-WAY COMMUNICATION IS ALLOWED. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE CHAIR FOR EXAMPLE WANTED TO DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION TO OTHER BOARD MEMBERS FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION. THAT IS ALLOWED.
THERE CAN'T BE ANY DISCOURSE OUTSIDE OF THE SUNSHINE RELATED TO THE COMMUNICATION. AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE E-MAIL WAS PROVIDED TO MRS. MEEKS AND THEN DISTRIBUTED TO THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR DISCUSSION AT THIS MEETING.
>> OKAY. NANCY, DOES THAT ALTER YOUR THOUGHTS? OR SHOULD WE PROCEED?
>> WELL, MY ONLY QUESTION WOULD BE AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THAT'S VERY GOOD NEWS TO HEAR. BUT MY COMMENT WOULD BE THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT WE WORK FOR AND THE COMMISSIONERS THAT WE WORK FOR SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH A COPY OF THAT COMMUNICATION.
AND IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY.
>> SO IF I MAY -- I'M ACTUALLY -- I'M FINE TO INCLUDE THAT LETTER IN OUR NEXT AGENDA PACKET, THAT'S NOT A BIG DEAL.
COMMISSIONER WHAT I AM THINKING AND WE PROVIDE AN ITEM TO SHARE
[01:10:03]
COMMENT AND BY ALL MEANS IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SHARE A COMMENT, THAT'S FINE. LOOKING AT THE KIND OF SLIDES THAT I PRESENTED HERE OF TDC REQUESTS AND THE SUBSEQUENT STAFF COLLABORATIVE MEETINGS. AND OPPOSED TO COMMENTING ON MRS. MATARAZA'S LETTER AND JUST WHAT IS IN THE SLIDES AND RESOLVE ANY POTENTIAL SUNSHINE CONCERNS.>> I HAVE TERA ONE CONCERN AND I THINK YOU MENTIONED IT.
THAT WE DON'T GO ON FOREVER WITH THIS.
THAT I SEE OUR CHALLENGE AS A COUNCIL TWOFOLD.
ONE IS TO BRING [INAUDIBLE] HERE TO ACHIEVE THE PURPOSE OF THE TDC. THE SECOND IS TO BE SURE WE DON'T OVER SPEND WHAT WE HAVE, OUR RESOURCES.
AND NOT ONLY JUST DOLLARS BUT STAFF AS WELL.
SO I THINK THAT I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF NOT TAKING THIS ON FOREVER BUT THINKING ABOUT WHETHER WE NEED A TIMELINE HERE.
NOW I KNOW CHRISTINA STONE AND I KNOW RICHARD GOLDMAN AND I KNOW GABE CALTIER. I THINK THESE ARE TOP-LINE PEOPLE AND COOPERATION FOR THEM IS ELEMENTARY.
WE WILL NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH COOPERATION.
I THINK THEY ALL FEEL WHAT WE FEEL, THAT IS DIMINISHING RESOURCES AND GREATER NEEDS. SO FROM MY POINT OF VIEW I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS THING STUDIED. I THINK TERA YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL AS JACK SAYS WE DON'T GET INTO THE WEEDS ON THIS THING. OUR GOAL IS NOT TO TELL PEOPLE HOW TO SPEND THE MONEY BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SPENDING IT AS BEST WE CAN IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.
AND DON'T THINK WE ARE ASKING FOR A PERMANENT ARRANGEMENT, WE ARE ASKING TO SEE THROUGH THE TERRIBLE DESTRUCTIVE PROBLEMS WE HAVE NOW. I WOULD ASK THAT WE AGREE TO A TEMPERED MEETING ON THIS AND TERA I WOULD ASK IF ALL POSSIBLE BY CONSULTATION WITH OUR EXPERTS, OUR CONTRACTORS THAT WE GET A TIMELINE THAT MAKES SENSE. BECAUSE IF WE DRAG THIS OUT FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS. THE IMPACT OF IT IS LOST.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO SAVE.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE COUNCIL, IF YOU WOULD AGREE THAT WE LOOK AT THIS AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER.
AND WE HEAR MORE FROM YOU, AND YOU KNOW -- NANCY BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT. IT'S NOT JUST THE LAW.
IT'S THE APPEARANCE OF SUNSHINE. AND SO LET'S GET THIS OUT TO EVERYBODY WE CAN. WE'LL ASK TOM TO PUT IT UP ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE. LET'S LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, TERA, I THINK YOUR SUMMARY IS GOOD.
I THINK IF WE GET DOWN INTO THE WELL THOUGHT OUT POINTS MADE BY DIANE IN HER MEMO. IT MIGHT BE TOO MUCH FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND. KIND OF LIKE US TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE GRANT THING. I ASK THAT WE MEET AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER, THOSE THAT CAN'T, IF THE PANDEMIC IS STILL WITH US, AND I THINK IT WILL BE. REMOTE AGAIN.
AND LET'S LOOK AT THIS THING. BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE ALL THINKING THE SAME. WE'RE ALL TRYING TO FIND RESOURCES AND THEY ARE JUST NOT HERE.
THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION. JACK?
>> MR. CHAIR -- >> YES, GO AHEAD.
>> MR. CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR THOSE WORDS.
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT. AND I ABSOLUTELY AGREE.
I THINK IT'S A WORTHWHILE DISCUSSION TO HAVE.
>> YEAH, THE HOPE IS THAT OUR EXPERTS OR CONTRACTORS WILL COME BACK WITH WORKING WITH TERA A GOOD PLAN.
BUT I AM CONFIDENT THAT TERA WILL BRING US BACK SOMETHING AND I HOPE SHE WILL BRING US BACK A TIMELINE.
ANY OBJECTION TO THIS? NANCY, I THINK YOU ARE AGREEING AND DIANE ARE YOU AGREEING? AND IRVING?
>> I AGAIN THINK IF WE DON'T ASK FOR SPECIFIC DOLLAR AMOUNTS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NICE PROJECT.
BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE ANY TANGIBLE SAVINGS.
IF THE IDEA IS TO HAVE TANGIBLE SAVINGS YOU NEED TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AND ASK THEM TO SHOW UP IN SEPTEMBER'S MEETING WITH
[01:15:04]
SOLUTIONS. IF WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT TANGIBLE SAVINGS FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, THEN WE CAN GO WITH THE STUDY ROUTE.PBUT IF WE WE HAVE TO EXPECT RESULTS AT THE NEXT MEETING. THAT'S HOW I FEEL.>> IRVING I'M WITH YOU ON THAT. I SEE THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS ASKED ALL OF HIS DEPARTMENTS TO REDUCE BUDGETS BY 8.5%.
