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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 for that. And if uh we'll call
the role, we'll get started. >> Julie Braa, >> present. >> Mayor Connors, >> present. >> Vice Chair Hermes, >> Larry John, >> present. >> Alex Litress,
>> present. >> Mayor Medina. >> Wayne Sor >> here. John Moran, chair filter, >> I'm here.
I think we have a quorum. Thank you everybody for being here today. Are there any uh disclosures? Anything anyone needs to disclose before we get started? No. Um we have minutes to approve for
September 24th meeting. Is there a motion? >> Motion to approve. Braa. >> We have a motion by Julie Brago. >> I'll second it. >> I have a second by Larry John's. >> We'll call the role on that. >> Julie Braa, >> I. >> Mayor Connors,
>> yes. >> Larry Johns, >> I. >> Alex Litress. >> I >> Wayne Sor. >> Yes. >> Chair Felner. >> Yes. We'll show that adopted. Thank you. And Peter, I guess we'll go to the
clerk. Yes, sir. Um, I know there were some questions that the the TDC had at the last meeting. So, um, Marty Miller is here from the clerk's office. He brought his team with them. So, Marty, if you want
to come on up to the podium and >> certainly uh, welcome to open up for questions. Do you have a presentation for us first? Um, Marty, or is that what you want to do or want us to just sort of jump into questions? >> Yeah, just go ahead and jump in. I mean,
we're kind of still in the mix, so I don't really have a formal presentation of any sort. >> You you don't have a formal presentation? No. Okay. Um, I think most of our uh questions were from um possibly Tom Hermanson. So, we might not
have that many today since he's since he's not here, but why why don't you just give us a a a quick overview of um what it's going to be like for you to collect the tourism tax going forward. >> Uh well, I can kind of start where we are today.
>> Yep. >> Uh you know, we we assembled a a team uh relatively quickly quickly. It was about three or four months. uh purchased a new software program.
Um it was, you know, designed for TDT collection and compliance. Um but like any software program, uh I mean it was it's just kind of unheard of obviously to to purchase something out of the box, go online, and then try to
to to build it out from there. So that's probably been I mean the largest hurdle thus far is is aligning you know aligning that program as we on the fly. So uh the team has done a an amazing
job. I I honestly did not expect it to go as well as it has. I mean it's it's nothing's going to be perfect. I don't think anybody in this room had an expectation that you know that it was going to be a seamless trans trans uh action across the board. But um you know
thus far as of today uh we stand at collections around 844,000 uh this far um and that is I just confirmed that we have not received our uh voluntary collection agreements with um with BBO and Airbnb. We have not
received their their remittance yet. So it would stand to you know reason that it'll be close to alignment and I don't in Peter's projections I'm not sure what the projections were based on historical monthly data but uh I mean it's not too
far off. I mean we have a we still have a lot of of clients that are are either maybe remitted a little early um to avoid the problem of of the transition. Uh now they're showing up. We're seeing a big spike again
uh in the last week of of uh operators coming in and and registering new properties and and we're coaching them through. I mean, we still have our our technical issues on how to handle certain niche uh uh different property
managers uh issues. Um you know, there's there's a lot to learn in this space which none of us knew before three or four months ago and so we started researching it and um you know that's a probably a thought for
another day but uh I mean as far as as far as it goes now I'm pretty confident that you know once we get past this first few months and get the majority of people registered and then we can see through the software's
u uh collection data that we can see who's out there in that space and operating and collecting um you know collecting that that um tourism tax and and and but not remitting it. So then the compliance uh portion will come into
effect. I don't know when that that transition be I mean right now is this the the big lift is getting all of the customers that were previously uh with the tax collector transitioned over. I mean, you're dealing with uh you know,
honestly, the the the hotels and motel are fantastic. The, you know, the people that are in this business space, the property managers, uh uh people like that, fantastic. They're used to this kind of thing. Um and coming in and reregistering all their properties under
the system, not a big deal. It's just a lot of the the mom and pops who have one or two properties, you know, who are, you know, they they don't keep a real close eye on on their business. So, it it's it's a stretch having them to go back and, you know, we we we are
requiring them even though we have the VCA that they need to to uh you know, report their their gross incomes on those platforms to us. Yeah, there's a little push back about that, but it's the only way that we're really going to be able to to ensure good compliance is
if we have that rather than just getting that that check from those VCA checks. Um, not sure how long, you know, we'll have those VCAs. Uh, you know, V originally, it'd be one
thing if Airbnb and VBO um it was an all or nothing. if they were going to collect the tax for their customers or or not, but they both decided and their agreements that they give their
clients the option and so we don't know who those that have decided to to remit their own tax are and and we we have one shot at the you know at the apple we can you know one bite we can ask for that information from Brbo and Airbnb once a
year and do those reconciles to see who's on their platform that it's been uh who's decided to collect their own um and who is not. So you know that that kind of compliance will come later on down the road. But uh I mean I think the
visions is well established. You know I I think the personnel that I that we've assembled um is beyond capable of of getting this all ironed out. Um, you know, I don't wish anybody
implementing a new software system in two or three months. Just don't do it. But, uh, but that that's the way it is. So, uh, but we're taking in stride. We're going to do the utmost best we can and and we're going to try to inre
increase compliance over the next few years. I mean, it's just going to take a little time for us to get a get a handle on that, get get things running a little bit more smoothly in that space and then and then we can start uh doing our compliance work, which um you know, if
the numbers are correct, then you know, there is money left out there that that that is rightfully the counties and and u we need to find that. So, but uh if there's anything else you guys want to talk about, I don't have a lot of details, but go ahead.
>> Um well, I have a card um for the tax collector and see her here. I don't want to uh keep you all day. Um do you want >> you could you could speak now and um maybe that would be timely and then both of us and then we'll go we'll go to questions.
>> Thank you, Rob. >> Yep. I appreciate that. I wanted to address some comments that were made during the last board meeting and clarify some things for all of you. I just put a mint in my mouth. I expected to be a public comment.
Um, you had asked Peter if I had turned information over to the clerk's office. One of the things we deal with the rise is our rise agreement. And as soon as that was in place, we did turn all the information over about our
accounts. And in fact, after your last meeting, I called Rachel and I said, "Is there anything else you need from me because I don't want you to be lacking in information." So, we did turn over uh what we could. Um, we also did put out a communication to
each of our account contacts that we would cease collection as of October 1 and our auditing would also cease as of that date. But this communication also included contact information for the clerk that they had
given to me. So it had a a phone number and a email address which included their website. So I I wanted you to know that we did share that information on our behalf. And I believe Marty, you did put out some information as well. >> Absolutely.
>> So we've really tried to cover that. If you're having people come to you that weren't notified, um I don't know what rock they've been under. Um, the question was also asked, I believe it was Mr. Hermanson, as to why the tax
collector's office will not be collecting tourist development tax. So, this goes back to June of 2023, and I'm going to tell you some things that you may not be aware of. It was then that the members of the
board of county commissioners decided to try to exert authority over the budget of the tax collector's office. They passed resolution 2361. At that time in 2023, I told the then
county manager that two of the first reductions I would have to be make, one would be in regards to tourist development tax collection. My guess is that wasn't shared with Mr. Kranis or this council.
I apologize for that. So again, in February 2024 and 2025, the board referencing that resolution called for constitutional officers to appear at the board of county
commissioners meeting to explain the basis and need for any re any budget increases over 3%. for that coming fiscal year. The majority of the services offered by
the tax collector's office are those on the behalf of state agencies. We provide those at the local level to our citizens. In an email dated February 26, 2025, I told the county manager that I was
evaluating those collections. Again, I don't think that was shared with this council. I officially notified the county manager's office that I would no longer collect the tourist development tax on
May 1st, 2025. This was a budgetary decision for the tax collector's office. plain and simple. Um, wasn't anything about it, but if if the budget of the tax collector's office is
going to be called into question, you need to look at the things you can cut, the things that you are not statutoily required to take care of. And unfortunately, that was one of the things that was on the chopping block. I'm going to encourage you to work with
a clerk on enforcement. In the past 17 years, I've met with little to no help in that area. This county has code enforcement that could help you. The worst thing I could do to them was file a warrant. And many times
those warrants were just ignored. I also want to caution you. You're going to find accounts in unincorporated Bvard that should not be short-term renting that you will be collecting for. You're going to have to make a decision
as to whether you want to keep collecting that money or not. I asked that question several times and receive no answer. But I wanted to make myself available today if you have any questions. The reasoning why why I did anything. I just
wanted you to know from me why the decision was made. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Um since the tax collector is here and out of deference for her time, is there is there any question?
