[Items 1 - 3]
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>>> WHO CAN WE GET TO CALL THE ROLL? THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A QUORUM?
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
YES. I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR APPROVAL OFTHE AGENDA, PLEASE. >> SO MOVED.
>> COMMISSIONER GEORGE. >> YES.
>> COMMISSIONER SYKES KLEIN. >> YES.
>> COMMISSIONER WALDRIN. >> YES.
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
>> THE AGENDA IS APPROVED, CAN I GET A MOTION ON THE APPROVAL OF
>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER SYKES KLEIN.
>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER WALDRON.
>> YES. >> THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
[Additional Item]
BEFORE WE GO ON THE RECORD I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT, WHEREAS PAUL WALDRON HAS BEEN A DEDICATED REPRESENTATIVE, THE REPRESENTATIVES ON THE COUNTY COMMISSION AND WHEREAS PAUL WALDRON HAS BEEN SELFLESS IN HIS LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO SEE THAT TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN ST.JOHNS COUNTY RESPONSIBLY THRIVES AND WHEREAS PAUL WALDRON IS NOW ABLE TO RETURN TO HIS DUTIES AS COUNTY COMMISSIONER IN MEMBER OF THIS TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOURISM, BE IT AGREED I GUESS BY THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA THAT WE APPLAUD PAUL'S RETURN TO SERVICE, ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR HIS IMPROVED HEALTH AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIS CONTINUED SERVICE AS A BELOVED AND RESPECTED COLLEAGUE IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
CAN I ASK FOR THE APPROVAL? >> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE.
>> AYE. >> PAUL, WE WELCOME YOU BACK.
>> YEAH, I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR THAT.
I'M GLAD TO BE BACK AND GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THE
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THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS EVERYBODY HAS GIVEN TO ME.I'VE GOT A LOT OF REHAB TO DO BUT MENTALLY GOOD AND GETTING
HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, GET BACK TO WORK, PAUL.
[6. PUBLIC COMMENT]
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENT OR READ OUT? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO MAKE A COMMENT?>> THIS IS ALBERT SILAS. DO YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU, ALBERT. IF YOU'LL HANG TIGHT FOR ME FOR JUST A SECOND IF YOU DON'T MIND. JUST A REMINDER TODAY AS WE GO THROUGH PUBLIC COMMENT, WE HAVE COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE PARTICIPATING BY AUDIO TODAY AND THERE CAN BE UP TO A 60 SECOND DELAY, ONCE WE CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT EVEN IF WE DON'T HEAR ANYBODY IN THE ROOM WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT A 60 SECOND GRACE PERIOD FOR PEOPLE PARTICIPATING BY PHONES.
>> THANK YOU. WHILE WE DO THAT, IRVING, CAN
YOU READ OUT THE -- YES. >> AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE REGULAR AGENDA.
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS WILL HAVE THEIR OWN PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
ANY PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD SHOULD COME TO THE PODIUM AND STATE HIS OR HER NAME AND ADDRESS.
EACH PERSON WILL BE PROVIDED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND SHALL COMPLY WITH THE RULES OF DECORUM.
COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE AND NOT TO ANY INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONER AND MAY NOT INCLUDE A DEMAND FOR AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM THE BOARD.
NO PERSON MAY ADDRESS THE BOARD WITH PERSONAL IMPERTINENT OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR WITH BOISTEROUS BEHAVIOR.
MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ANY DISRUPTIVE DEMONSTRATIONS OF APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF ANY COMMENTS.
FINALLY I WOULD ASK THAT ANY SPEAKER THAT PRESENTS ANY OVERHEAD MATERIAL, PLEASE PRESENT THAT MATERIAL TO THE STAFF OF THE CLERK OF COURT TO BE ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD. THANK YOU.
>> ALBERT, I THINK YOU'RE STILL THERE?
>> OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE ARTS COMMUNITY IN ST.
AUGUSTINE AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE PROGRESS OF THE ARTS CENTER PROJECT.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING OUR BUSINESS PLAN.