JUST A FLAT NUMBER, WHICH IS KIND OF SCARY TO ME.
BUT I THINK WE CAN SAY, WE NEED SOME ASSURANCES THAT WE ARE NOT WASTING THE STAFF'S TIME AND CONTRACTOR'S TIME.
I AGREE WITH YOU, I DON'T NOT IF IT HAS TO BE IN DOLLARS AND CENTS BUT NOT OPPOSED TO THAT. TERA, HAVE WE GIVEN YOU A
RECOMMENDATION? >> CAN YOU TELL ABOUT THE TIMELINE FOR DOING THIS OR SUGGESTIONS?
>> I THINK WE WOULD LIKE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
I WISH I COULD GIVE YOU A BETTER ANSWER, IT'S NOT INTELLIGENT THING WE ARE DOING. WE HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN OUR STAFF AND WE HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE -- I DO, IN OUR CONTRACTORS. SHOULD WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN A LONG TIME, PARK AND REC AND HAVEN'T SEEN GABE SINCE HE TOOK OVER. AND DID SEE LAST MONTH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND YOU SEE THEM ALL THE TIME.
AND WE KNOW THAT YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER NOW AND [INAUDIBLE].
SO SEPTEMBER MEETING, I THINK WE HAVE AGREEMENT FOR THAT.
AND THE OCTOBER LOOK VERY CAREFULLY.
WE TALKED ABOUT ON CHRISTINA'S GRANT PROGRAM.
I'M GOING TO MOVE US ALONG BECAUSE WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF
[9. FY21 BUDGET & PROMOTION PLANS – Tera Meeks]
TIME. BUDGET.TERA. >> OKAY, NEXT AGENDA ITEM 9 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET AND PROMOTION PLANS.
OFFER WE ROLL THESE INTO ONE APPROVAL.
BECAUSE OF THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAD THIS YEAR I WANT TO RUN THROUGH AND LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS TWO APPROVALS, TECHNICALLY. AND CLARIFY WHAT WE APPROVING WHEN WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION. WHAT YOU SEE ON THIS SLIDE AT THE TOP, CATEGORY 1, DESTINATION MARKETING BUDGET FOR THE YEAR.
THE SAME BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED LAST MEETING.
YOU SEE THAT FIRST LINE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES FUNDED AT 3,975,000 IS FOR VCB'S CONTRACT AND WHAT WE HAVE BELOW IS RESERVE FOR $862,000. WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE COUNTY, BY THE COUNTY SINCE THIS BUDGET FIRST PRESENTED.
TO ALLOW THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THE SPEND IN FISCAL YEAR-21. IN THE EVENT THAT TOURISM RECOVERS FASTER THAN IS CURRENTLY PROJECTED IN REVENUE
COLLECTIONS. >> THAT WAS OUT OF COUNTY
RESERVES? >> WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS IT'S NUMBERS ON THE PAPER. SO IF BED TAX COLLECTIONS COME IN ABOVE THE PROJECTED AMOUNT THAT RESULTS IN 3.9 MILLION ALLOCATED TO CATEGORY 1. WE WILL START TO ACCRUE A BALANCE IN THAT ACCOUNT. AND WHAT THIS RESERVE LET'S US DO, TAP INTO THAT ACCRUING BALANCE.
IN THE EVENT THAT COLLECTION IS 3.9 OR UNDER, WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN WE GO INTO FISCAL YEAR-22 BUDGET, THOSE NUMBERS WE ERASE OFF THE PAPER, NEVER DOLLARS THERE.
IT'S A PLACE HOLDER THAT GIVES US THE FLEXIBILITY TO TAP INTO DOLLARS THAT SHOW UP IN THE ACCOUNT IF BED TAX COLLECTIONS COME IN HIGHER THAN WE ARE ANTICIPATING.
BUILT IN FLEXIBILITY WITH NO CONSEQUENCE.
BECAUSE LIKE I SAID IF IT TURNS OUT WE DON'T GET IT, ERASE THAT OFF AND SAY NEXT YEAR. BELOW THIS TABLE -- BEFORE I MOVE ON, YOU CAN SEE HERE AT THE BOTTOM LINE OF THIS TABLE COLLECTIVELY WITH THE CONTRACTUAL RESERVES THAT IS THE BTR PROJECT AMOUNT AND THE RESERVES.
IF YOU GO BELOW THE TABLE HERE ON THIS SLIDE.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT I KIND OF SPELLED OUT HERE, WE ARE LOOKING FOR TWO DIFFERENT THINGS FROM THE TDC TODAY ON CATEGORY 1.
THE FIRST IS THE TDC'S RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE
[01:20:03]
BUDGET OR YOU CAN RECOMMEND THERE BE A MODIFICATION TO THE BUDGET. BUT WE ARE LOOKING FOR A RECOMMENDATION ON THE BUDGET TO FORWARD TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. AND A POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATION IF YOU APPROVE AND AGREE FOR THE PROVIDED CONTRACT AMOUNT TO THE VCB AND THE RESERVE, THAT ALLOWS US, THE COUNTY TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SPEND ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT COMES IN, IF IT DOES IN FACT COME IN. IF WE WANT TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, IF THE TDC WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, YOU ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO BUT WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.TODAY IS THE DAY TO LET THEM KNOW OF RECOMMENDATION, IF YOU AGREE OR SOMETHING THAT LOOKS DIFFERENT.
THAT'S TRUE FOR ALL CATEGORIES. >> I AM SORRY-
>> GO AHEAD. >> I KNOW THAT MR. KASS HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THIS CATEGORY LAST TIME.
AS TO ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND LIMITATIONS IN THE CONTRACT AND SO FORTH. IRVING, AM I CHARACTERIZING THAT CORRECTLY AND HAVE YOU COME TO ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT?
>> I ACTUALLY HAVEN'T SEEN THE FINAL NUMBERS.
IF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS MATCHED THE 3.97 NUMBER.
I GUESS IT HAS TO BE 26% AND I GUESS 26% OF 3.9 IS ROUGHLY $1 MILLION. I DON'T KNOW -- I THOUGHT I SAW ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AT 1.2 MILLION, SO WE MUST BE CALCULATING IT A DIFFERENT WAY AND I NEED CLARIFICATION OF WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO CALCULATE THAT SO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONTRACT -- YEAH, THE CONTRACT.