No. Okay. Uh we'll go back to Marty. Um questions for Marty on the current collection and where we're where we're headed to. >> Yeah. I I'll just say though >> we once we can get established I mean we're really in the thick of it. It was
just the 20th was just the other day >> we we are not collecting uh penalties as of yet because on the onus is on us not not the taxpayers in this position until we can get that that figured out. Um you
know we will start collecting those in subsequent months. But once we feel confident that you know we have our game together and that you know then we'll start collecting those. Um at that time if you'd like to I can I can bring in uh
you know the um PowerPoint or or you know share our our web application and so you can you know if you would like to see if you want to see where these VRBOS and you short-term rentals are um more than happy to bring that into to show
you. Let me let me say something that the tax collector rightly brought up because we did have a conversation uh before and I appreciate you being here today, Lisa. Um on the issue of collecting short-term rental in
unincorporated areas of Bvard um where they shouldn't be doing short-term rentals is a dilemma and I don't know that it's one to be solved by the clerk because my understanding is you know we have a code enforcement problem at that
point and can can local government um uh initiate code enforcement uh complaint basically without uh uh uh you know a resident or someone else u making the complaint.
>> Can you can you speak to that because my understanding is that we can't >> I can give you an avenue to >> you have to speak into the mic there. Um I can give you an avenue as to get there. Uh and that would be through um what we call rent it's called Reynoldscape uh through Decard
Technologies and we just had a meeting with the entire team and the CEO uh of the company yesterday um you know that they're doing really exciting things in this space uh you know and and and the technology is is is driving forward. Um,
so I I've requested from uh the county's IT uh the GI GIS mapping uh to integrate over into uh Decard's system. Um and you know, Peter's provided me the historical
uh reports that that that came in each month that had a breakdown of the localities and things. And I and again, you know, >> I don't know if I'm debating that the that the technology exists. And I don't mean to interrupt, but I >> I'm going to be able to show you show >> enforcement side. I don't think we can
initiate uh a code enforcement action >> without a com uh someone making the complaint. I don't think the the county can like for example, we don't drive around and look for fences that are on the ground that that that have fallen down. a neighbor calls and and I think
that's a requirement in statute. Am I am I reading? >> Well, are we are we wrong on that? >> The um so the system we got is an enter is an enterprise uh license agreement. Uh so I met with uh Doug Carter uh fire
marshal. >> They have a great interest in this as well to inspect all the short terminals. Um, I'm going to provide him uh his own account um where he can go in and and he's going to identify any unincorporated. That was kind of where the mapping came in. I can designate the
the exact cutout of where the unincorporated areas are. There's they're highlighted dots all over the map. You hone in on them. It shows you where their listings are. It shows you their listing on the site. It tells you how long they've been on the site. Tells you how much they've been advertising uh
each night for and then how many nights they blocked off. and it does the estimations tax that way but and you're in that regard the the code enforcement office could have a login as well and you know I can exclude all of the uh
financial data and they can simply see on the map exactly it's the geo location it's not where the person that owns it it's exactly where it is so nobody really has to initiate it they can just go out on their own based on the technology >> I I think the tax collector had some
>> I would urge you to talk to some of the cities, especially like Cocoa Beach under their code enforcement and how they handle it. You have life health safety issues. Um, some of these rentals will not have the proper uh >> sprinklers, smoke,
>> smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, all of the different safety >> um >> safeguards that you have if you stay in a brick and mortar hotel in in each of your room. You're going to have that fire detector. You're going to have clear direction as to where the um fire
extinguisher is. And I think that's where those cities hung their hat was was life, health, safety and followed through with the code enforcement. >> And and I think some of those cities uh not for nothing were preempted by the state. Some of them had
>> depends on when they had that. >> Right. Exactly. Yes. Um, and that's that's quite a current topic because even the board asked we're not maybe going to get it but uh for the state uh not to preempt local government on their um on their code
with regards to that. Okay. Because I I think code enforcement is a separate sort of arm of it and it's and it's hard there is there is that dilemma of we have to have a complaint but um I understand what both of you are saying since we have them both here. Are there
other questions for either the tax collector or for the clerk's office? >> And and just so you know too, Marty can call our office anytime. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's true. >> We've we've really had an open door with them. I >> I think >> I want them to succeed
>> and and I do not even pretend to understand these these political situations. I but I can just speak to the fact that like the biggest hurdle was honestly the state with the the rise agreement. I mean, we submitted our rise agreement and it was like weeks and
weeks were going by, nothing was happening. Of course, you know, I'm becoming quite alarmed because I can't get any information. We can't, you know, >> share >> property tax and dealing with that >> that information. But, so called five or
six times. Finally, I got the poor lady just got tired of listening to me and she went got somebody. They they had the person that was in charge of the rise left and they didn't tell anybody. So, it was sitting on somebody's desk and nobody was doing anything about it. So, >> let me uh ask cuz um I was I was
thinking something with both of you standing here. Um the board had agreed before that if we we find a rental on a homesteaded property. So, whether that's a long-term renter or that is uh and we
gave that direction for code enforcement specifically or we find a short-term rental that we are going to report that to the property appraiser. So, um, for the purpose of homestead, >> that's a we do. >> Yeah, that's a completely different thing. So, um, >> they were on our rise agreement. I don't
know if you've added to them to yours yet, but if you find a a short-term rental on a homesteaded property, they need to know. >> Oh, yeah. And we can extract that. >> Yeah. We don't need somebody to complain. I mean, any anybody can inform the the property appraiser of that,
>> quite honestly. Yeah. She could come over at any point. Her team could ask. We could we could we could carve out, you know, the entire county just and we could provide her all the listings. I mean, we we have the evidentiary data to go to to court with them if they they're saying, "No, I've I've never rented on a
platform." >> Here's the last 5 years collecting. an interesting thing when uh they go to the VAB and I'm saying having worked for the property appraiser and um and so uh the issue of whether I've rented my homesteaded property or not and there's
a funny thing where it's like well you got 20 good reviews >> uh on VBO. So yeah, good for you. It sounds like a nice place to stay. You just you can't have Homestead on it. >> She will investigate them. >> Yes, they're very aggressive. She does investigate. She has everything I've turned over to her. But, uh, but if we
find it, uh, we're we're going to send it on. Okay. >> Yeah. And like I said, you know, you know, that portion we Yeah, we're excited to show you. I mean, if if there was time, we could somebody could log into their account and just give you a brief look as as to what that map looks
like and what it provides you. Um, but if you want to wait till another month, that's fine, too. >> Okay. Julie. >> Yeah. I just Hi. Um, thank you for coming. I think I was trying to summarize what um Tom was asking the questions and I think as a hotel year we
were caught a little bit offguard as to the why this has happened. So I really appreciate you addressing that and making sure there's continuity um and that you know a fair playing field is something uh the brick and mortar hotels have always fought for in this space. So
it's very encouraging to hear that the technology is keeping up to date. So, I think that kind of I don't think I have any additional questions because you guys answered all the questions, but from what I remember, Tom's discussion was is just kind of we felt like it's a little bit out of left field. We didn't know what was going on, why, you know,
what was happening with this. And so, and just making sure that there was good communication and that it was all covered. I think that was the gist of, and please let me if I'm mistaken if he had more specific questions, but that was the gist of what I understood from his line of questioning last month that
>> I'm going to agree with you. and also many conversations I've had with him over many years and I'm gesturing because he usually sits over here >> but that um honestly I mean let's be honest Air Airbnb uh short-term rentals
VBO whatever you want to call them today they are competitors and and so you know sometimes they like was said earlier about you know the the the fire you know the smoke detectors and the sprinklers >> they don't do all that stuff that that a
hotel has got to pay for that comes at a at a at a great expense and so competing maybe on in an unfair um situation. I think the state even now has addressed that that if once you get you know you have a condo that um once it's over 50%
um it basically you got to follow the same rules as a hotel they make them because I know a couple old condos that are out there having to retrofit their sprinkler system and it's very expensive and I think they're doing some soul searching saying hey is this >> is it worth it >> is it really this is you know all the
rest of the stuff that we're having to do as condo association do we want to do that today um anyways I I think that's where he's coming from. >> His his his questions were valid, very valid because it's easy to identify identify a brick and mortar hotel.
