Oct 04, 2023 Tourist Development Council

ALL RIGHT. WE CALL THIS MEETING OF THE

[Call to Order]

[00:00:06]

IT IS OCTOBER 4, 2023. AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY JOINING US TODAY. IF I CAN, I WILL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AND AT THE SAME TIME, GET AN INTRODUCTION OF ALL OF OUR MEMBERS HERE TODAY. LET'S START ON MY LEFT.

DAVID, IF YOU WOULD INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

TELL US WHERE YOU WORK AND PASS IT ON DOWN.

>> YES. HI.

MY NAME IS DAVID. (INAUDIBLE).

>> MICROPHONE. >> OH!

>> DAVID DIAZ. LOCAL RESIDENT SINCE ACCOUNT 98.

BEEN IN THIS INDUSTRY FOR ABOUT 0 YEARS.

30 YEARS. IT'S BEEN FUN.

>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.

>> STEVEN KELLEY. CITY OF GREENCOAT SPRINGS.

>> BRIANNIGHT. CITIZEN AND OWNER OF PRAGMATIC

WORKS. >> KEVIN ROBERE.

HOSPITALITY. >> NEIL PORTER.

ACCOMMODATIONS. >> KIMBERLY EVANS, ACCOMMODATIONS AND HOSPITALITY GROUP.

>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.% WE HAVE A BUSY AGENDA. MY NAME IS MIKE SELL.

KIM, IF YOU WOULD INTRODUCE THE REST OF YOUR STAFF THAT IS HERE.

>> YES. CAROLINE EVERILL TAKES CARE OF THE GRANTS AND PREPARES FOR THESE MEETINGS.

AND THEN SAMANTHA IS OUR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER.

SHE IS OUR BOOTS ON THE GROUND. MEETING WITH BUSINESSES AND HELPING BUSINESSES PARTNER TOGETHER TO CREATE NEW PRODUCT AND NEW EXPERIENCES. EWILL ALSO SAY THAT SHE IS NOT IN THE ROOM, BUT TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY FOR KRISTEN AGUILERA TO JOIN OUR TEAM. SHE IS OUR NEW MARKETING MANAGER. YOU WILL GET TO MEET HER AT THE NEXT MEETING. BUT TODAY IS HER FIRST DAY AS

PART OF THE TOURISM TEAM. >> YOU DIDN'T WANT TO CHASE HER AWAY. BY INTRODUCING HER TO THIS BODY.

OKAY. I GET THE DRIFT.

ALSO WE HAVE OUR COUNTY ATT ATTORNEY.

COURTNEY GRIMM HERE. AND OUR COUNTY MANAGER, HOWARD WANAMAKER. LESS' GET STARTED.

WE WILL START WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS.

IF YOU WERE HERE TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD, WE WOULD CERTAINLY ENTERTAIN YOUR COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.

SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND COME BACK TO THE BOARD. NO PRESENTATIONS TODAY OR OPEN DISCUSSIONS ON ANY TOPIC YET. WE WILL GO RIGHT TO APPROVAL FOR

[1.  August 2, 2023 TDC Meeting Minutes]

DO WE HAVE ANY CORRECTIONS ON THAT? OR IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS IS.

>> ALL RIGHT. BRIAN HAS THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> MOTION TO SECOND. >> A SECOND FROM KEVIN.

AND SO ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, OF THE MINUTES AS

SUBMITTED, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

[2.  Bed Tax Collections Update (K. Morgan)]

KIMBERLY, WHY DON'T YOU FILL US IN.

>> I HAVE EVEN BETTER NEWS. YESTERDAY WE JUST GOT THE AUGUST COLLECTION NUMBERS FORIT IS THE SEPTEMBER COLLECTION NUMBERS FOR AUGUST STAYS. OKAY? I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT.

SO THE NUMBER THAT YOU ALL HAVE, WE ARE GOING TO ADD $142,115 TO IT FOR A TOTAL OF $1,658,847 FOR THE YEAR SO FAR.

THAT PUTS US NOT QUITE-- LIKE, $15,000 SHY OF LAST YEAR'S TO TOTAL. SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS FOR THE YEAR, WE WILL EVENTUALLY EXCEED LAST YEAR'S TOTAL.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT 7.86% ABOVE WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR.

SO THAT'S-- I'M GOING TO TELL YOU ALL THAT IS GREAT NEWS FOR US. MOST DESTINATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA ARE EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT

[00:05:01]

AND NORMALIZE. SO WE ARE IN A GOOD SPOT, AND

THE FUTURE STILL LOOKS BRIGHT. >> THAT IS GREAT.

GOOD NEWS THERE. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT SPECIFIC-- THEY RUN ABOUT TWO MONTHS BEHIND.

WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL THE END OF THIS YEAR, THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR, WHAT WE FINISH THAT ON. VERY GOOD.

[3.  Budget Review (K. Morgan)]

KIMBERLY WILL DO THAT FOR US. LOOKING AT THE 2022-2023 BUDGET

AS COMPARED TO '23-'24. >> SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU SAW WAS WE DO-- WE DID PLAN A DECREASE IN GRANT FUNDING FOR THE BUDGET. WE ARE MOVING-- SO THE GOOD NEWS, WE HAD BUDGETED FOR A SPECIAL PROJECT, AND THAT MORPHED INTO ACTUALLY A BUDGET LINE FOR A NEW OFFICE.

AND WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR FACILITIES TEAM HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY TO PREPARE THAT NEW OFFICE.

WE WILL HOPE TO BE IN SOMETIME BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

INTO THE FIRST FLOOR SPACE NEXT TO THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE.

WE WILL HAVE OUR OWN ENTRANCE. AND SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU A LOT MORE AT THE NEXT MEETING.

WE WILL HAVE A VISITOR'S CENTER, OFFICE SPACE, AND A CONFERENCE ROOM. SO WE PLAN TO HAVE AN OPEN HOUSE WHEN EVERYTHING IS DONE. AND EVERYTHING IS READY FOR THAT. THAT IS ONE OF THE EXPENSES THAT YOU WILL SEE THAT WAS NOT-- THE BUDGET TRANSFERS HAPPENED SO THAT THAT PROJECT COULD HAPPEN. THAT IS FOR THE '22-'23 BUDGET YEAR. GOING INTO '23-'24, WE DID HAVE A DECREASE IN GRANT FUNDING. JUST TO NORMALIZE SOME THINGS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO ON THE STAFFING SIDE AS WELL AS ANOTHER EMPHASIS ON-- JUST MORE EMPHASIS ON SPORTS.

THE SPORTS EXPERIENCE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO CREATE A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE WITH ALL OF THE DETAILS THAT GO WITH HOSTING THESE SPORTS TOURNAMENTS.

SO WE WILL GIVE YOU GUYS MORE OF AN UPDATE ON THE BUDGET.

WE WILL HAVE A FULL BUDGET PRESENTATION FOR '23-'24 ALONG WITH THE BUSINESS PLAN AT THE NEXT MEETING.

I WANTED TO GIVE YOU GUYS A HEADS-UP ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

>> GOOD. I SHOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, KIMBERLY AND HER STAFF, THEY LOOKED AROUND FOR QUITE A WHILE, VISITED QUITE A FEW LOCATIONS, TRYING TO FIND A SPOT FOR THE TOURISM DEPARTMENT. F IF YOU HAD SEEN THEIR OFFICES, IT IS A GOOD THING THEY ALL GOT ALONG WELL.

THEY WERE ALL PRETTY MUCH ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

IT IS GOOD THAT THEY WILL HAVE SOME BREATHING ROOM AND A CONFERENCE ROOM AS WELL AS AN OPERATING VISITOR'S CENTER THAT FOLKS CAN ACTUALLY STOP AND POP INTO AND PICK UP THE MATERIALS AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THAT DONE, AND THEN THAT SHOULD BE DONE BY THE END OF THE YEAR, YOU WOULD THINK, RIGHT? OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR KIMBERLY ON THAT? ALL RIGHT.

[4.  TDC Grant Requests (C. Everill).]

OUR GRANT REQUESTS. THE QUEEN OF GRANT REQUESTS IS HERE. SHE IS ABOUT TO HELP US WORK OUR WAY THROUGH. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THOSE HERE TODAY. I SEE A NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT HAVE SUBMITTED THOSE REQUESTS ARE HERE AS WELL.

SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO CALL ON THEM AS THE COMMITTEE REQUESTS SO THAT WE CAN GET AN IDEA AS TO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE BETWEEN THE LINES AND THINGS THAT AREN'T TALKED ABOUT IN THEIR PROPOSAL.

CAROLINE, TAKE US THROUGH THE UPDATE.

THEN WE WILL GET INTO LOOKING AT THE GRANTS FOR THIS TIME AROUND.

>> YES, SIR. FIRSTLY, I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO OUR EVENT MARKETING GRANTS CHART THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE. I WANTED TO POINT OUT FOR ALL OF THE GRANTS WHERE THE REIMBURSEMENT MATERIALS WERE REQUIRED FOR THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, '2, '23, WE HAVE RECEIVED EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN PROCESSED.

WE ARE GETTING THAT THROUGH. THE ONLY THING ON HERE THAT YOU WILL SEE IS THE BASK OF 5K. TECHNICALLY, THEY HAVE 06 DAYS AFTER THE EVENT TO RECEIVE THE MATERIALS.

THE EVENT HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER. I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.

EVERYTHING ELSE WE HAVE RECEIVED THE MATERIALS.

ALSO YOU CAN NOTICE, TOO, NOT ALL OF THE GRANTS THAT THEY

[00:10:02]

THAT SAYS "VARIANCE." I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE RECEIVED EVERYTHING WE NEEDED TO FOR '22-'23.

WE START LOOKING FORWARD FOR '23-'24.

WE WILL PRODUCE ANOTHER CHART SHOWCASING THOSE GRANTS.

THIS LITTLE WRAP-UP TO SHOW YOU GUYS WHERE WE ARE AT WITH THAT.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? >> I HAVE A QUESTION.

>> YES. >> WHEN THEY DON'T USE ALL THE SPEND, DO WE COMPARE THEIR PERFORMANCE AGAINST WHAT THEY PROJECTED ORIGINALLY? AND IF THAT MIGHT HAVE IMPACTED

THEIR PERFORMANCE? >> WELL, WE CERTAINLY RECORD THAT AND INDICATE THAT. WHETHER WE GO INTO THAT DEEP A DIVE YET IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, THEY GOT THEIR-- THEY GOT A GRANT FOR $5,000. THEY SPENT $3 5RBGS00 TO THE TABLE. WHAT THAT DID TO THEIR EVENT IN TERMS OF ATTENDANCE AND THAT KIND OF STUFF, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE BEEN THERE JUST YET. CERTAINLY, AS WE HAND OUT NEW GRANTS, WE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE, I THINK, QUESTIONING AS TO WHY THEY DIDN'T USE IT AND WHETHER THAT DID IMPACT THEM.

THAT WILL IMPACT THEIR NEW GRANT MOVING FORWARD.

>> I GUESS THAT IS WHERE I WAS GOING WITH IT.

WHEN THEY COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND WANT THAT SAME ORIGINAL GRANT MONEY, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO END UP?

>> THAT REALLY IS THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE POST-EVENT REPORT THAT WE IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR. SO THAT WE COULD HAVE A DOCUMENT THAT GAVE US THE INFORMATION IMPORTANT TO THE CDC.

TRACKING ROOM NIGHTS, THE NUMBER OF VISITORS THAT CAME.

ALL OF THAT INFORMATION. SO WE COULD HAVE A BENCHMARK.

WE NEVER REALLY HAD THAT BEFORE. SO WE ARE-- SO THIS NEXT GRANT CYCLE WILL BE THE FIRST YEAR WHERE WE WILL ACTUALLY BE ABLE

TO DO SOME COMPARISONS. >> I ALSO WANT TO BUILD UPON THAT WITH THE POST-EVENT REPORT. YOU WILL FIND IN THE POST-EVENT REPORT, THERE ARE, LIKE, MULTIPLE QUESTIONS.

WE CAN KIND OF GAUGE WHAT WORKED WELL FOR THIS EVENT.

HOW DID YOU LIKE WORKING WITH US? DO YOU NEED MORE ASSISTANCE WITH MARKETING? THINGS OF THAT NATURE. IN A SENSE, WE HAVE THE INFORMATION. WE HAVEN'T DONE A DEEP DIVE LIKE THE COMMISSIONER WAS JUST ALLUDING TO.

IT IS SOMETHING TO DEFINITELY KEEP IN MIND.

ESPECIALLY FOR THESE EVENTS THAT ARE REPEATING.

WE MIGHT START TO SEE PATTERNS. WHAT THEY ARE SPENDING THEIR MONEY ON. HOW SUCCESSFUL.

THINGS OF THAT NATURE. >> RIGHT.

WHERE THOSE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM.

WHETHER THEY ARE COMING FROM WHERE WE THINK THEY SHOULD BE.

OR THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE. IF WE GAVE THEM THE GRANT.

THEY HAVE TO CERTAINLY ADVERTISE THE MARKET OUTSIDE THE COUNTY.

FROM THAT STANDPOINT, THERE IS A NUMBER OF WAYS TO LOOK AT IT.

AND YOU KNOW, THAT WILL BE UP TO THE COMMITTEE EACH YEAR AS THE REQUEST COMES IN, MAYBE-- YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF, IF THEY ASK FOR FIVE, THEY COULDN'T SPEND ALL OF IT BECAUSE THEY HAD A GOOD REASON, THEN MAYBE WE GIVE THEM THE 5 AGAIN.

>> NOT, MAYBE WE GIVE THEM THE $3,5 HUNDRED.

AND YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THAT GIVES US THAT OPTION AS WE MOVE FORWARD. CAROLINE, UNDER THE EVENT MARKETING GRANTS, IF THEY USED UP THEIR $2,500.

THAT WILL LEAVE US $5,500 IN TERMS OF LEFTOVER FROM THE

GRANTS? >> WE DON'T KNOW YET.

THEY HAVEN'T TURNED IN THEIR REIMBURSEMENT MATERIALS.

WE SHOULD FIND OUT WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

THEY HAVE 60 DAYS. BESIDES THAT, IF YOU TAKE AWAY THAT $2,500. THAT IS THE VARIANCE THAT WE HAVE LEFT FROM THE GRANTS WHERE THAT IS THE ACTUAL AMOUNT.

THAT IS NOT INCLUDING, THOUGH, THE EXTRA MONEY NOT USED FOR AN AWARD AMOUNT LIKE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.

IF THAT MAKES SENSE. >> BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD INTO THE NEW GRANTS, DO WE HAVE THAT NUMBER LEFTOVER? IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN DERIVE SO WE CAN UTILIZE IT TONIGHT IF WE NEEDED TO? YES.

OKAY. WITH THE SPORTS GRANTS, IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE-- THEY USED THE MONEY IN ITS ENTIRETY.

IT SEEMS LIKE MORE SO THAN EVEN IN THE EVENT MARKETING GRANTS.

>> YES, SIR. ALSO WITH THE SPORTS GRANTS, THERE ARE REIMBURSEMENT DEADLINES.

THAT HASN'T COME EITHER. LIKE THE EVENT MARKETING GRANT.

WE WILL BE GETTING THAT WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AS WELL.

WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE GOING TO SPEND THAT AMOUNT ENTIRELY.

SO YOU ALL ARE AWARE. THEY STILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT BEFORE THEY HAVE TO TURN IN THEIR MATERIALS.

>> OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FOR CAROLINE ON THAT? I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE AIRSTREAM VENTURES HERE TONIGHT TO GIVE US THE RUNDOWN.

THE HIGH SCHOOL EVENT WAS EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL.

THEY WERE EXPECTING 400 RUNNERS. THEY HAD OVER 800 SHOW UP AT THE

[00:15:03]

NOT THAT THEY WEREN'T EXPECTING A LOT OF PEOPLE.

BUT WHAT-- I GUESS FOR ANYBODY, THAT WILL BE GOOD FOR US TO KNOW AS WELL, WHEN WE DO REGIONALS-- THE SPORTS COMPLEX EVENTS.

THEY CAME IN, LIKE, THREE WAVES. THE CARS.

THE FIRST WAVE WAS THE PARENT DROPPING OFF THE PARTICIPANTS.

MOM OR DAD DROPPING OFF THE KIDS THAT WERE GOING TO PARTICIPATE.

YOU ARE TALKING MOSTLY ELEMENTARY AND JUNIOR HIGH, MIDDLE SCHOOL-TYPE KIDS. THEY DID HAVE HIGH SCHOOL.

THE FIRST WAVE. THE SECOND WAVE WAS THE REMAINING SPOUSE WITH THE OTHER SIBLINGS SHOWING UP.

THEYROLOGYED IN JUST ABOUT THE TIME THAT THE EVENT WAS TO TAKE PLACE. AND THEN ABOUT THAT SAME TIME AS WELL, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LATER THAN THE-- THEN THE GRANDPARENTS ROLLED IN. YYOU HAD THREE TIMES MORE CARS THAN YOU THOUGHT. THEY WERE EVERYWHERE.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THE EVENT, 800 KIDS.

WE HAD KIDS EVERYWHERE. THAT WAS A GOOD THING.

EVERYBODY WAS VERY COMPLIMENTARY ABOUT THE EVENT.

AND I THINK IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WITH THE RIGHT MARKETING AND THE RIGHT PROMOTION, I THINK THAT EVENT CAN BE VERY BIG. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GROW IT SO WE HAVE PEOPLE STAYING UNTIL SUNDAY.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT FOR NEXT YEAR.

WE HAD SOME OF. THAT MAYBE WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE OUT OF THE SOUTHEAST PART OF THE COUNTRY THAT WILL NEED TO STAY THAT EXTRA DAY. I THINK THAT IS VERY PROMISING AS FAR AS FOR A FIRST-TIME EVENT.

>> YES, SIR. WE HAVE ALREADY TALKED WITH AIRSTREAM SEASON VENTURES AND THE EVENT ORGANIZER ABOUT HOW TO MAXIMIZE THAT, SECURING A DATE AND WORKING WITH THE GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, TO MARKET THAT

EVENT. >> YEAH.

THAT WILL BE KEY. YOU GET SOME OF THOSE OUTLIAR, IN TERMS OF DISTANCE FROM CLAY COUNTY.

YOU ASK THEM TO STAY OVER. WE WILL HAVE A TWO-DAY EVENT.

THAT WILL BE GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GET INTO IT. THIS IS ALWAYS AN EXCITING TIME IN TERMS OF REVIEWING GRANT REQUESTS.

AND THEN LOOKING AT THOSE AND MAKING THE DETERMINATION AS TO WHAT WE DO WITH THAT. CAROLINE, YOU WANT TO GO OVER

THE FIRST ONE? >> YES, SIR.

OUR FIRST ONE IS A PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT GRANT.

I BELIEVE WEG MIGHT HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE HERE AS WELL.

>> YEAH, WE DO. >> WE GOT THIS PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT GRANT. I DON'T KNOW IF MARY WANTS TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE AS WELL.

>> WELL, RUN DOWN THE SPECIFICS AND THEN AS WE HAVE QUESTIONS AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS, WE CAN HAVE MARY COME UP.

>> YES, SIR. SO THIS PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT GRANT IS FOR A KIOSK, FOR THE BLUE ANGELS WHO TRAINED AT BRANAN FIELD. NOW, THROUGHOUT THE SCORING AND Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE THIS AS WELL, OUR SCORE SHEET.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES WE LOOK AT IN ORDER TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH MONEY TO ALLOCATE TO THIS.

AS FAR AS SCORING, TEN POINTS WERE EARNED IN ECONOMIC IMPACTS.

15 IN STRATEGIC AND MARKETING IMPACTS.

15 COMMUNITY IMPACTS. 25 FOR CAPACITY TO DELIVER THE PRODUCT. 25 POINTS FOR THAT.

ALL IN ALL, 65 POINTS. NOW, THE AMOUNT REQUESTED WAS $10,000. AND THE RECOMMENDED AWARD WAS $6,500. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THE CALCULATED AWARD IS $6,500. HOWEVER, TO BRING THIS PROJECT TO FRUITION, WE ARE ASKING Y'ALL TO CONSIDER AN AWARD UP TO $25,000, DEPENDENT ON OTHER FUNDING REQUESTS THEY ARE WAITING ON FOR THIS PROJECT AS WELL.

