A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to addressing the transition of TDT collection duties from the tax collector’s office to the clerk’s office. Peter, a key speaker, highlighted the increase in tax collections by 1.9% in July compared to the previous year and expressed optimism about reaching $26 million in total collections by the end of September. However, there were concerns about the transition causing disruptions, as communication regarding the change had not reached all stakeholders, particularly short-term rental owners. Peter noted the lack of a comprehensive database for these rentals, with only 10% of properties registered with the city for business tax receipts.

The council expressed concerns about the potential undercollection of TDT, particularly from short-term rentals. While actual collections were around $26 million, the eligible revenue was estimated at $28 million. The discussion also touched on how some short-term rentals paid state sales tax without remitting the county’s tourism tax. The transition of tax collection responsibilities followed the tax collector’s decision to cease collecting TDT, with hopes that the clerk’s office would improve service levels and reporting detail. The council discussed the need to finalize contracts with major short-term rental platforms like Airbnb and Expedia to streamline the process.

Further discussions focused on compliance issues among short-term rental operators. A statistic was cited indicating that only 10% of Airbnb-listed rentals were registered with the city, despite significant penalties for non-compliance, ranging from $500 to $2,000 per day. The council acknowledged past challenges with enforcing bed tax collection and considered utilizing services to provide lists of short-term rentals for a commission to aid compliance efforts. It was noted that similar technologies had not improved compliance in areas like Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach.

The council explored the possibility of fraudulent practices among rental operators, where entities might collect taxes without remitting them. The need for audits to identify discrepancies between charged and collected amounts was discussed, with an agreement to invite the Clerk’s office for further clarity on these issues at the next meeting. Additionally, there was a proposal to amend the council’s operating procedure manual to potentially reduce the number of required meetings from ten to a state-mandated quarterly schedule, allowing the chair to decide meeting necessity based on agenda content.

The council also heard from Cheryl, a representative of the volunteer group Waterway Warriors, which focuses on cleaning efforts around the county, particularly at Pineita Causeway. The organization requested assistance for maintaining 35 trash barrels along the causeway, as their current arrangement with Keep Brevard Beautiful (KBB) was proving problematic. Waterway Warriors had previously managed the barrels themselves but sought a third-party vendor due to the task’s difficulty. The council discussed the need to vet potential contractors and review KBB’s contract to ensure accountability.

Cheryl shared data reflecting the group’s success in removing waste, having collected 103 tons over three years from Pineita Causeway. The council recognized the importance of preventive measures like trash barrels to promote proper disposal and considered expanding KBB’s contract to include barrel maintenance. Discussions included the financial aspects, as KBB received $157,000 annually for cleaning six causeways, and the need for a review to ensure value for expenditure.