[Call to Order]
[00:00:19]
SGROMOLO. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. BEFORE WE BEGIN WITH OUR COMMENT PUBLIC SEGMENT OF THE MEETING, I WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
ANDREWS. >> JOHN SGROMOLO, CLAY COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT ONE.
>> KEVIN ROBERT, ACCOMMODATIONS.
TOURISM. >> STEPHANIE LAMB, TOURISM
MANAGER. >> SAMANTHA, PROJECT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER.
>> THANK YOU. WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYBODY TO TODAY'S TOURISM COUNCIL MEETING. WE WOULD OPEN UP NOW TO PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION. IF THERE IS ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADD RESS THE COUNCIL, STAND UP TO THE PODIUM.
[1. Tourist Development Council Meeting Minutes May 7, 2025]
SEEING, NONE, WE'LL MOVE ON.>>> MOVING ON TO APPROVING THE MINUTES.
>> ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES FROM THE MAY 7TH
[2. Advance Travel & Tourism Marketing Update (K. Stichtenoth)]
MEETING SAY AYE. OPPOSED.>>> ITEM TWO, THE TOURISM AND TRAVEL MARKETING UPDATE.
>> AWESOME. WELL, THAT WOULD BE US.
I'LL KYLE STICHTENOTH, THE SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR ADVANCED TRAVEL AND TOURISM, THE ACCOUNT MANAGER FOR CLAY COUNTY TOURISM.
I'M HERE THE BROOKE EPPS OUR CAMPAIGN SPECIALIST.
JUST GOING THROUGH WHAT WE'LL COVER TODAY, I'LL BE BRIEF, TEN MINUTES MAX.
WE'LL DO A HIGHLIGHT ON CAMPAIGN SUCCESSES THAT WE'RE PROUD OF OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS.
WE'LL LOOK AT IMPACTFUL PARTNERSHIPS WE EMBARKED ON, SOME NEW INITIATIVES AND HIGHLIGHT SOME WEBSITE PERFORMANCE BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS MAY HAVE. WE'LL START WITH SOME OVERALL CAMPAIGN SUCCESSES.÷÷THIS IS FROM APRIL THROUGH JUNE. WE PUSHED UP 6.2 MILLION IMPRESSIONS FOR THE EXPLORE CLAY BRAND. THAT'S DROVE 70,000 PEOPLE TO THE WEBSITE. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'LL HIGHLIGHT IS THAT WEBSITE TRAFFIC WAS QUALITY ENGAGED TRAFFIC WHICH IS SOMETHING WE STRIVE FOR. YEAR OVER YEAR PERFORMANCE ON THIS WAS REALLY GOOD TOO, WITHIN THE PLATFORMS WE'RE SERVING, WE'RE GETTING A BETTER RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT WITH BETTER PERFORMANCE THERE.
BROOKE IS GOING TO TALK THROUGH THREE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE CAMPAIGN SPECIFICALLY NOW.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, KYLE. HELLO, EVERYONE.
I WANT TO START WITH OUR VIDEO AD CAMPAIGNS.
THESE ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR CAMPAIGN STRATEGY.
THEY BRING THE CLAY COUNTY DESTINATION TO LIFE.
IT ALLOWS OUR TARGET AUDIENCES TO HAVE AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE OF WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO VISIT CLAY COUNTY. OVER 117,000 OF OUR VIDEO ADS WERE WATCHED IN FULL, WHETHER ONE MINUTE, 30 SECONDS OR 15 SECONDS.
I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT OUR AUDIO ADS.
THESE ARE DELIVERED SPECIFICALLY ON SPOTIFY WHERE THERE ARE TARGET AUDIENCES STREAMING MUSIC OR A PODCAST. WE'RE REACHING THEM WHILE THEY'RE ACTIVELY LISTENING AND TELLING THEM WHY THEY SHOULD EXPLORE CLAY COUNTY.
ALMOST 100% OF THESE AUDIO ADS WERE LISTENED TO IN FULL.
OUR SOCIAL ADS, THESE ARE EXCITING AND WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN WITH THESE ADS. WHETHER IT'S OUR HEY NEIGHBOR OR REACHING OUR LEISURE AUDIENCE, OUR CONTENT IS NOT ONLY INFORMATIVE, BUT INSPIRING.
OVER 151,000 POST ENGAGEMENTS WERE MADE ON OUR ADS, LIKES, COMMENTS, SHARES, SAVES. WE CAN SEE THAT OUR ADS REALLY RESONATED BY THAT NUMBER OF ENGAGEMENTS AND THAT WE'RE REACHING THE RIGHT PEOPLE WITH THE RIGHT CONTENT AT THE RIGHT
WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT SOME OF THOSE SPECIFIC SOCIAL CAMPAIGNS IN A MINUTE. WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTENT WE'RE PUSHING OUT. THE NEXT THING WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS A TARGETED EMAIL CAMPAIGN SUCCESS.
THE GOAL OF THIS WAS TO TARGET THE ORLANDO AREA WITH THE
[00:05:03]
MESSAGE OF EXPLORING A MORE NATURAL VERSION OF FLORIDA.ORLANDO HAS PLENTY OF CONCRETE. WHEN IT COMES TO EXPLORIN A NATURAL SIDE OF FLORIDA, THAT'S WHAT CLAY COUNTY HAS TO OFFER. WE SENT TWO EMAILS, THE FIRST TO 35,000 PEOPLE AND WE SENT ANOTHER ONE TO THE SAME 35,000 CREATING A FREQUENCY. THE INDUSTRY STANDARD IS AROUND ÷÷20%. THIS DROVE A 48% OPEN RATE.
IT SPEAKS TO THE QUALITY LINE OF THE EMAIL AND SPEAKS TO THE EFFECTIVE TARGETING THAT WE HAD OF PEOPLE WHO WERE INTERESTED IN OUTDOOR ADVENTURES.
THAT'S WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE IN THE CONTENT.
WE SUPPORTED THIS EMAIL CAMPAIGN WITH DISPLAY ADS TO ALSO AGAIN CREATE FREQUENCY.
WHEN YOU SEE THINGS THAT SEEM LIKE THEY'RE FOLLOWING YOU AROUND THE INTERNET, THAT'S AN EXAMPLE. NOT JUST SENDING AN EMAIL, BUT ALSO SHOWING AN AD WHERE WE CAN GIVE A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF WHAT CLAY COUNTY HAS TO OFFER.
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN AND OPENS UP OPPORTUNITIES TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO EXPLORE THAT MORE AUTHENTIC ADVENTURE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO OFFER THERE.
>> NEXT WE'LL COVER OUR SOCIAL CAMPAIGNS. A FEW HIGHLIGHTS ON THESE.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CLAY COUNTY TEAM ON THESE PROMOTIONS. THEY GIVE US WITH A WE SHOULD HIGHLIGHT AND PROMOTE. LAST QUARTER WE FOCUSSED ON THE CLAY COUNTY HISTORY PASSPORT. MAY IS THE CLAY COUNTY HISTORY MONTH. WE WANTED TO GET THIS MESSAGING OUT TO NOT ONLY CLAY COUNTY, BUT OUR SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITIES. WE TARGETED HISTORY BUFFS WITH THIS AD DRIVING AWARENESS OF THE SIGNIFICANT PLACES THAT MAKE UP CLAY COUNTY'S HISTORY AND AN INTERACTIVE TOUR ON OUR VISIT WIDGET APP.
IT DID REALLY WELL. OVER 12,000 CLICKS TO THIS AD.
OVER 3,000 POST ENGAGEMENTS. THE NEXT PROMOTION AND REALLY HANDS DOWN TO THE CLAY COUNTY TEAM BECAUSE THIS POST, ALL OF THE CONTENT OF IT, THE IMAGERY, THE COPY, IT WAS THEIR IDEA. WE JUST TOOK IT AND EXPANDED THAT REACH AND AWARENESS OF IT.
IT WAS A TICKET GIVE AWAY FOR THE RODEO AT THE RANCH.
THIS WAS THE FIRST ANNUAL RODEO. WE WERE EXCITED ABOUT IT FROM OUR LAST MEETING. SO IN ORDER TO BE ENTERED TO WIN YOU HAD TO TAG A FRIEND IN THE COMMENTS FOR WHO IS READY FOR A ROOTIN' TOOTIN' GOOD TIME.
IT CAPTIVATED SO MANY EYES. THERE WERE OVER 400 COMMENTS ACTUALLY MADE ON THIS POST.
OVER 4,000 ENGAGEMENTS AND 121 PEOPLE SHARED THIS POST.
WE WERE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THESE TWO PROMOTIONS THAT TOOK PLACE LAST QUARTER.
>> THANK YOU, BROOKE. AS BROOKE MENTIONED, THIS IS REALLY A GOOD COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP, WORKING WITH SHARON, SAMANTHA AND STEPHANIE TO SOURCE WHAT IS GOOD CON TONIGHT.
TEDDY'S NEWER TO THE TEAM, BUT HAS ASKED GREAT QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGED US TO EXPLORE NEW COOL IDEAS AND THINGS. LOOKING AT THESE PARTNERSHIPS, THE FIRST ONE WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS MISTY WELLS.
SHE'S A WORLD CLASS ANGULAR AND HAS A SHOW ON THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL AND CAME TO CAITLIN CLARK CLAY COUNTY TO EXPLORE WHAT CLAY COUNTY HAD TO OFFER. SHE VISITED THE MILITARY MUSEUM, DOWNTOWN GREEN COVE, DID A HOOK AND COOK FISH EXPERIENCE. I GOT AN EMAIL FROM MISTY ABOUT 30 MINUTES AGO. SHE'S REVIEWING A PRESS RELEASE TO PROMOTE THE EPISODE THAT'S COMING. WE HEARD THE PROGRAM IS IN EDITING STILL. WE EXPECT THAT IT'S GOING TO AIR ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH. SOMETIMES THINGS CAN GET CAUGHT UP IN EDITING. IF THAT CHANGES, WE'LL LET THE TEAM KNOW. WHEN OF THE OTHER EXCITING THINGS ABOUT THE MISTY WELLS CAMPAIGN, WE'LL GET ALL THE B ROLL THAT WAS SHOT. THAT'S EXCITING BECAUSE WE CAN INCORPORATE SOME OF THAT FOOTAGE IN THE MARKETING WE'RE DOING FOR CLAY COUNTY.
IT'S NOT JUST A SINGLE- USE VIDEO THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE MOVING FORWARD AS WELL. VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND SEEING THAT IN SEPTEMBER. THE OTHER PARTNERSHIP IS WINGUARD, PART OF A VISITOR GUIDE.
THE FIRST PHASE WAS A TWO-DAY PHOTO SHOOT THAT HAPPENED IN
[00:10:04]
JUNE. IN YOUR PACKETS, YOU DON'T HAVE THE IMAGES. YOU SHOULD SEE THEM ON THE MONITOR NOW. WANTED TO SHOWCASE THE VARIETY OF SOME OF THE THINGS WE WANTED TO CAPTURE. THERE'S NATURAL BEAUTY FROM THE ST. JOHN'S RIVER AND HORSEBACK RIDING ON THE TRAILS, KAYAKING AS WELL. WE WANTED TO SHOW SOME OF THE CULINARY AND THE COFFEE SHOPS AND WE HAVE PHOTOS SHOWING FAMILIES AND KIDS PLAYING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME.THIS IS CONTENT WE'LL EXPLORE USING AS PART OF A VISITORGUIDE AS PHASE TWO. IT'S PART OF OUR ADS THAT WE'RE DOING ON DISPLAY AND SOCIAL AND AS PART OF OUR REGULAR MARKETING CAMPAIGN TOO.
HAVING THOSE NEW, CLEAN, CRISP ASSETS THAT SHOWCASE WHAT CLAY COUNTY HAS TO OFFER IS SOMETHING WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT. AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO PHASE TWO, THE VISITOR GUIDE, WE'LL HAVE OPTIONS ON HOW TO PROCEED WITH THAT. VERY EXCITING.
NEXT UP WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT A NEW INITIATIVE.
THIS WAS A PIECE OF CONTENT WE ENGAGED EXPLORE WITH.
THEY DO TRAVEL- RELATED CONTENT FROM ALL OVER.
THE ARTICLE THAT WE WANTED TO DO WITH THEM WAS AROUND FAMILIES AND DISCOVER WHY CLAY COUNTY IS A FAVORITE AMONG FLORIDA FAMILIES.
GOT A TON OF EXPOSURE. 1. 6 IMPRESSIONS ON THEIR WEBSITE. THEY PUSHED THAT ON THEIR SOCIAL CHANNELS AS WELL. ANOTHER THING I WAS EXCITED ABOUT, WE'VE SEEN HOW SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING HAS CHANGED WITH A.I. CHATGPT IS A WAY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR INFORMATION. THIS IS BEING PULLED IN BY CHATGPT WHEN PEOPLE ARE SEARCHING FOR FAMILY THINGS TO DO IN FLORIDA AND CLAY COUNTY SPECIFICALLY. IT'S EXCITING TO SEE WE'RE GETTING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE AS THEY'RE LOOKING FOR FAMILY THINGS TO DO.