IF THEY DON'T GET ALL OF THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT ALSO FROM OTHER SOURCES, IT WON'T BE ABLE TO HAPPEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS ANY DEVELOPMENTS WITH THAT SPECIFICALLY. IN ORDER-- JUST IN CASE, IN ORDER TO BRING THIS PROJECT TO FRUITION, WE ARE ASKING Y'ALLLE TO CONSIDER AN AWARD UP TO $25,000.

>> OKAY. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF CAROLINE AT THIS POINT? IN REGARDS TO THE APPLICATION OR THE REQUEST. THERE IS ON PAGE TEN OF THE REQUEST, A LISTING OF WHERE THEY HAVE THE EXPENSES.

THEN I BELIEVE THERE IS ALSO A RUNDOWN OF WHERE THEY HAVE ASKED FOR SOME OTHER GRANTS FROM SOME LET'S GET MAR MARY UP IF WE COULD. SHE CAN DESCRIBE THE GRANT AND TELL US ABOUT WHERE THE EFFORT IS AT THIS POINT.

MARY, THANKS FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

>> HEY, HAPPY TO BE HERE. MARY JUSTINO.

I WORK FOR THE CLAY COUNTY CLERK OF COURT AND COMPTROLLER TARA GREEN. THAT INCLUDES THE CLAY COUNTY ARCHIVES. I'M REALLY REPRESENTING THE ARCHIVES TONIGHT. IT IS UNDER THAT 501C-3, NOT FOR

[00:20:02]

I THINK THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL THE SOONEST, THE END OF OCTOBER, WHETHER OR NOT WE GET SELECTED TO RECEIVE ANYTHING. LET ALONE $20,000.

BECAUSE THEY CAN OBVIOUSLY COME BACK WITH A LESSER AMOUNT.

I DO WANT TO DESCRIBE TO YOU IN GENERAL, AND I WON'T KEEP YOU LONG, BECAUSE I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, AND SO, KIM, GET THE HOOK AND PULL ME OFF WHEN NEED BE.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR $30,000 TOTAL.

AND THAT INCLUDES A VERY HIGH-END KIOSK.

THREE-SIDED PANELS WITH SIGNAGE. ROOFED.

WITH A CONCRETE BASE. IN THE SHAPE OF AN OCTAGON.

HOPEFULLY, YOU SAW IT IN THE APPLICATION, THAT THIS PARTICULAR RUNWAY THAT THE BLUE ANGELS USED IN THE 1940S WAS HANDS-DOWN, THE MOST UNIQUE DESIGN OF ANY UNITED STATES NAVY RUNWAY ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THAT UNIQUE RUNWAY THAT THE BLUE ANGELS BECAME THE BLUE ANGEL THAT IS THEY ARE. BECAUSE THEY WOULD FLY OUT OF-- DO SOME UNUSUAL AND DANGEROUS MANEUVERS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. AT THE TIME.

THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. NOW IT IS THE MIDDLE OF OAK LEAF. WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT THIS IS A HISTORIC SITE. WE ARE WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH BETH CARSON AND THE COUNTY'S PRESERVATION BOARD THROUGH ARCHIVES. THEY HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB RESEARCHING THIS. HER FORMER ADMIRAL IS ACTUALLY THE PRESIDENT OF THE BLUE ANGELS MUSEUM IN PENSACOLA.

ALL OF THE INFORMATION IN THE PACKET HAS BEEN RESEARCHED AND VERIFIED THROUGH THE NAVY AND THROUGH THE MUSEUM.

SO WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY. I KNOW BETH IS MOVING FORWARD WITH THE SEPARATE APPLICATION FOR THE STATE HISTORI MARKER.

THOSE WOULD GO HAND IN HAND. THE OTHER PART OF THIS THAT IS VERY EXCITING IS THAT NOT ONLY CAN WE SEND THE PUBLIC THERE TO VISIT THE KIOSK AND SEE THE HISTORY AND IT BE A VERY VISUAL SPOT TO VISIT. THAT PUTS THEM IN THE OAK LEAF AREA TO DO OTHER THINGS. WE HAVE AN ONGOING AGREEMENT WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, OAK LEAF HIGH SCHOOL AND THE JUNIOR HIGH HAVE STEM OR STEAM PROGRAMS. WE OFTEN JUST KIND OF GENERICALLY SAY THAT OAK LEAF HIGH IS LIKE THE MAGNET FOR AVIATION. SO THOSE-- THE CURRICULUM THAT STUDENTS ARE RECEIVING AT BOTH OF THOSE SCHOOLS, THE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES THAT THEY DO, TIES RIGHT INTO THIS SITE AS WELL. EVERY TOUR GROUP THAT WE PUT TOGETHER THAT, WE SEND TO ALL THE OTHER PLACES IN THE COUNTY, WE WOULD HAVE A PLACE IN OAK LEAF TO SEND THOSE GROUPS.

WE WOULD HAVE ALSO SOMETHING FOR THE EVERYDAY VISITOR TO THE OAK LEAF AMENITY CENTER. TO GO BY AND LEARN AND SPEND MORE TIME IN THE AREA BECAUSE THEY ARE TAKING MORE TIME TO STICK AOUND. IN OAK LEAF.

TO CHECK OUT THE MILITARY HISTORY.

THE REALLY COOL PART, TOO, I THINK THERE IS SO MANY MOVING INVOLVED GROUPS, INVOLVED IN THIS NOW.

THERE IS A MEDIA COMPONENT. THERE IS A MILITARY COMPONENT.

THE SCHOOLS, THE COUNTY, THE ARCHIVES.

IT IS REALLY COME TOGETHER AS A BIG GROUP EFFORT.

IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT WE ARE KIND OF LEADING IT FROM A MONETARY FUND-RAISING STANDPOINT.

BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT LONGSTANDING 501C-3 THROUGH THE ARCHIVES THAT THROUGH WHICH, WE CAN KIND OF TAKE IN THE GRANT MONEYS AND THEN CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE OTHER GROUPS TO DECIDE THE DESIGN OF THE KIOSK, HOW IT WILL BE POSITIONED WITH THE STATE HISTORICAL MARKER, AND OF COURSE, MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THE CONTENT IS ACCURATE AND ENGAGING AND INTERACTIVE AND KIND OF CHECKS ALL THOSE BOXES FOR TOURISM PURPOSES.

>> OKAY. QUESTIONS FOR MAR Y MARY?

>> I HAVE A COUPLE THAT WILL MAYBE SPUR SOME OTHER THOUGHTS.

MARY, THE LOCATION ITSELF OF THE ACTUAL KIOSK, I SAW THE DIAGRAM.

THERE IS A SIDEWALK AND SIDEWALK CONNECTOR.

>> YES. >> WHOSE LAND IS THAT?

IS THAT COUNTY PROPERTY? >> IT IS NOT.

SO WE STARTED THIS WHOLE PROCESS ONCE WE REALIZED WHAT KIND OF, LIKE, A LITTLE GEM THIS LITTLE UNKNOWN STORY-- ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DID, WE GOT WITH BETH, AND WE ACTUALLY WENT OUT TO THE SITE IN OAK LEAF TO FIGURE IT OUT.

BETH BROUGHT THE RIGHT-OF-WAY MAP.

[00:25:02]

IT IS A VERY WIDE SECTION OF STREET THERE.

SO WE HAD ASSUMED THAT THERE WOULD BE ENOUGH RIGHT-OF-WAY TO PUT IT ON COUNTY PROPERTY. WHEN WE REALIZED THAT WASN'T THE CASE, REALLY NOT THE SAFEST THING TO DO, TO PUT IT UP AGAINST THE ROAD ANYWAY. WE HAD A WHOLE SEPARATE MEETING.

I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER HOW LONG AGO THAT WAS, KIMBERLY.

THE GROUP THAT WAS INVOLVED, WE WENT OUT TO A MEETING OF THE GROUP THAT OVERSEES THE MANAGEMENT OF THE LAND FOR THE OAK LEAF COMMUNITY. THERE IS AN ACRONYM FOR IT.

BUT IT IS THE GROUP THAT MAKES DECISIONS --

>> IT IS KIND OF LIKE THEIR CDD. IT IS ALMOST LIKE EVERYBODY

NEIGHBORHOOD IS THERE. >> HAS ONE GOVERNING BOARD.

YEAH. >> LIKE A BIG HOA.

OKAY. >> YES.

AND THE GENTLEMAN WHO RUNS THAT, HE ALLOWED US TO COME IN TO A PRESENTATION OF THAT GROUP. THEY WHOLEHEARTEDLY EMBRACED THE IDEA OF THE KIOSK AND THE MARKER THERE, INCLUDING THE USE OF THEIR PROPERTY THAT IS OFF OF THE COUNTY SIDEWALK AND RIGHT-OF-WAY BUT NEAR THEIR AMENITIES CENTER BIG PARKING LOT AND RIGHT NEXT TO THE TENNIS COURTS THAT EVEN COMES WITH LIGHTING. AND LANDSCAPING IN THE GENERAL AREA. THE GROUP HAD SOME FEEDBACK FOR US THAT LED US TO ASK FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE ARE HAVING TO ASK FOR. REALLY ONE OF THEIR MAIN STIPULATIONS WAS THAT IT NOT BE A RINKY DINK HOMEMADE PUT-TOGETHER WOODEN STRUCTURE. THEY WANTED A TOP-OF-THE-LINE HEAVY-DUTY METAL KIOSK WITH VERY PROFESSIONAL-- LIKE, THEY WANT US TO PUT IT ON THEIR PROPERTY, BUT THEY WANT IT TO BE AWESOME.

AND SO WHEN WE COME TO YOU TO SAY WE NEED THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY, IT IS BECAUSE THROUGH THE PRE-APPROVED COUNTY VENDOR, WE HAD TWO TO PICK FROM. THE ONE THAT WE WENT WITH, THE PRICING IS BASED ON THAT VENDOR'S PRICING.

AND IT IS A FULL METAL ROOFING HEAVY-DUTY-- LIKE, IT IS GOING TO WITHSTAND A HURRICANE. IT IS GOING TO WITHSTAND VANDALISM. NOBODY IS PUSHING THIS THING OVER. THEN OBVIOUSLY, ON A CONCRETE BASE, THAT IS SHAPED LIKE AN OCTAGON WITH THE ACTUAL RUNWAYS, STAMPED INTO IT UNDERNEATH THE KIOSK, CONNECTED TO THE PUBLIC SIDEWALK BY A SIDEWALK AS WELL. AND WE DO HAVE-- KNOCK ON WOOD-E LOCAL CONCRETE COMPANY THAT MAY BE ABLE TO HELP US.

AND SAVE US SOME MONEY THERE, TOO.

THAT BASICALLY IS HOW WE FIRST APPROACHED IT.

FIGURING OUT WHERE WE ARE GOING TO PUT THIS THING.

WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO PUT IT? WE REALIZED IT COULD NOT BE ON COUNTY PROPERTY.

THE NEXT BEST THING WAS TO FIND A SECTION OF THE RUNWAY THAT WAS ON THE PROPERTY OF THAT MANAGEMENT GROUP.

SO WE COULD APPROACH THEM AND ASK FOR THEIR PERMISSION.

THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET IS A SCHOOL.

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PLAN B. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SCHOOL PROPERTY. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OVERLAY OF THE OCTAGONAL-SHAPED RUNWAY, IT DOES RUN THROUGH PART OF THE SCHOOL ACROSS THE STREET. WE DIDN'T PICK THAT LOCATION BECAUSE WE DIDN'T THINK IT APPROPRIATE TO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO COME ON TO SCHOOL GROUNDS.

>> IN A DIFFERENT TIME AND A DIFFERENT YEAR, WE PROBABLY

WOULDN'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM. >> YES, YES.

>> MY QUESTION IS THE MANAGEMENT GROUP-- IS THAT WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY? DO THEY-- WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY? I MEAN, THE FACT THAT THIS GROUP CAN GET TOGETHER AND SAY YEAH, THEY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE IT TH THERE-- I THINK COURTNEY JUST GOT-- YOU KNOW, HER RADAR WENT UP AND SAID, HOW ARE WE GOING TO HANDLE THAT? IS THAT SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT TO LEAVE THE PIECE-- THE QUESTION I HAVE IS MAINTENANCE.

>> RIGHT. AND THE GROUP THAT WE MET WITH

ASKED ABOUT THAT AS WELL. >> AND SO WHO IS-- IS THE 501C-3, IS THAT GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THAT? WHO IS GOING TO MAINTAIN THAT AS WE GO ALONG?

>> YES, SIR. THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE NEED TO DISCUSS FURTHER, BUT MY FIRST THOUGHT WHEN ASKED THAT QUESTION IS IF WE ARE ABLE TO GET THE FULL $30,000, THAT $5,000 OF THAT POTENTIALLY, IF I GET THE CONCRETE DONATED, THAT THE $5,000 THAT WE WOULD HAVE USED ON CONCRETE COULD BE AT

[00:30:03]

NO, WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS ON LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE. MORE OF A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.

THAT IS OBVIOUSLY, TOO, WHY WE WANT TO BUILD IT AS STOCK STROND AS QUALITY AS WE CAN TO BEGIN WITH.

>> RIGHT. THAT IS UNBLING.

UNDERSTANDABLE. CERTAINLY THAT IS THE WAY TO GO.

AT THE SAME TIME, THERE WILL BE MAINTENANCE NEEDS.

>> SURE. >> WHETHER IT IS WITH THE LANDSCAPING THAT GOES AROUND IT WITH THE SIDEWALK.

I MEAN, THERE IS A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT COURTNEY WILL BE STAYING UP AT NIGHT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HANDLE.

>> RIGHT. I HAVE A SPECIFIC CONTACT FOR THAT GROUP THAT WE MET WITH. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH COURTNEY. I CAN SEND THAT CONNECTION TO HER VIA EMAIL. BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN A DELAY, SINCE THAT MEETING, BECAUSE OF INFLATION, WE HAVE HAD TO GO

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND -- >> NO QUESTION.

I UNDERSTAND. >> AS YOU GUYS KNOW, FROM DIFFERENT THINGS. I DO NEED TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT GENTLEMAN AS WELL AND MAKE SURE HE UNDERSTANDS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT WANTING TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT NO LATER THAN OCTOBER OF 2024. AND 100%, I CAN REPORT BACK TO THIS BOARD WITH CONFIRMATION THAT THEIR ENDORSEMENT IS STILL

GOOD. >> YEAH.

THE QUESTION I HAVE IS ACTUALLY WHO OWNS THE LAND.

I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE ONE PERSON FROM ALL THESE DIFFERENT HOAS REPRESENTING ON, LIKE, AN OVERSIGHT BOARD.

THAT OVERSIGHT BOARD PROBABLY DOES NOT OWN THE PROPERTY.

>> UNDERSTOOD. >> THAT TO ME, WOULD BE --

>> A RED FLAG. >> A COUPLE OF YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, THEY SAY JEEZ, COME AND GET YOUR KIOSK.

>> CORRECT. OR RESTRICT ACCESS TO IT.

SOMETHING LIKE. THAT WE WOULDN'T WANT-- WE WOULD WANT TO PREVENT THEM FROM RESTRICTING ACCESS TO IT.

COULD YOU DESCRIBE THE PARKING FOR VISITORS?

>> ABSOLUTELY. SO IT IS THE SAME PARKING LOT THAT IS OFF OF THE MAIN ROADWAY THERE.

THAT SERVICE IT IS ENTIRE-- THAT SERVICES THE ENTIRE AMENITY CENTER. WHICH INCLUDES THE GIANT SPORTS FIELD. WHERE THEY HAVE THE I-9 AND THE SOCCER LEAGUE AND ALL THAT STUFF THAT GOES ON THERE.

I HAVE TAKEN MY KIDS A MILLION TIMES.

IT HAS TO BE A THOUSAND-CAR PARKING LOT.

THREE OR FOUR ROWS DEEP. THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE STRETCH OF THE PROPERTY. AND IT IS OFF OF THAT MAIN DRAG THERE. ACROSS FROM THE SCHOOL.

>> HOW FAR IS THAT WALK FROM THE PARKING TO THE STRUCTURE?

>> OH, A STONE' THROW. A STONE'S THROW.

I WOULD SAY MAYBE 100-150 FEET. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MARY?

>> I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION. I'M A VETERAN.

PRIOR MILITARY. YOU GOT ME BY THE HEART STRINGS ON. THIS TO ME IT SEEMS MORE OF A COMMUNITY PROJECT INSTEAD OF A TOURISM PROJECT.

YOU MENTIONED GROUPS THAT WOULD VISIT.

WHAT TYPE OF GROUPS, IS IT LOCAL GROUPS THAT ARE GOING TO VISIT

OR OUT-OF-TOWN GROUPS? >> I THINK IT IS BOTH.

I THINK THAT ANY-- ANYONE COMING THERE ALREADY FOR AN EVENT, A SPORTS EVENT, YOU CAN GET DOUBLE-DUTY OR MORE MILEAGE BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE FOR THEM TO STAY AND TO LOOK AT.

BUT THEN I DO BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR TOUR GROUPS. COMING IN AND DOING-- I KNOW KIMBERLY AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE MILITARY TRAIL THIS THIS WOULD BE PART OF. THAT TYPE OF MILITARY TRAIL THAT TAKES FOLKS ALL OVER THE COUNTY. CERTAINLY THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL WANT TO COME IN TO CECILFIELD FOR THE POW-MIA MEMORIAL THAT THEY HAVE THERE. CERTAINLY THAT IS A TARGET AUDIENCE AS WELL. AGAIN, A STONE'S THROW TO CECIL FIELD THERE. BEYOND THAT, OUR OWN COMMUNITY AS WELL. NOW, COULD I ALSO SEE, SAY, SCHOOL GROUPS FROM DUVAL COUNTY COMING THAT SHORT DISTANCE TO COME AND VISIT THAT SITE AS WELL? FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES? YES.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT CHECKS A BOX FOR TOURISM OR NOT.

AND AGAIN, I'M A NAVY BRAT AS WELL.

MY FOLKS DRUG ME TO MANY A BLUE ANGELS SHOW ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. I CAN ONLY SAY IF THAT WERE ME COMING INTO JACKSONVILLE TO GO TO THE BLUE ANGELS AIR SHOW AND I FOUND OUT THERE WAS A PLACE THAT WAS A HISTORICAL SITE THAT WAS BLUE ANGELS-RELATED, I'M PROBABLY DRAGGING MY KIDS TO THAT, TOO. IT WOULD BE THE VARIETY THERE.

KIMBERLY ANDRY IS WORKED NOW FOR THREE YEARS ON SOMETHING WE CALL CLAY COUNTY HISTORY PASSPORT. THAT GOES OUT BOTH IN HARD COPY AND THE NEWSPAPER. AS WELL AS ON THE WEBSITE

[00:35:01]

I THINK JUST TO KIND OF BRING US BACK TO HOW THIS ALL STARTED, IT WAS WITH THAT HISTORY PASSPORT, BECAUSE WE REALIZED, WHERE ARE WE SENDING PEOPLE IN OAK LEAF? WE CAN TELL THE STORY OF, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THIS BIG FIELD AND IMAGINE THE BLUE ANGELS IN THE 1940S FLYING IN AND OUT OF HERE. WE WANT TO SHOW PEOPLE SOMETHING. WE WANT SOMETHING PHYSICAL FOR THEM TO COME SEE AND TO MAKE THAT AS INTERACTIVE AS POSSIBLE.

I COULD DEFINITELY SEE IT LEADING TO OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT ARE AVIATION-RELATED. AND SPECIFICALLY MILITARY

AVIATION-RELATED ON THE SITE. >> MAY I ADD TO THAT?

>> YES. >> SO JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA. WE ARE WORKING WITH A MILITARY REUNION GROUP THIS YEAR, EVEN THOUGH THE NAS AIR SHOW IS AT JACK'S BEACH, THEY ARE STAYING IN CLAY COUNTY.

THEY ARE BUSING PEOPLE OUT TO JACK'S BEACH TO EXPERIENCE THE AIR SHOW. THEY ARE DOING OTHER THINGS WITHIN CLAY COUNTY. MILITARY REUNIONS IS A KEY FOCUS FOR US IN THE NEXT YEAR TO REALLY BOOST SOME GROUP BUSINESS DURING SOME NEED PERIODS AND TO KIND OF CULTIVATE SOME PRODUCT TO MAKE THAT REUNION MORE MEANINGFUL.

THIS WOULD DEFINITELY HELP IN THAT REGARD.

>> KIM? >> I LOVE THE IDEA OF IT BEING SUPER AWESOME. I THINK THAT IS WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE. MY CONCERN FOR SOME REASON, WAS HOW DO WE KEEP IT. SO MAINTENANCE.

