This time we'll call to order the March 2nd, 2026 meeting of the City of Clearwater Downtown Development Board.

We'll now move to item 2.1 on the agenda, and that's the approval of minutes.

So moved.

Second.

All those in favor?

Opposed.

Unanimous.

Before we go further in the agenda, I'd like to welcome Mr.

Tetrie to the uh to the board.

First meeting.

And uh so welcome.

Thank you.

That moved to item three on the agenda that citizens to be heard regarding items not on the agenda.

There are any citizens here today who want to be heard on a downtown development board item that is not on today's agenda.

Seeing none, we'll move to item 4.1.

Approved the January 2026 financial statement for filing.

Good afternoon, Ann Lopez, CRA assistant director.

Uh this first item that I have for you is to approve the financial statement for filing for the month of January.

The expenditures for the month of January are outlined in the agenda item.

There was a total of 173,856.

Excuse me.

Um the beginning of the fiscal year through January, there was a total of 749 dollars.

749,772 that was spent, and I'd be happy to answer any questions.

Hearing none, is there any board discussion?

Vice Mayor?

Just for clarity.

Yes.

Um can you confirm whether the column that says available balance includes unencumbered or unallocated funds or restricted funds?

So what I would consider to be unallocated or unrestricted funds would be uh towards the bottom where it says downtown future initiatives that has a balance of nine uh five hundred ninety-two thousand nine fifteen.

That would be funding that you have available that has not been allocated to any type of special event, any program, any initiative within the DDB budget for this fiscal year.

For this fiscal year, correct.

Um that says Cleveland Street activation.

Um that has an available balance of 245,000, just a little over 245,000.

That's funding that has been allocated for that initiative, but there's no there's you know, still available balance for projects that could come out of that.

So that would be the $300,000 that we in March of 2025 approved for the mobile vendors.

So as at part of it, part of that.

Correct, yes.

We've uh we've used some of that funding.

There will be at the April 20th meeting.

We will bring forward a full presentation on all of the initiatives that we've done under Cleveland Street.

Um, but you have we have allocated and spent some of that original 300,000, and then at the February meeting, we did um add an additional.

I want to say it was around 150, so we brought that back up to 300,000.

Um, but under downtown future initiatives, there still is 592.

That has not been encumbered to any program or initiative.

Just quick question.

Can you just again I I missed it?

I didn't have it up on my screen.

Sure.

Tell me where I can find the unallocated, what I call unallocated balance.

It is towards the bottom.

It says future downtown initiative, so it's under the column.

Yep, for business assistance.

Okay.

Yep.

So that's kind of your catch-all of what's remaining.

Thank you.

We can allocate as the board sees.

Okay.

Okay, Councilmember Albert.

Uh that 300,000 was that for uh mobile vendors such as parklets, that kind of situation.

Yes.

And we've spent some of that.

We have on that type of initiative or just other mobile vendors.

We've done different initiatives, so Cleveland Street activation was more of a lar broader initiative, and under that came just different programming.

So the DDB has allocated some funding, and the CRA has allocated some funding.

Under that has come we've done uh new banners on Cleveland Street.

We have done uh the lunchtime market, which is actually this Friday.

Uh so we've done the lunchtime market, uh, the events series with St.

Pete College came out of that.

So we have had some programming that we've done out of that initiative.

Okay.

Okay.

Any other is there a motion?

Motion to approve agenda item uh 4.2.

Excuse me, 4.1 or 4.1.

Yeah.

Second.

All those in favor?

Proposed unanimous.2, approve the high impact event funding request for the second annual taste of clearwater, hosted by Rurry Club and Clearwater Charities Inc.

to be held on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 11 a.m.

5 p.m.

on the 600 block of Cleveland Street and Station Square Park.

Good afternoon, Vicky Shire, CRA Division Manager.

Staff is presenting a high impact event request for the second annual taste of Clearwater hosted by the Rotary of Clearwater.

This one-day event is scheduled for Saturday, April 18th, 2026 from 11 a.m.

to 5 p.m.

at uh Station Square Park and the corner block of Cleveland Street.

The mission is free, and the estimated attendance is 3,000 plus.

The applicant previously received 30,000 in funding in 2025 for the taste of Clearwater.

The applicant is requesting $30,000 in funding to include portable restrooms.

However, the other eligible direct production costs that they want to, that's under the guidelines.

Staff recommends funding an amount not to exceed $20,625, which excludes portable restrooms unless otherwise approved by the board.

The Africans are here to provide any information you guys have at this time.

So I'd like to invite them up to the podium.

Hello, I'm Jim Clark.

We want to thank you for your support to our event last year.

They did take in the activities and the music throughout the whole event.

So thank you.

I want to introduce uh Britt Maxwell.

Hello.

This year we made a strategic decision to relocate our event from Coachman Park to the 600 block in Station Square.

As we evaluated our growth and community engagement goals, it became clear that this new location offers a footprint that better aligns with the scale and character of the event.