>> THAT ACTUALLY TIES INTO THE SECOND PARAGRAPH THAT IS SHOWN HERE. SO BUDGET APPROVAL IS LITERALLY APPROVING THIS TABLE HERE. IT'S NOT ANY DETAILS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TABLE. THE SUPPORTING DETAILS THAT GO ALONG WITH THIS TABLE ARE ROLLED UP INTO THE PROMOTION PLAN.
SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY TO WHAT IRVING IS SPEAKING ABOUT AND THE PLAN IS WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE EXISTING CONTRACT.
THE VCB HAS A CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY AND IT STIPULATES ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD. IRVING'S CONCERN WOULD ROLL UP IN THAT SECOND PARAGRAPH. SO TWO THINGS WE'RE LOOKING FOR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ULTIMATELY. THE FIRST THING WHICH IS THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION, AGAIN IF THE TDC WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TODAY IS PROBABLY THE LAST DAY TO DO IT. YOUR NEXT MEETING IS SEPTEMBER 20 AND QUITE FRANKLY THERE IS NOT MUCH TIME TO CHANGE THE BUDGET BEFORE. AND THE TDC APPROVAL OF THE PROMOTION PLAN. TO POINT OUT THAT YOU ALL, THE TDC, YOU MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR THE BUDGET. BUT YOU ACTUAL HAVE THE ABILITY TO APPROVE THE PROMOTION PLAN. AND THE PROMOTION PLAN THAT I SENT IN THE E-MAIL AND PROVIDED IN A COUPLE OF WAYS IN THIS BOOK TODAY. WE HAVE AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE PROMOTION PLAN BEYOND WHAT WAS PRESENTED BY RICHARD AT THE JULY 20, TDC MEETING. AND HE HAS MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO REFLECT $870,000 WHAT WE CALL A CARRY FORWARD.
EARLY IN THE FISCAL YEAR THE TDC RECOMMENDED AND THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVED 2 MILLION FUNDING OUT OF GENERAL RESERVES TO VCB TO SPEND ON COVID-19 TOURISM RECOVERY.
THE VCB ANTICIPATES AS SEPTEMBER 30 THEY WILL NOT HAVE SPENT $875,000 OF THAT MONEY AND ASKING THAT WE CARRY IT FORWARD.
I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO A VARIETY OF PEOPLE FROM THE COUNTY AND THAT SEEMS FEASIBLE. IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A PROBLEM BUT ULTIMATELY DOES RESIDE WITH THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO APPROVE AS THE BUDGET UNTIL END OF SEPTEMBER.
[01:25:02]
AND THAT LOOKS TO BE A GO. AND IF THE TDC WOULD LIKE TO MEET IN SEPTEMBER, THAT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE GOING ON.THE TDC COULD DELAY THE PROMOTION PLAN AND APPROVE IN SEPTEMBER. BUT I DID PUT A NOTE TO BE MINDFUL THAT THE LATER THAT WE WAIT TO APPROVE THE VCB PLAN THE LESS TIME THEY HAVE TO IMPLEMENT FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.
AND JUST AS A NOTE THE VCB PROMOTION PLAN IS SEPARATE FROM APPROVAL OF THE COUNCIL PLAN AND WE TALK ABOUT THEM BUT THEY ARE TWO SEPARATE THINGS AND CAN BE HANDLED IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND DIFFERENT TIMELINES. I HAVE THE SAME SPIEL FOR THE SLIDE, CATEGORY 2. ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT
I EXPLAINED? >> IRVING, YOUR THOUGHT.
>> I REALLY -- I CAN SEE THE NUMBERS HERE.
THE 4.8 IS WHAT I SEE. AND WHICH IS THE 3.9 PLUS THE RESERVES. I GUESS WE HAVE TO APPROVE THAT AS A SEPARATE THING TO THE PROMOTIONAL THING.
I THINK THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT MOTIONS?
>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT. BUT WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE AS OPPOSED TO MOTION FOR EACH CATEGORY I WILL MOVE FORWARD AND ASK THAT YOU TAKE AS A BUDGET ALL FIVE CATEGORIES SIMULTANEOUSLY IF THAT'S OKAY AND COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT THE PROMOTION PLAN. NEXT CATEGORY, CATEGORY 2.
THIS IS STRUCTURED SIMILARLY TO CATEGORY 1.
WE HAVE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES AT THE TOP THAT HAS TOTAL FUNDING OF $830,000. THAT'S THE CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR FOR THE CULTURAL COUNCIL.
IF YOU LOOK AT THAT COLUMN YOU SEE THAT WE HAVE $275,000 IN THE CATEGORY 2 GRANTS. WHICH IS ACH GRANTS.
AND THAT IS WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT AND WORKING WITH 275 IN OUR PRIOR DISCUSSION TODAY. YOU HAVE A SEPARATE LINE FUNDED AT 50,000. THAT GOES TO OUR SING-OUT-LOUD ELSE WE SEE REDUCED FUNDING FOR THAT EVENT NEXT YEAR.
AND WE HAVE THAT TRANSFER TO FUNDS, WHICH IS $150,000.
THAT GOES TO CULTURAL EVENTS WHICH IS BOTH THE AMPHITHEATER AND PONTE VEDRA CONCERT HALL. AND WE HAVE THAT RESERVE LINE THAT IS THERE TO PROVIDE US THE OPTION TO SPEND THE MONEY IF IT COMES IN ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE ANTICIPATE THE REVENUE FOR NEXT YEAR. SO THE BREAKDOWN I WILL GO THROUGH THIS QUICKER THAN I DID THE LAST TIME.
IT'S A TWO-PART DECISION HERE. THE FIRST PART IS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE BUDGET. AND WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE THE TDC MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON THE BUDGET.
WHICH IS THE ACTUAL TABLE YOU ARE LOOKING AT.
SO IT WOULD BE AN APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET WOULD MEAN THAT THE TDC AGREES WITH GIVING THE CULTURAL COUNCIL $813,651 FOR THEIR CONTRACT NEXT YEAR. AND TDC AGREES WITH ALLOCATING FOR THE GRANTS PROGRAM. THAT YOU ALL AGREE WITH 50,000 FOR SING-OUT LOUD AND 150,000 TO THE CULTURAL EVENTS DIVISION THAT IS AMPHITHEATER AND CONCERT HALL.
AND ESTABLISHING THE RESERVE OF THAT 287.
IF WE DON'T GET REVENUES, TDT COLLECTIONS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE ARE PROJECTING IN THE ACTUAL EXPENSE LINES.
AS WITH CATEGORY 1 THE RESERVES GOES AWAY.
