Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Welcome to the March 25th meeting for the Tourism Development Council. We'll start with the pledge. I
>> alian 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 everyone. Let's call the roll. >> Julie Braa
>> here. >> Mayor Connor >> here. >> Vice Chair Hermison. >> Larry John >> here. >> Alex Litri. >> Mayor Medina >> present. >> John Moran. >> Wayne Sword >> here.
>> Chair Felner >> here. We have a quorum, sir. And we have a quorum. Okay. Very good. Um >> uh sir, if if Tom does join, we'll vote we'll I'll >> vote to allow him >> vote to allow him to participate, but
other than that, we can keep on rolling. >> Any uh disclosures? Anything anyone needs to do before we get started? >> No, >> I have one additional item to the agenda. Sir, um Mr. Wayne Sword has a um
a person to appoint to the marketing committee. If it's okay, we could do it now or we do it later, whatever your preference. >> Okay, very good. We can do it now. >> So, formerly it was uh Howard Schwarz who's still there. He's acting as an interim COO and not the marketing guy. And so, they've uh have an interim uh
marketing director, Christine Selby Reagan, who's been there many years and uh she's so she's acting as marketing director and probably be a good fit for the marketing committee. >> Okay. >> At Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Sorry for that. >> Any questions or discussion on that? No.
Uh sir, is that your motion? Do we need a motion for her? >> Yes, we do. Sure. >> That is my motion. >> Okay. Second. >> Okay. We have a motion by Wayne. We have a second by Mayor Medina. We'll call the role on his appointment. >> Uh Julie Braa.
>> I. >> Mayor Connor. >> Yes. >> Larry Larry Js. >> Yes. >> Mayor Medina. >> Hi. >> Wayne Sword. >> Yes. >> Chair Felner. Yes. And we'll show him as
a new member. Congratulations. All right. Very good. >> And then we have minutes, sir to approve from February. >> Yes. Uh, everyone had a chance to review the minutes. Are there any questions or comments on the minutes? >> Move to approve.
>> Okay. Have a motion by Mayor Connors. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> We have a second. We have a second by Larry JS. We'll call the role on the minutes. Lily Braa, >> I. >> Mayor Connors, >> yes. >> Larry John, >> yes.
>> Mayor Medina, >> I. >> Wayne Sword, >> yes. >> Cher, >> yes. And we'll show those adopted. Thank you very much. All right, Peter. >> All right. Thank you. Um, I'm going to I'm going to really breeze through the director's report because you're going to be hearing from me quite a bit
regarding the next item. So, uh, just to say, um, we're still sorting through January. Um, I'm working we're working very closely with the clerk's office on, um, the final TDT report. Um, but STR
for both February and so far through March is showing really good numbers. So, we think what will happen is January be down a little bit, but then we think um, between February, March, we uh, will make up ground. So that's that's kind of what we're thinking right now. Um
nothing much on the budget. We're you know we're still uh right in the middle of our uh spring spending. So uh we you know those bills will now start to come in in uh in April and and May. Um and then our obviously our biggest spending
will be the summer campaign which will kick off in in May. So um so from a budgetary perspective most of our uh big marketing expenses are coming ahead of us or come will be coming uh in the next few months. Um other than that unless
there's any questions on the on the budget itself there there was nothing uh remarkable in there. >> Okay. Um questions for Peter before we go into the marketing support program and and we did we we did
something like this I think in the last meeting. Um he's he's got a series of changes for that. So I think what we'll do is he'll explain the changes on we'll just go page by page. He'll explain the changes. I'll ask if there's any
questions and if not then we'll move on to the next one and then we'll we'll have discussion at the end and uh we'll be looking for a motion and second to adopt uh the these guidelines. Well, we're all good with that. >> Yes. Okay.
>> Very good. >> All right. All right. Well, we'll start. Thank you, sir. On just starting on page two. And I I'll just say there are a number you know this is the third year of the marketing support program. So there were a number of things operationally that we felt we had
learned over the last two years that we wanted to incorporate. Um there's also been a few um few things that have just come to our attention and you'll see we'll we'll address each one as we go through. Um so there are some I would say some some major changes in certain
sections of this. Uh and so we'll just point like uh the the uh chair said, we'll just go by page by page and then we'll we'll point out those items and then if there's discussion, we'll stop and then we we can do a a vote at the end. So on page two, um we noticed that
the paragraph that we're striking had been in was actually there three times in in the uh um program uh guidelines or criteria. So we just, you know, we're just going to put it in once. So this is just a cleanup. we're just taking it out
here, but it's in another section. Uh, so we're we'll cover there. And then the the paragraph below it just reads, "Organizations must meet or exceed the event criteria and metrics and uh and comply with all provisions of this grant to receive support. Um, all events must
occur between October 1st, 2026 and September 30th, 2027. So this is for the next fiscal year. So that's really it on page two. Um, page three, we >> pause for one second. Sorry. We're just we're just going to do it kind of methodically. Any questions on page two?
>> No. All right, Peter. >> Sorry. >> So, page three, uh I'm just going to read through this. This was uh sort of a I think again learnings. Uh again, we if you recall from capital facilities, we've learned some things there as well.
So, we're we're uh we're trying to just make sure we're um closing any loopholes whatsoever. So the the addition to this is should a grantee receive grant funds for a year- round programming. Uh remember there's two kinds of programming. There's year round. So that could be like a museum or something that
you know is is constantly open or um an event which happens in a specific period of time. So this is addressing both of that. any anybody receives grant funds for year-round programming and the business organization closes, ceases or suspended, suspends business operations
for more than 30 days during the fiscal year in which the funds are received. The grantee shall return and remit all funds received under the grant to the granter within 30 days of the closure or suspension. Um, so that's uh that's a clawback on that. And then if a cultural
event is canled or postponed and the event has already received marketing campaign support. So that just as a reminder there's two kinds of support that you can receive in this grant. You can actually get us uh our marketing team to help you with running some
marketing on your behalf or you can actually just get reimbursement to program expenses. But in the case of a cultural event, if they're actually having their, you know, planning an event, let's say they're planning an event in July, they might start marketing several months in advance. But
then if something were to happen where the event weren't going to occur, this addresses that. So if they've already received marketing campaign support, um the need for the organization to reimburse the TDO will be determined on a case-byase basis. And the reason is, let's say it was, you know, it happened
in July and there was a storm or something like that and they're going to they're just they just suspended the event, but they're going to have it at a later date. We wouldn't claw back anything at that in in an instance like that. But if you know something happened where they just, you know, the the event
organizer left town, let's say, and the event didn't happen because they just sort of, you know, took off. We're going to try to get our money back. So it it it'll be on a that in that case it'll be on a case- by case basis. Um a sports or cultural event is canceled or postponed
and the the received field facility cost support those costs from the grantee must be remitted to the county within 30 days of the canceled or postponed event. So that's the other thing that they can do is we can reimburse um field costs or or uh venue costs if they're own if the
venue is owned by the county. So obviously we would want those funds back if the event didn't occur. Um let's see blah blah blah must comply with the deadline set up by the TDO staff for submitting event information and assets for marketing
campaigns or support will not be able to be provided if you have any questions etc. So that's that one. And then also on that page down at the bottom again we had uh for like I said there was like a three places where we had this so we just took it out of here. It's it'll be
later on uh a little more explanation on that piece. So that's that's the two changes to page three >> questions for Peter on question >> Connors. Um, so I understand that there's a case- by case basis for the cultural event, but for the section on
the 30 days for a year round marketing, let's say, you know, a museum gets hit by a hurricane, right? And they're shut down for 30 days, is there a case by case basis for that? >> Well, I mean, uh, if there was an act of God that was closing that, um, I mean,
that could be something that we could add, uh, to say that. um if that isn't in there right the second but that's something we could add to that if you think that's that's worth adding >> I just think if we have a case by case basis for you know cultural events then you know obviously the folks that are
open year round they don't want to be closed more more than 30 days it probably be something you know extreme >> yeah I mean I'm think well I was thinking about about an instance of a museum that just you know for whatever reason um needs to close their doors because of financial or some other purpose then obviously we would try to
seek funding back. But we could add the case by case language in there if you'd like. I'm looking at Deborah to note that. Uh >> there's Tom dressed very spring breakish. >> All right, let's pause here just for one second. How about a motion?