The shift also creates a more immersive experience by bringing attendees directly into the heart of downtown Clearwater, increasing visibility and meaningful foot traffic for our local merchants and brick and mortar businesses.

This is an important step in strengthening the connection between the event and the downtown redevelopment area, ensuring the event serves as a true driver of community vitality.

In support of that mission, we are also waiving the entry fee for brick and mortar businesses within the redevelopment district, making participation more accessible and encouraging broader local involvement.

Overall, this move allows us to deepen our impact, support our businesses community, and better position the event as a catalyst for downtown engagement.

Stephanie.

Hi everybody.

So we recognize and want to say how much we appreciate staff support and recommendation of our event.

We did have one thing we wanted to talk to you about as a request.

So the current guidelines don't allow for the rental of restroom trailers and hand washing stations.

So as previously discussed, we've moved our event this year to Station Square Park and the street, where there are no public restrooms.

And so without renting portable restrooms, attendees would need to rely on nearby business facilities.

We believe this would place an undue burden on our local businesses and is neither practical nor fair to them during this high traffic community event.

Because of the food, excuse me, because we're going to have food and food vendors and food service hand washing stations, we feel are a mandatory health and safety requirement.

So they're not just they're they're tied to public health to public safety and responsible event management.

For these reasons, we would respectfully request that these costs be considered allowable and eligible for payment under the DBB grant, and we would request an additional $5,000 to the recommended allocation to our grant to cover these costs, making the total grant request $25,625.

So we're happy to answer any questions.

Did my did I did I make some okay?

Um, when you you said that you were moving it to Station Square, which I think is great because we it's underused, and I think it's a nice place to have uh have that event.

I agree.

I think we need to uh make it allowable to have restrooms because any time you're not using Coachman Park that has all the restrooms in there, I think that that uh we should discuss it and maybe uh make that allowable.

So I'll let everybody else talk first and then before I make a motion.

Thank you.

Yes, this weekend was pretty busy downtown, and uh when I went and visit the brick and mortar businesses, they were also expressing their concern on the burden of having all those people from outside coming to use the restroom.

So I do want to open up that dialogue.

I think it should be one of the covered expenses.

Um the question is how much.

I kind of did a preliminary research, anywhere between three to five hundred a port-a potty, depending how big they are.

Um so I do want to open up that dialogue, and I think it should be covered.

Okay, Consumer Cotton.

Thank you all.

I appreciate you what you guys do.

Um I'm also for having this discussion.

I think that we need to be smart because we're starting to set a precedents, right?

So once you open it, that's just gonna go trickle down.

We have salsa at the district.

I would assume that they will ask for porta potties as well.

Um, you know, they've been doing their event for how long and how many people that they bring in and where are their people using restrooms.

Um it's just one of those expenses that once you put it in there, you're never giving it back.

So when we're dealing with tax dollars and those types of revenue sources, we need to think what are other places doing, how are they overcoming those concerns and and what is the what does that look like?

Um that's just one of my hesitations with starting this new precedence.

And it's nothing against you all.

I'm sorry, but that's just where I kind of go.

And if it's five thousand dollars, is that what we're gonna set it to, or do we do our own research and have staff come back to us with the uh appropriate case and costs.

I I just don't know.

I don't know.

I'm not um sold that we should necessarily put our foot in that when other events are happening and have happened in Station Square and have not had this request yet.

So look forward to talking through this with you guys.

Yeah, Consumer Robert.

Um I know um I used to have events downtown as well, and required uh, especially in the street downtown, that I had to, you know, supply restrooms.

And I know we always put them was on Garden Avenue, kind of off south of Fort Harrison, that's where we lined them up.

Um I just covered the cost with uh people that were uh giving money to help the you know.

I'm not I can't remember back, it's been a while, but I don't know if the city actually paid for that.

They required it, but I don't think they paid for it.

Um I know that you asked it originally 30,000 for this event, and we're giving them giving you 20.

Um is there any recommendation is 20.

What's that?

The recommendation is 20.

Well, that's the recommendation.

That's that's right.

Um are there any other sponsors that could help you on this particular thing?

So we have a variety of sponsors.

We've listed them in the in the application.

Um, and this is a fundraiser event.

So if you know the money that you're giving is would give it if if everything holds true in the budget, this event will make zero dollars.

Right.

I understand.

Um and that was kind of the way that I did it too.

I was at the time I was on the DDB and I was doing these events to bring people downtown and to help the businesses.

Um but I know you're gonna need restrooms, and it's gonna be even though you have a zero thing.

I think I would be more apt to saying I'd I'd like to give you the money for it, but I don't know what the cost.

Now you're not talking about just like porta potty restrooms, you're talking about restroom trailers.

Right.

And and to be fair, the the what there's two things.

There's how much you allocate and how much we submit for reimbursement.

I mean, so if it comes in, if you allocate five thousand dollars to it, but it only comes in at six, you know, at 325 30, 300 3,000 dollars, $3,000, then we're only gonna get reimbursed for $3,000.

We're not we only get reimbursed for receipts that we submit.

Yeah.

Okay, well, I'd be more apt to doing this because I want this to be a successful event, and we don't want to do something that's structurally gonna entice people downtown and then have them know where to go go to the bathroom.

So I think I would be uh more apt to uh giving that to you.

So Menino.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, thanks for coming in and thanks for everything that Rotary does for our community.

Um whatever discussions we have regarding restrooms should not take away from the the fact of what you and your team and your group uh do for our community, so thank you.

Uh restrooms are undeniable in the in a downtown event, there is no question.

Uh we were down there um this weekend and it was awesome and it was on fire, and restrooms were a bit of a challenge for some of the brick and mortar restaurants, there were lines and people that maybe not eating or drinking there, but needed to use a facility, so there is no doubt that that is um that is important.

I think when we we get ourselves in these discussions talking about events, we always have to keep in mind that you know one event isn't the same as another event.

Um they are different, and this is uh a nonprofit and a charity in our community.

Uh again, they're the only money that is ever made is going directly back into the community in some form, and we know how our rotary club operates.

Um I'm supportive of this.

Uh whatever the council decides as far as allocating for those restrooms, whether it's 25, 625 or a different figure, I am supportive of it.

Um, and I I appreciate you.

I do also support the move uh up to 600 block.

Uh our park is absolutely beautiful, and we know that, but if it's not the right size event for that footprint, it gets dwarfed sometimes.

Um if you have 600 people in Raymond James Stadium, it looks like a complete failure.

But if you have 600 people at Station Square, it looks completely different.

So that footprint makes a difference.

I think that was a wise decision to move up there.

So I look forward to being there again as I was last year.

Thank you.

Vice Mayor.

So allowing the coverage of the port of bodies to me, I look at it as flexibility.

Not all events will need it, right?

Um, but I don't think it was adding to the cost specifically because we still have control of how much we allocate.

We're just trying to give as our I would like to give as much flexibility to uh each person that comes up here.

For you, Porta Potties is gonna be important.

Um for others it's not, but I do I do want to give everybody an opportunity to um be successful, and I don't think it's fair to the brick and mortar restaurants to have a line out the door for people who are not their customers.

Um and so I would like to include it, but not specifically giving them a money amount, and just we on each case by case can allocate the amount that we feel comfortable.

Yeah, well, I I haven't weighed in yet, but I I agree with Councilmember Cotton to some extent that um it it's more about the overall number than it is, you know.

Really, it's for you all to figure out your budget.

And when I look here, and I mean part part of the reason, you know, number of us attended, the reason that you're moving at a smaller location is last year it dwarfed the tenants that you had.

So uh I mean it was lighter than expected, you know, would anticipate that.

So some of these other expenses in light of that attendance last year, and um I know what was paid for the Sea Blues Festival for performers, and I understand that the entertainment's not only a performer, there are other things that go into this, but that that's a pretty heavy expense compared to what was just paid to um I think um I mean that was ten thousand dollars was about as much as they uh except for one performer, that's more than anybody else got uh at for performing, and these were national performers.

One of them was a headliner, they got about that amount.

So I I understand you need to have music and entertainment there that adds to that, but um I I would just ask you to look at some of these other budget expenses and see maybe there's some way to um to work the restrooms in without you know um asking or getting more from DDB.

Certainly, downtown developer wants to support the community, uh, but really the purpose of this board is to support the businesses downtown.

So although you know you are going to, and we're happy that you're making some money off this that goes back in the community, it really is money that we're directed to use just for the downtown businesses.

So that's that's my only question.

Do you think there's some other room in the budget?

Um Mayor, if I may weigh in on the um the musical act part of this.

Um a lot of the draw that we're hoping for for this event, not only uh with the supporters that we already have for the Rotary Club of Clearwater, but also for people that are music enthusiasts, restaurant enthusiasts, um, and the fact that the music that we had this last year, it was lovely, it was fun, uh, but they weren't noticeable recognizable acts.

So it really was more of an uh ambient music.

And with that, we paid for the stage, the A V system, and those things that were supportive of the budget or by the budget, I'm sorry.

So with this, because we don't need the stage being at beautiful station square, but we still would need the A V, we still would need the bands and hoping for at least two established bands to be participating along with um the evolvement of the Clearwater Jazz Holiday the Young Lions Jazz as like the opener, which is supported by their program already.

So to have two bands that are recognizable, bringing more foot traffic in other than just the rotary supporters.

Okay.

Councilman McCarthy.

Yeah, thank you.

And listen, you guys, I the Rotary Club is of max importance, right?

I mean, the motto is self-above service.

So uh I feel terrible with hawkish comments uh in regards to your event.

And and I don't mean that, but is what I do mean is that I mean, even though this is an event in which we are going to set a standard, and yes, we evaluate all events based on their merit, but we all attest to the bathrooms are rather important.

So, how are you ever gonna go back on saying a bathroom is not important in the future event?

Um, and that's just gonna be a line item cost that staff is now gonna have to evaluate, and and again, I hate saying this about you in particular, I know many of you, um, so it's even tougher, but it's the truth, right?