WE DON'T SPEND IT AND TAKE CARE OF THAT IN THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE. SO THE SECOND PART OF THE CULTURAL COUNCIL'S OPERATION IS THEIR PROMOTION PLAN.
AND SO IT COULD BE A SEPARATE ACTION, WE WOULD BE ULTIMATELY LOOKING FOR THE TDC TO MAKE APPROVAL OF THE CULTURAL COUNCIL PLAN THAT THEY PROVIDED AT THE TDC MEETING.
IF SO THE DESIRE OF THIS BODY YOU CAN LIKELY DEFER THAT APPROVAL TO SEPTEMBER AND GIVE SOME MORE INPUT AND FEEDBACK.
THE ONLY CONSEQUENCE THAT CULTURAL COUNCIL HAS COMPRESSED PLANNING PERIOD FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER MARKETING.
AND AGAIN CULTURAL COUNCIL'S PROMOTION PLAN AND APPROVAL IS IN FACT SEPARATE FROM TDC'S PLAN AND APPROVAL.
NEXT CATEGORY IS 3. THIS CATEGORY HAS SEEN A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION LIKE ALL CATEGORIES.
WE'RE TAKING THIS BACK TO THE BARE BONES HERE.
YOU HAVE THE TRANSFER TO FUNDS AT THE BOTTOM WHICH IS THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT GOES TO FUNDING THE ST.
[01:30:02]
AUGUSTINE BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROJECT.AND WE HAVE A RESERVE IN THIS LINE AS WELL AND IF YOU LOOK UP, I JUMPED YOU TO THE BOTTOM. IF YOU LOOK UP THROUGH THAT LINE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY FOR PURCHASING AND ADVERTISING, WHICH IS FOR THE SHUTTLE BUSES THAT WE RUN FROM BEACH ACCESS IN THE SUMMERTME. AND A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY FOR BEACH MAINTENANCE, WHICH THEY USE TO MAINTAIN THE BOARDWALKS THAT MAINTAIN THE BEACH. AND CONTRACTUAL SERVICES IS FOR I THINK A LITTLE OF THAT TO BATHROOM CLEAN UP IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY AND INSURANCE AND A LITTLE BIT OF SALARY TO PARKS AND REC'S STAFF OUT OF THIS CATEGORY.
THEN CATEGORY 4. AGAIN WE HAVE SEEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF REDUCTIONS TO THIS CATEGORY. WE HAVE TAKEN THIS BACK IT FUNDING ALL THE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND OBLIGATIONS LAID OUT IN THE ORDINANCE. SO WE'RE FUNDING THINGS LIKE THE TPC PARTNERSHIP AMOUNT, THAT'S 250 THAT YOU SEE, PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS. WE ARE FULLY FUNDING AT THE AGREED AMOUNT THAT IS STIPULATED IN THE ORDINANCE FOR FIREWORKS FOR BOTH MUNICIPALITIES. SPECIAL EVENTS THAT 176 IS THE FIREWORKS AND 50,000 [INAUDIBLE].
AND AT THE TOP WHEN YOU SEE REGULAR SALARIES AND EVERYTHING THAT TIES INTO THAT TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES, AND ALL RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE WORKER'S COMP.
AND THAT PIECE FOR MINE AND DENA'S SALARY AND WE CARRY A VACANCY IN THAT CATEGORY AT THE MOMENT.
AND WE PAY FOR OUR BEACH, PIER VIC EMPLOYEES OUT OF THERE.
AND I THINK -- THE ONLY-I'M GOING TO CALL IT DISCREANCY SHOWN IN THIS BUDGET. IT'S THE SAME BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED LAST MONTH. AND LAST MONTH THE TDC MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO REDUCE THE FUNDING FOR TWO OF OUR VISITOR INFORMATION CENTERS. THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE DOWNTOWN CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. BOTH OF THOSE FUNDING CONTRACTS ARE IN THE TOP HALF OF THE CHART.
ST. AUGUSTINE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER THAT FUNDED 298,420. WE ARE MOVING THOSE TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. AND WHEN THE BOARD VOTES ON THOSE CONTRACTS, IF THEY DECIDE TO GO WITH THE RECOMMENDED REDUCED FUNDING. YOU WILL A LITTLE FUNDING AVAILABLE IN THAT LINE. WHICH WE CAN ROLL TO A DIFFERENT LINE. AND SO IT WOULD BE A VIABLE RECOMMENDATION TODAY FROM THE TDC TO SAY, IF WE DO FREE UP THOSE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS OUT OF THAT ST. AUGUSTINE VISITOR CENTER LINE, YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO GO TO SPECIAL EVENTS OR ADVERTISING. YOU CAN KIND OF GIVE US A LITTLE DIRECTION AND HOLIDAY LIGHTING PROGRAM.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS CAN PROVIDE RECOMMENDATION ON TODAY. AND LAST CATEGORY IS CATEGORY 5.
THIS IS OUR NEW CATEGORY TOWARDS MASS SITES.
WE HAVEN'T STARTED SPENDING MONEY IN THIS CATEGORY.
A LOT OF STUFF EARMARKED IN HERE BUT STILL KIND OF IN PLACE.
AND SO YOU SEE A BUNCH OF NUMBERS IN THIS TABLE.
BUT NOT A LOT OF FUNDING IS AVAILABLE HERE.
SO WE HAVE FOR FISCAL YEAR 21 YOU SEE THAT A LOT IN RESERVE, AND THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS AT THE TOP IS FUNDING BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROJECT SOUTH OF BEACH NORTH AREA.
AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN RESERVES OR CONTINGENCY RESERVES OR OUTLAY RESERVES OR MARKET RESERVES.
THESE HAVE NOT BEEN SET TO TAKE OUT OF THE FUND.
>> TERA, WHAT YOU ARE SEEKING HERE IS APPROVAL OF THE FOUR
SO FOR THE BUDGET, IT'S THE APPROVAL OF THE TABLES.
AND THEN LIKE I SAID FOR CATEGORY 4, BECAUSE THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FREE SOME MONEY UP OUT OF THAT VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER LINE. IF YOU ALL HAVE A RECOMMENDATION WE CAN WORK THAT IN. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A RECOMMENDATION AT THIS TIME, IT WILL JUST SHOW UP IN THE BUDGET THERE AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHEN WE DECIDE WHAT WE WANT TO
DO WITH IT, WE MOVE IT. >> LOOK AT IT AGAIN.
>> RIGHT. >> IS THERE A MOTION? IS THERE DISCUSSION I SHOULD SAY?
