Dune Enhancement, Vegetation Planting, Sand Fencing – TDC Seek's Comments

The Bay County TDC is planning a dune enhancement project for Panama City Beach. This project is in the design phase, and the Bay County TDC is seeking comment on the design from the community. The TDC anticipates construction of the project in fall 2009, and project funding will originate from local bed tax dollars (beach nourishment fund) and a state cost-sharing grant.

In general, the project will include planting vegetation only for areas that have significant dunes, sufficient beach width, and/or existing sand fencing. In areas that lack a significant dune but have sufficient beach width, the project will include planting vegetation and constructing sand fencing.

The idea is to protect our beach against natural erosion and help beautify the very thing that makes our area so awesome. We need to protect our sand dunes.

The draft plans for the dune vegetation and sand fencing project can be reviewed online by clicking here or a hard copy of the plans can be reviewed at the Bay County TDC at 17001 Panama City Beach Pkwy, Panama City Beach, FL 32413.

These plans are preliminary and designed for comment from the Panama City Beach Gulf side property owners and the Bay County TDC. In particular, please contact the Bay County TDC at 850-233-5070 if you are a Gulf side property owner, and you do NOT desire vegetation planted and/or sand fencing constructed as proposed.

TDC Meeting – Klages, Sea Oats, JBInc, New Board

Bed tax numbers were reported to be up for October, but no percentages or numbers were provided.

Lisa Armbruster presented the preliminary plans for the Sea Oat Planting and Sand Fencing project and encouraged public comment. The goal is to implement this plan next year after turtle nesting season, and Lisa advised that the funding is already in place.

After a presentation from Walter Klages that emphasized a need to increase international visibility, the board voted to follow staff’s recomendation and approve the contract for the current year including the extra money to start doing occupancy and rate studies.

The board voted to approve the Memo of Understanding with Jennifer Barbee Inc. under the assumption that they could renogotiate the stipulation requiring 1/3 of the budget to be deposited in advance with her firm. The board agreed they would like no more than 1/6 of the budget to be deposited in advance with JBInc. It was discussed that Jennifer Barbee Inc has been working on the new spring break site even without a contract. Andy expressed his concern that $95k was too much for a web site, but the board seemed to disagree.

New officers will be chosen in January and another 6 months was added to all the board member’s term. Originally, the 2 year appointments were to end in June 2009, but now they will end in January 2010. I though this was a decision to be made by the County Commission/PCB City Council. ??

The New Year’s Even Ball Drop being held at Pier Park is sponsored by the CVB and will include an 8 foot ball dropped 145 feet from a crane. Board members are unsure whether, at this point, it will be allowed to smash into the ground on top of a car.

Oh, and don’t forget the special meeting called on the Bed Tax issue on the 17th of December. I’ll add it to the calendar on the side.

TDC Meeting Agenda – Sea Oats and Visitor Surveys, No Bed Tax Talk

Tuesday’s TDC meeting will include discussion of a new plan to preserve Sea Oats plan Sand Fencing. The Klages group will do a presentation on visitor survey’s, should be interesting, and they will discuss renewing the contract with the Klages report for this upcoming tourist season.

There will be no talk of the possible bed tax increase as earlier indicated. They plan to call a special meeting for this, which we’ll be notified about very soon.

See ya Tuesday!

The agenda is below, or it can be downloaded here.

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AGENDA

COMBINED BOARD MEETING
Bay County Tourist Development Council
Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.
Panama City Beach
Tuesday, December 9, 2008 1:00 p.m. Council Room, PCB City Hall

I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER

II. ROLL CALL

A.    Invocation
B.    Pledge of Allegiance
C.    Approve Minutes From the October 15, 2008, and November 6, 2008 Meetings

III. REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON AGENDA ITEMS (3 Minutes)

IV. UPDATE ON BED TAX COLLECTIONS, Ms. Charlene Honnen, Tourist Development Tax Specialist

V. PRESENTATIONS

A. Presentation on Preliminary Design for Panama City Beaches Sea Oat Planting and Sand Fencing Project, Mr. Quin Robertson, Coastal Planning & Engineering, and Mrs. Lisa Armbruster, Sustainable Beaches, LLC
B. Report on Visitor Surveys, Dr. Walter Klages, The Klages Group

VI. BOARD ACTION ITEMS

A.    Discuss and Consider for Approval Contract Agreement with The Klages Group, Mr. Dan Rowe, President
B.    Discuss and Consider for Approval Coastal Planning & Engineering Invoice #81120 and Invoice #81155, Mr. Dan Rowe, President
C.    Discuss and Consider for Approval Memorandum of Understanding with JB, Inc., Mr. Dan Rowe, President

VII. BOARD DISCUSSION ITEMS

A. Update on Revenue Enhancement Committee Meeting, Mr. Marty McDaniel, Chairman, Revenue Enhancement Committee
B. Discussion of Annual Review Process for CVB President, Mr. Andy Phillips, Chairman

VIII. PRESIDENT’S REPORT

IX. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

X. ADJOURNMENT