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L 71 <br />PRESENTATION BY COOPERS AND LYBRAND OF THE COMPREHENSIVE ANNIIAL <br />FINANCIAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1991 <br />Withdrawn - to be rescheduled. <br />PUBLIC DISCUSSION <br />SEBASTIAN RIVER AREA 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL COMMITTEE REQUEST FOR <br />CONTRIBUTION FROM INDIAN RIVER COUNTY <br />County Administrator Jim Chandler explained that this request <br />for $5,000 from the Sebastian 4th of July Committee was not <br />received within the time frame set by the Tourist Development <br />Council, which is why it is being presented to the Board. Mr. <br />Chandler reminded the Board that last year we allocated $5,000 each <br />to Sebastian and to Vero Beach, but with the stipulation that it <br />was a one-time allocation tied to the Desert Storm event. <br />Commissioner Scurlock felt that if it were to be''funded, it <br />should be funded from tourist tax funds. <br />Chairman Eggert thought tourist tax funds were to be used for <br />events that draw people from other counties rather than a community <br />event, and Commissioner Scurlock argued that Sebastian attracts <br />visitors from south Brevard County. <br />Anthony Donini, finance chairman of the 4th of July Festival <br />Committee, confirmed that they traditionally draw people from south <br />Brevard, particularly Barefoot Bay. He further explained that this <br />year's event has been expanded to include a volleyball tournament, <br />and there will be entertainers from Titusville and Melbourne, so <br />they expect it to be a regional attraction. <br />Commissioner Bird asked whether the Tourist Council was <br />opposed to the expenditure of funds for this event or whether the <br />request was submitted too late. <br />Commissioner Wheeler felt the Tourist Council's decision to <br />deny this request was because they feel this is not the type of <br />event that fits into the criteria that have been developed by the <br />Tourist Development Council; the most important being to fill beds. <br />Mr. Donini pointed out that visitors do come to Sebastian from <br />the larger metropolitan areas of Florida, and Sebastian is <br />promoting this event as a small-town 4th of July celebration, away <br />from the hustle -bustle of the big city. <br />Commissioner Wheeler felt people tend to stay in their <br />communities for this one -day holiday and any travelling is merely <br />the swapping of people from here to there to be with their <br />families. He felt, and Deputy County Attorney Will Collins agreed, <br />that it is a real stretch to think that you draw tourists for an <br />event that every community up and down the coast will be <br />sponsoring. <br />004 <br />°OOK F 4 , r�UC �-LU <br />I <br />