>> SORRY, TERA, CAN YOU GO TO THE LAST CATEGORY AGAIN AND
[01:35:04]
EXPLAIN THAT? IT'S A $3 MILLION AND WE PROJECTED THIS YEAR, CURRENT YEAR TO SPEND ABOUT 1.9.SO WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THOSE NUMBERS ON THE RIGHT, DO YOU
EXPECT THAT TO BE SPENT IN '21? >> NOT NECESSARILY.
SO THEY HAVE, SO IF YOU LOOK ALL THE WAY TO '21.
IT'S ALMOST ALL IN RESERVES. THE ONLY THING THAT IS NOT IN RESERVES THAT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE SPENT NEXT YEAR IS THAT 700,000, THE TOP NUMBER THAT SAYS TRANSFER TO FUNDS.
THAT'S ROLLING OUT OF THIS ACCOUNT AND INTO ANOTHER ACCOUNT THAT IS USED TO PAY FOR THE BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROJECT.
THE REST IS STAYING IN THERE. AND IT WILL STAY IN THERE UNTIL THE COUNTY IS TO A POINT TO APPROVE A PROJECT AND SET THAT PROJECT UP. AND MOVE THE MONEY FROM THIS ACCOUNT TO ANOTHER ACCOUNT. BUT IT COULD VERY WELL SIT IN THIS ACCOUNT FROM FISCAL YEAR 21 TO 22.
>> TERA, I BELIEVE THAT DIANE HAS ASKED THAT WE APPROVE THE BOTTOM LINES FROM THE CHARTS BUT NOT NECESSARILY APPROVING
[INAUDIBLE]. >> YOU ARE, WHY I WENT BACK HERE. SO WHAT YOU'RE APPROVING, YOU ARE APPROVAL -- APPROVING THE TABLES AND AT THE LINE, CONTRACTUAL SERVICES 820,000 AND WHAT YOU AGREE ON THIS CATEGORY, THAT YOU AGREE THAT WE WANT A CONTRACT WITH THE CULTURAL COUNCIL FOR $830,000. WHAT YOU ARE NOT DOING IS AGREEING TO THE PROMOTIONAL PLAN OF HOW THE CULTURAL COUNCIL WILL SPEND THAT MONEY. AND SAME FOR THE VCB.
AND IF YOU GO TO CATEGORY 3 AND WHAT YOU ARE APPROVING, IT'S THAT 1.4 MILLION BUT YOU AGREE THAT WE SPEND A LITTLE MONEY TOWARDS PARK STAFF. LIKE $15,000 IT LOOKS LIKE.
THAT WE PUT SOME MONEY TOWARDS BEACH MAINTENANCE AND AGAIN THAT'S FOR THE BOARDWALKS. AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO UTILIZE TDT DOLLARS TO FUND THE ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROJECT. IT'S THAT LEVEL OF DETAILS FOR
THE PLANS OF CATEGORIES 1 AND 2. >> OKAY, COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? DIANE.
>> WE'RE GOING TO BE VOTING ON [INAUDIBLE]
>> DIANE, WE CAN'T REALLY HEAR YOU, YOU SOUND VERY, VERY FAR
AWAY. >> SORRY, IS THIS BETTER?
>> YES, MUCH BETTER. >> I CONCUR WITH WHAT DANNY JUST DESCRIBED AND THAT IS WE APPROVE THE BOTTOM LINES AND NOT THE PROMOTION PLANS. AND I HOPE AFTER A SEPTEMBER MEETING THAT WE SEE MORE ECONOMIES OF SCALE AND HAVE PROMOTION HANDLED GOING FORWARD. SO --
J>> I'M AMENABLE TO THE PROPOSALS.
>> READY TO VOTE WHEN YOU ARE? >> CAN WE HAVE A MOTION? WAIT A MINUTE, I HAVE TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
SORRY. SEEING NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? >> MOTION TO APPROVE CATEGORY 1-5 FISCAL YEAR 21 BUDGET AS PRESENTED.
>> I'LL SECOND. >> OKAY WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? AGAIN, NOT HEARING ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT.
I'LL CALL THE QUESTION. DENA, PLEASE.
>> COMMISSIONER NANCY SIKES-KLINE.
>> YES. >> OKAY THE MOTION PASSES.
WE HAVE UNANIMOUS VOTE. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO --
>> SO BEFORE WE MOVE ON. JUST TO CLARIFY THAT THERE IS NO
[01:40:03]
DESIRE TO HAVE A MOTION FOR PROMOTION PLANS TODAY AND TAKE THAT UP AS PART OF THE SEPTEMBER MEETING?>> THAT'S NOT HOW I READ THAT. >> THEY ARE TWO SEPARATE
YOU ARE MOVING ON TO? SORRY -- MY APOLOGIES.
[10. MONTHLY REPORTS PROVIDED IN PACKETS]
I THINK YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS.AND I AM SURE THAT CRISHRISTINA WOULD AND I ASKED RICHARD TO ABBREVIATE HIS COMMENTS. WE HAVE 20 MINUTES -- 19 MINUTES TO GET THROUGH ALL OF THIS. AND RICHARD AND CHRISTINA DO A LOT OF WORK ON PREPARING THEIR REPORTS TO US.
AND I DON'T WANT TO IGNORE THOSE.
BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH TIME CONSTRAINTS I ASKED RICHARD TO GIVE HIS PITCH -- THAT'S A POOR WAY TO PUT IT, MAKE YOUR PROPOSAL. AND CRISTINA I HAVE ASKED TO ABBREVIATE THE COMMENTS AND HE DOES MUCH MORE AND DON'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK THAT HE IS GETTING AWAY WITH DOING LESS.
RICHARD. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU SPENT ON THIS.
I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE MADE SIGNIFICANT AND TANGIBLE CHANGES TO THE PLAN. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE, WE'VE ACCEPTED THE COUNTY'S WHAT WE THINK IS OVERLY CONSERVATIVE PROJECT ON BED TAX COLLECTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR.
THAT ACCEPTANCE IS IN THE PLAN THAT YOU HAVE.
THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED. AND TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THAT PORTION OF THE BUDGET WHICH IS $3,975,275.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS LOOKED AT THE OPPORTUNITY AND ADOPTED IT, THE OPPORTUNITY TO CARRY OVER $870,000 FROM THE INCREMENTAL FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN FISCAL 20. THAT WOULD BE 18% OF THE OPERATING BUDGET. OF 4,847,275 THAT YOU SEE ON SLIDE 13 OF WHAT WE SHARED WITH YOU.
