Tourist Development Council Agenda Results: October 19, 2015

BRADENTON – At Monday's TDC meeting, members recommended contributing $100,000 to the Bradenton Art Walk Initiative and $9,000 to the Cortez Cultural Center Project.

1. Invocation/ Pledge of Allegiance

2. Approval of August 17, 2015 Meeting Minutes – Approved, Unanimous

3. Public Comment

4. Pops Orchestra -- Update

Presented by Robyn Bell, Pops Orchestra – Bell, who is Director of the Orchestra, wanted to thank the TDC for their support. Bell said, "We have recently changed our name to Pops of Bradenton and Sarasota." Bell believes the focus on Bradenton would increase the attendance there because less than one third of those who attended the shows were from Bradenton.

5. Eco Tourism -- Update

Presentation by Jennifer Shafer, Shafer Consulting –

Dr. Jennifer Shafer, Director of Science and Environmental Council, said Eco-Tourism is strong and getting stronger, currently hosting 1.8 million visitors annually.

6. State of Tourism -- Update

Presented by Walter Klages, Data Research Consulting – Klages said the markets are slow but still slowly rising. He said 6.3 percent of those who are visiting are here for the first time. Klages said the income of those who visit is up from $106,000 a year in 2014 to $110,000 a year in 2015, and added, "Eco-Tourism is front and center of what most visitors are coming here for."

7. Request for TDC Funding – Art Walk Initiative

Recommendation Needed

Presented by Elliot Falcione – The City of Bradenton, through Realize Bradenton, requests support for an Art Walk project in the urban core city limits. The total cost of the project is proposed to be $232,500. $110,000 will come from Bradenton DDA, $12,500 from Mosaic, $10 from Realize Bradenton and the TDC is being asked to contribute $100,000 over a two year period; ($50,000 in FY15 / 16 and $50,000 in FY16 / 17. – Recommended for approval, 6-0, Mayor Poston abstained from voting.

8. Request for TDC Funding – Cortez Cultural Center Project

Recommendation Needed

Presented by Elliott Falcione – The Cultural Center Project is the restoration of a wooden building that sits next to the Florida Maritime Museum. The building, built in 1946, will serve as the Cortez Village Cultural Center once the renovation is finished. The Cortez Village Cultural Center's request is for $9,000 in matching funds from the TDC. – Recommended for approval, 7-0.

9. PR / Social Media Update

Presentation by Kelly Clark and Megan Body CVB – The European travel market is growing slow but growing nonetheless. Most European bookings to the Bradenton area are via the internet. In the six media outlets in Europe, the TDC spent $80,206.99 for advertisement in the month of July 2015.

10.Public Comment

11. New / Old Business