THEN VANDALISM. I DON'T KNOW IF THE AMENITY CENTER HAS CAMERAS OR WHAT. YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE HAD ISSUES EVEN IN GREEN COVE WITH MONUMENTS BEING VANDALIZED.

IF WE SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY, WE WANT TO MAKE IT-- BECAUSE YOU ALL WORKED SO HARDIMENTS WE WANT TO KEEP IT AWESOME.

DOES IT TAKE MORE MONEY TO MAKE SURE WE PROTECT IT? RIGHT? BECAUSE THEN WE HAVE JUST WASTED THE MONEY. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS A THOUGHT. CAMERAS TO FOCUS ON THAT AREA OR WHAT. I KIND OF THINK-- IT IS A SAD

THOUGHT, BUT -- >> IT IS A GREAT THOUGHT.

IF WE GO THAT FAR, IT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE TO STICK A POLE IN THE GROUND SOMEWHERE AND PUT A CAMERA SPECIFIC TO THAT.

NOW YOU ARE ADDING MORE COST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A CAMERA AND HOW DOES IT GET POWER? WHERE DOES THAT SIGNAL GO? WHETHER IT HAS WI-FI OR ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. SO MARY, THE PANELS OF THE KI KIOSK, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE A MAP OR SOME OTHER THINGS DISPLAYED. WHAT WAS THE THOUGHT, PUTTING

SOMETHING IN THERE? >> RIGHT.

>> ARE THOSE PICTURES -- >> 100%.

WE HAVE, AGAIN, THROUGH OUR RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE BUILT THROUGH THE BLUE ANGELS MUSEUM, AS WELL AS AT NES JACK'S, WE WANT TWO OF THE THREE PANELS TO BE BLUE ANGELS AND BRANAN FIELD OUTLYING AIR FIELD-SPECIFIC. THEN WE HAVE A THIRD PANEL WE WOULD LIKE TO DEDICATE TO CLAY COUNTY'S MEL A MILITARY AVIATION MYSTERY, IN GENERAL. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OTHER AIRFIELDS WITH HISTORIC VALUE ALL OVER THE COUNTY.

FROM KEYSTONE UP TO FLEMING ISLAND.

WE WOULD LIKE TO FEATURE THOSE ON THE THIRD PANEL AS WELL.

WHO KNOWS? MAYBE THAT IS FOR FOLKS TO GO VISIT THOSE AREAS, TOO. TWO OF THE THREE WOULD BE ONE WHOLE PANEL FOCUSING ON THE 1940S.

AND ON THE UNIQUENESS OF THE RUNWAY.

BUT ALSO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SPENCER BOMBING RANGE RIGHT BELOW IT AS WELL. WE ALL KNOW THAT WHEN OAK LEAF WAS BEING DEVELOPED, MANY FOLKS FOUND INERT BOMBS IN THEIR YARDS AS HOUSES WERE BEING BUILT. I HAVE BEEN ASSURED THOSE ARE ALL GONE NOW. THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORY TO TALK ABOUT WITH THE ONE LOCATION.

THEN WE CAN BRING ON A SECOND PANEL ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE HISTORY OF THE BLUE ANGELS. WE WANT IT TO BE BRIGHT AND REALLY EYE-CATCHING FROM THE SIDEWALK.

SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR LARGE GRAPHICS.

WE WOULD HOPE TO USE MILLER CREATIVE.

THIS IS THE COMPANY THAT DOES OUR FAIR BOOTH PRESENTATION EVERY YEAR FOR US. AND ALSO, IF YOU HAVE SEEN ANY OF THE HALL OF FAME WALLS AT YOUR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS, MILLER DOES THOSE BIG, WONDERFUL PRESENTATIONS.

WE WOULD LIKE TO PARTNER WITH THEM ON THAT.

I THINK, TOO, JUST THAT REALLY EYE-OPENING THING.

THIS IS, TO ME, WHAT IS SO UNIQUE ABOUT IT.

I'M GOING TO CHALLENGE MILLER CREATIVE TO COME UP WITH WITH A WAY OF DOING THIS. THAT IS OVERLAY OF THE ORIGINAL

[00:40:01]

OR THEIR BALLFIELD. OR THEIR SCHOOL.

AND KIND OF PUT THAT PAST AND PRESENT CONNECTION TOGETHER.

FOR THEM, IT IS LOOKING LIKE A MILLION YEARS AGO.

FOR A LOT OF US, THE 1940S WASN'T THAT LONG AGO.

BUT YES, WE WANT TO MAKE IT VERY BRIGHT AND COLORFUL AND TO SOME DEGREE, INTERACTIVE. IF THERE IS A WAY FOR THAT RUNWAY TO BE A PANEL THAT FLIPS OVER ON TO A MODERN-DAY MAP OR MAYBE IT SLIDES UP AND DOWN. I'M CHALLENGING MILLER TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO DO THAT. THEN, OF COURSE, NEXT TO THE KIOSK SOMEWHERE WITHIN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF FEET OFF THE SAME SIDEWALK, WOULD BE THAT STATE HISTORIC MARKER.

THAT WOULD BE A MORE FORMAL WORDING OF THE STATE'S APPLICATION THAT TELLS THE STORY OF WHY THIS IS A HISTORIC SITE.

OUR CONTENT WILL BE A LITTLE MORE FUN AND EBB GAUGING.

-- ENGAGING. >> OKAY.

ANYTHING ELSE FOR MARY AT THIS POINT?

>> IF I COULD JUST ADD, I DO THINK THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT WORTHWHILE PROJECT. WHILE WE RAISED SOME SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS ABOUT-- WITH REGARDS TO THE LOCATION, PROPERTY OWNERSHIP AND THEN POTENTIALLY PROTECTING THE INVESTMENT, I DO THINK THAT IF THIS WAS SOMETHING AS SIGNIFICANT AS THE BLUE ANGELS AND THE STORY BEHIND THIS WAS IN ONE OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE ALREADY ERECTED SOMETHING-TO-TOO, BUT BECAUSE OAK LEAF IS WHAT IT IS, THAT PUTS MORE RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE COUNTY SIDE OF THINGS TO MAYBE STEP UP AND HELP PRESERVE AND PUT THAT ON DISPLAY. FROM THAT STANDPOINT, I DO THINK THAT IT IS WORTHY FOR US TO HAVE SOME SKIN IN THE GAME ON THAT.

YES, SOMETHING AS SIGNIFICANT AS THE BLUE ANGELS, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, QUITE MILITARILY, I KNOW WE HAD THE MOTH BALL FLEET HERE IN GREEN COVE AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS. NOTHING ON THE MARKET MARKETABILITY-WISE AS FAR AS BLUE ANGELS.

POTENTIAL FOR VISITORS, THAT IS A GOOD ONE.

FOR SURE. >> ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY. THANK YOU, MARY.

APPRECIATE IT. THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION.

SO THE MATRIX, AS CAROLINE INDICATED, CAME UP WITH 61 POINTS. YOU PUT IN THE REQUEST RIGHT THERE. IT COMES UP TO BE ABOUT $6,500.

SO THE QUESTION IS, IS $6,500 WHERE WE WANT TO BE? DO WE WANT TO BE MORE? WE HAVE THAT AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THIS IS MORE OF A GUIDE THAN ANYTHING. YOU KNOW, I GUESS I WOULD FEEL BETTER IF IT WAS COUNTY PROPERTY OR A PROPERTY THAT WE COULD IDENTIFY WHO OWNS IT AND THEN BE ABLE TO DETERMINE HOW WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET PERMISSION TO NOT ONLY PUT IT THERE BUT FIGURE OUT WHO IS GOING TO GO ON THE PROPERTY AND MAINTAIN IT. WHATEVER IT IS.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WOULD HAVE TO HELP WITH. AT LEAST IN THIS DIRECTION.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE 501 C-3 HAS ITS OWN ATTORNEY.

THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ESTABLISH AS TO HOW THAT FITS TOGETHER. AT THIS POINT, I REALLY DON'T KNOW UNTIL WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION AS TO WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY. WE COULD CALL THE APPRAISER'S OFFERS AND SEE WHO OWNS IT. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE IS PROBABLY AN OWNER. IT IS NOT AMONGST THE PEOPLE THAT GAVE PERMISSION OR SAID IT WAS A GREAT IDEA AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU THERE. IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT.

I COULD BE WRONG. THAT IS WHERE WE ARE.

I MEAN, ANY THOUGHTS ON THE GRANTS?

>> I THINK ASSUMING THAT WE CAN GET PAST THE LEGAL STUFF THERE, THEN I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THE $10,000.

>> OKAY. YOU ARE FOR THE FULL REQUEST OF

THE AMOUNT. >> I THINK IT MAKES SENSE FOR

CLAY COUNTY. >> ANY OTHER THOUGHTS?

>> IF THAT IS SOMETHING-- I MEAN, WITH THE $10,000, I KNOW SHE IS LOOKING AT $25,000, POSSIBLY $30,000, IS THAT WITH EVERYBODY OR ARE WE REALLY LOOKING TO DO THE $25,000 WITH

THE TOURISM? >> I THINK ONE OF THE-- MARY

[00:45:04]

SO YOU WOULD HAVE ENOUGH TO DO AN UP--TO-$25,000 IF YOU SO CHOSE TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION. THE DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE, BUT IT IS ENTIRELY UP TO YOU TO HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO INVEST.

>> COULD WE AUTHORIZE FROM THE GOVERNING SIDE, AUTHORIZE THE

$10,000 AND THEN COME BACK? >> WELL, THAT IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. IN TERMS OF PENDING, WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY. YOU HAVE TO GET LEGAL PERMISSION MORE SO THAN THEY MET AND SAID IT WAS A GREAT IDEA.

MAYBE WE DO, YOU KNOW, UP TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT.

AND THEN PENDING PROOF OF OWNERSHIP OR PROOF OF, YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF YEEMENT AGREEMENT THAT ALLOWS US TO PUT IT THERE.

I PERSONALLY WOULDN'T GO MORE THAN $10,000.

I THINK DAVID AND STEVEN HAD BOTH SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT THERE. STEVEN IS THINKING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT IS A GREAT PIECE OF HISTORY, AND WE SHOULD COMMEMORATE IT. DAVID SAYS IT IS MORE OF A LOCAL KIND OF A COMMUNITY KIND OF A MARKER.

I TEND TO AGREE WITH DAVID. IN THE SENSE THAT WE SPEND $25,000, WHAT IS OUR RETURN? I DON'T THINK THAT AS NEAT AS IT IS AND-- YOU KNOW, AS NECESSARY AS IT IS TO SORT OF CORRAL HISTORY, I DON'T SEE IT AS A TOURISM DRIVING PEOPLE THERE.

BECAUSE EVEN IF THEY GO THERE, YOU KNOW, DO THEY GET BACK IN THE CAR? WHERE DO THEY GO? GET BACK ON THE EXPRESSWAY, AND GO NORTH, SOUTH?

I MEAN -- >> I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SOME INVESTMENT. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE CARRYING BELOW THAT INVESTMENT. THAT IS MY FEELING.

YES, BY ALL MEANS. >> I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT HAVING THIS HANDY WHEN YOU ASKED THE QUESTION.

FOR THE RECORD, THE CONTACT AT THE PROPERTY IS JAY SORIANO.

HE IS THE OPERATIONS MANAGER. DOUBLE BRANCH AND MIDDLE VILLAGE CDD. GOVERNMENTAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES. I DO RECALL AT THE MEETING THERE BEING AN ATTORNEY THERE. FOR THIS GROUP.

TO YOUR POINT, THEIR GROUP WHICH WAS SIMILAR TO YOUR SIZE, WAS RUNNING ALL OVER THEIR CONVERSATION THROUGH THAT ATTORNEY. COURTNEY, THERE IS AN ATTORNEY,

APPARENTLY. >> RIGHT.

>> I DON'T KNOW. I WILL FIND OUT.

F JAY SORIANO. THAT IS THE GROUP THAT WE MET

WITH. >> RIGHT.

YES. A CDD BOARD, WHICH I THOUGHT IT WAS. I'M NOT SURE WHETHER YOU MET WITH THE FULL BOARD OR WHETHER IT WAS JUST JAY AND ATTORNEYS.

OR WHO YOU MET WITH. RIGHT NOW YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE IN THE OTHER COUNTY. WE NEED TO BRING YOU DOWN.

>> I'M JUST NOT 100% SURE. DO YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS? BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE FAMILIAR FOR YOU.

IT IS CADDIE CORNER CATTY-CORNER TOS TO THAT PROPERTY THAT WE OWNED FOR THE LIBRARY. AND THEN THE OTHER PART OF IT.

>> OKAY. WE OWNED SOME PROPERTY THERE.

>> SO THE PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT IS DESIGNATED BY THE CDD FOR THE LIBRARY, AND THEN THE BOARD IS LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF ACQUIRING FROM THE CDD, THE OTHER HALF. RIGHT? THAT AND ALL THE SURROUNDING PARKING AND ROADS IS DIAGONAL

FROM WHERE MARY WAS THINKING. >> OKAY.

ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE STREET AS THE SCHOOL.

>> WELL, ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE STREET ACROSS FROM THE LIBRARY.

>> ACROSS OAK LEAF VILLAGE PARKWAY.

>> MM-HMM. >> YEAH.

I KNOW WHICH ONE IT IS ON. >> SO IF WE-- THERE IS ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY IF THE BOARD DETERMINES TO MOVE FORWARD WITHH ACQUIRING THAT OTHER PROPERTY AND ALL THAT PARKING.

>> I MEAN, THAT CERTAINLY WOULD SOLVE A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE IN REGARDS TO THAT. I DON'T THINK THE CDD WAS

PROBABLY INTERESTED. >> YEAH.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES IN THOSE CDD MEETINGS, THEY DON'T

[00:50:02]

THEIR MAIN GOAL IS TO PROTECT THE BOND ISSUER THAT WROTE THE BOND TO TURN THE PROPERTY INTO A DEVELOPMENT.

SO THEIR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT MAINTAINS A CERTAIN LEVEL OF-- SO IT DOESN'T AFFECT THE BOND RATE.

>> ONE LAST THING I WILL ADD TO. GIVE YOU A MENTAL REFERENCE.

THE RUNWAYS WERE EACH A MILE LONG.

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT A SMALL FOOTPRINT.

IT IS A MILE ACROSS. IN ANY DIRECTION.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT OTHER POTENTIAL LOCATIONS, EVEN IF IT IS ACROSS THE STREET TWO BLOCKS AWAY --

>> YOU ARE STILL WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK.

>> YOU ARE PRETTY CLOSE TO STILL BEING IN THE RANGE IF IT IS

WITHIN A MILE. >> RIGHT.

SO THOSE ARE STILL-- I MEAN, TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS AND BRINGS

UP NEW QUESTIONS. >> THE LOCATION WITH THE LIBRARY, THE LOCATION, IS IT DEVELOPED AT ALL RIGHT NOW?

>> IT IS ACTUALLY NOT A WOODED LOT.

IT IS A SMALL CIRCULAR SPACE THAT WE HAVE OWNERSHIP OF HALF.

THEY HAVE THE OTHER HALF. WE ARE TRYING TO WORK A DEAL TO GET THE FULL HALF TO PUT THE LIBRARY ON THAT SPACE.

AND THE PARKING THAT IS ALREADY GOING AROUND THAT WOULD COME WITH IT. WE HAVEN'T WORKED OUT THE DETAILS OF EXACTLY HOW THAT WOULD LOOK.

AND WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD HAVE ROOM TO PUT A KIOSK.

BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE PRETTY TIGHT ON THAT SMALLER PIECE OF PROPERTY WITH THE 4,000, 5,000-SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING.

THOSE ARE SOME QUESTIONS. SO AGAIN, I MEAN, I THINK I WOULD BE WILLING TO AT LEAST, IN TERMS OF MY THOUGHTS, TAKE, YOU KNOW, THE REQUESTED AMOUNT. WE HAVE TWO THINGS HERE.

ONE IS DO WE THINK IT IS WORTHWHILE AS A TOURISM PROJECT? AND WHAT OUR RETURN ON THAT WOULD BE.

AND THEN THE SECOND PART WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, THE LOCATION.

AND WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO CLEAR IT?

AND ANSWER SOME OTHER QUESTIONS. >> A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I THINK IT IS A GREAT MARKETING STORY.

I'M ALL ABOUT THE RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT, BUT I THINK IT IS A GREAT MARKETING STORY FOR OUR TEAM TO BE ABLE TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE IN PLAY. SO I AM FOR IT.

I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IS THIS DECISION GOING TO BE MADE TODAY? AND I MEAN, IF WE MAKE THAT TODAY, HOW DOES IT IMPACT THE OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDS AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY COME TO THE TABLE OR NOT IF WE ARE STEPPING UP?

YOU KNOW, SO -- >> I THINK THIS GIVES MARY AND HER TEAM A STORY TO TELL THEMSELVES IN TERMS OF THESE OTHER FOLKS THAT THEY ARE TALKING TO ABOUT GETTING-- YOU KNOW, GETTING THE GRANT FROM. SHE CAN GO BACK AND SAY, LOOK, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A GRANT FROM THE TOURISM COUNCIL.

AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU BACK ONBOARD.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A COMFORT LEVEL FOR SOMEBODY ELSE WHEN YOU SAY Y YOU HAVE THE TOURISM BOARD ONBOARD OR WHOEVER.

SO YOU CAN CONTINUE TO PUT THOSE NUMBERS TOGETHER.

>> MONEY CHASES MONEY. THAT IS A GOOD POINT.

IF WE DO FUND IT TODAY, I ASSUME IT WOULD ONLY-- SHE WILL USE THOSE FUNDS IF SHE GETS THE-- YEAH.

OKAY. >> SO I MEAN, ANYBODY HAVE AN IDEA AS TO THE AMOUNT? LET'S START WITH THE AMOUNT FIRST. IF WE AGREE ON THAT, WE CAN MOVE O THE OTHER LEVELS, DIFT THINGS.

BRIAN, YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE ■10.

ANYBODY ELSE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT?

>> I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY A GOOD STARTING POINT.

>> EVERYBODY ONBOARD WITH THAT? OKAY.

SO WE CAN CERTAINLY AWARD THE GRANT BASED ON THAT, BUT OBVIOUSLY, WITH C CONTINGENCY BASED ON THE FACT THAT SHE HAS LAND TO PUT IT. AND TO SEE IF WE CAN MOVE IT ACROSS THE STREET OR WHEREVER. MAYBE THAT IS SOMETHING.

IF SHE HAS TEN TO WALK AROUND WITH PLUS THE FIVE FROM THE ELECTRIC COMPANY, SHE HAS 15. NOW SHE CAN WORK WITH THE OTHER FOLKS. OKAY.

SO YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT MOTION, BRIAN?

>> SURE. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REQUESTED AMOUNT OF $10,000. BASED ON THEN TO TIN GENERAL SI OF THE COURT BEING HAPPY WITH IT.

>> SHE WILL BE HAPPY WITH IT. >> AS FAR AS THE LOCATION.

[00:55:05]

BEING WORKED THROUGH. >> OKAY.

>> I'LL SECOND. >> MOTION BY BRIAN.

SECOND BY NEIL. ANY DISCUSSION?

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

AND CONGRATULATIONS. >>THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> KEEP US POSTED. >> I WILL.

THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT.

SO THAT IS THE GRANT NUMBER ONE. LET'S GO TO THE MOOSEHAVEN.

TWO GRANTS THEY ARE REQUESTING THERE.

CAROLINE, TAKE US THROUGH THE FIRST ONE.

>> YES, SIR. THE FIRST ONE IS A SIGNATURE EVENT GRANT REQUEST. IT IS MOOSEHAVEN.

THE 13TH ANNUAL CHILI COOK-OFF.

EVENT DAY IS NOVEMBER 11. AS FAR AS THE SCORING GOES, THEY RECEIVED 100 POINTS FOR COMMITMENT TO THE EXPANSION OF TOUR INCH IN CLAY COUNTY. THEY SCORED 75 POINTS FOR THE PROPOSED EVENT. 50 FOR STABILITY AND MANAGEMENT CAPACITY. ALL IN ALL, THEY SCORED 250 POINTS. THEY REQUESTED $5,000.

NO AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT. >> OKAY.

I THINK EVERYBODY IS FAMILIAR WITH THE CHILI COOK-OFF.

A GREAT EVENT. THEY HAVE A NICE NUMBER OF ROOM NIGHTS. THEY ARE LOOKING TO GROW THIS EVENT. EVEN FURTHER.

