PLACEMENT: Consent
TITLE:
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TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
executive summary
After solicitation for applicants, the Board is asked to make the necessary appointments to the Tourist Development Council.
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DEPARTMENT: Administration
PREPARED BY: Name: Donna Gordon
Title: Administrative Services Program Coordinator
REQUESTED BY: Nerissa Okiye, Tourism Director
PRESET:
PROCEDURES: None
BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:
The Tourist Development Council was created pursuant to Section 71.238, General Ordinances, Martin County Code on January 20, 2015.
The Tourist Development Council shall have the following powers and duties:
1. Conduct public hearings to receive information from the public with respect to the effectiveness of the existing tourist development efforts by both public and private agencies, organizations, and businesses and the need for additional or different tourist development efforts.
2. Recommend a method of coordination of existing tourist development efforts by both public and private agencies, organizations, and businesses and of new or additional tourist development efforts to obtain maximum economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of the tourist development efforts in and for Martin County.
3. Identify and recommend methods of eliminating unnecessary duplications in existing tourist development efforts by both public and private agencies, organizations, and businesses and preventing or minimizing such duplications of new or proposed tourist development efforts.
4. Identify and develop new tourist development efforts by both public and private agencies, organizations, and businesses.
5. Create, prepare, and submit to the Board a Tourist Development Plan in the manner meeting the requirements of F.S.125.0104, and, from time to time thereafter, make recommendations to the Board for changes to the Tourist Development Plan.
6. From time to time, to make recommendations to the Board for the effective operation of the special projects or uses provided for in the Tourist Development Plan.
7. Review the expenditures of revenues authorized in the Tourist Development Plan and report to the Board and to the State Department of Revenue as required by F.S.125.0104.
8. Adopt, amend, and repeal rules and to implement the provisions of any ordinance for which it is responsible.
9. Submit an annual report to the Board of its activities and of the issues and progress of the tourist development efforts in and for the County.
Section 71.238 provides that the Tourist Development Council shall be composed of nine members. All members of the Council shall be electors of Martin County at the time of appointment and while serving on the Council. One member of the Council shall be the Chair of the Board or any other member the Board, as designated by the Chair of the Board, who shall also serve as Chair of the Council. The remaining members shall be appointed by the Board and shall have the following representative classifications:
1. Two members who are elected municipal officers, at least one of whom shall be from the most populous municipality in the County.
2. Three members who are owners or operators of motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks, or other tourist accommodations in the County that are subject to the tourist development tax.
3. Three members who are involved in the tourist industry and who have demonstrated an interest in tourist development, but who are not owners or operators of motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks, or other tourist accommodations in the County that are subject to the tourist development tax.
The Tourist Development Council meets in the Commission Chambers every other month at 3:00 PM. The agendas are published to the County’s website in a timely manner.
The Administration Staff advised Nimesh Patel (hotelier) and Tammy Calabria (involved in the tourist industry) that their terms will expire on July 10, 2025. The incumbents were provided an Application for Appointment to complete and return if so desired. Ms. Calabria advised she will not re-apply as she has moved out of Martin County and is no longer a registered voter.
An Information Release soliciting applicants was emailed via Constant Contact to the Outreach Martin and Local Media which includes local Chambers of Commerce, local businesses, and citizens. The Information Release was also posted to the County’s web page under News.
Administration Staff confirmed with the Supervisor of Elections Office that all the applicants are registered voters as required.
The Administration Staff will advise Dr. Patel and Ms. Benzenberg of the Commission’s decision which will include Sunshine Law information. A Chair letter and Certificate of Appreciation will be mailed to Ms. Calabria. The Chair will sign the letter and certificate.
ISSUES:
None
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW:
This item has been reviewed for legal sufficiency to determine whether it is consistent with applicable law.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECOMMENDATION
A. Move that the Board appoint Nimesh M. Patel to fill the “hotelier” position and Nancy Benzenberg to fill the “involved in the tourist industry” to the Tourist Development Council for terms to begin July 11, 2025 and end July 10, 2029.
B. Move that the Board Authorize the Chair to sign the Resolution of Appointment and the letter/certificate for Ms. Calabria.
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Pull this item from the Consent Agenda and direct staff accordingly.
FISCAL IMPACT:
RECOMMENDATION
None
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
None
DOCUMENT(S) REQUIRING ACTION:
☐Budget Transfer / Amendment ☒ Chair Letter ☐Contract / Agreement
☐Grant / Application ☐Notice ☐Ordinance ☒Resolution
☐Other: