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TDC Minutes 08/20/2024MINUTES OF THE COLLIER COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEETING Naples, FL - August 20,2024 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 9:00 a.m. in REGULAR SESSION sat 3299 Tamiami Trail East, 3rd Floor, Naples, Florida with the following members present: Commissioner fuck Locastro Chairman Clark Hill, Vice Chair Susan Becker Jared Grifoni, Councilor Nancy Kems Bill Kramer Michael McComas - via Zoom Edward (Ski) Olesky Laura Radler ALSO PRESENT: - Jay Tusa, Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), Tourism Director - Sandra Rios, Convention and Visitors Bureau, PR and Communications Manager - Colleen Greene, Collier County Attomey Office, Managing Assistance County Attomey - Bttzzy Ford, Convention and Visilors Bureau, Digital and Social Media Coordinator - John Melleky, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Arts and Culture Manager - Amanda Townsend, Museum Director - Marissa Baker, Collier County, Regional Manager, Paradise Coast Sports Complex - Alex Castano, Director of Marketing, Gulfshore Opera - Mike Dee, Spirit Promotions, Manager - Kim McDonald, Director of Partnerships, FC Naples - Daniel Mildenbery, Business Partner and COO, FC Naples - Cyndy MurrietA VP Integrated Media, Paradise Advertising - Matt Poland, Coach, FC Naples - Roberto Romano, CEO, FC Naples - Kathleen van Bergen, President and CEO, Artis-Naples VIAZOOM - Enriqueta Balandra, Senior Proiect Manager, Miles Partnership - Erin Murphy, Senior Account Executive, Lou Hammond - Joseph St. Germain, President. Downs & St. Germain Research Anyone who needs q verbatim record of the meeting may request a video recordingfrom the Collier County Communications & Customer Relolions Deportment or view it online. 1 1, Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. 2. Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Jay Tusa. 3. Roll Call: A quorum of 8 was established in the room. Jared Grifoni made a motion to approve Michael McComas participating on Zoom. The motion seconded by Clark Hill. Motion passed unanimously 9-0 to allow Michael McComas to atlend via Zoom- With Michacl McComas on Zoom, the quorum was established at 9. 4. Agenda and Minutes: a. Changes and Approval ofToday's Agenda Jared Grifoni made a motion to approve Today's Agenda. The motion was seconded by Nancy Kems. Motion passed unanimously lo approve agenda 9-0. 5. Presentations Executive Director Update: 1. TDT Tax Collection Report o TDT Occupancy rate increased 4.4Yo in Iwrc . Direct spending by visitors and total economic impact of tourism in June increased bY 4.6% and 4.4Yo, respeclively.. June occupancy rate was 51.7o/o. TDT tax collection for June 2024 $3,143,665.00. TDT tax collection year to date $39,209,161.00 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 discussion 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. Coastal Zone Management Recommendation to award Invitation If id ("ITB") No. 24-8234, "Collier County Dune Restoration Planting - 2024," to EarthBalance Corporation in the amount of $ 1,284,920.45, and make a finding that t 2 b. Approval of prior TDC Meetings Minutes - July 16,2024 Susan Becker made a motion to approve July 16,2024 minutes. Nancy Kems seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously 9-0. Comment Clark Hill - Is this 100% funding by Environmental Department? Andy Miller - Yes, 100% Federal funding through the State. Clark Hill made the motion to pass Project 33870. Nancy Kems seconded the motion Motion passed unanimously 9-0. B. Tourism Division 1. To approve Tourist Development Tax Grant Applications for FY 2024-2025 Marketing Grants (Category B) ($78,000) and Non-County Owned/Operated Museums (Categora C-2) ($672,000), for a total of $750,000, and make a finding that these expenditures promote tourism.. Presented by: John Melteky, CVB< Arts & Culture Manager . There are two categories for arts and culture grants: . Marketing Category B (festivals, events, marketing campaigns). Non-County Museums Category C-2 (non profit museums, zoos, performance etc.). Arts and Economic Prosperity (AEP)6 Study was completed in 2023 which demonstrates the following in Collier County. . $ l4l .l 2 I .291 .00 in economic impact . 387o increase from the last study in 2017 . 