>> If I'm renting my house three months out of the year, that's very hard to keep tabs on >> and it it's an unfair playing field for you all. So, I completely understand his questions and >> he should rightfully be asking them. >> Yeah, it's great. Thank you. So happy to
hear that this is a smooth as smooth as possible transition. >> Yeah. This is this is not easy. No, I only want to make light of it. I mean, what is there over we've kind of it's over 6,000 short-term rentals in this county. >> Um, so we have we have a lot of work to
do. So, I'm not coming in to tell you it's all roses. We're we're doing smooth as silk, but we're going to get there. >> But if they have a question, >> we have no problem with that. >> Their software is just completely different than what we use. So
>> can't be much help in that regard. But >> we know our destination. We know we see it, but we >> and they are fully capable. I I don't think you >> Yeah, we're not scared of it. That's for sure. >> They're they're going to do a good job. >> Okay. Any other questions? No. Um if
we're Alex. >> Yeah. Commissioner Felner, you were talking about this idea of these unincorporated areas and and how that's kind of a conundrum. If the way they're going to be discovered is by paying the TDT money is
kind of enforcing that way going to perhaps drive them underground where they'll just okay, I won't collect the money. I won't pay the money or or worse collect it but don't pay it. Now we're talking fraud. or or is your method of finding them and
and um either shutting them down or getting them in compliance different from just well if they're paying and then they're in an unincorporated area let's go after >> completely different. >> Okay. >> Uh this the technology that we're using the company every night at midnight
scrapes the entire internet and it scrapes what 15 or 16 or more platforms. all 15 or 16 different platforms besides VBO and Airbnb, some European uh websites. Uh it scrapes the entire
internet. If you've posted a, you know, on that that platform to rent, then it's geoloccated on our map. I can tell you the exact location where that property is. I can tell you the the mailing address of the owner, the
property manager's address. uh to give you a just a wealth of data on that without asking anyone. It's right there to be looked I I just looked um this afternoon and counted four and behind the courthouse. But I can also see that
oh they haven't they haven't collected a single dollar in the last three years that they've been on the platform. They're not actually active on the platform anymore. They they they got off of it. I'm not worried about them. So great. I don't have to, you know, there's no effort that's going to be applied to to going after them, but I'm
looking for the red dots. The red dots are the ones that are they're they're on the listings now. They're active on the listing. Popping to them like, "Oh, you know, you've collected $450 uh last month." So, I mean, it's it's
it's right there. You know, there's no I don't have to wait to to compare it to the rise agreement sales data. I mean, that's that's a factual thing we're going to have to do. Um that just makes a better case. Um but in the interim, yeah, code
enforcement is just going to pop the map on every morning and they're going to see a flag that says there was a new short-term rental that has popped up within the unincorporated area of Bvard. They just open up their file and boom, there it is. >> Can I clarify because I think they're they're they're two different things
there. Um, I'll I'll suppose and and and we had talked in in the past. >> Um, and and I think we agree if you're listing your property on Vroio, Expedia, Airbnb, all that kind of stuff, I mean, you're getting you're getting the tax
because you're paying through >> my agreement. What if what I heard Marty say, my agreement was different than theirs. >> They just slightly changed theirs. >> My agreement forced them to pay. I guess they have the option. >> So Airbnb has, I guess, historically had
a a button that's allowed the customer, the owner to select that they'd collect the tax and they weren't reporting that. So I, you know, in fairness to VBO, they want to offer the same competitive deal to their biggest competitor >> because I thought that was an important
part of the agreement with the state. Um, >> those were our those were our agreements with those particular platforms. Because I mean but the state's interest is making sure they get sales tax, >> right? So and and let's talk a little bit about that when like when you have a
hotel year and you look at sales tax against their tourist development tax. >> If they have like a little snack shop or something like that >> that they sell items out of, >> sometimes they have tourist items that they sell.
>> Um they're going to collect sales tax on those things, but they're not going to collect tourist development tax on those things. So what we found in our years of auditing, we may go in and audit an account and we will see a certain amount of sales tax collection and that may
have initiated the audit with us, but then we have them prove what were their sales in this area, what were their their rentals. So you can uh through an audit process that would that would have been a flag for us to audit an account.
So you you can't say for every dollar of sales tax that is collected by these entities that they're going to have the same amount in tourist development tax collections. So keep that in mind. >> Yeah. I suppose weddings don't pay occupancy tax.
>> Right. >> Right. Not in the not in the bar. [Laughter] But uh um but I I guess I was thinking that it through VBO and the and the online stuff they're they're collecting it sort of upfront cuz I mean you know I
pay with my credit card right there when I make the reservation they got it they remit it uh to local government to the state whatever. It's not like I I show up, you know, wherever I'm going and I say, "Hey, here's here's the check for you and here's the check for your tax
collector or whatever." Um, >> I think that's changing. >> Yeah, that's what you talk about the blank check. >> Yeah, that's Yeah, they just issue a blank check with no no real accounting. That's why I'm saying in the interim, it's great. It was It's something we
needed to do with a short turnaround. Um that would have been you know we we decided that maybe we're going to go back within 12 months look at to see if we even need need those because we'd like each individual owner to start uh reporting the gross. I suppose the ones
that are advertised, you know, let's go back to the condo association. So, or whatever tower and what, you know, Cocoa Beach Tower, um, you know, check in at the, you know, with the receptionist or whatever when you get
here and take care of things and then, you know, they don't collect it through a website and then you pay when you get there. Those would be the ones to look at because they're maybe not automatically um remitting it and you don't have that electronic right on the
barge canal that I can tell you that you should look at. >> Yeah, we've got a couple of marinas that have >> Now, do they do they do it that way where basically you book directly through them or they they book it on I book it online or do I call >> various ways to book those?
>> Yeah, you're never going to have 100% compliance. I just them on both platforms. They'll rent them themselves. They'll be on Craigslist. It's all kinds of >> Yeah, there's there's all kinds of I mean, you look at Zillow now has Zillow
rents. You know, that's a a sub business or subsidiary business of that. And, you know, if you get into it and which we are, is going in and you can hit a filter button for short-term and then up comes all the local short-term rentals.
Now, I'm comparing a lot of these and they're actually on the RBO and Airbnb. They're listing on both sites. But that one would be difficult because then you're contacting the rental agent by phone, email, so it's kind of outside that scope. So, yeah, all of these over
the years will have to be looked at. You know, it's going to be a due diligence for us to to go in and and find I mean, it's just like a criminal investigation, you know, and the way they constantly changes. Yeah, get contact and the state has the same dilemma. They're trying to
keep they're trying to keep up too. Uh >> the state will give them the sales tax um information and they can bump up against it and that we did that many times and that's how we would possibly pick an account to audit when the sales tax and the tourist
development tax was so far off. >> Okay, maybe we still have some questions. >> Perfect. Go ahead. >> Go ahead, Alex. Well, just finishing on this, the the the method that you're talking about where you can find these offenders. Am I right in understanding they don't necessarily have the green
light for that yet, right? In order for them to start doing these sweeps that you're talking about and and find these entities, correct? Does commission need to say? >> Well, you got we got we got two two things that that we're talking about here. We're talking about them not
getting not getting the um short-term rental tax, etc. Okay, that they're going to do and they're going to be aggressive with it. As far as elicit short-term rental, okay, you live in a single family residential neighborhood in unincorporated Boulevard and you should
not be renting your house because the zoning the zoning doesn't allow for that. Now, that's a different thing. And so even what I'm saying is and part of our dilemma and I think this is what you know I think this is in statute is just
because they found it that doesn't initiate a code enforcement complaint. I think you need a neighbor or there has to be someone who makes a complaint. It's not initiated by the county or a county agency. And in order to file a
warrant against that homeowner with the clerk of the court, I had to have some historical data to come up with a formulation for what how much I was putting on that warrant. So I wouldn't have had that if they were illicit. >> Can I can I ask a followup question? I
just want to make sure I'm clear because there's a lot of different conversations. So, previously under your collection, the contracts from the Airbnb and and VBOS's were that they did collect the tax and remit that tax to you. >> It was it would if it was on the
platform, it was mandatory that it be paid through the platform and remitted to me by that platform. >> And now you're saying that is no longer >> Yeah. Their attorneys both for VBO and Airbnb are steadfast. Airbnb, according to most they've always allowed
this on their platform, um it wasn't until a lot of clerks and tax collectors around the state that collect this tax raise the alarm. Um and so now VBO, you know, they're just looking out for their best interest. That's their major
competitor. They want to offer the same. So they steadfastly put it in there that they're providing an option. I do have one shot uh just and I'm sure at least had one shot too a year. It's it's a it's a handcuff for sure. Um you know,
one shot a year. I can go in and ask for that data. >> So, it's also the state sales tax that's not being collected. I It's not like they're collecting it for the state and not remitting it to the county, >> right? So, it's the whole thing. It's the whole It's the whole $12 on every
every 100, right? Is what we're talking about. that is optional. >> The state has more enforcement with the sales tax. It it's just like Tom brought out in your last meeting. They they do have uh more remedies available to them
when you have a short-term rental that is not paying sales tax versus what we would have not paying tourist development tax. >> I I guess I'm surprised that the state would would allow uh that to be optional. Um,
>> this is huge. >> Yeah. >> I mean, this is huge for the budget. And we fought for years as a community, as a TDC to get this to where and it dramatically changed the budget. I remember I wasn't on the TDC then, but I remember >> I was the second tax collector in
Florida that signed with Airbnb. >> Yeah, it was a huge win. >> We were we were early at the table with Airbnb, but they have they've gotten craftier through the years. 30%, right? Wasn't that the last figure? 30% were
>> short-term. Is that what >> shring about 30% of the TDT collection is Airbnb or short-term rentals? >> Yeah. Yeah. We're we're not excited about having VCAs. It was a decision that had to be made. >> What is that term? I'm sorry. VCA >> voluntary collection agreements.
>> Okay. Thank you. Um, yeah, I'm not a not a fan of them to be, you know, for compliance because it they they they withhold a lot of the data, you know, >> especially when it's not mandatory that they collect it through their platform. I mean, that that's a >> So, it's you're left with
self-reporting. Um, but, you know, the goal is, you know, you know, baby steps. So, we take our training wheels off. We, >> you know, I I can, you know, I can cancel those within 30 days. we we have that agreement. Um and we'll send
notification to to every one of them just like many of the counties do right on their websites. Um just looked up that there's no voluntary collections agreements here. Everybody's responsible paying their own taxes and you know we're we'll have some push back but that's just the way it is. Um
and we're going to have to push forward with that. >> But again the state is in the same they're in the same boat. I mean, if it's not being remitted to the county, it's not being remitted to this to this or if it's not being collected, then it's it's not going to them either. >> Right. Right.
