9/23/1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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agreed with Mr. Bireley that there was a misunderstanding that the Chamber of Commerce would control these dollars. He explained that his original plan in requesting the Commission to form the Tourist Bureau is based on the fact that the statute outlined the parameters in which we can do that; that bureau, through the Chamber, would have access to tourism throughout the state, the county and the world; and that we save money by not establishing a separate bureau. The intent was not for them to dictate who gets money. The tourist committee members are representatives of the businesses that actually collect and raise the tourist taxes and if they could actually sit down with the various groups who are interested in creating tourism, they have a much keener understanding and knowledge about what brings people in and what works and what does not work. There is also a coordinating factor, and if the calendars are coordinated into one and if everyone is talking to each other, the dollars go a little bit farther. Chairman Bird asked what would be the role of the Tourist Development Council under that plan. Commissioner Wheeler explained that the Tourist Development Council would consider whatever concerns the County and the City governments. For instance, when Save Our Shores comes in for funds for a specific project on restoration, that would come directly to the Tourist Development Council. We would have different divisions that would deal with the Council, and Tourism, as such, would be one of those divisions. Anybody that disagreed with the Chamber's Tourist Board could certainly appeal to the County's Tourist Development Council and, likewise, as they do now, they could also appeal to the Commission. Chairman Bird asked for clarification on -who would be coming directly to the Indian River County Tourist Development Council and who would be funnelled through the Chamber of Commerce Tourist Bureau. Commissioner Eggert felt part of the problem in the past was the fact that there was so much discussion at Tourist Development Council meetings that there was a desire to have a kind of private review of the various requests so that some of the problems could be shaken out before it goes to the public council hearing, and her understanding was that the only things that would not come through this channel would be county.and municipality. _ Mr. Bireley saw a need for a group to screen applicants, using more definite guidelines. He felt the screening committee should almost be a subcommittee of the Tourist Development Council. It should not come under the Chamber of Commerce nor under the arts; it should be one representative from each of all of these groups. 5 SEP ? 199 BOOK, U