>> I move. >> Okay. Have a motion to allow Tom to participate by Zoom. Is there a second? >> Second. >> A second. Let's just All in favor? I >> Okay. Very good. All right. Uh welcome, sir. Hope you're enjoying spring break.
You look like a tourist. >> Very good. >> We're in the hills of North Carolina looking at colleges. >> Okay. All right. Enjoy. Um Okay. >> Okay. So, going back so going back to the suggestion if the if uh the committee, you know, if the TDC is good
with it, we'll what we'll say is uh within 30 days of the closure or suspension on a case-by case basis. So, similar similar language to the event if that works for everybody. Is that what you were gonna say, John? Or you you were gonna Oh, for for Mr. Hermanson. Okay.
>> Can I just ask >> for clarification? I mean, I get the case by case and I understand that, but they've been open longer. You know what I mean? Like I mean, it depends like where I like giving the discretion to the TDO. I have no issue with that. I just think it's not apples to apples is
like if it's something that's open year round then and they suddenly have to close then they're not in a financial situation to be able to necessarily pay back. So I mean I'm fine with that. I just think it's a very >> it's not the same to you just because I
I agree with what Julie's saying. I think maybe we should also cap it at like three years. So if something opens and we give them money and they're open for three years after that there's no clawback. if they close year four, three and a half years in at some point because you don't go after a business
seven years. >> Yeah. >> If they close or something. So >> most of most of our applicants have been open for multiple years, right? Because I'm thinking about right. Yeah. So I'm thinking about like um >> give me an example of a museum. Somebody >> the Warber Museum that
>> the Warber Museum is a good one. Titus Playhouse could be one. Um Hener Center. Those are kind of the year round ones. So that most of those have been open for >> at least three or four years. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> That was kind of my thought process is,
you know, these types of place because you see the list of who gets these grants. They're not going to want to be closed. But god forbid something happened and we didn't allow any >> somebody blows their roof off the building and they just can't operate for for that reason. That would give us discretion, I think. Yeah.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> No, it's okay. Now, I just think the the goal here is definitely to have the discretion and a case by case so that we don't get stuck or not have the ability because there's all different just like you said, if someone just wraps up and leaves town, you'd want to try to get
that money back or something. >> 100%. Yeah. >> Um, okay. Do we need a motion to make that change? >> I mean, I can read it again with the change. >> All right. Let's um >> keep going from there. >> Okay. And then that'll be part of we can
discuss that again and we'll do a motion at the end. Y okay. All right. >> So should a grantee receive grant funds for year-round programming and the business organization closes ceases or operations but or business operations for more than 30 days during the fiscal year in which funds were received. The grantee shall return and remit all funds
received under the grant to the grantee within 30 days of the closure or suspension on a case-by case basis. Okay, >> keep rolling. >> Any any other questions on in that section? All right, Peter. >> Okay, so keep going. Uh page four, uh
just date changes. So you'll see we're trying to if we get approval today, we will bring this in April to the board and then kind of go from there. um the program will open um to applications um in May and then uh close in June and
then we'll you know be bringing all the applications uh with recommendations uh for uh awards to the to the TDC in July uh and then back to the board in in August for final approval. Um again
under 5.0 you know, just again some duper dollars so that if they awarded 12,500 to one, then the other event would get 7,500 or they could give 10,000 to each uh up to the commissioner's discretion. Uh to applicants who have not met that the
required attendance numbers, such award is subject to approval by a majority vote of the board of county commissioners. Should an applicant receive an award under this provision, the applicant must still comply with all other conditions of the grant, including compet compet should be completion.
Sorry, that's a scrier's error. We'll correct that. Completion of an application and all required supporting documents. And the reason we added the completion of application is, and you'll see it later, is there's some requirements that we have as a um uh
department of the county that we have to make sure that they're adhering to. And if we don't have an application from them with the paperwork supporting that they have like a certific certificate of insurance and have done the proper background checks that they need to do on their personnel, um then we're not
going to be able to adhere to um county requirements. So, uh, completing that application is is something that we would like to get. So, that's it on that page, sir. >> Are there questions on page five?
>> Okay. >> Okay. Uh, page six is relatively clean. Just uh some uh cleanup u making sure that we had under uh the top on the top of the page under a submit required documentation. We might make make sure
that um uh we had proof of incorporation in the state of Florida and most recent 90 form of course and then also we added the registration of E-Verify which is required by the state as well as by county ordinance. Um and then C have
held the event year- round programming in the same space for at least one year. So that's again just trying to clarify that um there are events that have kind of moved around the county and it's hard to use like if you know we're basing a
lot of this on uh how many attendees they have if they're moving spaces then we don't you know it's hard for us to know if their um attendance is is the right number. So they need to at least be in the same space for one year prior
>> and that was it. The rest of it was just uh >> okay >> dates qu questions on page six. >> I just have a question regarding what you just said. >> Is that like an air show? >> It could be anything like you know. Yeah, it could be an air show. Let's say they were at the Melbourne airport one
year and then they moved. I can't use this I can't use the attendee numbers from the airport to >> you know qualify them for necessarily for the beach because it's a different venue. >> Um so yeah. >> Interesting. Peter, what what happens if the sports event grows and they have to
move to another venue because there's aren't enough fields or whatever in in one in the previous year's event >> because that's a good problem to have. >> Yeah. And I think in that case it would be okay because we get a report from, you know, Terry, our sports
commissioner, gets a report on room nights and sports are based on room nights, not on attendees. So, it would be fine. They'd be all right. >> Very good. And we're talking uh just as a point of clarification when when you're talking about the attendees because that's hard. This is by the cell
data and some of those other things that services that you have. It's not it's not as like you say with room nights. It's it's a lot easier to attribute. >> That's right. Yes, sir. >> Um and the the sporting events um the room nights. So that that's that's that dilemma when they move around. >> That's right.