>> Interesting. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you both. >> Yep. So, maybe next time we'll come back and we can uh show you the the mapping system, show it how it works, and you know, have a little better idea. That
would uh be useful. Good. >> All right, Marty. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Uh, okay. Moving on, sir. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, uh, the next item u is, um, talking about our causeway cleaning
program. Um, just as a quick recap, um, so we mentioned last meeting, um, we have KBB, we have a contract with KBB. clean um uh all the causeways uh at least weekly. Um and then uh you know,
we heard from the waterway warriors last last time and so we had a good sit down with them and on page nine, if you see in your packet, um there's a memo for me uh following that meeting, it was kind of a a good recap of sort of where we
landed. um there are different responsibilities that each organization sort of has and and different programs that they're instituting and so we just wanted to make sure everybody was on the same page. As a result of that meeting, I think where we landed was um the the
waterway warriors are not right at at least at this time seeking funding for the piece of the program that they're doing out on um Pineita. Um, and then we had some discussion about 528 as well, which um, uh, I think the desire was not
to necessarily do the same type of program there. Uh, and then I had a follow-up conversation with the port um, because they are the owners of uh, 528 all the way to the um, middle of the causeway over the Indian River. So they
own that stretch really uh of road from the port all the way to uh to the Indian River and uh they're happy with their current collection process which is using larger receptacles and regular um regular pickups from uh from their uh
waste uh contractor. So um you know like I said I think we landed at a good place. Sharon and Cheryl are here. John Niko is here with KBB. I think Deb is um uh on their board as well. So, I didn't
know if um if you guys wanted to maybe just come and say hello, introduce yourselves again. And Sharon, you weren't here the last weren't able to be here the last time, so thought that would be good. >> I have cards. >> Oh, sorry, sir. >> That's all right. I I have cards. So, if we're going to go to that, we'll we'll
we'll do it that way. Um >> do you want to We want to go to the cards and then you can ask questions. >> I think two of the cards are them. So, Yeah. >> Okay. Well, let's um >> do it, sir. >> Let's do KBBS was on top, so I'll take them in the order that they were in.
>> Um John. >> Sure. >> And then after you will be Deb. Okay. >> All right. Well, good afternoon, Commissioner uh committee. Uh John Nico with Keeper Beautiful and I'm here today to speak on behalf of the organization
and the scope of work that we have on uh six of the uh seven causeways uh from the north end of Bvard all the way to the south. um the that's excluding the NASA causeway and uh last year when we negotiated our contracts uh for the uh
upcoming years we um proposed that we would continue the scope of work on the uh four four causeways that we were currently cleaning and then the TDC had requested that uh KBB uh if we were interested in maintaining the uh fifth
causeway which is the Pineina causeway at that time uh uh the waterway warriors had reached out to me and had asked if we would help them with their um volunteer efforts on the Pineita causeway and uh they are out there well
I think the um frequency is less now since we've been on the causeway but they were out there more frequently cleaning up litter and debris and uh we agreed that we would help clean up their uh we would help pick up their collection pile on the day of their volunteer cleanups. Um subsequently
after that uh we were in conversations and that scope of work actually changed. So um for the last year we were maintaining a barrel program for the waterway warriors and uh this is um 35 plus barrels on the causeway that are
along um both the north and south side and tucked in between the foliage of the different um shorelines. And um so for the past year we were collecting those uh on a regular basis every week along with um the additional well we were cleaning the causeway and then an
additional scope of work with the barrel program. Uh we were emptying those um every week for them as well. So, uh, we learned in this last year that, uh, this was, um, an effort on our part, uh, way above and beyond, uh, the scope of our
mission and, uh, Cape Revarn Beautiful is here to help people understand how to be better, uh, environmental stewards and be, uh, responsible for their own pollution and, uh, and not encourage service service um, trash service along
uh, natural and public spaces. So uh in this process we learned that um we we understand that when you have containers out there uh 35 plus that those are indicators to the public that you are
allowed uh you're given permission to um dispose of your garbage at any of those locations. Uh we understand through our experience and professional background and working with uh different waste haulers that the more containers you put out there, the more trash you're going
to end up collecting. Those are indicators for people to give more trash in those there in those areas and locations, which that is what we learned. Um so um going back to our mission, we're here to motivate, educate, and inspire people to um show
environmental stewardship. We do not believe that having those containers out there is helping the issue. In fact, it's bringing more garbage to the area and um we have uh been working on the other causeways and using those as a model um where we are out there weekly
working with the community uh educating educating them about our scope of work, what we're trying to do as far as keeping the um the shorelines clean, the the path uh the parks and all of the public spaces clean from litter and debris without additional infrastructure. So, um, every every week
we go out there, um, we have, uh, a crew of two people out on those causeways. Um, and we spend an average of six to eight hours a day and we're out there every day during the week. So, um, we understand that with our success so far that the infrastructure is not necessary
and it does in fact um, it brings additional unintentional consequences. um these uh barrels, although it's well intentioned to have them out there and provide the service to the public. We have found that um it is a danger to wildlife, it um it breaks the natural
feeding um and food chain. Uh we have witnessed wildlife getting into those containers, pulling out what you would imagine um out of those barrels. um you know, you know, rotisserie chicken carcasses, things of that nature that people eat during their picnics um with
dirty diapers, uh fish guts, all in these containers that are sitting there for over well a week's time with the heat and rain. And with that creates a biohazard. And um our staff is going out there once a week changing those those barrels. and they were in contact with
all of this biohazard material from the maggots to the dead rodents to the things that were um collecting in those in those barrels for over a week. So, um we as a result of that we were um losing staff who would walk out on the job. Uh
we were having to um staff additional people on the causeway just to cover the scope of work that we're committed to. And um although I am more than w willing and welcome to work with the waterway warriors in collaborating on environmental issues, this is just one program that does not align with our
mission and I hope that we can find other ways in which we can collaborate. So, um I just received a a message today um that uh going back to our original idea of collaboration would have been with um the the waterway warriors in
collecting their cleanup pile that's left out there when they do a um volunteer cleanup. And that was our initial agreement. That was something we were more than happy to do. And for whatever reason, it got shifted. That's fine. But we now learned that this is not a program that aligns with our mission and we would like to continue
our collaboration going back to the original plan and picking up those uh those large um volunteer cleanups that they uh perform out on the causeway. Um it's my understanding now that since we've been there um they are doing that less frequently. It's now on a quarterly
um quarterly calendar uh which means that both of our efforts is really making a difference. So um thank you for your time. I'm open to answer any questions you might have. questions. >> John, let me ask you something. So, KBB
um empties trash cans in Cocoa Beach parks. >> We empty the barrels that are along the beach. Yes. >> Okay. >> And it's a different system. >> How many guesstimate how many how many barrels do you go out on a Saturday and change in
Cocoa Beach? >> Well, we are out on Cocoa Beach every single day of the week. >> Okay. I'm just trying to pick maybe the busiest day. >> Oh. Um >> I don't know. >> Well, >> and you might have to go sometimes twice >> on a on a holiday weekend. >> Twice twice a day. Twice a day.
>> Seven days a week. >> Okay. >> Yes, sir. And uh I would say the weekends are our busiest. And also peak spring break times uh during the year are busiest, too. >> Okay. So, >> but those those require changing twice a day for the reasons that it does not create or collect that biohazard material over time.