WE'VE HAD A REALLY TERRIFIC PRESENTATION LAST WEEK INCLUDING A 3D AUTO CAD DESIGNS OF A POTENTIAL BUILDING TYPE AND A VERY DETAILED FINANCIAL PLAN FOR HAVING A CONTINUING OPERATION WITHOUT TOO MUCH OF SUBSIDY. WE THINK THIS IS A SUSTAINABLE MODEL. WE'RE DEVELOPING TWO ALTERNATIVE MODELS FOR THAT. WE HAVE NOT FINALIZED THE BUSINESS PLAN. BUT WE WILL PUBLISH AND PRESENT IT TO YOU WHEN WE ARE READY TO DO THAT WHICH SHOULD NOT BE TOO LONG, A MONTH OR TWO. BUT WE ARE MAKING VERY, VERY GOOD PROGRESS AND I WAS PERSONALLY VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE PRESENTATION. AND IT LOOKS VERY, VERY PROMISING. HOWEVER WE'VE ALL BEEN DELAYED B THE COVID-19 PROCESS AND WE KNOW THAT THE TOURISM DOLLARS HAVE BEEN DOWN AND THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT CASH FLOW ISSUES IN THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. WITH THAT IN MIND, WE REMIND YOU THAT YOU DID APPROVE A SECOND STUDY FOR AN ART CENTER IN THE ST. AUGUSTINE AREA WHICH UNFORTUNATELY COULD NOT BE EXECUTED DURING THE CRISIS. HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO BE EXECUTED SOMETIME IN THE COMING YEARS AS THINGS GET BETTER. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING IS TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED MORE UPDATES, THANK
YOU. >> PERHAPS YOU CAN TELL US WHO BAVARDI IS AND WHAT'S THEIR FUNCTION.
>> DR. ERIC BECKER IS A STRATEGIC FUND RAISING PROFESSIONAL WITH HAVING RAISED MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR SIMILAR KINDS OF FACILITIES FOR UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER AGENCIES. THEY ARE PROVIDING OUR BUSINESS AT THIS POINT AND WILL BE PROVIDING OUR FUND RAISING COORDINATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THEY'RE BASED IN THE
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JACKSONVILLE REGION SO THEY'RE VERY MUCH INVESTED IN WHAT GOES ON IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. WE LOVE THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST PROFESSIONAL BUT THEY'RE LOCAL.>> THANK YOU. IS THERE OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? ANYONE WISHING TO MAKE ANOTHER COMMENT? NO, OKAY. LET'S MOVE ON THEN TO THE AGENDA
[7. ACHIEVING THE STRATEGIC GOALS OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT]
ITEM ACHIEVING THE STRATEGIC GOALS OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT.>> I'M GOING TO ADDRESS THIS FROM HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE RICHARD, CHRISTINA, AND ISABELLE ALL HERE TODAY.
SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO STACK THE PODIUMS AS YOU HAVE THEM UP HERE. BUT AT THE DIRECTION OF THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, I HAVE REACHED OUT TO OUR ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE CONTRACT WITH FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF MEETINGS SINCE THE LAST TDC MEETING TO IDENTIFY SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO BETTER COORDINATE THE PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS ACROSS THE TOURISM INDUSTRY HERE IN ST.
JOHNS COUNTY AND AS I MENTIONED ALL THREE OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS ARE HERE TODAY TO GIVE A JOINT PRESENTATION ON SOME OF THOSE UPDATES AND DISCUSS SOME NEXT STEPS.
>> THANK YOU. WHO'D LIKE TO GO FIRST?
>> WITH YOUR PERMISSION WE'RE ALL GOING TO PRESENT TOGETHER IF
THAT'S OKAY. >> OKAY, YOU CAN DO THAT.
BY THE WAY WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE ALL THREE OF YOU PRESENT TOGETHER. THAT IN AND OF ITSELF SHOWS US A GREAT DEAL. THANK YOU.
>> SO WE ALL WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE COUNCIL'S EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE US TO COORDINATE.
I WANTED TO SHARE FIRST THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR QUITE A FEW MONTHS.
I JOINED THE CULTURAL COUNCIL BACK IN DECEMBER AND I THINK THE FIRST WEEK I WAS HERE I HAD LUNCH WITH RICHARD AND WE BEGAN TALKING ABOUT WAYS THAT WE COULD WORK TOGETHER MORE CLOSELY THAN PERHAPS THE VCB AND THE CULTURAL COUNCIL HAD DONE IN THE PAST.
AND VERY SOON AFTER THAT, ISABELLE INVITED ME TO PARTICIPATE IN A SERIES OF MEETINGS SHE WAS HAVING RELATED TO MARKETING PONTA VEDRE SPECIFICALLY.
THE WORK BEGAN NINE MONTHS AGO, GRANTED THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF INTEREST HAPPENING BECAUSE WE HAD OTHER THINGS HAPPENING AND COVID HIT IN MARCH AND ALL OF US HAD TO CHANGE PRIORITIES A BIT.
WE HAD BEGUN SOME WORK BEFORE LAST MONTH'S MEETINGS.
AND SINCE THEN TARA HAS DONE A GREAT JOB FACILITATING MEETINGS BETWEEN THE THREE OF US TO MOVE THOSE EFFORTS FORWARD MORE QUICKLY. THIS PRESENTATION GOES THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY STARTED DOING TO COLLABORATE AND COORDINATE OUR WORK.