POINT OF ALL THAT IS THAT OUR BOARD ALSO SPEESIFIED THAT $875,000 SHOULD GO INTO ADVERTISING AND IT IS DONE THAT WAY. YOU WILL SEE THAT BREAKDOWN ON SLIDE 14. WE REVISED THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES. FOR THIS PROPOSED MARKETING PLAN. WHICH WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL ACTUALLY APPROVE TO CARRY ON. BECAUSE OF THE TIME FRAME WE'RE DEALING WITH. IN THAT PLAN WE INCREASED THE ALLOCATION FOR ADVERTISING. AND FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS.
WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT BY MAKING IN SOME CASES ADOPTING BY FR OUR PEOPLE INTERNALLY TO DO WORK THAT PREVIOUSLY WAS DONE BY VENDORS. AT GREATER EXPENSE.
SO WE REALIZED SOME EFFICIENCIES THAT ALLOWED US TO BRING THE OPERATING AND THE PROMOTIONAL PORTION OF THE BUDGET AT 75.1% OF THE BUDGET AND REDUCING THE OVERHEAD TO UNDER 25%.
AND AGAIN ACTIONS THAT WE WERE REQUESTED AND WHICH WE ADOPTED.
SO THAT BUDGET 4,837,275 IS VERY CLOSE TO THE ORIGINAL 5 MILLION THAT WE BUILT THAT RATHER THOROUGH MARKETING PLAN.
AND SHARED WITH YOU BACK ON THE FIRST OF JUNE.
THE CHANGES IN THAT EFFICIENCIES THAT WE HAVE SEEN ARE -- I'M NOT GOING TO SAY NEGLIGIBLE BECAUSE ACTUAL WORK WENT INTO THAT.
THERE WILL BE THINGS ARE DIFFERENT.
BUT IF YOU REVIEW THE PLAN THAT WE'VE SENT YOU THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, THAT IS AN EDITED EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.
WE WILL PRODUCE THE FULL DOCUMENT BASED ON THAT WITH YOUR APPROVAL OF THE PROMOTIONAL PLAN.
SO YOU WILL HAVE THAT FULL DOCUMENT YOURSELF WHEN THAT HAPPENS. WE HAVE ALSO BEGUN THE PROCESS ALREADY OF WORKING WITH THE CULTURAL COUNCIL.
[01:45:02]
WE'VE MADE OVER 10 LENGTHS AND OVER 14 BY THIS TIME TOMORROW.CHRISTINA AND I HAVE DISCUSSED EFFICIENCIES THAT WE CAN MAKE.
WE HAVE GOTTEN FROM THE COUNTY DETAIL ON RECORDS KEEPING AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE BY HALF THE AMOUNT OF STORAGE SPACE.
THAT WE CONTRACT FOR. SO WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD TO MAKE EFFICIENCIES IN THIS VERY INTERESTING, CHALLENGING TIME WE HAVE. BUT WE BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO BETTER WITH THESE RESOURCES AND THIS PROMOTIONAL PLAN THAN IS PROJECTED FOR FISCAL 21.
I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THAT A BET AND I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO THINK IT'S NOT OBTAINABLE. WE THINK IT'S FIRMLY OBTAINABLE AND WITH THE CULTURAL COUNCIL'S ASSISTANCE AND WITH THE COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE WE THINK IT'S DOABLE AND WE THAN THE BED TAX COLLECTORS AND HOTELS FEEL IT'S DOABLE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL?
IRVING. >> I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS, MR. CHAIRMAN. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE DIRECTED AT RICHARD OR REGINA. I NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL INTERPRETATION OF THE 26% IF HAS TO BE OFF OF THIS 3.9 MILLION WHICH IS THE BUDGET THAT WE APPROVED.
OR OFF THE 4.8, WHICH IS WHAT RICHARD IS REFERRING TO WITH THE
>> MR. CHAIR IF I CAN. THE CONTRACT READS FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE CAP AND IT'S BASED ON THE CONTRACT VALUE.
>> WHICH IS THE PROMOTIONAL PLAN.
>> I'M NOT SURE -- REGINA IF YOU ARE ANSWERING IRVING'S QUESTION.
IRVING IS THAT THE ANSWER? >> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION. I JUST DON'T KNOW IF 3.9 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER THAT WE HAVE TO BE AT 26% OR IS IT 4.8? I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION. I NEED DIRECTION BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE IF WE APPROVE SOMETHING THAT WE APPROVING
SOMETHING THAT IS IN COMPLIANCE. >> REGINA ARE YOU SAYING 3.9 OR
4.8. >> MR. CHAIR, THE WAY THAT THE CONTRACT READS REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER, UNLESS THE PROVISION IS CHANGED. REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER THAT YOU PLUG IN AS THE CONTRACT VALUE, THAT CAP REMAINS.
UNLESS LIKE FOR EXAMPLE WE DID AN AMENDMENT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR TO REMOVE THAT CAP FOR A LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME.
SO THE NUMBER -- AND I UNDERSTAND WHY IRVING IS ASKING AND TRYING TO BACK INTO THAT NUMBER BASED ON THE CALCULATION.
BUT FOR PURPOSES OF THE CONTRACT, WHATEVER CONTRACT VALUE YOU PUT INTO THE AGREEMENT, UNLESS WE DO ANOTHER AMENDMENT TO REMOVE THAT ADMINISTRATIVE CAP IT IS GOING TO BE THE TOTAL VALUE, THE TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE, THE 29% WILL BE TAKEN OFF THE TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE.
>> AND THE TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE IS?
>> AS OF RIGHT NOW I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE IS GOING TO BE, I HAVE TO REFER TO TERA.
>> I AM WEIGH IN, SO WE NEVER CARRY MONEY FORWARD IN CATEGORIES 1 OR 2. AND WE ALSO HAVE NEVER GIVEN THE VCB MONEY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUNDS RESERVE AS QUOTE UNQUOTE REPAYABLE LOAN. AND QUITE FRANKLY I PROBABLY HAVE TO DISCUSS WITH REGINA BECAUSE THE $875,000 IS CARRY FORWARD FROM PREVIOUS AMENDMENT WITH SPECIFIC TABLE WITH EXPENDITURES STABLED TO THAT AGREEMENT.
AND SO WE WILL HAVE TO TOUCH BASE REGINA AND I, MY APOLOGIES I DIDN'T DO THAT BEFOREHAND. I DIDN'T THINK TO.