>> Okay. Um, and also the beaches are are are busy certainly in season versus out of season, that kind of thing. >> Um, but are we talking 200 barrels that are up and down Cocoa Beach or >> Oh, no. Um, >> 100 >> I I would say there's between
35 to 45 >> for for the whole >> I would say 30 at this point right now. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> 30 barrels in in Cocoa Beach. You know, I don't mean to be difficult, but I I'm a firm believer in if you make it easy for people, you got a much greater chance of them doing the right thing,
which is, you know, I'm I'm not going to throw it on the ground, right? I'm going to find a trash can and I'm and I'm going to put it in there. So, I I I don't think I agree with you that if we didn't have barrels on the causeway, it would it would be cleaner. I I think it's much easier for someone if it's
convenient to go over there and and put their trash in there. One of the other things is I believe uh um also trying to keep stuff out of the river. So don't want trash along a causeway and the wind comes along it just picks it up and
blows it into the river. So I think that's a a core um part of their their mission as well. Um questions for for John Alex. When um the Warriors first asked you uh
to assist with the barrels, was the idea that the barrels were there to collect their cleanups or was it also designed for public dumping? >> So, the Waterway Warriors, and I'll let them speak about their programs, but
they have different programs. One's a volunteer cleanup event, and then in addition to that, they have the barrel program, which is what we're referring to along the Pineita Causeway. Um those barrels are um car wash uh they're car wash soap barrels that are being
repurposed for this reason. Um they are not safe. Um they are open. They are um now mind you I I do agree with you Commissioner Felner that if we had the proper barrels out there and maybe less of them uh that we would have less trash
coming to that causeway. I'm not arguing the fact that the it's cleaner or not. Um it's about the the quantity of trash that is coming to that causeway that um is really unnecessary with the additional infrastructure. >> You think people are going to the
causeway to throw things away? >> Um I think people when they're sitting along the causeway and they're relaxing and if they've got trash in their car, they may may take the time to clean out their car and use that barrel as a receptacle. I do. I see it a lot. And I
think if they those triceps were not there, they may not be inclined to clean out their car. >> Okay? Because one of the other things that they do is the monofilament containers and uh lot I'm I'm not a big fisherman, okay? But we have a lot of
them in this county and they all say that that's an ingenious thing. Now that's just a smaller trash can. >> So >> that that's for fishing line and things to go into. >> Absolutely. And that is a material we KBB does not want in the waterways as well. And uh when I did speak with the
TDC uh in regards to this matter, I had uh given a a a proposal in that um moving forward in collaborating with the waterway warriors that we would like to um use or collaborate on the um on the monofilament program, which is something I would consider doing if they're
interested. So, um, another point I want to make about these containers that, you know, because they're not suited for this purpose. Um, they are open, uh, wildlife does get into them, they get trapped in there. Um, and they're also part of the problem in spreading the trash back into the
lagoon. These birds and these different rodents, they pull it out of the containers and it gets left out on the ground and then that's when the weather or windborn, you know, takes it wherever it takes it. So, often times back into the lagoons. So this is another issue where we've had staff, you know, picking
water that was mean picking garbage out of the water that was originally in the containers. >> Alex, you mentioned that originally you were amanable to collecting the piles that the warriors had had stacked up. That
had that had nothing to do with the barrel program initially, right? >> No, it did not. And I and I'm willing to go back to that initial arrangement if um in fact we were asked to come out this Saturday to pick up their uh pine um volunteer cleanup uh for this
Saturday. So I'm open to doing that. Absolutely. Not a problem. >> Okay. Um any other questions for John? >> I just have a quick comment. >> Larry, >> you know, it's it's interesting. I think the things that you guys are doing are phenomenal. Um Thank you. And you know,
Commissioner Felner had a great point where I just think these areas that we have open to the public, whether it's a park, whether it's uh, you know, the causeway, a lot of people fish there, have picnics, do different things. I mean, I think you have to have some form of a trash can there, or else people
will just throw trash on the ground. It'll end up in the uh in the lagoon. So, I think the solution is definitely probably the right type of receptacles and you guys maybe not managing the pickup of that trash, but having the having some sort of receptacle I think at these causeway locations that are
heavily I mean it's almost used as like a public park I think is important. I would like to say I agree with you uh on that point and and I would like to work towards um uh a common goal here in putting maybe containers out there, not
as many, maybe larger in a centralized location instead of dispersed all over the causeway and helping people understand that this is more of a responsible process and disposing of their garbage while they're recreating out there on the causeway. Um I'm in conversations with WM. We're trying to
figure out a nice site plan so that we could implement um containers out there. It's it's not that we don't want trash receptacles out there. It just the system has to be properly in implemented. They need to be safe. They need to protect environment. They need to protect wildlife and all of these
other um again unintentional consequences. It's just I'm trying to help improve this program if I can and be a part of that and work with WM and the waterway warriors in uh finding the most uh sustainable solution out there. Definitely, we're interested in putting
something for the people, but um I don't think 35 plus barrels that are tucked away along the shoreline um that are not intended for that purpose are working at this point in time. So, um, I can report back to you with my findings with WM and what that system looks like and
hopefully we can figure out a better way forward. >> Any other questions for John? We're going to have Deb Harmon come up here in a second also with KBB. No. Deb, >> thank you for your time. >> Thanks.
>> Thanks. >> Good afternoon everyone. I'm Deb Harmon. I am the board chair for keeper of our beautiful which has been serving this community for 40 plus years and I did watch the TDC meeting online last time and there were some things that um I
hope that conversations that have ensued and the ones we're having today will clear up. Um, first of all, the Waterway Warriors are doing some fabulous things to help the community uh along Pineita Causeway and other places and KBB really does value the other volunteer
organizations that we partner with. So I think the other thing I want you to uh remember is that uh when we came to reestablish the contracts um we were asked to help them and we've been in a learning exercise that partnership came
together late last year in the fourth quarter and I think when John and um Sharon and Cheryl and all of us went into it we were sort of still in learning mode about what the level of effort was going to be and Um, I think the major difference, Commissioner
Felner, on the barrels out there versus say the barrels on Cocoa Beach where we tip uh tip barrels every day is though that trash is getting tipped and removed from the site every day or at least twice a day. And that's the difference with the barrels that are over on the
causeway. And I do think too you we've we've seen an increase in trash maybe just because of the usage. It's a beautiful area. Um, and I um I think looking at other solutions together and figuring out what's really going to work
without creating more problems is really what what John is proposing that we would do. Um the um the board uh of our organization is very committed to this community and the scope of work that we
took on actually continued to grow because of the barrel program. And I don't think I don't think we could have anticipated how the the problems that would have been encouraged there. And I think the waterway warriors were picking up more frequently before we got involved. So, we're here to help get it
sorted out and keep the community clean, but we also are not a sanitation department. We're not we we pick up litter and trash. Um, and there was a maybe a perception that was left the last time around that um, somehow our job was easier because of the waterway
warriors. And I will tell you on every causeway that we work on, there's enough work for everybody. So it isn't just it it isn't one makes the other better. There is that much trash out there and I can show you those pictures or John can bring them to you causeway to causeway.
So we need all of our efforts. Um and um we are making good and then some on the commitments that we've made to this county and the waterway warriors are doing fabulous things and we're all trying to work together to make it better. So if you have a question I'd be happy to answer it.
>> Do we have a question for Deb? Okay. Thank you Sharon. >> Well good afternoon everybody. My name is Sharon Null and I am with the Waterway Warriors and that's Cheryl Spasio over there. And we are one of an
entire core group of people that are working as KBB is also working to try and not only keep this community beautiful, but our focus is keeping the trash out of the water. And if you don't
mind, can we play the video? And this will give us a little it'll give you guys a little bit of an introduction as to who we are. and then I'll make a couple of points and let you all answer ask questions. >> The Indian River Lagoon is one of the most biodiverse estuaries in North
America and it's home to a lot of ecologically sensitive species. >> Bvard County's identity is amazingly tied to this lagoon. >> Everybody wants to live somewhere clean and beautiful. Uh you don't want to go to the beach and have trash washing up and go to the river and fish out of it
and have trash floating around. Every time a piece of garbage goes into the waterway, it's landing on the bed of the river and it's inhibiting growth of plants that serves as a nursery for fish. It serves as food for manatees.
Trash that appears by our waterways comes from three different sources. It is accidental stuff that blows out of trucks and cars and boats. Second source is debris that is left behind by
fishermen or families homeless. The third source of trash comes from intentional dumping. So, our goal is really to collect the garbage that's left along the side of the water before it can get into the
water. We have twice monthly trash pickups with a group of volunteers. We have barrels that we've installed along different areas for fishermen, families to be able to remove their trash and put their trash in it.
>> 80% of all the trash that was on the shorelines is now in these barrels. So, it's been a very successful project. >> Fishing line recycling program. So, we call it uh MERP. The monofilament recovery and recycling program is what we have here in the county. And we have
about 130 bins countywide. >> You know, we've got folks who leave pallets. They they burn have these pallet fires that they burn and it leaves nails on the ground to where, you know, people that walk by can step on them.
Waterway Warriors has been a tremendous help to the Florida Department of Transportation and helping us keep the rightway along our waterways clean. Waterway Warriors is great at organizing people and events and cleanup. But they're also always forward looking to
how can we do this more efficiently? How can we do this better? How can we prevent the pollution in the first place? They're just a fantastic organization that we're very fortunate to have. When communities unite, the ripple effect begins. Now it's time for city leaders to step up, partner with
the waterway warriors, and lead the way to cleaner, healthier waters. Bold leadership starts here. Is your city ready? Okay, so that's a little bit of an overview of what we do. Um, just to
to make sure that everyone understands, we're passing out some folders. It kind of elaborates more on what I'm about to say. Um, Waterway Warriors is a 501c3. We are not a group of volunteers, but we are volunteerdriven,
meaning we don't have anybody on staff. Everyone, we don't have an office, we don't have property, and we are completely communityf funded. That is who we are to date. Um the last we're going to call it around four years we
have prevented and removed aboutund and one tons 110 >> sorry 110 she's our data keeper um from getting into the water. So we do it in a lot of a lot of different ways. Yes we have boots on the ground events.