SO RICHARD IS GOING TO STEP UP AND GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION AND SHOW YOU SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED ALREADY.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? RICHARD GOLDMAN FROM THE ST.
JOHNS COUNTY VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU.
AS CHRISTINA MENTIONED, WE COMPILED THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE'VE BEEN CONDUCTING FOR SOME TIME AND REPORTING THEM TO YOU.
WHAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW IS A FOOTER ON THE HISTORIC, SORRY, THE FLORIDA'S HISTORIC COAST WEBSITE WHICH WILL LOOK LIKE THIS. AT THE FOOTER OF EACH PAGE WILL BE FOR ARTS, CULTURE, AND HERITAGE.
PLEASE VISIT AND THEN THE LOGO OF THE HISTORIC COAST CULTURE.
THEN FOR RELOCATION AND BUSINESS INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT ST.
JOHNS COUNTY CHAMBER AND THEN LOGO.
THAT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND SHOULD BE ROLLED OUT THIS WEEK.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON AND THIS IS RELATIVELY RECENT IS COORDINATING SOCIAL CONTENT.
THIS IS A SOCIAL POST THAT ORIGINATED ON THE HISTORIC COAST CULTURE FACEBOOK PAGE. WE ALSO SENT THAT OUT ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE WHICH HAS A LARGER AUDIENCE AND EXPOSED THAT, THE REACH OF THAT FIRST ONE THERE TO THE LEFT THAT YOU SEE TALKS
[00:15:08]
ABOUT ARCHITECTURE AND THE FLAGLER COLLEGE SHOWS 131,000, REACH 16,473 ENGAGEMENTS AS A RESULT OF THAT.THE ONE TO THE RIGHT IS ANOTHER ONE.
PART OF OUR THROWBACK THURSDAYS SOCIAL PAGE, SOCIAL PRESENCE.
THAT ALSO IS CONTENT PROVIDED BY THE HISTORIC COAST CULTURE AND SENT OUT OVER THE LARGER WEBSITE.
WE ALSO HAD ONE JUST LATE THIS WEEK ON THE PARK WHICH WAS ALSO PROVIDED BY THE HISTORIC COAST CULTURE.
THE TRAVEL PLANNER WHICH IS OUR ANNUAL TRAVEL PLANNER THAT GOES OUT TO 120,000 REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION FROM FOLKS WHO ARE PLANNING TO VISIT THE DESTINATION.
WE HAD EDITS MAYBE, ON THE RIGHT HAND PAGE ARTS AND CULTURE, WE HAD EDITS THAT CAME THROUGH CHRISTINA'S OFFICE.
IN ADDITION WE HAD THOSE FOUR UPDATED PHOTOS ADDED.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE LOGO OF COURSE AT THE BOTTOM AND THE WEBSITE IN THE TOP OF JUST UNDER ARTS, CULTURE, AND HERITAGE.
THE CONTENT HERE IS COMPLETELY UPDATED AND FROM THE CULTURAL COUNCIL. ON THE LEFT SIDE, THE MUSIC PAGE OUT OF THE TRAVEL PLANNER WAS UPDATED BY THE CULTURAL EVENTS DIVISION, UPDATED FOR SOME CAPACITY CHANGES IN THE VARIOUS VENUES AS WELL AS TALENT NAMES IN THE VARIOUS PLANS FOR THE NEXT YEAR. SO THOSE ARE EDITS THAT ARE HAPPENING NOW. THEY'RE IN PRODUCTION.
THAT DOCUMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN JANUARY.
CURRENTLY ON THE WEBSITE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BLOG POSTS THAT HAVE INFORMATION THAT IS APPROPRIATELY LINKED TO THE HISTORIC COAST CULTURE BLOGS ON THAT WEBSITE.
AND THE ARROWS SIMPLY POINT TO SOME OF THOSE SITES.
SO WHERE THERE MIGHT BE A REFERENCE TO THE LINCOLNVILLE EXPERIENCE, WE LINK THAT TO THE LINCOLNVILLE BLOG ON HISTORIC COAST CULTURE. SO A NUMBER OF THOSE AND THESE ARE JUST EXAMPLES TO SHOW YOU WHERE THESE LINKS HAVE BEEN PDO.
ON THE HISTORIC COAST CULTURE WEBSITE, THE FOOTER OF EACH OF THE PAGES ON THAT WEBSITE INCLUDES THE REFERENCE YOU SEE AT THE BOTTOM. YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO STAY ONE MORE DAY. START EXPLORING, VISIT FLORIDA'S HISTORIC COAST DOT COM AND THEN A LINK OF THE HOME PAGE OF THE WEBSITE. THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE LINKS FROM THE HISTORIC COAST WEBSITE TO THE HISTORIC COAST CULTURE WEBSITE AND WHAT WE'VE DONE IS BY SHOWING YOU THESE, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM INDIVIDUALLY.
BUT BY SHOWING THEM TO YOU, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THEY'RE GOING FROM A SUBJECT MATTER TO A SUBJECT MATTER THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. NOT DUPLICATED INFORMATION, ADDITIONAL, MORE IN-DEPTH INFORMATION.
THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE DUPLICATIONS BETWEEN WEBSITES ATUALLY HARMS EVERYBODY'S SEARCHABILITY.
THE SEARCH ENGINES DON'T LIKE THAT.
SO AGAIN SOME MORE EXAMPLES. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 13 OF THESE LINKS CURRENTLY AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOOK FOR MORE.
IN THE AREA OF NATURALLY PONTE VEDRE AND A PRESENCE ON THE WEBSITE, THESE HAVE BEEN THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THE DESTINATION ARCHITECTURE, COMMITTEES, AND INPUT FROM THE NICHOLS GROUP AND THE COMMITTEE HAS COME FROM THOSE COMMITTEES AND BEEN HAD PAGES CREATED ON THE WEBSITE.
THOSE SITES, THOSE PAGES HAVE BEEN LIVE SINCE SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR AND HAVE EVOLVED OVER TIME.
FIVE CATEGORIES WERE IDENTIFIED BY THE COMMITTEE AND BY MR. NICHOLS AS SUBJECTS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO THE PONTE VEDRE
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EXPERIENCE. THOSE ARE HIKING, BIKING, KAYAKING, FISHING, BIRDING AND IS THAT FIVE? YEAH. THESE ARE THE LARGER PRESENCE, LARGER PRODUCTIONS OF THOSE PAGES, THOSE SUB PAGES WITH INFORMATION ALL WHENEVER YOU SEE THOSE ORANGE TYPE INFORMATION THERE, THOSE ARE LINKS INTO MORE DETAILED INFORMATION.IT WAS SUPPLIED BY THE CHAMBER OR GTM OR BOTH.
THE PREVIOUS TWO WERE KAYAKING, BIKING, HIKING, BIRDING, AND FISHING TO WHICH A DRILL DOWN FROM THE KAYAKING ONE FOR EXAMPLE, YOU SEE THE NORTH OUTPOST AND THIS IS A DRILL DOWN ON THAT. IT'S GOT A MAP LOCATION AND OF COURSE THE LOGOS OF TWO OF THE CONTRIBUTOR WITH CONTENT.
PLUS WE'VE ADDED USER GENERATED CONTENT IN THE IMAGES THAT YOU SEE THERE AT THE BOTTOM. WE'VE ALSO ADDED DINING IN PONTE VEDRE WITH THAT INFORMATION AND YOU SEE BUILD OUTS ON THAT AS WELL AS GOLFING. SO THESE ARE UP AND FUNCTIONING CURRENTLY. SHOPPING WAS ANOTHER CATEGORY THAT WAS SINCE ADDED. THAT'S A TOP LINE VIEW OF THE ITEMS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER ON AND HAVE SET UP.
WE ARE READY AND WILLING AND INTERESTED IN CONTINUING THAT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AND ISABELLE, DID YOU WANT TO ADD
SOMETHING? >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING REALLY ELSE TO ADD EXCEPT THANK YOU AND WELCOME BACK TO BOARD MEMBER PAUL WALDRON.
WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE HIM BACK. THANK YOU.
>> WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, RICHARD. I HAD A FEW MORE THINGS TO ADD IN THE AREA OF CONTINUING COLLABORATION.
TO THAT END YOU ALL HAVE A REPORT IN FRONT OF YOU OR HAD ONE THAT YOU ACCESSED OR WERE ABLE TO ACCESS ONLINE THAT WAS SENT OUT EARLIER. AS I SAID THE CULTURAL COUNCIL STARTED DOING SOME OF THE WORK RELATED TO COLLABORATION A WHILE AGO AND SOME OF THAT CAME OUT OF THE WORK OF A CONSULTANT THAT WE HIRED. SHE WAS HIRED TO DO A COMPREHENSIVE DESTINATION MARKETING REVIEW BECAUSE WE WERE QUESTIONING THE WORK THAT WE'D DONE IN THE PAST AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TOOK STEPS TO DO BETTER GOING FORWARD.