So that's where it's very hard for me to start to add money when majority of our time up here on this board has been where can we reduce your cost so that your event starts taking off and is self-sustainable.

Now, I also know that this is a fundraising event and that it'll also be uh reinvested within our community, and that you guys are doing great things for a brick and mortar um and able to be a part of that.

But maybe maybe this will help if you're able to answer this question then to maybe justify that you're shooting for 3,000 to 5,000 attendees.

That would be awesome.

I hope you get 6,000.

According to our new uh technology data, you guys roughly got 1,300 verified in last year's event.

So, where are we making up that difference?

Seeing as how we didn't even get to half of what our minimum estimated attendance is currently.

Does it come with the acts?

So we were uh anticipating a much higher attendance, obviously.

Um our first announcement of the event brought in 11,000 followers on Facebook, which you know they could be inflated, who knows.

However, it was instant that they wanted to go to this event.

It rained the morning of the event.

The grass was soggy.

Uh there was no way for that to become dry, which is another reason why we are moving to a street and station square because that dries much more quickly and doesn't ruin tennis shoes.

We actually had to delay the beginning of the um event, and if you are like most of us, if it's raining that day, you have changed your plans from an outdoor event to now an indoor event somewhere else.

Okay, and and lastly, so uh just so I'm making sure we're clear here.

Um staff has recommended the 20,625.

That does not include the five thousand dollars for restrooms, so you're essentially asking us to up this to 25,625 dollars.

Okay, thank you all very much.

Um, I have a different view on this.

My number one mission uh is to bring people downtown, it's not to hold anyone accountable to being more economical, have better ROI, or be self-sustainable.

I don't care if a successful business or entity comes before me with a successful event and asks me for the same amount for the next 10 years, I'm okay with that.

Because to me, my my number one priority is to bring people downtown.

Um let me start off with that.

Second, I do want to make a motion to include um the porta potties or restrooms as something that we can um fund with no set amount, just like every other category, and then we each we evaluate each case by case.

Um but I do want to include it, so I made the motion.

Okay, what's your total amount?

That's two.

Yeah.

No, we we determine it case by case, just like we don't determine entertainment, and that's a category.

I think the case here though is five thousand dollars, so it would be 25,625.

But we have given less than what we want thanks.

So are you asking them to go back and reevaluate what they need and then oh you so you want to meet I don't know, that's what I thought what I was gonna do was make a motion to accept it as uh um a line item that will be reimbursed and then make another motion as to how much we would like to give more.

Can we do two motions or do you want one?

Two motions.

I wanted to separate allowing restrooms to be um a reimbursable item line item, and then the second one would be an actual amount for this specific case.

Okay, which is 20,000.

need and then oh you so you want to meet I don't know that's what I thought what I was gonna do was make a motion to accept it as uh um a line item that will be reimbursed and then make another motion as to how much we would like to give more can we do two motions or do you want one two motions I wanted to separate allowing restrooms to be um a reimbursable item line item and then the second one would be an actual amount for this specific case 2000 you can make it in one motion just say 20625 plus a reimbursable amount up to I would say I think two thousand is enough for the port of potties I did a coup a few phone calls uh early this morning but they're not doing port a potties they're doing but I think with one eighty five hundred yeah please consider the um it has to be emergency placement and removal if it's a Saturday event and the event space has not been um reserved for both Friday or all Friday Saturday Sunday Monday so it has to be an emergency per unit or all together depends on the facilitator if the restrooms are quarter potties delivered that morning taken away as soon as the event is over as opposed to all the way as a trailer yeah if there's an additional cost I think is the point then just a rental for other quarter potty and their hand washing stations.

I don't want to miss I don't want to that's that's vital to this too I do think $5,000 is a is a is a 50 ask we could assist you with that with two grand 2,02500 but I think 5,000 is a bit much at least for my comfort zone.

So you made a motion yes with 2500 at it and get just it's for the motion it's just sort of restrooms for this event as opposed to for all future events.

I would like to be I I would like it to be reimbursable for all events.

And then for this specific case add 2500 you guys will want a second it's so you've got two motions going it's exactly what I was saying before.

I'm sorry let's just consider the agenda today.

So the agenda item today don't I don't we need to make a motion to actually approve something that was not being able to for this event.

Okay.

Make a motion to approve the line item for restrooms up to 2500 added to uh staff's recommendation is that clear second staff's record is there anyone public desires to speak to this agenda just for clarity so we're approving an amount of 22500 no 20625 plus 2500 2500 for the restrooms got you 23125 I think is the number you're looking for thank you.

So it'd be the staff recommendation of 20625 plus up to 2500 for the restrooms for a maximum grant of 23125 dollars.

Okay further board discussion if none uh all those in favor aye opposed nay that would be um all in favor except for board member cotton who's uh all right thank you we'll see you guys in a couple weeks months okay next item is agenda item 4.3 approve high impact funding requests for the Florida orchestra present a free symphony by the C concert on May 8 2026 from 7 30 to 9 30 p.m at the Baycare Sound thank you this item is a high impact funding request for the Florida Orchestra to present a free symphony by the C concert this outdoor concert is scheduled for May 8th 2026 from 730 p.m to 930 p.m at the Baycare Sound the app the applicant previously received $50,000 in funding in 2024.