WE'LL LOOK FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THINGS LIKE THIS TO WHERE WE CAN BE IN FRONT OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO DO FUN, COOL STUFF. THAT WAS AN EXCITING THING WE DID AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE THAT CONTENT CONTINUED TO BE PICKED UP BY OTHER PLACES. FINALLY, WE'LL LOOK AT SOME WEBSITE PERFORMANCE. BROOKE IS JUST PHENOMENAL AT NOT ONLY MAKING THESE CAMPAIGNS WORK AND PERFORM, BUT SETTING UP MECHANISMS WITHIN THE WEBSITE SO WE CAN TRACK WHAT PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY COME TO YOUR WEBSITE. IF WE'RE BRINGING 70,000 PEOPLE TO YOUR WEBSITE, THAT'S GREAT, BUT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE DOING WHEN THEY GET THERE.
BROOKE, GIVE US SOME HIGHLIGHTS.
>> THANK YOU, KYLE. WE ANALYZE ONCE OUR AUDIENCE GETS TO THE WEBSITE AND WHAT KEY EVENTS THEY'RE PERFORMING. WHETHER IT'S A VISITOR GUIDE REVIEW, VISITOR GUIDE REQUESTS AND OUTBOUND CLICKS.
WE HAVE ALL OUR THINGS LISTED -- ACTIVITIES, DINING, SHOPPING.
WE TRACK THESE CLICKS. UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR TARGET AUDIENCE IS DOING ONCE THEY GET TO THE WEBSITE -- THINGS TO DO, WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO STAY. WE'RE DEFINITELY REACHING CAMPAIGN USERS, WHICH IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO. THERE WERE OVER A THOUSAND OF THESE OUTBOUND PARTNER CLICKS THAT TOOK PLACE.
NEW USERS IS A VERY IMPORTANT METRIC WE LIKE TO LOOK AT. IT'S OUR GOAL TO CONSISTENTLY BE USING NEW USERS TO CLAY.COM. NEW USERS INCREASED BY 47,649 NEW USERS THAT LEARNED ABOUT EXPLORECLAY.COM. PAGE VIEWS IS ANOTHER THING.
THEY INCREASED 214,000 PLUS PAGES VIEWED. THIS SPEAKS TO NOT ONLY COMING TO OUR WEBSITE LOOKING AT QUALITY.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT OUR BLOGS AND EVENTS CALENDAR AND PLACES TO GO AND PLACES TO STAY.
ANOTHER THING INCREASING YEAR OVER YEAR IS THE WORK THAT THE CLAY COUNTY TEAM DOES. THEY'E CONSISTENTLY UPDATING OUR WEBSITE AND KEEPING THE CONTENT FRESH, WHETHER THROUGH BLOG ARTICLES OR ADDING SO MANY EVENTS TO OUR EVENT CALENDAR.
IN ORDER TO, YOU KNOW, ENSURE THAT OUR WEBSITE -- NOT ONLY OUR CAMPAIGNS, BUT OUR WEBSITE PERFORMANCE ARE BOTH TRACKING, IT IS DEFINITELY A TEAM EFFORT. WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE EXPLORE CLAY COUNTY TEAM.
[00:15:01]
>> WELL SAID, BROOKE. OUR GOAL IS TO DRIVE QUANTITY, QUALITY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S GETTING THE RESULTS AND TRACTION WE WANT.
IT WAS A VERY EFFECTIVE QUARTER FOR THAT.
THANKS FOR LISTENING AND THE PARTNERSHIP. THAT CONCLUDES OUR REPORT.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH.
AHEAD. >> I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.
ON THE ORLANDO LIST THAT WAS AN AWESOME IDEA TO GO THERE.
YOU SHOWED 35,000 THAT WAS ATTRACTING AS FAR AS THE TOTAL LIST.
WHERE DO THOSE PEOPLE COME FROM? HOW DO WE OBTAIN THAT LIST?
>> WE WORK WITH AN EMAIL PARTNER AND IT'S NOT A LIST YOU CAN BUY. THE GENERAL RULE OF THUMB IS IF YOU CAN BUY AN EMAIL LIST, IT'S PROBABLY NOT A QUALITY LIST. WE WORK WITH THEM.
THEY DO A GOOD JOB REFRESHING THAT AND MAKING SURE THOSE EMAIL ADDRESSES ARE ACTIVE AND VALID. IT CONTRIBUTES TO THE FACT THAT IT'S A REAL AN ACTIVE EMAIL ADDRESS. WE IDENTIFY GEOGRAPHICALLY WHERE WE WANT TO TARGET, WHO WE WANT TO TARGET AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE WORK WITH THAT VENDOR TO UNDERSTAND WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN TERMS OF INVENTORY.
THEN WE GO FROM THERE. THAT'S A CAMPAIGN WE CAN REPLICATE IN OTHERSIMILAR MARKETS IF WE WANT TO EXPLORE THAT MOVING FORWARD.
>> IT'S A GREAT IDEA. LAST QUESTION ON THE MISTY WELLS. DID WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT OR WAS IT HER IDEA OR SOMETHING STAFF BROUGHT?
>> THAT WAS A PAID PARTNERSHIP. YOU KNOW, IT'S -- THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT SOCIAL INFLUENCERS OUT THERE AND BRANDS THAT YOU CAN ENGAGE WITH. YOU KNOW, I THINK SOCIAL INFLUENCERS HAVE GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT OF A BAD RAP.
THERE'S AN IN AUTHENTICITY THAT COMES WITH A LOT OF INFLUENCERS.
ARE THEY CREDIBLE? MOST OF US HAVE SEEN EXAMPLES WHERE BIG CELEBRITIES ARE DOING STUFF AND IT DOESN'T SEEM REAL.
WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT MISTY IS SHE HAS AN AUTHENTICITY THAT ALIGNS ÷÷WITH CLAY COUNTY. BROOKE, YOU WANT TO ADD
SOMETHING. >> MISTY WELLS REACHED OUT TO THE CLAY COUNTY TEAM AND WE DID VET HER.
TOOK A LOOK AT HER CONTENT. WE CAME UP WITH WHY WE WOULD RECOMMEND IT. THEN WE DISCUSSED IT WITH THE CLAY COUNTY TEAM AND DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HER PARTNERSHIP.
>> I HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD. MISTY WELLS DID REACH OUT.
WE MET HER AT THE FLORIDA'S GOVERNOR CONFERENCE AND WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE ADVANCED TEAM TO VET HER AND WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
>> IT'S FANTASTIC. I WAS CURIOUS.
IN THE PAST WE FUNDED TV SPOTS, MORE SPORTS- BASED ONES.
THIS IS AN INTERESTING ALTERNATIVE.
I WAS CURIOUS BECAUSE I WANTED TO COMPARE IT TO THE MOTO SPOT.
IS IT ON PAR WITH THAT FOR THE BUDGET?
>> I'M NOT SURESURE THE SPEND WAS FOR MOTO.
>> TO THE POINT OF MISTY, THE DIVERSITY OF THE WATER, THE DOWNTOWN, THE SITES AND SHE WENT SOUTH AND WAS DOING THE TRAILS. YOU GET A GOOD NICHE GROUP OF ENCOMPASSING THE WHOLE COUNTY.
IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE AND FORECAST TO THE MASSES.
>> ESPECIALLY THE COOKING AND STUFF.
THAT'S THE INSPIRATION YOU WANT.
>> IT'S A DIVERSE PIECE WITH SOMEONE WHO IS JUST, QUOTE, A FISHERWOMAN.
>> I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE FINISHED PRODUCT. FOR US AND PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN CLAY COUNTY, IT'S LIKE A SHOWCASE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT WILL BE GOOD TO PUT THAT OUT TO THE MASSES AND DRIVE MORE TRAFFIC TO THE WEBSITE AND YOU GET THE FOLLOWUP.
ONE QUESTION I HAD WAS, HATS OFF TO THE TEAM FOR RODEO AT THE RANCH. THAT EVENT WAS HUGE.
IT WAS AWESOME. I MEAN, IT WAS FANTASTIC.
MY QUESTION IS IS BASED OFF THE SOCIAL NUMBERS, DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY OF THOSE TURNED INTO TICKETS? WHAT WAS THE FEEDBACK FROM RODEO AT THE RANCH? THERE WAS NOWHERE TO SIT SO BY MY LITMUS TEST IT WAS A SELL-OUT. IT WAS AWESOME.
[00:20:01]
HOW MANY TURNED INTO TICKETSALES? >> WE RECEIVED SOME OF THE MATERIAL. I GOT A HEAD COUNT OF ABOUT 2,000 TICKETS SOLD. THEIR MAX NUMBER WAS 3,000.
ACTUALLY WAS CLOSER TO THE 2,000.
THEY FEEL LIKE THEY WERE AT CAPACITY WITH 2,000.
THEY KNOW NEXT YEAR WE'LL DOUBLE BLEACHER SPACE.
THAT'S GOOD. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE SOCIAL NUMBERS THERE AS TO 4,000 POST ENGAGEMENTS AND ABOUT 2,000 TICKETS.
THAT WAS AWESOME. VERY GOOD EVENT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ADVANCE? ALL RIGHT.
[3. Sports Tourism Introduction]
>>> MOVING ALONG, SPORTS TOURISM INTRODUCTION.
>> JUST WANTED TO GO OVER THIS. RECENTLY THE COUNTY WENT UNDER CONTRACT WITH AIRSTREAM VENTURES.
WE WANT TO GIVE YOU GUYS AN IDEA WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD
ALAN VERLANDER. FOR THOSE FAMILIAR WITH OUR COMPANY, WE'RE CALLING ON SPORTING EVENTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND BRINGING THEM INTO CLAY COUNTY.
THAT'S REALLY -- YOU KNOW, WE DON'T NEED TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT IS. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT IT IS.
WE HAVE A NEW TEAM IN PLACE SINCE WE'VE BEEN WORKING BEFORE. BROOKE BARLOW IS ONE OF OUR SALESPEOPLE. SHE WAS ON THE PHONE ABOUT AN EVENT IN CLAY COUNTY. BROOKE LIVES IN TAMPA.
WE HAVE SOMEBODY IN ORLANDO. THEN WE ARE BRINGING ON A NEW PERSON IN COLORADO SPRINGS. ALL THE OLYMPIC GOVERNING BODIES ARE HOUSED IN COLORADO SPRINGS.
IT'S A VERY -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY COMMUNE, BUT IT'S SPECIAL.
U.S. SWIMMING AND GYMNASTICS, THE ONLY ONES THAT AREN'T ARE WINTER SPORTS IN MINNESOTA OR PLACES LIKE THAT.
WE HAVE SOMEBODY BOOTS ON THE GROUND DOING LIFE WITH ALL THE OLYMPIC SPORTS, GETTING ALL THE DIFFERENT EVENTS.
WE NEVER HAD THAT BEFORE. IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG THING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE NEW SPORTS COMPLEX WE BUILT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE TIME WE HAD THE CONTRACT BEFORE, THAT SPORTS COMPLEX CAME ON AS OUR CONTRACT WAS ENDING.
WE NEVER HAD THAT. WE HAD TO MAKE UP A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. IT WORKED WELL.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED. WE HAD A GREAT MEETING.
TEDDY AND JUSTIN AND I EARLIER ON MONDAY HAD A GREAT MEETING TO PUT PROTOCOLS IN PLACE, PROCEDURES IN PLACE. WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS WITH THE UNBELIEVABLE SPORTS COMPLEX AND SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF, YOU'LL SEE A LOT DIFFERENT EVENTS AND MORE EVENTS. WE HAVE FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO MOVE EVENTS TO CLAY COUNTY.
I'M PERSONALLY EXCITED TO BE BACK AND WORKING WITH YOU.
I KNOW OUR ENTIRE TEAM IS. I THINK WE DID ALTOGETHER -- WE HAVEN'T WORKED TOGETHER BEFORE, MR. ANDREWS, BUT ALTOGETHER WE'VE DONE SOME COOL THINGS WITH STAFF AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BE BACK. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> I GOT A AQUESTION. YOU KNOW, PREVIOUSLY HAVING THE CONTRACT, YOU KNOW, WORKING FOR THREE YEARS, YOU WERE WORKING IN CLAY, WHAT ARE SOME -- THIS IS FOR THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE BOARD SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO GUIDE THE DIRECTION OF THE THC.
WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN THE MARKET WHEN PEOPLE REACH OUT TO CLAY COUNTY AND YOU GET INTO NEGOTIATIONS AND THINGS DON'T GET TO THE FINISH LINE? WHAT ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH FOR THE COUNTY THAT WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT FROM A FACILITIES PERSPECTIVE, JUST BEING A HOST? I KNOW IT'S A BROAD
QUESTION. >> I THINK TWO THINGS ARE PROBABLY THE -- WELL, ONE THING.
