TDC appointment Zephyrhills over Dade City

2:07:01be a little discussion on this from the board. Um I wanted to bring this to you after having discussions um with um

2:07:10TC sorry, the T D C um Adam Thomas, our um DMO Director for Tourism as well as our um attorney For the um T D C so

2:07:27Tourist Development Council is required by Florida statute to have two members from municipalities. One being the most populous city, which is the city of Newport Ritchie. That's the most populous. And one other municipality. Uh Right now we have City of Newport Ritchie and the City of Dade City on there. Um City of Dade City has been on there since nineteen ninety one. Um just When

2:07:57our conversations We weren't sure why it's always been Dade City 'cause Zephyrhills is actually the second largest city in the county right now. Um Dade City being third. Um now I s just stating that um they they've expired. So We as a commission either have to um Again, vote on reinstating Dade City as a city and they appoint their person, which has been Mayor Hernandez. And I will say this, Mayor Hernandez is very involved,

2:08:28does an excellent job on the on the TDC Council.

2:08:36But after talking to the um County Attorney's Office, I needed to bring this to your attention. that um it is this board's choice to either leave Dade City on or you have the option of bringing in another city if you like. Okay. The question is basically on the floor for all of you. Um would you like to continue to leave Dade City on the Tourist Development Council? Or did you want to consider bringing in another city? Personally

2:09:07I it needs to stay on the east side of the county, so it'll either be Date City or Zephyrhills 'cause we already have one on the west side. Um So I will listen to any input. Commissioner Oakley, I see your hands up.

2:09:18Yeah. Hey, uh I'd like to see us move that to the city of Zephyrhills and I thought I was told that the city of Zephyrh was the largest city in the county. Uh not too long ago, but I don't know I don't haven't seen any numbers, but they've been talking about that for this past year. The biggest city in the county.

2:09:41Yeah, I We looked at it the other day or the numbers I was given it was New Port Richey, but I'm not saying I'm correct on that. Oh.

2:09:51Well I don't think you are, but this is my opinion. But We need to look at it and see, but I really think uh there's a lot of growth in Zephyrhills, so

2:10:01Okay, so here how about we do this for a second? Um and I hate to bring something back, but unless Mr. Steinsnyider, you're in the in the room or if anybody else in the room can look it up real quick and see And confirm that statistic that New Port Richey the largest and Sephiroth Hill is the second largest.

2:10:18You can take somebody getting the o it can take two seconds and look that up.

2:10:24I'm not sure where you'd find the most current information except. Except census and Um

2:10:31And new and uh question on that, are they full time residents or part time residents? Is that the should we take that into consideration? Mm Mr. Chair. But

2:10:41Yes, go ahead, Mr. Bowes. Yeah, I looked up the cities. The latest census estimates, I believe, is 2018 on the census cities. They've not done the 2019 estimates yet. And if I recall correctly, 'cause I looked up Zephyrhills last week for another issue. Port New Port Richey just edges out Zephyrhills in twenty eighteen, but that does not mean that it'll be the same in twenty nineteen. But that's that's what I recall from looking at last week.

2:11:08But if it's the b board's desire to have the number one and number two city one from east and west, That it Whether they've edged them out or not, it would seem that you you know, that that Newport Ritchie and Zephyrhills are the are the top two cities and and they are representing both halves of the county.

2:11:31Okay. So again with that, you know, talking to Elizabeth Blair from the County Attorney's Office, this discussion needed to happen, you know. This board. Camille does an amazing job. Um, so and we appreciate her. But again, this is the entire board's decision. So if Commissioner Oakley, you feel that Zephyrhills should have a chance, you know, I'm I'll wait for everybody else's input.

2:11:55Well then now does it uh have to be the mayor or can it be a council member or or what's it?

2:12:01It's the city itself. I'm just telling I'm just speaking for on I'm just speaking that Mayor Hernandez has done a good job and she's you know, yeah, I understand that. I've been there.

2:12:09And

2:12:09I'll agree. Yeah, but um it's the city and then the city

2:12:15Make

2:12:16sure. uh makes the appointment, which is typically the mayor makes the appointments for the city. So um

2:12:24Well I like to see Zephyrhills Zephyrhills has grown a lot and they're a growing community and I think their input It's time to change and bring something new to the board. And having Zephyrhills be the representative.

2:12:40Mr. Chairman Mariano.

2:12:42Yes, Commissioner

2:12:43Mariano.

2:12:43And I'll share the sentiments. I mean Camille Jimendez, she does a great job, great person, very involved with it. She is familiar with both sides of the county as well, but I I do think it is with Commissioner Oakley making the recommendation. I'll back it up.

2:12:56Okay. So I have a motion by Commissioner Oakley and I have a second by Commissioner Mariano to appoint the C Uh this c yeah. Maybe the finish note motion uh Taken by Commissioner Mariano to appoint Zephyrhills on the T D C. Now I have a discussion by Commissioner Starkey.

2:13:14Um perhaps um Camille could be uh uh appointed as a another kind of member to the board. Is that possible?

2:13:25Um because there's by statute there's there uh Elizabeth's not here um but um by statute the membership has to be made up of a certain amount of hotels and a certain number of individual businesses that are in the tourism industry. I don't know if Mr. Steisner you can back that up

2:13:43or not. But I don't know what your vacancies are right now, but you would have to qualify for a Different vacancy other than the other than the city appointment.

2:13:51Well I I agree when I was was Chair of Tourism, Camille was a very valuable member on the uh council and um but I I could see it's Zephyrhills turn now, so I'll I support the motion.

2:14:04So I have a motion again by Commissioner Oakley. I have a second by Commissioner Mariano. Madam Clerk, please call rolls.

2:14:14District One, Commissioner Oakley.

2:14:17Aye.

2:14:17District three, Commissioner Starkey.

2:14:19Aye.

2:14:19District four, Commissioner Weight. District five, Commissioner Mariano. Aye. District two, Chairman More.

2:14:26I motion passes five zero. Um Zephyrhills now on the TDC Council. And then um I know the t tourism team is listening in um along with um Andy, um the two of you will need to work on drawing up a letter um from myself to and inviting Zephyrhills. They'll need to make an appointment um before the next T D C meeting. Okay, with that, that is all I have. We will take a break. until one thirty. We'll see you then.