>> Right. Yes, sir. So, should should this um also if it's going to stay in the same place, should it say now or a case-byase basis based on what we just talked about that it's okay for some to move if they've got to expand, but others if they're moving and we can't
track the data, it's not okay. And >> it sounds like it should be. >> He's saying they're still tracking it because it's by room nights. So sports is based on heads and beds, but like an air show is based on the number of attendees. Thunder on Coco Beach is
based on how many people are at the beach that day. >> Yeah. >> Right. Is that my understanding correctly? >> Yes. >> The the the sports analogy was probably a bad one just because it's not comparable. you have you have room nights that you can you can track and attribute >> versus the
>> I just I have concern about I mean I get the point and I just but like in the past when the air show and I'm just using the air show not because I have any particular interest in air show but just that it when it comes goes to Cocoa Beach it clearly benefits the hotels in Cocoa Beach and when it came to
Melbourne it clearly benefited the hotels in Melbourne. So, >> I mean, I'm just kind of those major events. I mean, I get it. Um, the more the smaller ones and harder to track. I would see how that would stand true, but I just kind of wonder
>> if that will limit our major events. >> We we could clarify on the the major event um issue, right? We could possibly do that because I think your point's taken. I mean, especially if you know,
if you're at an airport and that airport says, "Hey, we don't want to do this next year. That was >> that was too much for us. We had to close half of our, you know, runways or something for your show and we can't do that." Um, you know, that's forced upon them, as
you say, because they're growing and all that. That's that's not necessarily um their fault. Is it I mean >> is that something we could we could clarify >> for major for the major >> I'm working on some language right now. >> Is that the gist though? That's what we
>> I mean that's kind of what I thought of. So yeah, I'm sure there's other scenarios. I just couldn't think of any. But like if >> let me try this. >> Would be fun to move to Melbourne >> or Palm Bay maybe >> or a fair of Renaissance.
Yeah. >> Well, there >> that was a good example. Um, so, uh, just here's an some language. This might work. Um, larger events and sports events will be, um, evaluated on a case-byase basis. >> I'm fine with that.
>> That better? >> Yeah, I think that's good. >> Okay. >> Is there still a major event category or we just now all put it as one? >> They're all all It's a cultural event and it's just a larger cultural event basically. So that's why I said larger, not major.
>> Okay. >> I could we could define it even better. >> No, I want to keep it open. Like I >> You don't want to necessarily limit it. Okay. >> No, no, no. I think it's great. >> Okay. >> You don't want to put something there for fall versus spring. >> No. >> Okay. All right.
>> September. >> Yeah. Right. >> Shoulder season. >> September events are welcome >> anytime. Yeah. >> Or attendance. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah, I that's what I was thinking was basing it on like 10,000 or more. But I mean, if you want to leave it more
loose, that's that's fine with us. >> But when you say larger, you you're thinking 10,000 or more. >> That would be my thought. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Because we eventually has to go to the board of county commissioners. I'm just if there's questions there, >> right? >> I think we just have to be ready for
what that means like quantitatively or or what the the ROI is. >> Agreed. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Uh page seven, there's a significant uh update here. So under category one, applicants may direct all or a portion
of their award amounts for marketing support campaign. Again, they can pick two things. They can pick getting marketing support from us or they can pick getting reimbured. In the marketing support area, we've learned some things um about uh handling those campaigns for
them and Laura's been leading that that charge. Uh so some of this is as a result of just our staff learning. Um, all marketing support campaign allocations are uh a minimum of $5,000 to participate. And the reason is we had some events that wanted just a couple of
thousand dollars in support. And that's just honestly for the amount of effort and staff time that's required, it it just wasn't sort of worth it and we didn't think it would really move the needle anyway. So that's that's why we set the minimum at five. Um the TDO marketing staff will meet with
organizations to gather information, create a campaign plan, and present proposed campaign to the organization for their approval. TDO will select media partners and place outofcount advertising and marketing for each ele eligible organization per the organization awarded funded funding
amount. Organizations, organizers must cooperate with the TDO staff and meet all deadlines for receiving requested items. If organizations organizers do not supply items by the deadline, there is no guarantee of full marketing support. Support is contingent on every organizer supplying requested event
information to TDO 90 days prior to the event date. So, a lot of these um campaigns will start several months before the event. And if we don't get materials, it makes it very difficult to fulfill those. And and obviously, it's it's up to the event organizer to to do
that. The TDO will work with the organizers, gain approvals, and execute the plan. See section 6.0 for details on the support amount tier packages. Uh, and then under category 2, applicants may direct all or a portion of their awarded funding amount to defay the cost
of renting event venues or facilities operated by Bvard County. So, that's something I'd mentioned earlier. Um, sports awards will be determined by the sports commissioner from prior year's data and TDO staff analysis and may be
allocated to defay field and facilities operated by Bvard County. And then under category 3, we just add added to the word events year-round programming as well. And that's the changes on that page. >> We have questions on any of that?
>> No, I'd just like to say I think this is really great. I there's one one thing that is important there that I've learned too with some of these groups. They don't necessarily need marketing support. Their their biggest um obstacle is just paying for the venue. So to rent
Wickcham Park for the weekend for uh the art show um that's that's really the thing they're looking for. The the gentlemen who are running the uh traveling wall uh you know they've had a change of guard. got the old guys kind of cycled out and the newer young guys
come in that they're less experienced with fundraising, what have you, and being able to pay for Wickham Park um it's it's game changer. I don't think they'd be able to bring the wall um if if we didn't have this language in there for them. So,
>> I'm glad we're doing that, too. >> Okay, moving to page eight. Page eight was actually again more cleanup now that we added some of that language that I just read. We're just taking some of it doesn't need to be in here anymore. And then under 7.0, eligible use of funds.
We had some some prelim precursor language. We kind of figured we really don't need that. Uh I'm just going to read allowable costs under the bottom section. Allowable costs within the grant period specified on the application andor the period specified by the Bvard County Budget Department.
and allowable costs that are approved solely for the purposes of the event or year- round programming can be easily identified as such. Cost of equipment directly involved with the event such as staging, sound system, etc. Cost of traffic related expenses. Um, if it's
okay, so I'm going to keep reading because it's part of the same section on the next page. That's all right. Just keep going. Cost of field and facilities. So, that's uh what the um commissioner was uh alluding to. cost of entertainment, performers, etc. Cost of marketing, advertising outside of Bvard
County. Cost of local signage for the events, banners, etc. Cost of first responder support for that event, etc. And then we added under nonallowable expenses, funds may not be used to finance projects that are already fully funded unless a project can be significantly enhanced with additional
funds. Funds may not be used to pay debt obligations. Funds may not be used for grant applications or routine maintenance. um we crossed out we had previously we didn't allowed for the awards but in the sports world those that's a becomes a
significant expense for them is the um trophies and stuff so we sort of took that out and just said no scholarships gift cards prize money or certificates um and then uh and then the bottom part we just added a date so that was it for
eight and nine >> okay questions for Peter All right. >> Okay. Uh page 10. Um just really just some uh uh sort of business stuff with Zoom links and date changes. Uh down at
the bottom under 9.0. Um we took out it just basically says TDO staff will review the applications for eligibility and create a worksheet listing all received applications etc. So that was just a little bit of a >> Any quick question in there? Anybody?
Nope. Keep going. Uh on page 11 10.0 again just some cleaning up. Uh sports applicants are required to complete one final event report. Applicants will be provided with a reporting link. Um so we get reports from everybody at the end which is great. Um the final reports due
within 30 days after the complete event or by September 30th, 2027. Cultural applicants will be issued a final report from the TDO team. >> Any any question there? >> Nope. Very good. >> All right. Page 12. Again, just uh some cleanup language. Submit reimbursement
requests, including supporting documentation within 60 days of the conclusion of the event and no less than quarterly for year- round programming. Failure to submit reimbursement requests on time will for your grant award. Um each reimbursement request submission
package must contain one of the following four items in this order. RRF, that's stands for uh reimbursement request form packets uh submitted that are not in the proper order as outlined below will not be accepted for payment.