REALLY THE AIRPORT IS REALLY OUR BIGGEST HURDLE.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PLACES THEY WANT TO FLY RIGHT IN AND THE AIRPORT'S 20 MINUTES AWAY.
NOW, A LOT OF EVENTS WE'RE ABLE TO ATTRACT ARE DRIVABLE EVENTS SO THEY'RE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE SOUTH AND THEY DRIVE INSTEAD OF FLYING.
[00:25:01]
WHEN IT COMES TO OLYMPIC EVENTS, AIRPORTS ARE A BIG DEAL.SO, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO MASK AROUND THAT.
BEFORE, IF YOU HAD ASKED ME TWO YEARS AGO, I WOULD HAVE SAID WE DON'T HAVE ANY GREAT FIELDS. NOW WE DO.
WE'VE CHECKED THAT OFF THE LIST AS BEING A DETRIMENT.
NOW IT'S A HUGE POSITIVE FOR US.
I REALLY THINK -- WE'VE GOT A GREAT GRANT PROGRAM.
LISTEN, EVERYBODY KNOWS SPORTS HAS BECOME -- I SEE JUSTIN BACK THERE AND TEDDY'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME. SPORTS HAS BECOME A PAY TO PLAY INDUSTRY. IT'S BECOME A VERY COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY. WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST GRANT PROGRAM HERE. THAT IS ONE OF THE BETTER ONES IN THE STATE, IF NOT IN THE SOUTH.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY WITH A GREAT FACILITY, NOT JUST THE FLAT FIELDS, WE HAVE A SHOOTING RANGE THAT'S COME ONLINE.
WE HAVE BODIES OF WATER. YOU MARRY THAT WITH A PRETTY ROBUST GRANT PROGRAM AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR WITH NEW STAFF AND NEW INSIGHTS AND VISIONS THAT WILL BE VERY COMPLIMENTARY TO OUR EVENTS WE BRING IN. AS TEDDY AND I HAVE TALKED, WE'LL BRING THEM TO ALMOST THE FINISH LINE. IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE EMPLOYEE OR TOURISM PERSON THAT'S AN ASSET FOR YOU, SOMETIMES YOU LOSE IT AS WELL.
TEDDY'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
THIS STAFF IS A GREAT STAFF. WE'VE WORKED WITH THEM IN THE PAST. I THINK -- I KNOW WE HAVE THE TEAM THAT CAN REALLY DO SOME SPECIAL THINGS OVER THE NEXT FEW
YEARS. >> ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK -- I'VE HAD -- JUST FOR THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE COUNCIL, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF ABOUT THE REGIONAL SPORTS PARK AND, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS. THE COUNTY, THE FORMER COMMISSION, THE STATE DELEGATION WORKED REALLY HARD TO BUILD THAT FACILITY.
IT TAKES TIME AND A LOT OF THINGS HAVE TO FALL INTO PLACE. ONE OF THE THINGS I FORESEE IN THE FUTURE, THE NEXT PHASES OF THAT PARK -- I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT THEY'RE A WAYS AWAY.
I WOULD NOT SEE WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS THAT PHASE TWO AND THREE JUST POP UP WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE COST OF BUILDING THOSE NEXT PHASES. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE AS A COUNCIL SAY HOW CAN WE INVEST OUR MONEY TO MAKE THE CURRENT STRUCTURE AS MARKETABLE AS POSSIBLE. ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK OF IS PARKING. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IF WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO EXPAND THE PARKING LOT WITH THE MONEY THAT WE DO HAVE, I THINK IT CONTINUES TO MAKE THAT SPACE MARKETABLE, MAKE IT USABLE, WHILE NOT HAVING THAT PILE OF MONEY JUST SITTING THERE. MAYBE WE'LL BUILD PHASE TWO AND THREE AND YOU'RE NOT CLOSE TO WHAT YOU HAVE TO FUND. ANY OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT? WE'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT
PARKING. >> PARKING,WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT. THAT IS FOR THESE MASSIVE EVENTS THAT YOU CAN BRING TO EIGHT FIELDS AS WE DISCUSSED. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ADEQUATE
>> BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, I MEAN, I THINK WE CAN ATTRACT GOOD EVENTS THERE THAT ARE BOOKING HOTEL ROOMS, SPENDING MONEY IN OUR RESTAURANTS, RETAIL, ET CETERA. YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING -- HEARING THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND SEEING THE BUDGET MEETING A FEW WEEKS AGO, NOT ONLY THAT BED TAX, BUT BRINGING IN SALES TAX INTO THE COUNTY IS IMPORTANT AS WELL.
YEAH, I THINK -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE -- THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE CREATIVITY WHEN DOING EVENTS. BROOKE WAS TALKING TO AN EVENT TODAY THAT WANTS TO COME TO CLAY COUNTY.
IT'S A TRIATHLON. WE'LL HAVE TO GET CREATIVE ON WHERE WE HOLD THE BODY OF WATER AND STAGING, BUT THEY WANT TO BE HERE.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE A TEAM THAT HAS GREAT CREATIVITY AND A LOT OF EXPERIENCE THAT'S GOING TO SERVE US WELL. WE HAVE A GREAT BOARD THAT SEES THAT. I DON'T WANT TO BLOW SMOKE, BUT IT'S TRUE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE ALL ENGINES FIRING ON ONE LINE AND WE'RE POSITIONED WELL TO DO
>> I THINK YOUR CONTRACT WAS OVER IN APRIL OR
SO. >> IT'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS.
DID WE LOSE ANY BUSINESS WITHIN THAT TIME? HOW DO WE RAMP UP TO KIND OF GET BACK TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE? AS YOU MENTIONED, CLAY COUNTY MAY NOT BE THAT FIRST OR SECOND TIER CITY OR THIRD TIER CITY. WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO OTHER THAN DOLLARS TO GET THESE PEOPLE HERE? WE'RE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL RIGHT NOW AND WE NEED TO
[00:30:03]
JUMP FORWARD.>> THERE IS. LIKE ANY BUSINESS, SPORTS IS A RELATIONSHIP BUSINESS. THE MOMENT THAT WE, YOU KNOW, KNEW WE WERE GOING TO GET THE CONTRACT, WE STARTED MAKING CALLS WITH PEOPLE, HEY, COME BACK.
THE COMMISSIONERS ASKED ME AT THE MEETING, WHEN YOU ALL LOST THE CONTRACT, EVENTS WENT AWAY.
WHY WAS THAT? WE BASICALLY PLACED THE CALL TO THE EVENTS THAT WE'RE NOT WORKING HERE.
BECAUSE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP, THEY SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO WORK THERE EITHER.
WE'LL BRING THOSE BACK AND RELY ON ALL OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS. AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD A FULL CYCLE OF THE SPORTS COMPLEX TO BE ABLE TO MARKET THAT. WE'VE BUILT A LOT OF GREAT FLAT FIELD RELATIONSHIPS. TEDDY HAS A LOT FROM HIS EXPERIENCE. FROM ALL OF US -- JUSTIN HAS A GOOD PLAN OUT THERE AS WELL. RELYING ON ALL OF THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND JUST BRINGING THEM TO THE FOREFRONT AND THEN PARLAYING IT WITH A GREAT GRANT AND PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND -- I THINK WE CAN TURN IT PRETTY QUICKLY.
I WOULDN'T SAY THAT IF I DIDN'T BELIEVE
IT. >> SO IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF MAYBE DOING A FAM?
AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO DO WITH SCHEDULING.
THE HARD PART OF FAMS IN SPORTS IS THESE SPORTING EVENTS ARE GOING ALL THE TIME.
TRYING TO FIND THEM. THEY WANT BREAKS TOO LIKE WE WANT BREAKS. FINDING THE RIGHT SPORTS THAT MAKE SENSE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND INVITING THEM WOULD BE HUGE. YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WANTS TO COME TO FLORIDA. SO, YOU KNOW, WE COULD DO THAT.
WE HAVE TO PLAN IT OUT RIGHT. A LOT OF IT IS GETTING TO THESE.
WE'LL BE GOING BACK TO THESE CONFERENCES.
SPORTS ETA, TEAMS, THE FLORIDA SPORTS FOUNDATION DOES AN ANNUAL SUMMIT MEETING. IT'S ALL THESE SPORT TOURISM COMMISSIONS AROUND THE STATE OF FLORIDA -- WE WERE IN VERO BEACH THIS PAST YEAR.
THEY BRING IN ABOUT 30 EVENT RIGHTS HOLDERS YOU CAN TALK TO AND MEET WITH.
WE WERE DOING THAT AS WELL HOPING AND COUNTING ON THE FACT THAT WE MAY GET THE CLAY CONTRACT BACK. I DON'T THINK WE'VE -- WE DEFINITELY LOST SOME EVENTS, RIGHT, BUT I DON'T THINK WE LOST GROUND FOR THE FUTURE.
>> DAVID, IF I COULD ADD TO THAT TOO.
I THINK WITH THE NEW -- WHETHER IT'S NEW OR RENEWED PARTNERSHIP,÷÷SPEAKING TO ALAN'S AND HIS COMMENTS ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS, THE SYNERGY BETWEEN PARKS AND REC IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT. THE BIG KEY AT THE SPORTS COMPLEX, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LOST EVENTS OR EVENTS THAT ARE COMING, WE WANT TO FIND THE RIGHT EVENTS THAT ARE GOING TO GO THERE AND WANT TO COME BACK. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PARKING, IT'S THE VISION WITH THE RIGHTS HOLDER ABOUT HOW THE EVENT IS GOING TO RUN WITH THE FACILITY WE HAVE. I CAN TELL YOU, THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE WANTING TO USE THE FACILITY. IF THIS ONE COMPLAINS ABOUT THE PARKING, WE CAN FIND ANOTHER ONE THAT WON'T.
THEY'LL MAKE THEM OVER THREE DAYS, TWO DAYS, A MORNING AND AFTERNOON SESSION, WE'RE READY TO DO THAT.
THE DIFFERENCE IS THE CONVERSATIONS WE'RE HAVING IS PROBABLY DIFFERENT ON THE VISION AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE FACILITY THAT MAY HAVE DIDN'T HAPPEN BEFORE.
>> I'M GOING TO PIGGY BACK TOO. TEDDY IS -- THE COUNTY COMMISSION MADE SOME -- I COMMEND THEM FOR MAKING THE DECISIONS THEY DID. WHEN THE PARK OPENED, THEY PROTECTED IT, AS THEY SHOULD.
IT'S A BIG INVESTMENT. I THINK JUSTIN CAN PROBABLY PIGGY BACK AT THIS POINT IT'S WIDE OPEN. IT'S READY TO ROLL.
THE GRASS HAS GROWN IN. THERE'S NO MORE LIMITATIONS.
WHEN IT FIRST OPENED, THERE WAS A LOT OF LIMITATION, AS THERE HAD TO BE.
YOU MAKE THIS BIG FINANCIAL INVESTMENT AND TEAR IT UP, THEN IT'S NOT A NICE INVESTMENT ANYMORE. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT PIECE OF IT. IF YOU WERE TO LOOK INTO RENTING THE FACILITY PREVIOUSLY, THERE WERE SOME BLACK- OUT TIMES AND ALL THAT HAS BEEN LIFTED.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP. JUSTIN, COME ON, YOU CAN SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
>> HOW YOU DOING? COMMISSIONER, YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE STARTED A CRAWL, WALK, RUN APPROACH WHEN THE FACILITY FIRST OPENED. SINCE THEN WE'RE DOING THINGS WITH BALANCING THAT ACCESS AND PROTECTING THE FIELDS. WE HAVE FOUR OR FIVE
[00:35:04]
DEDICATED PARKING SPACES OUTSIDE THE GATE AND A PEDESTRIAN ACCESS FIELD AS WELL AS ENJOYING THE TRAIL. AS FAR AS RENTING THE FACILITIES, WE HAVE EVERYTHING OPEN.EVERYTHING IS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
WE HAD THE WINTER PORTION CLOSED.
WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 40, THE GRASS DOESN'T GROW.
NOW THAT WE'RE IN THE SECOND- YEAR CYCLE, WE'RE LOOKING AT EVENTS CASE BY CASE AND SAYING CAN WE HAVE AN EARLY ÷÷NOVEMBER AND LATE NOVEMBER AND MID DECEMBER TO LATE JANUARY. WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS FOR ANY EVENT THAT WANTS TO COME DOWN. WE'RE WILLING TO TALK.
WE SPOKE EARLIER, THERE'S A LOT OF USER GROUPS THAT WANT MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ACCESS.
ON THE RECREATION SIDE, OUR STAFF IS STARTING TO DO SOME PROGRAMMING. WE HAVE A FLAG FOOTBALL PROGRAM STARTING. WE HAVE A MOMMY AND ME WALKING GROUP STARTING. WE'RE VERY EXCITED.
>> I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. WE HAVE GROUPS NOT COMING BACK.
HAVE WE PUT A NUMBER TO HOW MUCH WE WERE SPENDING THAT WE'LL GET BACK INTO THE BUDGET TO PUT TOWARDS FUTURE EVENTS?
