Oct 19, 2020 Tourist Development Council

[Items 1 - 3]

[00:00:08]

TAKE. >> I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING.

WILL YOU DO THE PLEDGE FIRST? >> I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD

INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> THANK YOU ALL.

>> ADINA CAN YOU DO THE ROLL CALL. >> DANNY.

>> I AM HERE. COMMISSIONER. >> YEAR PERIOD.

>> MICHAEL PIERCE. >> HERE. >> DIANE.

TANGIER. >> JEFF? TANGIER.

>> NANCY COLLECTS COMMISSIONER NANCY? COMMISSIONER PAUL?

COMMISSIONER PAUL? >> HERE. DID YOU GIVE ME?

I AM SORRY. >> YES. >> OKAY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM

COLLECTS. >> THE QUORUM IS RECORDED. >> NEXT ON THE AGENDA WILL BE

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

>> I SECOND. >> SOMEBODY MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> OKAY JACK, THANK YOU.

ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE. >> WE HAVE TO DO A ROLL CALL.

>> OKAY WE WILL DO A ROLL CALL VOTE. >> DANNY?

>> IN FAVOR. >> COMMISSIONER GEORGE? >> YES.

>> MICHAEL GORDON COLLECTS. >> YES. >> IRVINE?

>> S. >> DIANE? >> JACK?

>> YES. COMMISSIONER PAUL? >> YES.

>> THE AGENDA IS APPROVED. WE WILL CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ THAT

COLLECTS. >> AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE REGULAR AGENDA. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS WILL HAVE ANOTHER PERIOD.

ANY PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD SHOULD COME TO THE PODIUM AND STATE THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS THE BOARD. EACH PERSON WILL HAVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK.

COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE AND NOT AN INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONER AND NOT A DEMAND FOR A QUICK IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. NO PERSON MAY ADDRESS THE BOARD WITH PERSONAL OR IMPERTINENT OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR WITH BOISTEROUS BEHAVIOR.

MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ANY DISRUPTIVE DEMONSTRATION OF APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL. ANY SPEAKER THAT PRESENTS OVERHEAD MATERIAL PLEASE PRESENT IT TO THE STAFF OF THE CLERK OF COURT TO BE ENTERED INTO PUBLIC RECORD.

IQ. >> ANYONE HAVING PUBLIC COMMENT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME FORWARD

NOW, PLEASE? >> I WILL GIVE IT WON MINUTE IF THERE ARE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS BY PHONE. THERE IS A CALL WAITING, I AM SEEING IT.

OKAY SEE NO PUBLIC COMMENT I WILL MOVE ON. THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 6.

[6. TDC APPLICANT RECOMMENDATION (Action Required) – Tera Meeks Public Comment (3 Minutes)]

TDC APPLICANT RECOMMENDATION. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. AS OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM WE HAVE FOR CONSIDERATION, QUITE A VIEW TDC APPLICATIONS. AT THE MOMENT WE HAVE ONE

[00:05:05]

WE HAVE TWO PENDING VACANCIES FOR ONE IS HELD BY IRVIN AND A NON- ACCOMMODATION THAT IS HELD BY JACK PETER. TWO OF OUR THREE VACANCIES ARE REQUIRED TO BE FULFILLED BY OWNERS OR OPERATORS OF MOTELS, HOTELS OR RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARKS OR TOURIST ACCOMMODATIONS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO TAX. ONE OF OUR VACANCIES HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY.

AS THE LANGUAGE IN THE STATUTE IS WRITTEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE THREE ACCOMMODATION REPRESENTATIVES AND NO MORE THAN FOUR OF THEM. SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE, WHEN WE REFILL THE SEEDS, WE WILL HAVE THE MINIMUM OF THREE OF THEM BUT WE COULD FILL THE THIRD VACANCY WITH, EITHER AN ACCOMMODATION OR TO BE IN LINE WITH THE STATUE. THE COUNTY HAS PUT OUT A SOLICITATION LETTING THE COMMUNITY KNOW, THE VOTE AND APPLICANT ANIONIC ACCOMMODATING APPLICANTS. WE HAVE A TABLE HERE ON THE SCREEN WHICH IS OUR ACCOMMODATION APPLICANT SPIRIT ON THE NEXT SCREEN, THERE'S THE LIST OF NON- ACCOMMODATION APPLICANTS WHO SUBMITTED. HERE, I DID HIGHLIGHT THREE INDIVIDUALS WHO, BASED ON WHAT WAS IN THEIR APPLICATION IF THE COMMISSION MAKES RECOMMENDATION WE WILL NEED TO REACH OUT WITH THE HOLES AND INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE THEY DO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATUTE.

MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO TAKE UP THE VACANCIES. >> AND THEN, PROCEEDING FROM THEE TIMEWISE. THEN AS A CONTINUED NOTE, WE DO HAVE TO SUGGEST WE PUT A GENERAL TIME LIMIT ON HOW LONG WE WILL DISCUSS THIS, SO WE DON'T STEP INTO TOO MUCH TIME.

I THINK IT INDICATES THAT SHE NEEDS 45 MINS FOR HER PRESENTATION.

>> THANK YOU. I THINK, SHALL WE SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS DONE IN AN HOUR.

>> THEN WE SHOULD DISCUSS, AND FOR EVERYONE'S CLARIFICATION, MY NAME IS ON THE APPLICATION.

THERE IS ONE MYSELF AND I ONLY DID THAT BECAUSE DURING COVID I THOUGHT THERE WAS NEED FOR STABILITY AND WITH MICHAEL BEING THE ONLY HOTEL PERSON ON THE BOARD, I OFFERED TO SERVE ANOTHER TERM FOR ONE YEAR, EVEN THOUGH THAT IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE RULES AS A SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE. SO IT IS NOT SOMETHING SO I THINK, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT AS A SEPARATE DISCUSSION AFTER WE FILL THE POSITION. IF WE WANT TO HAVE CONTINUITY WITH THE TEAM AND WAIT ANOTHER YEAR,. JACK IS IN THE SAME POSITION BUT , BUT HAVING STABILITY, WHEN WE ARE FACING REVENUES DOWN 30% NEXT YEAR, AND, THE UNDERLYING FUNDAMENTALS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A SCARE RIGHT NOW.

ESPECIALLY ON THE CORPORATE TRAVEL SIDE. ESPECIALLY WITH THE MORE STABILITY WE HAVE THE SMARTER IT IS. IF THE BOARD FEELS WE SHOULD MOVE THE GROUP THAT IS FINE WITH ME TOO. BUT THAT IS A SEPARATE SUBJECT

THAT NEEDS TO BE DECIDED. >> OKAY, WE HAVE THE DOOR OPEN RIGHT NOW.

SO JACK, YOUR THOUGHTS? >> I WILL DEFER UNTIL I HEAR FROM THE REST OF THE BOARD.

[00:10:02]

QUORUM SPIRIT. >> THAT BRINGS UP THE SUBJECT, I WOULD BE REMISS OF THE CONSULATE NOT TO THINK, THAT THEY HAD LONG SERVICE. THEY WERE HERE WHEN I GOT HERE.

THEY HAVE BEEN A REAL HELP TO THE CONSULATE EVERY TIME. SO, I JUST HAVE TO THANK YOU.

MICHAEL, YOUR THOUGHTS? >> I THINK IT IS AN INTERESTING CONCEPT.

ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT IS GOING ON NOW. I THINK WE SHOULD HOLD THE FIRST SEAT AS IRVIN SUGGESTED. AND AFTER THAT WE CAN DISCUSS THE OTHER ELEMENTS.

IT'S UNPRECEDENTED WITH WHAT IS GOING ON FOR TOURISM, ESPECIALLY HOTELS.

IT IS A VERY INTERESTING NICHE. SORRY. I THINK IT IS PRETTY INTERESTING WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING. I WOULD BE A FAN OF, WHAT'S ON THE FIRST ONE AND LET'S CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT POTENTIALLY, IF WE CAN DO THAT, WE CAN WAIT ANOTHER YEAR, BECAUSE WE WILL NOT BE DISCUSSING HIGH DOLLAR ITEMS LIKE WE HAD. THIS WILL BE LIKE HANGING ON.

>> I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD FILL TOM'S SEAT. I ALSO AGREE, IN TERMS, AND I GREATLY RESPECT THE WHOLE GENESIS OF THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ON THE ROLE OF HOTEL PROPERTIES AND THIS COMING TO PASS AS A REVENUE SOURCE.

BUT I, I CANNOT HELP BUT THINK OF THE NATIONAL ELECTION AND IF WE WERE TO DIVERT THE NATIONAL ELECTION BECAUSE THE COUNTRY IS IN CRISIS, I FOLLOW THE SAME RATIONALE.

I AM OPEN TO THE DISCUSSION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN THE DISCUSSION AND TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD THAT REPRESENTS THE HOTEL INDUSTRY, OUT OF RESPECT, DEEP RESPECT,

THAT IS WHERE I STAND. >> IT SEEMS PRETTY UNIVERSAL, THAT SOMEONE SHOULD FILL THE

SEAT. >> I'M SORRY. >> I'M SORRY.

THIS IS NANCY. I HAVE JOINED THE MEETING. I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT.

SORRY I WAS AWAKE AND TARDY FOR THE MEETING. BUT I ONE 100% AGREE WITH THE

APPROACH THE BOARD HAS CHOSEN. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THOUGH, WE WILL CONSIDER TOM M'S POSITION. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITION. MEANING HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS PEOPLE, IF YOU ARE HERE AND YOU

WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD, PLEASE STEP TO THE MICROPHONE. >> ON THAT NOTE WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF APPLICANTS THAT INDICATED THEY ARE JUST JOINING BY PHONE TODAY.

>> WE WILL TAKE THEM AFTER THE PEOPLE. PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE

AND STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR PROPERTY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS JOE FINNIGAN. I RESIDE AT 34 SAINT FRANCIS STREET, SAINT AUGUSTINE.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I DID NOT COME PREPARED FOR THAT. SO I WOULD HAVE WRITTEN A 12-15 PRESENTATION.

WHAT YOU ALL HAVE THE APPLICATION AND FRONT OF YOU AND HAD TIME TO REVIEW IT.

I THINK IT IS GREAT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY INTERESTED PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WILLING TO GIVE OF THEIR TIME AND ENERGY AND SERVICE, TO THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTY AND IN PARTICULAR TO OUR INDUSTRY. I THINK THAT IS GREAT. I DON'T REMEMBER HAVING SO MANY AT ONE TIME, EXPRESS INTEREST AND MANY OF WHOM ARE QUALIFIED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

MY WIFE AND I, I THINK I'VE MENTIONED, OWNED THREE OF THE HISTORIC BED-AND-BREAKFAST DOWNTOWN. WE HAVE BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY SINCE 1985.

WE ALSO ON SOME VACATION RENTALS AT SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH. AS YOU CAN SEE, FROM MY RESUME I

[00:15:05]

I SEE SERVING ON THIS BOARD AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, AS WELL AS TO SHARE MY ENTHUSIASM AND ENERGY AND WHATEVER EXPERTISE I MAY HAVE GAINED OVER THE 35 YEARS AND THE INDUSTRY WITH COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD AND AGAIN, THE TOURISM INDUSTRY. SO I WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR DELIBERATIONS TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SPEAKING.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. BILL MCCLURE 6905 RICHARDS

PLACE, SAINT AUGUSTINE READ 280. >> CRESCENT BEACH BED AND BREAKFAST CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY WILL OPEN NOVEMBER 1 IT IS AN EIGHT ROOM BED-AND-BREAKFAST ON A, SOUTH OF 206. I AM HESITANT TO SAY, I DID NOT WANT TO PUT OWNER OPERATOR, BECAUSE MY 80-YEAR-OLD MOTHER SAID SHE WILL CHECK IN EVERY PERSON COMES IN THERE.

I DON'T WANT TO UPSTAGE HER. BUT THAT IS HER JOB I GUESS. BUT, WE DO OWN SOME VACATION RENTALS BUT THIS IS OUR FIRST FORAY INTO BED-AND-BREAKFAST DOWN THERE IN CRESCENT BEACH.

I WAS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER FROM 2012-2016. I SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE.

I WAS NOT A DELICATE BUT I WORKED WITH THE TDC FOR FOR YEARS.

I MAY HAVE HAD SOME OTHER THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN. I HAVE BEEN IN INSURANCE AGENT FOR 28 YEARS. THAT MAKES ME SOUND OLD. AND THAT IS IT.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICES.

>> THANK YOU SIR. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. CHARLIE COLLECTOR TRAINING GARDENS IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. MY ADDRESS IS 212 OF ALONSO A LOT A PEOPLE, I THINK THE LAST TIME I SPOKE, A FEW PEOPLE DID NOT KNOW THE COLLECTOR. IF YOU DON'T, I WILL TELL YOU.

WE HAVE BEEN OPEN FOR THREE AND HALF YEARS. WE ARE THE ONLY FOUR DIAMOND PROPERTY IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. TRAVEL AND LEISURE JUST NAMED US NUMBER FIVE RESORT IN FLORIDA.

TRIP ADVISOR NAMED US ONE OF THE TOP, 25 ROMANTIC HOTELS IN THE UNITED STATES.

U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT NAMED US ONE OF THE TOP TEN HOTELS. MY BACKGROUND, I'VE BEEN IN THE HOTEL BUSINESS A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN JOE, ONLY 30 YEARS. IN SAN FRANCISCO, PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN AND THE LAST THREE AND HALF YEARS HERE.