The DDB grant policy allows a maximum board of 30 thousand dollars for high impact funding however the applicant is requesting $50,000 staff recommends funding the amount not to exceed $30,000 to support eligible direct direct production costs.

The applicant meets all funding criteria at this time I'd like to provide the applicant to answer any questions you may have hi good afternoon my name is Lori Osborne and I thank you all for partnering with us with us the first season for the Symphony by the sea and I'm excited for us to do a second annual Symphony by the sea together.

I'm here today to tell you a little about it along with my colleague Anita Samaru.

I'm also going to use my readers um the second annual symphony by the sea will be held Friday May 8th as we said from starting at 7 30 at Clearwater Sound it'll be a free concert for the Clearwater residents and will attract visitors from other areas as well as our tourist this will again once be um once again be a gift for um the city of Clearwater as well as TFO we think that we are going to be building on the momentum from the last season and want to make this event the com a something that the community looks forward to we will be highlighting patriotic music this time because it is going to be our country's 250th anniversary as well as those Broadway tunes and movie classics.

We think that we are going to be building on the momentum from the last season and want to make this event the community something that the community looks forward to.

We will be highlighting patriotic music this time because it is going to be our country's 250th anniversary, as well as those Broadway tunes and movie classics.

Our conductor again will be the wonderful Chelsea Gallo, who is also very charismatic.

This time we're going to include more community presence and have asked our partners, community partners as well as Clearwater Fundamental Middle School to perform a pre-concert program before our musicians take the stage.

We are asking community partners to set up information booths and have already confirmed some to include the Clearwater Library Youth Services, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, our club's Edible Peace Patch, Keep Pinellas Beautiful, the Ark of Tampa Bay, Community Dental Clinic, and Lift Academy.

Again, we're trying to incorporate our community and include and enhance community presence there.

We are again requesting the $50,000, although we understand that the limit is 30,000.

The cost of this performance is approximately 115,000, and TFO will be contributing the remaining 65,000.

The 50,000 will significantly help offset the cost to include production such as the venue rental.

That's actually the majority of the cost.

It's approximately $38,000.

Our entertainment is included in our request of the $50,000, and that's the TFO conductor and some of our musicians.

The music rental and music purchase, and then finally our marketing budget incorporates all the $50,000 that we are requesting.

Last season, Symphony by the Sea drew approximately 2,100 attendees and was held on a Sunday afternoon.

We this season we expect approximately 3,000 attendees.

And we understand that you all used a Placer AI to assess that number and got a total of 1,700 attendees.

We used a clicker process, and that's how we determine the 2100.

And again, we do plan on using our clicker to track our data again this year for hopes of that 3,000.

The guests that will be attending will impact downtown because this is a free event and it's a Friday evening.

It will be a family-friendly event, but we also see it as a great date night opportunity.

So we can see folks coming and eating at the restaurants, grabbing a drink, shopping some of those local downtown boutiques.

Last season, we re estimated or the economic impact for the first ever Symphony by the Sea to be approximately $64,000.

And with this new season, we expect approximately $90,000 of an economic impact.

Marketing for this will include listening in in our season brochure, which you all have.

So just so you know, we have included it, and this is we've printed 60,000 copies of our season brochure, and it is distributed throughout the Tampa Bay region.

This season, we will also be putting it on our social media platforms, including our website, which garners approximately a million views, then our Instagram, which has 12,000 followers, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

We're also going to be collaborating with our friends over at Amplify Clearwater to bring this event to their newsletter as well as their calendar of events, as and our visit St.

Pete Clearwater Friends to also highlight this event.

We want to say that we think Symphony by the Sea is good, we want it to become a tradition that people in our community look forward to attending, much like we have in our other POPS concerts in St.

Pete and Clearwater in Tampa.

Those have been in existence for more than 20 years.

We see this growing and becoming a staple to downtown Clearwater as well.

And they garner about 10,000 to 15,000 at this point.

We're hoping to fill that 8500 at the sound, and we know that we can do it.

We know the momentum is already going down in downtown Clearwater with the onset of the new hotel announcement and all the great things that are happening.

And we see Symphony by the Sea becoming a landmark event for the downtown Clearwater area as well.

Thank you.

Okay.

Is anyone here from the one here from the public desire to speak to this?

We see none.

Any more discussion.

Yeah, Mayor, thank you.

Um thank you for coming in today and presenting to us.

Uh I'm I'm supportive of this event.

I think there's a couple reasons why.

Um when we talked about this last year, we we talked about high impact funding for our downtown events.

We wanted some to have the ability to draw diversity, diversity of attendees, and not just you know a rock and roll concert or uh Christmas event in the park, but um obviously the orchestra is something uh diverse in its attendance.

We wanted something that necessarily wasn't charging a gate fee that we're supportive of.

That way you're offering our community and our families something affordable that they can go do.