>> SO WE DIDN'T BUDGET ANY OF OUR GRANT FUND FOR '24/'25 FISCAL YEAR. WE DIDN'T REALLY LOSE ANY MONEY. WE STILL HAVE THAT MONEY IN THE BUDGET WE CAN USE FOR THE GRANTS COMING TODAY. IF THOSE GRANTS COME NEXT YEAR, THE REQUESTS COME NEXT YEAR FOR 2025/2026 WE HAVE TO BUDGET FOR
THOSE. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ALAN? THANKS. WELCOME BACK.
QUICK QUESTION ON THAT JUST ABOUT THE BUDGETING.
GREAT QUESTION, KEVIN. IS ANY OF THAT ROLLOVER? HOW DOES THAT WORK? FOR INSTANCE, IF WE GET TO THE ENDS OF THE FISCAL CALENDAR AND WE HAD $70,000 IN GRANT FUNDS LEFT IS THAT ROLLOVER? HOW DOES THAT WORK?
>> NORMALLY IT GOES INTO RESERVES DEPENDING ON HOW WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD GOING INTO NEXT YEAR BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT WIDE OPEN CALENDAR FOR THE SPORTS COMPLEX. I'LL REFER THAT TO TEDDY.
WE DID BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT IT, ÷÷BUT HE HAD MORE
INFORMATION. >> YEAH, I THINK TO THE GRANT ACTUAL A LLOTMENT SOME OF IT INVOLVES SIX AS WELL, WHICH I'LL BRING UP MORE. IT GOES INTORESERVES.
THE BUDGETED AMOUNT IS $250,000 FOR NEXT YEAR.
THERE'S ONE GRANT ON HERE THAT WOULD GO TO THAT.
I WOULD -- I GUESS TO GIVE A BETTER PHRASE, MY PLAN IS TO TALK MORE ON SIX AND BRING STUFF IN SEPTEMBER TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ON HOW THE GRANTS LOOK AND HOW THEY'RE DIVIED UP IN POTS AND BUCKETS AND A STRATEGY GOING FORWARD ON BEST
PRACTICES. >> I THINK ALL OF YOU CAN APPRECIATE THERE'S BIG EVENTS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE MONEY TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT.
WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GET NEW EVENTS.
IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE THIS BALANCING
ACT. >> I THINK THAT'S ALONG THE LINES WHERE I WAS GOING. WE HAVE EVENTS THAT WERE COMING BACK EVERY YEAR AND WE WERE FUNDING THOSE.
WHICH ONE OF THOSE ARE NOT COMING BACK? I KNOW THEY'RE NOT APPROVED AS OF YET.
WE ANTICIPATE THEM TO COME BACK AND BE
SORRY. I MISUNDERSTOOD YOUR QUESTION.
THE GRANTS THAT DIDN'T COME THIS YEAR FOR THE EVENTS THAT LEFT, THEY WEREN'T LARGE AMOUNTS.
I THINK ONE WAS $1,500 AND ONE WAS $3,500.
IT WASN'T HUGE AMOUNTS. YOU'LL SEE THAT IN OUR
[4. Legislative Update (T. Meyer/C. Latham)]
LEFTOVER AMOUNT FOR THIS YEAR.>> VERY GOOD. THAT WAS OUR SPORTS TOURISM INTRODUCTION. MOVING ON TO THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.
>> I JUST WANTED TO GO OVER -- I KNOW THE LAST MEETING IN MAY WAS ACTUALLY MY INTRO.
I JUST -- THERE'S OBVIOUSLY LEGISLATION FOR THOSE AND THE ACCOMMODATIONS.
YOU WERE AWARE OF THE TWO BILLS ÷÷AT THE TIME THAT WERE UP FOR, LET'S SAY, A SLASH IF YOU WILL.
THAT WAS BASICALLY VOTED DOWN AND SO I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW, IN CASE YOU HAD SEEN IT, ÷÷THERE WAS ONE PROVISION THAT WAS ALLOWED.
THERE WAS TWO. ONE WAS FOR LIFE GUARDS.
[00:40:01]
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT ISSUE.THE UPDATES TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE COUNTY.
IT SPEAKS TO 'SENL ESSENTIALLY WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO DO IN THE LARGER COUNTIES THAT HAVE AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF TDC MONEY, ÷÷THEY WANTED TO LOWER IT. IF YOU'RE IN ORANGE COUNTY OR SEMINOLE, 20% OF 2, $3 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND STORM WATER.
THEY SAID IF YOU HAVE A LOW AMOUNT, CURRENTLY COUNTIES COLLECTING AT LEAST 10 MILLION ANNUALLY, BUT HAVE A FINANCIAL ISSUE, YOU CAN USE PART OF THAT. YOU CAN DEEM PART OF THAT OF YOUR TDC DIRECTED OUTSIDE OF TDC FUNDING.
I WANTED TO MENTION IT AND BRING IT TO YOU GUYS BECAUSE YOU PROBABLY HEARD THAT IN THE LEGISLATION, SOME IN THE NEWS.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD THAT.
THAT WAS IT. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? GOOD. THE NEXT PIECE, WE LEFT IT UNDER THE BED TAX COLLECTION. IF YOU JUST -- OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH IT LIKE AN ABACUS. THE BIG NUMBER FOR ME IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE YEAR TO DATE OVER PRIOR YEAR, 2%, THE LAST LINE, IF YOU TAKE ALL OF THOSE, WE'RE AT 3.3.
WE'RE AHEAD. OBVIOUSLY AT THE BOTTOM KEEP IN MIND COLLECTIONS ARE GENERALLY A MONTH BEHIND THE LODGING SALES TRANSACTION. IF YOU LOOK AT THEM MONTH BY MONTH, YEAR BY YEAR WE'RE TRENDING ANYWHERE FROM, YOU KNOW, 50, 60 GRAND INCREASE ON THE 3.3%. YOU CAN GO BACK TO COVID.
INTERESTINGLY IF YOU'RE IN THE TOURISM WORLD AND YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN '21 AND '22, A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK AT THAT AND SAY THAT WAS BECAUSE FLORIDA OPENED RIGHT AWAY.
FLORIDA WAS NEVER CLOSED. FLORIDA HAS THIS PLACE AND THERE'S PEOPLE IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY THAT WILL SPEAK NOW AND PROBABLY THE LAST FIVE OR SIX MONTHS ABOUT A FLORIDA HANGOVER.
THEY'VE BEEN HERE SO THEY'RE GOING OTHER PLACES NOW.
THAT'S A TALKING POINT IN SOME OF THE SITUATIONS.
THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE INCREASE.
THEN WE'LL PROBABLY TREND MAYBE RIGHT UNDER 1. 8, 1.9.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT AS YOU DIGEST? THE LAST ONE WAS THE HOTEL DATA.
THINGS THAT STICK OUT, THE OCCUPANCY RATE 79.1, A LOT HIGHER THAN THE OTHER FOUR COUNTIES.
I WILL ADD THAT, IF YOU -- WE GOT THIS FROM SAM EARLIER.
THERE'S A TOWN PLACE SUITES OPENING UP AND THERE'S SOME ISSUES WITH SHIPPING AND FURNITURE. THEY'RE A LITTLE BEHIND.
THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY CHANGE THE OCCUPANCY AND BED TAX GOING FORWARD.
THAT WILL BE A NICE EDITION. THE ADR IS GOOD, VERY SIMILAR.
REVENUE IS GOOD. OTHER THAN THAT, THERE'S NOT A TON OF HIGHLIGHTS. JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION AND SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
[5. Event Marketing Grant Update (S. Lamb)]
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, TEDDY.WE'LL GO TO ITEM FIVE, THE EVENT AND MARKETING GRANT UPDATE.
>> THIS WILL PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE MONEY WE HAVE STILL IN OUR GRANT FUND. GOING INTO OUR FISCAL YEAR 24/25÷÷WE HAVE TWO MONTHS LEFT. AS YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE A REMAINING BALANCE OF $85,005. WE HAVE PAID OUT $135,500 THIS YEAR. WE HAVE A FEW GRANTS OUTSTANDING THAT NEED TO BE PAID.
WE'RE WAITING ON THE MATERIAL. IN THE PAST WEEK I RECEIVED THE RANCH AT THE RODEO. STILL DISSECTED THAT.
INSPIRED DANCE COMPETITIONS. I MARKED INSPIRED AS PAID BECAUSE I KNOW HOW MUCH THEY'LL GET BACK.
THEY'LL GET BACK THE FULL 22.5. WE CAN ADD THAT TO OUR
[00:45:06]
REMAINING BALANCE THERE. YOU CAN SEE THE EVENTS THAT CANCELED AT THE BOTTOM. THIS GOES BACK TO YOUR QUESTION.RUGBY AND LACROSSE, THEY BOTH CANCELED IN 2024.
THEN PRO WATER CROSS WANTED TO HAPPEN, BUT THEY COULDN'T GET THE FULL AMOUNT OF THEIR GRANT.
AT THE LAST MEETING WE RECOMMENDED A $15,000 GRANT.
THEY COULDN'T MAKE IT HAPPEN. THEY NEEDED 30.
THEY DID CANCEL THEIR EVENT. YOU CAN SEE IN THIS ONE HERE WE HAVE THREE GRANTS COMING UP TONIGHT.
TWO OF WHICH ARE IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 24/25.
THERE'S ONE IN 25/26. THERE'S THE CLAY COUNTY PRO RODEO AND I HAVE THE PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT.
THEY'RE BOTH LARGER EVENTS, ASKING FOR LARGER AMOUNTS.
IF YOU DECIDE TO RECOMMEND THE FULL AMOUNTS FOR THOSE GRANTS, WE WOULD STILL BE AHEAD DEPENDING ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT. IF YOU GRANT THOSE FULL AMOUNTS, WE'LL HAVE $43,805 LEFT FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
OUR THIRD EVENT IS A REOCCURRING÷÷EVENT.
IT'S A SIGNATURE EVENT. TEDDY WILL GO INTO THE -- HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SPONSORSHIPS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
THEY ARE ASKING OR 15 GRAND. THAT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF OUR 25/26 BUDGET. AS OF RIGHT NOW THAT'S $250,000. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THE BUDGET CYCLE IS OCTOBER 1ST TO OCTOBER 1ST, RIGHT?
>> YES, SIR. SEPTEMBER 30TH TO OCTOBER 1 ST.
>> $250,000 IS OUR TOTAL BUDGET FOR GRANTS?
>> WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS YEAR AND --
>> SO RIGHT NOW SCHEDULED FOR NEXT YEAR WE HAVE $250,000.
TEDDY'S GOING TO TOUCH ON THAT FOR 25/26 WITH AN OPTION TO POSSIBLY INCREASING THAT BECAUSE WE'RE EXPECTING SO MANY NEW SPORTS EVENTS COMING.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS FISCAL
YEAR. >> HOW MUCH DID WE START WITH?
>> THAT WAS A GOOD QUESTION. WILL WE BE ABLE TO TELL HOW MUCH THE RODE I CAN'T AT THE RANCH IF THEY BROUGHT ANY ROOM NIGHTS? CAN WE SAY THAT?
>> THEY DIDN'T PROVIDE ANY. THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY ROOM BLOCKS GOING INTO IT.
YEAH. >> WE'LL SEE THAT IN OUR NEXT HOTEL REPORT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE CURRENT GRANT UPDATE? YOU SAID AS OF TODAY, FOR THIS -- FOR THE 24/25 BUDGET WE HAVE $85,005 LEFT?
>> OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STEPHANIE REGARDING THE CURRENT BUDGET FOR THAT?
[6. Sponsorship/Signature Event/Product Development Grant Discussion (T. Meyer)]
NOPE. OKAY.ALL RIGHT. ITEM NUMBER SIX THE SPONSORSHIP SIGNATURE EVENT AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION.
>> YES, STEPHANIE GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE.
THAT ONE'S PERFECT. JUST TO BE SOMEWHAT CANDID GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF THE GRANT PROGRAMS, IT'S KIND OF LIKE AN EVALUATION, RE-EVALUATION. WE'VE BEEN HERE ROUGHLY TWO MONTHS OR SO. AS I GO THROUGH THIS WITH STAFF AND THEY ARE TREMENDOUS WITH ALL THE QUESTIONS I ASK AND HOW DO YOU DO THIS AND QUALIFY FOR THAT, IT'S APPARENT YOU HAVE TWO OR THREE GRANT PROGRAMS THAT DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TRANSPARENCY. WHAT I GUESS -- MORE OF A DISCUSSION FOR YOU AND I HAVE THIS UP FOR A REASON POINTING TO THE BUDGET AS WELL, I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION MY PLAN FOR SEPTEMBER WOULD BE TO BRING THESE GRANTS BACK WITH PARAMETERS, WITH FLUIDITY, WITH -- ALMOST LIKE A SMALL PRESENTATION ON EACH ONE SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHERE WE NEED TO GO. A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH -- I'LL BE HONEST, ACCEPTING THIS ROLE, SOME OF THE RESEARCH I DID AT PREVIOUS TDC MEETINGS AND WATCHING THEM AND HOW THINGS WERE HANDLED, MY CONCERN COMING ON STAFF IS MORE OF THE AWARENESS OF TO SOME DEGREE HELPING OUT OUR ADMIN STAFF, OUR TOURISM STAFF AND YOU AS A BOARD IN THE SENSE THAT WE HAVE TO STAND BEHIND SOME OF THE DECISIONS WE MAKE.
