By DOTTY NIST
SOUTH WALTON – The Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC) recently discussed a variety of requests and topics, taking action on a number of items.
This was at the TDC’s regular bimonthly meeting on Aug. 2 at the South Walton Annex.
Free parking for Coastal Dune Lake Day?
The council members heard a request on behalf of the Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Committee for payment of up to $1,500 to Grayton Beach State Park in order to provide free parking to people participating in Coastal Dune Lake Day on Sept. 17.
Discussion included the ongoing program through which TDC funds are being used to fund parking for beachgoers at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park during the summer months. There has been conversation with state park representatives about a similar program for Grayton Beach State Park, and the one-day parking arrangement could provide data on the chances for success with such a program for Grayton Beach State Park.
The council members voted in favor of moving forward with the one-day funding plan, with the cost to be paid from the TDC’s Beach Maintenance/Other Contractual Services Account.
Sea turtle education
Next on the agenda was a request from a relatively-new volunteer organization, Friends of South Walton Sea Turtles, whose purpose is promotion of conservation of sea turtles through awareness and education. The group’s request was for $130,000 in funding to go towards restaurant place mats, light cover stickers for rental accommodations and vendors, advertising, booklets, booths and public events, and similar purposes. Jon Ervin, TDC director of marketing and communications, presented the request.
There was discussion that the sea turtle monitoring program funded by the TDC, which is now provided by a separate volunteer group, the South Walton Turtle Watch (SWTW), had included an educational component at one time but does not currently include education. TDC Chair/Walton County District 2 Commissioner Cecilia Jones asked why education was no longer part of the services provided by SWTW. Ervin said he thought this was due to the large amount of work required for the core function of the program. He noted that the new group has a good relationship with the SWTW.
TDC member Jim Richard observed that what was being described by the new volunteer group seemed to be “strictly a marketing campaign.” He suggested getting input from the TDC Marketing Committee on the request.
Representatives of the new group who were present for the meeting commented that many of the negative impacts that people have on sea turtles are due to a lack of information, the “missing link.” They said they stood ready to be the manpower to provide that information to visitors and residents.
There was discussion that the TDC and TDC staff would be able to assist by producing educational materials and in other ways.
TDC Attorney Clay Adkinson said he believed there would be an opportunity for funding the group’s educational program if it could be demonstrated that sea turtles were being promoted to tourists. Obviously this would be an in-destination campaign but would be directed at tourists as part of a promotion of the beaches and turtles “as part of our unique habitat,” he commented.
“The turtles have a warm place in everyone’s hearts,” said Richard. He said he believed many in the community would want to partner in the educational effort. He moved to refer the request to the Marketing Committee for evaluation and presentation of findings to the TDC. The motion was approved with all aye votes.
Funding for run/stand-up paddle event
Next was a request from the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce to reallocate $7,000 in event sponsorship funds awarded by the TDC for the Taste of the Beach event, which was not held as previously planned, to the chamber’s Run/SUP (stand-up paddling) event. The latter is an exercise event held annually in Grayton Beach State Park. It is scheduled for Sept. 24.
After some discussion a motion to recommend the reallocation of funds was approved with all aye votes.
Transportation study/plan request
Brian Kellenberger, TDC beach operations director, brought forward a request on behalf of the TDC Destination Improvement Committee for a transportation study which would include a look at metered parking at public beach accesses. He commented that this would be the continuation of a number of transportation studies had been done in the past and in recent years in the quest to relieve congestion on CR-30A.
Richard said he would favor such a study but would prefer it to be in the nature of a long-term plan as opposed to “putting out fires.”
TDC Destination Improvement Committee member Leigh Moore, who had made the motion for the study, agreed, observing that most of the transportation studies and plans produced by the county had not been long-range in nature. She said she had envisioned a “holistic plan” rather than just another study, a plan that would encompass not only CR-30A and south Walton County but would also focus on connections with the north part of the county. It would include, she said, pedestrians, cyclists, and paid parking.
TDC member Kurt Tape saw this as “tying all the pieces together” and saw the objective to be that the study would “take us somewhere.”
Moore commented that research already done by the county in this area could be incorporated in the study and plan.
Attorney Adkinson cautioned that the study/plan, or at least parts of it, would likely not fall within the TDC’s purview and statutory authority, namely planning for tourism and recommendations on the use of bed tax funds.
After some additional discussion, Kellenberger offered to meet with Moore and contact Walton County Public Works to see how some of the ideas involved with the request could possibly be included in an amended request to be brought back to the council.
Speaking as a commissioner, Jones said she got frustrated because studies were done and ending up just “sitting on the shelf.” She said the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) would welcome input on this topic.
Exterior restroom for TDC Visitor Center
Later during the meeting Kellenberger brought forward a request to proceed with design and permitting at a cost not to exceed $18,450 for an exterior restroom facility at the TDC Visitor Center. The building is envisioned for the east side of the building parking lot and would be similar in appearance to the existing storage building. It would be available for visitors’ use during hours when the Visitor Center is closed.
Kellenberger said funding was available from moneys that had been identified for two new beach accesses at Headland Avenue and Walton Dunes that the county had not moved forward with.
A motion to proceed with design and permitting of the restroom facility carried with all aye votes.
Consultant and staff updates
Updates followed from the council’s beach management consultant, advertising agency, research consultants, TDC Director of Sales and Visitor Center Pam Watkins, Ervin, and from Kellenberger on beach operations.
It was announced that the TDC Annual Meeting had been scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 11 at the Magnolia Ballroom at Sandestin Resort.
Ervin displayed an image of newly-designed trash bags that would bear the “Leave No Trace” message at the almost 700 receptacles serviced by the TDC along the beach.
Kellenberger told the council members that the final draft from the Public Space Design Charrette workshops was now available for their review and comment, after which the document would be taken before the BCC for final consideration.
Two new TDC beach code enforcement officers are now on duty, Kellenberger said, adding that they are former law enforcement officers.
He reported that beach code enforcement is actively pursuing the prohibitions put in place by the BCC on chains, fences, signs, ropes, fences and other obstructions on the beach. He said eight warning letters had been issued the previous week in connection with violations of these provisions.
Executive director comments
As part of his report to the council members, TDC Executive Director Jay Tusa commented that the BCC has tasked the TDC with locating areas suitable to being acquired for public parking. He said he has been in negotiation on property on CR-283 South known as the “Grayton Grand” site and on other property in the 3900 block of West CR-30A. Tusa added that he is awaiting an appraisal on other property across from Stinky’s Fish Camp restaurant that would be a great public beach access point.
Tusa said the terms on five TDC seats would be expiring in December and that staff members were currently updating council information packets and guidelines. TDC Treasurer Art Miller recently resigned due to a move outside the area, and his seat is one of those that will expire at the end of the year..
Tusa added that, unless there were any objections, he had asked TDC member Gary Brielmayer to continue filling in as treasurer at least until December, at which time Miller’s seat would be filled. The council members were in agreement.
Departures and appointments
Ervin, who had tendered his resignation as marketing and communications director, has given a month’s notice after serving in the position for five years. He took the opportunity to say goodbye to the council members, commending them on their dedication and hard work.
There was also an announcement that Brooke DiSalvo, lead information specialist for TDC Visitor Services, is leaving to enter law school.
Committee appointments approved at the Aug. 2 meeting included Kate Johnson to fill the vacant seat devoted to the South Walton Turtle Watch on the TDC Destination Improvement Committee and Joseph Shuster to the South Walton Turtle Watch vacancy on the TDC Beach Management Committee.
TDC action items are subject to final consideration by the Walton County Board of County Commissioners in public session.