30% ofthis audience was non-local. Clark Hill - What is the total available for the grants versus what we are awarding. Melleky - Grants have been awarded in the past few years Between $650 and $850 thousand for the Non County Museum portion. This year's collections for this fund is around $800,000. Hill - We are leaving some of that on the table when organizations could use it. Melleky - The money that is not utilized by the organizations in their reimbursement, along with any leftover rolls over into the reserves. Comm. LoCastro - The money does come from Tourist Ta,x dollars but Collier County residents also benefit. The money comes from hotels stays and short-term rentals. Grifoni - 1.2 billion dollars of wages are supported by Collier County and 28 thousand jobs. Melleky -For State grant programs for the arts, those funds can be used tbr operating expenses and programs. Our funding goes to marketing programs. Comm. LoCastro - We have money in reserves. Do we have the latitude to do anything with this fund if something were to come up? Melleky - That has not been done in the past and it would set a precedent that would not follow the process. Each applicant must have operated the event for one year belore they can apply. this item promotes tourism. (Project 33870) Melleky presents the Marketing grants with 6 organizations requesting funding. Floor open for Questions. Radler - Where did you get your recommendations from? Melleky - We had a committee of 5 review all of the applications. Each person looked at a different measure ol what was important. Scores and estimated award amounts were averaged and discussed as a group to come to a consensus. Right now, the measures of the impact are estimated. With the first grants completing their final reports in the next few months, we can use some actual data at a benchmark, and this builds a comparison ofthe estimated data to actual data. The Non-County Museum Grant recommendations were presented, with I I applications under review. Kathleen Van Bergen, President and CEO, Artis- Naples I am grateful for this rigorous grant process. Artis-Naples has received grants over the past few years and the grants have been used lor a variety of arts programming. The Naples Film Festival has more than l0% growth between 2022 and 2023. There are Two dozen film makers from around the country that attend the event for four days. Traveling Exhibitions are the second program that has been fortunate to have received funding fiom the grant program. kt2023, the National Portrait Gallery London "Love Stories" was the exhibition and was here as one of only two locations in the U.S. Ther attendance was over 15,000. ln 2024, our own curated exhibition on George Gershwin had a 30oZ increase in the number of attendees. Susan Becker motioned to approve the funding. The motion was seconded by Laura Radler Motion passed unanimously 9-0. Recommendation to approve a 3-year Sponsorship Agreement with FC Naples for a total tourist development tax expenditure of $447,000 for thc United Soccer League (USL) 2025-2027 seasons and make a finding that this item promotes tourism. 2 4 Alex Castano, Gulf Shore Opera We are trying to enrich the culture of the region. Thanks to the grant we were able to sell out Artis-Naples for the first time, which is a testament to our marketing reach. It was expanded from 10,000 to 100,000 people. Kems - What percentage of the grant funds were used outside the County? Castano - Close to 100% of the funds outside the County. We have to match those marketing funds We used our own dollars. We did 3 to 1 match in terms of the total budget and 3 was from Gulfshore Opera the rest was from Collier County through the grant program. Presented by SANDRA RIOS, CVB, PR and Communications Manager This agreement is lor a sponsorship with the new professional soccer league, FC Naples. The agreement includes certain marketing opportunities that include: . Logos on the back ofjerseys but also jerseys for sale . Logos on field boards offer exposure . , 30-second commercials . Logo on the clock wrap . Player bench area has the logo . Social Media campaigns . Significant Web presence ROBERTO ROMANO, CEO, FC Naples The FC Naples representatives were introduced. A question was raised about the tryouts that are occurring lbr the team. Kids from all over the Nation and all over the World are trying out for the Team and 2 kids from Immokalee are included. The age limit is age 16 and up. I would like to introduce. Recommendation to approve the Third Extension and Amendment to the Sponsorship Agreement between Collier Count and Spirit Promotions for the 2026-2032 U.S. Open Pickleball Championships for a total of $1,050,000, approve the expenditure of up to $l million for capital improyements at ENCP, approve an allocation of up to $40,000 for an infrastructure project study, for a total of $2,090,000, and make a finding that this item promotes tourism. Presented by: Jay Tus4 CVB, Tourism Director The item is to approve a long-term agreement between Spirit Promotions and the County for the US Open Pickleball Championships to remain here. The agreement includes funding for a feasibility study for a new arena canopy and the cost ofthe canopy that would be the County's portion provided the outcome of the study. There has been a significant amount of money in the partnership. The Board of County Commissioners asked fbr a longer-term plan to reduce the partnership amount and how this could be built into a public-private partnership. The agreement includes a sliding scale ofa decreasing amount for the partnership along with a cost sharing for