AND INTERESTINGLY THAT REPORT WAS PRESENTED THE WEEK BEFORE THE LAST TDC MEETING AND YOU HAVE THE SUMMARY OF THAT REPORT IN FRONT OF YOU. YOU'LL FIND THAT A LOT OF THE PAGES IN THAT REPORT TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE WERE NOT COLLABORATING AS WELL AS WE SHOULD HAVE WITH THE OTHER PKRK COUNTY -- SHOULD HAVE WITH THE OTHERS CONTRACTORS WHO ARE WORKING FOR THE COUNTY. WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO BRING, ROBIN, OUR CONSULTANT DOWN TO TALK TO YOU AT THE NEXT TDC MEETING IF THAT'S INTERESTING. SHE WILL MEET WITH A COUPLE OF PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTY TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF HER IDEAS AND I HAVE TO SAY I THINK EVERYONE WAS VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE WORK THAT SHE'S PROPOSING THAT SHE DO WITH US TO IMPROVE OUR EFFORTS.
>> THANK EACH OF YOU FOR THESE EFFORTS.
I THOUGH I HAVE BEEN HARPING ON THIS FOR A WHILE.
BUT THE MORE THAT WE CAN CURATE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE, THE BETTER OFF WE WILL ALL BE IN TERMS OF ATTRACTING MORE PEOPLE AND ENSURING THAT WHEN THEY GET HERE, THERE'S INFORMATION OR OPPORTUNITIES OR PLACES FOR PEOPLE.
I SINCERELY THANK ALL OF YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT'S NEXT.
AND ALSO I ATTENDED THE ST. JOHNS CULTURAL COUNCIL MEETING
[00:25:05]
AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR ROBIN FIRST HAND AND I WOULD WHOLEHEARTEDLY ENDORSE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HER THE COME AND PRESENT BEFORE THE COMMISSION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.I THINK THAT WOULD BE JUST VERY HELPFUL.
THANK YOU. >> I DON'T KNOW THE RIGHT WORD FOR IT JUST YET. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED.
RICHARD AND CHRISTINA AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH ROBIN AND TO SEE THAT REPORT. AND I THINK WHAT WE SAW TODAY IS ALREADY REACTING TO SOME OF THOSE REPORTS IN ROBIN'S REPORTS IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN WITH THE ARROWS AND HOW THINGS HAVE BEEN UPDATED AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT.
READING ROBIN'S REPORT, I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE IT CHANGED MY MIND ON THE SUBJECT OF COLLABORATION AND CONSOLIDATION. IT CAME TO ME AFTER READING HER REPORT THAT WE'RE REALLY UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE TO REALLY APPROACH THE PROBLEMS WE'RE FACING BECAUSE OF THE VIRUS BY SAVING EXPENSES. I KNOW RICHARD AND CHRISTINA AND ISABELLE TOO HAVE STRUGGLED WITH HOW DO WE CUT YOUR BUDGETS AND AT THE SAME TIME EXPECT MORE FROM YOU.
ROBERT'S REPORT SHOWED ME THE PAST WORDS IMPROVING OUR SITUATIONS BY EXPANDING OUR TOURIST MARKETS.
THE INTERCULTURAL TOURISM THING WAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT VIEW OF THINGS THAN I'D SEEN BEFORE. AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE WORTH YOUR TIME TO LOOK VERY CAREFULLY AT THEIR REPORT AND TO HEAR HER AGAIN NOT ONLY FOR THE COUNCIL BUT FOR THE PUBLIC AS WELL, I THINK SHE HAS AN EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT STORY TO TELL AND A RATIONALE THAT CAN LEAD US FORWARD.
THANK YOU. SO I WANT TO ADD MY THANKS TO ROBIN THAT SHE REALLY DID AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH THIS REPORT.
AND THERE'S SOME THINGS IN THERE THAT WE JUST FLAT OUT MISSED IN TE PAST WHICH I THINK YOU FOLKS, SEEMS TO ME LIKE YOU'RE WORKING HARD TO IMPROVE. SO I THANK YOU AGAIN AND I THANK ROBIN. OTHER COMMENTS?
>> YES, I'M GOING TO JUMP IN REAL QUICK.
SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERYBODY BOTH THE TDC BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION THAT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL COMMISSION AS WELL AS THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE AND LISTENING ON THE PHONE AND JUST MAYBE GENERALLY INTERESTED, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO INVITE TO COME DOWN TO OUR OCTOBER TDC MEETING AND GIVE A PRESENTATION, JUST AN OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY THAT SHE DID AND SOME OF THE INSIGHTS AND RESULTS THAT SHE FOUND AND SOME OF HER RECOMMENDATIONS.
I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF EVERYBODY WAS ON THAT SAME PLAYING FIELD IN ORDER TO HAVE COMMENTS.