I BELONG IN HERE, IN SAINT AUGUSTINE, SAINT AUGUSTINE HISTORIC WHICH REPRESENTS 210 ROOMS IN THE CITY. FLORIDA RESTAURANT AND LODGING ASSOCIATION, I'M THE INCOMING PRESIDENT NEXT YEAR. A MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER IN TRAVERSE CITY I WAS ON THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT BOARD. IN PALM SPRINGS I WAS ON THE VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU BOARD. THE PALM SPRINGS TOURISM BOARD. THAT'S PALM SPRINGS CHAMBER.

DESERT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND I WAS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA HOTEL ASSOCIATION.

I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT REPRESENTS THE SMALLER PROPERTIES.

SOMEONE THAT IS DOWNTOWN, SOMEONE THAT KNOWS THE BUSINESS AND HAS KNOWN IT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. I WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CHAMBER AND VCB.

I WOULD BE QUITE PROUD TO SERVE ON THE BOARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU SIR. >> SO A QUICK NOTE TO EVERYONE LISTENING ON THE PHONE.

IF YOU CALLED IT RECENTLY AND YOU ARE AN APPLICANT INTERESTED IN SPEAKING.

WE WILL TAKE EVERYONE IN THE ROOM FIRST THEN WE WILL GO TO THE PHONE LINES.

IF YOU'RE ON THE PHONE LINES CAN YOU MAKE SURE YOU MUTE THE PHONE WHEN YOU ARE NOT SPEAKING.

ENKE APPEARED -- THANK YOU. >> >> I AM STEPHANIE STEPHANIE I AM THE DIRECTOR RENTALS SERVICES FOR A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT IN SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH.

I HAVE BEEN IN SAINT AUGUSTINE SINCE MY FAMILY MOVED DOWN HERE IN 1994 WHEN I WAS 9-YEARS-OLD.

I GREW UP IN THAT ST. JOHNS COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM. I ATTENDED FLAGLER COLLEGE, AND WITH A SPECIALIZATION IN SECONDARY EDUCATION AND THEATER. I GOT INTO COASTAL REALTY, I HAD A FRIEND THAT HIRED ME THERE AT THE HARBOR AND I MANAGE THAT HOTEL, FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE

[00:20:06]

I'VE BEEN WITH THEM FOR THE LAST 14 YEARS. SINCE 2013 I'VE BEEN IN THIS POSITION AS THE DIRECTOR. I HANDLE THE OWNER DISBURSEMENTS THAT WE HANDLE EVERY MONTH.

I REPORT STATE AND COUNTY TAXES FOR OUR BUSINESS. ALSO THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS A CAM I HOPE THE BOARDS WITH BUDGET CREATIONS AS WELL AS, I HELP THEM MAKE DECISIONS FOR PROJECTS, BIDS OF DUST RAG BIDS AND OTHER THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

I KNOW I AM YOUNGER AND NEVER SERVED ON A COUNTY BOARD BUT I AM INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT IT. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> THOSE ON THE PHONE, CAN WE

HEAR FROM YOU PLEASE PICK -- CAN WE HEAR FROM YOU PLEASE. >> I'M SORRY.

>> GO AHEAD. >> MY NAME IS SHANNA AND I AM THE GENERAL MANAGER OF A HOTEL.

I HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF BEING THERE TODAY BUT UNFORTUNATELY I HAD A ARISE AT THE HOTEL WHICH PROHIBITED ME FROM LEAVING RIGHT AWAY. SO, THAT IS THE REASON FOR MY CALL. I HAVE SERVED ON, I AM CURRENTLY THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE COURTYARD SAINT AUGUSTINE. I SERVED ON SEVERAL BOARDS, INCLUDING BUT JACKSONVILLE BOARD SO I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE LAWS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I HAVE ALSO, BEEN PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH BOARD HOTEL LODGING ASSOCIATION WHICH THEN MERGED INTO THE FLORIDA RESTAURANT AND LODGING ASSOCIATION. WHICH I AM CURRENTLY SERVING VICE PRESIDENT OF THAT.

I'VE ALSO OVERSEEN, A NEW AWARD OF SERVICE EXCELLENCE. IT RECOGNIZES, FRONT-LINE EMPLOYEES. IT IS FOR THE HOTEL AND RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.

I AM VERY PROUD OF THE GROWTH OF THAT OVER THE YEARS. THAT IS ALL.

>> SHANNON, CAN YOU TELL ME AGAIN, IT IS DANNY BERENBERG, YOUR POSITION.

>> I'M CURRENTLY SERVING AS VICE PRESIDENT. >> OKAY, THANK YOU.

>> ANYTHING ELSE, SHANNON? >> NO, I THINK THAT COVERS IT. I HAVE BEEN IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, NEW ORLEANS, ATLANTA AND MORE IN MANAGEMENT. SO I AM FAMILIAR WITH DIFFERENT CITIES AS WELL. I THINK I HAVE A LOT TO BRING TO THE TABLE.

>> TROY, I THINK YOU'RE THE LAST ONE. ARE YOU THERE?

>> I BELIEVE OUR OTHER CALLER IS APPLYING FOR THE NON- INCUMBENT POSITION.

>> HOLD ON FOR A LITTLE BIT. >> OKAY. >> THANK YOU.

>> THE ONLY ONE WE DID NOT HEAR FROM WAS TROY. >> OKAY WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE APPLICANTS AND I BELIEVE WE WILL VOTE ON TOM LETTER IN POSITION. IS THAT RIGHT?

WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THIS POSITION? >> I WOULD.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE JOE FINNIGAN TO SERVE ON THE TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD.

>> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> THAT IS JACK PETERS.

ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? >> OKAY I WILL CALL FOR THE BOAT.

-- VOTE. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. WOULD WE HAVE TO TAKE OTHER

NOMINATIONS NOW FOR THAT SEAT COLLECTS. >> THAT IS CORRECT.

COMMISSIONERS GETTING READY TO WEIGH IN. THE PROCESS FOR THE SEAT NOMINATION IS FOR THE VACANCY. IT WOULD TAKE ALL OF THE NOMINATIONS.

THERE IS A NOMINATION AND A SECOND WHICH STANDS AS A MOTION AND YOU WOULD VOTE ON THEM IN THE ORDER THEY ARE NOMINATED. THE CHAIR WILL POSE NOMINATIONS ONCE THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL.

YOU WILL VOTE ON THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE TAKEN, AND THE FIRST NOMINATION THAT RECEIVES

[00:25:06]

THE MAJORITY VOTE FILLS THE POSITION. >> REGINA REGULARLY SAVES ME.

THANK YOU. PAUL YOU HAVE A NOMINATION? >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M DOING IT RIGHT. BUT I WOULD NOMINATE BILL MCCLURE.

>> IS THERE A SECOND? >> I AM NOT HEARING A SECOND. >> I WILL CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS.

>> ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS? HEARING NON.

NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSE. REGINA, WILL YOU DO THE ROLL CALL?

>> DANNY? >> AS. >> COMMISSIONER GEORGE?

>> YES. >> MICHAEL? >> YES.

>> URBAN? >> YES. >> DIANE?

>> YES. >> JACK? >> YES.

>> NANCY. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER PAUL?

>> YES. >> OKAY THAT IS UNANIMOUS. WE WELCOME YOU JOE, TO OUR

COUNSEL. >> THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION AND THE AGENDA ITEM WILL GO ON THE BOARD IN DECEMBER AND THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL MAKE THE APPOINTMENT.

SO CONGRATULATIONS JOE, YOU HAVE THE CDC'S RECOMMENDATION BUT IT WON'T BE FINALIZED UNTIL THEN.

>> SO KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY. >> SO WE WILL GO OVER THE OTHER LODGING POSITION.

TANGELO. OKAY. >> IS THERE DISCUSSION OF THIS

POSITION BEFORE WE ASK? >> IF I CAN TOUCH BASE ON THIS BECAUSE URBAN GAVE SOME CONTACTS AND I WILL PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE WON OF OUR APPLICANTS IS FROM -- AND HE SERVED TWO FULL TERM CD SAID HE IS WILLING TO SERVE A THIRD TERM.

IF THE -- IF THAT IS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE TDC WE WILL ALSO INCLUDE IN THE AGENDA ITEM THAT THEY WILL MAKE AN EXCEPTION TO THE EXISTING BOARDS AND POLICY RULES TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN. SO THAT HE IS, I GUESS, AS VIABLE A CHOICE AS ANYONE ELSE.

THERE WOULD JUST BE ONE EXTRA APPROVAL FROM THE TDC THAT WE WOULD WRAP UP.

>> WE HAVE OPEN THE DISCUSSION OF CONTINUING, IRVING AND JACK'S SERVICE FOR A YEAR, WHICH I WOULD ASSUME REQUIRES APPROVAL OF THE TDC. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED

TO DISCUSS ON THAT? >> MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAD A QUESTION FOR REGINA AND TARA.

>> YES, GO AHEAD PAUL. >> SHOULD WE -- IF WE ARE GOING TO RECOMMEND IRVING, AND AGAIN, SHOULD WE SEND THAT TO THE BOARD AND DECIDE ON THEIR REPLACEMENTS IN CASE THE BOARD DOES NOT WAIVE

THE RULES AND REGULATIONS? >> YES, YOU CAN DO THAT. WHAT HE HAS INDICATED IS, HE WOULD BE WILLING, IF NOMINATED TO SERVE A FULL TERM WHICH YOU RECOMMEND IF YOU VOTE FOR A FULL TERM. MR. PETERS INDICATED THAT, HE IS NOT, AND I WOULD AGAIN SUGGEST YOU RECOMMEND, IN THE EVENT THAT HE IS NOMINATED THAT THE BOARD MAY MAKE THE DETERMINATION BUT IN THE EVENT, NEITHER OF THE TWO OF THEM ARE CHOSEN, YOU SHOULD ALSO SEND AN ADDITIONAL NOMINATION. OTHERWISE, EVERYTHING WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO YOU.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU'RE RECOMMENDATION IS FOR MR. KAST TO SPEND THE SPOT AND THE BOARD VOTE NOT TO AMEND THE RULES TO ALLOW FOR AN ADDITIONAL TERM ITEM WILL COME BACK TO YOU AGAIN

FOR ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION. >> SO WE WILL NEED AN ALTERNATIVE IF WE DECIDE ON IT.

>> MR. CHAIR, CAN I ASK EVERYONE TO SPEK INTO YOUR MICROPHONES. >> I WAS JUST MENTIONING TO THE

[00:30:01]

BUT IF THE BOARD FEELS THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT ARE MORE THAN QUALIFIED TO CARRY ON,

I WOULD LIKE TO ABSTAIN FROM THIS DECISION. >> OKAY.

MICHAEL PIERCE WHEN YOU ASKED A QUESTION. YOURS WAS FOR ONE YEAR OR THREE

YEARS CRACKS. >> WHATEVER. >> ERVIN CAN YOU SPEAK INTO YOUR

MICROPHONE? >> THE TERM IS FOUR YEARS. SO YOU CAN'T SERVE THREE YEARS YOU CAN DO ONE YEAR OR FOUR YEARS. YOU CAN DO THREE YEARS.

>> OPERA FOR ONE YEAR. >> I WOULD PREFER ONE YEAR TO CALL JUST FOR CLARITY.

>> MEMBERS ON THE PHONE, ARE THERE ANY THOUGHTS? I DON'T WANT TO IGNORE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THIS IS COMMISSIONER GEORGE. I WANT TO, THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR OFFER TO STEP UP AND CONTINUE TO CARRY THE TORCH OF REALLY, OF DOING THIS.

WE RESPECT YOUR PARTICIPATION AND GUIDANCE HAVING SERVED BEFORE I JOINED THE BOARD.

THAT SAID, AND WITHOUT DIMINISHING IT, I AM HESITANT TO, RECOMMEND DEVIATIONS FROM THE RULES AND PROCEDURES. WE ADD SOME GUIDANCE AND STANDARDS FOR DOING SO.

IT JUST TROUBLES ME WE MAY ASK ONLY CREATING SOME PRECEDENTS IN THE FUTURE, GIVEN THERE ARE MANY WILLING QUALIFIED CANDIDATES, I AM LEANING TOWARDS, REFERRING TO THE WORK WITH THE NEW APPLICANTS AS OPPOSED TO RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNTY THAT WE JUST SET ASIDE ON THE FLY, THOSE LIMITS.

IT IS A DIFFICUT DECISION. BUT I GREATLY RESPECT, EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS ARE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE SO FAR. BUT THAT IS MY INITIAL IMPRESSION ON THE DISCUSSION.

>> THANK YOU. NANCY? YOUR THOUGHTS COLLECTS.

>> I AM IN AGREEMENT WITHOUT THE BOARD IS PROCEEDING. >> OKAY, THANK YOU.

>> IRVING HAS STATED THAT HE WILL RECUSE HIMSELF FROM THE BOAT.

JACK, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT? >> WELL I SHOULD RECUSE MYSELF AS WELL.

AND TO BE HONEST I AM PERSONALLY TORN WITH THIS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE.

THE MAYOR BRINGS UP A VALID POINT. THIS FEELS ON-THE-FLY.

AND I KNOW WE ARE IN A VERY TOUGH SITUATION WITH THE ECONOMY AND TOURISM BUT, IS IT ENOUGH TO DERAIL THE PROCESS. DEBBIE THAT'S TOO STRONG OF A WORD BUT IS IT ENOUGH TO DO THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF QUALIFIED PEOPLE SITTING HERE. THIS IS A VOLUNTEER POSITION.

THIS IS NOT A CAREER. >> IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T PAY THAT WELL.

>> RIGHT AWAY WE DO NOT GET PAID. JUST IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING.