Um and then uh TDO reimbursement request forms uh the provided Excel document containing the following information. And then there's just a couple of additional wording things on that page. >> All right. Anything on page 12? >> I have just a quick question. Do we ever
have any historical issues of people not submitting within the 60 days or incorrect? >> Yeah, that's why we sort of tried to clean up that language and make it a little more clear when staff >> because sometimes sometimes what will happen is they'll wait till the end of the fiscal year before they you know even if there events in January or
February then we don't get it till September. Well, that crams our finance department um people because that you know then all of a sudden they get 30 out you know reimbursements they have to deal with. We we'd like it done after, you know, by 60 days after. >> Sure. >> Yeah.
>> So, I'm just wondering on that because if it's kind of a problem and we we've changed some other language to be a little more flexible on a case-by case basis, should this maybe because obviously the applicants look at this, they go through it, they decide if they want to apply. Should we say in there
that there are no exceptions to this or something that just I know it it it it basically says they won't be um you'll forfeit your grant award. >> Yes. Right. But I don't know if there's any way to maybe put something in there if it still happens. And do you make exceptions? I guess the question is, do
you make exceptions? >> I'm open for input. Whatever you >> No. No. Have you have Have you in the past? >> Have we made exceptions? Do you guys make >> I mean, I think we've tried to be as flexible as we could be. I mean, I don't I don't recall a time when we've ever not reimbursed somebody at the end of
the day if they did get something to us by the end of the fiscal year. The problem is once the fiscal year closes, we don't have any choice. Like we can't write a check on the prior year's funds. So as long as they have in the past, as long as they've gotten us something, I'm looking at Deborah, but I don't remember
ever saying no, we're not going to give them their reimbursement. But this is just a little more teeth to try to come on guys, we need some help here, you know. >> But I mean, I'm I mean, I'm open to to making that giving it some flexibility if you want. Go. I'm hearing there's a
logistical nightmare for uh Deborah. >> Well, Deborah and and our finance folks and other other people in our department that deal with all of this. Yeah, >> that's what I was going to add on to is you need to understand that with September 30, end of the fiscal year,
our finance people are starting end of August because that's when they got to start seriously closing out a whole bunch of stuff. Then October one rolls around and they've got to start ramping up for everything related to the upcoming fiscal year. So I know that
between end of August, end of October, our finance people are tight >> with time. >> End of October or end of September because October 1st is the >> Yeah, but they they're ramping up for the next fiscal. >> So even even into October, they're they're still busy trying to get, you
know, things closed out and then things open. simple things like, you know, changing of of like invoice numbers and things like that because it all in a lot of cases it changes come October one with a lot of different uh uh vendors. >> Let's see. You probably need to use your
mic because YouTube probably won't pick you up. >> Count on it. >> Huh? >> Yes, sir. >> That's all right. Um Mayor Connors, >> uh to Mr. J's point, you know, I think having, you know, a punitive measure to
incentivize them getting things done makes a lot of sense. Now, to maybe allow that flexibility that Mr. Jones was talking about that they don't have it in 60 days, maybe your grant gets reduced by 50%, maybe you don't forfeit all of it and then if you're another 60 days late, then it then it all goes away. So again, just another idea for
you. I don't know if that makes it more complicated, but you know, where it allows some flexibility. you have language that says you forfeit at some some point, right? >> If they don't submit by 60 days, but I think what you're what the mayor is
saying is maybe have a stepped thing where they don't lose everything, but they could lose 50% 60 days and then 100% 120 days or something like that. We could look at that. Yeah, give me two seconds. Uh, let's see what it's so
>> I mean my my thought my my thought on this just real quick is that I mean I think it's hard to put on an event. I I a lot of work. Um I mean, you know, I worked in catering a long time and and just, you know, it was always a miracle
when we when we got a wedding to actually happen. Um and and uh it just a lot of moving parts and everything. And so, uh, some especially some of these, um, that are that are good and good events and what have you. I don't think
we're trying to work against them. I think we're we're trying to help them. I I can appreciate that you got to you got to write a check by a by a certain date, >> right? >> Um, is it is it helpful at all instead of 60 days that the last date of
submission can be September 15th or something like that? I mean what is does does that does that give does that split it where they've >> I mean we say August 31st >> okay no I'm just that's what I was asking is some some some date this is
the final >> final final date payments will not be accepted after or application or whatever >> and if I could just add I'd really like to keep it in the staff's discretion I mean
>> if if if everybody else is submitted on time, you know? I mean, every year could be different and you have this oneoff case. I don't think that I never like it when it >> I agree. >> That's why I have a hard time with the law, but I mean, like I don't like when it's like just this like I like to because in hospitality we have to give
each situation its own characteristics. So, I think if it's I like the idea of giving it teeth and giving it, you know, and if you guys need to use that if it comes down to the point, but I think >> um I've worked with Deborah for a long time. I think if I may, I think the sweet spot may be 90 days and August
31st is the absolute deadline for those that miss the 90 days. >> That I think that would be a sweet spot, but that's that's what I would say. >> And what's is there a penalty for 90 days or just say 90 days and then say or lose the award by if not submitted by
August 31st? >> I I >> Yeah, you'd lose it by August 31st. I I don't like the penalty phase of it. Got it. Uh, but I do like the deadline to staff. Logistically, I I can I sympathize with that uh with that whole
entire process, but August 31st seems like a good sweet spot with 90 days. That's just where I'm sad. >> Hold on here. I I think John John wants to tell something. Go ahead, sir. >> My my only concern with it is is then everybody can see August 31st as the due
date. you can write in there you got 90 days or 60 days, but if you say, "But absolutely, it's got to be here by August 31." I'm just trying to think about what Deborah and what what Terry has to go through in order to make all
this happen that that the I think where we are is pretty good. >> How many grants are there roughly? Like I don't I haven't is like 30 >> uh 30 per segment, right? So like 30. >> It's roughly around 30 sports, 30
culture. >> Something like that. Yeah. Not maybe not quite that many, but yeah, it was like Yeah. Deborah. >> So I just want >> Can you come and speak to the Yeah. To the mic. >> Sorry. So, I just want to clarify this is not a
huge issue, but there are some repeat offenders. So, I think putting the language in that we put in would be push enough for them. So, I think adding the not later than
August 31st might create another issue. And I've asked them, is 60 days enough? And everyone has said 60 days is plenty. Like right now I've had conversations with year- round programming because I'm
already in my monthly reminders and five of them this week have said, "Oh yeah, I can send you that money, you know, those receipts. So, okay, do it." So, it's just getting them to do it. They've already spent the money, you
know, let's get them the money. So >> I support leaving the language as is. >> I think keeping it at 60 or maybe 90. >> I I say, you know, why don't we go to 90? This would be just my thought. Go to 90 and then put in that this would be at
the discretion of the TDO director. Um if there was a special circumstance or something like that because I I do think there are times when you somebody gets sick. We have we've had that. Absolutely. you know, and so I I mean, it would be nice to have a little bit of flexibility for them. And that way,
giving them 90 that gives them an extra 30 days beyond what we had originally, but then it also gives us some flexibility so we're not just yanking the the funds for no reason. >> And from working with Deborah for so many years on certain things, I knew she had was sending out reminders and like being on top of every single one of it.