>> JUST ONE ADDITIONAL COMMENT. SOMETHING THAT ROBERT POINTED OUT IN THIS REPORT AND WE TAKE FOR GRANTED IS THE NUMBER OF CULTURAL ASSETS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
HISTORICALLY, LEISURE, THE BEACHES.
THERE'S SO MUCH HERE AND I'M AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE GROUPS LIKE THIS ARE SCRAMBLING TO DETERMINE HOW THEY CAN HAVE A COMPETITIVE EDGE AS SOON AS PEOPLE ARE READY TO TRAVEL AND DOMESTIC TRAVEL IS GOING TO BE FIRST ON THE LIST. AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW GRATEFUL I AM THAT RATHER THAN WAIT, THAT YOU'VE GOT A FOOT FORWARD AND ARE LOOKING AS TO HOW WE CAN JUST DO A BETTER JOB IN PROMOTING WHAT WE HAVE AND CREATING EXPERIENCES THAT ARE TRULY UNIQUE AND RANK HIGH ABOVE OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE THANK YO.
>> I WONDER IF RICHARD, YOU AND CHRISTINA MIGHT JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO TELL ABOUT OUR MEETING LAST WEEK.
I THINK THAT MIGHT ALERT PEOPLE TO THAT.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE GOT A MAJOR THING COMING ONLINE.
SO I THINK IT WOULDN'T BE TOO IMPROPER TO KIND OF ALERT THAT.
YOU GUYS WERE RIGHT ON THE SPOT ON THIS THING REALLY HELPING AND IT'S APPRECIATED BY ME AND IT'S APPRECIATED BY WHAT MIGHT COME
OF THAT IN PONTA VEDRA. >> I'D BE HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT IT. THE YARDS IS A GREAT PROJECT.
[00:30:03]
FIRST I WANT TO HAVE ONE FINAL COMMENT ON THE REPORT THAT WE HANDED OUT. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY IT IS A STUDY AND SOME OF US THINK WE DO TOO MANY STUDIES AND PERHAPS THAT'S NOT A GOOD USE OF OUR FUNDS.BUT I WANT TO ASSURE EVERYONE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A STUDY, IT IS AN ACTION PLAN FOR US AND WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO IMPLEMENT IT. SO WE HAVE OUR BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR THAT WE CAN USE TO MAKE THESE THINGS HAPPEN IN THIS STUDY. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
NOW AS FAR AS THE YARDS GOES, THERE IS A GOLF COURSE IN PONTA VEDRA THAT MOST OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH.
I BELIEVE IT WAS OAK BRIDGE GOLF COURSE.
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN THAT PROPERTY TO COMPLETELY REDO THE GOLF COURSE AND THE FACILITIES. I'VE BEEN HEARING BUZZ ABOUT IT FROM PEOPLE AT PONTA VEDRA ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE WORK THAT HAD BEEN DONE. DANNY INVITED ME AND OUR CONSULTANT, SHE WAS IN TOWN AND WAS ABLE TO GO AS WELL AND RICHARD WAS THERE TO A LUNCHEON TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.
THEY ARE DEVELOPING A COUPLE OF REALLY INTERESTING VENUES THAT I THINK WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO SUPPORT CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN THE PONTA VEDRA AREA WHICH IS SOMETHING I WAS TOLD WHEN I WAS HIRED. THE PEOPLE SAY IT'S NOT JUST A PERCEPTION, IT'S REALITY THAT THERE'S LESS GOING ON THERE THAT'S SUPPORTED BE BY THE COUNTY THAN ST. AUGUSTINE.
THE VENUES THEY'RE DEVELOPING INCLUDE A LARGE AMPHITHEATER THAT WOULD BE A SPACE WHERE SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE COULD GO TO. THERE IS A COVERED FACILITY.
I THINK BOTH OF THE FACILITIES THEY'RE DEVELOPING THE SMALLER SPACE AND THE AMPHITHEATER ARE COVERED.
THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED IN PARTNERING TO BRING MUSICAL EVENTS, THEATER, OTHER THINGS TO THAT PROPERTY AND IT'S A LITTLE WAYS DOWN THE ROAD. IT'S PROBABLY AT LEAST 12 MONTHS BEFORE THEY'LL BE ABLE TO HOST THOSE TYPES OF EVENTS.
BUT I THINK THAT IT WOULD ATTRACT VISITORS.
THE OWNERS SEEM TO BE VERY INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH US GREAT OPPORTUNITY.OING TO BE A - RICHARD MAY HAVE SOME OTHER
THINGS TO ADD. >> YES AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THEY ARE DOING OVER THERE ARE ALSO OF GREAT INTEREST TO US. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GOLF, CERTAINLY PONTA VEDRA IS KNOWN FOR ITS WEALTH OF GOLF OFFERINGS. BUT IN THE AREA OF ALTERNATIVE GOLF, THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A 12 HOLE GOLF COURSE WITH A PAR THREE SIX AS A FINISHER CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE OF US WHO WANT TO PLAY 18 HOLES TO ACTUALLY GET 18 HOLES.
