[Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Music] uh tourist development council meeting uh could we have a roll call vote a roll call please thank you so much commissioner yes halfway Hermon Tom tomon has excused absence Julie here Alex here may present present okay everybody had a at Agenda hello cyberspace okay so once again I want to find out if any board members has any disclosure of any conflicts of interest with the agenda or any business relationships between the board in regards to that do I see any I do not so we are good there um we have any appointments that are needed to be done Peter sir yes sir for um Mr Hermanson um he had one appointment to cultural it is Kathy Elias with the oal arts district and Cory Charles for sport for sports right the two is there any objections to either one of these appointments on subcommittees hearing no objections all in favor signify by saying I I I all oppose nay the motion carries okay can I have a motion for the approval of the TDC meeting of February 28th still move I'll second motion by SEC by commission mayor Medina and seconded by Julie Braga uh is there any discussion or changes hearing none all in favor signify by saying I I all oppos nay motion carries director's report yes sir thank you um just a couple of things uh on page 29 is the T development tax uh collections through January um January was uh very good compared to the prior January we were just off by 1% so basically for all intents and purposes we were we're uh right there with last January it um tracking uh looking at Str reports for February um looks like we might actually uh beat uh February of last year which would be a great thing that was a strong month as well and then uh further looking ahead to March which of course we're still still in um March last year was the highest tdt collection in history at 3.2 million I don't believe at this point unless we have a super strong week this week which we might because we got Easter coming up this weekend um it is possible but uh but I don't know it's going to be a real tight race at the end there to see if we can nip that uh all-time high uh High month um other than that uh Str Str you know reports are all looking strong uh coming coming back strong for the spring and uh so I think we're we're on a good Pace sir uh other than that unless there's any questions uh that's all I had for for this report all right thank you Peter chairman absolutely I did I did have I'm trying to understand a little bit um what people saw in fous hotel years what you guys saw in February and time yeah what you guys saw in February and what you're seeing in March just in general I'm curious I'm looking at looking at one or two I mean we had we had a very strong February yeah um March has been a little bit um different than past marches that I've seen here in this market for a very long time so just a little bit um softer on the Leisure weekend demand than we've seen in previous years Bo how about you we're having a good quarter uh January February were strong beat last year um and March is going to end up very well as also so um we're we know I was saying earlier we got a lot of business travel space related the increase of launches helps us all the time of course uh and we've seen a lot of cruise business as well so it's been strong how's the zoo we're we're flipped from you guys we had a weak January because it rained all the time yeah we had a I think a record February and I think we'll have a record March okay um that's why I'm trying to curious where where it's coming from so and not the Leisure Market it sounds like like so well I mean Peter announced that they're doing more pre and post cruises yeah so that could be an impact yeah all right we'll figure it out when we get the real numbers thank you thank you Mr chairman any more comments hearing none let's talk about committee report so we have a marketing committee report uh yeah there so the mark next marketing committee meeting is April 11th but um I ask Laura to just give us a few comments on the spring and summer campaign she can give us a quick update uh just to keep us uh posted sure um spring campaign is underway of course um we did introduce some new um ad creative into the campaign that's doing pretty well um that will flow into our summer Campaign which will start April 1st May 1 sorry um and currently we're working on that media plan so we'll have that nailed down here shortly so we can execute quickly I do have a question and I think it's uh for for you Laura and also for Peter being that we're having uh this issue that's going on in regards to Coco Beach I'm just wondering uh how much advertising we have there I guess most of our Billboards are already paid for for how long Laura yeah the so sorry yes sir uh the billboard campaign um will run through September um and it's uh you know pretty heavy Cocoa Beach messaging and since that's what they you know they had asked for that's what they wanted um but they're also running other media but but yeah Billboards is if you drive around 95 up and down 95 and up and down the turnpike uh you'll see a lot of Coco Beach messaging out there also on that same billboard with come visit our beaches with lifeguards is that uh it didn't have a specific lifeguard message it some cases it kind of visually eludes to it but there there was no specific lifeguard message in on those anybody have any comments about where we might end up going with this uh Laura have you thought about that at all I really think we have to wait and see how it shakes out um we have some plans that we had previously considered so I think we could ramp up quickly if we have to okay so the current plan goes through September is that correct yes sir all right well I guess we'll just have to play this one by ear and see where it goes and make some determinations on on what's best for the TDC then right all right uh cultural committee report Miss Andrea stepped out for a call Sir could we Circle back with back to her shair uh Capital facilities committee was Tom Hermanson are you able to give that one yeah uh well Capital meeting uh committee will be meeting next uh Thursday at uh 2 o'clock in our offices um so Tom will be chairing so we'll I believe we'll have a full committee um attending for that and uh one of the top hot topics for that meeting will be