YOU KNOW, AT ONE POINT, AND I THINK THEY MAY HAVE GONE BACK TO THAT. THEY WERE LOOKING TO HOST THE WORLD CHILI COOK-OFF AT SOME POINT.

DOWN THE LINE. THAT WOULD BE A SUPER RETURN ON HOTEL NIGHTS. THAT IS FOR SURE.

SO ANY THOUGHTS? >> IS THIS THE AMOUNT WE GIVE THEM LAST YEAR? CAN YOU REMIND ME? DID IT INCREASE? IT IS LESS.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THEY USED THE FULL AMOUNT FROM LAST YEAR

EITHER. >> THEY WERE AWARDED $10,000.

THEY USED-- WE PAID THEM $9,980. THEY USED ALL BUT $20.

>> MAYBE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE TO SPEND THAT.

THAT THEY WILL GET THAT TURNOUT. BECAUSE IT HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A REPUTATION NOW. AND PEOPLE DO COME FROM ALL OVER TO SAMPLE THAT. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS OR QUESTIONS?

>> THEY DO ACTUALLY-- THEY DO GENERATE A LOT OF ROOM NIGHTS.

THEY HAVE COOK TEAMS FROM, LIKE YOU SAID, ALL OVER.

AND THEY INCORPORATE A MOOSE BOARD MEETING INTO THIS EVENT.

SO IT IS NOT JUST THE CHILI EVENT.

>> YOU KNOW, IT IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

THE OUT STATE FOLKS THAT COME IN.

OF COURSE, THEY HAVE TO STAY SOMEWHERE.

>> TEAMS FROM CONNECTICUT AND NEW HAMPSHIRE AND TENNESSEE AND

GEORGIA AND FROM ALL OVER. >> PENNSYLVANIA.

>> WHEN WE SAY 2,400 OUT-OF-TOWN ATTENDEES, DOES THAT INCLUDE JACKSONVILLE? IS THAT CONSIDERED IN TOWN?

>> THE DAY VIZ VISITORS? IN-TOWN VISITORS IS INCLUSIVE OF

JACKSONVILLE. >> YEAH.

I WOULD THINK THAT THAT IS ANYBODY FROM OUT OF MARKET.

OUT OF CLAY COUNTY AND THEN A LOCAL EVENT ATTENDEES.

THE 3,600. THAT IS HOW THEY GET TO 6,000.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO GET EVERYONE TO KIND OF UTILIZE-- THE 50-MILE RADIUS AS BEING CONSIDERED A DAY VISITOR, LOCAL.

BECAUSE WE CAN-- IF IT IS FURTHER THAN THAT, THEN WE CAN, WE CAN FIND WAYS TO ENTICE THEM TO STAY.

>> WELL, LAST YEAR, THEY MUST HAVE HAD SOMEBODY WITH A COUNTER OR FIGURED OUT IT OUT SOME WAY. IF YOU ARE GOING TO ROUND OFF, THAT IS NOT A NUMBER THAT YOU ARE GOING TO POP IN THERE.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING ON.

THAT I MANAGED THE PARKING FOR THAT.

CLAY COUNTY CRUISES IS A BIG PART OF THAT EVENT.

I HAVE DONE IT TWO YEARS. THIS IS MY THIRD YEAR.

I PROBABLY GREET 80% OF THE PEOPLE THAT COME IN THEIR CARS.

IF THEY ARE COMING IN A CLASSIC CAR OR THE GUESTS COMING IN.

MOOSEHAVENS, THEY NORMALLY DO HAVE PEOPLE TRAVELING FROM OTHER STATES. SO IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, AT LEAST FOR ME, TO WELCOME PEOPLE TO CLAY COUNTY AT THIS EVENT.

I INVITE EVERYONE TO BE A PART OF IT.

IT IS A FANTASTIC EVENT. AND IT IS GREAT FOR THE

[01:00:01]

COUNTY. >> DID YOU SAY YOU WERE IN

CHARGE OF THE PARKING? >> YES, I AM.

>> I WILL BE HITTING YOU UP FOR A FRONT-ROW SPOT.

>> COME AND SEE ME. COME AND SEE ME.

>> ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? BECAUSE BASICALLY, OUR MATRIX SAYS THEY REQUESTED THE $5,000. THAT IS WHAT IT SAYS THEY SHOULD GET BACK. I MEAN, IT IS ONE OF THE UNIQUE EVENTS. THAT CAN BE GROWN EVEN MORE SO THAN THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE. THEY SORT OF TOOK A HIT THERE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS WITH THE PANDEMIC.

THEY ARE BACK. >> A MOTION TO PAY THE FULL

AMOUNT. >> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. MOTION BY BRIAN.

SECOND BY DEBBY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

8-0. AND THEN THE NEXT EVENT IS THE MOOSEHAVEN AMERICAN PRIDE FOURTH OF JULY.

CAROLINE? >> I WANT TO POINT OUT BEFORE I GO THROUGH THIS, ORIGINALLY, THIS WAS SUBMITTED AS A SIGNATURE GRANT. AS I WAS REVIEWING IT, I REALIZED IT WOULDN'T QUALIFY AS A SIGNATURE GRANT.

I REACHED OUT AND LET THE COORDINATOR KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH SHE ORIGINALLY ASKED FOR $5,000, THE SIGNATURE FOR SPECIAL GRANTS, YOU ARE ONLY AWARDED THE HIGHEST, $3,500.

I DID LET HER KNOW. IT DID NOT TECHNICALLY QUALIFY AS A SIGNATURE EVENT. WE SCORED IT AS A SPECIAL EVENT.

THIS IS THE MOOSEHAVEN AMERICAN PRIDE FOURTH OF JULY.

HAPPENING ON JULY 4, 2024. NOW, THEY REQUESTED, AGAIN, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, ORIGINALLY $5,000 AS A SIGNATURE.

IT DOES NOT QUALIFY. THE MAX FOR SPECIAL IS $3,500.

AS FAR AS THEIR SCORING GOES, FOR COMMITMENT TO THE EXPANSION OF TOURNISM CLAY COUNTY, 60 POINTS.

STABILITY AND MANAGEMENT CAPACITY, 50.

AND LASTLY, QUALITY OF PROPOSED EVENT, 25.

AS FOR OUR AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT, NUMBER OF OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS. ALL IN ALL, THEY SCORED 210 POINTS. THE ALGORITHM SUGGESTED TO GIVE

THEM THE FULL $3,500. >> AND LOOKING AT LAST YEAR, ON THE MARKETING GRANT PAGE, THEY GOT THE $10,000.

THEY USED $5,486. THEY USED ABOUT 50% OF WHAT THEY ASKED FOR. SO THAT WAS WHERE THIS APPLICATION FELL DOWN. THE ROOM NIGHTS?

>> YES. THE ROOM NIGHTS.

>> YEAH. IT IS MORE OF A LOCAL DRAW THAN IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE IN THE AREA. YOU WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

ANY THOUGHTS, DISCUSSION ON THIS?

>> I KNOW FOR LOCAL PEOPLE THAT ARE STAYING AT THE HOTELS,

LIKE,. >> KEN: 'S HOTEL, I'M SURE A LOT OF YOUR GUESTS GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THESE FIREWORKS THAT ARE GOING OFF. I THINK WHEN GUESTS ARE STAYING ON THAT WELLS ROAD CORRIDOR OR ANYWHERE ON 17, ON THAT LITTLE AREA, I THINK THE PEOPLE THAT ARE VISITING THE AREA DO SAY WOW. THEY HAVE SOME FIREWORKS GOING OFF. I THINK IT DOES HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN IMPACT TO OUR TOURISM. IT JUST MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT MORE LOUDER. GIVES IT MORE POP, SO TO SAY.

IT IS A GREAT EVENT. I THINK IT IS NOT JUST LOCAL.

I THINK YOU GET A LOT OF OUT-OF-TOWN PEOPLE THAT MAY ENJOY IT. YES.

CERTAINLY, IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR ECONOMIC IMPACT, IT IS WORTH THE INVESTMENT FOR US. AND ADDED VALUE FOR ANYBODY STAYING IN THE HOTEL. BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO ASK THE FRONT DESK. HEY, YOU HAVE ANY FIREWORKS AROUND? I DON'T THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT-- I COULD BE MISTAKEN THAT SOMEBODY COMES FROM ANY DISTANCE TO SEE THE FIREWORKS WITHOUT GOING HOME, ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN NUMBERS. I THINK 3,500 IS PRETTY ACCURATE

AT THIS POINT. >> NO.

I AGREE. I THINK THAT IS A GOOD GRANT AWARD AMOUNT. IT IS A GREAT EVENT.

I DO THINK THE FIREWORKS DISPLAY DOES DRAW.

IT DOESN'T HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR THE OVERNIGHTS BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE EVENT. I WOULD OFFER A MOTION TO

APPROVE AT THE $3,500 AMOUNT. >> OKAY.

WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND IN.

>> I'LL SECOND. >> KIM, ALL RIGHT.

KIM SECONDS. STEIN HAS THE FIRST.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

8-0. ALL RIGHT.

NOW WE MOVE OFF MOOSEHAVEN AND GO TO ORANGE PARK.

[01:05:03]

AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO DO THIS ON THE 8TH AND 9TH OF

DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR. >> YES, SIR.

SO 8 LT AND 9TH OF THIS YEAR.

LIKE YOU JUST SAID. IT IS A SPECIAL EVENT GRANT APPLICATION. THEY REQUESTED THE FULL $3,500.

AS FAR AS SCORING GOES, FOR COMMITMENT TO THE EXPANSION OF TOURISM, IN CLAY COUNTY, 60 POINTS.

SOUND AS A PROPOSED EVENT, 75. STABILITY AND MANAGEMENT CAPACITY, 50. LASTLY, QUALITY OF PROPOSED EVENT, 15. AGAIN, THIS IS ANOTHER AREA IMPROVEMENT. OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS.

THEY SCORED 200 POINTS. OUR ALGORITHM SUGGESTS GIVING

THEM THE FULL $3,500. >> KIM, HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN

DOING THIS? >> THEY HAVE BEEN DOING HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS FOR A FEW YEARS. I WANT TO SAY IT ACTUALLY STARTED RIGHT BEFORE COVID. BUT THIS IS, I THINK, ONLY THE SECOND YEAR THAT THEY HAVE APPLIED FOR A GRANT.

>> THEY PUT 11 YEARS ON THEIR APPLICATION.

>> THANK YOU. I COULDN'T REMEMBER.

>> CAROLINE, DOES IT INDICATE-- I THOUGHT THEY DID IN THE EARLY-GOING, IN THE DAYTIME. I THINK THEY SWITCHED TO NIGHTTIME JUST RECENTLY. YEAH.

THEY ACTUALLY SAW THE SUCCESS THAT GREEN COVE HAD WITH THE PARADE AT NIGHT. I THINK FOLLOWED THAT LEAD.

I'M NOT SURE. I THINK THAT IS THE CASE.

>> I HAVE A THOUGHT ON THIS. I MEAN, IT IS KIND OF JUST LIKE THE OTHER. RIGHT? IF YOU GIVE ONE $3 5RBGS00, THE SAME SITUATION.

ONE FOR THE OTHER. I AGREE.

IT IS AN EXPERIENCE. WHEN YOU ARE IN A HOTEL, IT IS THE EXPERIENCE. THAT IS GREAT.

IT IS NOT BRINGING ANYTHING IN. I WANT TO SEE THIS.

I THINK IT IS GREAT. I LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT. WE NEED TO THINK FOR FORWARD-THINKING, IF WE KEEP DOING THAT, DO PEOPLE KEEP COMING? DO WE GIVE EVERYBODY $3,500 AND $3,500. THEN WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING BIG AND WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THAT.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY NO TO. THIS I THINK IT IS FABULOUS.

BUT THEN OUR GOAL REALLY IS TOURISM DOLLARS.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, OUR JOB IS TO INCREASE HOTEL NIGHTS.

>> RIGHT. >> THAT IS OUR REPORT CARD.

RIGHT? >> RIGHT.

>> ESSENTIALLY, THAT IS HOW WE GET-- WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE BED FEES, THE BED TAX. THAT IS HOW WE REPRIME THE PUMP TO GO AFTER MORE PEOPLE TO COME. YOU ARE RIGHT.

YEAH. AND THAT IS OUR JOB.

TO TRY TO-- AND KIM'S GROUP HAS BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB.

NOW THAT THEY WILL BE FULLY UP AND RUNNING WITH EVERYBODY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM TO MAYBE DO SOMETHING WHICH IS A FULL WEEKEND OF THINGSRA. THEY ARE THAN JUST ONE NIGHT.

MAYBE IT IS THAT AND MAYBE THERE IS A SANTA BREAKFAST OR A BRUNCH THE NEXT MORNING. THAT PEOPLE CAN STAY OVERNIGHT IN THE AREA. AND YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING. THAT IS OUR CHALLENGE.

TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO THEY GET YOU TO STAY FOR A

COUPLE OF DAYS? >> RIGHT.

IT IS A BUILDING BLOCK. BUT THEN I DON'T WANT TO SET A PRECEDENCE FOR EVERYBODY. OH, YOU GAVE THEM.

YOU GAVE THEM. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE ARE GIVING OUT A LOT OF LOCAL STUFF. YOU ARE RIGHT.

WE HAVE TO BUILD ON THAT AND THINK AS WE MOVE FORWARD, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT IS KIND OF SCARY TO ONLY SEE FIVE NIGHTS.

>> WELL, I KNOW WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THIS IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING. MAYBE WE TAKE A LOOK AT ADDING TO THE APPLICATION, A QUESTION OF OTHER EVENTS THAT THEY COULD BE PARTNERED WITH OR COUPLED WITH TO CREATE AN EXPERIENCE.

SO THEY CAN START TO THINK ABOUT THAT, TOO.

IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THEIR EVENT.

IT IS ABOUT TYING TOGETHER THE EXPERIENCE.

>> I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW,-- RIGHT.

QUITE HONESTLY, WE HAVE TO MOVE THE CHAINS DOWN THE FIELD.

RIGHT? WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH A THOUGHT RO SPES-- PROCESS, THAT THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

THERE IS ALSO SOMETHING HAPPENING THERE AND SOMETHING HAPPENING THERE. AND THERE IS A WHO VILLAGE OVER HERE. NOW WE HAVE THE WHOLE CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE. I WON'T SAY WE COMPETE WITH DISNEY. PEOPLE LIKE MT. DORA.

THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM EVERYWHERE.

AND THEY STAY. WE HAVE TO CREATE THAT SAME ENVIRONMENT. THAT THOUGHT PROCESS.

THAT MEANS TAKING THE COMMUNITIES ALONG WITH US FOR THAT WALK TO FIGURE OUT HOW THAT ALL FITS TOGETHER.

[01:10:02]

IMAGINE OTHER. WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE PEOPLE-- THAT IS A NEED TIME FOR US.

RIGHT? >> IT IS.

IT IS. WE ARE WORKING ON SOME IDEAS.

WITH SOME NEW TOOLS THAT WE HAVE.

WE HOPE TO CREATE A PASSPORT THAT IS HOLIDAYS IN CLAY.

THAT WILL RUN FROM VETERAN'S DAY TO MARTIN LUTHER KING, YOU KNOW, WEEKEND. AND LIST ALL OF THE EVENTS, ALL OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT YOU CAN HAVE DURING THAT TIME FRAME.

THAT LENDS ITSELF TO SOMEONE TYING, YOU KNOW, CREATING THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE. BUT US BEING ABLE TO MARKET THAT A LITTLE MORE EFFECTIVELY. AND CREATING SOME-- YOU KNOW, EXTENDING THEIR STAY. OR JUST WANTIN TO STAY BECAUSE THERE IS MORE TO DO THAN THEY EVER KNEW THAT THERE WAS.

>> RIGHT. WELL, THERE HAS TO BE AN EVENT.

THAT EVENT HAS TO BE MARKETED TO A POINT WHERE THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE THAT WANT TO STAY HERE.

I MEAN, IT WASN'T MY FIRST YEAR. I WAS RUNNING FOR MY FIRST YEAR WHEN VILLAGE SQUARE MARKETPLACE DID A WHO'S VILLAGE.

THEY PROBABLY HAD 8,000 TO 10,000 PEOPLE SHOW UP.

THEY MARKETED ON FACEBOOK. THERE IS SUCH A DEMAND FOR THAT PARTICULAR PRODUCT NOW. IF WE COULD COME UP WITH A WHO VILLAGE. WITH CHARACTERS AND EVERYTHING.

THAT DRAWS PEOPLE. THERE WERE PLANS ON THE DRAWING BOARD. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS-- IT NEVER WAS CARRIED OUT. THERE WAS PLANS TO BRING IN ONE OF THOSE COMPANIES THAT MAKE SNOW AND I MEAN THAT, KIND OF ENVIRONMENT, THAT KIND OF THING IS WHAT WE REALLY NEED.

>> WE ARE GOING TO CREATE SOME KIND OF EXCITEMENT ABOUT BEING

THERE. >> AND THERE IS SOME EVENTS THAT ARE STARTING THIS YEAR THAT MAY EVOLVE INTO SOME THINGS LIKE

THAT. >> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE DISCUSSED THAT.

ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE THIS FORWARD?

>> I WILL MOTION TO PAY THE REQUESTED AMOUNT.

>> OKAY. >> I'LL SECOND.

>> ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION FROM BRIAN.

SECOND FROM DAVID. $3,500 IS THE GRANT REQUEST.

THAT IS WHAT THE RECOMMENDED AWARD IS.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES 8-0. WE MOVE TO NUMBER 6.

MORE MY SPEED. THE AMERICAN CORNHOLE LEAGUE.

>> YES. SO THIS IS ONE OF OUR SPORTS EVENT APPLICATIONS. AMERICAN CORNHOLE LEAGUE.

THE FLORIDA STATE REGIONALS. THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN FEBRUARY 1-4 IN 2024. NOW, THEY REQUESTED $7,500.

AS FAR AS SCORING, OOPS. WRONG SHEET OF PAPER.

FOR COMMITMENT TO THE EXPANSION OF TOURNISM CLAY COUNTY, 60 POINTS. SOUND AS A PROPOSED EVENT, 30 POINTS. STABILITY AND MANAGEMENT CAPACITY, 40 POINTS. AND LASTLY, QUALITY OF PROPOSED EVENT, 25 POINTS. ALL IN ALL, THEY SCORED 155 POINTS. NOW, WITH OUR ALGORITHM, IT SUGGESTS TO GIVE THEM $55% OF THEIR REQUEST.

THEREFORE, THAT WOULD BE $4,125. AS FAR AS AREAS IMPROVEMENT, NUMBER OF DAY VISITORS, AN EARNED MEDIA VALUE.

>> YEAH. IT WASN'T THIS PAST YEAR, IT WAS THE YEAR BEFORE THAT THEY WERE WITH US FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN OR THE FLORIDA STATE REGIONALS. AND THAT IS COMING BACK.

RIGHT? >> YES.

THIS IS A SUPER REGIONAL. AND WE ARE NOT-- WELL, RIGHT NOW, WITH THE CURRENT FACILITY, WE ARE NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO HO HOLD-- HOST THE STATE. BUT THEY WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN US HOSTING STATE IF WE HAVE SOME EXPANDED SPACE.

>> WELL, MY POINT WAS THIS IS AN EVENT THAT HAS HAPPENED HERE BEFORE. DO WE REMEMBER WHAT WE GOT FOR--

>> ACTUALLY, THIS IS LONGER. A LONGER TOURNAMENT TIME.

SO THE ROOM NIGHTS ARE GREATER. AND THEIR GRANT IS ACTUALLY REQUESTING REALLY COVERAGE OF THE VENUE RENTAL.

>> YEAH. I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT THIS ONE HAS 400 NIGHTS PROJECTED. THE OTHERS HAD FIVE.

>> THAT IS BECAUSE GUYS ARE COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN.

THEY ARE STAYING HERE. YOU KNOW, FORECAST AND THESE ARE ALL ADULTS. IT IS NOT A KIDS TOURNAMENT.

>> RIGHT. >> THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO STAY AND LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO EAT.

AND GET TOGETHER AFTER CORNHOLE. >> IN THE EVENT HISTORY, WE HAVE 2021. HOW MANY DAYS WAS THAT EVENT?

[01:15:02]

>> IT WAS A SATURDAY-SUN. >> IT WAS A FRIDAY-SATURDAY.

>> FRIDAY-SATURDAY. TWO DAYS.

FRIDAY LATE. AND THEN INTO SATURDAY.