BUT IT ALSO SPEEDS UP PLAY FOR THE MILLENNIALS THAT HAVE COMPLAINED THAT DEDICATING THE AMOUNT OF TIME TO GOLF IS DIFFICULT FOR THEM. SO THE GOLF AND THE GOLF COURSE HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REDONE. SO WE'RE REAL PLEASED WITH WHAT THEY SHARED WITH US IN THAT REGARD.
IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT PRODUCT, IT WILL BE PRICED DIFFERENTLY FROM THE GOLF THAT WE HAVE IN PONTA VEDRA AND SO IT WILL CREATE REALLY WHAT IS AN EXPANSION OF THE GOLF PRODUCT THERE. IN THE AREA OF PICKLE BALL, YES I'M SAYING PICKLE BALL, 14 COURTS UNDER COVER AND LIT PRESENTS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY.
WE AND OUR SALES TEAM HAVE BROUGHT HERE A PICKLE BALL TOURNAMENT, A REGIONAL PICKLE BALL TOURNAMENT.
WITH THAT SPECIAL FACILITY WE KNOW THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO HOST MORE AND LARGER TOURNAMENTS. SO THAT'S ANOTHER EXCITING GROWTH AREA THAT THE YARDS PRESENTS FOR US.
WE SHARED WITH THE OWNERS AND OPERATORS THERE THESE CAPABILITIES AND THESE OPPORTUNITIES AS THEY SHOWED US WHAT THEIR PLANS WERE. AND THE EXCITING THING TO ME IS THAT PORTIONS OF THIS WILL COME ONLINE LATER THIS YEAR AND OTHER PORTIONS EARLY IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND THE FINAL PORTIONS IN MIDYEAR. SO VERY, VERY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR TEAMS TO SELL MORE PRODUCT AND FOR THEIR USE. THERE'S MORE THERE IN PONTA VEDRA AND WE THANK DANNY FOR SHARING THAT INFORMATION WITH
US. >> I SEE MR. MORRIS, ROD MORRIS,
[00:35:01]
IS IN THE AUDIENCE. AND HE ATTENDED THAT MEETING WITH US. HE HAD A PARTICULAR INTEREST AS HIMSELF BEING A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL GOLF CHAMPION IN FLORIDA.THEIR IDEA THAT THEY PRESENTED WAS YOUTH GOLF AND WORKING ON YOUTH GOLF TOURNAMENTS IN THAT NEW FACILITY.
SO I KNOW THAT ROD HAS A VERY BIG INTEREST IN THAT AND I THINK I DO TOO. THE MORE WE CAN GET YOUNG PEOPLE BACK INTO THE SPORT IN AN AFFORDABLE WAY I THINK A LONGER TERM SUCCESS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IN GOLF.
I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME BACKSLIDING IN THAT RECENTLY IN TERMS OF INTEREST. BUT I THINK WE CAN OVERCOME THAT. ROD, I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME ON THAT TOO. AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU FOR MOVING FORWARD ON THIS COLLABORATION AND FINDING NEW WAYS TO EXTEND OUR REACH. THANK YOU.
[8. MONTHLY REPORTS PROVIDED IN PACKETS]
BELIEVE IT OR NOT WE'RE AT THE MONTHLY REPORTS.TARA, ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT? >> WE DID NOT HAVE ANY PLANNED PRESENTATION FOR MONTHLY REPORTS.
WE WERE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE THE ANSWERS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. BUT I WAS ACTUALLY WALKING OVER
HERE TO GRAB THE REMOTE. >> TARA, I DO HAVE A QUESTION ON THE NUMBERS. I DON'T WANT TO GET AHEAD OF YOU HERE, BUT I NOTICED THAT THE AIRBNB'S SEEM TO BE OUTPACING OUR HOTELS AND OUR BED AND BREAKFAST.
DID I READ THAT CORRECTLY? IF SO, WHY?
>> SO THE MONTHLY TAX COLLECTOR'S REPORT INCLUDES A BREAKDOWN OF COLLECTIONS A VARIETY OF WAYS.
IT IS BOTH BY ZIP CODE AND BY ACCOMMODATION TYPES.
AND I BELIEVE YOU'RE PROBABLY REFERENCING THE TYPES THAT ARE
LISTED AS CONDOS AND APARTMENTS. >> YES.
