9/23/1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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500,000 population the funds may be used to acquire, construct, extend, enlarge, remodel, repair, improve, maintain, operate, or promote one or more museums, zoological parks, fishing piers or nature centers which are publicly owned and operated, or owned and operated by not-for-profit organizations and open to the public. This authorized use has more to do with facilities and their operation and maintenance, which is something other than promoting and aiding tourism. He further explained how, under a procedure with subcategories, requests would go to the Chamber, or the Bureau, or the Council, or the Commission, depending on what the request was specifically for. Mr. Bireley suggested leaving it with the.Tourist Development Council. He felt the need for more meetings and possibly some workshops because he realized that categorizing requests and deciding where the monies would be best spent may not work because the whole thing could shift from year to year. He felt that the biggest help will be setting out the criteria so that an applicant has it spelled out. Kevin Doty agreed the starting point is the legislative directions contained in the statute which he felt were clearly written. He believed the screening process brings us dangerously close to sponsorship or production, and the Legislature did not intend for the County to actively engage in production or sponsorship of these events. The Legislature intended for the County to facilitate, get it advertised, get it out there. We want to avoid the proliferation of a bureaucracy wherein a group makes a presentation at one meeting, then another meeting, then another meeting. If the County Commission directs Attorney Collins and OMB Director Baird to outline strict guidelines, then we can define what the monies will be spent for within the parameters of the five areas of the statute, and the Tourist Development Council can further define the guidelines for our purposes. Mr. Doty felt sure the Tourist Development Council in conjunction with the County Commission can fill the need without creating more bureaucracy. County Attorney Vitunac advised the Commission needs to decide what they mean by "promote." He thought as a legal matter it is not quite as restrictive as some have said. He thought it means more than advertising and probably less than total sponsorship and that it is whatever the Board finds, as a policy matter, promotes tourism. Discussion ensued regarding what might be covered under "promote." Chairman Bird suggested hearing from the public. Eugene Marks, 331 North Grove Isle Circle, came before the 8