THAT WAS AT THE-- BECAUSE WE HAD A BEAUTIFUL DAY ON FRIDAY.

LOW HUMIDITY, SUNSHINE, EVERYTHING WAS DRY.

AND THE BAGS WERE SKIPPING. THEY WERE HAPPY AS CLAMS. THEN THE NEXT DAY TURNED HUMID AND COOL AND EVERYTHING WAS STICKING TO THE CORNHOLE BOARDS. AND T THERE WERE A LOT OF UNHAPY PROFESSIONAL CORNHOLE PEOPLE. (LAUGHTER).

>> DO YOUR RECORDS REFLECT THE ACTUAL ROOM NIGHTS GENERATED

DURING THAT PERIOD? >> I DON'T THINK THAT THEY DO.

>> WELL, THEIR APPLICATION IN 2021, THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD

500 TOTAL ROOM NIGHTS. >> THAT WAS A BIGGER EVENT,

THOUGH. >> IT WAS.

>> YEAH. THEY PITCHED THAT ONE FROM

PEOPLE THAT WERE FURTHER AWAY. >> RIGHT.

AND IT WAS DURING THE PANDEMIC. SO FLORIDA WAS OPEN.

PEOPLE CAME FROM ALL OVER. >> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE HAD THE WRESTLING TOURNAMENT. IN THE CATTLEMAN'S ARENA.

WE HAD OVER 300 WRESTLERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

COMING. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> BUT THROUGH THIS, WE ALSO LEARNED THAT CORNHOLE PLAYERS LIKE TO HAVE CLIMATE CONTROL. (LAUGHTER).

>> HUMIDITY DOES PLAY A FACTOR. >> YES.

>> I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES ARE GOING TO GO SEARCH CORNHOLE RESERVATIONS FOR 2021. (LAUGHTER) SEE WHAT KIND OF

PRODUCTION WE HAD. >> WELL, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK WE CAN SAY WE DID, BUT THERE IS A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE THAT ARE IMPORTANT. DATE.

THE FIRST OF FEBRUARY. MIDDLE FEBRUARY TO MARCH GETS NUTS AROUND HERE. WEEKENDS ARE PACKED.

FOR MANY THINGS. I KNOW YOU FEEL IT.

THE DATES ARE GOOD. THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS GREAT.

THEY COME IN, IF THEY COME IN ON A THURSDAY, THAT IS IMPORTANT.

THAT IS A SHOULDER NIGHT. NOT JUST FRIDAY, SATURDAY.

IF THEY REALLY DO COME IN ON A THURSDAY, THAT IS IMPORTANT.

AND SO TO ME, IF THEY REALLY PRODUCE THOSE ROOMS, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE $7,500 IS WHERE WE NEED TO ROLL.

THAT IS REALLY BRINGING BACK, I MEAN, A COUPLE OF THEM STAYING IN ONE OF THE HOTELS IS BRINGING THE MONEY BACK QUICKER.

SO I THINK IF THAT IS A REN RENTAL,-- DOES THAT $7,500 COVER THEIR RENTAL? 100%? THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN BUILD ON.

RIGHT? TO ME, THIS THIS IS SOMETHING WE

SHOULD SUPPORT. >> THIS WOULD BE THE THIRD TIME.

THE FIRST ONE, WE WERE IN THE-- THAT WAS TOO SMALL.

THAT ONE DIDN'T ACCOMMODATE EVERYBODY.

>> I WOULD AGREE ALSO, EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE MOVING MONEY FROM THIS HAND TO THIS HAND. EVEN THOUGH IT IS A GRANT, IT IS

REALLY GOING TO OURSELVES. >> A DIFFERENT POCKET.

>> ALSO ONE MORE THING. AFTER THE SITE VISIT, WE LEARNED THAT THERE IS POTENTIAL OF HOSTING OTHER TOURNAMENTS O'.

>> THIS KIND AS WELL. SOMETHING ELSE FOR Y'ALL TO

CONSIDER. >> YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW IF-- I'M SURE NOBODY ELSE ON THE PANEL SITS ON A SUNDAY NIGHT WATCHING CORNHOLE ON ESPN EXCEPT FOR ME.

(LAUGHTER) OH. WE KNEW YOU WOULD BE THERE.

BUT YEAH. YOU KNOW, I GUESS IT IS BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE LAST SPORTS THAT I WOULD EVER HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY PRO. (LAUGHTER) YEAH.

YOU HAVE TO RATCHET DOWN AS YOU GET OLDER.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? COME ON, KIM.

ALL RIGHT. >> I'LL MOTION FOR THE $7,500.

>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM KEVIN FOR THE $7,500. SECOND BY DEBBY.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 8-0. ON TO NUMBER 7.

CATTLE AT THE COVE. >> SO FOR CATTLE AT THE COVE, THIS IS ANOTHER SPORTS EVENT GRANT APPLICATION.

THE EVENT IS GOING TO BE NOVEMBER 3-4 AT THE CLAY COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS. THEY REQUESTED $7,500.

AS FAR AS SCORING FOR A COMMITMENT TO THE EXPANSE OF TOURISM IN CLAY COUNTY, 40 POINTS.

SOUNDNESS OF PROPOSED EVENT, 15. STABILITY AND MANAGEMENT CAPACITY, 40. AND LASTLY, QUALITY OF PROPOSED EVENT, 25. AS FAR AS AREAS IMPROVEMENT, OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS AND DAY VISITORS.

WITH OUR SCORING ALGORITHMS, THEY RECEIVED 120 POINTS.

THE REQUEST WOULD BE $3,000. >> WE HAVE SOMEBODY FROM CATTLE COVE. WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE ARE

LOOKING AT. >> JEFF HENDRIX.

[01:20:01]

THIS IS OUR FOURTH YEAR PUTTING ON THIS EVENT.

THIS IS OUR THIRD YEAR BEING A JFCA, A JUNIOR FLORIDA CATTLEMAN'S POINT SERIES SHOW. IT IS A CATTLE SHOW.

AND LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE APPLIED FOR THIS GRANT.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR IT. IT DID HELP.

I BELIEVE WE WERE AWARDED $4,000 OR $4,000 LAST YEAR.

WE MAYBE GOT $3,700 OF IT AFTER THE EVENT WAS OVER.

BUT JUST TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT. IT IS A YOUTH EVENT FOR OUR KIDS. AND IT IS A COW SHOW.

RANGING FROM STEERS, TO BULLS, TO WHENEVERS HEIFERS.

ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS ARE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL KIDS.

MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS. AND THERE IS A COLLEGIATE AGE GROUP THAT WE HAD. NOT THIS PAST YEAR BUT THE YEAR BEFORE. WE HAD A COLLEGIATE DIVISION.

THESE KIDS ARE AG KIDS. THEY GREW UP ON A FARM.

MOST OF THEM. LOCALLY HERE IN CLAY COUNTY, MOST OF OUR KIDS DO NOT GROW UP ON A FARM.

THEY ARE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE THE CATTLE AND SHOW CATTLE. IT IS MUCH LIKE TRAVEL SOFTBALL.

TRAVEL BASEBALL. IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PIG SHOW THAT IS IN JANUARY. MUCH LIKE THE PIG SHOW.

IT IS A GREAT EVENT FOR OUR K KIDS.

BEING A JUNIOR FLORIDA CATTLEMAN'S POINT SERIES SHOW, FROM THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA, KIDS TRAVEL WITH THEIR FAMILIES. JEREMY SENT ME A TEXT TO GIVE YOU SOME STATISTICS. TO HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW WE HAVE GROWN. IN 2021, WE HAD 138 YOUTH EXHIBITERS. I KNOW WE HAD OVER 300 CATTLE, I BELIEVE, THAT THE SHOW. THEY SHOWED MULTIPLE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS. IN 2022, WE HAD 158 YOUTH EXHIBITERS. SHOWING THEIR CATTLE.

WE DID HAVE SOME COME AS FAR AS NORTH CAROLINA.

SO WE ATTRACT THE FLORIDA FOLKS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO OKEECHOBEE, TO CRYSTAL RIVER, TO THE PANHANDLE.

SOUTH GEORGIA. AND WE DID HAVE A COUPLE OF FAMILIES COME FROM NORTH CAROLINA.

SO IT IS A GREAT EVENT. I WAS READING AND TALKING WITH MIKE ON MONDAY NIGHT ABOUT. THIS TRYING TO AUTOPSY LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT-- TRYING TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS. JUST TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE SHOW.

IT DOES COST TO PUT THIS SHOW ON.

LAST YEAR, OUR ACTUAL COST WAS OVER $20,000.

TO PUT THIS SHOW ON. MUCH LIKE WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT IN THE PREVIOUS EVENT, WE DO HAVE TO RENT THE FAIRGROUNDS.

HISTORICALLY, THE CATTLEMAN'S-- BECAUSE OF THAT ORGANIZATION AND HOW THEY HAVE BEEN THE ROOTS OF GETTING THE FAIRGROUNDS, GETTIN% THE FAIR STARTED, WE HAD CREDITS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO USE TO HELP OFFSET THE COST OF USING THE FACILITIES.

WELL, THOSE CREDITS HAVE DWINDLED AWAY THROUGH FRUITION OF THE COUNTY CHANGE. AND THAT IS JUST PART OF POLITICS. BUT WE DO HAVE TO PAY FOR THE FACILITIES. THE GRANT IS NEEDED.

WE HAVE ALREADY COLLECTED OVER $12,000 IN SPONSORSHIPS FROM DIFFERENT BUSINESSES. AND INDIVIDUALS.

FOR THIS EVENT. OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR IS $19,000.

A LITTLE OVER $19,000. I WOULD REQUEST THAT WITH THIS BOARD AND THIS COMMITTEE, TO APPROVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN GIVE US TO HELP US OFFSET THE COST OF THIS EVENT.

IT IS-- I LISTENED TO WHAT MARY WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH THE BLUE ANGELS AND THE CONCERN ABOUT THE VANDALISM AND WHATNOT.

I WORK IN THAT INDUSTRY. AND HAD PART OF PUTTING A MONUMENT IN JACKSONVILLE. THAT WAS A VERY BIG CONCERN.

HAVING THESE TIME OF EVENTS, HELPS TEACH OUR YOUNG KIDS NOT TO BE TERRIBLE KIDS. TO BE GOOD CITIZENS.

AND SO WE WANT TO COURAGE THAT. THAT IS THE FOCUS OF OUR ORGANIZATION. AGRICULTURE AND CATTLE.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE PROBABLY MORE JUNIOR CATTLEMEN MEMBERS THAN WE DO CATTLEMAN MEMBERS. THAT IS BECAUSE OUR COUNTY IS

[01:25:04]

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I WILL BE GLAD TO ANSWER THOSE.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANKS.

>> THANK YOU, JEFF. ANY QUESTIONS FOR JEFF ABOUT THE

EVENT ITSELF? >> BEFORE WE HE GOES, MR. HENDRIX, GOOD TO SEE YOU UP HERE.

I USED TO DO SOME WORK WITH THE CATTLEMAN'S AND FOLKS GROWING UP. I GREW UP IN MAXVILLE OUT THERE.

I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS EVENT.

I DO AGREE. THAT THE EXPERIENCES I GAINED OUT THERE, BEING AROUND THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY AND STUFF, CERTAINLY SETS YOU UP PRETTY WELLS IF, I THINK, TO BE INNOVATIVE AND HARD-WORKING AND HAVING TO THINK ON YOUR FEET.

IT IS NO LIGHT JOB. TAKING CARE OF THESE ANIMALS AND SHOWING THEM. IT IS INTIMIDATING.

IT IS A PRETTY GREAT THING. HOPEFULLY, DID STAFF HAVE FEEDBACK WITH REGARDS TO THE SOUNDNESS OF PROPOSED EVENT? THAT DOES SEEM LIKE ONE OF THE AREAS THAT THEY DID SEEM TO FALL

SHORT. >> YES.

THAT WAS THAT MEDIA VALUE QUESTION.

THAT IS WHERE WE FELL SHORT, UNFORTUNATELY.

>> WHAT JEREMY DID TELL ME, THAT WITH EVERYBODY PARTICIPANT THAT COMES, THERE IS A FAMILY THAT COMES WITH THEM.

THESE KIDS CANNOT TRAVEL WITHOUT THEIR MOMS AND DADS.

GRANDFATHERS. GRANDMOTHERS.

ET CETERA. AUNTS AND UNCLES.

SO HE SAID HERE, AT LEAST ONE ADULT TRAVELS WITH THESE KIDS.

ONLY 25-0 OF THESE KIDS ARE LOCAL.

ONLY 25 OR 30. THEY COME FROM OUR FFA PROGRAM.

MY WIFE HAPPENS TO BE AN FFA TEACHER AT MIDDLEBURG HIGH SCHOOL. MOST OF THEM COME FROM MIDDLEBURG HIGH SCHOOL. BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE ABILITY.

LIKE STEVEN SAID. OF LIVING IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTY. WHERE THEY CAN HAVE AN ANIMAL ON THEIR PROPERTY. SO THOSE KIDS COME.

WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE A DIVISION JUST FOR OUR HOMETOWN KIDS.

BECAUSE I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU.

OUR HOMETOWN KIDS DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN.

THESE FOLKS COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN, THEY HAVE SOME SERIOUS CATTLE. SO WE ARE TRYING TO HAVE A DIVISION JUST FOR OUR HOMETON KIDS SO.

WE CAN RECOGNIZE THEM AND GIVE THEM A BELT BUCKLE AND RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THE WORK AND THE EFFORTS THAT THEY DO.

IT IS A GREAT EVENT. I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THE CATTLEMEN ARE, ON THE 26TH OF OCTOBER, WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL MEETING. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO COME TO IT. AT THE AG EXTENSION OFFICE THERE. COME BE MY GUEST.

IT IS A GREAT THING TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT WE DO IN THE COUNTY.

FOR AGRICULTURE AND FOR OUR AND ALL OF THE PROFITS FROM THIS EVENT IS GIVEN BACK TO OUR KIDS IN SCHOLARSHIPS.

>> CAROLINE, CAN YOU HELP WITH THE MATH HERE? IT SAYS 250 ATTENDEES. IT SAYS 24 LOCAL.

27 ARE OUT OF TOWN. I'M NOT GREAT AT MATH.

BUT IT IS GETTING US ABOUT 50 THERE.

WHICH ONE IS OFF THERE? IS IT SUPPOSED TO EQUAL THE

NUMBER ABOVE IT? >> IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I THINK SHOULD ALSO BE BROUGHT UP AT OUR GRANT SUBCOMMITTEE.

WE DON'T HAVE A SPOT WHERE WE WRITE DOWN THE REGIONAL AND NATIONAL VISITORS. A FEW DOWN, THERE IS 117 REGIONAL AND NATIONAL VISITORS. I BELIEVE IT IS THE RADIUS IN WHICH IT REACHES. OUT OF TOWN, I BELIEVE, IS, LIKE, THE SOUTHEAST PART OF THE COUNTRY.

REGIONAL WOULD BE WHO THINGS LIKE THE MIDWEST.

ALL THE WAY WEST. LIKE, ALL THE WAY UP NORTH.

THINGS OF THAT NATURE. >> WE WANTED TO STAY TRUE TO THE DEFINITION OF REGIONAL, AND SOUTHEAST TOU TOURISM SOCIETY HA 14-STATE REGION THAT WE HAVE GUIDELINES.

AS THE DEFINITION. WE PUT THAT IN THE GRANT GUIDELINES TO DEFINE REGIONAL. AND THEN SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE, AND THIS IS WHERE IT GETS KIND OF QUIRKY, FOR SPORTS, WE HAVE TAKEN THE THR FL SPORTS FOUNDATION GRANT GUIDELINES FOR THEIR GRANT AND MADE IT OURS FROM A GRANT APPLICATION STANDPOINT. IF WE WERE TO EVER APPLY FOR A FLORIDA SPORTS FOUNDATION GRANT, FOR AN EVENT THAT WAS HELD HERE,

[01:30:02]

THE APPLICATIONS WOULD MARRY EACH OTHER.

WE ARE STILL TRYING TO-- THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN OUR GRANT REVISION.

CONVERSATION. WITH THE SUBCOMMITTEE.

THERE IS JUST SOME QUIRK QUIRKY THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO REFINE.

AS WE ARE TRYING TO GROW THE SPORTS GRANT PROGRAM.

>> GOTCHA. I THOUGHT IT WAS NEW MATH OR

SOMETHING. >> WE WANTED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE SIGNATURE EVENTS AND THE DEFINITION THAT WE CREATED THERE. AND THAT REGIONAL DEFINITION IS THAT 14-STATE AREA DEFINED BY THE SOUTHEAST TOURISM SOCIETY.

>> LAST YEAR, WE FUNDED $4,000 OF THIS?

>> BELIEVE THAT IS CORRECT. THE GRANT WAS $4,000.

>> THE KEY NUMBER, AGAIN, IS THE PROJECTED HOTEL NIGHTS.

THEY HAVE A HANDLE ON IT. THEY RUN IT SO THEY KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING IN FROM OUT OF TOWN.

PROBABLY STAYING IN HOTEL ROOMS. THAT IS 90.

WE COULD PROBABLY ADD SOME TO THE 3,000.

NOT SURE HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO GO.

YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY, THIS IS A SPORTS GRANT.

IT IS ALSO A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE ONES THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH IN TERMS OF THE MARKETING GRANTS FOR THE OTHERS.

>> WILL PEOPLE TRAVEL TO COME AND SEE THIS EVENT?

>> IT IS MUCH LIKE TRAVEL BASEBALL, TRAVEL SOFTBALL.

THE PARENTS, THE GRANDPARENTS. THE AUNTS AND UNCLES TRAVEL.

YES, THEY ALL COME. MOST KIDS HAVE AN ENTOURAGE OF FOLKS HELPING THEM GET THOSE COWS READY FOR THE SHOW.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME. IT IS A GREAT EVENT.

I KNOW KIM CAME OUT AND SAW WHAT IT WAS ABOUT A FEW YEARS AGO.

IT IS OUR FOURTH YEAR AS A JFCA POINT SERIES SHOW.

OUR JUDGES ARE COMING FROM ELK CITY, OKLAHOMA AND HUNTINGTON, TEXAS. SO WE HAVE SOME-- IT IS A FIRST-CLASS EVENT. FIRST-CLASS FOLKS COMING TO JUDGE THIS EVENT. THE PRIZES THAT ARE GIVEN AWAY TO THE KIDS HELP BRING THE PEOPLE HERE.

>> GOTCHA. HOW DO YOU GET THE PARTICIPANTS?

>> TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, BY THE QUALITY OF YOUR SHOW.

THIS IS OUR FOURTH YEAR. AT THE END OF THE SHOW LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS JUST IN JANUARY, WE HAD TO CHANGE THE DATE, THIS YEAR, MOST EVERY PARENT THAT I TALKED TO SAID THIS WAS THE BEST JFCA SHOW THEY HAD ALL YEAR. WE PUT ON A FIRST-CLASS EVENT.

IT SHOWS WITH THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS.

AND YOU GO ON OUR SHOWMAN APP. THAT IS HOW YOU REGISTER FOR THE EVENT. WE WILL HAVE THOSE NUMBERS COMING IN SHORTLY. WE WILL KNOW WHAT THE PROJECTIONS ARE GOING TO BE HERE IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

IT IS HERE IN ONE MONTH. >> I'M LOOKING THROUGH THE BUDGET HERE. AND I SEE SOME ADVERTISING EXPENSE. I MEAN THE, IT IS T-SHIRTS AND PHOTOGRAPHER. AS FAR AS ADVERTISING AND MEDIA.

$150. I GUESS I'M WONDERING, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE DOLLARS TO EVEN QUANTIFY THE $3,700 THAT WAS PAID LAST YEAR, THEY HAVE TO HAVE SOME CRITERIA THAT HAS FB

MET. >> YES.

>> UNDER THE NEW BUDGET OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, WHAT WOULD THEY

EVEN QUALIFY? >> THIS IS A SPORTS GRANT.

AND IT IS AN ACTUAL COMP FISSION AND MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF A SPORTS GRANT. THE DOLLARS DON'T HAVE TO BE USED ONLY FOR MARKETING. THEY CAN BE USED FOR EXPENSES FOR THE TOURNAMENT. LIKE VENUE RENTAL.

THAT IS WHAT MOST OF THEIR EXPENSE WOULD GO TOWARDS.

WE ARE DEFINITELY AVAILABLE TO BE MORE-- WELL, OFFER SOME STRATEGIC GUIDANCE FOR INCREASING THAT MARKET REACH.