Yes we have a barrel program which I'd like to talk to in a minute. We actually have adopted seven different locations, different property owners, and this is the most important part is we fall under
and we use the guidelines of the property owner that we've adopted the location at. So, we've adopted through FDOT, we've adopted through the city of Cocoa, we've adopted through the city of Rocklidge. And our goal is to adopt a
location, try and create some kind of a baseline, clean, figure out what the source of the trash is. Is it dumping? Is it thoughtless trash, which we'll come back to in a minute, is it stuff that's blowing out of the waterways? And then
we adapt our maintenance program to that source. Each property is different. There's different >> reasoning for I'm sorry. There's different reasons for the litter. So, it could be accidental at one location. At the other one, it's actually just dumping. And so, we just go specifically
for that. And that's where we make our decisions. And also what we make our decisions on is by the property owner. The property owner has rules and guidelines that they've set for us that we must follow. So, at FDOT, everything that we do goes through them if we adopt their property. When we adopted the ones
in Cocoa Beach, we sat down with their city counselor and their mayor and found exactly what their rules were and how we could help them. We're asking the cities, how can we help you? And then you're telling us and then that's how we how we work. We were we work within those boundaries. Um
I would like everyone to know that we have multiple collaborations within the course of our operation. KBB did our barrels last year. It was a very very substantial thing that they did. We want
to give them absolute credit for that. But we have multiple multiple collaborations that we do within the year with the different with the different organizations. We are 100% let me say it again. We are 100%
data driven. We do not come up with solutions off the top of our willy-nilly heads. We absolutely followed the data and when we first started cleaning up Pineita, we're call it back in 2019, 20120,
what we were noticing is the trash on the ground was very substantial. It was so substantial that every twice a month, the second and the fourth Saturday, we had to have large groups of
cleanups, large groups of volunteers doing cleanups um on the causeway. That was mandatory for us to be able to keep up with the trash. I I think I would take exception to a certain extent that
the barrel program there are 35 only 35 barrels on the causeway. It is because of the barrel program that we've been able to take our large groups of people to other locations be able to adopt other locations. Pineita is not
the only location with barrels. Ogalli West has barrels and we've heard from both the community, the Melbourne PD, and the city of Melbourne that it is working fabulously, that the trash is now being contained
within the barrel itself. It's no longer dirty around. And that means sometimes, yeah, the homeless do put their stuff in there. And the um sometimes people clean out their cars in there, but the vast majority of the things that are in the barrel are the people that are
recreating along the shorelines. So, it is it is bait. Uh the bait trays, if anyone's here, it is the bait trays. if they are recreating. Yes, there's a diaper in there, but we would rather have the diaper in the barrel than on
the shoreline. 80% and that's what our data has shown us in the four years that we did the program while we were collecting data. KBB was unable to do the data collection for the year, but 80%
of the trash that was on the ground ended up in the barrel. And our goal is to stop the trash from getting into the waters. So the style of barrel is what was what
part of the conversation here. And Angela, how do I put this in? >> And when when we left the meeting uh with TDC the other day, we said that we would do research and get back with TDC as to uh what kind of barrels do we use? What kind of barrels are are best? And
so we came, we did do our research and we did send all that to Peter and so he has that he's aware of this uh presentation. >> So what we found and I will while she's looking it up that's the visual part. We actually sent our volunteers out to
figure out what kinds of barrels are out there out there in the world. We talked to Bvard County and what they have said is there we go. Perfect. Thank you. Yeah, that would be great. Well, actually, hold on to it. I'm going to do
I'm going to talk >> first. >> First. >> Let's save some paper if we can. So, here are the barrels, our barrels on Pineita. This is the barrel that's on Pineita with the county. That's the Indie Atlantic barrel, which is also open top.
This is Lorie Wilson Park. And you can see, let's see if it'll do it. Oh, good. It will. That's a little >> Our volunteers filmed the swirl going in and out of the barrel. Um, hold on. >> Grabs a cracker. >> Let's see here. This is what was in the
barrel. The barrel was practically empty. >> So, we had to crawl back out. >> He got back out. He was munching away, doing his little thing. Um, so what we found is throughout the county, open top barrels.
>> I'd like to know the blood sugar of a squirrel that eats I want to know the B the body mass index of this. >> Why do I have to worry about carbohydrates? >> So open tap barrels >> seems to be >> and according to the county
>> the preferred style so that animals can go in and out. They do not get trapped inside the barrel. Now I spoke we spoke with a number of the cities around with their barrel their wis management the park and wreck people and the barrels
are actually maintained sometimes in a once a month depending on the location. Sometimes every other week, sometimes it's every week, sometimes it's every day. Every location is different depending on the amount of stuff that's in the that's in the barrel or whatever
their agreement is with their with their people. So when it comes to the open top barrel itself, we are following the county guidelines. FDOT, which is the owner of the properties that we operate with under um
on Pineita, FDOT has approved the has approved these. Yes, they are. Tommy's Express has donated all of their soap barrels to us. We either we either sell them for buckets or we sell them to the
public for rain barrels. Sorry, city of Melbourne for rain barrels or we use them for our barrel program. And that is who we are in a little nutshell. >> Does anyone want a copy of the presentation on the trash barrels?
>> So, we've got we've got the pictures. We printed out a few copies. >> We can we can make sure that we leave them over here. So, if u members want to grab one um when we leave today, they have that ability and I'll return you anything that's not used. Um so, I'm kind of combining your cards since you
each did one and two of your That's okay. That's okay. Um questions for the waterway warriors qu questions. >> Leave it in. >> Oh, sorry. >> So, sorry. In this memo that Peter sent, is there any issues with how he laid
out? Is this how it's going to go from here on out? Is that what the road map was, Peter? >> Yeah, I mean, I believe it it kind of clearly delineated, you know, the different programs and and um particularly with Pineita and uh 528.
528 is a totally different program. It's they has a large collection um devices, you know, so bigger receptacles that are picked up on a regular schedule. So, it's a little bit of a different animal. And the the port um seems to really like
um that program. They they did not want to go to a a barrel program and they're the owners of 528. So, um that's kind of where they're at on it. So, yeah. Julie, >> I'm just so happy that you guys have found what appears to be a working
relationship and finding your niche and complimenting each other. That is very uncommon in our culture right now. And to to see this um coming together and working for the betterment of the community as a whole and tourism um is
really exciting to see that. >> Thank you. Thank you. and we disagree on things and that's totally fine and we we attempt to work it through. >> But yeah, we appreciate the relationship with KDB and the everything they're
doing for the county. Also, >> you know, uh around the front of this um complex, you'll see a bunch of Chick-fil-A packets on the ground. And I've walked
into the building and somebody say, "I can't believe people eat Chick-fil-A, you know, throw their throw their chicken packet stuff on the ground." And I've told him, I said, "No, I've learned about this, too." And um it's the squirrels. And they go in the trash can and whatever is in those little the
little packets, you know, the barbecue sauce or whatever, the squirrels around here are addicted to it. And uh but what's really fascinating, the thing I find most interesting when people say, "I can't believe, you know, somebody would throw this on the ground." Notice that they are perfectly clean. There's not one little drop of anything in
there. And that tells you that a squirrel licked it clean. And um but they're not very far from the trash cans. So um we we certainly have them around here, too. And they're clever and they they'll do what um they they need
to do. I appreciate obviously um what you ladies have done and I I think one of the part of their video might have been from the day we picked up basically the dock that was dropped off and I was horrified by that >> and they had called and they said hey
you know there's the remnants basically of a dock on Pineita and uh I got road and bridge guys to show up with a dump truck and with the waterway warriors we picked up every splinter of it and put it in a dump truck and then they ran that nail magnet thing across there and
got all the nails. Um, and it was probably intended for a bonfire, >> you know, cuz cuz you could see that you could see the the burnt remains of of stuff uh up and down the causeway. So, I I think that's probably what it was for. I don't think somebody was relocating,
you know, uh, you know, torn up dock off of off of the causeway, but they were out there to clean it all up and I appreciate it. Okay. Are there other questions or comment, Peter? >> Sir, >> nothing for me. >> Commissioner, >> uh, here, real quick, we'll go to Larry
and then >> I just want to say I mean, I think it's great what you guys are doing in the organization and, um, I think in a way it's a shame that you guys have to work so hard to clean up all these areas. I think one of the things we're not talking about is, you know, we have these organizations around that are
going up and having to clean up all this horrific trash. I wonder if we should focus on the citizens that are littering so much and maybe there's a way that we can we can curb that and make both your jobs a little bit easier because that's really the solution. Not getting more
volunteers, not keeping up with it faster. It's how do we stop people from doing it? >> Well, I learned something actually. I'll let uh Sharon speak to that because she educated me on uh that subject specifically because you've asked law enforcement about that issue, right? And what did >> we've met with law enforcement, we've
met with the sheriff department who who we operate under or operate with on the Pineita and we met with Melbourne PD who we also partner with for our Horse Creek and other locations. And what they said is this. >> Unfortunately, unless you have a
photograph of the person actually littering, law enforcement have no teeth to do anything. >> Yeah, there is a fine for it, but they just can't. But there's no enforcement ability from law enforcement to be able to
pursue the charge unless there is some kind of photographic proof. So we know that we're not allowed to install Oh, this is being recorded. Another thing that we're doing is educating our community. And so we go to
a lot of events like we went to the Indian River Lagoon uh this past weekend. Then we went to Vier Voice. They had a trunk or treat. So, we're educating them young. So, we have a pool out there with all kinds of trash in it and the kids are fishing for trash. So, we're educating them that way. And then also what we're doing is at the Indian
River Lagoon, we're also working developing those relationships and collaborations with all the other nonprofits that are doing the same goal, cleaning up our waterway. So, we do a lot of education throughout the year. >> And I think that's actually a focus that the KBB is starting with. Tell me if I'm wrong. That think trying to capture
something like the high school age students that are actually out there partying. That is >> if we can capture that age group, show them the impact >> that that would be something that that would live with them hopefully for the remainder of their adult life. That's
not our focus, but we would be absolutely supportive >> of that happening. But bad actors, >> we can't do anything about. >> Okay. Appreciate it. >> Oh, I'm sorry, Mayor Connor. Sir, you had >> Thank you, Commissioner. And just like the squirrels, I have a problem with
Chick-fil-A sauce. >> Oh, okay. >> But >> you you lick it clean, though, do you? Okay. All right. >> Uh but it seems like, you know, I again appreciate KBB and Waterway Warriors uh for coming here and it sounds like for for this memo, everybody clearly has their lane and they're good at it, but
we can work together and help each other when needed. I think it kind of comes back to the initial reason why they came to us the first place is how are you going to pay for the $20,000 you're looking for in terms of contracting. So, you know, it's all all good. We sing Kay out, but you know, we as a council uh
what are we going to decide to do about that? >> Thank you for bringing that up, Mayor Connor. I apologize that was I I did not cover that within my little chat here. The Pineita is being taken care >> taken care of by a contractor, licensed
contractor, vetted contractor who believes in the mission so much that he is willing, it's a $15,000 um >> quote >> quote that we got. He was willing to do half of that with inind donation services. So we are able to fund the
$7500 plus the cost of the program through the course of the year. He is doing the other half. So it's right on junk removal. I would love to give them a shout out. He has been wonderful to work with. Um and he believes in the mission. So our cost for the pineita
>> this year >> for this year is 7500 um just for the barrel contractor and then the program cost we were already expecting too. But our main reason why we wanted to come up here is let you know, introduce you, introduce us
properly to you because a lot of you thought we were a volunteer organization and we're not. We are an official 501c3 nonprofit approved by the IRS and we have tax IDs. We have u insurance. We're just a functioning organization organization being ran as a business.