And the other thing that was important to us was um really making sure that it was uh not just free, but there wasn't food and vending kind of thing, so that they do support our local brick and mortar stores, and you know, when it's uh food vending, beer drinking event, so often unfortunately they do not walk up Cleveland Street and support our vendors.

Something like this, I think we found and we found in the history of the sound is that people do come down early and have dinner and have drinks and then maybe afterwards go um go home and have dinner.

So I do I do appreciate it.

I get stuck on two things.

A $38,000 fee to rent that place.

That that's that's a I know that's not your fault.

I'm not blaming you for that.

Um that that one's a struggle, but it is absolutely beautiful, and that um that calendar is booked, so there is a value of supply and demand.

I do get that.

Um the attendance.

I I I wish that with you that that was you know double.

I can see where uh a software program that monitor monitors cell phones on a Wi-Fi basis.

You know, not everyone carries a phone into the show, or uh I'm you might be kids that don't have cell phones, right?

So it's not getting and when you're clicking it, you know, you might be getting a more accurate number.

I wish that number was a little bit higher for $50,000, but I am supportive of this event thing.

I wish you the best regardless of what denomination this board approves.

Thank you.

Councilman Robert.

Okay, I'm very supportive of this event.

In fact, I was here when we talked about building the sound, and I wanted to make sure the stage is gonna be big enough for the Florida Orchestra.

Thank you.

We we did.

We had lots of discussion on expanding it to this the size it is now for you guys.

What I'm sorry about is this again, as Councilman Manino says, the cost of performing in the sound now.

I mean, we weren't thinking about that back then.

We thought, oh, the Florida Orchestra come in, they could they could use it too.

Um it's just too bad it worked out like that because it's more expensive.

It's too expensive for a lot of things we'd like to have would have done there, but I can tell you that stage was built for the Florida Orchestra.

And so I'm gonna support you 100% on this because that and not it wasn't just me.

Everybody was very supportive of back then when we talked about it, and I know there's supportive now, so I'm gonna support you all the way on it.

Thank you.

Okay, that's where we cotton.

Yeah, hey guys, uh real quick question for you, because you said 38,000 was the rental.

It looks like it's 40,022.

Is that correct?

That's right, but part of it is not covered under the item details for the budget, so stage handed uh other costs that covered under it.

So we'll incur that cost.

Gotcha.

So was it just 38,000 even then?

37, it's actually 37 something.

Um we did provide a budget for you and other there.

37,790 dollars.

Yeah, okay.

I'll take your word for it.

Um, listen, I think that it's uh uh as Councilmember Manino and Councilmember Alburn have expressed that I think the Florida Orchestra is uh a key service provided to our residents, and I think that it has a value that you really can't put a number on.

Um with that being said, I would be um willing to make a motion to cover the entire expense of that for them for this event.

And then now that we do have the new AI, you know, place or AI.

I know you guys are doing clickers and all those uh fun things.

Um but at least we'll start to be able to track data.

And then you know it's less than the 50,000 we gave last year.

Next year we'll get some more numbers from that um database to see whether or not we're getting more people in, especially with the different time change and date, and then um continue to help make better decisions going forward with uh with funds and what we can do.

So I would be good with uh matching the amount of the cost for the venue for that.

So the so the your motion is to what was that costing us?

The requested amount.

50,000 is the amount for the venue for Bay Care.

37,790.

So it's above what staff recommended, but it's at least take off that expense.

So we'll be the total amount then 37,790.

Would that work?

I hear a bunch of flipping.

Yeah, what was the recommendation too?

I mean it's just 30.

38,000.

That's around number a little easier.

Yeah.

Councilmember Alburn, you said 100% support.

What does that 100% mean?

50,000.

50,000.

Okay.

I didn't realize that's what that meant.

Hey, his is better than mine.

That's what I thought.

This is this event is a break even for us.

So we're not thinking anything.

Before I weigh in, we'll just see if there's uh second.

Okay, no second.

So the motion is for that.

Okay.

I think they were doing some costs of this over there.

So somebody else want to weigh in before our way in.

Any other thoughts?

I'll just say um I I've had I don't know one of them, uh Vice Mayor was with me.

Um I think for the Pinellas County Schools program over at Riff Eckert Hall, seeing Ruth Ray Hall filled with 2,000 kids, their first experience ever with classical music and orchestras.

Uh and then uh also attended the Steinbrenner concert.

There's the Steinbringer family has one in Tampa and one in um at Ruth Record Hall.

And um and I'm glad to see you incorporating younger performers because I think that's what this is all about.

It's it's our way to educate, bring families into the sound to see a different kind of music and to enjoy that as a family and to learn together.

And um, so I really think it's great in that regard.

And then you did mention America uh 250, which I'd like to see more of the community doing as a whole, just not just this, but other events, really putting that stamp on it as we approach the fourth of July to celebrate America 250.

So I think that's another important aspect that that maybe sets it apart a little bit, and uh hopefully we can bring those families as we've been doing with I keep talking about the world famous rubber duck, but um I mean so many families, not but just that, you know, different events uh over they've just experienced our park and discovered it, and hopefully for this event they'll come back and experience it again.