>> THEY WILL RECUSE THEMSELVES PERCHANCE REPORT THE RECUSAL, IF THE BOARD'S DESIRE TO TAKE UP, DOMINATION FOR THE FULL FOUR-YEAR TERM, THERE IS NO REASON, UNLESS YOU ARE LOOKING AT IRVIN, HIS REAPPOINTMENT TO AN ADDITIONAL FULL FOUR-YEAR TERM.

I AM NOT SURE YOU ARE LOOKING TO TAKE UP THIS ONE YEAR CAP. BUT THAT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THEIR VOLUNTEERING TO SERVE FOR ONE YEAR IN THIS UNPRECEDENTED COVID.

IN THIS CLIMATE WE ARE IN. THAT WOULD BE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD TO DO THAT TO CONTINUE FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR END THE BOARD WOULD HAVE TO WAIVE ITS RULES AND POLICIES TO

[00:35:02]

THEN CLARIFY IF YOU WILL DO SOMETHING IF YOU WILL TAKE THE NOMINATIONS FOR THE FULL

FOUR-YEAR TERM. >> WOULD BE CORRECT TO TAKE UP THE QUESTION OF THE ONE YEAR EXTENSION COLLECTS AND VOTE ON THAT? AND THEN AFTER THAT IF WE GET A

DETERMINATION, THEN GO ON TO SEE THE FOUR-YEAR TERMS? >> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU CAN TAKE A MOTION IF SOMEONE I WOULD SUGGEST YOU DO IT PER POSITION.

SO IF WE ARE AT THE ACCOMMODATIONS POSITION, WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO ENTERTAIN MRN ADDITIONAL YEAR. YOU DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, OR IF YOU WILL CONSIDER A FULL FOUR-YEAR TERM AND YOUR NOMINATIONS FOR THAT. SO I GUESS YOUR QUESTION IS, SHOULD YOU TAKE UP HIS CONSIDERATION, OF HIS WANTING TO VOLUNTEER TO SERVE.

YOU CAN TAKE IT UP AS A MOTION IF SOMEONE WANTS TO DO THAT OR YOU CAN MOVE ON AND MAKE YOUR

NOMINATION FOR A FULL FOUR-YEAR TERM. >> I THINK I UNDERSTAND HERE.

I'M SORRY. YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WERE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING.

>> NO. >> DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR EXTENDING IRVIN CAST TERM FOR ONE YEAR? ASKING THEM TO CHANGE THE RULES TO DO THAT.

>> IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE YOU HAVE A MOTION. >> I DON'T HAVE A MOTION.

WHERE'D DO THEY HAVE TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FOR THAT MOTION. >> I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE ONE WAY

OR THE OTHER. >> JACK? >> YES, WHAT ARE.

>> WILL YOU MOVE THE ONE-YEAR TERM OR NOT? >> I AM NOT MAKING A MOTION.

>> WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION. >> I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU VOTE ON YOUR FOUR-YEAR TERM.

>> WILL WE STILL HAVE JACK. >> THIS IS PART OF THE ACCOMMODATION POSITION.

BECAUSE IF WE MOVE ON THIS. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT I GUESS, I GUESS WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS A FOUR-YEAR TERM. DID WE DO THAT ALREADY QUICKSAND

WE HAVE DONE THAT ALREADY. >> YOU DID THAT ALREADY. SO I WILL GO FOR, I WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO RECOMMEND TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION, THAT WE APPOINT, JACK PETERS AND IRVIN

FOR A POSITION OF ONE YEAR. >> WE KNEW TWO DEATHS WE NEED TO TAKE THEM UP SEPARATELY.

>> I WILL REVISE MY MOTION TO TAKE IT. FIRST WE WILL TAKE IRVIN.

>> OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND? >> OKAY THAT FAILS, NO SECOND

PERIOD MELT JACK PETERS? >> I WOULD MOVE RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD AND COUNTY

COMMISSIONERS TO HAVE A ONE YEAR TERM EXTENSION, OBJECT PETER. >> IS THERE A SECOND?

>> NO SECOND PERIOD SO, WE WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE DID YOU A

FAVOR OR NOT. >> WILL JACK AND I WILL GO PLAY GOLF.

>> WILL YOU ARE NOT DONE. JACK IS DONE. LET'S GO ON, WE HAVE ONE LODGING

POSITION, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT IS ACTUALLY NOT DEFINITE.

THERE IS ONE OR TWO LODGING POSITIONS, AND THERE IS ONE OR NO NON- LODGING POSITION, IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATUTE. SO WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON THAT.

MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE FEEL THE FIRST LODGING POSITION AND AFTER WE FILL THAT POSITION,

[00:40:10]

>> THAT SOUNDS REASONABLE. ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? DO WE NEED A MOTION?

>> WE ARE TAKING NOMINATIONS OUT FOR THE ACCOMMODATION POSITION THAT IS CURRENTLY HELD.

>> WE ARE OPENING FOR THE ACCOMMODATIONS. >> I NEED TO ASK A QUESTION.

ARE YOU STILL ON ON THIS IRVIN? FOR A FOUR-YEAR TERM? >> I BELIEVE IT IS MORE APPROPRIATE BASED ON WHAT IS SAID TODAY THAT I AM NOT. BECAUSE I DON'T THINK, I AM

HAPPY TO DO IT. >> IRVIN PLEASE BEGIN TO YOUR MICROPHONE.

>> BUT WHAT I HEARD IS, PEOPLE WERE NOT COMFORTABLE GOING TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION AND ASKING TO CHANGE THE RULES AND THE RULES WOULD HAVE TO BE CHANGE FOR ME TOO SERVE THREE SO THAT IS WHAT I HEARD. SO I THINK I AM BETTER OFF, NOT BEING CONSIDERED.

>> THANK YOU. OKAY. THEN WE WILL NEED, I.E. MOTION

FOR THIS POSITION. >> A NOMINATION. >> I'M PREPARED TO MAKE A

NOMINATION. >> YES, PLEASE. >> I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE

CHARLES FOR THE ACCOMMODATIONS. >> DO WE HEAR A SECOND? DISCUSSION?

>> IT WILL TAKE OTHER NOMINATIONS ARE THERE ANY FURTHER?

>> HEARING NINE, ARE THERE OTHER DISCUSSIONS ON THIS NOMINATION? >> NOT FROM ME.

I WAS JUST GOING TO MAKE THE SAME NOMINATION. >> I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION.

YES. DOES THE LAW PROHIBIT THEM FROM SITTING ON THE VCB BOARD AND THE

TCB? >> MEAN AT THE SAME TIME, THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING?

>> YES. >> I DON'T BELIEVE SO. THEY ARE NOT A COUNTY AGENCY.

THERE IS ONE, THERE IS A LIAISON FROM THE BOARD BUT NOT A COUNTY AGENCY.

>> OKAY, I DID NOT KNOW IF WE SET IT UP OR NOT. BUT YOU DO NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION IF THERE IS A MMBER OF THE VCB, WHO WANTS TO -- IT MAY CREATE A CONFLICT IN THAT THE COUNTY AND THE VCB HAS A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP. SO THERE IS A MEMBER WANT TO SERVE, IT WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY VIOLATE THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

>> THAT WOULD MAKE EVERY MEMBER WHO HAS BEEN AFFILIATED WITH HOTELS, UNAVAILABLE.

I'VE BEEN A MEMBER FOR 20 YEARS. >> IF THEY ARE A MEMBER OF THE BOARD.

>> I REEBOK -- RESIGNED FROM THE BOARD WHEN I CAME ON HERE. >> I RESIGNED FROM THE BOARD OF THE VCB WHEN I CAME ON HERE.& IF YOU ARE A MEMBER, I REALIZE THEY HAVE SOME MEMBERSHIPS, SOME GENERAL MEMBERSHIPS BUT IF YOU ARE A SITTING MEMBER OF THE BOARD, THEY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY OF COMMISSIONERS AND THEY ARE IN ADVISORY BOARD SO YOU CAN'T HOLD A SEAT ON THE

VCB BOARD AND THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. >> IF I CAN CLARIFY.

I AM NOT ON THE BOARD. I'M JUST A MEMBER. >> OTHER DISCUSSIONS? IT HAS MOVED AND WE HAVE A SECOND THAT WE APPOINT, HIM TO THE BOARD.

LET'S ASK FOR A ROLL CALL. >> TAKING THE ROLE. -- ROLL.

[00:45:09]

COMMISSIONER NANCY? >> AS. >> CONDITIONAL CALL?

>> YES. >> OKAY THAT IS UNANIMOUS. WE WILL RECOMMEND THAT TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. NOW WE HAVE THE ADDITIONAL POSITION THAT CAN BE LODGING OR

AN ATTRACTION I GUESS. >> SO LAUNCHING INTO THIS POSITION SO YOU CAN FOLLOW UNDER THE SAME FORMAT THAT WE DID. I WOULD SUGGEST WE OPEN IT UP TO APPLICANTS AND GIVE THEM AN

OPTION TO COME AND SPEAK. >> THAT WOULD BE GREAT. WE WILL TAKE THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE FIRST FOR THIS PURPOSE AND THOSE ON THE PHONE AFTER THAT.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK CAN COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

AND WHO YOU ARE WITH. GOOD MORNING, I AM VICTOR RAMOSE, MY ADDRESS IS 1789 LAKESIDE AVENUE'S, SAINT AUGUSTINE. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR AND THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM THE ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE AND CEO FOR THE COUNTY BOARD OF REALTORS. WE HAVE OVER 1250 MEMBERS, THAT ARE COMPRISED OF REALTORS, BUSINESS PARTNERS, OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF VACATION RENTALS AND SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS. TOURISM, IS DESCRIBED BY FLORIDA STATUTE AS A PRACTICE OF TOURING, TRAVELING, OR RECREATION CULTURE OR BUSINESS.

AS ESTABLISHED IN THE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT.

>> I AM A CANDIDATE FOR THE NON- ACCOMMODATION SEAT ON THE TDC. AS MY 11 YEARS AS RESIDENT, EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE SUCH AS TOURISM AND DEMONSTRATES MY INTEREST AND INVOLVEMENT.

SOME EXAMPLES, THE 1250 MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF REALTORS ARE SOMETIMES THE POINT OF FIRST CONTACT FOR PEOPLE WANTING TO VISIT OR RELOCATE. THEY ARE UNPAID AMBASSADORS FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY. I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR 11 YEARS AND BEEN ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR FIVE AND SERVED AS THE CHAIRMAN.

I SERVED ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND I SERVED AS A CHAIR.

, THE CHAMBER HAS BEEN HAS A WIDELY SUPPORT OF TOURISM WE WERE PART OF THE ORIGINAL SUPPORTERS AND ORGANIZERS OF THE KNIGHTS OF LIGHT CELEBRATION WHICH HAS GREATLY INCREASE TOURISM DURING SLOW PERIODS. IT HAS BECOME A NATIONAL ATTRACTION AND FINANCIAL SUCCESS FOR THE CITY AND BUSINESS OWNERS. THE CHAMBERS THAT I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH, AS WELL AS MY ORGANIZATION PROVIDING INFORMATION ON THE PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM, AND THE EXPANDED UNEMPLOYMENT WHICH ALLOWED BUSINESSES TO STAY OPEN AND KEEP MORE EMPLOYEES ON THE PAYROLL DURING THE PANDEMIC. IT ALSO ALLOWED, INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE THAT WOULD ALLOW THOSE WORKERS IN THE RESTAURANT, AND THE HOTEL BUSINESS TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE COMPENSATION I BELIEVE I HAVE A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE THAT WOULD BE A GREAT BENEFIT TO SERVE ON THE NON- ACCOMMODATION SEAT. I HAVE SOME OTHER SITUATIONS AND POSITIONS THAT I HAVE HELD AND I'VE BEEN ON THE HFA THE HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND OTHER POSITIONS

NOT LISTED. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BRODY WATERS. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO ALL TODAY AND FOR THE SERVICE THE COUNCIL DOES FOR THE COMMUNITY.

I SUBMITTED A RESUME AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION BUT JUST TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF MY EXPERIENCE. I SPENT THE LAST 20 YEARS IN SPORTS AND TOURISM.

A BROAD RANGE OF WORK EXPERIENCE RANGING FROM PUTTING ON YOUTH SPORTING EVENTS TO PROFESSIONAL BOXING MATCHES, MUSICAL CONCERTS AND INDUCTION CEREMONIES. I SPENT THE PAST 12 YEARS AS AN

[00:50:03]

THE IMPACT OF THAT HAS BEEN VERY PERSONAL TO OUR FAMILY AND SOMETHING I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT.

SO, AS YOU WILL SEE ON MY RESUME. I SERVE ON VARIOUS BOARDS.

MANY ARE LISTED. SOME ARE NOT.& AND I BELIEVE MY EXPERIENCE AND MY PASSION FOR THIS COMMUNITY, I VALUE IT AND IT WOULD BE AN HONOR TO SERVE AS PART OF THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

>> THANK YOU. >> OKAY. I AM A PROFESSOR AT FLAGLER COLLEGE. I WAS HIRED FIVE YEARS AGO TO START THE PROGRAM AND I AM PROUD TO SAY, WE ARE STILL ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING MAJORS ON CAMPUS WITH OVER 100 STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM. HOPEFULLY WE ARE GRADUATING 30 THIS YEAR SO MANY OF YOU MAY EMPLOY MY HOOPLE SPIRIT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. LET ME START WITH THAT.

I COME UP MUCH LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT TOURISM.

I THINK WE HAVE MADE IT OUR LIVES WORK FOR A REASON. I AM BLESSED TO TEACH IT AS WHAT WE THINK OF AS THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW AND TO DO IT IN A PLACE LIKE SAINT AUGUSTINE AND THE COUNTY IS A BLESSING. I BRING, OBVIOUSLY MORE OF AN ACADEMIC MINDSET.