to review the capital facilities guidelines uh score sheet and uh application for for that uh Grant process so uh they'll report back here uh next month on that uh do you have any idea how much is in our Capital Improvement fund at this point point in time yeah it looks like uh the available funds unencumbered funds is about 7 and A5 million um right now so uh you know there had been a request that came through this committee for I believe was 1.23 million from um the veterans uh Memorial Amphitheater that uh was originally scheduled to go on a board meeting agenda and then got pulled um and I'm not sure of the status at this point I think they were waiting for some uh a parking study that they wanted to have done and so that's why they pulled it um so we'll see if that if that gets approved at some point then that would come out of that 7.5 okay any questions in regards to that Mr Mayor do you have anything all right hearing none let's go on to the Sports Committee or the beach Improvement committee excuse me thank you um our committee met and we have a really uh Powerhouse group again um of really smart people and I'd have to say that we had um extensive discussions um into what the committee in what direction uh we felt would be a recommendation moving forward and so um if you see in your packet the what the committee uh recommended we we understand and our sole responsibility is to make sure we keep sand on the beach and there was a lot of discussion about um having enough money in reserves in the event that we had um any previous year like we had in previous years and we had depleted the reserves uh for Ian and Nicole and so those reserves are back up uh to 8 million currently and um we we felt at this time after much discussion after having one year off of the indan River Lagoon grants uh the $1 million grants were held um last year to go towards River reserves to help build up those reserves and so this year um the committee felt it would be appropriate um based on the funding that we have available is to make a recommendation to fund the Indian River Lagoon grants at $500,000 which is half from what we've done from previous years and make the maximum Grant um awarded $50,000 uh just that way we can make sure that money goes towards that and we just felt that there was a lot of great work that has been started and has been um completed in the Indian River Lagoon and that we wanted to make sure that we could continue that while still taking responsibility and knowing that we need to continue to fund those reserves in the event that there was a storm does anybody have any questions about the direction of the committee that's a motion um yes it is a motion coming out of the beach second that thank you okay you want to repeat the motion please um approve funding up to $500,000 for the Indian River Lagoon grant program a maximum of funding per project is $50,000 it's been seconded by mayor Medina any discussion in regards to this all in favor signify by saying I I all oppose nay I just as a side little note I thought was kind of cute I had a uh an email from a young person was like 12 or 13 years old and said he could solve all of the problems on the sand going away from the beach he said if we gave everybody a bucket and when they came to the beach bought a bucket of sand that problem would be taken care of and I thought that was some pretty good thinking myself very good cute cute cute yeah I hated to tell him that that wasn't going to work but go ahead Keith so I just want to make a comment um uh Julie you know I've had a lot of people come up to me and say why do we keep renourishing the beaches yeah um right and it's a almost a constant thing and I always ask them the same things and the reason I'm sharing this is I'm wondering if this is an important message to get out which is well what's our alternative it's Retreat right either we renourish the beaches or the beaches disappear and then the buildings disappear and is you know that's the alternative and I think we've seen that up in Flagler County right with A1A so when when given that like instead of saying well it's a waste we do it every couple years like well here's your alternative which do you think is a bigger waste right and I I have found that changes so I just don't want if there's a um sort of a a promotional message we need to let people know what the options are because and I look at you because really my sense is if we don't do it then we'll have option to is that what you want and nobody wants option to well we did discuss this extensively in the committee and just so you know um because we feel like there is a lot of information that is not shared with residents as to the economic impact that it has every dollar that we spend please it's 8 to one or 9 to one that we get back um from projects and Army Corps of Engineers and all these things we've discussed that as well as the Indian River Lagoon not understanding that this money that we're putting in and what a positive impact it has not you know as tdt money coming from tourists helping solve our our challenges that we have as residents I think is a complete win-win so our committee did discuss this and we P we held off for right now but we've considered possibly adding an educational piece to our grant funding program um for future years but right now as this year is a rebuilding year uh the committee felt that it was best to right now just focus on getting that getting that money to the Lagoon and helping the Lagoon but I agree Keith with you wholeheartedly I'm talking to guests all the time about it Mr chair yes sir if I may add uh ma'am it's not only that but I think as you discuss this and continue to discuss this it's the economic driver of our beaches and it's the econ IC driver that the Indian River Lagoon is as well so I think those numbers need to be passed on as information that should be a a tool if you will to educate our our not only our constituency but just about everyone else if we could just get more people to watch this meeting then it would solve all our problems I make it more entertaining Peter okay then I have one more motion coming out is um we went over in great detail the guidelines and the application and the score sheet which are included in your packet and I think that the best thing that Improvement that we've made this year