So I I support uh support request as well.

Thank you.

Okay, any other board member.

Um I agree it looks like a great event, and I think it's definitely gonna be very valuable for downtown, and uh and I agree with Councilmember Manino.

Uh looking at the local food trucks concessions and bars.

Um with the 3,000 people attendees.

Um and I understand the cost, obviously renting out the sound is not the you know, this comes with the cost.

So it's I I just wish I would I would see more support to the businesses are that are in downtown.

Um there are a lot of ideas that you know I'm pretty sure all the merchants over there will be open to it or to open to hear it.

But um overall, I think I think it's a great event.

Yeah, yeah, I like I said before, I see this as becoming a tradition so that we can continue to grow and it will we aspire for this to become something that all the community visitors tourists more than to the downtown.

I mean, obviously we want the downtown folks to get it, but as this could continue to grow, you're absolutely right.

Everyone throughout Clearwater and Pinellas' brick and borders could could participate and enjoy something like this.

And to mayor's point, thank you so much for highlighting that because our mission is to educate, inspire, and unite through the community through the power of music.

And so we absolutely want this to be a family-friendly event.

We included the fact that we you know lever picnics, pit mint baskets at home because we have all the things you need and want here, right here in downtown to eat, drink, and um enjoy.

So yeah, thank you so much.

Well, the other the other thing I would say though, I I do agree.

I mean, it has been our goal, and you talked about long range, you know, traditional event, or whatever.

We would like to see it grow to the point where sponsors are really uh are really eager.

You know, they see the families there, they see the attendance that as we go along, we've we've made it our uh request to uh to try to find those corporate partners and sponsors who will you know allow us to with to scale down our contribution to it because we hope that it's so successful that there many are willing to participate and what want their name on as a proud sponsor.

Yeah, I think Vicky has some numbers just real quick for me.

If I heard correctly, uh we did calculate just the venue cost.

It is $37,790,000 for the venue rental.

But am I hearing this correctly?

You guys are gonna make a motion for the 50.

Is that is that what's happening?

I believe it's like it's going up right.

Okay.

Okay.

But you haven't made your motion, have you?

Is it my turn?

We did, but it's nine and less.

Okay.

All right.

So I'll make a motion to uh to give them 50,000 for this event.

Second.

Okay, any further discussion?

None.

Uh all in favor?

I opposed.

Nine.

All in favor except for board member cuts.

Thank you all so very much, and we look forward to seeing you all on the eighth.

Thank you.

Now we'll move to item 4.4.

And I just have all your jingle bell, family fun chest, and tasty Tampa Bell.

Speaky Shire, Star Division Manager.

At this time, I'd like to play a video that was produced by Intensity Academy to show their highlights of their past recaps.

I don't care now.

You're gonna get it.

Oh yeah.

Oh no, that's good.

Thank you so much, Council, for supporting our past events.

We have had three beautiful family friendly events.

We try to have our events very upbeat, very exciting, always focusing on family.

We don't have alcohol, we just have a lot of fun.

We do tons of contests that include the kiddos, and lots of fun things on stage.

We also really like to support our downtown restaurants and shops.

We always offer them a free booth at our events, and we always offer to distribute flyers or anything to give away as well.

So I also wanted to.

We just made a quick video so you could see all three events, but I did have a little clip of a song that Vice Mayor had asked for me to play, so I'm gonna play it real quick.

It's one of the five songs that we made that included downtown Clearwater.

So let's see if we could hear it.

Sunrise on the causeway, windows down weekend on the calendar, circle now.

Coach Man Fox, calling my name, come my friends, come my chase, come back, books, losing downtown is full in.

You can feel that whole little waves in the hall, the whole sky meets Shabbatic Gates X button my screen.

I can see it already.

Yeah, it feels like a dream tasty sample base.

We're on our way.

So that was just a little clip of it.

If anyone wants to have a whole song, we can email it.

We're also have it on our social medias under Saucy Queen on Instagram and Facebook.

So we feel that we have really had a great time in downtown Clearwater highlighting all the fun that there is to do.

We do a lot of TV media.

Thank you, Mayor, for being a part of that.

And we try to get on every TV station.

We've been on Dennis Phillips and Fox and ABC and Bay News Nine.

And we feel that all of that impact is even more than just the event before, during, and after.

So we hope to continue to do events with you guys.

Um, our social media, we've had tons of um uh like attendance with that.

So for fall y'all, we had about 14,000 on our page.

Jingle Bell, about 12,000.

Something that's really different and cool about my company is that I have a group of influencers that I work with, and they blast it everywhere.

One of my influencers has a hundred and eighty one million views on Google alone, and he was our main influencer that was doing Facebook lives all throughout the events that we do.

And then a lot of our vendors did all three events that we did, and they absolutely loved it.

They said we have no idea.

Oh my gosh, this is just amazing.

And then as far as impact, I have the very very great pleasure of introducing the grand champion of the tasty Tampa Bay Festival, Lao Deli, and they can tell you the impact.