I AM WELL-VERSED IN THE RESEARCH AND THE STATISTICS AND TRENDS, AND THE THINGS THAT WE SEE, GETTING TURNED ON THEIR HEADS RECENTLY. I REALLY THINK THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ALONGSIDE SOME OF YOU AND ON THE BOARD WOULD BE AWAKE TO SIMPLY EVEN THE SCORE WITH ALL THAT I HAVE RECEIVED AND WITH FLAGLER COLLEGE AND MY STUDENTS HAVE SEEN AND RECEIVED FROM THE COUNTY OF LARGE. THE LIST COULD GO ON AND ON. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY

AND GIVING ME A CHANCE TO SPEAK TODAY. >> THANK YOU PROFESSOR.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MICHAEL. AND THE COMMISSIONER CONTACTED ME AND LET ME KNOW THAT THIS POSITION WOULD BE OPEN, AND BASED ON THE WORK THAT I HAVE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY, HE THOUGHT, THAT I WOULD BE A GOOD CANDIDATE.

THAT IS WHY I SUBMITTED MY APPLICATION. I HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY SINCE 2007. AND STARTED WORKING, ON THE SIDEWALK PROJECT.

I KNOW JACK IS FAMILIAR WITH THAT. WE HAVE 2.5 MILES OF SIDEWALK BUILT THROUGH A LOT OF HARD WORK AND EFFORT. I HAVE ALSO, FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS SERVED ON THE BOARD OF THE PRINCE CONCERT HALL. SO I HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH RYAN MURPHY WHEN HE WAS HERE AND NOW WITH THE NEW STAFF TO REALLY IMPROVE AND ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE OF THE CONCERT HALL FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

I UNDERSTAND IT HAS A HUGE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND CAN HAVE A GREATER IMPACT.

SO, THAT IS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT I HAVE DONE. I DON'T HAVE TO TOURISM BACKGROUND. I AM NOT AN OWNER OR OPERATOR. I DON'T WORK IN THE TOURISM BUSINESS PER CAPITA POLITICAL SCIENCE DEGREE. I AM A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER. SO MY BACKGROUND IS IN FINANCE. I UNDERSTAND THE MONEY PART OF IT BUT I UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF TOURISM. I LIVED IN ORLANDO FOR 20 YEARS AND I WATCHED A PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITY APPROACH AND GROW THE TOURISM INDUSTRY.

I HAVE WATCHED THEM UTILIZE THEIR TAX AND TO A GREAT SUCCESS.

I HAVE REALLY ENHANCED THE COMMUNITY'S QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH -- TOURISM.

THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME. TO MAKE SURE WE ARE USING TOURISM TO ENHANCE THE LIFE OF PEOPLE LIVE HERE. THAT WOULD BE MY PRIMARY FOCUS

AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD. I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SIDEWALKS

AND KEEPING ME ALIVE. >> OKAY. I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYONE

[00:55:03]

>> WE HAVE TWO OF THEM OUT THERE. >> HELLO THIS IS ALBERT.

>> GO AHEAD ALBERT. >> OKAY, GREAT. >> I AM ALBERT SILAS PRESIDENT FROM MONDA AND PRESIDENT OF THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE. I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE. IT IS TERRIFIC WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS THAT I HAVE ATTENDED THE MEETINGS. I AM PROUD TO BE A CANDIDATE HERE. I AM DELIGHTED TO SEE SO MANY OTHER QUALIFIED PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING INTEREST IN THIS. THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY. JUST ONE THING I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER IS THAT, YOU THE COUNCIL CAN BENEFIT FROM HAVING THE PERSPECTIVE FROM THE ACTUAL PRODUCER, THE ARTS CULTURE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE I AM THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THOSE SAME GROUPS. DOZENS OF GROUPS BOTH THE ORGANIZATION AND THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE. BY THE WAY THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE, WILL BE BUILDING A $20 MILLION OR $40 MILLION PERFORMING ARTS CENTER SOON. PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IN THE SAINT AUGUSTINE AREA. I THINK THIS WILL BE A TRANSFORMATIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR TOURISM AND FOR LOCAL CULTURE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A VOICE.

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A VOICE AT EVERY MEETING AND I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER THAT VALUABLE.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, ALBERT. >> OTHERS ON THE PHONE PLEASE?

>> HEARING NONE. THIS IS A LITTLE COMPLEX. I THINK WE COULD HAVE OUR HOTEL

PEOPLE, OUR LODGING PEOPLE, CONSIDERED HERE AS WELL. >> SO THIS IS THE POSITION.

THE BOARD MUST BE MADE UP OF AT LEAST THREE AND NO MORE THAN FOUR COMBINATIONS OF REPRESENTATIVES. AS THE ACTIONS WE HAVE TAKEN TODAY, OUR REPRESENTATIVES WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE SAME. SO WE WILL HAVE THREE. THEN WE HAVE A FOURTH VACANCIES SO THEY CAN PULL FROM ANY APPLICATION WE HAVE. SO WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS THAT THE TRACK 11 MOVE FORWARD AND TAKE NOMINATIONS. EVERYONE'S NOMINATION.

AND IF YOU END UP GETTING INDIVIDUALS FROM BOTH LISTS THAT IS OKAY.

>> MR. CHAIRMAN HAVE A COMMENT. >> I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE NEXT TWO YEARS. AND THE GROWTH OF ■THE TAX AND WHERE WE ARE FINANCIALLY.

IN MY MIND, 30% OF ALL HOTELS IN THE UNITED STATES WILL GO UNDER WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN LARGE CITIES. THERE WILL BE A DRAMATIC CHANGE IN TOURISM OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. THAT, WE ARE A DIFFERENT MARKET THAN THE WHOLE COUNTRY. BUT THERE ARE SOME SEVERE PROBLEMS GOING ON.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, THERE'S A BIG REVENUE QUESTION.

SO I THINK THE DISCUSSION SHOULD BE, IS IT BETTER TO DIVERSIFY AND FIND REVENUE FROM OTHER PLACES FROM A CULTURAL STANDPOINT OR IS IT SMARTER TO REALLY HAVE A STRONGER UNDERSTANDING OF THE TOURISM SIDE AND DRIVE REVENUE THROUGH THAT SIDE.

I CAN MAKE A COMPELLING ARGUMENT ON BOTH SIDES. BUT I THINK THE OVERWHELMING SITUATION FOR THIS GROUP, FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS IS TOP LINE. EVERYONE WILL WANT TO DO PROJECTS. EVERYONE HAS GREAT IDEAS. BUT, I KNOW FOR EXAMPLE, SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, THERE ARE EIGHT HOTELS IN BOSTON, NEAR THE NEW CONVENTION CENTER THEN OF CLOSED PERIOD EACH HOTEL COST WELL OVER $100 MILLION. THEY ARE OUT OF BUSINESS.

[01:00:06]

WE MAY HAVE ANOTHER, SPIKE AND WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR MARKET WHERE WE ARE DOING BETTER THAN MOST, IS THE DEMAND WENT DOWN 30% OVERNIGHT, WHEN FLORIDA BECAME THE LEADER IN SPIKES.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS FROM A TOP LINE STANDPOINT, THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED AND THOUGHT THROUGH. SO IF WE ARE SETTING A BOARD. WE SHOULD HAVE ONE CONSISTENT WITH HOW WE MAKE SURE WE GENERATE THE MOST AMOUNT OF MONEY SO WE CAN DO THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO BUT WITHOUT THE REVENUE, IT DOES NOT MATTER. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THIS GROUP AGAIN, TO THINK THAT SUBJECT THROUGH 1ST AND THEN SAY WE WANT A HOTEL PERSON OR WE WANT A NON- HOTEL PERSON. BUT I THINK IT IS A TOP QUESTION TO GIVE YOU THE TOOLS TO DO THE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. WITHOUT THOSE TOOLS, WE COULD HAVE GREAT PRESENTATIONS BUT WE WILL HAVE NO MONEY. SO THAT IS MY 2 CENTS.

>> ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? >> YES. I HAVE SOME COMMENTS MR. CHAIRMAN. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.

I AGREE, I THINK IT IS ALSO TIME THE BOARD STARTS CONSIDERING MORE SHORT-TERM RENTALS BECAUSE THE BRAKE IS GETTING 5050 NOW. WE MAY WANT TO LOOK AT SOMEONE WHO MAY BE IN THE SHORT-TERM INDUSTRY, TO GET THEIR PERSPECTIVE. LIKE YOU SAID, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, IF KOVIC CONTINUES, WE WILL BE ANOTHER TWO YEARS OF HARDSHIP BEFORE WE GET OUT OF THIS. AND, OR EVEN LONGER. SO, I AGREE WITH YOU.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT EVERYONE WHO HAS APPLIED. >> THANK YOU.

>> I AGREE. THIS SITUATION IS, WE ARE NOT BOSTON.

THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CONFERENCE HOTELS IN BOSTON OR METRO AREAS THAT ARE STRUGGLING.

FOR US, IT IS THE CUSTOMER AND THE REGIONAL TRAVEL. NO ONE IS GOING TO GET ON AN AIRPLANE AND COMING. YOU WILL BE REGIONL TRAVEL IT WILL BE WEEKENDS OR THEY WANT TO GO OUTDOORS. WE HAVE A GREAT LOCATION OUT THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE BEACHES.

THE GROUP IS GONE. IRVING YOU ARE CORRECT. YOU MAY NOT COME BACK UNTIL 2,023. THE GROUP FOR MANY OF US IS OVER HALF OF OUR BUSINESS.

SO CONCENTRATING ON THE REGIONAL TRAVELER FOR HOTELS AND BED AND BREAKFAST AND AIRBNB, IT SHOULD BE THE FOCUS OF THIS COUNCIL. I AGREE WITH THE LAST TWO COMMENTS, IT'S DIFFERENT BUT AT THE SAME TIME THINGS COULD CHANGE AND WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT.

BE READY TO PIVOT AND THAT IS WHAT THE GROUP WILL DO. >> THANK YOU.

>> I AGREE, WITH A NEED TO DRIVE REVENUE. OF WHICH THE PRESENTATION HAD GONE FIRST. BECAUSE, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO SEE ROBIN PRESENT A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND I THINK THAT, ONE OF THE BEST STRATEGIES TO MAKES A AUGUSTINE ST. JOHN'S AREA COMPETITIVE IS WHAT ROBIN WILL TALK ABOUT IN TERMS OF EXTRAORDINARY DESTINATIONS AND HOW WE MAKE SAINT AUGUSTINE/ST. JOHN COUNTY COMPETITIVE WITH THE CHARLESTON'S AND THE SAVANNAS OF THE WORLD AND THE ASHEVILLE'S OF THE WORLD.

I THINK THAT, THE PREPARATION MATERIALS THAT SHE IS PRESENTING DRIVE THAT HOME.

FOR THAT REASON, I FEEL STRONGLY THAT, I FEEL, I THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER THE IDEA OF A DESTINATION PERSON AND THERE ARE MANY CANDIDATES WHO EXPRESSED THE DESIRE TO SERVE BUT I AM PARTICULARLY TAKEN WITH KATHY FLEMING. IT IS AN ICONIC LANDMARK IN

[01:05:02]

SHE IS NATIONALLY KNOWN. SHE HAS RECEIVED FEDERAL FUNDS AND STATE FUNDS AND CONSTANTLY LOOKING TO IMPROVE THE INTERPRETATION OF THAT SITE. I THINK SHE IS WELL RESPECTED AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD. AND A VERY ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I THINK HAVING SOMEONE LIKE THAT ON THE BOARD AT THIS TIME COULD BE AN ASSET. MY TERM IS UP AND JIM. I WOULD GLADLY DEFER PRICEY TO A PERSON LIKE KATHY FLEMING WHO WAS WORKING AT THE INDUSTRY. I THINK IT WOULD BE AN ASSET.

>> THIS IS NANCY. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT, I ALSO AGREE WITH ALL THAT WAS SAID ABOUT KATHY FLEMING. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH HER OVER THE YEARS.

AND WHAT I WOULD SAY, UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID, IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER, TO HAVE SOMEONE APPOINTED THAT IS, VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES OF THE TRACK 11. IDEALLY WOULD BE SOMEONE WITH BEEN INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE PROCESS. AND SERVES THE COMMUNITY LONG TERM.

KATHY BEING ONE OF THOSE. A CANDIDATE THAT FULFILLS THAT. I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF NOMINATING HER BECAUSE IT GIVES ME CONFIDENCE THAT GOING FORWARD IN THE POSITION, THAT WE HAVE AN OLD HAND SO TO SPEAK, ON THE BOARD. WE ARE REPLACING THREE POSITIONS. AND I CAN SAY THAT, AS A RELATIVELY NEW MEMBER MYSELF IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO THAT I JOINED THE COUNCIL. THERE I A LOT TO LEARN.

THERE IS LIKE DRINKING WATER THROUGH A FIRE HOSE AND SOME -- AND HAVING SOMEONE INVOLVED OVER LONG TERM, WOULD BE A GREAT ASSET. SO I WILL EVEN AT THAT.

AND IF ANYONE WILL BRING A NOMINATION FORWARD. >> OTHER COMMENTS?

>> BEFORE I GO TO NOMINATIONS? I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE IRVINE'S POSITION WITHOUT FULLY EXPLORING THAT BEFORE WE SELECT. WE WILL BE GOING ON TO THIS AS SOON AS WE CAN.

I'M RUNNING A LITTLE LONG BUT WE HAVE RICHARD GOLDMAN. AND SO IS CHRISTINA STONE.

AND I WOULD LIKE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS POSITION BEFORE WE GO TO NOMINATION.

