TDC Minutes 07/16/2024MINUTES OF THE COLLIER COUNTY
TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEETING
Naples, Florida - July 16, 2024
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LET IT BE REMEMBERED the Collier County Tourist Development Council, in and for the County of
Collier, having conducted business herein, met on this date at 9:00 a.m. in REGULAR SESSION at
3299 Tamiami Trail East, 3rd Floor, Naples, Florida with the following members present:
ALSO PRESENT:
-Jay Tusa, CVB, Tourism Director
Commissioner Rick Locastro, Chairman
Clark Hill, Vice-Chair
Susan Becker
Jared Grifoni, Councilor -via Zoom
Nancy Kerns
Bill Kramer
Michael Mccomas -via Zoom
Edward (Ski) Olesky -excused
Laura Radler
-Sandra Rios, CVB, PR and Communications Manager
-John Melleky, CVB, Arts and Culture Manager
Colleen Greene, Collier County Attorney Office, Managing Assistance County Attorney
-Buzzy Ford, CVB, Digital and Social Media Coordinator
-Joseph St. Germain, President, Downs & St. Germain Research
-Mike Dee, Spirit Promotions, Manager
-Ed Finn, Collier County, Deputy County Manager
-James Hanrahan, Collier County Parks and Recreation, Division Director
-VIAZOOM:
-Erin Murphy, Senior Account Executive, Lou Hammond Group
-Enriqueta Balandra, Senior Project Manager, Miles Partnership
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Anyone who needs a verbatim record of the meeting may request a video recording from the
Collier County Communications & Customer Relations Department or view it online.
1.Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 9:03 a.m.
2.Pledge of Alliance: Led by Jay Tusa.
3.Roll Call: A quorum of 6 was established in the room. Michael Mccomas & Councilor Jared
Grifoni joined via Zoom, increasing the quorum to 8.
4.Agenda and Minutes:
a.Changes and Approval of Today's Agenda
Clark Hill made a motion to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by Nancy Kerns.
The motion passed unanimously 8-0.
b.Approval of prior TDC Meetings Minutes -June 18, 2024
Susan Becker made a motion to approve the minutes. The motion was seconded by Nancy Kerns.
The motion passed unanimously 8-0.
5.Presentations
A.Executive Director Update:
1.TOT Tax Collection Report
•TOT tax collection for May 2024-$426,7727.00
•Increased 4.3% occupancy rate for May
•International visitors up 17% in May
•Visit Florida proposed partnership for FY2024-2025:
Initial request: $150,000. Updated request: $113,095. Cost savings of: $36,905.
Co-operative marketing opportunities incl uding: Membership, Co-Op Marketing
Opportunities, Annual Governor's Conference, Trade Shows, Sales Missions.
1.Discussion of Possible TDC Meeting Dates 2024-2025.
•Leave meeting date as is -third Tuesday of each month.
B.US Open Pickleball Championships 2024 Recap
•Presented by Mike Dee, Spirit Promotions
•All 50 states and 31 countries were represented
•50,000 attendees (41,000 in 2023)
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•Next year's event date for 2025: April 26-May 3
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•Future vision: developing a draft concept of "Championship Ave" and Pickleball Academy
6.Consent Agenda -All Matters listed under this agenda item are considered to be routine and
action will be taken by one motion without separate disc ussion of each item. If discussion is
desired by a member of the Council, that item will be moved from the Consent Agenda and
considered separately under New Business or Old Business.
There were no items on the consent agenda.
7.New Business:
A.Recommendation to approve an after-the fact payment for Miles Partnership, LLLP for Web
Enhancement projects in the total amount of $35,151 and make a finding that the additional
expenditures promote tourism.
•Presented by: John Melleky
Susan Becker moved to approve the recommendation for the project. Clark Hill seconded the
motion.
•Motion passed unanimously 8-0.
B.Recommendation to approve a request from Collier County Parks and Recreation Division
for Tourist Development Tax funding for a Tourism Impact Study for the Sun-N-Fun Lagoon
in an amount not to exceed $50,000 and make a finding that this expenditure promotes
tourism.
•Presented by: Ed Finn, accompanied by James Hanrahan
•This study will demonstrate and justify further investment
•Sun N Fun is currently out of service and closed for much needed repairs
Comm. Locastro -we should be voting on giving money after the study is done.
Ms. Greene -The study is required by the Florida Statute. Independent analysis is required for
infrastructure of public structures.
Ms. Radler - I do not think it promotes To urism.
Councilor Grifoni -This request is not under our control. This is unfortunate, but a reality.
Bill Kramer moved to approve the recommendation for the project. Jared Grifoni seconded the
motion.
•The motion passed 7-1 (No vote by Clark Hill).
8.Old business. None.
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9.Marketing Partner Reports:
a.Joseph St. Germain, President, Downs & St. Germain Research
In person PowerPoint Presentation.
b.Erin Murphy, Sr Account Executive, Lou Hammond Group
Via Zoom PowerPoint Presentation.
c.Enriqueta Balandra, Senior Project Manager, Miles Par tnership.
Via Zoom PowerPoint Presentation.
10.Tourism Staff Reports:
Tourism Staff reports were included in the meeting materials for review.
11.Council member discussion.
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•Mr. Kramer spoke about the Paradise Coast Sports Complex (PCSC). He would like
the complex to be used year-round.
•Ms. Kern congratulated the staff & PCSC on a great drone show.
•Comm. Locastro would like to have a better vision & study on PCSC. Would also
like bigger events at the complex. Also, after the drone show felt concession,
should have stayed open a little longer for the crowd
•FC Naples will appoint a coach on 7 /17 /24.
•Comm. Locastro -Two items that might come to us for a money ask. Marco
Island American Legion is designing a Viet nam Memorial. A citizen may write a
check for the statue.
Cindy Love, YMCA Collier County, may be looking to expand on Marco Island.
She did get money from the State.
12.Next Scheduled Meeting: August 20, 2024.
13.Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 12:03 p.m.
There being no further business for the good of the County, the meeting was adjourned by order
of the Chairman at 12:03 p.m.
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COLLIER COUNTY
Commissioner Rick Locastro, Chairman
These minutes were approved by the Chairman on
or as amended--------------
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