>> AND THOSE CERTAINLY ARE A NONTRADITIONAL HOTEL BUT THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY AIRBNB'S. THERE ARE SOME ESTABLISHMENTS THAT RENT OUT CONDOS THAT LOOK VERY SIMILAR TO A HOTEL.
HOWEVER AS A WHOLE I WOULD EXPLAIN THAT JUST THROUGH THE CURRENT CONTEXT OF SOCIAL DISTANCING AND HAVING INDIVIDUALS FEEL THAT GOING AND RENTING A PLACE OUT IN A COMMUNITY OR A STAND ALONE HOUSE IS MORE SOCIALLY DISTANCED AND A LITTLE BIT MORE FREE OF POTENTIAL CONTACT WITH GERMS OF CONCERN THAN STAYING IN A MORE TRADITIONAL ACCOMMODATION WOULD
YOU DON'T HAVE PREPARED COMMENTS ON THIS SO I'LL ASK IF THERE'S
QUESTIONS. >> I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. >> OTHER QUESTIONS FOR TARA? IS ANYONE THAT WAS CALLED IN HAVE QUESTIONS? I'LL GIVE IT A LITTLE TIME HERE. OKAY, LOOKING FOR MEMBER
[9. MEMBER COMMENTS]
COMMENTS. DIANE?>> THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND AGAIN, PAUL, IT'S
FABULOUS TO HAVE YOU BACK. >> THANK YOU.
I'D LIKE TO TELL EVERYBODY THANKS AGAIN FOR THEIR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE BACK AND I'M IN REHAB RIGHT NOW BUT GETTING BETTER EVERY DAY AND I'LL BE
BACK IN THE OFFICE SOON. >> IRVING.
>> I'D ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME BACK COMMISSIONER WALDRON.
I'M GLAD YOU'RE ON THE MEND AND KEEP UP YOUR REHAB AND THE GOOD
[00:40:01]
>> I'D JUST LIKE TO REITERATE, BACK. IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU -
WE'RE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> OTHERS? >> YES, THIS IS COMMISSIONER NANCY SIKES-KLINE. I WANTED TO ALSO ADD MY VOICE TO A WARM WELCOME BACK TO COMMISSIONER WALDRON.
WE'VE ALL BEEN PRAYING SO HARD FOR HIM AND ARE SO ENCOURAGED TO HEAR HIM AND THINK HE'S SO COURAGEOUS AND ABSOLUTELY HAD TO BE VERY FOCUSED IN HIS RECOVERY AND WE'RE ALL WITH HIM SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PAUL, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> THANK YOU.
I'D LIKE TO COMMENT THAT WE HAVE REGINA HERE, REGINA ROSS FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. WE DON'T OFTEN GET TO SEE HER ANYMORE SO IT'S A PARTICULAR PLEASURE WHEN WE DO.
REGINA, WELCOME. OKAY THE NEXT MEETING DATE.
>> OCTOBER 19TH. >> AND TARA, AT THAT MEETING, WE HAVE ASKED FOR APPLICATIONS FOR OUR --
>> TDC BOARD MEMBERS. >> AND WE WILL AT THAT MEETING
SO JUST SO EVERYBODY IS AWARE WHO IS LISTENING OR IN THE AUDIENCE, WE DO CURRENTLY HAVE TWO TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES POSTED. WE HAVE THE ACCOMMODATIONS OPPORTUNITY, AND THE NONACCOMMODATIONS OPPORTUNITY, SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED BY ALL MEANS, PLEASE GET ONLINE, PLEASE SUBMIT THAT APPLICATION, WE WILL BE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS THROUGH MID OCTOBER. AND THOSE WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE TDC FOR SOME DIRECTION AND AN ULTIMATE RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY CO COMMISSIONER WITH HOW TO MOVE FORWARD FILLING POSITIONS. WE HAVE A VACANCY POSITION AND WE EXPECT TO HAVE TWO MORE FOR WHICH OUR MEMBERS ARE GOING TO FULFILL THEIR EXIST EXIING TERM. SO WE WILL BE LOOKING TO THE OUTSIDE TO GET SOME APPLICANTS FOR CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU. I KNOW A NUMBER OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE HAVE HELPED US BY REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE YOU THINK WORTHY OF BELIEF APPROPRIATE FOR A MEMBERSHIP TO THE TDC AND I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT AS I DO WITH ALL THE TDC COUNCIL MEMBERS, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO BE BASHFUL ABOUT POINTING OUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS WORK IS AND HOW HELPFUL THEY COULD BE. SO PLEASE WE ASK YOU TO HELP US RECRUIT. TARA, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? THEN I'LL CALL FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> I THINK WE'RE ALL AGREED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SEE YOU IN OCTOBER. EVERYBODY BE HEALT
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.