IF WE CAN BRAINSTORM WITH THE CATTLEMAN'S GROUP AND ASSIST THEM WITH LITTLE BIT MORE WITH THAT.

IF THEY WOULD BE OPEN TO THAT, WE WOULD BE WILLING TO ASSIST

WITH THAT. >> I HAVE A COMMENT.

I VIEW THIS JUST LIKE THE CORNHOLE.

IT IS NO DIFFERENT. IT IS LIKE A SPORT.

I CAN SAY THAT WE DID GET ROOMS. I CAN'T SAY THAT WE GOT 90.

WE GOT ROOMS. THEY WILL GROW IN MOMENTUM.

THEY ARE BUILDING A SIGNATURE EVENT HERE.

IF IT IS GOOD, THEY ARE GOING TO GET THEIR FOLLOWING.

THEIR FOLLOWING KNOWS THEIR FOLLOWING.

RIGHT? WE COULD DO ADVERTISING.

BUT THEY ALREADY-- YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE PEOPLE THAT RUN IN

[01:35:02]

>> THERE IS A LOT OF ADVERTISEMENTS.

>> NOVEMBER IS A PERFECT TIME. NOVEMBER IS SLOW.

WE NEED IT. OCTOBER IS CRAZY.

IF IT GOES TO JANUARY AND YOU HAVE TO MOVE IT BACK, THAT IS STILL A GOOD TIME. STILL OKAY.

I KIND OF LOOK AT IT THE SAME WAY.

IT IS NEED DATES. THEY DO STAY.

I CAN CONFIRM THAT BASED ON OUR HOTELS.

AND IT IS JUST RENTAL AGAIN. IT IS THE $7,500 RENTAL AGAIN.

MAYBE I'M LOOKING AT IT WRONG. THAT IS HOW I SEE IT AGAIN.

SO-- PRESIDENT FROM THE BUDGET, THEY HAVE $2,500, THE RENTAL.

>> THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE CREDITS.

WE HAVE USED OUR CREDITS. TO PAY FOR THE FACILITY.

I THINK IT WAS OVER $6,000. BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT --

>> THEY HAD A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CREDITS BUILT UP.

THEY HAVE BEEN USING THEM. >> WE ARE USING THOSE CREDITS.

WE DON'T HAVE MANY CREDITS LEFT. >> HOW MANY ROOMS DID YOU HAVE

THE LAST EVENT? >> I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER.

IT SAYS ON THIS APPLICATION WE ANTICIPATE 90 ROOMS ON THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION. I DON'T HAVE LAST YEAR'S IN

FRONT OF ME. >> THAT COULD MEAN ROOM NIGHTS.

THINK LIKE THAT. THAT DOESN'T MEAN 90 ROOMS. IT MEANS YOU STAY THREE NIGHTS. IT IS LIKE, WHAT, YOU KNOW --

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT TO DO THE $7,500. I DON'T KNOW WHAT --

>> WELL, I THINK OFF VERY UNIQUE I THINK YOU HAVE A VERY UNIQUE EVENT. I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO DRAW A LOT LOVE PEOPLE IN THAT AREN'T INVOLVED IN THIS IN SOME FASHION, SHAPE, OR FORM.

THEY ARE VERY LOYAL. AS JEFF INDICATES, IT IS THE SAME THING WITH OUR BALL TICKETS.

IF THEY GO TO-- ZOOMBA AND IT IS 60 FIELDS.

THEY HAVE THIS AND THAT AND THE OTHER THING, THEY WANT TO GO BACK AGAIN. THAT IS SORT OF SIMILAR.

THEY LEAVE THE COWS AT THE BARN. THEY DON'T BRING THEM.

>> THEY TREAT THEM LIKE PETS. THEY DON'T BRING THEM WITH THEM.

>> THEY ARE PET-FRIENDLY. (LAUGHTER).

>> THERE IS-- THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS THE LAST EVENT HAD ABOUT 4X ON THE HOTEL NIGHTS. I WOULD LEAN TO THAT.

4,000. >> I'M THINKING KIND OF SIMILARLY. YOU KNOW, THE RECOMMENDATION BY STAFF IS 3,000. THEY HAD 4,000 LAST YEAR.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT GROW. I WOULD BE WILLING TO GO 5.

>> OKAY. >> ANYBODY ELSE WITH THOUGHTS?

YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT A MOTION? >> I'LL MOTION FOR $5,000 GRANT.

>> OKAY. >> I'LL SECOND.

>> WE HAVE A SECOND. KEVIN MAKES IT FOR $5.

HE IS NOT TAKING COWS AT THE HOTELS.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. 8-0.

-THANK YOU, SIR. >> THANK YOU, JEFF.

>> ALL RIGHT. MOAT SURFMOTOSURF.

>> ANOTHER SPORTS EVENT APPLICATION.

THE ORGANIZATION'S NAME IS EPIC RIDE LLC.

THE EVENT WILL BE APRIL 26-28. THAT IS A TYPO.

THAT SHOULD SAY 2024. AS FAR AS THE ACTUAL SCORING GOES, FOR EXPANSION OF TOURISM OF CLAY COUNTY, 40.

STABILITY AND MANAGEMENT CAPACITY, 20.

AND LASTLY, QUALITY OF PROPOSED EVENT, 25.

AS FAR AS AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT, WE HAVE OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS. NUMBER OF DAY VISITORS.

IT DUN FALL WITHIN THE COUNTY'S NEED PERIOD.

NOW, THEY REQUESTED $40,000. ALL IN ALL, THEY SCORED 160 POINTS. WITH OU OUR ALGORITHM, IT IS SUGGESTED TO GIVE THEM 55% OF THE REQUESTED AMOUNT WHICH WOULD

BE $22,000. >> CAROLINE, IS THIS TELEVISED?

>> YES. >> YES, SIR.

>> CBS DOES A 30-MINUTE SHOW AFTER THE FACT, YEAH.

>> LAST YEAR. >> THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR THAT WE HAVE HAD MOTO-SURF. THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS, WE WENT THE FULL $40,000. THIS YEAR, WITH OUR ALGORITHM, IT SAYS IT IS LESS. I THINK IT IS ONE OF THOSE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT-- THE GUYS THAT RUN THE NIGHT ARE TREMENDOUS.

KEYSTONE GETS A LOT OUT OF IT IN TERMS OF HAVING NET PROFILE.

IT IS NOT-- YOU KNOW, THE PROJECTED NUMBER OF HOTEL ROOMS

[01:40:04]

A SPONSORSHIP? >> I DON'T KNOW.

>> BUT THIS IS-- WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES.

AT SOME POINT, WE ARE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION WHETHER THESE-- NICE EVENT, NICE PEOPLE. THEY DON'T HELP THEMENTS AS MUCH AS THEY COULD WITH, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF PROMOTION AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS. CERTAINLY, FROM A RETURN ON INVESTMENT AS FAR AS ROOM NIGHTS, WE DON'T SEEM TO GET THAT. WE HAVE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AT SOME POINT. WHERE WE TAKE THOSE MONEYS AND USE THEM TO BETTER ADVANTAGE TO DEVELOP SOMETHING.

WHATEVER THAT IS. SO I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR SOME

THOUGHTS ON THAT. >> CAROLINE, IS THIS SHOWING GROWTH OVER LAST YEAR? IS THIS A LATERAL?

>> LET ME PULL UP THE LAST YEAR INFORMATION.

I BELIEVE IT IS SHOWING GROWTH FROM LAST YEAR.

I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME.

I CAN TRY TO FIND THEM. >> THERE WERE COMPETITORS FROM NINE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. THTHERE WERE MORE COMPETITORS.

THEY CLOSE TO DOUBLED THEIR COMPETITORS, THEIR NUMBER OF

COMPETITORS. >> IT GENERATED SOME EXIELT.

AND CERTAINLY THE PERSONALITIES INVOLVED HELPED WITH THAT.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE BOTTOM LINE IS MOST OF THE COMPETITORS DID NOT STAY IN HOTELS. MAYBE THEY DID IN BRADFORD COUNTY. OR WHEREVER.

>> YEAH. MOST COMPETITORS ARE STAYING IN VACATION RENTALS. BECAUSE THAT IS THE MAIN FORM OF ANY ACCOMMODATION THAT IN THAT LAKE REGION.

>> FROM THAT STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS LIKE THAT WITH NITRO. I SENSE THE SAME THING WITH THE MOTOSURF LAST YEAR. WE SORT OF TOOK A FLYER THE FIRST YEAR. WE WERE LOOKING FOR PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING TO DIP OUR TOE IN THE WATER TOURISM-WISE.

CERTAINLY FOR KEYSTONE, THE FOLKS LOVER IT.

THEY TURN OUT WELL FOR THAT. OVERALL, DOES THAT GIVE US --

>> I WENT TO THAT. DEBBY, YOU WERE THERE.

I LOVED IT FOR KEYSTONE. I THOUGHT IT WAS COOL.

I THOUGHT, HOW DID WE GET THIS? IT IS SUPER COOL.

WE PAID FOR IT. WHY NOT KEYSTONE? YOU ARE RIGHT. EVERYBODY I SPOKE TO, THEY ARE FROM EVERYWHERE. THEY ARE WEALTHY PEOPLE.

THEY REALLY ARE. IT IS LIKE, WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS? THEY JUST DO THIS BECAUSE THEY CAN. EVERY PERSON I TALKED TO, THIS IS WHAT THEY DO. I MEAN, IT IS ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS WE DO HERE. SO THERE IS POTENTIAL.

YOU ARE RIGHT. IT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID.

IT IS SO NEED. IT GIVES SOME MEDIA.

WE HAVE TO THINK LIKE THAT. IF WE DON'T GET THE ROOM NIGHTS, SPECIFICALLY,-- BECAUSE I DO THINK THE OTHER COUNTY WILL GET IT. ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW HOLIDAY INNS COMING IN IN THE OTHER COUNTY.

IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IS IT MEDIA FOR US?

MAYBE WE LOOK AT IT THAT WAY. >> CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE IMPACT

TO YOUR REGION? >> YEAH.

I MEAN, THE PEOPLE ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT WHEN PEOPLE COME IN.

FOR ONE. OBVIOUSLY, THE AIR B & BS ARE GETTING FILLED UP. IT IS AN EVENT HAPPENING ON CBS SPORTS. LATER ON YOUR TOWN IS RECOGNIZED ALL OVER THE PLACE. I MEAN, IT IS NICE THAT IT IS

[01:45:01]

I MEAN, WE LOVE THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING IN.

EVEN PEOPLE FROM JACKSONVILLE ARE COMING IN.

IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS A PRETTY COOL THING.

I MEAN, HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN RIDE A MOTORIZED SURFBOARD? YOU KNOW? I MEAN, THE TOWN ABSOLUTELY

LOVES IT. >> I THINK THE TOWN DID A GOOD JOB. THEY RAN THE BEACH PARTY AND DID THAT KIND OF STUFF. I THINK, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IF YOU ARE JUST LOOKING AT IT DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR, THAT KIND OF SITUATION, WE PROBABLY HAVE TO GO TEN TIMES THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP ON THE BEACH AND, YOU KNOW, GET LOCAL MEDIA TO JUMP IN WITH SOME OF. THAT WE ARE GETTING MENTIONS ON CBS AND ALL. YOU KNOW, THAT IS WHY WE JUMPED IN THE FIRST TWO TIMES. AND MAYBE WHY WE DECIDED TO GO ULTIMATELY THIS TIME. YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH-- I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RATINGS ARE FOR THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE GET AS FAR AS --

>> AND THAT IS THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET. FROM OUR MOTOSURF PARTNERS.

>> FROM THAT STANDPOINT, WE HAVEN'T REALLY DONE A GOOD JOB, OF TAKING THAT VIDEO AND PARSING THAT DOWN TO A MINUTE RID JOE WE CAN-- VIDEO WE CAN RUN SO WE CAN GET SOME KIND OF BENEFIT.

SAYING IT IS COMING. YOU NEED TO BE HERE ON THOSE

WEEKENDS. >> WE DECIDE TO GO AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE LEVEL OF INVESTMENT, I THINK WE NEED TO COMMIT TO DOING SOMETHING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO HELP THEM MARKET THIS. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT

FOR US. >> I'M A LITTLE CRITICAL MAYBE.

IF WE GIVE THEM THAT MONEY, AGAIN, WITHOUT THE ROOM NIGHTS, IT IS A LOT OF MONEY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM HERE

ASKING FOR THAT MONEY. >> WELL, IN THEIR DEFENSE, THE PLANNER OF THIS EVENT LIVES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. THEY DO.

>> HE CAN ZOOM. HE CAN ZOOM IN.

>> HE COULD. >> IT WOULD BE-- YOU KNOW --

>> YEAH. YOU ARE RIGHT.

HE IS NOT HERE. I FORGOT.

HE IS FROM ANOTHER-- IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT.

YOU KNOW, IT IS HARD NOT TO -- >> WELL, IT IS.

IT IS. I MEAN, I WANT TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE AND THANK CAROLINE. WHEN WE DID THE REIMBURSEMENT.

SHE HAD TO DO CONVERSION NUMBERS FROM CZECH TO AMERICAN DOLLARS.

AND EUROS TO AMERICAN DOLLARS. >> HOW DO WE COMPARE?

>> AND LANGUAGE. IT IS TRULY AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT. WE DON'T GET TO SAY THAT VERY OFTEN. AND SO-- BUT NOT THAT WE DON'T GET INTERNATIONAL VISITORS. BECAUSE WE DO.

JUST BECAUSE OF OUR LOCATION AND OUR PROXIMITY TO SOME INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS. BUT WE DON'T MARKET OURSELVES

THAT WAY. >> YEAH.

NO. THERE IS NOT A LOT OF TV STATIONS SHOWING OUR COMMERCIAL THERE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC.

CAROLINE WOULD HAVE TO TRAN TRANSLATE.

>> RIGHT. >> I'M AN EXPERT NOW.

HELLO, ROSETTA STONE. >> OH, YES.

>> I MEAN, THEY INDICATED TO ME THAT THIS IS-- THIS IS THE MOST

SUCCESSFUL STOP ON THEIR TOWFER. >> ON THEIR TOUR.

>> IT IS. IT IS.

>> THE ONE THEY ENJOY THE MOST. >> YES.

THEY DO A NORTH AMERICAN TOUR. THAT IS WHAT THIS IS PART OF.

WE KICKED OFF THE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR LAST YEAR.

IN THE FIRST YEAR, WE HOSTED IT. WE WERE THE FINAL STOP.

>> THEY WENT FROM HERE TO SEE BRING.

RIGHT? >> SO I'M LOOKING AT THEIR BUDGET. THEIR TOTAL BUDGET FOR THE WHOLE EVENT IS $53 ROUGHLY. WE GAVE THEM $40 LAST YEAR.

WITH $-- WOULD $22 KEEP IT THIS YEAR? STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION. WITH US PAYING $40 OUT OF THE $53, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS OUR EVENT.

YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO CAPITALIZE ON IT?

>> I DID JUST GET SOME INFORMATION FROM ALAN.

HE SAID WE PROBABLY WOULD LOSE IT IF WE DIDN'T DO THE FULL AMOUNT. THEY NEED A MINIMUM OF $30,000 TO MAKE IT WORK. SO THAT IS WHAT WE KNOW.

[01:50:01]

>> SAVED US $10,000. >> YEAH.

>> BY ASKING THAT QUESTION. I MEAN --

>> I THINK, TOO, YOU BROUGHT UP A GREAT POINT.

WE ARE FUNDING, YOU KNOW, 90% OF THEIR BUDGET.

>> I THINK THE REST OF IT COMES FROM A FEW OF THE SPONSORS THEY HAVE. ALSO THE ENTRY FEES.

I THINK THE ENTRY FEES. >> I'M SURE THEY PAY FOR IT.

I'M SURE THEY-- NO. I'M SURE THEY PAY.

>> THEY PAY CPS. >> THERE IS $25,000 ON TV CONTENT PRODUCTION. YOU GET COPIES OF SOME OF THESE

>> YES. >> THAT IS WHAT I'M SAYING.

WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB. >> THREE YEARS.

>> WE CAN MAKE A GREAT VIDEO. YOU KNOW, A COUPLE-MINUTE VIDEO.

THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD USE TO MARKET-- CLAY

COUNTY SPORTS. >> ON OUR WEBSITE.

YEAH. >> THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO A BETTER JOB OF. ACTUALLY CAPTURING SOME VIDEO THAT WE DO HAVE. THE RAW FOOTAGE.

AND CREATING SOME NEW THINGS. SOME REELS THAT WE CAN BE USING.

NOT ONLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA BUT WE WILL SOON HAVE OUR OWN YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR EXPLORE CLAY. THAT IS TOURISM-RELATED.

IT WOULD BE EASIER TO FIND. THE OTHER THING THAT WE DO DO IS WE TRY TO WORK WITH LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND SPORTS BARS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE DO-- AND WE AREN'T GIVEN A LOT OF TIME

FOR THE AIRING TIME. >> VERY LITTLE TIME.

>> IT IS ABOUT 48 HOURS. BUT WE ARE ON THE PHONE AND REACHING OUT TO LOCAL RESTAURANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT, HEY, PLUG IN CBS SPORTS SO YOU CAN SEE CLAY COUNTY ON TV.

>> I SEE THIS AS SOMETHING THAT COULD DRAW PEOPLE IN.

WITH ALL GO-- WE ALL GO TO THE RACES.

RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY.

>> WE DID MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS ON THEIR WEBSITE.

THEY DID MARK IT THAT. >> I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.

ARE YOU GOING AGAIN THIS YEAR? >> YEAH.

I WOULD GO AGAIN. >> YOU CAN COME THE NIGHT

BEFORE. >> WHEN I GO TO KEYSTONE, I WANT TO GO TO THE COFFEE SHOP. LY GO EAT.

YOU KNOW, I MAKE IT A DAY. I DO.

I DID. >> I WOULD LEAN $30, PERSONALLY.

BASED ON WHAT ALAN WAS SAYING. >> WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT IS WHAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE. IF WE WANTED IT TO HAPPEN.

THE CHALLENGE, THEN WOULD BE TO KIMBERLY'S DEPARTMENT.

AS TO HOW WE UTILIZE IT. TO DO SOMETHING ABOVE AND

BEYOND. >> WELL, WE CAN-- NOW THAT WE HAVE ACTUAL FOOTAGE, WE CAN CREATE A LOT MORE PROMOTIONAL SIZZLE TO DRAW THOSE VISITORS. WE CAN DEVELOP SOME PARTNER SWHIPS SOME INFLUENCERS. PARTNERSHIPS WITH SOME INFLUENCERS. WE CAN DO MORE.

WE HAVE-- YEAH. SHOWS, 30-MINUTE SEGMENTS WE CAN

USE. >> DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO EXCISE WHATEVER WE NEED OUT OF THAT?

[01:55:03]

>> THE MOTION CARRIES. 8-0.

>> FINALLY, THE INSPIRED DANCE COMPETITION.

>> YES, SIR. SO WE HAVE INSPIRE DANCE-- INSPIRE NATIONAL DANCE COMPETITION.

IT IS ANOTHER SPORTS EVENT GRANT APPLICATION.

EVENT DATE, APRIL 12. 13, 14 IN 2024.

NOW, THEY REQUESTED $18,000. AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT, NUMBER OF DAY VISITORS. ALL IN ALL, THEY SCORED 200 POINTS WITH OUR ALGORITHM. THEY SUGGESTED GIVING THEM 85% OF THE REQUESTED AMOUNT. $15,#00.

$15,300. WE MIGHT HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE.

>> GOOD. OKAY.

I WAS HOPING THAT SHE JUST WASN'T HERE TO TALK TO US ABOUT

OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT. >> HEY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME. >> COULD YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF

TO US? >> MY NAME IS EMILY.

TIME EVENT COORDINATOR. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE OUR EVENT AGAIN IN CLAY COUNTY. WE BRING VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE. GEORGIA.

WE ARE BASED OUT OF STATESVILLE IN GEORGIA.

WE HAVE SOME STUDIOS. WE HAVE SOUTH GEORGIA, NORTH GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA. AND WE ARE ALREADY TRYING TO TAP INTO ALABAMA STUDIOS AS WELL. WIE-- WE HOST 31 EVENTS NEXT YEAR AROUND THE SOUTHEAST. JACKSONVILLE, THE CLAY COUNTY, THAT IS ONE OF OUR BEST EVENTS. WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH ALAN VERLANDER. TO TAP INTO OTHER MARKETS IN THE SOUTHEAST AS WELL. GOING UP INTO EVEN VIRGINIA.

