OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL

117 WEST DUVAL STREET, SUITE 425

4^TH FLOOR, CITY HALL

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32202

904-630-1377

Special Neighborhoods, Community Investments and Services Committee

Meeting Minutes

August 15, 2016

Location: City Council Chamber, 1^st floor, City Hall – St. James Building; 117 West Duval Street

In attendance: Council Members Scott Wilson (Chair), Reggie Brown (Vice Chair), Doyle Carter, Garrett Dennis, Bill Gulliford, Joyce Morgan; Council President Lori Boyer was in attendance.

Also: Kyle Billy – Council Auditor’s Office; Peggy Sidman – Office of General Counsel; Jeff Clements and John J. Jackson – Council Research Division; Juliette Williams – Legislative Services Division; Jessica Baker – Mayor’s Office

See attached sign-in sheet for additional attendees

Meeting Convened: 11:12 a.m.

The topic for the Special Committee Meeting was the Tourist Development Council and its current plan for the City of Jacksonville.

Council President Boyer began the meeting by indicating that Assistant General Counsel Lawsikia Hodges would explain what the Florida Statutes had to say about the Tourist Development Council and that Chief of Research, Jeff Clements, would report on how other Florida cities’ Tourist Development Councils operate.

Lawsikia Hodges began her PowerPoint presentation by explaining that Florida Statutes 125.104 spells out the functions of the TDC and how it can allocate the local tax revenue that is under its purview.

There are five basic categories and they include: capital improvements, the promotion of zoological parks, advertising and promoting tourism, funding convention bureaus, tourist bureaus, tourist information centers as County agencies, and to fund beach and park facilities including beach renourishment, restoration and erosion control.

Mrs. Hodges reviewed opinions that Florida Attorneys General have rendered over the years on issues concerning the permissible uses of TDC funds. Examples of permissible uses include parking/kitchen facilities for convention centers, softball tournaments, and aquatic and tennis centers. Examples of non-permissible uses of TDC funds include the construction of a hotel adjacent to a convention center, police protection and the construction of a privately owned sports facility. She explained the Tourist Development Plan for Duval County, as governed by Chapter 666 of the Ordinance Code. She explained the role of the Tourist Development Advisory Council

Jeff Clements reported on the research that he had amassed on how other Florida cities and counties allocated Tourist Development Council funds and the specific percentages in their respective ordinance codes, e.g., the specific amounts allocated to convention centers, promoting and marketing tourism, sports facilities, festivals and events, etc.

Council President Boyer explained how the Tourist Development Council contracts with Visit Jacksonville for marketing initiatives. She indicated that an RFP will be issued soon for convention and tourism marketing for the City.

The Chair, Council Member Garrett Dennis, recounted his tenure on the TDC in his first year on the Council. He advocated for more City Council representation on the TDC.

In Public Comment, Pastor and Mrs. Corley on the importance of the City to promote initiatives that publicizes Jacksonville’s history; they feel that City’s history has been neglected.

There being no further business, the Special NCIS Committee meeting was adjourned at 12:01 p.m.

John J. Jackson, Council Research Division (904) 630-1729

08.18.16

Posted: 12:00 p.m.