CAN YOU COME FORWARD AND GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS PLEASE. DIRECTLY WITH RESPECT TO IRVINE'S COMMENTS. I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT REVENUE AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

>> YOU HAVE A DIFFICULT DECISION BECAUSE YOU HAVE QUALIFIED APPLICANTS.

I HAVE TO ECHO THE COMMENTS ABOUT KATHY FLEMING. I THINK HER EXPERIENCE IS INVALUABLE. AS DIANE SAID YOU WILL HEAR A PRESENTATION ON HOW WE CAN USE THE CULTURAL ASSETS TO GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE ASSETS OF THE LIGHTHOUSE AND IT IS A FINE ASSET BECAUSE OF THE WORK KATHY HAS DONE.

AND I'M NOT TRYING TO DISMISS THE QUALIFICATIONS OF ANY OTHER APPLICANT.

I JUST THINK THAT BELIEVING THAT A HOTEL YEAR IS THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN UNDERSTAND THE POSITION WE ARE IN MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL BE HELPFUL, IN ADDRESSING THE TOPLINE ISSUES THAT WE WILL

HAVE IS A MISTAKE. >> THANK YOU. RICHARD? FOR THOSE OF YOU WATCHING AT HOME? -- CHRISTINA STONE IS THE HEAD OF THE ST. JOHN'S CULTURAL CONSOL AND RICHARD, YOU CAN TELL US YOUR LINE OF WORK.

>> RICHARD GOLDMAN, I'M THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU.

THANKS A LOT, YOU PUT ME IN A TOUGH SPOT BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT, IN THE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE AND SEEN APPLICANTS FOR THESE POSITIONS, THIS IS A WEALTH OF WONDERFUL TALENT.

[01:10:07]

I THINK THEIR EXPERIENCE MAKES THEM MORE OR LESS QUALIFIED. SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO MEASURE, TO USE YOUR DECISIONS HERE TODAY, TO DECIDE ON WHO WILL WORK BEST FOR YOU.

BUT WHO WILL ALSO REPRESENT THE ENTIRE DESTINATION. LOOK AROUND YOU.

YOU WILL SEE THE ORGANIZATION AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS YOU HAVE MADE.

THE GEOGRAPHIC AND THE INDUSTRIES THAT THOSE PEOPLE REPRESENT.

AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO USE YOUR BEST JUDGMENT IN MAKING CHOICES. AS I SAID.

THERE IS NO BAD DECISION TO I AM VERY WELL ACQUAINTED WITH ALL OF THE APPLICANTS.

ALL OF THE APPLICANTS THAT HAVE THE MOST IMMEDIATE EXPERIENCE. I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING A NEIGHBOR OF MINE. THE OTHERS, I HAVE MADE ACQUAINTANCE WITH AND WOULD BE

PROUD TO TAKE DIRECTION FROM. >> THANK YOU. >> TO HALF OF THOUGHT YOU WANT

TO SHARE? >> I DON'T HAVE A THOUGHT. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO TAKE ALL NOMINATIONS AND DISCUSS IT AS WE GO. IT IS A VERY GOOD LIST.

IT IS THE MOST LUMINOUS LIST AND IT IS GREAT. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S INTEREST. YOU CAN ARGUE EITHER SIDE. YOU CAN PUT FORTH YOUR

NOMINATIONS AND DISCUSS THEM. >> THANK YOU. >> MR. CHAIRMAN.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO WHAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN SAYING. AS MANY YEARS I HAVE BEEN ON HERE I HAVEN'T SEEN SO MANY CANDIDATES PRESENTED. IT'S NICE TO SEE. THAT SAID, I WANT TO ECHO WHAT RICARD SAID ABOUT THE DIVERSITY. AND THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE COUNTY.

I THINK, MY PITCH IS TO GROW YOUR WATERS AT THE HALL OF FAME. OBVIOUSLY THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. BUT HE BRINGS NOT ONLY HIS EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND, HE IS A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE PGA TOUR AND LOCAL INDUSTRY. I THINK THERE'S MORE TO THE STORY THERE. AND I THINK AS RICHAR SAID WE SHOULD BE COGNIZANT OF THE

INTERESTS OF THE ENTIRE COUNTY, FROM NORTH TO SOUTH. >> THANK YOU JACK.

LET ME ASK FOR NOMINATIONS AT THIS POINT. >> BEFORE YOU MOVE FORWARD, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT, IN OUR APPLICANT POOL, IF WE LOOK AT IT.

IT IS A SMALL COMMUNITY IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT AS PART OF THE VETTING PROCESS IF THERE ARE ANY AGENCIES OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVE FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY OR THEY HAVE A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP, POSSIBLY PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. SO ONCE YOUR NOMINATIONS ARE MADE, AS PART OF THE PROCESS, THE NAMES WILL BE, IF WE HAVE TO SUBMIT TO THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY CONTRACTUAL THINGS I THINK THE QUESTION CAME UP A NUMBER OF TIMES WHEN APPLICANTS WERE BEING SUBMITTED. SO I JUST WANTED TO NOTE TO THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ONCE THE NOMINATION ARE MADE, AS PART OF OUR VETTING PROCESS WE WILL CHECK FOR EACH SPECIFIC

NOMINATION TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO CONFLICT. >> I AM OPENING THE NOMINATION.

DO WE HAVE ANY. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE BRODY WATERS.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION CLICK STANCH YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A SECOND?

IS THERE A SECOND? >> IS THERE ANOTHER NOMINATION? >> MR. CHAIRMAN I WOULD LIKE TO

NOMINATE KATHY FLEMING. >> I WILL SECOND THAT. >> THIS IS NANCY?

[01:15:10]

>> S. >> OKAY. FURTHER NOMINATIONS?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE MIKE >> OKAY A SECOND. >> OTHER NOMINATIONS?

>> HEARING THEN I WILL OPEN IT TO DISCUSSION. >> THIS IS COMMISSIONER DEAN GEORGE. I JUST WANTED TO -- I HAVE A LITTLE MORE CLARIFICATION FROM ATTORNEY ROSS, REGARDING, THE POSITION THAT, THE BOARD MEMBER WOULD BE IN, WHEN SHE IS EMPLOYED BY AN ORGANIZATION REGULARLY RECEIVING GRANTS THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

IT'S UNCLEAR TO ME, AND FROM HER EARLIER COMMENTS ABOUT HAVING IT REVIEWED FOR CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND TO HAVE MORE SPECIFIC TAKEAWAYS ON THE ISSUES.

>> SO ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA COMMISSIONS. IF THERE IS AN ENTITY, THAT HAS A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP OR EMPLOYED BY THE COUNTY, SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE OUR GRANT PROGRAM. IF THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS RECEIVING GRANT FUNDS, FROM THE COUNTY, AS PART OF ITS -- THE ACH PANEL IF THEY ARE RECEIVING GRANT FUNDS.

YOU HAVE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY TO ADMINISTER THE FUNDS.

WHICH COULD PROPOSE A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST. AND AS A STATUTE THAT PROHIBITS THE KIND OF A RELATIONSHIP. THAT IS THE GENERAL RULE. BUT AGAIN I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SOME SPECIFICS AND SUBMIT THE SPECIFICS OF THE PERSONS RELATIONSHIP TO THE ORGANIZATION. BUT THE FUNDING AND THE CONTRACT ITSELF, THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE WHETHER THAT PERSON WOULD HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. BUT THE GENERAL RULE IS IF YOU CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY YOU CAN'T DO BUSINESS WITH THE SAME AGENCY IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF

THE BOARD. >> REGINA, IF WE ELECTED SOMEONE TODAY, AND APPOINTED SOMEONE TODAY, AND THEY WERE IN A CONFLICT, COULD THEY RESIGNED THEIR POSITION ON THE BOARD AFTER THE FACT CLICK STANCH THEY COULD RESIGN. THY COULD CHANGE THEIR POSITION , WHICH IS AGAIN ONCE YOU HAVE MADE YOUR NOMINATIONS. I WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH EACH CANDIDATE, TO DO A SPECIFIC. IF I HAD TIME BETWEEN THE CLOSING OF THE APPLICATION AND US TAKING UP THE MEETING I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SUBMITTED ALL 18 CANDIDATES.

I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THIS MORNING TO DISCUSS THE APPLICATIONS AND WHAT THEY AGREED TO DO BECAUSE OUR TIMEFRAME IS SO SHORT.

WE ARE SUBMITTING ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS AND THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO DO A FACT SPECIFIC DETERMINATION FOR EACH NOMINATION THAT WE MAKE. WHICH I THOUGHT WOULD BE MORE PRUDENT TO SEND 3-4 NAMES AS OPPOSED TO 18 NAMES TO GET A QUICK TURNAROUND.

AS PART OF THE VETTING PROCESS, WE WILL DETERMINE WHETHER A CONFLICT EXISTS.

THEN WE WILL NOTIFY THE BOARD AND COUNSEL ON WHETHER THERE IS CONFLICT.

>> DID YOU GET YOUR ANSWER CORRECT STANCH. >> MR. CHAIRMAN WITH THE

NOMINATION STILL OPEN -- >> SAR. >> I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE

MR. VICTOR RAMOSE. >> IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? THANK YOU.

WE HAVE NO SECONDS. , TERRE AND REGINA, WE NOW HAVE TWO NOMINATIONS.

WE HAVE A SECOND PERIOD WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND? >> YOU WILL VOTE ON THEM IN THE

[01:20:09]

THE FIRST PERSON WITH THE MAJORITY VOTE WILL FILL THE POSITION.

OR FEEL THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE POSITION. >> OKAY.

THAT'S IT. OKAY. >> I WOULD LIKE TO.

>> IF WE COULD GO BACK. I'M SORRY, CHRISTOPHER WAS NOMINATED I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THAT NOMINATION IF WE GO BACK. I'M WORRIED WE HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH SOME OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES. AND, IF I AM OUT OF ORDER THAT IS FINE.

>> AND MR. CHAIR, YOU CLOSE THE NOMINATION SO YOU NEED TO TAKE A VOTE ON WHETHER YOU WANT TO REEL FROM THEM. IF THE BOARD CONSIDERS REOPENING THE NOMINATIONS, WE CAN TAKE MR.

>> IS THERE A NOMINATION OR A MOTION TO REOPEN IT. >> SO MOVE.

>> SECOND PERIOD WE HAVE A 1ST . I WILL CALL FOR A VOTE ON THAT. WE ARE VOTING NOW SO WE ARE

CLEAR. REGINA? >> YOUR BOATING ON REOPENING THE

NOMINATIONS. >> OKAY. >> DANNY.

>> YES. >> MICHAEL GORDON? >> YES.

>> URBAN CLICK STANCH JACK PETER? >> IS.

>> NANCY? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER PAUL WALDRON?

>> YES. >> WELL, WE AGREE ON THAT. REGINA,.

>> YOU REOPEN THE NOMINATIONS. >> SO THERE IS A NOMINATION AND A SECOND PERIOD THE QUESTION IS THE ORDER OF VOTING. AND THE FIRST OF THOSE YOU TAKE UP ONE, EACH INDIVIDUALLY IN THE

FIRST TO GET A MAJORITY VOTE FILLS THE POSITION. >> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE CONFLICT. I WOULD ASSUME THAT THERE IS A PERCEIVED CONFLICT WITH KATHY.

SO I AM TRYING, THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF, IS THE GRANT PROGRAM THAT THE LIGHTHOUSE

RECEIVES MONEY FOR. WOULD THAT BE A CONFLICT? >> THE LIGHTHOUSE HAS RECEIVED GRANTS IN THE PAST. THEY DID NOT APPLY FOR ANY GRANTS IN THE MOST RECENT ROUND.

SO THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY CONTRACTS PENDING. OUR COUNTY WOULD HAVE TO ADVISE US ON WHETHER THE PREVIOUS CONTRACTS, WHICH HAVE BEEN CLOSED OUT, HAVE AN IMPACT ON

THIS. >> FOR THOSE OF YOU CONSIDERING NOMINEES, I KNOW THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST TO START -- PART OF THE VETTING PROCESS. ONCE YOU HAVE MADE YOUR NOMINATION, I WILL GET THEM THROUGH THE COMMISSION OF ETHICS.

I WILL TAKE CARE OF CLEARING THEM THROUGH THE COMMISSION. SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY CONTRACTUAL. WE PUT THE BURDEN ON REGINA AGAIN.

>> OKAY, I WILL CALL FOR THE BOAT. FIRST WE WILL VOTE ON KATHY

[01:25:01]

FLEMING. COMMISSIONER. >> NOW PICK.

>> MICHAEL GORDON. >> NO. >> IRVINE.

>> YES. >> DIANE? >> YES.

>> JACK PETER. >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER KLEIN.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER PAUL. >> NO.

>> NO. >> IT IS 4-4. THEN IT FAILS BIG ENOUGH TO BE A

MAJORITY VOTE. >> OKAY SECOND WE WILL VOTE ON, MR. WATERS.

MICHAEL GORDON. >> WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU. IRVINE CORRECT STANCH NOW.

>> DIANE. >> COMMISSIONER? >> COMMISSIONER.

THAT IS A MAJORITY. WE WILL SEND OUT AN E-MAIL TO LET EVERYONE KNOW WHAT IT SAYS.

>> OKAY. >> WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE NUMBER OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.

THAT SUBMITTED FOR THIS. I'M GOING TO HAVE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS.

AND WE WILL BE BACK TO DEAL WITH MISS ROBIN.

>> WE HAVE A HARD STOP AT 3:45 P.M. SO I WANT TO BRING ROBIN ON.

