08/17/2004 Special
MINUTES
OF THE MONROE COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
2004/185
Special Meeting
Board of County Commissioners
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Marathon, Florida
A Special Meeting between the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners,
Islamorada, Village of Islands, City of Marathon, and the Tourist Development Council was held
on the above date at the Marathon Government Center, Present and answering to roll call were
Commissioner Charles "Sonny" McCoy, Commissioner George Neugent, Commissioner David p,
Rice, Commissioner Dixie Spehar and Mayor Murray E. Nelson, Also present were Danny L.
Kolhage, Clerk; John R. Collins, County Attorney; James L. Roberts, County Administrator;
County Staff, members of the press and radio; and the general public,
All stood for the Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance,
ADDITIONS, CORRECTIONS, DELETIONS
There were no Additions, Corrections, or Deletions made to the Agenda.
Motion was made by Commissioner Neugent and seconded by Commissioner Spehar
granting approval of to day's agenda. Motion carried unanimously,
MUTUAL INTERESTS
BOCCNILLAGE OF ISLAMORADA
The meeting between Monroe County and Islamorada convened. Present were
Councilman Michael Forester, Councilman Mike Reckwerdt, Councilwoman Patty Schmidt,
Vice-Mayor Robert Johnson, and Mayor Chris Sante. Also present was Bernie LaPira, Village
Manager.
Mayor Nelson asked that all of the participants introduce themselves. Following
introduction, Mayor Sante of the Village of Islamorada opened the discussion concerning land
acquisition for work force housing. Both Boards proceeded to discuss this issue.
The Boards also discussed wastewater issues concerning the Village of Islamorada and
Monroe County.
There being no further business, the meeting between the Board of County Commissioners
and the Village of Islamorada was adjourned.
08/17/2004
2004/186
BOCC/CITY OF MARATHON
The meeting between Monroe County and the City of Marathon convened, Present were
Councilman John Bartus, Councilman Randy Mearns, Councilman Bob Miller, Councilman Chris
Bull, and Mayor Jeff Pinkus, Also present was Interim City Manager, Mike Puto,
Following introduction of the participants, Mayor Pinkus and both Boards discussed
wastewater funding, workforce housing, constitutional gas tax, and the challenge to the DCA
Rule, Councilman Mearns gave an update on the negotiations between the City of Marathon and
Monroe County concerning the solid waste issue.
There being no further business, the meeting between the Board of County Commissioners
and the City of Marathon was adjourned.
TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FUNDING OF A CONVENTION &
VISITORS BUREAU FOR GREATER MARATHON
Commissioner Spehar was not present for the remainder of the meeting.
The Board discussed the Tourist Development Council funding of a Convention &
Visitors Bureau (CVB) for Greater Marathon,
The following individuals were present in the audience: Harold Wheeler, Marketing
Director of the Tourist Development Council; Michael Ingram, Chairman of the Tourist
Development Council; Christina Weinhofer, Tourist Development Council Board Member; Jim
Rhyne, representing the CVB for Greater Marathon; Richie Morretti, representing Old Town-
CVB; Randy Mearns, representing the City of Marathon; Matthew P. Babich, Tourist
Development Council Board Member/Treasurer; Virginia Panico, Executive Director of the Key
West Chamber of Commerce; Karen Tiedemann, representing the Key Largo Chamber of
Commerce; Eva Scott, Executive Director of the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce; M. 1. Neal,
Executive Director of the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce; Carla Bahn, President of the
Islamorada Chamber of Commerce; Rob Holtry, representing the Lower Keys Chamber of
Commerce; Julie Fondriest, DAC I - Chair; Gayle Tippett, DAC-II Chair; Rita Irwin, DAC-III
Chair; Patti Stanley, DAC-IV Chair; Ronnie Harris, DAC- V Chair; and Tracy A Holder,
representing the CVB for Greater Marathon.
Jim Rhyne, representing the CVB for Greater Marathon made a presentation to the Board.
After the presentation, the following individuals addressed the Board: Richie Morretti, Randy
Mearns, Tracy Holder, and Tom Cherniovsky, representing Hawks Cay Resort,
Michael Ingram, Christine Weinhoffer, Matt Babich and Harold Wheeler all representing
the TDC discussed the proposed CVB for Greater Marathon.
Jim Rhyne, Richie Morretti, Randy Mearns, Tracy Holder, and Betty Chaplin all
representing the CVB for Greater Marathon addressed the Board with closing comments.
08/17/2004
2004/187
The Board of County Commissioners individually discussed the CVB for Greater
Marathon proposal. No official action was taken.
There being no further business, the meeting of the Tourist Development Council funding
a CVB for Greater Marathon was adjourned.
Danny L. Kolhage, Clerk
and ex-officio Clerk to the Board
of County Commissioners
Monroe County, Florida
~tJ.~;, f!.;!!c~