AT A SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION AND THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL HELD IN AND FOR GADSDEN COUNTY, FLORIDA ON AUGUST 23, 2011 AT 4:00 P.M., THE FOLLOWING PROCEEDING WAS HAD, VIZ:

Present: Patricia vice, Greensboro Area Tourism

Lee Garner, City of Chattahoochee Manager and RV Campground, Tax Collector

Jim Kellum, Business Owner and Antique Dealer

David Knight, Council Member of Midway

Larry Edwards, City of Quincy Commission

Jeff DuBree, Chairman of TDC, Sportman’s Lodge, Tax Collector

Sherrie Taylor, Chair of BOCC , District 5

Eugene Lamb, Jr., District 1

Brenda Holt, District 4

Doug Croley, District 2

Arthur Lawson, Interim County Manager

Muriel Straughn, Deputy Clerk

Absent: Gene Morgan, District 3

Meeting called to order by BOCC Chairman Sherrie Taylor.

Tourist Development Council’s Vision (Strategic Plan)

Jeff DuBree, TDC Chairman introduced the Vision.

Jim Kellum’s remarks.

Croley’s remarks – What is the best yardstick to measure the success of the marketing strategy? Look at the bed tax revenue.

Data introduced by DuBree: Bed tax increased 11% over the last year.

Lee Garner remarks.

Brenda Holt’s remarks – appreciate the job they are doing. Concern – looking for everyday tourist. Made point of their job is to make recommendation to the BOCC for consideration. Authority actually lies with BOCC. Interested in how we get the people coming to the football games in Tallahassee over to Gadsden County. How will you advertise to capture that audience? How do we tie that audience to Gadsden County. Want to see the percentage of increase up.

DATA – need data cards distributed and get feed back from them.

How do you partner with the activity that is coming to Gretna? What can we do for the family of those who come for other activity?

Plan with the cities and county when development is anticipated.

Commissioner Lamb to Jeff DuBree – We need to be kept up to date on what the TDC is doing.

Chair Taylor – The increase of 11% in bed tax collection can’t be attributed to the marketing done by the TDC. It must be other reasons. That needs to be clear.

As far as events – Five or Six events sponsored by TDC could bring in concentrated revenue. Gretna – we should be designing something to be ready for the opening. Want to put something in place to measure the success of the efforts of TDC.

Jim Kellum – Gadsden Art has become quite effective in marketing. We helped in funding those. Quincy Music Theater have tripled the number of shows per year. We funded that marketing effort. Quincy and Chattahoochee needs to advertise more aggressively.

Brenda Holt – In the vision statement includes governments that include the municipalities. Let those other municipalities use the model set out by those efforts that are working.

DuBree – goal to bring all county people together

Larry Edwards – one point to bring up pertaining to events. Powers that be need to coordinate dates of special events so as not to conflict with each other.

Commissioner Lamb – When a vacancy on the TDC becomes available – TDC needs to notify the BCC so that BCC can make a new appointment.

Commissioner Taylor – target on what we are doing to make sure we are going forward. When you see a conflict coming, notify the municipalities. Make sure the scheduling is good. Capitalize on events that are going on. Don’t waste the dollars. Be very conscious of how you are spending the money.

Brenda Holt – Brand Name on I-10- Can’t read that sign in five seconds. Really concerned about the everyday tourist?

If we have other people asking to serve on boards, we need to nail down a procedure for how we are going to do that.

Garner – the river – working with Riverway South to promote a riverfest on Labor Day weekend.

Grace Malloy –

Commissioner Croley – Zimmerman Agency and the impact of advertising. – difference is in the creativity of advertising.

Chair Taylor – good dialogue going on. Work together as one. This is a board, not at dictatorship.

Need to appoint reappoint Jeff Dubree