BUT WE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT IF THE CONTRACT VALUE INCLUDES
[01:50:05]
THAT CARRY FORWARD THAT WAS DONE UNDER A SECOND AMENDMENT THAT HAD A TABLE ATTACHED FOR THOSE EXPENSES.I DON'T KNOW THAT WE VETTED THROUGH WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AT
ON THE BUDGET THAT YOU JUST INE- APPROVED IS $4.83 MILLION.
>> YEAH BUT THAT INCLUDES $862,000 OF RESERVES AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS 3.9. THE RESERVES IS 870,000, IT'S THE MONEY THAT IF YOU SCROLL UP TO THE FIRST BULLET, THE 832,000 IS THE MONEY HELD ABOVE AND BEYOND.
>> I THINK WE HAVE A LEGAL QUESTION, AND TERA AND REGINA NEED TO WORK OUT. AND WE DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT IS A BREACH OF THE CONTRACT.
RICHARD JUST A POINT OF INFORMATION.
IF WE HAD TO WORK ON THE 3.9 MILLION, THE IMPACT TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN TERMS OF REACHING THE 26%, NOT IN TERMS OF NOT USING THE 862 BUT REACHING THAT NUMBER.
HOW DEVASTATING WOULD THAT BE? >> IT WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT.
WE'VE ALREADY GOT A PLAN. THAT REDUCES THE SIZE OF OUR ORGANIZATION BY ONE OF ITS HIGHER PAID EMPLOYEES.
AND THAT GETS US TO THE 25% OF THE 4.8 MILLION.
THE REQUIREMENT AND THE WILLINGNESS TO WAIVE IS SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAS BEEN WILLING TO DO AS HAVE COUNCIL. WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THE WORK.
SO THAT WE CAN SUCCEED. IT WOULD BE A SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY TO ELIMINATE THE PEOPLE.
SOME OF WHOM HAVE BEEN DOING THE WORK OF SOME OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMISSION MEMBERS PEOPLE WHEN THEY WERE FURLOUGHED.
THOSE PEOPLE ARE THE ONES THAT WE DEPEND ON WHEN WE CAN'T HELP
OURSELVES. >> WHAT YOU ARE SAYING WE WOULD
HAVE TO REDUCE STAFF. >> WE WOULD HAVE TO REDUCE STAFF BUT IT WOULD BE VERY SUBSTANTIAL.
BECAUSE WE HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT IN OUR PLAN, IN OUR PROMOTION PLAN. IT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION SUCH A CUT. IF WE GO -- IF WE HAVE TO BRING IT TO 3.9, IT WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE.
I SUSPECT THAT THE COUNTY WOULD SEE THE REASON OF HAVING THOSE PEOPLE AVAILABLE DO THE WORK SHOULD THINGS TURN OUT AS BADLY AS OMU IS PROJECTING. I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK THAT THOSE PROJECTIONS ARE CORRECT. BUT THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE ARE
NOW. >> RICHARD, I THINK WE CAN LEAVE TO THE COUNTY YOUR DECISIONS AND WE'LL MAKE THE BEST WE CAN.
BUT I HEAR YOU AND WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT JOBS WOULD BE LOST. WE HAVE SEVEN MINUTES LEFT -- SIX MINUTES LEFT. I WANT TO GIVE CHRISTINE AN OPPORTUNITY, SORRY TO DO THIS TO YOU KRICHRISTINA.
BUT WE'RE STRAPPED HERE, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU, I CAN BE QUICK.
WE HAVE NOT CHANGED OUR PLANS SINCE WE FIRST PRESENTED IT.
AND THE CULTURL COUNCIL BELIEVES THAT EVEN WITH THE REDUCED BUDGET WE HAVE WE CAN IMPROVE UPON OUR MARKETING EFFORTS OF PREVIOUS YEARS. YOU HAVE SEEN OUR PLAN AND I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR YOU APPROVING IT TODAY IF POSSIBLE.
BUT I DO WANT TO USE MY FIVE MINUTES TO ASK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION REGARDING THE CAP. AND ASK YOU TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR US. BECAUSE IF WE ARE HELD TO THE PERCENTAGE CAP THAT IN OUR CONTRACT BEFORE AMENDED EARLIER THIS YEAR. WE WILL HAVE TO REDUCE STAFF TO THE POINT THAT WE ONLY HAVE ONE. ESPECIALLY WITH THE GRANT APPLICANTS THIS YEAR YOU ARE ASKING US TO HANDLE THEIR MARKETING FOR THEM. AND WE BELIEVE BY DOING SOME OF THAT IN-HOUSE THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE SOME EFFICIENCIES THAT I HEAR SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ASKING FOR.
SO I WOULD ASK NOT ONLY THAT YOU NOT HOLD US TO THAT YOURSELVES BUT THAT YOU ADVOCATE FOR US WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSION.
AND ASK THEM ONCE AGAIN TO AMEND OUR CONTRACT AS THEY DID EARLIER THIS YEAR TO TEMPORARILY ELIMINATE THE CAP.
SO THAT WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXPERTISE OF THE STAFF THAT
>> TERA -- >> YOU HAVE UNTIL 3:40.
[01:55:07]
LET'S PLAN TO GO TO 3:40. >> THANK YOU.
>> THEY ELIMINATED THAT LAST YEAR DID THEY NOT?
>> YES THAT'S CORRECT WHEN CONTRACTS AMENDED, THE CAP
ELIMINATED. >> THIS YEAR WE HAVE MODIFIED THE VCB AND CULTURAL COUNCIL CONTRACT.
WE HAVE CHANGED THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE ARE PAYING THEM AND OUTRIGHT ELIMINATED THE CAP FOR FISCAL YEAR 20.
BUT IT TAKES AN AMENDMENT, A BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER APPROVE. THAT IS GENERATED AS PER THE TDC OR BOARD MEMBER AMEND THAT ITEM ON THEIR OWN.
>> THANK YOU, CHRISTINA. WE NEED TO HEAR WHAT THE COUNCIL'S FEELING ABOUT APPROVE THE BUDGET TO SEND IT FORWARD TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. WE NEED TO DO THAT NOW OR LOSE
THE OPPORTUNITY. >> YOU HAVE APPROVED THE BUDGET AND CURRENTLY TALKING ABOUT PROMOTION PLAN.
>> I'M SORRY. >> SO WHAT WE HEARD AND I THINK I HEARD FROM RICHARD IS THAT, I DEFINITELY HEARD FROM KRICHRIST THEIR PREFERENCE IS TO APPROVE PROMOTION PLANS TODAY.
THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOME CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED.
