Board of County Commissioners

Tourist Development Council

Gadsden County, Florida

Visioning Session

NOTES

Special Meeting

April 21, 2014

3:00 p.m.

Present:

Lee Garner, Chair of TDC, City of Chattahoochee Manager and Tax Collector (absent)

Matt Thro, Vice – Chair of TDC, H & H Furniture

Jeff DuBree, Sportsman’s Lodge, Bed Tax Collector Lake Talquin

David Knight, Midway Councilman

Keith Dowdell, City of Quincy Commissioner (absent)

Peter Patel, Hotel Industry

Brenda Holt, BOCC

Clarence Jackson, City of Gretna

Attorney David Weiss, County Attorney

Sonya Burns, TDC Administrative Assistant

Allara Gutcher, Planning Director

Beryl Wood, Deputy Clerk

Mrs. Gutcher welcomed them to the Visioning Session. She introduced Lynn Cherry of Carpe Diem Community Solutions. She said this is the 1^st of 2 sessions.

Mrs. Cherry explained how they would help make Gadsden better. One of their skill sets is visioning. Vision plan is more generic. Strategic is narrow you have goals and plans. She said they would start with SWOT process. Strength, weakness (internal), opportunities and threats (external). She they would spend 20 minutes on each of the above.

Strength(s)

§ Checks and Balances

§ Surplus Money

§  Budget balance

§ Diversity (backgrounds) commitment

§ knowledgeable

§ Unique resources TDC have

§ County Planner(Allara)

§ Guidelines, people, talent

§ What do others foresee your strength to be

§ Supportive

§ public confidence

§ BCC support/trust

When you think about past activities, what are some things you see? Member’s check, self check; when you think about partnerships or stakeholders, is there strength in that area:

§ Partnership w/Gadsden Arts Center (planning collaboration)

Weakness

What do others perceive your weakness?

§ Lack of tourist;

§ dollars spent unequally (allocation of resources; system is complicated (application); Application needs to streamline (reimbursement) vetting process;

§ education – market public awareness:

§  loopholes in strategic plan; 150 miles radius: being in the weeds;

§ diversity of county (understanding individual community); trust and respect communication;

§ consistency -process (orientation for new members); patience to complete plan (lack of) TDC/BCC; large term planning; strategic plan orientation( perception  training); long term assets, eco tourist focus; BCC Approval shut down; BB not prepared(such as minutes) lack of  communication. Tourism

Opportunities

What opportunities are available to you?

§ Cultural diversity; funding resources; recreational, natural beauty, historical, business opportunities

§ Good friendly people genuine; retirees/ people; talent, tourism, multicultural event (Jazz Fest concept – be the driver); *Activity – signature event; Include community; create committee (report to TDC)

§ meet new people (15-30)

 What trends are tradition may possible impact you?

§ Leverage Visit Florida and Brand USA; economy

§  social media (inexpensive to market)

§  seeking FSU and FAMU business school (interns), summer youth program (media);

What stakeholder opportunities do you have that you haven’t realized?

§ RiverWay South

§ Chamber

§ Agro-tourism business (cane syrup, grunt baits)

§ Creek Entertainment; Families need something to do; survey participants

§ Riverboat – Dinner Cruise

§ Water Park; Golf

§ Community buy in (include community ownership)

§ College Football Games (close proximity to Tallahassee)…

§ Homework Assignment…WHAT WILL ANY OF THESE LOOK LIKE – FOR HOMEWORK THINK ABOUT IT? Pick 3 and what will they be. Want to drive one event on an annual basis.

Threats

What keeps you from doing it?

§ Culture/Race

§ Strategic Plan that is not solid (not clear) needs goals, complicated; criticism; conception

§ Lack of cohesion (county level)

§ Lack of marketing assets

§ Boards separate

Does this community take care of its assets?

§ Lack of team work…

Follow-up session: May 27, 2014 (Tuesday) @ 3:30pm

Adjournment at 6:05p.m