WE ARE REQUESTING THE GRANT FOR OFFSET OF VENUE RENTAL COSTS.

SO LAST YEAR, OUR VENUE RENTAL, AND THIS DOES INCLUDE STAFF AT THE CENTER, WAS AROUND $64,000. WE DO RENT THE WHOLE BUILDING.

AND WE DO IT-- I PERSONALLY SET UP THURSDAY NIGHT.

WE STAY THURSDAY NIGHT. AND THEN WE START BRIGHT AND EARLY 8:00 A.M. ON FRIDAY MORNING.

WE GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING.

WE DO ANTICIPATE ANOTHER SOLD-OUT EVENT THIS YEAR.

THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME APPLYING FOR THE GRANT.

WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT LAST YEAR.

WE WOULD HAVE. AND SO WE DO HAVE STUDIOS.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO COME SEE THESE KIDDOS DANCE.

THEY STAY THURSDAY NIGHT, FRIDAY NIGHT, SATURDAY NIGHT.

EVEN INTO SUNDAY NIGHT AS WELL. BECAUSE OF THE LENGTH OF TIME OF

COMPETITION. >> EMILY, WHERE WERE YOU LAST

YEAR? >> SO LAST YEAR, I CAN PULL UP

THE NUMBERS REALLY QUICK. >> WHEN YOU SAY YOU WERE HERE,

WERE YOU INIACSONVILLE? >> WE WERE IN THRASHER HORN CENTER. SO NEXT YEAR, DUE TO DATES AT THE THRASHER CENTER, WE ARE JUST DOING ONE EVENT AT THRASHER.

AND THEN ANOTHER EVENT AT THE PRIME OSBORNE CENTER IN DUVAL COUNTY. HOWEVER, FOR 2025 AND 2026, I HAVE SECURED TWO DATES AT THRASHER ALREADY.

WE LIKE THE VENUE BETTER. WE HAVE A BETTER TURNOUT AT THRASHER. A LOT OF LOCAL AND EVEN OUT-OF-TOWN AND OUT-OF-STATE STUDIOS.

YOU GUYS HAVE THE ADVANTAGE BECAUSE OF DANCE COMPETITIONS.

WE NEED A LARGE STAGE. A LOT OF SEATING.

ALSO ROOM FOR A LOT OF DRESSING SPACE.

SO YOU DO HAVE THAT ADVANTAGE WITH THE CONFERENCE CENTER BEING RIGHT IN THE SAME BUILDING. WHEREAS WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PRIME OSBORNE CENTER, IT IS ONE BIG EXHIBIT.

EXHIBIT HALL. THAT IS NOT IDEAL FOR OUR TYPE

OF EVENT. >> HAMPTON INN.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL. THEY DO BRING THOSE ROOM NIGHTS.

THEY GENERATE A LOT OF REVENUE. IT IS LEGIT.

I WORK WITH BOB ON THIS A LOT. I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY IS FEELING

[02:00:04]

THEY STAY TWO OR THREE NIGHTS. AND JUST DEPENDS ON HOW FAR THEY ARE COMING FROM. THEY MIGHT COME IN EARLIER.

>> I BELIEVE DEBBY NORMALLY HANDLES OUR ROOM BLOCKS.

>> THEY ARE ALREADY BOOKING IN THE TOWN.

THEY ARE ALREADY READY. LIKE, THERE IS PEOPLE A YEAR OUT ALREADY. LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE DANCES.

SO THRASHER, THERE IS MORE THAN HER COMING TO THRASHER FOR DANCE. THRASHER HORN HAS BECOME A BIG MECCA FOR DANCE COMPETITIONS. APRIL, MARCH, AND NOW INTO THE SUMMER. THEY BRING GRANDMOTHERS AND TONS OF CLOTHES AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF WITH THEM.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR EMILY?

>> NO. BASED ON WHAT KIMBERLY IS SAYING, IT FEELS LIKE THE FULL AMOUNT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE. THE ONLY FLAW WAS LOCAL VISITORS. WE ARE HERE FOR HEADS AND BEDS.

>> YEAH. THIS GROUP BRINGS THEIR OWN AUDIENCE. TECHNICALLY.

>> WE HAVE TWO STUDIOS FROM STUM ORANGE PARK AND I BELIEVE MIDDLEBURG. SOMEWHERE AROUND CLAY COUNTY.

THAT IS COUNTY VISITORS. THE CAROLINE, DID WE PROVIDE A

GRANT LAST YEAR? >> NO, THEY DIDN'T.

>> WE DIDN'T APPLY. >> THIS IS THEIR FIRST TIME.

>> THEY FOUND US THROUGH AIR VENTURES.

>> YES, SIR. WE RECEIVE A GRANT IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA. THEN WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH VEST VIRGINIA AND HOPEFULLY, FOR 2025 AND 2026.

VIRGINIA AND LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA.

>> IF YOU CAME BACK, YOU SAID NEXT WEEK, YOU WILL COME BACK

TWICE TO THRASHER. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> ARE YOU GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR GRANTS?

WHERE ARE WE HEADED? >> BECAUSE IT IS A REIMBURSABLE GRANT, WE WOULD PROBABLY DO THE SINGLE APPLICATION.

BUT THEN SPLIT IT UP BETWEEN BOTH RENTAL COSTS.

THE GREAT THING ABOUT THRASHER, IF WE TO TWO WEEKENDS, THEY CAN

BILL US THE ONE TIME. >> OKAY.

THEY KNOW US AS A CUSTOMER. >> GOT IT.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> I HAD A SIMILAR QUESTION. WHEN YOU SAY TWO DATES, YOU MEAN TWO TIMES THE PROJECTED VISITORS THAT YOU HAVE ON THE

APPLICATION. >> CORRECT.

>> OR THREE DATES IN THE FUTURE. >> WE ARE LOOKING AT TWO FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY WEEKENDS. SO SIX DAYS TOTAL.

WITH VISITORS. STAYING THURSDAY NIGHT AND INTO SUNDAY NIGHT. AS WELL.

DEPENDING ON HOW FAR THEY HAVE TO DRIVE.

>> AS SOMEONE WHO USED TO HAVE TO TAG ALONG ON THESE THINGS, IT IS ANNOYING HOW LONG YOU HAVE TO STAY ON THESE THINGS.

AS A BOY WHO DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN A DANCE COMPETITION.

YOU ARE THERE FOR A LONG TIME. >> IF YOU ARE A YOUNG BOY --

>> THE MOMS. THESE DANCE MOMS.

I'M TELLING YOU. >> THEY ARE GREAT.

NO PROBLEMS. >> THIS WOULD BE GREAT TO KEEP

HERE. >> NO QUESTION.

>> YOU KNOW? RATHER THAN-- NO OFFENSE TO JACKSONVILLE. IT WOULD BE GREAT TO KEEP IT

HERE. >> WE WOULD LIKE TO.

>> ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A HOME? >> NOT YET.

BUT I HAVE TRIED TO TALK TO THE OWNERS ABOUT HAVING OUR NATIONALS COMPETITION HERE. WE TRIPLE THE ATTENDEES FOR A NATIONALS. WE HAVE WE WERE CONSIDERING JACKSONVILL AREA, BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY STUDIOS, A LOT OF PEOPLE LOVE THE AREA. Y'ALL ARE CLOSE ENOUG TO CITY WHERE IF THE MOMS WANT TO GET AWAY, YOU KNOW, OR GO TO LUNCH IN CLAY COUNTY, THEY CAN, YOU KNOW --

>> IS THE THRASHER BIG ENOUGH? >> YOU ARE IF I BOOK YOU FOR A WHOLE WEEK. NOW, WITH OUR PAST TWO NATIONALS -- AND I'VE ONLY BEEN WITH INSPIRE, THIS WILL BE MY SECOND YEAR, SO WE DO TWO STAGES AT THE TIME SO SAVANNAH CIVIC CENTER, THAT'S THE ONLY CAVEAT, WE DO HAVE TO BOOK IT LONGER. BUT THAT'S BETTER FOR YOU GUYS BECAUSE NEAR THE AREA LONGER. SO INSTEAD OF A THREE-DAY COMPETITION OR A FOUR-DAY COMPETITION, WE'RE

LOOKING AT A WEEK LONG. >> WHAT TIME OF YEAR IS THAT

TYPICALLY? >> THAT IS TYPICALLY IN THE SUMMER. WE TRY NOT TO BOOK END OF JULY. SO WE'RE DOING ONE IN HUNTSVILLE, JUST BECAUSE JOEL HAS HELPED US OUT THERE, AND THEN WE'RE ALSO DOING ONE IN CHARLESTON.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK KIMBERLY' STAFF WE PASS ON SOME KNEE

[02:05:05]

DATES. >> SUMMER IS A KNEE PERIOD, SO

WE LOVE THOSE DATES. >> WE ARE LOOKING FOR ATTRACTIONS TO THE AREA THAT DADS CAN TAKE THE OTHER KIDS TO GO DO OR EVEN GRANDPARENTS WHIL ONE PARENT STAYS AND WATCHES TH

COMPETITION. >> RIGHT. AND WE'LL BE FOLLOWIN

UP WITH YOU WITH ALL OF THAT. >> PERFECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> I'VE BEEN TO MORE THAN ONE DAD'S ESCAPE FROM THE

CHEERLEADING COMPETITIONS. >> MOTION?

>> BY ALL MEANS. >> MOTION TO APPROVE THE FULL

AMOUNT. >> THE $18,000 AS REQUESTED.

>> SECOND. >> BRIAN MADE THE MOTION, NEIL SECONDED IT. $18,000 AS PER THEIR REQUEST. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

>> EMILY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND MAYBE I KNOW YOU HAD A LOT OF FREE TIME. IN YOUR FREE TIME MAYBE YOU CAN GIVE US SOME IDEA AS TO WHAT WE CAN DO WITH, YOU KNOW, THE DADS AND SIBLINGS, MAYBE SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR THE MOM. BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE WILL KEEP THIS EVENT IF WE BRING IT IN AND SHE COMES IN WITH A NATIONAL EVENT IS HAVING SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY TO DO.

BECAUSE THAT'S AS MUCH HOW THEY LOOK FORWARD TO THE EVENT AS TH KIDS THAT ARE ACTUALLY IN THE EVENT.

>> AND I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY THINK ABOUT -- AND EMILY, THIS IS, OF COURSE, FOR YOUR FEEDBACK. WE'RE DOING SOME THINGS FOR THE AMERICAN CRUISE LINES. PASSENGERS CREATING SOME EXPERIENCES AND IF BUSINESSES ARE WILLING TO DO THAT, WE CAN

HAVE SOME SPECIAL THINGS. >> THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.

>> BE AVAILABLE TO YOUR GROUP, LIKE SOME EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES SOME THINGS LIKE THAT. BECAUSE THAT -- IT DOES WHAT YOU WANT I TO DO, MAKES YOUR GROUP FEEL SPECIAL. AND IT'S MUCH EASIER T DO IN A PLACE LIKE CLAY COUNTY THAN IN SAVANNAH OR

JACKSONVILLE. >> YES MA'AM.

>> SO IT GIVES US A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.

>> I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, EMILY, YOUR OWNERS, HOW OFTEN D THEY COME IN AND CAN WE SET A TIME TO MEET WITH THEM?

>> THEIR KIDDO HAD AN ORTHODONTIST APPOINTMENT TODAY, OR MATT WOULD HAVE COME WE ME. CAN GIVE YOU ALL THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION. I BELIEVE THE HOTE YOU HAVE, THE OWNER'S PARENTS

SET UP OUR HOTEL BOX. >> SO WE CAN SET THEM UP WITH KIMBERLY AND MAKE IT MORE OF AN EXPERIENCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, EMILY, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE DRIVE DOWN.

>> ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU ALL. >> OKAY. GO FROM -- IT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE TDC MEETINGS, GO FROM DANCE TO RUGBY.

>> RIGHT. >> CAN YOU UPDATE US ON WHERE W

ARE? >> SO WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.

WE'VE HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS WITH THE RUGBY GROUP THAT IS PLANNING THEIR TOURNAMENT FOR THE 28TH OF OCTOBER, THE END OF THE MONTH. THEY HAVE FOUR TEAMS FROM OUT OF STATE, SO SOUTH CAROLINA, NORTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, AND GEORGIA, I BELIEVE, ARE THE TEAMS -- WHERE THE TEAMS ARE FROM. THE -- WE ALSO -- THE BID DUE DATE IS FRIDAY FOR ANOTHER RUGBY GROUP.

SO WE'LL BE COMPETING WITH OTHE DESTINATIONS TO LAY INTO ONE OF FOUR TOURNAMENT DATES FOR A NORTH AMERICAN TOUR OF RUGBY -- OR A FLORIDA TOUR OF RUGBY THAT IS A SPECIAL TENS. LIKE IF THERE'S TEN PEOPLE ON THE TEAM SO. THERE'S ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF RUGBY AND HOW THEY PLAY AND THE NUMBE OF PLAYERS AND HOW BIG THE FIELDS ARE AND ALL OF THAT. SO WE'RE TAKING ALL OF THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND MOVING FORWAR WITH PURSUING SOME RUGBY -- SOM ADDITIONAL RUGBY TOURNAMENTS.

THE GRANT -- THE GROUP THAT CAM FOR -- AT THE LAST MEETING FOR THE TOURNAMENT AT THE END OF OCTOBER HAD REQUESTED ADDITIONA

[02:10:03]

THEY WILL REMAIN -- THEY WILL B COUNTY PROPERTY. THEY WILL BELONG TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT SO THAT W CAN SERVE OTHER RUGBY TOURNAMENTS. CURRENTLY WE HAVE NO RUGBY ACCESSORIES TO OUR FIELDS.

>> MAYBE A COUPLE OF OLD SHIRTS THE RUGBY SHIRTS, YES.

>> RIGHT. >> YEAH, THIS COULD BE SOMETHIN BIG. THE GROUP THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH IS VERY COMMITTED TO BRINGING RUGBY IN AND I THIN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT A TEAM TO MAKE ITS HEADQUARTERS HERE THAT PLAYS OTHER --

>> YES, YES. >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOUND OUT IS THAT THE RUGBY FIELD IS MUCH LARGER THAN A FOOTBALL FIELD OR A SOCCER FIELD. SO WE DON'T -- WE'RE LIMITED AS TO WHERE WE CAN PUT IT BECAUSE IT' JUST THAT MUCH BIGGER. BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD INVESTMENT BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US TO DO SOME OTHER THINGS AND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE CONTEMPLATING GIVING IT TO THEM ANYWAY AS PART OF THEIR REQUEST, AND THIS WAY WE END UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WE CAN UTILIZE TO CONTINUE TO ATTRACT PEOPLE. BUT THEY HAVE TO BE AT EITHER THE --

>> THEY HAVE TO PLAY AT PLANTATION OR THUNDERBOLT.

>> PLANTATION OR THUNDERBOLT, BECAUSE THEIR FIELDS ARE TOO BIG. THEY WON'T FIT ON THE FIELDS. IT'S A NEW SPORTS

COMPLEX, SO. >> RIGHT.

>> SO THERE'S NO EXPANSION THAT --

>> WELL, WITH THE UPCOMING PHAS TWO, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ADD SOME FIELDS WHICH ARE BIGGER THAT COULD ACCOMMODATE THAT, BU THE ONES WE'VE DONE NOW WILL ACCOMMODATE SOCCER, LACROSSE, FOOTBALL BUT NOT RUGBY. I MEAN, I'M SURE THEY CALL IT A PITCH

RATHER THAN A FIELD, SO. >> SO THE REGIONAL TEAMS, I THINK I SAID THIS LAST TIME, BU THE REGIONAL TEAMS DO TRAVEL.

>> YES. >> AND THEY DO STAY LOCALLY.

I'VE EVEN HAD A HOTEL DOWN IN THE FORT LAUDERDALE AREA THAT W HAD RUGBY FIELDS AND THE TEAMS CAME IN INTERNATIONALLY AND PRACTICED FOR WEEKS AND TWO WEEKS AT A TIME.

>> WOW. >> SO THERE IS ROOM NIGHTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. SO I WOULD BE ALL FOR HAVING GOALS THAT WE KEPT. AND IF THAT'S A $10,000 INVESTMENT, I THINK IT WOULD BE A SMALL INVESTMENT, AND IT'S JUST GOING TO PAY EVERY YEAR

THEY'RE ON. SO. >> AND KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS GROUP HAS ALSO BOOKED A LOCAL RESTAURANT LIKE ESTABLISHMENT

FOR AFTER PARTY. >> THEY'LL TAKE IT OVER.

>> IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ROOM NIGHTS, IT'S ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALL THE WAY AROUND, SO.

>> KEVIN, HOW MANY PLAYERS ARE THERE ON A RUGBY TEAM?

>> I HAVE NO IDEA. >> I WAS JUST CURIOUS.

>> I KNOW THEY DRINK 16 OUNCE BEERS.

>> AND IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH OF THOSE, IT LOOKS LIKE DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS THAT ARE ACTUALLY ON THERE. I UNDERSTAND JUST CURIOUS AS TO HOW MANY ROO NIGHTS THAT MAY LEAD TO, YOU

KNOW. >> 15.

>> AND THEY HAVE -- IN THE MOST RECENT COMMUNICATION, I WANT TO SAY THEY'VE -- IT'S UP TO LIKE 75 ROOM NIGHTS BECAUSE THEY'RE HERE FOR THE ENTIRE WEEKEND. AN WITH THOSE FOUR TEAMS BEING FRO OUT OF STATE, I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE --

>> THEY WERE VERY HAPPY, BECAUS THEY WERE GOING TO BE ONE OF TH TEAMS, AND NOW THEY'VE SORT OF WRITTEN THEMSELVES OUT JUST TO BE ABLE TO BRING THIS -- THEY'R A HIGHER LEVEL FOURSOME THAT THEY'RE BRINGING IN TEAMWISE, A COUPLE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA AND COUPLE FROM OTHER PLACES. THAT' THE THING, WITH SOME OF THESE SPORTS, AND I WANT TO SAY B LIS SPORTS, SOME OF THE ALTERNATE SPORTS, CROSS COUNTRY, RUGBY, I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE CA

[02:15:01]

>> THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY IS, KEVIN, I THINK I BUY INTO THIS BECAUSE OF KEVIN. I KNOW KEVIN MONAGHAN, KIMBERLY. WE ALL KNOW SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. HE COULD DO THIS IN DUVAL COUNTY, MAYBE IT'S JUST EASIER TO DO IT HERE, RIGHT? THAT'S THE SAME CONCEPT AS WHERE EMILY WAS, IT'S EASIER AND FRIENDLIER, SO THAT'S WHAT WE KIND OF JUST LATCH ON TO. AN I THINK KEVIN'S VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS.

>> NO QUESTION. >> AND SO I KIND OF BUY INTO THIS BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN HIM A LITTLE BIT, BUT THAT'S BASED ON PAST -- JUST KNOWING HIM. SO I MEAN, I WHY NOT IF IT'S OURS.

>> THIS IS A CASE OF MOVING THE MONEY FROM ONE POCKET TO ANOTHE

POCKET. >> IT IS.

>> GO AHEAD, KEVIN. >> JUST FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR PURCHASE OF THE GOALS TOO, WAS ALSO WONDERING IF THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY USED FOR. IS THERE BURDEN FOR STORAGE OR MAINTENANCE OR ANYTHING, BUT IT DOES LOOK LIKE THE DIMENSIONS FOR FOOTBALL POSTS ARE VERY, VERY SIMILAR. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S MORE USE FROM THESE.

>> SO THEY HAVE FOUND MOBILE GOAL POSTS.

>> OKAY. >> THAT WERE ABLE TO BE --

>> YEAH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUT THEM AWAY. YEP.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS WONDERING, IF THERE WAS EXTRA USE OR ANYTHING THAT COULD BE OUT OF THOSE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE VERY SIMILAR. BUT IF THEY'R MOBILE THEN MAYBE THAT MAKES STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE A LITTL BIT EASIER OR SOMETHING. IF THERE WAS EXTRA VALUE THAT CAN BE GOTTEN OUT OF IT, THEN --

>> IF YOU GET TO AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL, THOSE HAVE TO B PLANTED BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY TALL.