So, I I I already knew that was happening. That's a >> and any events that are happening in August and September, I kind of need that time to focus on them to get them to their reimbursements because a lot of times they're turning it in and they
haven't sent me the right things. So then there's this back and forth that takes a couple weeks. H >> have there have there been um situations just even the last couple years where it's gone past the fiscal that's put you in a bond? So you really haven't? >> It's gone up to the fiscal year.
>> Okay. But but not beyond it. >> Well, it can't >> I mean Okay. >> So >> So So maybe maybe that's not really a problem that that we need to address with the final date is what you're saying, >> right? Because I mean, you know, I they know that they've got to have it in by Labor Day.
>> Okay. So I think the big moral here I'm taking is 90 days is what we're leaning and in the special circumstance uh >> at the discretion of >> at the discretion of the director. >> Yes, sir. >> I I I said corrected. That is a sweet spot. Okay, we all
>> second that motion. >> Just call the role on this one. >> Uh >> well, we were we were going to do it at the end when we But uh we we can't >> for your pleasure. >> Okay. He made a motion. Is there is
there And there's a second by Mayor Medina. Um >> go ahead. Call call the role on that. >> Would you like me to Sorry. Okay. You want me to reread? >> You clarif you clarify that and then we'll do the role. >> Okay. >> I I apologize if we're going to call the role all the way at the end. I'll I I didn't mean to motion. I was going to
say agree with the mayor and I think uh I think that's good. 90 days at risk of losing your grant special exceptions by the director. Sounds like a >> good compromise. >> All right. If we're if we're all okay with that, then we're going to we're going to move along and when we get to
the end, we'll discuss it and then we'll have a motion for the whole the whole program. Okay. All the changes that we did. All right. Very good. >> Okay, Peter. >> Moving to page 13. We just added some items. Uh again, this is part of that whole package and getting all the backup that we need. So, we've added things
like photos of entertainment or performers, photos of the first responder support of the events, photos of traffic related expenses. Um, we took out a few things. We didn't need to see some of these other things. Um, photos of the signs, banners to be used at an event. Um,
we did not need payroll because we're not reimbursing payroll. Um, copies of vendor reports. We did not need that. Under um, and then under there, when completing your reimbursement request packet, refer to the RRF guide that is given to you when you receive a copy of
your fully executed notice of award. incorrect or incomplete RF packets will not be accepted for payments. Um and then under Okay, so this is under um again this has to do with forfeite under terms and
conditions. Failure to strictly adhere to all terms and conditions of the grant award will result in the awardes forfeite of any grant funds received. If the awardee has already received funding under this grant and fails to strictly adhere to these grant requirements, the awardee shall be promptly return all
funds under this grant either received by the awardee or spent by the county on behalf of the awardee within 30 days of receiving notification by the county of non-compliance. In the TDO discretion, the TDO may allow the awardee to cure the deficiency and receive funding under
the grant. Should the awardy fail to return this funding within the timeline, the county may pursue legal action to recover these funds, including but not limited to attorneys fees and litigation costs associated with this recovery of funds. So, that was that was something the county attorney worked with us on
that language. Um, that's it on page 13. >> Questions on that? >> All right. U, it continues, doesn't it? a little >> uh there's just uh on the top of page 14 there's just a couple of uh it was
really more scrier type of stuff county and awardee in all caps. Then going down um uh as a condition for receiving support under this program the awardy certifies that it has conducted sex offender and/or sexual predator background screening and has procedures
in place to evaluate any etc etc. And then down at the bottom of that page to adhere to the above background screening protocols. And by the way, this has been in place from the very beginning of this program. This was something that was voted on by the board. Um so it's and it's actually not just for us. It's for
any uh grant award that the that the um county does that uh has public the public uh at. So it was not just affecting us, it affected other departments too potentially. Um to adhere to the above background screening protocols, applicants must certify that
they will comply with this directive within the application. Additionally, a background screening form will be provided to you from the TDO staff for grantees to list all individuals associated with your event yearround programming and keep for your files. So we we're not asking to get this. We just
want want them to certify that they have received uh that they've done this. This form will be sent to you with your fully executed notice of award. You are required to and I'm going to the next page. continues to each person's status within your organization, employee, contractor, subcontractor, agent, representative who
are present at your event, year-round programming through the national sex offender website. List the website name. Additionally, you must provide the county with a notorized affidavit signed under the penalty of perjury, and you'll see that on the application uh that we'll share in a minute, that you have
verified the status of any employee, contractor, subcontractor, agent, representative of their um status, and that these individuals are not a sexual predator as defined by section 775.21 Florida statutes or sex offender uh as
defined in se section 944.606 Florida statutes. This affidavit will be provided to you from TDO staff at time of your notice award. In addition, you must take a screenshot of each person's status and retain in your files as supporting documentation and evidence of your compliance with the screening. The
notorized affidavit must be emailed to the TDO office within 10 business days prior to your event. And for year- round programming, the completed form is due 10 business days after you um receive fully executed notice of award. And again quarterly uh December 1, March 1,
June 1, September one for new individuals, employee contractor, subcontract agent representative during the year. Organizations must retain all supporting documents, screenshots of individual status in your files with the background screening form as evidence to be submitted to the TDO for audit upon
request. Failure to submit a notorized affidavit 10 days prior to your event or as scheduled as a year round program will be regarded as a non-compliance and forfeite of your grant funding. So that that's new language that's clarifying existing requirements and it's the
reason is it's it's allowing us as the office to be have a little more teeth in the um compliance side uh because we're sort of being held accountable for that. So uh that's sort of we are being held accountable for that. So we want to make sure everybody follows that and adheres to it. Okay.
>> Can I just ask a question? >> Yes ma'am. This you said was language that was in other contracts awards by the >> This was language that was So the language on page 14 kind of describes all of this and describes what the board voted for. The language we added is
really just helping us with compliance of that. So yeah. So it's not really new. It's not a new requirement. It's been in place for couple of years. >> No. Well, so again on page 14, it kind of outlines what the requirements were. This is just adding the teeth to the to
that to help us collect the data. >> It's very detailed. >> Well, and I think also I think it maybe wasn't completely clear what they should do to do this. It kind of left it to them. And this is really not defining it because it's saying, "Hey, you go to this website, you put the person's name
in, take a screenshot, and save it." And that's background. That's that qualifies as background screening. So, >> I think we lost Tom, but he'll >> maybe he's in a dead zone. >> Yeah. Well, we'll try to get him back. Okay.