is the checklist and the consistency with each I think that's really going to help the Committees in the scoring processes is being able to see that while you're scoring you know 20 possible grants or more you can see that each one of these pieces and criteria has been completed so we were really thrilled with that um as a committee um so the motion is to approve the um documents that are included in your pack packet which is the program guidelines the application and the score sheet second and what what what page is that on it starts on page 63 and 63 I don't know how I missed that I seconded the motion okay there's a motion on the floor from Julia Braga and a second from Mayor Rob Medina and now we're under the discussion mode my question was what page was that on and you're saying 62 correct yes 62 and 63 were there any other significant changes to the process the only um with it being a Max of $50,000 per Grant um it changes the um match requirement and the bonus points and so basically caps it at $50,000 so it's just a way of calculating I would think that would be um the major thing and just really detailing and consist like all of the processes have been consistent between the committee now and so I think that's also going to make it a lot easier um but no oh the budget sheet was also um an upgrade in the um it's on page 90 which is a requirement for the applicants to complete that as part as the application but we did not change the scoring methodology or anything like that any other questions we did add this pretty map it's a watershed map Lovely by the way yeah everyone was really all of the uh scientists were really excited about that thank you to the G GIS department at the county helped us with that okay any more discussion motion on the floor all in favor signify by saying I I I'll oppose nay motion carries thank you so much thank you uh now I think we go back to Andrea for her committee report thank you Mr thank you Mr chair thank you for going in without me I apologize for being out in the hallway so the cultural committee um met on the 26th and the cultural packet in your in your packet the pages 33 through 61 and we worked very hard going over the guidelines and going over the application and the scoring which are all here for you to see if you look at page 39 you will see these are the grant amounts and this is you will see that it is in the First Column how many outof county attendees there are and this is all verified by the TDC and of course for that amount then you see the amount of funding that they would be awarded in their Grant I just wanted to bring that to your attention and also on page 58 is the format for the budget that the applicants will um submit in this particular format is the one that was looked upon so favorably by the County Commission just last year they were very happy to see this um format uh for the budget so we thought that we would include it um and I understand the other committees are going to be using the same format as well yes ma'am all the all the Committees uh that have grants will be using this format since that seemed to be a favorable for because it was so favorable to the County Commissioners um Mr steel commissioner steel thank you um so the motion coming out of committee is um uh for fiscal year 20 uh 2024 and 2025 to approve the cultural event grant program guidelines application and score sheet is there that's a motion do we have a second second there's motion on the floor by Andrea Young seconded by Keith Winston discussion um Andrea is there any place in here that talks about the type of event that would have to be um family friendly we did discuss that and that was brought up to legal as well and there is there is nothing at the moment that is actually um in print as to what can and cannot be that was discussed yesterday did you want to um point in on this oh yeah our office I think is working with Peter's office to try to come up with any potential language that we might be able to incorporate so that is still something that we're working at with the TVC yeah I believe the the caution coming back to us was um it it can't be too subjective so I think that's the language which we're trying to trying to work with the county attorney's office on but right now we weren't able to incorporate anything specific uh because of that so my only question is is that um if we don't have I guess we could put that amend this form later on is that accurate Alex Alex if we if we came up with an interpretation yes sir I'm only I'm only concerned about uh nudity and partial nudity and things of that nature that might be offensive to children and their families uh so I I just I just want to make sure that if we're going to give cultural grants out uh there's a significant difference from between the theater where you have to buy a ticket to get there so I mean in that event a parent can make a decision then on whether or not they're going to allow the children to come in by buying the ticket that's their permission to do it but on open events where there may be potential problems with public nudity uh I just I I just have a hard time uh wanting to be able to get around that so that we don't we don't have any issues like we've had in the past so the one thing I will say is that it it does state that all events must adhere to local state and federal law so if something were to were to violate a law ordinance State Statute anything like that then obviously that would uh render them null and void but I think having more specific language to what you were saying that's that's going to have to come from the county attorney's side so correct and we'll we will make sure that we update this before it goes to the board so you'll whatever language we're able to incorporate uh you'll see before this gets to the to the board level well your your uh statement about local and federal guidelines is after the fact so that is not going to pertain to prior to the situation where we have a complete description of what the cultural Grant is and is there going to be any potential nudity or public nudity involved in it so I'm I'm just concerned because we've that was a big issue before and I'm not pointing my finger at anybody I'm just saying that if we're going to give a cultural Grant at least from my standpoint I don't want any public nudity or nudity to