>> YES, YES. >> OKAY, SO YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE FULL $10,000, WE'LL COVER IT, DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC

NUMBER? >> SO THE QUOTE -- THE REASON, YOU ALL KNOW, WITH -- YOU GET A QUOTE ONE DAY AND IT CHANGES TH NEXT. SO WE -- THE QUOTE THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION TEAM WAS $8,991. SO WE DON'T EXPECT IT TO BE OVER $10,000. WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BETTER TO ASK FOR $10,000. THIS

IS BASED ON THE QUOTE GIVEN. >> IF THEY SPEND LESS, THEY

SPEND LESS. >> OKAY. MOTION TO SPEND UP TO

$10,000 FOR RUGBY GOAL POSTS. >> I'LL SECOND. GO AHEAD.

>> GOING TO MAKE THE MOTION ON THE SECOND UP TO $10,000. I KNO KEVIN WANTS TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH THE GUYS AFTER THE GAME.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT RUGBY. ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? AL

IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? NUMBER FIVE, TH TDC MARK -- THANK YOU, BY THE

WAY, CAROLINE. >> FOR WHAT?

>> YOU CONTINUE TO EARN YOUR CROWN AS THE QUEEN OF THE EVENT

[5.  TDC Event Marketing Grant Subcommittee Report (S. Kelley & C.Everill).]

MARKETING. >> WELL THANK YOU.

>> BLESS YOU. >> TDC EVENT SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT, DO WE HAVE -- STEVEN DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT?

>> FEEL FREE TO CHIME IN IF THERE'S SOME ELABORATION THAT COULD HAPPEN. AT THE LAST TDC SUBCOMMITTEE, GRANT SUBCOMMITTE MEETING, WE MADE IT EFFICIENT AND BRIEF BUT WE GOT A LOT DONE WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. OBVIOUSLY WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR A WHILE. I THINK SOME OF THESE STILL MAY TAKE SECOND AND THIRD LOOKS GOING FORWARD. UP WE'VE MENTIONED A COUPLE THINGS TONIGHT, EVEN THAT -- AND I'M WILLING TO CONTINUE MEETING TO WORK ON SOME OF THESE THINGS, BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE COME CLOSER TO A GRANT -- GRANT GUIDELINES THAT MAKE SENSE SO THAT WE CAN START IMPLEMENTING THEM. THERE'S -- THAT ALSO STREAMLINED, HELPED STAFF HELP GET THE BEST USE OF GRANT DOLLARS, BUT THEN AT THE SAME TIME BASICALLY TRY TO SHOW THAT THERE IS VALUE TO GRANTS OF ALL SIZES. SO THAT'S WHERE WE -- INSTEAD OF GOING WITH THE SIX GRANT APPLICATION WINDOWS, WE DECIDED TO MAKE THAT A LITTLE

[02:20:02]

>> I THINK YOU BASICALLY COVERE EVERYTHING WITH THAT. LAST

[02:25:03]

FIRSTLY, THE GRANT CYCLE, GETTING REALLY IN DEPTH OF WHAT WE WANTED TO FIND AS A COMMUNIT EVENT. ALSO IN THE LAST MEETING SOME OF THE FEEDBACK WE GOT, SINCE THE GRANT AMOUNT WILL BE $1,000, WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE PEOPLE JUMP THROUGH HOOPS IN ORDER TO GET $1,000 BUT STILL ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT $1,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY. IT'S FINDING THAT DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN NOT REQUIRING TOO, TOO MUCH FOR IT BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT, BUT ALSO KEEPING IN MIND IT'S $1,000. YOU CAN DO QUITE A BIT WITH THAT. AND OUR LAST OBJECTIVE WAS TO REALLY TALK ABOUT THE SPORTS ALGORITHM AND WE SHOWED THIS VERY SIMILAR ONE TO Y'ALL LAST TIME. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT WE JUST HAD LIKE TWO, PROBABLY ACTUALLY THREE MAJOR CHANGES, THE OTHER ONE, THIS IS ORIGINALLY FROM A PLACE IN WISCONSIN WHERE THEY HAD A LOT MORE ROOM NIGHTS, SO WE EDITED THE ROOM NIGHTS TO REFLECT WHAT WE HAVE. ALSO AS FAR AS THE ON PEAK, OFF PEAK, W CHANGED THE DATES TO THE COUNTY'S NEED PERIOD TO REFLECT HOW WE DO IN OUR GRANT GUIDELINES RIGHT NOW. AND THEN WE ADDED A FEW OTHER CATEGORIES THAT WE THOUGHT WERE WORTHWHILE SUCH AS HAVING A MARKETING PLAN HAVING AN EVENT BUDGET, OUR SMART OBJECTIVES, AND ALSO LASTLY, AN EVENT EMERGENCY PLAN SO WE JUST KIND OF TOOK A FEW THINGS AND TWEAKED IT TO MAKE I MORE FOR CLAY COUNTY. I THOUGHT THE SUBCOMMITTEE WAS A GREAT DISCUSSION. WE REALLY GOT IN DPTH WITH THESE THINGS. AND I THINK STEVEN BASICALLY COVERED EVERYTHING.

>> CAN WE POTENTIALLY LOOK AT THE -- I LOVE THE IDEA KIMBERLY HAD EARLIER ABOUT, LIKE, ASKING THE QUESTION OF ARE YOU WORKING WITH OTHER EVENTS TO CREATE THA HALLMARK KIND OF FEEL, FOR THE

CHRISTMAS EVENT, FOR EXAMPLE. >> DEFINITELY. I TOOK A LITTLE NOTE FOR OUR NEXT SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING.

>> INCENTING THEM TO WORK THE SAME WEEKENDS. YOU SEE FIVE

THINGS THIS WEEKEND, YOU CAN -- >> AND EVEN LIKE STEVEN WAS SAYING, IF THEY'RE HAPPENING BACK TO BACK OVER A FEW DAY, IT GIVES PEOPLE INCENTIVE TO HAVE AN OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION. SO AN EVENT WHERE YOU ORIGINALLY WOULDN'T HAVE PEOPLE STAYING OVERNIGHT, IF THERE'S ONE EVENT ONE DAY AND THERE'S ANOTHER EVENT THE NEXT DAY, THEY HAVE THAT INCENTIVE TO STAY.

>> I THINK THE DANCING ONE ALSO THE DADS AND BROTHERS PROBABLY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE AN EVENT, A MILITARY EVENT OR --

>> AX THROWING OR SOMETHING. >> SOMETHING LIKE THAT ALSO.

>> WE DO HAVE AX THROWING. THER YOU GO.

>> THEY'LL JUST HAVE TO HAVE SOME GREAT THINGS GOING ON DURING THE INSPIRE DANCE COMPETITION.

>> MM-HMM. >> AND THAT GOES BACK TO NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE HERE, WE CAN ACTUALLY GO TO BUSINESSE TO CREATE SPECIAL EXPERIENCES, SPECIFICALLY FOR THEM.

>> YES. AS YOU MENTIONED, KIM, IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE AMERICAN CRUISE LINES AND WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO DO IN COVE. THEY COME IN, THERE'S 100 PASSENGERS AND THEY GET OFF THE BOAT. WE GOT 100 PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKELY TO SPEND MONEY IF YOU GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITY TO SO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT,

THAT'S THE KEY. >> JUST LIKE TO ADD ONE THING T THE COMMUNITY. WE REALLY COMPLEMENT THE CHILI COOK-OFF WITH THE CLAY COUNTY CRUISES. I JUST EMAILED -- TEXTED THE PRESIDENT TO SEE WHAT WE SPEND. I THINK THE NUMBER WE HAVE TO RAISE IS ALMOST LIKE FIVE GRAND SO THAT $1,000 TO HELP COMPLEMENT WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING GOES A LONG WAY FOR A SMALL ORGANIZATION. WHEN WE DO SECOND EVENT THAT WE DO BRING I CARS FROM ORLANDO, AND THAT DO STAY OVERNIGHT. NOT MANY, TEN ROOM NIGHTS, 12 ROOM NIGHTS, BU THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES IN DIFFERENT LOCAL BACKYARD MARKETING THAT IF WE HAVE ONE SMALL LITTLE GROUP THAT IT CAN BE A STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION. SO I THINK THAT FOR ME THAT $1,000 I THINK WILL GET USED LOCALLY AND HELP SUPPORT OTHER EVENTS THAT WE HAVE HERE. SO GREAT JOB I THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL THAT YOU ALL DID THAT. SO THANK YOU.

[6.  Review Meeting Schedule]

>> OKAY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S MOVE ON TO MEETING REVIEW, WHIC IS OUR NUMBER SIX. AND THE

SCHEDULE PROPOSED MEETINGS. >> SO DO WE WANT TO MOVE FORWAR WITH THE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND START TO IMPLEMENT THAT IN THE WAY THAT IT WAS DESCRIBED OR DO WE WANT TO WAIT AND BRING

[02:30:07]

SOMETHING ELSE TO YOU? >> I THINK GET A GENERAL CONSENSUS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO FLUSH OUT WHAT THE $1,000

COMMUNITY GRANT WOULD BE. >> OKAY.

>> YOU KNOW, IN OTHER WORDS -- >> LIKE WHAT IT CAN BE USED FOR

>> WHAT ARE THE PARAMETERS. RIGHT, HOW DO YOU QUALIFY FOR THAT. AND WHAT KIND OF THINGS ARE WE LOOKING AT TO AWARD THAT OBVIOUSLY. WE'VE GOT TO COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF CRITERIA. AND I'M THINKING ALSO, IF THEY'RE PARTNERING WITH ANOTHER ORGANIZATION, IF JUST DOING IT BY YOURSELF MAY NOT BE THE RIGH -- JUST TO HAVE A PARTY, BUT IF IT'S COMPLEMENTING SOMETHING ELSE TO MAKE IT A BIG WOW TO GIVE IT THAT WOW FACTOR THAT IT

WOULD BE. >> WE CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE COLLABORATION AMONGST BUSINESSE AND EVENTS, AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE ASKED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH EVENT TO MAYBE, YOU KNOW, HAVE IT ON THE SAME DAY OR IN THE SAME PROXIMITY SO THAT BOTH CAN BENEFIT BY THAT. SO WE BUY INTO THAT. DOES THAT HELP?

>> YES. >> AND YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY YOU'LL HAVE THAT FOR THE NEXT TIME AROUND. THE QUEEN OF GRANT

GETS A CHANCE TO DIG INTO THAT. >> WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER GRANT SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING TO DEVELOP THAT CRITERIA AND PRESENT IT AT

THE NOVEMBER MEETING. >> PERFECT. OKAY.

>> AND AS FAR AS SPORTS, IS THI SCORING SHEET SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL WANT US TO CONTINUE GOING FORWARD WITH?

>> WELL, I'D LIKE TO SEE IT -- YEAH, SORT OF MAPPED OUT. TAKE SOMETHING WE'VE APPROVED, PLUG IT IN, SEE HOW THAT LOOKS AND WHETHER THAT DOES WHAT WE'VE ALREADY GOT OR, YOU KNOW -- AND

MAKE IT BIGGER. >> MAKE IT BIGGER.

>> MAYBE A COUPLE EVENTS ON DIFFERENT LEVELS. JUST TO SEE

HOW IT WORKS OUT. >> WE'LL TAKE RUGBY, THE ONE THAT YOU ALL APPROVED AT THE LAST MEETING, AND MAYBE A COUPL

FROM TODAY. >> MM-HMM.

>> THAT WE CAN REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT AND --

>> ALSO SEE WHAT IT SCORES OUT TO BE.

>> RIGHT. >> IT'S WAY OUT OF WHACK, THEN THAT, OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE GOT TO TWEAK IT. IF IT'S CLOSE OR LOOK LIKE IT'S MORE BENEFICIAL, THEN YEAH.

>> SO WE'LL PRESENT YOU WITH TH CHART THAT GIVES YOU LIKE THIS IS WHAT YOU AWARDED. THIS IS WHAT --

>> PERFECT. >> YOU KNOW, AND GIVE YOU THE

WHAT IT COULD BE. >> COMPARISONS.

>> OKAY. EXCELLENT. ALL RIGHT, NOVEMBER 1ST, YOU HAVE JANUARY 3RD OR 31ST? THE ID YOU MEAN TH 30TH? I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOU

WERE ASKING. >> THOSE ARE THE DATE OPTIONS FOR JANUARY. WE HAVEN'T SET THE JANUARY DATE. SO KEEP IN MIND THAT WE DON'T MEET THE ENTIRE MONTH OF DECEMBER SO -- WHICH IS, I MEAN, NOT A PROBLEM, DECEMBER'S CRAZY WITH HOLIDAY EVENTS. SO IT'S REALLY UP TO YO ALL WHETHER, YOU KNOW, WHICH DATE WORKS BETTER. JANUARY 3RD IS RIGHT COMING RIGHT OFF THE HOLIDAYS. SO I DON'T KNOW IF TH 31ST WOULD BE BETTER SUITED FOR

YOUR SCHEDULES. >> THE 31ST WOULD PUT US AT A FULL THREE MONTHS OF NOT MEETING. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER

THAT'S FEASIBLE. >> THE OTHER CHALLENGE THAT BRINGS IS WE HAVEN'T REVIEWED THIS -- THE GRANT APPLICATION FOR SCOTTISH GAMES OR ANYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH. SO THAT DOES PRESENT A CHALLENGE. AND WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL TRY TO GET AS MANY GRANT APPLICATIONS IN AS POSSIBLE AND PRESENT THEM A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY SO Y'ALL DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THEM ONE BY ONE. AND TIGHTEN THAT PROCESS UP FOR YOU SO THAT WE CAN -- SO YOU CAN JUST SEE WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY APPROVED AND WHAT IS ON THE DOCKET FOR YOUR REVIEW AND SEE HOW MUCH MONEY IS LEFT AND ALL OF THAT. SO WE'LL WORK ON SOME TOOLS THAT WE CAN GIVE YOU DURING THE MEETING. YOU'LL HAVE ALL OF THIS STILL FOR BACKUP BU JUST SOME TOOLS SO THAT YOU CAN SAY, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT

THAT. >> SO YOU'RE -- IN JANUARY YOU'RE TRYING TO STAY AWAY FROM THE BCC MEETING WEEKS.

>> YES. >> AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE 17T OF JANUARY IS CLAY DAY, SO EVERYBODY WILL BE IN

TALLAHASSEE. >> RIGHT.

>> SO YEAH, SO IT'S EITHER THE 3RD OR THE 31ST WITH THOSE

PARAMETERS. >> FOR MEETING EARLY FEBRUARY

[02:35:02]

>> USUALLY AFTER THE JANUARY MEETING WE DON'T MEET UNTIL

MARCH. >> OH, OKAY.

>> I MEAN, WE CAN MAKE IT JANUARY 3RD. THAT'S FINE FOR US

>> YEAH, I'M JUST THINKING ABOU EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> THAT'S WHAT MY CONCERN WAS. >> I'D HAVE TO CHECK TOO. I'M NOT SURE WHERE I'M GOING TO BE JANUARY 3RD AT THIS POINT.

>> SO WHY DON'T WE DO THIS, WHY DON'T WE DO A DOODLE POLL TO EVERY -- WELL, I DON'T KNOW. I'LL GET WITH EACH OF YOU AND FIGURE OUT HOW -- WHAT BEST MEETS THE CALENDAR.

>> YEAH, WE MAY NEED TO DO IT O A BCC MEETING WEEK JUST TO GET IT IN. BECAUSE OTHERWISE YOU'RE GOING TO BE TOO DELAYED.

>> I'LL TALK WITH -- I'LL TALK WITH THE TEAM TO FIGURE OUT A

SOLUTION. >> ALL RIGHT. NOVEMBER 1ST IS

GOOD FOR EVERYBODY? >> YES.

>> OKAY, SO THAT ONE IS -- CONSIDER THAT BOOKED. AND THEN

[7.  Upcoming Events Update (C. Everill)]

>> YES, SIR. SO WE HAVE SO, SO MANY EVENTS IN OCTOBER, Y'ALL.

LIKE I'VE BEEN ADDING EVENTS EVERY DAY TO THE CALENDAR, AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR IT FEELS LIKE. SO WE HAVE A WHOLE ARRAY OF EVENTS FOR ANY TYPE OF THING YOU WANT TO DO. AMAZING GRACE FAMILY FARMS FESTIVAL IS EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY IN OCTOBER.

ALSO THAT FIRST FRIDAY AND SATURDAY IN NOVEMBER. AS FAR AS IF YOU'RE WANTING TO GO SEE A THEATER PERFORMANCE, SPOTLIGHT, THE ISLAND THEATER, ORANGE PARK COMMUNITY THEATER, TONS AND TON OF SHOWS BOTH HOLIDAY THEMED FO HALLOWEEN AND CHRISTMAS AND ALS NOT HOLIDAY THEMED. THERE'S ALS A SPOOKY NATURE TRAIL AT CAMP TRAIL THAT'S HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE MONTH AS WELL.

THIS WEEK THERE'S A VIEWING AT THE NIGHT SKY AT GOLD HEADS. YO GET TO LOOK AT THE STARS IN A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. THERE'S GOING TO BE A FIRST ANNUAL FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL HOSTED BY THE CHARMING SISTERS ON OCTOBER 7TH THERE'S, OF COURSE, THE SOUL FOOD FESTIVAL HAPPENING OCTOBER 7TH. ROCK THE BOX HAPPENING OCTOBER 7TH. SO IF YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE PLANS ON OCTOBER 7TH YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF OPTIONS. WE ALSO -- THE USUAL CLARK HOUSE OPEN HOUSE. THERE'S QUITE A FEW CLAY COUNTY CRUISERS EVENTS SUC AS THE THIRD ANNUAL CLASSIC CAR SHOW ON OCTOBER 21ST. ALSO THE 16TH BACK TO THE '50S CAR SHOW ON NOVEMBER 11TH. WE HAVE, OF COURSE, THE FALL FESTIVAL IN ORANGE PARK THAT WE DISCUSSED LAST WEEK. Y'ALL, THERE ARE SO MANY EVENTS. MOOSE HAVEN'S TRICK-OR-TREAT. SCOOTER'S COFFE IS GOING TO START DOING THEIR FIRST SPOOKTACULAR TRICK-OR-TREAT. THERE'S MULTIPL RUNS YOU CAN DO IN JENNING STAT FOREST. THERE'S FOUR OF THEM THAT ARE COMING UP WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. SO IF YOU NEED ANYTHING TO DO THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, GO TO EXPLORECLAY.COM.

THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF. >> VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THAT. I KNOW WE WERE OU AT THE AMAZING GRACE FAMILY FAR ON MONDAY, AND THEY'VE GOT A BEAUTIFUL NEW PIECE OF LAND WHERE THEIR FARM HAS MOVED TO. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE, YOU NEED TO TAKE THE KIDS OUT THERE. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PIECE O PROPERTY. GROWING LIKE CRAZY WHERE THE MAIZE IS, IT'S A FUN

PLACE. >> IT'S GOING TO BE BUSY.

>> MIGHT NEED A NEW PAIR OF SHOES BY THE TIME I GET TO THE END OF THE MONTH. YEAH, IT IS DAUNTING TASK I HAD, BUT WE'LL GET IT DONE SOMEHOW. ALL RIGHT, ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU ALL, APPRECIATE THE TIME TODAY AS ALWAYS VERY VALUABLE. WE KNOW YOUR TIME IS, WE TRY NOT TO -- OH YOU WANT TO, OH YEAH, GO

AHEAD. >> SO WE DO WANT TO REMIND YOU ALL, WE WILL BE HAVING ON NOVEMBER 2ND A VACATION RENTAL VENTURES WORKSHOP FOR ALL OF TH VACATION RENTAL OWNERS IN CLAY COUNTY. WE WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE BEST PRACTICES IN WORKING WITH THE VARIOUS STATE, LOCAL, AND - JUST STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES THAT ARE THERE TO HELP THEM. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR BUSINESS VENTURE IS SUCCESSFUL.

>> AND THAT THEY'RE SIGNED UP S THEY CAN --

>> SO YOU CAN PAY THE TDT. >> VERY GOOD.

>> CLAY COUNTY MARKETING. >> THERE YOU GO, THAT'S RIGHT, EXACTLY. AGAIN, THANKS VERY MUC FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. WE KNOW YO HAVE OTHER THINGS TO DO. WE APPRECIATE -- AND BY THE WAY, BRIAN, GOOD LUCK WITH THE NEW BUILDING. WE KNOW YOU HAVE OTHE THINGS TO DO, AND THIS IS A GOO GROUP AND WE GET A LOT ACCOMPLISHED. THAT'S VERY GRATIFYING. SO THANKS AGAIN, EVERYBODY, HAVE A GOOD MONTH

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.