IF WE DON'T HAVE A FLUID, TRANSPARENT PROCESS
[00:50:03]
THAT'S MORE PARAMETER BASED, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY NO TO SOMEONE IN THIS PUBLIC FORUM.THE REASON I HAVE IT AS SIX, YOU CAN SEE THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. WE ALSO HAVE A SPONSORSHIP SITUATION WHICH WE'RE WORKING THROUGH INTERNALLY WHICH WAS GROUPS FOR SPONSORSHIP, BUT THEY WERE ALSO SIGNATURE EVENTS.
WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT. PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT IS A WHOLE OTHER PIECE. YOU CAN GET A GRANT TO HELP SOMETHING THAT WOULD AID IN TOURISM FOR THE COUNTY.
WE'RE CURRENTLY -- THERE WAS AN AWARD FOR THE BARTRAM TRAIL SOCIETY. THEY'RE WORKING FOR THINGS -- IF YOU'RE AWARE OF WILLIAM TRAM, IT'S EXTENSIVE.
STAFF HAS BEEN, AGAIN, EXTREMELY EXEMPLARY, TO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF TIGHTENING THIS THING UP.
MORE SO ON THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, BUT ALSO HONESTLY TO GET MORE COMPETITIVE.
THE QUESTION YOU ASKED ABOUT THE GRANTS AND WHAT WE LOST, RIGHT? TO ME I LOOK AT IT MORE LIKE I WOULD RATHER GO TO THE 300, 325 AND MAKE THINGS MORE COMPETITIVE WITHIN THE COUNTY TO GET MORE QUALITY THAN NECESSARY QUANTITY, BOTH FOR THE SPORTS COMPLEX AND THE WATERWAYS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND IN OTHER AREAS WE'RE LOOKING AT. ONE OF THE GRANTS IS HUB PICKLEBALL, WHICH WAS AN AMAZING AWARENESS OF A GROUP REDOING PART OF ORANGE PARK AND THE COUNTRY CLUB.
I WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF WHERE I THINK WE'LL BRING YOU IN SEPTEMBER AND YOU CAN SOME AWARENESS AND FLUIDITY AND KIND OF FEEL FREE TO POKE HOLES AND GIVE US THE ONE- TWO, IF YOU WILL.
>> THAT'S REALLY GOOD, TEDDY. A COUPLE THINGS I WANT TO SAY AND HEAR THE OPINIONS OF THE COUNCIL.
WATCHING FROM AFAR, YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR TWO MONTHS.
I'VE BEEN HERE SEVEN MONTHS. BEING IN THE COMMUNITY, THIS COUNCIL SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK ALL OF YOU DID AND STAFF TO BUILD THIS MODEL OF GRANTS.
I THINK IT WAS GREAT HOW THEY BUILT IT. NOW TEDDY, YOU'RE READY TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
I WANT TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON HIS COMMENTS.
YOU MENTIONED 3, 320, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT GRANTS?
>> YEAH. PART OF THE OTHER PROCESS IS IF YOU LOOK AT THESE AMOUNTS -- SORRY. YOU HAVE 95, 14, 111.
IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE AND THEN WE HAVE TO BE -- WE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THOSE DOLLAR AMOUNTS AND THEN PUT THE GRANTS IN THE ÷÷RIGHT BUCKETS SO WE'RE BUDGETING THE RIGHT WAY.
WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THE COMPLEX IS GOING TO INCREASE AND -- THAT'S THE OTHER PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
ONE SECOND. THE RED LIGHT IS ON WHICH MEANS THEY CAN'T HEAR US.
>> SO PART OF IT IS IS THE GRANT PROCESS AND THE OTHER PART IS HOW WE'RE LOOKING TO BUDGET.
>> THAT'S MY THOUGHT IS BRINGING YOU BACK TO PARAMETERS AND GUIDELINES FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE SO YOU GET A FULL FEEL.
>> I THINK IT'S GREAT TO HEAR. YOU KNOW, I THINK --
>> THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO UTILIZE
[00:55:02]
SOME OF OUR A.I. DATA AS WELL. SO THE POST EVENT WITH A.I. GETTING A FULL FEEL OF WHAT EXACTLY THE EVENT -->> I KNOW LAST YEAR -- YEAH, LAST YEAR, I THINK THE BOARD DID A LOT OF WORK ONCOMING UP WITH SOME PARAMETERS ON SCORING.
>> I THINK THE SCORING WOULD REMAIN THE SAME.
IT'S MORE ABOUT WHAT ORGANIZATIONS AND RIGHTS HOLDERS GO IN THE RIGHT GRANT. I THINK THAT'S KIND OF BEEN MISSED. THERE'S SOME DELIVERABLES IN THERE THAT WE HAVEN'T STRESSED FROM THE BEGINNING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING THE QUALITY OF THE EVENT IN CLAY COUNTY.
>> SO IF YOU LOOK ATAT OF THESE -- LIKE THE SIGNATURE EVENTS. YOU HAVE SCOTTISH GAMES AND THE AGRICULTURAL AFFAIR, THE TOWN OF ORANGE PARK SIMILAR.
I'M NOT SURE IT'S AT THE SAME LEVEL.
IT GETS A LOT OF PEOPLE, DON'T GET ME WRONG.
I'M NOT SURE IT'S AT THE SAME LEVEL OF IMPACT.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE HEAT MAPS SPECIFICALLY.
THE OTHER PARTS ABOUT THAT, LIKE, YOU CAN MAKE A CLASS THAT SOME OF THE MOOSE HAVEN EVENTS ARE SIMILAR TO ORANGE PARK WITH THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE, BUT THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE OVERNIGHT STAY BECAUSE THEY'RE A ONE- NIGHT THING.
YOU GET INTO THESE THINGS, THE SCOTTISH GAMES, THEY ALMOST REFUSE TO GO TO TWO DAYS. THEY COULD INCREASE IT TWO FOLD AND MAKE A BIGGER IMPACT ON THE COUNTY AND VALIDATE SOME OF THAT 35,000 THEY'RE ACTUALLY GETTING.
>> THE OTHER INTERESTING THING IS AND I HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH JUSTIN AND ALAN.
THERE'S ALSO AN INTERESTING PIECE THAT ON THE SPORTS EVENTS SIDE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T CONSIDER. IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE TDC BOARD COULD ENTERTAIN. MY SON PLAYS HIGH- LEVEL SOCCER AND HE'S A REFEREE. WHEN I WAS DOING WORK IN ST.
JOHNS COUNTY WE DID DUE DILIGENCE ON ECONOMIC IMPACT.
IF YOU HAVE A WATER EVENT, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT GAS AND ICE AND ALL THESE THINGS THAT GO INTO THE IMPACT.
THAT IS PART OF THE TOURISM PIECE.
THE REASON I BRING UP THE REFEREEING IS THAT WE'VE HAD -- WE HAD TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT SOCCER ORGANIZATIONS THAT PAID REFEREES. SOME OF THEM WERE -- A WEEKEND TOURNAMENT PAYING REFEREES 30, $40,000. ON THE SURFACE IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY. IT'S INTRIGUING IF YOU LOOK AT THE ZIP CODES FOR THOSE REFEREES.
IN ONE INSTANCE $43,000 WAS PAID OUT TO OVER TWO WEEKENDS OF TOURNAMENTS. IN ACTUALITY $37,000 OF THAT WAS IN COUNTY ZIP CODES. ECONOMIC IMPACT IS GOING RIGHT BACK INTO THE POCKET OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE COUNTY.
THERE IS KIND OF AN INTERESTING PIECE TO EXTRAPOLATE FURTHER. I DON'T WANT TO GO TOO CRAZY.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT CLAY COUNTY SOCCER CLUB OR I-9, IF THEY GO TO TAMPA OR ORLANDO, 20, 30 TEAMS, HOW MUCH WOULD THAT COST THEM TO GO THERE INSTEAD OF STAYING HERE? THERE'S ALSO AN ADVANTAGE AS AN RESIDENT NOT HAVING TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
BED TAX IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, BUT THERE'S OTHER FACTORS THAT ARE INTRIGUING AS WELL.
THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I WANT TO LOOK AT.
[01:00:01]
STAFF IS AWARE OF IT AND THEY ALMOST -->> JUST WHAT I'M HEARING FROM YOU IS YOU'RE CHANGING THE TOOL OF MEASUREMENT.
INSTEAD OF HAVING A WHOLE BUNCH OF EVENTS, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE RETURN OF INVESTMENT. IS THAT TRUE?
>> I THINK THAT'S PART OF IT. I THINK IT'S PART OF IT.
TO THE POINT OF, LIKE, I REFERENCE LOCAL PEOPLE, WHY CAN'T WE CREATE HEADS AND BEDS AND AT THE SAME TIME CREATE A THING WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO ANYWHERE AND STAY HERE. THEY'RE HAVING QUALITY COME INTO THEIR EVENT. YOU CAN VIEW IT BOTH WAYS.
>> IF CLAY COUNTY SOCCER HAS 30 TEAMS THAT GOES TO TAMPA AND THEY HOST A TOURNAMENT IN CLAY COUNTY, IT'S A GET.
>> WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE THAT WE MAYBE STEP THE GRANT WHERE WE SAY BASED ON WHAT YOU'VE GIVEN US WE GIVE YOU THIS AMOUNT, BUT IF YOU CAN DO THIS, THERE'S MORE AVAILABLE?
>> TALKING ABOUT THE OVERALL BUDGET OF THE GRANT?
>> OR WHAT EACH RIGHTS HOLDER WOULD GET?
>> WHAT THEY POTENTIALLY COULD GET.
>> I THINK -- LOOK, THE PARAMETERS OF THE GRANTS ARE GOOD, BUT A LOT OF THE DELIVERABLES HAVE TO BE TIGHTENED UP. THE POST EVENT IS A LOT OF ROOM NIGHTS, BUT THERE'S OTHER DELIVERABLES THEY SHOULD BE GIVING US ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE GIVING THEM.
BED TAX IS A BIG PIECE OF THAT. THERE'S THE BENEFIT TO THE CLAY COUNTY CITIZEN AS WELL.
>> SO JUST TO GO BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID, I THINK AT SOME POINT IN TIME YOU SHOULD DO LIKE AN -- YOU HAVE PAY TO PLAY. IS IT NOW JUST LOOKING TO PROMOTING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO JUST KEEP THEIR BUSINESS -- I'M LOST ON THAT. ARE WE GOING TO PROMOTE --
>> I WAS GIVING MORE OF THOSE EXAMPLES OF OTHER PARTS OF ECONOMIC -- A LOT OF PIECES PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT. TRUST ME, WE'RE GOING AFTER THINGS REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY.
I FEEL LIKE WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF LEVERAGING THE LOCAL GROUPS TO BRING IN THINGS FROM THE OUTSIDE.
THAT'S PART OF THAT RELATIONSHIP SITUATION AND TRYING TO PUSH THEM TO USE MORE OF OUR FACILITIES, FACILITIES THEY MAY NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT.
THAT' THE OTHER PIECE TOO. WITH THE REGIONAL SPORTS COMPLEX, THE WATERWAYS, WE HAVE TO BE THINKING ABOUT WHERE WE CAN HOST THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO CREATE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ALSO ARE NOT GOING TO --
>> ANYTHING ELSE ON ITEM NUMBER SIX? I LOOK FORWARD TO SEPTEMBER. I THINK THIS GROUP WILL BE READY TO POKE HOLES IN IT AND WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE IT THE
[7. Funding Agreement with Clay County Economic Development Corporation regarding Feasibility Study (T. Meyer)]
BEST IT CAN BE.THANK YOU GUYS FOR WHAT YOU DO.
WE'LL MOVE ON. THE NEXT ITEM IS THE FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH CLAY COUNTY --
>> SO YOU GUYS REMEMBER THE TDC APPROVED LAST YEAR PHASE ONE OF THE HOTEL STUDY THROUGH THE EDC.
THEY CAME BACK AND ASKED THE COUNTY TO CONDUCT A PHASE TWO. PHASE ONE CAME OUT POSITIVE.
THEY WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SECOND PHASE.
DUE TO THE TIMING OF THE TDC MEETINGS AND TIMING OF THIS PROJECT, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MOVED FORWARD WITH AUTHORIZING THAT PHASE TWO DEVELOPMENT. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR TODAY IS REALLY THE TDC SUPPORT TO BASICALLY FUND THAT STUDY OUT OF TDC FUNDS AND TRANSFER THAT MONEY BACK. I'M HERE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER.