>> I think this is great. Really well done. >> Any other any other questions before we go on to I guess 16 has only got one small change at the bottom, right, Peter? >> Yeah. So page 16 we just added a COI upon request for required and then goes
to page 17 documentation then complete the notice of award for year- round programming and 10 business days prior to the event beginning. And again, same same kind of thing just to help us collect this because if we don't get a COI um you know event what happens is
the events occur they never got a COI and then we're out of compliance but we're still sort of forced to reimburse them. And so this is saying failure to submit your correct COI 10 business days prior to your event will result in forfeite of your or forfeit of your award funding. Uh and then the following
items with the exact language are required for each COI. And we just that's >> let's just go on into 17 there cuz Okay. >> And that's I mean that's really it for 17 as well. >> Okay. All right. Any any questions on
that part? >> Okay. >> I think we don't have any changes on 18 or 19 >> or 20. So that's 20. >> That's really it. >> Okay. So, and then there is uh I'm not so what I I think we should do sir if it's okay with you is vote on the
changes to the criteria and then I'll quickly cover the application as a separate uh item if that's all right. >> Okay. Um any questions on the whole product here that we just went through? Discussion in
in discussion where approve. >> Okay. >> Carry on. Jude. >> Well, I thought we'd motion and then if there's any other discussion. >> Well, there's a second or no. >> No, ma'am. I was I was going to make the motion, but carry on.
>> My motion stands. >> Okay. We have a motion to accept the changes. Okay. And we have a second. So, motion by Julie. We have a second by Mayor Medina. Call the role. And I think we lost Tom. So, >> okay. Go ahead and call the role. >> Julie Braa.
>> I. Mayor Connor. >> Yes. Larry Johns. >> Yes. >> Medina. >> I sword. >> Yes. >> Jere. >> Yes. We'll show those adopted and so we'll go on with the >> Okay. And then the application is super
simple. Um we just updated some dates, but the thing that we uh also added was on page seven of the application. Uh number 22. This is the certification that we're now asking for that they did in fact do the
required um background screening procedure and it has a signature for them. U and then uh that would be part of the application that they turn in. And Deborah, does it require a not notoriization as well there? >> Not this.
>> Not this. So just clarification this >> can you come sorry >> it says I certify >> I certify that I read and understand section 3.0 of the terms and conditions on this topic. >> Okay.
>> So then they sign this but then the affidavit that needs to get notorized is the one that gets turned into me 10 days after they're fully >> got it. So this is this is done at the time of the application which >> basically puts them on notice that of what they need to do. >> Yes. >> And then other than that everything else
in this section was just or in this uh application was really numbering of the um uh each item and uh that was really it. That was the only changes. >> All right. Questions on the application?
I just >> sir did we ever in the past >> sorry uh did we ever in the past have the applicant sign the criteria have a signature page on that >> the so in the application um there's a
uh there's two other signatures that are are the same as they've always been which is that they've read and understand the policies and procedures of the criteria and then at the very end there's a signature that says that they're attesting that all information is true and correct. So there's sort of
now there's almost like three attestations. It's hard to say um that you know they've read the criteria, they are going to follow the um screening background screening procedures and that everything that they're saying in this uh application is true and accurate.
So quite a bit of Gotcha. >> Okay. Other other questions for Peter on the application? Any discussion on the application? Is there a motion for the changes? >> Move to approve. >> I have a motion by Mayor Connors. Is there a second?
>> I have a second by Mayor Medina. We'll call the role. >> Julie Braa, >> I. >> Mayor Connor, >> yes. >> Larry John, >> yes. >> Mayor Medina, >> hi. >> Wayne Sword, >> yes. >> Chair Felner, >> yes. We'll show that adopted.
>> Thank you. >> Okay, great. >> Are we going to so long, but >> it's okay. We're going into the marketing committee report. >> Yeah, I'll do I'll do the report since Tom's off. Um Tom was uh attended. Um we did not have a a quorum, but it was
okay. We honestly we were um really just updating information. The main >> Oh, Tom's back. All right. Uh hey, Tom, I'm just giving a quick update on marketing. You can jump in uh if there's anything I missed. >> Sorry. >> No, that's all right. >> Sorry, I got bad coverage up here.
>> No worries. Um so, yeah. So the the purpose of the meeting, this was sort of the first of uh three marketing committee meetings where they're going to be working towards developing a marketing plan and approving the plan. Um the the at the first meeting we went
through um the uh budget. We went through the previous uh year's marketing plan or the current year's marketing plan just as a refresher because we had a few new committee members. Um and then we just ask them for the next meeting which will be May 18th is to bring um
any ideas, thoughts, things that they want us to investigate, research, things like that. And then I guess I would also say same for um the TDC. If there's anything that um you would like us to investigate as we go into next next
fiscal year um or look at um if you could let us know uh in the next meeting or two. Uh we usually work on this, Laura and I um work on this over the summer. So uh and then we'll bring it back uh to the committee in I believe Jul I can't remember August. I think we
said August. Then we bring it to the PDC in August and then it would go to the board for for final approval in September. So So that's kind of the the flow of it. Um, the one thing uh we did share was a couple of of just new items and I don't know if the IT folks are
listening in, if you could pop up uh we just have a couple of quick slides that we wanted to show. Um, we we've been working on um with a couple of partners. Um uh I think everybody's aware we work with the Cocoa Beach Hotel Association
on the um district 2 portion of the marketing um plan or the marketing uh budget. And um and then we've also been working with the uh coalition South Bard Tourism Coalition, which is part of the
Space Coast Chamber. If you don't know, the Space Coast Chamber used to be the Melbourne Chamber. They're Space Coast Chamber now. Um we've been working with that group. Julie sits on that group. Pam Rothenberg is the chair. She sits on our marketing committee. Um, and we've been working with them on branding Palm
Bay and Melbourne and Palm Bay. Um, and so as part of just beginning that process, we were looking at the Space Coast logo and we had some ideas on it. And, uh, this is really just a what we call a word mark. So, it's not our official corporate logo, so to speak.
It's really just our the the uh logo that we put into our advertising. Um and as you can see, it has a a rocket coming out of the the P in Space Coast up through the I in Florida's. Um and then there's I believe the next slide is just
the other is so this would be when we are working with a municipality, we would add on the word on. So it would be, you know, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, and Palm Bay on Florida Space Coast or Titusville on Florida Space Coast. So that's that's how that would appear. And
then um we uh so that's just quickly a word mark that we're working on. you will see, I don't know if it'll be April or May, but in one of those meetings, we will bring a whole bunch of advertising that we're developing for Cocoa Beach and for Melbourne and Palm Bay,
including digital TV and word marks for those uh brands as well. So, we're kind of freshening up everything. Um, and then we also have some new things for Titusville as well. So, sort of everybody's getting kind of updated and refreshed and trying to do it all under
the same umbrella of of of the Space Coast. Um the uh next thing we did is we've been working uh again with the Cocoa Beach hotel folks and the port to develop an ad for the TV ad for them. And uh I think we're going to try to
play that new ad for for you guys if we can try to make that run. We might have to go I don't know if we have to go up to the screen to click. >> Peter, real quick while they're doing that. The I have a question. Has the marketing committee seen these refreshed
logos and all? >> Yeah. Well, we're So, we we this is these were shown at the at the marketing committee. Okay, great. >> We're going to bring more stuff to them and to hear as we get more stuff. So, yes. Yeah, it'll the marketing committee
is seeing all of that. >> It may not play for us. Okay. Well, we will do whatever we have to do for the next meeting to make sure it runs. So, sorry about that. But anyway, the the the just quickly we met with Captain Murray and his team about this and they were very happy with this. The idea is
they they are now using the brand the best port ever. And of course, I think everybody's heard they've taken over Miami as the number one cruise um port in the world or certainly the most passengers uh and for a cruise port in
the world. And so between those things, we wanted to make sure we were, you know, incorporating their brand. But the other thing we wanted to make sure is that people know that, hey, if you come and take a cruise here, there's a great opportunity to stay pre and post for all the great things that we have from rocket launches to beaches to nature and
all those things. And so that's what the spot shows. Like I said, we will um sorry it was not playing, but we will show that at the next meeting. But that's we did that. They're happy with it. and we're going to be, I think, rotating that into our spring campaign already. We started doing that. So, that
was that was a nice win for us. >> Is this on your website or um >> is it only being out? >> Not yet, it's new. It's very new, but we will get it up on the website. Maybe we'll just send out a link to everybody. Yeah, let's we'll do that.