>> Can can I ask a technical question here, Peter? Based on that, can the TDC pay the waterway warriors the 7500 and then they have basically their employee, if you will, that's that's their deal, go
and change the barrel liners. That's what we're down to, right? >> Yeah, >> that's what we're talking about here. >> Um, >> is that Justin? Is that a legal question that I'm I'm sorry maybe I'm asking the wrong >> I I have to Peter that would come out of
like marketing or I'm not sure where >> Yeah. I mean right now what we pay KBB that comes out of the beach. >> That comes at the beach. >> Beach. Yeah. >> Do we consider Cosways a beach? >> Um >> the people that recreate there do
>> that comes out of Yeah. They come right. So I mean there's a portion of the beach budget that uh deals with the IRL. So basically that's the bucket that it would come from. >> We already have contracts with the derelic boat removal program KVB. Like
so there's things that from the holdover of the grant money that we were um formerly the IRL grant money that we were issuing that we stopped doing in order to build up the reserves for the beach reourishment fund. There are still some contracts that are under that that
line right that are still coming out. So it's not, you know, the beach fund is not just So you don't have to rename it. That's what I'm trying to say. You can name, you can just keep it the lagoon. It's just whether there's money there that is available to uh do this. And the
only thing I say is we've done this a couple times now outside of the grant process, which is previously was in kind of the grant process. So we're kind of making some I feel like we're making a trend in this case now. You know what I like we're doing. We kept the dare like
Yeah. which is fine, but we can do it outside of that if we need to. And I I don't know if I say >> Well, I mean, I don't know if it's legal. I'm just saying that that's >> $7,500 to keep them keep them working and and changing the the liners. That's that's where we are. Yeah.
>> Okay. >> So, I guess back to my technical question, is is that something we'd have to research and come back to our next meeting to to be able to answer definitively? I thought I was under the impression that that was that they are
not asking for this fiscal year. Okay. But you're asking, sir. Okay. So, I mean, I I would always say, you know, if it's something that this board wants to do and and the uh county commission wants to do, then I don't see anything that would be an obstacle to that.
>> Okay. I guess that's a sort of a legal question for the county attorney's office whether we can pay waterway warriors the way they're structured so that they can continue that program. So maybe >> off the cuff I don't see it too much
different than what we do with KBB already. Yeah. >> Because I mean we're paying for them to do what's laid out in their contract. >> All right. Let me let me let's let's take a sort of a half step here. Let's let's say um among this this board today and the people that are here that if the
county attorney's office were to say to me in the next couple of days, sure commissioner, you could do that and we have a commission meeting on Tuesday. Okay. So, I think that'd be quick to bring that to the board. Is it something this board would would agree to if uh
it's deemed that's that's legally permissible and then the county commission could take that up on Tuesday? I don't have a problem with it. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Somebody want to make that. Can we do that? >> I mean, we can make a motion. I think we
have to have a motion that we're requesting that if this is working out, then that's the route that they would go when when you need a >> Justin is that sir, you have any issue with that? Okay. >> Is that your motion or you wanted to make a motion?
>> Um, no. I It's not my motion. And I was just saying that technically >> I'm trying to wrap my head around it at this second. >> We can bring it back in November. I'm only saying to you that if this is timely, we have we have a commission meeting.
>> Gotcha. >> on Tuesday. Otherwise, we the board of county commissioners would have to take that up um in in November after our November TDC meeting, which is >> November 12th >> on the 12th. >> But this is money for next year, right?
Not Or is it money that you guys need immediately? >> We don't need money. The fact that Commissioner Felner is bringing this forward, we are I mean we are community funded. So the reality is every dime
that we are able to that we were given goes towards the programs within our scope. Not our staff, not any not our overhead, not any of that. So, we've got $15,000. That's
what our contractor cost 2000 September 2015 to to September 2016. That's our annual year with our current contractor right on junk removal. >> 25 to 26. You mean >> what did I say? >> 10 years ago.
>> Oh crap. Sorry everybody. 2025 2026. That was his quote was the 15,000. He is doing 7,500 in in kind donations. >> So, >> we're coming up with the >> We're coming up with the other 75. >> It's strapping us, but we have it. We
can do it. But if you know, you want to help us. >> That's not really what your fundraising is about, though. Um, it's it's about the other things that you do. Okay. So, we we bring this back in November. Is that what we need to do? And we'll wait for what what do we want to do?
I was going to make a motion that we um wave uh the committees on this particular funding and award the Warriors the $7500 to immediately assist with their barrel program dumping >> if if that's deemed okay from the county
attorney's office >> if if that's a legal avenue. Yes. >> All right. Have a motion by Alex. >> I would second that. >> Have a second by uh Mr. JS. Call the role on that.
>> Julie Braa, >> hi. >> Mayor Connors, >> yes. >> Larry Johns, >> yes. >> Alex Litros, >> yes. [Music] >> Wayne Sword, >> yes.
>> And Chair Felner, >> yes. Okay, we'll uh we'll we'll see what we can get done uh get an answer on this next couple of days and hopefully the board of county commissioners will take it up and we'll we'll let you all know. Okay. All right. >> Appreciate your time. Thank you support
100%. Okay. Uh does anybody want to take a quick fivem minute break before we go to Peter? Let's take a fiveminut break. I want to take a five minute break. We've never taken [Music]
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it. >> Other side. And it's gone. What it >> used to be? Okay. Um, Alex, sorry, sir. We're gonna we're gonna get back to it here.
>> Thank you. >> All right. All right. Yes. Okay. All right. Okay. Bye. >> Okay, Peter. >> Yes, sir. >> I'm going to try to be relatively quick. I know a couple people uh need to to get out and I I do have a vote I need, but I
did want to point out on page 13 um we get we did get August TDT came in. Um just a a touch below the 1.8 million. Um so we are currently tracking to have our best year. If we get to what I believe
will be about 1.5 million for September, that's kind of where we're projecting. That would get us to 20 um 25.8 million which would be our highest year we've ever had. We had it was 25 and a quarter last year and 25 and a half the year
before. So So that's kind of exciting. So we'll uh keep everybody posted as and I was very you know very interested in in uh what the clerk had to say about collection because they're doing the September collection. So the the more they collect the closer we'll get to
that that number. Um we did not uh so as I mentioned last time we did not have a budget uh report. Uh we're going to you know we're letting all the uh final reconciliations occur this month. So we will have a report on the final end of
year uh budget uh in November. So that'll come in November. Uh now I'm going to move uh based on the conversation we had last time on the operating procedures manual made two changes and I wanted to see >> progress.