>> IT'S NOT THE GRANT POD. AFTER WE'RE DONE WITH THIS ITEM,÷÷I WAS GOING TO TALK TO YOUR LAST
[01:05:02]
ITEM TO MAKE SURE YOU -- TIMING- WISE FOR SOME OF THE DECISIONS YOU NEED TO MAKE.>> THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WAS EXTREMELY --
>> I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY.
IF ALL THAT COMES TO FRUITION, IT'S GOING TO MAKE WAY MORE.
COULD YOU GIVE SOME FEEDBACK ON PHASE ONE?
>> I WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO DO THAT IN A PUBLIC FORUM.
>> I DIDN'T SIGH EE A WHOLE LOT OF BENEFIT IN DOING THIS STUDY AND HOW IT WAS GOING TO BENEFIT TOURISM. I KNOW IT'S ABOUT PUTTING IN ANOTHER HOTEL OR COMPLEX, WHICH --
>> I WOULD DIRECT THOSE QUESTIONS TO THE EDC.
I WOULD DIRECT THOSE IF YOU HAVE INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS, I WOULD DEFINITELY DIRECT THOSE TO THE EDC. YOU CAN PROBABLY INDIVIDUALLY HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THAT STAFF.
>> ONE QUICK QUESTION. HOW DO YOU -- THIS IS THE SECOND ITERATION OF THE STUDY. DO YOU BY CHANCE KNOW IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ITERATION THREE AND FOUR OR IS THIS THE FINAL?
>> WHAT I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT PHASE TWO IS -- PHASE ONE BASICALLY SAID IT'S PROMISING. PHASE TWO IS REALLY LOOKING AT ECONOMIC INCENTIVES THAT THE COUNTY COULD OFFER TO MAKE THIS A REALITY.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
I'M ON THE EDC ALSO. DO I NEED TO ABSTAIN FROM THE VOTE OR DISCUSSION ON THIS?÷÷THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M ON THE UP AND UP THERE. THANK YOU.
>> THIS VOTE THAT WE'RE DOING NEEDS TO BE DONE TODAY?
>> I DON'T THINK IT HAS TO BE DONE TODAY.
IF YOU TABLED IT AND SAID YOU WANTED TO BRING IT BACK AT YOUR NEXT MEETING AFTER YOU HAD A CHANCE TO INDIVIDUALLY CONSULT ÷÷WITH THE EDC, I DO NOT SEE AN ISSUE WITH THAT.
>> CHAIR, I RECOMMEND YOU TABLE IT.
I HEARD YOU SAY THAT IT WAS SUCCESSFUL, BUT WE STILL HAVE SOME WORK TO GO.
>> AGAIN, I THINK THOSE WOULD BE INDIVIDUALIZED QUESTIONS THAT EACH OF YOU PROBABLY NEED TO REACH OUT AND TALK TO THE EDC DIRECTLY ABOUT.
>> IS THAT A MOTION? YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION.
>> CHAIR, I MAKE A MOTION WE TABLE NUMBER SEVEN THE FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH CLAY COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING AND THE QUESTIONS ARE
ANSWERED. >> CAN QUESTIONS EVEN BE ANSWERED? ON THE EDC BOARD IT'S VERY
CONFIDENTIAL. >> I WOULD THINK THAT INDIVIDUALLY, AGAIN, THEY WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY -- EDC WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS INDIVIDUALLY. YOU CAN'T MEET OUTSIDE BECAUSE OF SUNSHINE.
>> JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO INDIVIDUALLY? WE HAVE TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO REACH OUT AND GET THAT INFORMATION?
>> CAN I ADD A QUICK COMMENT? THAT LIKELY PUSHES IT INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. IS THAT AN ISSUE? OUR NEXT MEETING IS IN
SEPTEMBER. >> FOR THE COUNTY IT'S A REIMBURSEMENT TO THE GENERAL FUND.
IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO FUND IT, ÷÷IT'S GOING TO GO TO YOUR RESERVES. I WAS GOING TO SUPPORT SOME OF TEDDY'S COMMENTS AND ADD MORE FEEDBACK ON THE BUDGET SIDE AFTER THIS ITEM, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND TO TABLE THE OFFICIAL DECISION
[01:10:06]
ON THE ECONOMIC FEASIBIITY TRANSFER.ALL IN FAVOR OF TABLES IT SAY AYE.
ALL OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES 4-2.
>> ONE RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE YOU'RE A COUNTY BUDGET, THE TDC BUDGET IS PART OF THE COUNTY'S OVERALL BUDGET. IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT CHANGING YOUR FUNDING OR ANYTHING RELATED TO THE COUNTY BUDGET FUNDING LINE ITEMS, SPONSORSHIPS AND EVERYTHING, I WOULD RECOMMEND CHANGING YOUR MEETING FROM SEPTEMBER TO LATE AUGUST.
WE HAVE TO HAVE TWO BUDGET HEARINGS IN SEPTEMBER.
IF NOT, IF YOU MAKE A MEETING IN SEPTEMBER, THAT WILL NOT BE PART OF THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND HAS TO COME BACK AS AN AMENDED BUDGET. FOR VISIBILITY ON YOUR TIMELINE AND TO SUPPORT WHAT STEPHANIE SAID, EVERY DOLLAR YOU HAVE IN TDC RESOLVES BACK INTO YOUR RESERVES AND THE BOARD ADOPTS THAT BUDGET AT THE END OF THE DAY.
JUST A LITTLE CLARITY FOR YOU.
>> CLARIFYING QUESTION ON THAT, EVEN IF -- I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THE GRANT POT OF MONEY.
IF YOU GO FROM 250 TO 300, THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE TOTAL -- IF THE POT OF MONEY IN THE TDC THAT YOU CAN SPEND IS $500,000 AND YOU GO FROM 250 TO 300, THAT 50,000 IS STILL IN THE SAME POT?
>> IT IS STILL IN THE SAME POT, BUT YOU'RE --
>> IF YOU'RE WANTING TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN AND SAY YOU ADOPT A BUDGET, YOU MAKE ALL THESE CHANGES AND WE ADOPT A BUDGET IN SEPTEMBER THAT GOES INTO EFFECT IN OCTOBER, FOR THAT TO GET CHANGED WE HAVE TO COME BACK FOR ANOTHER BOARD MEETING IN OCTOBER.÷÷DEPENDING ON YOUR TIMELINE, IF YOU WAIT UNTIL SEPTEMBER TO MAKE THE CHANGES, THEY WON'T BE INCORPORATED IN YOUR OCTOBER 1ST BUDGET. IT HAS TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD AT A LATER TIME. FROM YOUR TIME PERSPECTIVE, I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO MESS UP THE TIMELINE THERE.
>> YOU FEEL CONFIDENT BY THE END OF AUGUST YOU CAN PRESENT SOMETHING?
>> IS EVERYONE OKAY WITH THAT?
>> I JUST -- FROM MY NOTES THE SURVEY, THE FIRST PHASE YOU SAID WAS GOOD. THE SECOND STAGE IS FOR WHAT REASON AGAIN?
>> MAINLY TO LOOK AT THE FEASIBILITY OF WHAT IMPACT -- WHAT ECONOMIC IMPACTS WILL COME FROM IT AND WHAT POSSIBLE ECONOMIC INCENTIVES THE COUNTY COULD PROVIDE.
>> IS ANYONE OPPOSED TO THAT FOR THE END OF AUGUST? HAVE STAFF REACH OUT TO EVERYBODY SO WE CAN HAVE EVERYBODY HERE.
>> IS THERE TIME FOR YOU TO GET BRIEFED BETWEEN NOW AND AUGUST? THE BRIEFING I HAD, IT'S PRETTY AMAZING. IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE IMPACT TO THE COUNTY.
>> THE ONLY OTHER COMMENT I HAVE IS IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S FOR A SPECIFIC INVESTOR. MY GROUP DEVELOPS HOTELS.
WE PAY FOR THE IMPACT STUDIES OURSELVES.
YOU KNOW, IT JUST -- I REALIZE IT TAKES INCENTIVES TO GET CERTAIN THINGS BUILT.
>> OKAY. YOU GOT DIRECTION THERE ON THAT?
[8. TDC Grant Request - 2025 Town of Orange Park Fall Festival (S. Lamb)]
OKAY. COOL.THAT WAS ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. NOW TO OUR GRANT REQUESTS.
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT FOR ORANGE PARK FALL
FESTIVAL. >> WE TOUCHED ON THIS BEFORE GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET SPREADSHEETS.
THIS IS THE 43RD ANNUAL FALL FEST.
IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE TOWN ÷÷HALL PARK WHERE CITY HALL IS. I DID INCLUDE THE -- IT'S NOT THE FULL REPORT. IT'S GOING TO BE FIRST SIX PAGES. I FEEL LIKE THAT HAS THE MOST INFORMATION ON IT FOR WHAT YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FOR. IT'S GOING TO BE LAST YEAR'S EVENT AND YOU CAN SEE OVER THE PAST TWO DAYS THEY HAD 32,000 VISITORS AND THEY AVERAGE
[01:15:08]
A ÷÷74-MINUTE DWELL TIME. YOU CAN SEE THE TOP ZIP CODES WHERE THOSE VISITORS ARE COMING FROM. I DID ALSO INCLUDE THE APPLICATION ON THERE. THERE'S MORE INFORMATION THERE.I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD TIME TO LOOK AT IT OR YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME. THIS DOES COME FROM EMILY DOCHERTY. THIS IS A SIGNATURE EVENT.
IT'S ONE OF THE ONES WE'VE DONE.
I WAS ABLE TO USE THE OLD SCORE SHEET.
THEY REQUESTED 15,000 AND SCORED 90%.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS 12,500.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION HERE. DOES PACER HAVE THE ABILITY TO REVIEW ONE THAT IS ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR REGION? THIS IS AWESOME WHAT'S LOCAL ON THE TOP.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO ALSO SEE WHAT ZIP CODES ARE COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF OUR MSA.
>> THOSE ARE THE TOP ZIP CODES. THEY ALL HAPPEN TO BE IN THE ORANGE PARK. IT GOES DOWN TO 1.7%.
THE PERCENTAGE GOES LOWER AND LOWER FROM THEM.
SOME ARE SO SMALL THEY DON'T REGISTER.
AMONG THE FULL REPORT, THEY SHOW THERE ARE FEW OUTSIDE THE 50-MILE RADIUS.
>> EVERY EVENT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS GOING TO HAVE SIMILAR ZIP CODES BECAUSE IT ATTRACTS LOCALLY FIRST.
>> RIGHT. THIS ONE HAPPENS TO HAVE A LOT ÷÷FROM THE LOCAL AREA. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PRO RODEO, YOU'LL SEE ZIP CODES OUTSIDE OF OUR AREA. THIS ONE DRAWS A LOT OF
LOCAL. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FULL AMOUNT.
>> $15,000 FOR THE FALL FESTIVAL.
>> BRIAN, I AGREE WITH YOU. IT'S AN EVENT THAT BRINGS A LOT OF PEOPLE AND DEFINITELY DESERVES THE $15,000 FOR SURE.
THIS WILL BE OUR FIRST GRANT GIVEN IN THE NEXT BUDGET, CORRECT?
>> YES, SIR. I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT.
THIS GRANT, IF GRANTED, WILL BE OUT OF THE FISCAL YEAR 25/26 BUDGET. IT WON'T TOUCH THE $80,000 WE HAVE LEFT.
>> I WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO KIND OF THINK DOWN THE ROAD A LITTLE BIT. YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE THE DECISION OF THIS BOARD, BUT I DON'T -- IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF IT IS 250.
I JUST THINK WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT COMING, WE MAY BE ABLE TO INCREASE THAT.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE REWROTE -- WE HAD A COMMITTEE PUT TOGETHER AN REWROTE HOW WE DID THE SCORING AND STUFF LIKE THAT. IT WAS WRITTEN TO KIND OF GET US MORE IN LINE WHERE WE WEREN'T JUST GIVING AWAY MONEY WITHOUT A RETURN ON IT.
I WANT EVERYBODY TO KEEP THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WE APPROVE OR CHOOSE TO GO OVER.
>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT. MY QUESTION TO STEPHANIE WOULD BE GOING FROM 15 TO 12. 5 IS THAT BECAUSE IT WAS 90%?
>> THEY SCORED A 90% BECAUSE THEY HAVE A FLAT LINE OF PARTICIPANTS. THAT'S WHEN -- THEY'RE REALLY AT CAPACITY FOR THAT AREA. THERE ONLY OPTION IS TO MOVE TO ANOTHER SPOT. THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR 42 YEARS. THEY'RE LITERALLY AT CAPACITY AND CAN'T GROW ANYMORE.
>> SURE. JUST TO BRING THIS UP PUBLICLY, THAT'S A TOUGH THING WITH APPLICATIONS. SOMETIMES YOU KINDS OF PIGEON HOLE YOURSELF IF YOU DON'T CHECK THE RIGHT BOX OR THERE'S EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES. WHILE YOU LOOK AT THOSE PARAMETERS, THERE HAS TO BE SOME FLEXIBILITY.