>> Okay, perfect. Uh Mr. Hermanson, I don't know if you're still if you could go back to the Zoom view. Uh, anything else, sir, that I missed? >> Uh, nothing. I would just like to say I'm uh impressed with the what the staff
and Anbar has been doing. I think uh the refresh with the again the unified Space Coast logo with the various municipalities is going to work to reinforce Space Coast as the destination with the various nuances. Um, I think the collaboration's working very well
and I'm excited to see the final product. Thank you. >> That's all I had, sir. >> All right. Um, very good. Thank you. Mike, do you want to say anything? We You We're going to go to public comment. I don't think we have any cards, right?
Nobody. Did you want to say anything? You're here. Did you need to say anything to us today? >> I don't >> I can't tell. I can't tell from your poker face. Uh, >> I I don't need to, but I'll I'll just let all of you know our We have a couple of beach projects underway. They're
they're moving according to schedule and will be done by the end of April. Our South Beaches project uh is now just doing the last couple of miles of the of that project. They're about a mile south of Spessor Holland
Park. the bigger Army Corps project in the South Reach, the town of Indie Atlantic and Melbourne Beach is underway now and they're making good progress and the the residents have been receptive. Everyone sort of understands they have to put up with the disturbance for a
week or so, but in exchange they're getting getting a beach. So, I think we're on we're on track to finish by the end of April. Uh that's all I had unless you all have questions >> and I and I'm just going to suppose weather has been ideal uh for this. It
seems it's been cooperating, right? >> It it has been cooperating. They always like it calmer, but it's been good enough so far. >> Yeah. Okay. Very good. Thanks for giving us that update. Okay, we'll go into uh board reports. Uh Julie,
>> well, Peter stole a little bit of my thunder. I serve on the Melbourne Regional Chamber board, which is now the Space Coast Chamber. And I am so thrilled about this um mainly because I think it really is a complement to the work that we've done here and the staff
on the last 20 years and what we've put into investing in the Space Coast brand and how that's helped support um Tomorrow Launches here, which was the EDC effort, and now this carries through to that. So, I love to see when that investment has taken off. And every
piece of that that comes together, I think, is going to continue to help make people understand and know geographically where the Space Coast is because that's our biggest challenge is it's a great brand. And it just doesn't geographically translate well. But the more we put into it as a community, I'm just um really thrilled about that. So,
I brought the little logo, their little logo, Space Goes Chamber. So, it um it's a really a great bit of work, but also um I think the overlap is is what's really good. >> Yeah. I mean, I just to echo that it's
interesting because we we had our agency AMBAR work with the EDC to develop the Florida Space Coast Tomorrow Launches here branding that they've been running now for a couple of years. And to see a chamber now jumping on, you know, that
bandwagon. Um, and obviously we've been using that in our marketing since 20 >> 20 I think something like that. Um, in in a big way. I mean, it was used before, but I think we've kind of stepped it up in 2020 and kind of even
after that 21. Um, and so yeah, it's just nice to see everybody sort of picking up on the synergies of of that. So, >> yeah, every bit of it helps. Um, also, uh, I don't know, I know it's on here, but we have our beach committee meeting, and thank you so much. I'm honored to be the beach chair again. Um, it is going
to be March. What's the date? >> 31. >> 31. Next week. >> All right. Very good. Uh, Vice Chair Hermanson, sir. Anything in board report? >> Nothing specific to report.
>> All right. Uh, very good. Larry JS. >> Uh, really nothing to report except just a couple comments. Uh, I'm really excited about our our tourism numbers. it sounds like in February and March. Just wondering uh anyone's sentiment and concerns about gas prices and if April
and May and June and the summer you guys think we're going to start to get affected or you think it will all work out. >> Larry, I'll tell you my owners. My crystal ball is broken. >> Yeah. >> I mean, it's really hard to tell right now. We had a really tough January. It
was not good. I I'm hoping the rest of the county didn't feel what we felt like in the south part of the county, but um you know March and February and March have historically proven well um in the south part of the county. I've heard that from many of my peers. I think there's a big question mark. I
think the leisure traveler I mean it could help us in sometimes in years past it it's created more of a drive market um and with the crowds at the airports and stuff. So it could be to our advantage. It's just gonna have to wait to see, you know, how that works out.
>> Yeah. I mean, it's interesting because the TSA issue, too, doesn't seem to be curbing travelers. They're just waiting in line. >> So, >> yeah, >> I I find that one interesting, too, because I mean, we both worked in in South County and know what it's like to be um south of Ogalli um even uh on the
beach. and lot of uh gov mill down there that keeps everybody uh going and and I'm curious with it with the air travel if if they've seen that if people just aren't coming uh if they're putting it off coming later or
>> I don't know. We've seen a decrease in government room night rates historically since the first shutdown. So like I mean I think that I think there's become a little bit more uh but there's there's been other demand generators too. So it's it's hard to say. I mean you can
definitely feel it but it's um >> and PDM split now, right? So when's the in season out of season? >> 208 right now and it goes down to 166 starting April 1st. >> Okay. So I I I wonder if uh I mean
>> does that make people wait? Uh I'm going to I'm going to wait until the summer. >> I don't think so. I mean it's you know it's when they plan their meetings and when they have to come visit >> the products or you know typically they've always planned the meetings in January, February and March. Everyone wanted to come from
>> that's a lot easier. It is a lot easier to make that. >> Yeah. So I think it'll be interesting to see what the next few months have to hold out but there's a big question mark on on my radar. I don't I mean Wayne's Hotel sold out every all the time. I think >> it's about the Rockets. As long as they're problems, we'll be fine
regardless of gas prices. >> It's so it's so fascinating. North County to to South County and uh and in the middle part of the county with the with the cruises. It's just >> about cruise. >> I I appreciate uh Tom, do you sir, do you have thoughts on Larry's question
about gas prices? I know you and I have talked many times over the years. I mean, there's there's just no question that uh a dollar increase per gallon in gas and the turmoil at airports isn't going to impact
Americans tendency to travel. You know, it it it most definitely will. Julie makes a good point that maybe we'll see a little bit more in travel, shorter sort of station type visitors to offset the loss of people coming from further away. But you tack a gallon on the price
of gasoline and keep it there, it's going to just uh deteriorate consumer sentiment across the board. So, you know, it is what it is. Uh you hope for the best, but uh you know, we're going to see if this sustains, we're going to see a downdraft
across the overall economy and travel is obviously one of the more discretionary expenses. So, it'll impact us. Well, I'll try to have a sense of optimism and suggest that uh maybe folks in Florida instead of traveling north uh for the summer, they'll just come to the beach.