WITHOUT FURTHER INTRODUCTION. JUST TO SAY I HAVE MET WITH HER. AND I AM IMPRESSED WITH HER PLANS. WE HAVE ASKED HER TO TRAVEL FROM NEW YORK.

IT IS NEW YORK IS A CLICK STANCH CHICAGO. >> THE WINDY CITY.

TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION WITH IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO WOULD YOU PROCEED PLEASE?

[7. PRESENTATION OF CULTURAL DESTINATION MARKETING REVIEW – Robin Malpass]

I WANT TO THANK THE CULTURAL COUNSEL FOR INVITING US. SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR COMPANY. SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN DESTINATION MARKETING FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

WE SPECIALIZE IN CULTURAL DESTINATION. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE DONE LEISURE TOURISM OVER THE WELL -- YEARS TOO. SOME OF OUR CLIENTS HAVE MOVED TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. WE WERE ASKED BY THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO SERVE ON THE GREAT MIGRATION COMMISSION. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN INVITED TO FLORIDA BY MR. DAN BREAUX WHO IS THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF VISIT FLORIDA. HE'S ALSO THE HEAD OF THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND PRESIDENT OF PANAMA CITY TOURISM.

[01:30:01]

>> WE HAVE ALSO WORKED NATIONAL HERITAGE AREAS. WE'VE BEEN EMPLOYED BY THE FIRST NATIONAL HERITAGE ESTABLISHING THE UNITED STATES. WE ALSO WORK WITH A LOT OF CULTURAL MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE AMERICAN CULTURAL SOCIETY WHICH HAS OVER 70,000 MEMBERS WORLDWIDE. I PARTICULARLY WANTED TO POINT OUT OUR WORK WITH PADUCAH.

IS ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH PADUCAH, KENTUCKY. ANYONE HERE HEARD OF IT.

>> YES, I AM. >> I WOULD LIKE TO THINK WE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM FOR OVER 14 YEARS. IT IS A TOWN OF 30,000 PEOPLE AND THIS QUOTE MAY HAVE MEANING. THIS IS FROM THE CONVENTION OR DIRECTOR.

AND SHE SAID ROBIN AND ASSOCIATES HAVE BROUGHT IDEAS TO THE BUREAU THAT FOREVER CHANGED HOW WE THOUGHT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OURSELVES. THE IDEAS HELPED US TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO PROMOTE IT AS A CULTURALLY RICH COMMUNITY THAT LED TO OUR SUCCESSFUL QUEST, TO BE ACCEPTED INTO THE CREATIVE CITIES NETWORK. THE THIRD CITY IN THE UNITED STATES TO BE ACCEPTED AND THEIR CULTURAL PRODUCTS, IS THE FACT THAT IT IS THE CENTER OF QUILTING FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THEY JOINED US TOO.

OUR ASSIGNMENT HERE, IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY WAS TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MARKETING PROGRAM INCLUDING HOW THEY CULTIVATE, CULTURAL VISITORS AND RETAIN VISITORS.

AND HOW THEY MARKET TO VISITORS. THE SECOND PART OF OUR ASSIGNMENT WAS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS. AND HOW TO MAXIMIZE THEIR OUTCOME INCLUDE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF VISITORS AND IMPROVING THE DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE, THE QUALITY AND EXPANDING THE PROFILE AND QUANTITY AND QUALITY AND INCREASING EVIDENCE FOR THE PROGRAM.

OUR METHODOLOGY FOR THIS WAS, TO CONDUCT AN ANALYSIS OF THE STRATEGIES AND THE ASSETS.

THE PRACTICES OF ASPIRATIONAL DESTINATIONS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED BY THE COUNCIL.

THEY DETERMINE THE MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR CREATING POSITIVE ARTS AND RETURN ON INVESTMENT. AND IDENTIFIED THE UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION.

SO THE FIRST THING WE DID, WE PLANNED A TRIP HERE. WE WERE SECRET SHOPPERS IF YOU WILL. SECRET CULTURAL VISITORS TO THE DESTINATION.

AND I SHOULD JUST SAY, OUR ORGANIZATION IS MADE UP OF TOURISM PROFESSIONALS THAT HAVE HAD BIG EXPERIENCE IN INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL DESTINATIONS.

SO OUR ASSOCIATES CAME, TO THE DESTINATION, AND AGAIN WE CAME AS CULTURAL VISITORS.

WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT. LOW CULTURAL VISITORS SPEND MORE THAN ANY OTHER TYPE OF VISITOR.

I KNOW I HAVE A PROFESSIONAL IN THE ROOM AND HE WILL BACK ME UP. WE ALL KNOW CULTURAL VISITORS SPEND MORE THAN ANY OTHER. 60% ON AVERAGE. THEY TEND TO STAY LONGER.

THEY TAKE MORE TRIPS EVERY YEAR. AND 41% OF THEM ARE AFFLUENT AND WELL EDUCATED BABY BOOMERS.

THAT MEANS PEOPLE BORN BETWEEN 1945 AND 1964. 40% OF THE VISITORS WILL PAY MORE FOR DISTINCTIVE LODGING AND LUXURY LODGING. THEY LOVE TO ENGAGE IN THESE EXPERIENCES. THE GOOD NEWS IS THE PEOPLE BEHIND THEM, THE AFFLUENT MILLENNIAL'S AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM, THE BABY BOOMERS RAISE THEM.

THEY ENGAGE WITH ARTS, AND CULTURAL PRODUCTS AND TWO THIRDS RATED AUTHENTICITY AS IMPORTANT IN THEIR TRAVEL DECISIONS. SO WE TRAVEL HERE AS CULTURAL VISITORS.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT WE DID NOT EDUCATE OURSELVES. I MUST SAY COMING FROM CHICAGO, BEING IN THIS INDUSTRY FOR 20 YEARS, I DID KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ST. JOHN'S COUNTY.

I HEARD THE WORD SAINT AUGUSTINE ONCE. IT WAS FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU. AND SHE SAID TO ME, I AM GOING ON VACATION AND SHE SAID I'M

[01:35:01]

I SAID IS IT IN GEORGIA SHE SAID NO IT'S IN FLORIDA, I SAID WHY ARE YOU GOING THERE.

WHAT IS SO COOL ABOUT THAT PLACE. SHE SAID THEY HAVE THIS OLD TOWN THAT IS NEAT AND THAT IS WHERE I ALWAYS GO. THAT IS THE FIRST TIME I HEARD OF SAINT AUGUSTINE FLORIDA. AND I HAVE BEEN TOO MANY FLORIDA CONFERENCES.

I'VE BEEN TO DESTINATION MARKETING, LOTS OF THEM. I NEVER HEARD OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. OR ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. SO, WE WERE AT THE PERFECT CULTURAL VISITOR. WE STARTED PLANNING OUR TRIP JUST LIKE ANY VISITOR WOULD.

WE GOOGLED, WE WENT TO TRIPADVISOR. WE WENT TO VISIT FLORIDA.

FLORIDA'S HISTORIC COAST. WENT TO FACEBOOK AN INSTAGRAM. WE BOOKED OUR FLIGHTS.

WE HAD LOTS OF OPTIONS FOR DIRECT FLIGHTS RIGHT OUT OF CHICAGO.

WE HAVE TWO MAJOR AIRPORTS. RIGHT INTO JACKSONVILLE AND ORLANDO.

THIS WAS DURING COVID. WE TOOK THE BEAUTIFUL SCENIC HIGHWAY.

I THOUGHT I WAS IN MALIBU FOR A MINUTE. THEN I PINCH MYSELF AND SAID, THIS IS GORGEOUS. I'VE BEEN TO FLORIDA BUT, THIS IS GORGEOUS.

SO THEN HERE IS OUR EXPERIENCE. WE WANTED TO SUPPORT THE LODGING AMONGST OTHERS.

WE TOOK CHARLIE TO OURS AND WE DID A WALKING TOUR AND WE DID A SELF TOUR OF THE GALLERY ALL OF THE USUAL HAUNTS THAT WERE PROMOTED. IT WAS ALL IN THE VISITORS GUIDE. IT HAD A PIRATE ON THE FRONT OF IT.

WE COULDN'T FIND A LOT OF CULTURAL THINGS BUT IT IS THE ONE THAT EVERYONE HANDED US.

WE DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF CULTURAL STUFF AND THAT EITHER. SO, WE WENT TO THE VISITOR CENTER AND RESOLVE THE GUIDE AGAIN. WE PICKED IT UP.

WE TRIED TO FIND LOCAL THINGS TO BRING HOME. WE FOUND SOME CIGARS THAT SOMEONE TOLD US WAS MADE LOCALLY. WE ATE AT A LOT OF PLACES THAT THE HOTELS TOLD US TO EAT AT. WE ASKED FOR RECOMMENDATIONS. SO THAT WAS OUR TRIP EXPERIENCE.

THESE WERE OBSERVATIONS THAT WE MADE. WE WILL GIVE YOU AN A+ ON PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDES. EVERYONE IS TOLD THE SAME STORY. A LOT OF DESTINATIONS WE GO TO, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU TALK TO THEM YOU WILL HEAR A DIFFERENT STORY.

BUT NOT HERE. YOU HAVE VERY PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE.

WE HAVE MET A LOT OF DEDICATED, ENGAGED INNKEEPERS. WE HAD A LOT OF POSITIVE CULINARY EXPERIENCES. CONSISTENT HOSPITALITY. EVERYONE IS HAPPY AND HEALTHY.

IN FACT SO MUCH SO THAT I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF. I HAD TO LOOK IT UP.

I DID NOT KNOW THE COUNTY AT THE HIGHEST INCOME PER CAPITA OF ANY COUNTY IN FLORIDA.

NOT ONLY THAT, FIVE YEARS IN A ROW, BY THE FLORIDA HEALTH DEPARTMENT YOU HAVE BEEN NAMED THE HEALTHIEST COUNTY. SO I WAS NOT CRAZY. I THOUGHT PEOPLE LOOKED HEALTHY AND HAPPY HERE. THAT SAYS SOMETHING. WE ALSO FOUND A LOT OF AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES. AND IT WAS VERY SAFE. I GOT LOST MORE THAN ONCE THAT NICE. IT WAS SAFE AND CLEAN EVERYWHERE WE WENT.

SO WE REALLY APPRECIATED THAT, HERE ARE A FEW MINUSES WE HAVE TO GIVE YOU.

IT IS REALLY GEARED TOWARDS THE GENERAL LEISURE VISITOR. NOT A BAD THING.

BUT A LOT OF PLACES IN FLORIDA ARE GEARED FOR THE GENERAL LEISURE VISITOR.

THERE IS SOMETHING IN MARKETING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND IT IS CALLED DIFFERENTIATION.

IF YOU CANNOT DIFFERENTIATE YOUR EXPERIENCE FROM OTHER EXPERIENCES, IT IS HARD TO WIN THE DOLLARS THAT YOU ARE COMPETING FOR. SO AGAIN, WE GAVE YOU A B MINUS

[01:40:02]

WE HAD NO OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THE HISTORIC CULTURE, IT NEVER CAME UP IN THE SEARCH ENGINE. NEVER CAME UP ON ANY OF OUR LITERATURE OR ANYTHING WE LOOKED AT. ANYTHING WE LOOK BACK WE DID NOT KNOW IT EXISTED.

THAT IS THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE. WE WERE HIRED TO DO THE REVIEW FOR THIS.

THERE WAS NO DIRECTORY OR ON-SITE INFORMATION. YOU WENT TO THE VISITOR CENTER AND WE SAW THE SAME GOD. A BEAUTIFUL BEACH ON THE FRONT. PRETTY PEOPLE, PRETTY STUFF.

IT LOOKED A LOT LIKE THE FLORIDA GUIDES WE HAVE SEEN. REALLY PRETTY STUFF.

BUT NOTHING FOR A CULTURAL VISITOR. THERE WERE NO CULTURAL EXPERIENCES PRESENTED. WE LOOK FOR HISTORIC HOME TOURS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE COULD NOT FIND ANY. AND THEN I KNOW IT WAS COVID OVER HERE SO I WON'T BEING YOU TOO HARD BUT FOR MOST PLACES THAT HAVE A CULTURAL COUNSEL OR PRODUCT OR ASSET, YOU USUALLY SEE TINGS AROUND THE COMMUNITY TO LET YOU KNOW THERE ARE ARTISTS AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES THERE. CERTAINLY NO INDICATION OF THE DEBT OF YOUR NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ASSETS. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW THIS BUT THE UNITED STATES HAVE 129 NATIONAL MONUMENTS ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. YOU KNOW HOW MANY ARE IN FLORIDA COLLECTS DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW MANY NATIONAL MONUMENTS ARE IN FLORIDA? THERE ARE TWO OF THEM. TWO NATIONAL MONUMENTS IN FLORIDA.

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED? ANYBODY?

>> ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. ST. JOHN'S COUNTY YOU HAVE BOTH OF THEM.

BOTH OF THE NATIONAL MONUMENTS THAT ARE IN THE STATE. AND THE ONLY TWO IN FLORIDA.

THE NATIONAL HERITAGE. YOU KNOW HOW MANY THERE ARE IN THE COUNTRY? THERE ARE 53 OF THEM. YOU KNOW MANY FLORIDA EARTHQUAKES WON OF THEM.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE THAT IS LOCATED CLICK'S ST. JOHN'S COUNTY.

NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY YOU HAVE PLEX YOU HAVE SIX OF THEM.

THAT IS A BUNCH. YOU ALSO HAVE A NATIONAL CEMETERY.

YOU HAVE A NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC SITES. LOTS OF THEM.

AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS TRAIL. THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ACROSS MULTIPLE STATES.

IT STARTS IN KANSAS AND KUTCH THROUGH TENNESSEE, ALABAMA, GEORGIA AND FLORIDA.