AND I DO HAVE THE ONE OUTSTANDING ITEM THAT I WILL CIRCLE AROUND WITH REGINA AND FIGURE OUT IF WE DO NOT MODIFY THE CAP. WHAT IS THE VCB'S 20% CAP OF WHAT? DOES IT INCLUDE 870 OR DOES IT NOT. I DON'T HAVE THAT TODAY.
BUT CERTAINLY IF YOU DON'T APPROVE THAT TODAY WE WILL HAVE
IT FOR SEPTEMBER. >> TERA, DOES THAT AFFECT ANY
OTHER CATEGORIES? >> DOES -- WHAT AFFECT
>> NO, THE CAP ONLY APPLIES TO THE VCB CONTRACT AND THE
CULTURAL COUNCIL CONTRACT. >> OKAY, COUNCIL, IS THERE A FEELING ON THIS? SOMEBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION?
>> YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION AND I HAVE A COMMENT.
I THINK THAT THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED THROUGHOUT THIS DISCUSSION TODAY. OBVIOUSLY HAVE A LOT OF MERIT.
BUT I ALSO THINK THAT TIME IS MARCHING ON AND IT'S THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST AND WE NEED TO PUT SOME OF THIS TO BED.
GIVEN THE SITUATION THAT BOTH RICHARD AND CRISTINA FIND THEMSELVES, I WOULD SUPPORT APPROVING BOTH PROMOTION PLANS FOR EACH OF THE ENTITIES AND AT THE SAME TIME RECOMMEND TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THAT THEY WAIVE THE OVERHEAD FOR '21. PENDING A CHANGE.
BECAUSE WE CAN COME BACK AND REVISIT THAT.
BUT WE NEED TO GET THESE PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
AND TOURISM IS GOING TO COME BACK EVENTUALLY, THIS IS NOT THT THT THEENT -- NOT THE END OF THE WORLD AND ADVOCATE FOR THEM TO
DO THEIR JOBS. >> MR. CHAIRMAN.
THIS IS NANCY SIKES-KLINE. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREED WITH WITH APPROVAL. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE THOSE PROMOTIONS. AND WE CONTINUE THOSE ACTIVITIES. WE DO HAVE COMPETITION IN OTHER COMMUNITIES AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT FORGET THE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO'S JOB DEPENDS ON THE WORK.
THAT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL DOES. AND THE WORK THAT THE VCB DOES,
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, NANCY.
>> I'M IN AGREEMENT [INAUDIBLE]. >> OKAY, DIANE.
>> I CONCUR WITH JACK AND FELLOW COMMISSIONERS IF WE KEEP THE CAP FOR THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, PARTICULARLY TO LOSE A STAFF MEMBER AND BE A STAFF OF ONE IS CRAZY.
SO -- I'M GOING TO VOTE YES. >> OKAY.
YOU MADE A MOTION? >> NO, NOT YET.
>> OKAY, I WOULD MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE VCB AND THE CULTURAL COUNCIL PROMOTION PLANS AND THAT WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO SUSPEND THE OVERHEAD CAP FOR
>> SORRY, 21. >> NO, I AM SORRY, 21.
>> I THOUGHT I HAD IT. IS IT MONDAY?
>> I WILL SECOND THAT. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
[02:00:04]
SECOND, ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? DISCUSSION.PUBLIC? >> THE ONLY DISCUSSION IS I HEARD EARLIER THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT WAITING UNTIL %-P
THE TABLE? >> I THINK WE HAVE A MOTION
WHICH WOULD MOVE US FORWARD NOW. >> YES.
>> AND THE SECOND WOULD MOVE US FORWARD NOW, IRVING, YES IT WILL MOVE IT OFF THE TABLE FOR SEPTEMBER.
>> OKAY. >> OKAY, HAVING SEEN NO ONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS FROM THE PUBLIC.
I THINK WE PRETTY MUCH DISCUSSED IT AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.
PLEASE DENA. >> DANNY BERENBERG.
>> COMMISSIONER NANCY SIKES-KLINE.
>> YES. >> OKAY, THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. I THANK EVERYONE.
IS THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL?
[11. MEMBER COMMENTS]
>> HAS THE DATE FOR SEPTEMBER BEEN ESTABLISHED?
>> IT WOULD BE THE 21ST. THIRD MONDAY.
>> I BELIEVE THE 21ST SHOULD BE THE THIRD MONDAY.
IT'S THE THIRD MONDAY. SO SEPTEMBER 1 IS ACTUALLY A TUESDAY. I DO WANT TO COMMENT AS KIND OF JUST ON THE MONTHLY REPORTS. JUST SO EVERYBODY IS AWARE, WE DO ALWAYS PUT THE MONTHLY REPORTS AS A PRINT OUT IN YOUR BOOK AND PART OF THE AGENDA THAT YOU FIND E-MAILED TO YOU AND ONLINE. WE DO PROVIDE THE DATA IN A VARIETY OF WAYS INCLUDING BY ZIP CODE.
AND BY ACCOMMODATION TYPE. I HAVE BEEN GETTING A FAIR NUMBER OF QUESTIONS OF HOW HELPFUL TO PROVIDE THAT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE, I KNOW THAT WE PROVIDE A LOT OF INFORMATION BUT IT'S IN THERE. AND THERE FOR EVERY MEETING.
>> TERA, I KNOW IT'S A CHALLENGE AND IT'S NOT A CRITICISM ON MY PART. BUT IF YOU SEND OUT INFORMATION ON THE SAME DAY AS THIS MEETING, I'M GOING TO MISS IT MOST OF THE TIME. AND I THINK OTHERS WILL TOO.
I KNOW [INAUDIBLE]. >> WE SEND THE AGENDAS OUT WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE MEETING, WE TRY FOR TUESDAY AND IT'S PART OF THAT AGENDA PACKET. AND THIS MORNING I SENT THE POWERPOINT OUT AND QUITE FRANKLY WE DIDN'T HAVE OUR STUFF TOGETHER ON THE GRANTS AND IT WAS A SCAMBLE TO HAVE THAT
>> I DO. AND IT'S NOT THE END OF THE
WORLD. >> WE WILL WORK TO GET THAT EARLIER WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT.
BUT EVEN IF YOU LOOK AT IT AFTER THE FACT, I WANT TO LET EVERYONE
KNOW IT'S THERE. >> OKAY, WE HAVE A FEW MINUTES LEFT IF ANYBODY HAS A COMMENT THEY WISH TO MAKE? IF NOT, I WILL CALL FOR A MOTION TO CLOSE THE MEETING.
PLEASE? >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, DENA, ALL IN FAVOR --
>> AYE. >> OKAY, WE'RE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.