THEY'RE SELLING OUT OF THEIR CURRENT DEAL. FOR ME, IF THEY GOT 15,000 LAST YEAR, I DON'T WANT TO CUT THEIR BUDGET BY $2,500 EITHER.
>> I'M SEEING THE 4.5 MILLION IN÷÷ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THAT LINE
YEAH. >> THAT GOES BACK TO WHAT TEDDY WAS MENTIONING ABOUT THE REFEREES LOCALLY, THAT MONEY CHURNING IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> YEAH, FOR SURE. I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT NUMBER IS VERIFIED. TEDDY'S BEEN LOOKING INTO IT AND WILL FIGURE IT OUT.
>> MOVING FORWARD, YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE THE REPORTS
[01:20:03]
FOR EVERY EVENT I CAN GET. NOT JUST EVENTS JUST IN THE PAST IN CLAY COUNTY, IF THEY'VE HAD A SIMILAR EVENTS SOMEWHERE ELSE, I CAN PULL THOSE REPORTS AS WELL.IF SOMEBODY HAD IT IN SEABRING, WE CAN PULL THAT
REPORT. >> IT WILL BE HELPFUL BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE WE HELD THIS TOURNAMENT AND NATURE WALK.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW PLACER A.I. , HOW IS IT GIVING US THIS DATA?
>> IT TRACKS CELL PHONES. IT SOUNDS TERRIFYING, BUT WE'RE ALL BEING TRACKED ALL THE TIME. NO, WE'RE NOT.
THE SOFTWARE DOES TRACK CELL PHONES AND THEY CAN SEE WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, WHERE WITH YOU WENT, WHERE YOU'VE BEEN. THE REPORTS ARE VERY IN-DEPTH.
I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO GO OVER THEM IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE A FULL REPORT. THEY'RE 24 PAGES.
IT WILL SHOW YOU MEDIAN INCOME, AGE, LEVEL OF EDUCATION, EVEN WHAT KIND OF HOUSE THEY OWN.
THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION IN THESE REPORTS. KIND OF JUST DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH, THAT'S WHAT I'LL START PUTTING INTO YOUR DECKS.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY VALUABLE DATA LIKE HOW LONG YOU STAYED, IF YOU WERE THERE FOR 5 MINUTES OR 74 MINUTES, WHICH WAS THE AVERAGE OF THE FALL
DO WE HAVE TO PAY FOR EACH ONE OF THESE?
>> WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR EACH ONE.
WE PAY FOR A YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION AND SHARE IT WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY. THERE'S A TOURISM PIECE THAT THEY HAVE AND THAT GIVES YOU MORE IN THESE REPORTS.
>> COULD WE POSSIBLY GET THE WEEKEND BEFORE OR THE SAME TIME PERIOD A WEEK EARLIER AND SEE HOW --
>> SURE, HOW IT COMPARES TO WHEN THERE'S NO EVENT GOING ON.
>> SURE, I CAN GET THAT OVER TO YOU.
>> WITH THIS FUNDING, IS THERE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN -- AGAIN, TEDDY, I LIKE WHERE YOU'RE GOING IN TRYING TO GET LOCAL FOLKS STAYING HERE, GETTING OUTSIDE PEOPLE COMING IN. ARE THESE LOCAL EVENTS THAT WE'RE DOING, ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN PROMOTE WHAT WE DO AS AT THE TDC? HEY, IF, YOU KNOW, BRING YOUR EVENT TO CLAY COUNTY -- WE'RE PUTTING UP 15 GRAND.
WHAT COULD BE OUR -- I MEAN, AGAIN, WE'RE NOT GETTING THE HEADS IN BEDS, BUT WHERE CAN WE GO AHEAD AND PROMOTE WHAT WE'RE DOING TO GET LOCAL FOLKS TO BRING THEIR BUSINESS SO PEOPLE FROM TAMPA OR ORLANDO ARE COMING HERE?
>> IT'S A BINATION OF -- WHEN WE MEET WITH THESE GROUPS ABOUT GRANTS AND TAKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH, STAFF LOOKS AT THE GRANT PIECE AND WE HAVE A PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT PIECE AND ACCOMMODATIONS AND DINING THAT'S LOCAL AND SHARE THAT ON THE MARKETING SIDE. THOSE ARE THINGS WE CAN CONTINUE TO INCLUDE IN THE CONVERSATION WITH THEM AS THEY'RE HOSTING EVENTS.
SOME OF THEM ARE MORE SPECIFIC TO WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR. YEAH, TO YOUR POINT, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO DO THAT AND BRANCH OUT AND DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
>> ONE QUESTION IS TO YOUR POINT, FOR A LOCAL EVENT, THAT ÷÷COULD BE A CAVEAT TO THE CONTRACT THAT HERE'S THE HOTELS THAT WE HAVE, IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE VENDORS THAT NEED TO STAY, HERE'S THE HOTELS THEY NEED TO STAY IN.
>> THAT'S WHAT SAM DOES DIRECTLY WITH THOSE GROUPS AS THEY SET THEIR DATES AND SET WHETHER IT'S WHATEVER TIME OF THE YEAR -- THAT'S WHAT MOST OF -- A LOT OF
GOOD. ANY FURTHER COMMENT? WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.
[01:25:03]
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, WE TALK ABOUT THESE LOCAL ZIPS, THAT'S ONLY ABOUT 70% OF THE PEOPLE. YOU HAVE 45,000 PEOPLE, IF EVEN 10% ARE OUT OF TOWN, 4,500 PEOPLE ARE STAYING SOMEWHERE. SERIOUSLY, THAT'S ONLY 70% WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE.
>> NOT COUNTING THE 1% THAT'S NOT ON THE PAPER.
>> YEAH. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.
MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE A $15,000 GRANT FOR THE ORANGE PARK FALL FESTIVAL. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? IT'S UNANIMOUS. 43 YEARS, THAT'S AWESOME.
[9. TDC Grant Request - 2025 Clay County Pro Rodeo (S. Lamb)]
THE NEXT ITEM IS NUMBER NINE WHICH IS THE PRO RODEO, WHICH WILL BE IN SEPTEMBER, WHICH IS THIS CURRENT FISCAL BUDGET. STEPHANIE?>> ALL RIGHT. WELL, I SAID IT BEFORE AND I'LL ÷÷SAY IT AGAIN. CLAY COUNTY LOVES A RODEO. THIS IS A REOCCURRING EVENT.
THEY CAME TO CLAY COUNTY LAST YEAR AND SOLD OUT. THEY TURNED PEOPLE AWAY AT THE GATE. THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.
THIS YEAR THEY'RE COMING TO US FOR A GRANT.
THEY'RE PREDICTING NOT SO MUCH ROOM NIGHTS -- I WANT TO SAY THE ORGANIZER WAS PLANNING ON PRESENTING TONIGHT, BUT THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN LAST MINUTE DIDN'T WORK OUT.
THEY GAVE ME INFORMATION TO PRESENT AND I'M PRESENTING ON THEIR BEHALF. GOING FORWARD WITH THAT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE 600 ROOM NIGHTS. IF YOU LOOK AT OUR SPORTS APPLICATION GUIDELINES, YOU CAN HAVE A ROOM NIGHT OR SOMEONE OUTSIDE -- 50 MILES OUTSIDE OF CLAY COUNTY.
THEY USE -- THEIR TICKETING SOFTWARE WAS ABLE TO SHOW THAT OUT OF 30% OF THEIR TICKET SALES, 600 OF THEM WERE OUTSIDE OF CLAY COUNTY.
THAT'S WERE PRESALES, NOT AT THE GATE.
600 OF THOSE WERE OUTSIDE THE COUNTY.
THAT WOULD GIVE THEM THE $10,000.
THE VENUE RENTAL EXCEEDS 10,000. IT'S OUTSIDE THE FAIRGROUNDS.
BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH A DEMAND, THEY'RE CONSIDERING EXTENDING TO A THIRD DAY, SUNDAYS AS WELL. THEY'RE SCHEDULED THE 12 AND 13TH, POSSIBLY TO THE 14TH. THEY QUALIFY FOR THE FULL $25,000. I INCLUDED THEIR APPLICATION AND THEIR MARKETING PLAN. AGAIN, I HAVE THE REPORT FROM LAST YEAR. YOU CAN SEE LAST YEAR THEY HAD ALMOST 8,500 VISITORS. THE AVERAGE TIME WAS 148 MINUTES. THEY WERE THERE FOR THE FULL RODEO. THEN, IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR ZIP CODES, SOME OF THEIR LARGER NUMBERS ARE ZIP CODES OUTSIDE OF CLAY COUNTY. THEY HAVE SOME ST. AUGUSTINE, BOSWICK AND LAKE GENEVA AS WELL. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> YOU SAID THEY WERE CONSIDERING GOING TO A THIRD DATE WHICH WOULD BE SUNDAY.
WHAT'S THE DETERMINING FACTOR TO DO SO?
>> THEY'RE LOOKING AT PRESALE TICKETS RIGHT NOW.
THEY HAVE THE FAIRGROUNDS RENTED THE FULL WEEKEND.
THE OPTION IS THERE. THEY'RE BRINGING IN THE RODEO STAFF. IT WILL BE DEPENDING ON HOW MANY TICKETS THEY SELL. THEY WANTED TO DO A FRIDAY SHOW AND TWO SATURDAY SHOWS. THEY CAME TO REALIZE THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
>> I WILL SAY I WENT TO THIS EVENT LAST YEAR AND IT WAS PACKED. CLAY COUNTY DEMOLITION DERBIES, RODEOS, FAIRS, THAT'S OUR BREAD AND BUTTER.
IT'S AWESOME. IT WAS GREAT. THIS, UNLIKE RODEO AT THE RANCH, WHICH WAS AWESOME, THIS IS MORE THE BIG LEAGUES.
THIS IS MINOR LEAGUE BULL RIDING AND A LOT OF LOCAL VENDORS. CLAY TODAY WAS A SPONSOR.
THIS IS A BIG EVENT. ONE NIGHT WAS 8,000 PEOPLE.
LAST YEAR WAS TWO DAYS? OH, I THOUGHT IT WAS ONE.
8,000 WAS OVER TWO DAYS? MAYBE 4,000 A DAY.
I MEAN, IT WAS A BIG EVENT. VERY BIG EVENT.
[01:30:05]
>> THE REPORT SHOWS YOU HOW MANY THEY HAD FRIDAY COMPARED TO SATURDAY. PAGE TWO -- I'M SORRY -- PAGE
>> I WAS GOING TO MAKE A MOTION.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE THE 25,000.
>> SECOND. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? JUST A REMINDER, THIS IS THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
THIS COMES OFF THE 85,000 THAT REMAINS.
HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[10. TDC Grant Request - 2025 USSP Tournament (S. Lamb)]
OPPOSED? MOTION IS UNANIMOUS. MOVING ON TO THE BACK OF THE AGENDA, PAGE TEN, THIS IS A NEW EVENT.THE USSP PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT.
>> WE ARE VERY EXCITED FOR THIS EVENT.
PICKLEBALL IS GROWING EXPONENTIALLY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, BUT WE HAVE A NEW PICKLEBALL FACILITY IN CLAY COUNTY, IN ORANGE PARK.
I HAVE CHARLOTTE HERE. SHE'S WITH THE HUB IN ORANGE PARK.
SHE'S HERE TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
THEY ARE PREDICTING 60 ROOM NIGHTS OVER THE TWO DAYS. THE VENUE RENTAL IS UP TO 10,000. THAT'S BASED ON HOW MANY PARTICIPANTS THEY HAVE. IT'S A MULTI- DAY EVENT, THREE- DAY EVENT. IT'S THE SAME WEEKEND AS THE RODEO. IT'S THE 12TH THROUGH THE 14TH, FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY EVENT.
>> AS LONG AS THERE'S NO PICKLEBALL AND BULL RIDERS, WE'LL BE IN GOOD SHAPE.
TELL US ABOUT THE NEW FACILITY.
>> I'M CHARLOTTE MACGYVER, I'M THE MARKETING DIRECTO AND THE CLUB MANAGER AT THE HUB.
VERY EXCITING. WE HAVE 24 COURTS.
16 OF THEM ARE COVERED. U.S. SENIOR PICKLEBALL LIKES TO GO MORE TOWARDS COVERED BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE TO PLAY IN THE HOT FLORIDA SUN AND YOU RUN THE RISK FOR HAVING TOURNAMENTS CANCELED BECAUSE OF RAIN-OUTS. FOR SOME REASON ON THAT SUNDAY WE WOULD GET RAINED OUT. A THREE- DAY TOURNAMENT TURNED INTO A TWO- DAY TOURNAMENT AND THEN YOU'RE TRYING TO DECIDE WHO YOU'RE
>> IT'S INSIDE ORANGE PARK. IT CONFUSES PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE ACTUAL COMMUNITY.