WHEN YOU LOOK ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE WHICH HAPPENS TO BE, RIGHT NOW IT HAS AN APPLICATION INTO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. THE SITE ITSELF SAYS THERE'S ONE SITE IN PARTICULAR, THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS? SAINT AUGUSTINE.

THAT IS IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY TOO. SO THAT IS YOU GUYS.

YOU HAVE MORE PRODUCT THAN I HAVE EVER SEEN, EVER, ANYWHERE IN 27 YEARS OF DOING THIS.

AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PRODUCT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUILD ANYTHING OR BUY ANYTHING.

YOU ARE SWIMMING IN HERITAGE AND CULTURAL PRODUCTS. >> SO WE GOT BACK AND WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED. HOW DID WE GO THERE AND NOT SEE ASSETS OR WAYS TO UNDERSTAND THIS. THIS PLACE IS INCREDIBLE. THIS IS WHAT WE FOUND.

WE FOUND THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH CONNECTIVITY ACT CONTINUITY BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATIONS.

WE ALSO REVIEWED THE CULTURAL TRAVEL AND WE LOOKED AT NATIONAL AND STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS TO SEE HOW YOU LEVERAGED THOSE. WE LOOKED AT TARGET MARKETS AND TRAVEL FORECASTS.

WE ALSO LOOKED AT ASPIRATIONAL DESTINATIONS THAT WE WERE GIVEN IN SAVANNAH AND CHARLESTON.

SO THE FIRST THINK WE FOUND, THE PLEAS OF COMMUNICATION WHICH IS IMPORTANT.

IT IS EXPENSIVE. IT IS NOT CHEAP TO BE A TOURISM DESTINATION.

IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO DO TOURISM MARKETING. THERE ARE MULTIPLE IDENTITIES OUT THERE. SOMETIMES YOU ARE CALLED FOR A DISPERSED CALL OR HISTORIC OR HISTORIC CULTURE. OR CULTURAL COUNSEL. IT IS KIND OF CONFUSING AND HARD

[01:45:07]

YOU ARE THE NATION'S OLDEST CITY. 400 TO 500 YEARS -- 400-500 YEARS OF ARCHITECTURE. IT DID NOT TAKE US ANYWHERE. THERE WERE NO LINKS.

IT JUST SAID THE WORD TOUR. SO THAT WAS A DEAD-END. WE THEN WENT TO THE CULTURAL COUNSEL'S WEBSITE. THERE WAS NOTHING ABOUT TOURS. WE FOUND OUR WAY TO THE DIRECTORY AND WE FOUND SOME AGENDAS, AND ITINERARIES. THERE WAS ONE ON HOMES AND ARCHITECTURES. WE THOUGHT HOW DID WE MISS THAT. WE CLICKED ON IT AND THERE WAS A WEBSITE LISTED THERE. THEY SAID THERE WAS A HOME TO HER WE COULD TAKE.

WE LOOKED AT IT AND IT TOOK US HERE. SOMETHING ABOUT SCAVENGER HUNTS.

SO AGAIN WE HIT A DEAD IN TRYING TO FIND THAT INFORMATION. WE WERE INTERESTED IN THE LACK HERITAGE BECAUSE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS TRAIL AND OTHER IMPORTANT AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRODUCTS YOU HAVE HERE. WE LOOKED AT THE WEBSITE, FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TOURISM.

WE CLICKED ON IT AND IT TOOK US TO A SITE CALLED VISIT WAYNE AUGUSTINE AND IT SAID CLOSE.

HERITAGE TOURS CLOSED PERIOD AGAIN, A DEAD END. >> WE WENT TO VISIT FLORIDA.

FOR THE ENTIRE STATE VISITORS BUREAU. WE CLICKED ON THEIR LINKS FOR SAINT AUGUSTINE. BECAUSE SAINT AUGUSTINE LEADS ON VISIT FLORIDA.

THE FIRST THING UNDER HISTORY AND HERITAGE FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

WE CLICKED ON THAT AND IT TOOK US FOR THIS -- TO THIS SITE AND IT WAS LAST UPDATED IN 2018.

SO WE CAME UP DRY, UNFORTUNATELY. THEN WE THOUGHT, LET'S LOOK AT EVENTS. SO WE LOOKED AT THIS SITE. WE LOOKED AT THEIR EVENTS AND WE PICKED A DATE. THEN WE SAW SOME NICE EVENTS UP THERE.

THEN WE LOOKED AT THE, CLIENT SITE. THE ST. JOHN'S COUNCIL SITE AND THEY WERE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT EVENTS. AS I SAID EARLIER, THAT SITE NEVER CAME UP IN THE SEARCH SO WE DID NOT KNOW IT EXISTED. I THINK THERE IS A DISCONNECT GOING ON. THERE SEEMS TO BE A LEISURE TOURISM THEN THE CULTURAL.

THEY DON'T REALLY CONNECT. FOR ALL OF THE PRODUCTS YOU HAVE AND THE INTENTION TO BRING THE VISITORS AUNT WHO STAYED LONGER AND THEY ARE BABY BOOMERS. THEY WILL HAVE MONEY TO COME.

EVEN DURING COVID. WE LOOKED AT THE VISITORS GUIDE AND WE THOUGHT DID WE MISS IT? BUT ON PAGE 21, IN THE UPPER RIGHT-HAND CORNER, THERE IS A LINK WRITTEN THEREFORE HISTORIC CULTURE. THERE WAS THAT ON PAGE 21. WE DID FIND THAT YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA, SAME THING. A LOT OF TIMES IT DOES NOT TELL YOU WHERE YOU ARE AT.

IT JUST ASSUMES YOU ARE A LOCAL. THEY DID NOT IDENTIFY THIS. THEY JUST PUT A PICTURE OF HERE NOW THIS IS REALLY GREAT NEWS. YOU HAVE 564,000 FOLLOWERS. THIS IS THROUGH THE FLORIDA HISTORIC COAST. THAT IS HUGE. THAT IS LIKE NEW YORK CITY.

SO THE CULTURAL COUNSEL ONLY HAS 11,000. MEDIA BUZZ.

SO JUST IN JULY, SOUTHERN LIVING YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE MAGAZINE.

THEY SAID THAT, SAINT AUGUSTINE HAS THE MOST HISTORICAL HOMES IN THE UNITED STATES.

THAT IS PRETTY BIG. THAT IS A BIG ASSET. MORE HISTORICAL HOMES THAN ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES. CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER, THIS IS ALSO FROM JULY.

[01:50:02]

THEY MADE AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE CITIES THE MOST EUROPEAN OF UNITED STATES AND THEY RECOMMENDED THEM. SAINT AUGUSTINE WAS NUMBER SIX. THEY SAID IT WAS BETTER THAN GOING TO MADRID. SO YOU ARE GETTING THE ATTENTION FOR YOUR CULTURAL ASSETS.

IT'S COMING IN. THE MEDIA IS FINDING YOU IN PICKING IT UP.

THAT IS REALLY TERRIFIC BECAUSE IT COSTS A LOT, TO PUT THOSE OUT THERE.

IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE THAT PRESS AND PUBLICITY AROUND YOUR CULTURAL ASSETS.

HERE ARE SOME PARTNERSHIPS. I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE MISSING OUT ON THIS.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. THIS IS THE CULTURAL HERITAGE WHICH IS YOUR AREA THAT YOU ARE PART OF. AND WITH YOUR CIVIL RIGHTS TRAIL YOU ARE PROBABLY THE RICHEST CULTURAL DESTINATION ON THE TRAIL. THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE THEY TAKE CARE OF THE MONUMENTS. YOU HAVE BOTH OF FLORIDA'S NATIONAL MONUMENTS.

YOU ALSO VISIT FLORIDA. I THINK, IF WE EXPLAINED TO THEM THIS RICH GOLDMINE OF CULTURAL ASSETS THAT ARE BEING UNDERREPRESENTED AND PROMOTED, THEY MAY BE INTERESTED.

I KNOW THE GOVERNOR UNLEASHED $13 MILLION TO PROMOTE MARKETING IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

THAT IS AMAZING. SO THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY HERE.

JUST QUICKLY, LET'S LOOK AT YOUR VISITOR PROFILE ON TARGET MARKETS.

THESE ARE STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE BY THE VCB AND PRESENTED BY TCD.

THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD IS $99,000 IN A QUARTER TRAVEL HERE WITH CHILDREN.

YOU HAVE 60% COMING FROM FLORIDA AND THE SOUTHEAST. I THINK THAT IS WHY I NEVER HEARD OF SAINT AUGUSTINE BECAUSE MOST OF THE MARKETING TENDS TO FOCUS ON JUST FLORIDA.

AND GEORGIA, AND THE SOUTHEAST. WHEN YOU ARE IN TOWN YOU SEE A LOT OF FLORIDA LICENSE PLATES

AND LOTS OF CAROLINA AND A LITTLE BIT OF GEORGIA. >> THIS IS NOT A CULTURAL VISITOR. IT IS PRIMARILY A BABY BOOMER WITH A HIGHER INCOME THAN THIS.

THE LENGTH OF STAY IS GOOD. 23%. 23% WERE DAYTRIPPERS.

77% STAY OVERNIGHT. AND THOSE WHO STAYED OVERNIGHT STAYED 5.7.

SO YOUR VCB IS DOING A WONDERFUL JOB WE LEISURE TOURISM. THEY ARE GETTING GOOD LEISURE VISITORS TO STATE THAT ARE COMING. THE 44 -YEAR-OLDS WHO HAVE CHILDREN. HERE IS WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM.

80% FROM THE UNITED STATES AND YOU WILL SEE AGAIN, 60%, COMING FROM LORNA AND THE SOUTHEAST.

SO FLORIDA, GEORGIA PRIMARILY. SO I HEARD SOMEONE SAY REGIONAL TOURISM AND DESTINATION.

YOU DEFINITELY PRESENT THIS AS A REGIONAL DESTINATION. >> SO LET'S LOOK QUICKLY AT THE ASPIRATIONAL. I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME AND I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE TIRED.

IT'S A LONG SESSION. SO CHARLESTON, SAVANNAH AND SAINT AUGUSTINE.

LET'S LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCES. FIRST OF ALL, YOU ARE ALL CULTURAL DESTINATIONS YOU HAVE HISTORY AND YOU HAVE WATER ACCESS. YOU HAVE A LOT OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE. BEAUTIFUL WARM WEATHER AND YOU ARE INFLUENCED BY THICK ICHI.

THE DIFFERENCES, CHARLESTON AND SAVANNAH ARE 140,000. A BIG DIFFERENCE FROM POPULATION. 140,000 FOR EACH ONE. THE ORGANIZATION STRUCTURES, CHARLESTON AND SAVANNAH RELY ON OFFICIAL TOURISM FOR THEIR PROMOTION AND MARKETING.

SAINT AUGUSTINE RELIES ON PROMOTION SPIRIT AND THE COUNCIL HAS MULTIPLE MISSIONS IN ADDITION TO PROMOTING THEIR CULTURAL EXPERIENCES. THIS IS THE IMPORTANT ONE.

ECONOMIC IMPACT. TAKE A LOOK. SAVANNAH HAD 14.2 MILLION VISITORS AND PRODUCED $3 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT. CHARLESTON, HAD 7.2 MILLION VISITORS AND PRODUCED $8 BILLION IN IMPACT. ST. JOHN COUNTY REPORTED CLOSE TO $7 MILLION WITH $3 BILLION IN REVENUE. NOW, THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT BULLET POINT IN THE PRESENTATION. BECAUSE THIS IS CRITICAL.

[01:55:02]

AND THEY SPEND A LOT MORE HERE. THEY SPENT MORE ON HOTELS. THEY SPEND MORE ON RESTAURANTS.

AND WE TARGET CULTURAL VISITORS. WHEN I LOOKED AT SAVANNAH SAVANNA HAS PRIMARILY DAYTRIPPERS. THEY MARKETED THE VISITORS TO THE POINT WHERE A LOT OF THEM JUST COME FOR THE DAYTRIP. HERE IS THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN IN DESTINATIONS BEFORE LIKE THIS. THEY WILL USE THE WATER, THE TOILETS, ALL OF THOSE RESOURCES AND ASSETS, AND YOU REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY LEAVE ENOUGH MONEY BEHIND TO PAY FOR THEMSELVES. SO THAT IS THE BENEFIT OF A CULTURAL VISITOR.

THEY SPEND MORE. THEY BLEED A LOT MORE FOR THE ECONOMY AND THEY DO THINGS WITHIN THE DESTINATION THAT ARE ASSETS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.

THEY WILL BUY A TICKET FOR THE PLAY. THEY WILL KEEP THE PERFORMANCE ARTS CENTER OPEN WHEN THEY ARE IN TOWN. THE LEISURE, NOT SO MUCH.

THEY DO LEAVE BEHIND SOME GOOD REVENUE STREAMS AND THEY HELP THE LOCAL ECONOMY TO SUPPORT ARTS AND CULTURAL ASSETS AND EVENTS HERE. SO I WOULD CAUTION YOU.

I THINK YOU ARE AT THE CROSSROADS THAT THIS IS THE PRESET MOMENT.

WE NEVER GET A TIME-OUT IN TOURISM. IT NEVER HAPPENS.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A TIME-OUT. AND THIS IS A RESET OPPORTUNITY. A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE STOCK AND PULL BACK AND SEE, HOW CAN YOU LEVEL THIS OUT MORE. YOU DON'T WANT TO STOP WHAT THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB OF. THEY ARE CRANKING. I WAS HERE ON THE WEEKEND AND IT WAS SHOULDER TO SHOULDER. IT REALLY WAS DOWNTOWN. THAT IS OKAY.