>> It's a lot easier just to come to Bvard County. >> It's great information for how we spend those summer marketing dollars. And I know you guys have always done that, but I think it does share a lot about this room is to >> Yeah. >> I mean, I should hope you're taking that into consideration.
>> Yeah, 100%. I mean, the bulk of um the Cocoa Beach funds are spent um in Georgia, Tennessee, and South, a little bit of North Carolina. And then uh I'd say probably 70 80% of our funds are spent, you know,
in the same, you know, from the other counties marketing that we do is spent in that those same markets. We're going to do a little bit in New York. I mean, New York's still a hot market for us and we still think people will will come from there and they they're maybe a
little bit more affluent, but yeah, the bulk of our funds are being spent south of, you know, North Carolina. So, >> is there is there any I'm I'm sorry, just just a thought. Is there anything extra to do uh ahead of summer? I mean, when I worked at the hotel, I mean, many
years ago, >> uh but we were trying to get folks I mean, definitely when the kids were out of school, right? that we were trying to get the folks from Orlando to to come over to our beach, not Daytona Beach. Um, you know, those kinds Nothing against Daytona Beach, but that's not
our job. Is it's not our job to send people to Daytona Beach. >> We were trying to get them to come to Bvard County. Is there is there anything sort of extra that we can do ahead of summer to >> That's a great That's a great question. um with Artemis um we had an opportunity to do a promotional program with
Spectrum and they're obviously Spectrum's Orlando and Tampa. So those are the big markets that we're going to do something in. Um very heavy on their news because they're doing special uh news breaks and news stories on Artemis. So we we decided to put some
funds into that. Um, we're doing some extra funding for the America 250 program which that leads into, you know, sort of like leads up to July, but there's other stuff that goes on before that. So, that's a little bit of a promotional hit. And then we had some
funds um because of World Cup, we had some funds that we used uh to try to drive, you know, people from, you know, the going to the Miami games to come up here for that. So, there was there were three programs that that we did advertising for. And then um I think I
had shared before like LA maybe at the last meeting that we had done um a blitz in Charlotte and that that was kind of a an something that we hadn't done before. So that was another push to kind of just do some promotional things to try to get some traction uh on spring. But uh but
we'll keep looking for those opportunities. You know, we're always we always try to be fleet of foot when we uh place media, but I can tell you like I said, a bulk of that media is Charlotte, Atlanta, and south of there.
Um, and you know, about 40% right now, uh, on average about 40% of our visitation comes from within the state of Florida. If that bumps up significantly, then you know, we'll look at maybe pushing a little bit more into Tampa and Miami, but we already have pretty big media buys there. So,
>> if if the TDC just decided um next month that we wanted to push Orlando traffic over here for the summer, I'm just asking a hypothetical >> what what um what what could be done >> in I'm just curious with all the digital
>> digital is a real opportunity for that because that's that's things that we can move very quickly around. Um, my only cons my only concern about Orlando is when we've spent a lot of money in the past, the ROI has not been as high as a
Tampa or a Palm Beach because they're staying a little bit longer, spending a little bit more. But if if we were to see like all of a sudden just a shrinking and we're like, "Yeah, we got to we got to double up on on Orlando," it wouldn't be hard for us to to redirect. So, we'll keep we'll keep that
in mind as we look into summer. Nothing, by the way, nothing's been finalized uh from a place media placement perspective yet. We just started looking at media plans the other day for uh which would kick off in May uh for the May, June, July and into August period. So, we've
got we've got time for that and I think we can, you know, the other the nice thing about Orlando, both residents and people that are visiting Orlando, is it's a short uh booking window for them, right? They can just make a decision to go. So we could we could change very
close in and >> and I think that's my question really too is I I get that right that they they just let's let's go this weekend or I can I can be off on Wednesday Thursday let's let's do it and um you know instead of them again nothing against um
county but instead of them going there they're going to they're going to take a right and they're going to come to Bvard >> um okay I think that was Larry's board report originally on the gas. >> Good conversation >> question. Yes. All right. Well, well
done, sir. Uh uh Mayor Medina. >> Yes. So, my my reports is I'm going to encourage and invite each and every one of you to uh this year's mayor's ball. The beneficiary will be essential pregnancy. It'll be held on April 18th
and it will be held in the city of Palm Bay at headquarters L3 Harris. Um, as most of you know, over the last several years, the mayor's ball has uh chosen beneficiaries, which you have partnered for Sacrifice Park, the completion
thereof, Serene Harbor, Space Coast, uh, Discovery for Children. And this year, again, it's essential pregnancy that help with women's health. And so, I'm encouraging each and every one of you, perhaps your businesses to partner and
join me April 18th at L3 Harris. Of course, uh there are some security concerns uh holding this at L3 Harris. So, you'll have to uh provide your license number and uh citizenship of
course or whatever um cards you may have that uh prove that you are a legal citizen in the great nation of the United States of America. But uh again, I want to encourage each and every one of you to partner with me, join me uh in
helping this worthy cause of uh supporting essential pregnancy. And that concludes my report. >> Okay. Uh appreciate that, Mr. Mayor. Uh Wayne >> Artemis, that's my life. And uh we had a good January because there was the ramp
up to the scheduled February launch, which didn't happen. So February uh died down a little bit but we had large companies contracted in. So through attrition because they weren't there we were able to survive uh on that and with the even though we missed the revenue
per se. So it's now all uh the excitement about the launch next week. Still getting calls from you know people that are trying to get rooms as of yesterday saying do you have any rooms? No, we haven't had rooms forever. So >> very good. >> There's a few in South County. >> Yes, there are. I've
>> 95 distance shorter. >> So >> they're driving. >> We tell them there's so rooms. They're like, "But that's an hour away." Okay. Well, there's rooms. >> The whole county filled up last time. >> Everything. >> That's outstanding. I mean, that >> But that it didn't happen. >> So that's bad.
>> That's reminiscent of shuttle. >> Yeah, it's like a shuttle. It It does give the same draw as shuttle. >> That's That's great. That's wonderful. Um the so yeah the the the the launch window is the 1st, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and 30th. So we're
already oversold on the 30th and we haven't even got to the first yet. So we'll see what happens. Um and then uh Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is talking about bringing people this way. They're doing adults at a kid rate uh through the end of May, May 24th, I think. So there's some incentive to head
this direction. >> That That's great. I got some family coming to town uh soon, so send them there. That's um good information. Uh Peter, >> uh just next meeting is April 22nd and then as Julie mentioned, the the the next committee meeting is March 31st. Uh
marketing is for beach and then marketing is uh May 28th. That's it. >> Um and I said I said this at the I think budget workshop, so I'll say it again. Bvard Zoo, one of the top zoos in the country right here um in Sun Tree
Vieira. So, if you get the chance, go celebrate uh the zoo. And I think we also learned that giraffes like to eat uh Brazilian pepper trees. We're not sure how to put those two together, but uh that was something that was shared with us in a in a commission meeting,
but seriously, the Bvard Zoo, great job. Um we're we're all proud of them. and we'll see you what was 22nd April. All right. Thank you everyone. Take care. 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 Bvard County, Florida, Space Coast Government Television, or the program sponsor and are solely those of the presenter. The board of county commissioners of Bvard County, Florida, Space Coast Government Television, and the program sponsor hereby expressly
disclaim any and all responsibility or liability for any defamatory or slanderous statements expressed by any member of the public during any such period. Heat. Hey, Heat.