be involved in it so that's just my point and I guess the county attorney's office is going to have to see uh if they could propose language that would would be able that that would be enforceable that us as a committee could Grant yeah Mr chair right along that same vein uh you mentioned that we could probably adopt this uh in between but what is your timetable to come up with that that language uh Peter do we know when this cultural grant program well um we're having a meeting I believe next week with moris so I think I'm hoping that this gets resolved then okay uh and then this wouldn't come to the board till our plan is April 23rd so it' be the second meeting in April which gives us a little time to to update the language so can the motion be amended to include uh once that language is adopted to bring it to the board uh and not prior could could we move to table um we could sir uh absolutely it's up to the TDC whatever they want to do but yeah would put us a month behind but I you know we'll we'll make it up on the back end if we had to M Mr chair we have a motion that but what I'm saying is that we don't need to put a cog in the wheel all I'm saying is uh putting uh the county attorney's office um in a time frame uh given them that goal that deadline uh to have it ready before it's presented to the board that's all that that's all I was suggesting is perhaps we could amend it uh contingent upon it going uh the the County Attorney making that recommendation figuring out that language and then present it to the board of County Commissioners that's fine with me I'm just throwing stuff out for conversation purposes yes sir yes sir I wouldn't want to set the timetable off okay but if if I feel that the county attorney's office can make that deadline we we should be good we can address this issue right now pass it in the event that we need to amend it in the proper time we'll do that so I believe there's a motion on the floor and there's a second is are you good with that Amendment U yeah I'm I think we accept the friendly amendment that it's passed with the understanding that language will be added as determined by the county all right so let's vote for on the amendment all in favor signify by saying I I all oppose nay okay that motion carries that's that's basically saying that this motion today if it's passed could be possibly amended within a specific period of time that Alex and the county attorney's office will designate to us uh last but not least is there any other discussion on the motion itself all in favor signify by saying I I I all oppose nay the motion carries thank you and my second motion would be to approve up to $65,000 for the fiscal year 2024 2025 cultural event grant program looking for a second I'll second okay there's a motion on the floor by and commission councilwoman Andrea young and seconded by Mayor Rob Medina and uh is there a discussion once again I have some discussion how are we going to know how much money we have so um there are two factors that play into this one is um right now the board has designated all C all cultural funds be shifted to the Lifeguard fund so that will have to be changed in some way but if it were changed then we would have approximately a million dollars in that fund next year so we would certainly have enough for the 605 but the board still has pending a discussion about um you know where where those funds are designated for sir so I I I think that will have to probably be contingent on that that changing okay so once again we have a motion and a second that has potential problems with it in the event that there's no money there so correct so I'm not certain that that's it's wise to to move forward with a potential situation that we don't have a solid answer with discussion please from board we we did we did mention this yesterday that we're doing this we have cultural still and we're all very grateful to still have a cult cultural board to meet um and that it was contingent on what would happen in the future what the commission would do and and would we still have a cultural to going because it could end at any moment so please believe me I'm not talking against having cultural grants that's just not what I'm saying I'm just saying to everybody that we need to put it on a table right now that there may not be any money for cultural grants period I think commissioner I think we all around this table know that I'm I'm aware of this that you know it is based on the decision that the County Commissioners make and I feel comfortable making the recommendation that we as a TDC board feel it's very very important and I think that's the message that we're trying to communicate to the to the board is that this is very important to the tourism in our in our County and and a big factor as to why guests come and stay and not just come for the day and so um and that this is a these events will be you know de creating more rooms than the cost of the spons the grants that we give them so I think that you know we all are aware that if the money is not there then it doesn't happen but I just think that it would be I would feel comfortable making that recommendation as supporting this program and I I I agree with you I think that I I would rather have it transparent and on the table today so we may all know it privately but this is a public meeting and I want to put it right on the record what's going on here here Alex did you have a comment yeah my comment was going to be couldn't the cultural committee still vet these applicants and rate these applicants and move forward with this process I certainly don't see any reason why we couldn't other than if we do then they're going to have an expectation of funding that is a potential problem but once again this is up to the the committee itself and all I'm doing doing is is throwing out there what could potentially be a problem for us and what could end up biting us later on when we don't have the money in the in the in the till so that's going to be up to the subcommittees and this committee Mr lrus well just further I think it would have a chilling effect on all of these hardworking Volunteers in these committees to shut it down oh I agree and I I'm trust me I'm not suggesting that we shut it down I'm just trying to tell everybody hey everybody you all may know that this is a potential problem