SOME OF THOSE FOLKS WILL DROP OUT. THEY ARE THE ONES, WILL BE HAVING A LOT OF CREDIT CARD THAT THEY HAVE TWO CAR PAYMENTS A BIG MORTGAGE AND LITTLE KIDS GOING TO SCHOOL OR COLLEGE. SO WHEN THE ECONOMY GETS OFF, WHICH IT MAY, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE YOU WILL LOSE FIRST. NOW IS THE TIME TO RECRUIT CULTURAL VISITORS.

GET YOUR CULTURAL PRODUCT TOGETHER SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND, YOU HAVE IT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUILD ANYTHING. WE JUST HAVE TO GET IT IN A FORMAT THAT LETS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND EXPERIENCE WHAT YOU HAVE.

UNITED AIRLINES ANNOUNCED THEY WILL ADD 29 NONSTOP FLIGHTS TO FLORIDA.

PEOPLE WILL COME ON AIRPLANES. PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO FLY AGAIN.

THESE BABY BOOMERS, YOU CAN'T KEEP THEM FENCED IN. THEY CANNOT GO TO EUROPE.

THEY WILL GO SOMEWHERE. YOU HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THEM IN.

OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT IF THEY VALUE THIS IT WILL BE CULTIVATING FOR VISITORS.

SUPPORT THROUGH GRANTS PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THESE EXPERIENCES BE VISITOR READY.

YOU HAVE SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN USE SOME HELP TO GET VISITOR READY.

THAT IS PART OF WHAT THE COUNCIL USED TO DO. WE NEED TO CURE.

WE NEED TO PUT THE PACKAGE AND PREPARE FOR PROMOTION. CARRYING EXPERIENCES OF THE VISITORS THAT COME HERE CAN EASILY UNDERSTAND IT AND BE ABLE TO TAKE PART IN IT.

AND YOU NEED A PROCEDURE TO LEVEL THIS. YOU HAVE 7-9 ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU ARE ALREADY PART OF YOU ARE JUST NOT LEVERAGING THEIR POWER. THEY HAVE POWER.

SO THERE NEEDS TO BE A PLAN ON HOW TO GROW THE CULTURAL VISITOR PROGRAM WHILE NOT HURTING THE LEISURE PROGRAM AND IT EVENTUALLY NEEDS TO LOOK LIKE THIS.

I WILL SAY LIKE THIS BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS WAY DOWN HERE. CAN YOUR LEISURE PROGRAMS APPEAR. WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY OVER THE NEXT 2-3 YEARS TO HAVE REALLY STRONG DESTINATION MARKETING STRATEGIES. CULTURE AND LEISURE.

YOU WILL LOSE SOME OF THE LEISURE PEOPLE. >> THIS IS DURING COVID.

[02:00:01]

EVEN DURING COVID. 152 FOR THE MONTH OF DIRECT FLIGHTS.

I SOMETIMES TAKE A NONDIRECT, IT'S CHEAPER TO GO THROUGH ATLANTA ANIMAL WITH THEIR 45 MINUTES. IT IS SUPER EASY TO GET HERE. I AM HERE QUICKER COMING FROM JACKSONVILLE THAN CHICAGO. SO THERE'S NO PROBLEM THERE. I JUST WANTED TO, GIVE YOU THE GOOD NEWS. YES COVID IS HERE BUT YOU HAVE THE FIREPOWER TO STAY ALIVE DURING THIS CRISIS. YOU HAVE IT. IT WILL TAKE A STRATEGIC PLAN.

YOU CAN'T ALL OF A SUDDEN SAY WE WILL GO THROUGH MARKETING. IF YOU WANT TO GET TO WHERE YOU CAN GO WITH THE ASSETS YOU HAVE. YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE EXPERTISE, SOMEONE WHO HAS DONE INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO JUST FLIP A SWITCH HERE.

THIS TOURISM IS A BUSINESS. AND YOU HAVE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES.

I'M GRATEFUL TO EXPERIENCE IT AND SHED LIGHT TO SHOW YOU WHAT YOU CAN DO.

ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS FOR ROBIN? >> YES, I HAD A QUESTION.

THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT PRESENTATION. THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK.

THE QUESTION ON CHARLESTON. HOW DOES CHARLESTON DO THEIR BUDGETING IS IT FOR EACH SEGMENT QUICK STANCH THEY HAVE ONE AND SO DOES SAVANNAH. MOST PLACES DO.

IT'S A LITTLE UNUSUAL HERE. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> ROBIN ARE USED SUGGESTED WE ARE LEAVING $5 BILLION ON THE TABLE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT DOING THIS QUICK STANCH WELL CHARLESTON IS A LITTLE AHEAD OF YOU.

THEY HAVE BEEN TARGETING CULTURAL VISITORS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

THEY UNDERSTOOD UPFRONT, THAT CULTURAL VISITORS WOULD COME, STAY LONGER AND SPEND MORE.

SO THEY'VE REALLY MADE A PRACTICE OF TARGETING THE CULTURAL VISITORS.

FLORIDA IN PARTICULAR, YOU GUYS ARE SO BLESSED WITH BEAUTY HERE WITH YOUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE BEACHES. FLORIDA TENDS TO HANG ITS HAT ON THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT. I WORK FOR MR. ROWE. HER WORK FOR VISIT FLORIDA.

I UNDERSTAND FLORIDA. BUT YOU GUYS ARE DIFFERENT. NOT ONLY TRACK I SPENT ALL DAY ON THE BEACH YESTERDAY. I WAS IN SAINT AUGUSTINE DOWN AT THE PARK.

IT IS INCREDIBLE WITH YOU HAVE. NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE THIS CULTURE, IT'S LIKE GOING TO ROME BUT WITH A BEACH VEHICLE GOING TO EUROPE BUT YOU HAVE THESE INCREDIBLE BEACHES AND YOU HAVE GOLF. LET'S NOT FORGET, A LOT OF THE OFFERS, IT IS NOT CHEAP.

A LOT OF THE FOLKS ALSO ARE INTERESTED IN CULTURE. IF WE SERVE IT IN THE RIGHT WAY.

THEY HAVE TRAVELING COMPANIONS WHO MAY NOT GOLF WHO MAY BE INTERESTED.

AND YOU HAVE LUXURIOUS LODGING THAT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WILL REQUEST AND REQUIRE.

THEY WON'T LOCK THEIR SUITCASE UP AT A HISTORICAL TALE. NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO DO THAT.

SOME PEOPLE WANT EIGHT LUXURIOUS EXPERIENCE. AND YOU HAVE THAT.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO FIND ANY AREAS, THAT I HAVE TO SAY YOU DON'T HAVE CLEAR YOU HAVE THE RESTAURANTS AND EXPERIENCES. THIS IS FUN AND CATCHY AND COOL TO WALK DOWN BUT IT'S GREAT TO GO TO UPTOWN. WITH A LITTLE BETTER QUALITY OF GOODS.

AND YOU HAVE OTHER AREAS THAT ARE FABULOUS. AND OUT IN THE COUNTY, YOU HAVE SOME WONDERFUL EXPERIENCES TOO THAT CULTURAL VISITORS APPRECIATE.

THEY APPRECIATE THE LOCAL SEAFOOD. YOU HAVE A FANTASTIC PRODUCT.

YOU JUST HAVE TO BUILD BOTH MARKETS. DON'T PUT ALL OF YOUR MONEY IN THE LEISURE MARKET. BECAUSE THOSE 44 -YEAR-OLDS, GOOGLE IT.

GOOGLE ANY ECONOMY REPORTS. THEY WILL BE THE ONES HURT THE MOST.

OUR INVESTORS ARE STILL MAKING MONEY. WE STILL -- EUROPE IS GETTING READY, THEY WILL MAKE US REGISTER. THEY'RE CREATING A REGISTER

[02:05:02]

THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT NEXT YEAR. AMERICANS WILL LOOK FOR CULTURAL DESTINATIONS TO EXPERIENCE HERE. I DON'T KNOW ANYPLACE MORE EUROPEAN LOOKING THAN SAINT AUGUSTINE. AND YOU HAVE THE GILDED AGE ON TP OF IT.

YOU HAVE GILDED AGE WITH TIFFANY'S FINGERPRINTS. >> YOU HAVE NOWHERE TO GO BUT

UP. >> >> WE WOULD LOVE TO.

>> I WAS GOING TO ECHO EVERYTHING THAT IS BEEN SAID AND ASKED CHRISTINA WHAT IS NEXT.

HOW DO WE GET TRACTION? >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF

MINUTES. >> WHEN ROBIN PUT THIS PRESENTATION TOGETHER SHE SAID IN ADVANCE THERE WOULD BE SOME THINGS THAT DID NOT REFLECT ON THE CULTURAL COUNSEL.

I WAS EXPECTING THAT. I SAW SOME THINGS ABOUT MARKETING.

BASED ON THE DESTINATION AND WHAT I LOOK FOR WHEN I WAS TRAVELING.

WE ASKED HER FOR THIS INFORMATION AND WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF ADJUSTMENTS OUR PLAN, WE WILL ISSUE A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS TO CHANGE THE WAY WE DO MARKETING.

WITH THE CURRENT AGENCY. WE HAVE TO FOLLOW CERTAIN GUIDELINES.

>> THE WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO A DIFFERENT MODEL.

WHAT I OBSERVED IS WE WERE PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON MARKETING THE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE FUNDED THROUGH OUR GRANT PROGRAM. THE PASS POINTED OUT, WE HAVE ALSO BEEN SO FOCUSED ON MARKETING JUST REGIONALLY. BUT WE HAVE ASSETS OF AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE.

THIS COULD BE A DESTINATION, THINK ABOUT THE PLACES IN THE WEST LIKE THE GRAND CANYON THAT WE TAKE OUR FAMILIES, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE TO DRIVE THREE HOURS.

IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT WE DON'T HAVE DIRECT FLIGHTS. PEOPLE WILL DRIVE FROM JACKSONVILLE OR ATLANTA -- ORLANDO TO VISIT. WE WANT TO DO THE WORK TO DO THE PLANNING. AND WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE POISED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE BUT THEY NEED HELP. THIS COUNTY, I HAVE LEARNED IN A SHORT TIME IT IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO AND THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE DELIGHTFUL TO WORK WITH BUT WE DON'T PROVIDE A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THE CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. THE ONLY PROGRAM WE HAVE THAT DOES THAT IS THE GRANT PROGRAM.

AGAIN IT HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON EVENTS. WE HAVE THESE CIVIL RIGHTS SITES, OUR HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE. OUR 1ST AND 2ND SITES.

THEY ARE NOT GETTING ANY FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM US. WE NEED TO THINK OF WAYS TO DO THAT. ONE THING WE CAN DO UNDER THE STATUTE, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WOULD AGREE IS ASSISTIVE WITHOUT THEY MARKET THEMSELVES. SO INSTEAD OF US JUST MARKETING EVENTS THAT WE ARE FUNDING, WE CAN HELP DEVELOP BETTER WEBSITES AND MATERIALS.

WE CAN HELP THE MUSEUM. WE CAN WORK WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THAT WE HAVE AROUND TOWN THE HISTORIC HOUSE MUSEUMS AND DO MORE WITH THE NATIONAL PARKS WITH THE CORE DOOR. THAT IS WHAT WE WILL ASK FOR IN THE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS, TO FIND AN AGENCY. THE CURRENT AGENCY, COULD STILL BE THE RIGHT ONE, BUT TO ASK THEM TO TELL US HOW TO WORK TO DO A BETTER JOB OF SUPPORTING ALL OF THESE UNIQUE CULTURAL ASSETS AND TELLING THAT STORY BEYOND ART AND THE SOUTHEAST BUT NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.

>> THANK YOU. ARE YOU ASKING ANYTHING FROM US FURTHER TODAY QUICK STANCH I DON'T BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO APPROVE OUR REQUEST. WE ALREADY HAVE THE GUIDELINES

[02:10:04]

IF YOU THINK I AM OFF-BASE WITH THE WAY I AM DOING THIS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.

I WANT TO STAY IN YOUR GOOD GRACES BECAUSE YOU ARE THE AUTHORITY THAT APPROVES OUR

MARKETING PLANS AND BUDGET. >> I SAW EVERYONE NODDING THEIR HEADS YES AND WE ARE OUT OF TIME. SO, I'M SORRY TO CUT YOU SHORT. BUT, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING MORE FROM YOU. WE APPRECIATE THIS. THE $5 BILLION NUMBER ROCKED ME.

SO LET'S GO ON. WHEN IS OUR NEXT MEETING? >> FEBRUARY 8.

[10. NEXT MEETING DATE]

>> FEBRUARY 8? >> ASPER WE TYPICALLY DON'T ME IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER BECAUSE WE HAVE A CHALLENGE GETTING A QUORUM. JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, THE THIRD MONDAY IS, A HOLIDAY AND THE COUNTY IS NOT OPEN ON THE THIRD HOLIDAY.

THERE ARE NO MONDAYS AVAILABLE IN THIS ROOM IN JANUARY. SO THE FIRST MONDAY OF THE NEW

YEAR AVAILABLE IS FEBRUARY 8. >> FEBRUARY 8 IS OUR NEXT MEETING.

>> SO HERMAN, WE ANTICIPATE THIS WILL GO TO THE VCB. THE FIRST MEETING.

AND HOW THEY CHOOSE TO ACT, THAT WILL DETERMINE THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION MOST LIKELY.

THAT IS CORRECT. >> OKAY, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME TODAY AND FOR COMING.

THOSE ON THE PHONE FOR ATTENDING. WE WILL SEE YOU ALL ON FEBRUARY 8, NOT A PLAQUE OR ANYTHING. YOU ARE FREE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.