OUR MEMBERS GET A GATE CARD. THEY'VE GOTTEN USED TO US WHERE GUESTS SAY THEY'RE GOING TO PICKLEBALL BECAUSE THE GATE STAFF HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE PICKLEBALL. THEY WERE LIKE, WE HAVE PICKLEBALL?
>> IS THE HUB PART OF GROVE OR --
THE HUB HAS A 25-YEAR LEASE AND THE GROVE IS LEASING THAT PART.
HAVE YOU GUYS HELD A PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT IN CLAY COUNTY BEFORE?
>> WE HELD ONE OUR OPENING WEEKEND IN MAY. WE HAD 302 PARTICIPANTS FROM 23
>> AT THE HUB. WE WERE PRETTY PACKED AND HAD SPECTATORS AND IT WAS LIVE STEAMED ON PICKLEBALL TV.
IT'S THE LARGEST CLUB IN NORTH FLORIDA.
IT'S THE LARGEST WITH COVERED COURTS UNLESS YOU GO INDOORS. THE PROBLEM WITH INDOOR COURTS IS YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH SPACE AND THE LIGHTING ISN'T THAT GREAT. IT'S A HUGE DRAW HAVING THE 16 COVERED COURTS. WE HAVE FOUR, FOR LACK OF LANGUAGE, THEY'RE CALLED BIG- ASS÷÷FANS.
IT STAYS 30 DEGREES COOLER UNDER THERE AND A LOT OF
>> IT WAS A TWO- DAYER, TECHNICALLY THREE DAY.
WE HAD A PRO EVENT FRIDAY AND AMATEUR EVENTS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. WE UTILIZE ALL 24 COURTS.
WE HAVE 8 OUTDOOR COURTS AS WELL.
SO WITH U.S. SENIOR PICKLEBALL, IT'S NONPROFIT AND MOSTLY RUN BY SENIORS.
THEY BUILT IT BECAUSE THEY WERE TIRED OF GETTING COMBINED WITH LOWER LEVEL BRACKETS.
I HAD AN EVENT AT THE HUB AND 60-YEAR- OLDS WERE WITH 15-YEAR-OLDS. YOU HAVE TO COMBINE THEM.
THERE WERE 12-YEAR- OLD GIRLS PLAYING AGAINST THE 60-YEAR- OLD LADIES.
THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN U.S. SENIOR
[01:35:05]
PICKLEBALL. THEY'RE IN FIVE- YEAR AGE BRACKETS. IT'S 50 TO 55 AND SO ON.IF YOU'RE COMBINED, YOU'RE PROBABLY A TEN- YEAR MARGIN AND NOBODY UNDER 50.
>> AWESOME. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? JUST REMINDING THE GROUP THAT THIS GRANT REQUEST IS ALSO OUT OF THE CURRENT BUDGET.
>> I'LL MOTION TO ACCEPT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF 16.2.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE OTHER TWO EVENTS?
>> SPRING NEXT YEAR AND FLORIDA GEORGIA IS OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER THIS YEAR.
IT'S THE TWO LARGE EVENTS WE ALWAYS RAN IN ST. JOHNS OUT OF TREATY PARK. MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF HAVE BEEN THE -- WE RUN THE LARGEST TOURNAMENTS IN NORTH FLORIDA. I RUN THE NUMBER ONE PICKLEBALL MARKETING AGENCY IN NORTH FLORIDA.
WHEN WE PUT ON A TOURNAMENT, PEOPLE SHOW UP.
TREATY HAD THE 20 COURTS AND THEY WERE TERRIBLE COURTS.
THE DRAW STARTED TO DIMINISH. PEOPLE ARE EXCITED WE'RE MOVING IT TO THE HUB. THE BIG ONES RUN ON FLORIDA GEORGIA WEEKEND. WITH THE HUB IT'S A MASSIVE COMPLEX. WE HAVE A HUGE AREA.
IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH GOLF, THEY HAVE THE 19TH HOLE.
WE HAVE 24 COURTS. WE CREATED COURT 25 WHICH HAS PING PONG, CORN HOLE, A GIANT INFLATABLE TV.
THE FLORIDA GEORGIA COLLEGES, THE TEAMS WILL COME DOWN AND COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER IN A SHOWDOWN FOR CASH THAT WEEKEND. IT WILL BE A HUGE
THING. >> THAT'S AT THE HUB IN ORANGE
PARK. >> THAT'S FRIDAY HALLOWEEN UNTIL NOVEMBER 1ST. FRIDAY NIGHT WE'RE HAVING THE WORLD'S LARGEST PICKLEBALL GLOW PARTY.
>> WE'RE ASKING FOR TICKETS. JUST KIDDING.
>> THIS IS HUGE. THIS IS GREAT.
>> IT WILL BE GREAT. I'M EXCITED FOR THE WORLD'S LARGEST GLOW PARTY.
>> A LOT OF GREAT THINGS. EXCITED TO BE IN CLAY COUNTY NOW. THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN FANTASTIC. PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK -- THE NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE STREET COME OVER TO SEE IT.
THEY SAY THEY CAN HEAR IT A LITTLE BIT.
THEY'RE SUPER EXCITED SOMETHING'S HAPPENING.
THEY BOUGHT IN AND SEVEN YEARS AGO IT WENT DEFUNCT AND NOW THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO THERE.
THEY'RE SIGNING UP BECAUSE IT'S IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND LEARNING TO PLAY.
MOST OF THEM ARE OLDER FOLKS. U.S. SENIOR PICKLEBALL WILL DO WELL THERE.
>> I HAVE A TOUGH TIME STAYING OUT OF THE KITCHEN.
THAT'S A PICKLEBALL REFERENCE.
>> WE OFFER FREE AREAS TO PLAY SO COME ON
YOU KNOW, I THINK THE BIG THING THERE THAT'S GREAT IS RELATIONSHIPS. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN THE BEGINNING. TEDDY, IT'S GREAT YOU
[11. Upcoming Events Update (S. Lamb)]
WORKED WITH THEM PREVIOUSLY AND BROUGHT THEM TO CLAY. FANTASTIC.>> REAL QUICK BEFORE I GO TO UPCOMING EVENTS, WE DID GRANT THE FULL AMOUNT. IF YOU GUYS WANTED TO TAKE A ÷÷QUICK LOOK, THAT LEAVES US WITH $43,805. WE HAVE A MEETING IN SEPTEMBER.
UNLESS WE HAVE A GRANT APPLICANT COME IN TO THE SEPTEMBER MEETING FOR AN EVENT THAT MONTH, THIS LOOKS LIKE WE'LL BE PUTTING THIS INTO RESERVES.
>> UPCOMING EVENTS, AS MENTIONED LAST MEETING, I CUT OUT SOME OF THE SMALLER EVENTS BECAUSE THIS ÷÷WOULD BE THREE PAGES LONG, WHICH IS NOT A PROBLEM IF YOU WOULD LIKE THAT.
SOME OF THE LARGER EVENTS HERE AND YOU CAN SCAN THE QR CODE FOR THE FULL CALENDAR OF EVENTS ON THE EXPLORECLAY. COM SITE. IF YOU KNOW ANY EVENTS, SHARE THIS TO ORGANIZERS. THERE'S A LINK TO ADD YOUR
[01:40:04]
EVENT. >> ONE QUESTION ON THAT THAT I WANTED TO ASK STAFF ON IS JUST IN THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS OF DOING THIS, AS A COMMISSIONER, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY REALLY LIKE TEXTS.
THEY REALLY LIKE TEXTS. CAN YOU RESEARCH OR MAYBE LOOK INTO HOW PEOPLE COULD SIGN UP FOR MAYBE TEXT ALERTS FOR EVENTS? MAYBE NOT JUST, YOU KNOW -- THERE'S PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE SMALL FAMILIES AND ARE LIKE -- I HAVE AN 8-MONTH-OLD ÷÷AND 3-YEAR-OLD. IT'S WEDNESDAY.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO THE WEEKEND? IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN LOOK AT THAT FOLKS WHO LIVE HERE CAN SAY HERE'S YOUR WEEKLY WEEKEND LIST OF EVENTS THAT'S TEXT BASED?
>> SURE. I'LL SEND THIS OVER TO
SAM. >> EVERYBODY KNOWS WE HAVE OUR LOVELY EXPLORECLAY APP. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEND NOTIFICATIONS ON THE APP. ANYBODY WHO DOWNLOADED THE EXPLORECLAY APP WE'LL BE SENDING PUSH NOTIFICATIONS.
>> IS THERE A WAY TO SIGN UP WITH YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER HERE AND YOU SIGN UP FOR ALERTS WITHOUT HAVING THE APP? PEOPLE ARE SOMETIMES, LIKE, I'M NOT DOWNLOADING THE APP.
>> STAFF CAN SPEAK TO COMMUNICATIONS AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYWAY TO INTEGRATE WITH
I THINK SOMETIMES IT'S, LIKE, I DON'T NECESSARILY NEED THE WHOLE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE APP AND WANT THE EVENTS AT MY FINGERTIPS.
>> I LOOK AT IT MAYBE TWO OR THREE TIMES -- AT LEAST THREE TIMES A WEEK. YOU KNOW, YOU SHARE IT WITH PEOPLE YOU KNOW. DID YOU KNOW THIS WAS HAPPENING? I LIKE THE APP AND I DON'T LIKE
>> THANK YOU, DAVID, WE APPRECIATE THAT.
I WANT TO MENTION IF YOU DON'T -- IF YOU'RE NOT BIG ON TEXTS, BUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWING US ON FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM, YOU NEED TO BE. EVERY WEEK SHE POSTS WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE WEEKEND. IT GIVES YOU A QUICK LIST OF WHAT'S GOING ON. SOMETIMES THOSE LISTS ARE LONG BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT STUFF GOING.
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF EVENT SEASON RIGHT NOW.
CLAY COUNTY TOURISM IS OUR HANDLE ON FACEBOOK -- CLAY COUNTY, FLORIDA, TOURISM.
>> I AGREE THE APP IS FANTASTIC. I'VE HAD PEOPLE STOP ME IN THE COMMUNITY AND SAY, HEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS? WE LIVE IN SUCH A TECHNOLOGICAL WORLD. DEFINITELY DOWNLOAD THE APP.
IT'S WORTH IT. IT'S ONE APP YOU DO WANT TO DOWNLOAD. HATS OFF TO THE TEAM.
YOU DO AN UNBELIEVABLE JOB OF KEEPING THINGS UP TO DATE.
WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. WE'LL GO INTO OUR SECOND AND FINAL PUBLIC COMMENT. IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND ADDRESS THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, YOU CAN DO ÷÷SO AT THIS TIME. ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NONE -- YES, SIR? NO FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL.
>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.
JUST SITTING ON IT AND KIND OF LISTENING, IT WAS $150,000 THAT WE FUNDED LAST YEAR. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
ASKING FOR $130,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY.
ARE WE FOOLISH NOT TO GO AHEAD AND JUST SAY LET'S KEEP MOVING FORWARD AND JUST KIND OF --
>> THE WAY I WOULD ANSWER THAT THROUGH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WOULD BE DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE PROJECT I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO REACH OUT TO THE EDC TO GET A BRIEF.
>> I WAS WONDERING IF WE SHOULD JUST MAKE A DECISION.
I'M THINKING THAT IT'S SOMETHING -- THE MORE YOU
[01:45:04]
THINK ABOUT IT -- WE'RE INVESTED.WE GOT TO INVEST 100%. WE'RE AT 50%.
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT AND THAT COMMENT.
>> I WOULD AGREE, DAVID. ONCE YOU GET BRIEFED, I THINK YOU'LL BE OF THE SAME MINDSET. IT WILL BE FOOLISH TO GO THIS FAR AND NOT FINISH THE WHOLE PICTURE.
>> WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON THAT? WE HAVE TO HAVE ENOUGH TO PASS
IT. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BRIEFED, YOU'RE VOTING BLINDLY ON SOMETHING WE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE ABOUT.
>> MR. CHAIR, I CONCUR. AS STATED, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
IF YOU HAVE THAT MONEY REVERSED AND YOU REVERSE THE MONEY AND JUST HEARING THAT THE OUTCOME WAS POSITIVE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> NO, YEAH. HAVING ALL THE INFORMATION IS
IMPORTANT. >> VOTING BLINDLY, I THINK IS NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
>> SURE. I THINK WE KEEP GOING WHERE WE'RE AT AND GET THE INFO AND GO FROM THERE. I APPRECIATE YOUR TRANSPARENCY.
ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE GROUP? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, STAFF.
I KNOW THIS GROUP DOESN'T MEET ÷÷WITH YOU OFTEN, BUT YOU'RE ALL WELL PREPARED.
THANK YOU TO MEMBERS OF THE TDC.
>> SO WE SHOULD HEAR ABOUT MEETING TO DISCUSS THE REVERSAL?
>> WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON THE DATE.
>> AWESOME. ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE GROUP? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. MEETING ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.