I wanted on the public record today that this potentially could be an issue so if if if the TDC here wants to do it today let's go ahead and go ahead so there's a motion on the floor in a second is there any more discussion on it all in yes mayor ultimately it becomes a board of county commissioner issue right that's exactly what what it amounts to what we're doing is supporting the the volunteers like Alex said and Julie uh we we all have that anticipation that it's ultimately the decision of the board at the same time I love the fact that you're being so transparent about it that uh we don't know where this lies but we are supporting the fact that we believe in the cultural uh grants that we've provided in the past you know you should run for mayor that very well said Mr TR well and in harmony with the mayor all of this is advisory all of these committies advise TDC TDC takes it and advises Commissioners and then it's going to be in in in your lap so I don't think we should stop with the advisory thank very well said and just as a context at the state level the state cultural grants go through through this process every year um there applicant there's a major process they go through but that no one knows how much money you'll receive until the budget is passed and uh they go through the budget it's like this year I think it's about a third funding so you you apply you don't know and sometimes they wipe out entire lines and then of course there's um the governor has an opportunity to veto as well so there is this precedent of going through the grant making process rating proposals and then waiting for the decision-making body to decide what the budget is another well said Point all right hearing no no more discussion all in favor signify by saying I I I'll oppose nay the motion carries thank you thank you for your hard work Wayne Sports Committee Sports Committee met on March 13th and we reviewed the sports Grant guidelines application and checklist and score sheet um if you want to follow along in your packet on page 98 uh we discuss changing the name of the sports and events Grant Program to Just Sports grant program um page 100 we established a one yearly Grant cycle beginning on October 1 and ending on September 30th also on page 100 created a tier 2 category for the sports grants tier 2 Sports grants are available for funding year round and to be eligible for a tier 2 Grant uh venues must be located within Bard County minimum number of 120 coaches players and fans must stay in accommodations that collect provard County tourist development tax to qualify the accommodation stays must pay tourist development tax the event must have a minimum of 120 players coaches and fans to qualify the event must have a minimum of three days of a competition for example Friday night to Sunday afternoon um ending the event organizer must provide a rental agreement for the venue and the event organizer must provide teams invoices from the hotels uh continuing on page 100 for tier 2 sport grant funding um may be used for the following it's venue rental equipment or goal rental usage fee a field or Court maintenance field or Court staff field or Court materials and officials fees um we established the use of the sports Grant checklist for application packets and eliminated attachment B which is a sport event grant program score sheet um as as a part of that process on that was on page 121 I'm sorry um on page 125 the question number one of the sports Grant applications would determine if the applicant were a tier one or tier 2 event um page 131 question number 19 inquiries inquires about the E verify enrollment status of each applicant so um guess I'll make a motion to approve approve the uh changes to the 2024 2025 Sports Grant guidelines motion on the floor is there a second second thank you mayor uh any discussion hearing no discussion all in favor signify by saying I I I I'll oppose nay good job Wayne one sorry one more um also uh Wayne can you do the uh grant program uh funding one it was is uh approving a funding of the program up to 240,000 okay I make a motion for to approve the funding for the uh Sports grant program 2024 2025 for $240,000 second motion on the floor by Mr sword and a second by the mayor any discussion hearing none all in favor signify by saying I I I'll oppose nay thank you motion carries other business and TDC members I have no report Julie you have a report no report Tom Herman since out on an excused AIS Alex do you have anything you want to say no sir mayor report sir thank you Samir Patel obviously you have none because you're not here Wayne nothing further thank you all right Mr Winston um I just want to say we celebrated the zoo our 30th birthday on Saturday and that would not have happened without TDC funding back in the day that was core to making it happen closing the Gap so a long-term appreciation to the TDC and the citizens in the county thank you so much Andrea I would be remiss if I did not announce that our next that the cultural next meeting will be in July not April as it states here that's it thank you Mr Kus uh yes sir just one last thing uh the next TDC meeting is April 24th at 2 pm right here and then in may just a note uh we moved the TDC meeting on May 22nd from the afternoon afternoon it's now going to be a morning meeting at Keith's uh house if you will the zoo not his house a little tight could we could we add a couple of monkeys to come in and monkeys do we we right here in this room all right okay and then I don't know if we had public comment or not sir I don't know Pard me I don't think anybody filled that public comment card I saw no public comment cards anybody from the audience would like to say anything hearing none do I hear a motion to adjourn motion to adjourn okay is there a second second motion by Andrea young to adjourn mayor Medina second and all in favor signify by saying I I all oppose nay thank you so much thank you everybody the opinions expressed by any member of the public during any period of public comment do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the board of County commissioners of Bard County Florida space code government television or the program sponsor and are solely those of the presenter the board of County commissioners of bravard County Florida 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