upgrades to the park that include a new cover for an arena to house the final matches along with a sound system throughout the park. E Clark Hill made a motion to approve the Sponsorship Agreement. Susan Becker seconded the motion. The Molion passed unanimously 9-A 3. Part of the partnership includes an expansion of the US Open Academy and Mike Dee will describe some of those plans. Mike Dee, Spirit Promotions The economic impact number you saw from Jay, does not include the benefit from the 2nd layer ofspending resulting from the U.S. Open and the Academy When we were looking for a 5-year extension. We were told to reduce the dependency on the TDC and this is a significant reduction. The capital commitment includes a new area for an area and includes a canopy cover that is waterproof., All engineering work we have done on our own. The goals with the academy is to build on the brand and teaching about 500 players not only during season but also in the oflseason between Apr. to Dec. Player totals jump to I ,000 individuals. We have merged the park concessioner into our Company. The prior operator was somewhat controversial. We are now the county's partner in operating the Concession area. Our Capital investment is a dollar for dollar with the County investment. We are jointly funding the canopy and sound system. Dee - 6 courts Kems - Is the Academy for semiprofessionals or anybody? Dee - Three elements to the Academy. (l) it is for pros to be ce(ified; (2) it is for people who want to level up and train and leam; t(3) it can be the preeminent Pickleball training facility. LoCastro - The magazine is a private entity right? Dee - Yes LoCastro - It hardty mentions Naples or Florida on the cover anywhere. Dee - We did take your advice on adding the logo to the video presented last meeting. Becker - Is this a private academy? Dee - We will operate it but there will be attendance from around the world. Becker - Do we have staffing for the Academy? Dee - That will be on us and we will be bringing in the best professionals in the sport. Becker - Where are the other academies like this? Dee - Ft. Lauderdale is building a new facility and academy. McComas - Has the study for the waterproof canopy taken into consideration the life expectancy? Dee - We have done that preliminary work. The estimate has a 20-year life. The new waterproof canopy is a permanent structure and meets hunicane standards. Hill - Requested that the language ofthe third amendment is clear enough to approve the feasibility study and that the canopy construction would occur. Colleen Greene, Managing County Attomey will check the language ofthe Florida statute that the construction project is the next step once the study results confirm the promotion of tourism. Kems - How many courts? Susan Becker made a motion to approve. Clark Hill seconded the motion. 6 The Motion passed unanimously 9-0. 8. Oltl Business. None. a. Joseph St. Germain, President, Downs & St. Germain Research Zoom Power Point Presentation b. Cyndy Marietta, VP Media, Paradise Advertising In person presentation with Power Point c. Erin Murphy, Lou Hammond Group Zoom Power Point Presentation d. Enriqueta Balandra, Senior Project Manager, Miles Partnership Zoom Power Point Presentation e. Amanda Townsend, Director of Collier County Museums ln person presentation with Power Point 10. Tourism StaffReports: A. Tourism StaffReports. Those are in your packets. B. PCSC Drone Show Event Overview Presentation . Marissa Baker, Collier Cotmty, Regional Manager, Paradise Coast Sports Complex o n person, visual recap ofthe July 6,2024 event Ms. Radler said marketing the destination is an important function of the CVB. Ms. Radler wanted to go on record to state that it is hard to promote a destination ifyou aren't allowed to travel to other destinations to sell it. Mr. Grifoni thanked Jay Tusa and Sandra Rios for coming to the Marco Island Ciry 7 9. Marketing l'artner Reports: I l. Member l)iscussions Council meeting and presenting information on tourism. Mr. Tusa said travel has been paused at this time and Commissioner LoCastro would like to have a conversation with him about that. Commissioner Locastro talked about Resource X to help the County to determine how best to spend money but to also what are the best areas to save money and meet the County's programs that are important to the citizens. Ms. Radler brought up that a Commissioner has mentioned using TDT funds for parks. ResourceX has also been tasked to determine what programs are underfunded. Commissioner LoCastro reminded the committee that part of his duty is to represent the Tourism Council. 12. Next Scheduled Meeting: Sept. 17,2024,9 a.m. 13, Meeting Adjourned l2:00 noon There being no further business for the good of the County, the meeting was adjoumed by order of the Chairman at l2:00 p.m. COLLIER COUNTY TO EVELOPME CO Commissioner Rick LoCastro, Chairman These ryirdtes were approved by the Chairman onV or as amended (choose one) as presented, 8