>> Thank you. I wanted to see if we could get um a vote on that. Um so the operating procedures manual starts on page 14, but the first change is on page 19. And I'll just read it real quick. Um the council shall meet on an in an as
needed basis but not less than and it was 10. I made it six times per year. Uh I and then I said staff will schedule 10 meetings per year but with the approval of the chair the director may cancel the meetings that don't have enough significant items on the agenda. So
that's that's one. And then um if you recall earlier this year we had voted to suspend the um sports and cultural committees because we were shifting to the marketing support program and the marketing support program comes directly
to the TDC. So we really didn't have anything for those committees to sort of opine on because now now that that program is sort of coming directly here. So I um basically I just uh crossed out under the subcommittee section uh I
crossed out those two committees needing to meet uh because we frankly we wouldn't have anything for them to do. So that's uh that's on page 23. Uh you'll see that that change. I'm sorry. Uh I'm sorry on page 21 and then also on
page 23. Sorry. Thank you for that. So sir with uh with that I'm just going to open it up for questions or let you >> okay questions for Peter on those requested updates changes >> motion to approve the changes as
presented. >> Second. >> Okay. Very good. Have a motion by Julie. Have uh second by Mayor Connors. We'll call the role on uh on the changes. >> Julie Braa >> I.
>> Mayor Connor. Yes. >> Larry John. >> Yes. >> Alex Litress. >> Yes. >> Wayne Sword. >> Yes. >> Chair Felner. >> Yes. We'll show that adopted. Thank you, Peter. Anything else there? >> Uh, no, sir. That was it for my report. Thank you. >> I think we already took care of the
public comment. >> We did. Yeah. >> Lisa, did you have anything else? I know you're back there. All right. >> Any questions? >> All right. Um, so let me uh I just have one quick thing. We had a request before
for county finance to come and talk. I think um vice chair Hermanson uh had uh wanted uh to have a presentation on interest collected on accounts and so we did contact Mark Peterson and Okay. And
I don't think I told you that Peter, I'm sorry. Uh so on November 12th, we'll we'll put Mark on the agenda. Okay. Um, I think that's the only other note that I had on on that. Uh, we'll do uh board report. We'll just go around the
table. Mayor Connors, sir. >> No report. Thank you very much. >> Alex, >> nothing to report. >> Julie, >> I have two things to report on. Uh, we had a great beach committee meeting yesterday to wrap up the year. We had two for the full year. Um but we had a
great um presentation from Mike McGary um about the beaches and the areas that have been impacted by these offshore storms because we have had some mid-reache and um just kind of the status of where we are in our reserves. Um, we also had um an IRL grant funding
um presentation from Daniel at One Lagoon and we um oh I forgot we had a really great presentation from the sea turtle monitoring people on the on the midreach and um the they found that the turtles because the concern was the sand
that we put on the beach in the midreach was going to cover up the rocks is where the turtles use for nesting and and foraging and feeding. The artificial reef that was built is not only being used, it's thriving by all different age groups as well as the turtles are still
using the rocks that are still present. And there was some covering of the rocks during the storms, but that's already dissipated naturally and um been displaced by nature. So, there was a really great report. Everyone loves turtles and it's the most popular license plate. I learned that yesterday,
too. Um and then the seaggrass. Um, we've got a seaggrass presentation where one area they did a trial was doing great in Titusville and one area did not do great. So, they're studying that. And, um, the most impressive presentation is why I brought to you today was we, um, I was very excited
about this because when I was originally on the beach committee a couple years ago, this was part of the IRL grant funding um, that we did, the $1 million that was set aside. And, uh, if you don't know Lauri Thompson, she's very passionate. So, I said, I'll try to present this to you. But she brought
this idea to the committee um and it's in this colored packet here um several years ago and it to she mentioned it took her 10 years of begging and pleading to get this done and it was kind of hard to visualize these um to the resilience of the shoreline. The
water moves so quickly there. It was taking away um the sand and the wind. It's actually known for one of the best places in Florida for wind surfing and wind sports because of the direction of the causeway is more like north south instead of like east west I guess. So
they built these um sorry I don't remember the name of it. >> Wads wads >> wave attenuation. Sorry I knew I was going to forget that but they were built offsite. I think they weighed like 600 lb or lots of pounds and then they craned them all in.
600 sounded too little, but it sounded heavy yesterday. I don't know. And then they explained how they she's how they if you look at the pages, how they staggered them. And um it's not this was the this picture here with the light pole. This is the shoreline before they
in implanted the wads. And then if you look at the very next picture, you can see after the shoreline's been restored, they've had major wind events. Here's the same light post. the shoreline has not receded at all from this. So, it's very very successful program. Um, and
like I think Mayor Connor said, the other side of the causeway, they don't have these wads there and they're having major issues and she talked about that yesterday um with it, but they have the area still restricted while the vegetation is growing back um and this
picture here. And once that is all solidified and um then it's going to be a great recreational area. But this is a trial. It's like the first time it's ever been done anywhere. So, I just thought it was really interest neat and interesting. It was something we should be really proud of because this information they've received from this
is that it's working really well. Um, this is attracting birds and fish and all kinds of natural wildlife. And she said that um there's it takes like a year or something for them for the this concrete to get this film on it and
it'll then build um oysters and everything will cling to it. it'll become like a like a wreath in the kind of sense. So she said it's very very healthy and that process is moving. So I just want to share with you this not this project would not been possible without the Indian River Lagoon grant
money that we um issued because they she needed seed money originally to do the the test to get the information the feasibility study and all of those things. And so, um, as I continue to say, the beach fund is about keeping sand on the beach, which is our number
one priority, but as we build up our reserves, um, this is evidence of other great projects that we've been able to accomplish, um, with that beach fund money. So, a very huge success story. Um, and, uh, it's an honor to be part of
this, uh, that these scientists like they they're just amazing. They just blow. >> Can I ask a question? How much how much does it does it cost or >> um she presented her budget yesterday and I think it was like a half a million dollars approximately, right? It was two it was $40,000.
>> They got well from us they got about just under 600,000 but the total project was in the millions. >> Oh yeah that's because she had other funding sources way more than that. So we're you know we're a part of that but we're not Yeah, we I don't even know that we were the biggest contributor.
>> She did say it wouldn't have been possible without us though. So >> they're saying, >> yeah, I mean, we funded all the upfront research to get get all the other um millions in funding, >> but I think these are the additional partners at the bottom of the first
page. And I don't I mean, Lori, I'm sure, would be happy to break that down, >> sir. >> Did she bring up nanobubbles? >> Yeah, >> she did not talk nanobubbles. >> All right. I'll I'll I'll give you guys an update on nanobubbles next next meeting. I'm Oh, >> I'm gonna go look at nanobubbles, too.
>> She did talk about the horseshoe crabs, which she always does. >> So, we're actually u working through some things to do a pilot study of nanobubble technology. >> Yeah. and in our lagoon or in our marina. Um, and we're bringing partners
from EDC, Laura Lee, um, maybe some of the space companies to see if this injection of ozone will help oxygenate the water to help, >> you know, they have a project um, in Winter Park >> that's kicking off soon and I want to go
see it myself. That's what I asked. I said, "Can I go can I see this working somewhere?" So, >> um, go ahead, Julie. >> No, go ahead. Do you have a question for that? >> Well, I I I was, you know, I'm looking at this and I I can't help but wonder because we we talk a lot about derelict
vessel um removal and um you know, I've I'm not a boater. I hear people say, "Hey, you know, this this boat was drifting in the river and hit my dock. Now I've got this new problem." You know, we and and I'm and I'm curious. Um I would think these things
would be heavy enough that if a derelic vessel comes that way, they're they're not moving out of the way for it. No. Um so that might end up >> No. I originally when she presented I was confused as to how you would even you know like how Boers and everybody but it they they stick so far out of the
water that it's um you're not going to miss it. >> But again, if it's a boat that's a drift, there is nobody on it. Um it just it's just going to end there, right? >> Yeah. Hopefully. I think it would hang them up there for sure. >> But I would rather Yeah. to be there than on the shore, right?
>> Uh yeah, because I mean I I just assume as as it gets shallower, right? You know, and you're you're making your way toward um you know, the causeway u the beach, the shoreline part of it, if you will, that it gets stuck on rocks anyway. So that's what happens now. >> Yeah.
>> So this part shows the energy of how much the waves and the wind hit. And then this is a completely calm lagoon on the other side. >> Mhm. like it's very impressive when you look at it like that. So, um yeah, >> interesting. It is interesting. Okay,
>> I just have one other item on my report which is not related to the beach committee. I am very excited to say we are almost at the end of our renovation and we have the official renovation reveal party which is going to be on Thursday, November 13th from 4:30 to 6:30. Um, we'd love to show off the
investment that our owners have placed in this community and our long-standing commitment to providing outstanding Marriott service through year for years to come. >> And there'll be refreshments. >> There is going to be, of course, it's a hotel party. You can't have people over
to your house and not have refreshments. >> I'd love for you all to come. >> That's great. >> And he's my report. >> Okay. Very good. Uh, Larry, sir, >> anything aboard? >> I'm good. I do not have a report. >> Uh Wayne, sorry. >> Nothing to report. Thank you. >> Nothing, sir.
>> Peter, we're all done. I think I said what I needed to on the mark. If I forgot something, I'm sorry, everybody. Uh November 12th, right? That's our next one. >> Yes. November. >> And we'll So, will we get an updated calendar? Um I guess going forward.
Uh >> we usually do that over the break and then we'll get full circle with the okay >> the new chair or the existing chair >> and review all that. >> All right everyone, thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you. 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. [Music] [Music]
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