The most beautiful dish, the best bites in all of Tampa Bay.

34, no, these 39.

39, 39 different dishes they won.

Wow.

Wow.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Hello, everyone.

My name is Nola.

And yes, some side.

All right, well.

We're Lao Delhi.

Yes, I'm Samsai with Lao Deli, and partnered up with Sony and Nola, and we operate inside of Chiang Mai Thai sushi in downtown Clearwater.

Thank you again, Council members, for all that you do.

Thank you to the Clearwater Downtown DDB.

And of course, Michelle Saucy Queen because this opportunity provided us a platform to really, really represent underrepresented Asian.

Yes.

And the Asian food, of course, we're we're Lao American.

And this is a food that's not relatively known.

And we want to be a feature and a highlight here in downtown Clearwater to pull those folks in that want to try something new, fresh.

And it comes locally sourced from our farming with Chula.

Most of the ingredients.

So it's another local tie.

So thank you again for you know support and you know, providing a platform for us.

Thank you again.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you.

And my influencers are still have they still have footage that they're tagging them on and Coachman Park and Clearwater.

So we just wanted to thank you guys so much, and we hope to do some events in 2026 as well.

Thank you.

Um thank you for coming back in right after event and share with us the results.

That's so meaningful to us.

You know, we have some events where you know folks are you know a little hesitant to come back in and talk about who actually attended, but you always do.

Thank you.

Whatever numbers you give us are pretty close to whatever are yet.

We we just love your transparency.

Thank you.

And I can say you you bring attention.

You I don't know we've had any other event from uh operator that's come in that gets more media attention.

You have a great relationship, as you said, with all the media, so great that before the Tasty Tampa Bay.

I think you've done I don't know all the media you can possibly do at four o'clock on a Friday.

I tune in to Fox 13, and there's there's one of your food truck vendors in studio cooking.

Yes, and she gave you the highest compliment.

Oh she said, yes, I'm doing this event before Michelle.

She said Saucy Queen, all of her events are always fantastic.

She's we can trust her as vendors to come in, and uh she she gave you the highest compliment.

Respect from those vendors that are paying to participate.

So we we treat our vendors like families, so the number of times Coachman Park was mentioned and clear with downtown Clinton War.

Just thank you.

Thank you so much.

Okay, thank you all.

And thank you for coming to the absolutely thank you.

With that, we moved out.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Lynn?

Can I add some comments?

No.

I'm sorry, you know, I'm very excited about this.

I am so genuinely impressed with your events.

I went on Saturday, and like usual, right?

There's all the sounds and the smells.

What I didn't expect was that song to come up.

That song so loud, and I was slightly, I was walking slightly in front of my husband.

I just stopped and he bumped into me, and I was so excited I came and see you right away.

But truly so well executed.

Um clever marketing strategy, using all those influencers as judges, brilliant.

TV um the radio personality as your MC keeping that energy really high, fabulous.

Of course, the tune was great.

Um, and of course, I'm so thrilled, Nola Chiang Mai.

I mean, congratulations again.

So thank you so much.

Um, I really enjoyed it.

Wonderfully executed.

Thank you.

And the Vice Mayor is some of us because she is very good at karaoke.

So next time.

There we go.

We will just say reach out to her.

Thank you for coming.

And you don't have to stand on the table.

Move to agenda item 4.5 event recap for St.

Petersburg College Fresh Star Committee.

The app that is not able to attend the meeting today, so this item will be pushed back to a later date.

We do it on 4.6 approved community event funding with bars to the amount not to exceed $6,760 for Sharkapalooza 2026.

A free family friendly, art driven ocean conservation festival at Coachman Park on May 16, 2026.

Vicky Shires here, our division manager.

Before I go into the event item, I know there's been a lot of uh requests and stuff today, and you've had a lot of uh pamphlets, so I just want you guys know the blue folder is from these letter ladies.

So if you guys like to open them up, you're more than welcome to use them.

Uh staff is presenting a community event funding request for Sharka Palooza that will be held on May 16th, 2026.

It's a free event from 10 a.m.

to 4 p.m.

at Kochan Park.

Estimated attendance is 1,000 plus.

The applicant is requesting $15,000 in DDB funding.

Staff recommends funding an amount not to exceed $6,760 to cover eligible direct production costs in accordance with the DDB grant policy and procedures.

The applicant is here to provide any additional information you may have at this time.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

My name is Jessica Adnich, and I am the founder and executive director of Sharka Palooza.

Sharka Palooza is officially a nonprofit as of the first of the year, which we are very very excited about.

Sharka Palooza is a vendored art juried show along with ocean conservation.

I started it in 2022 because I felt like there was a gap and a bridge that could be made between art, science, and education.

The youth of our country and our world, uh, the best way for them to get involved and care about our ocean and our environment is to start them small and inspire them.

Art is a great vehicle to do that.

Um, as of right now, the Florida Aquarium, the uh Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Moat, are all on board.

They're going to be there along with other nonprofit uh ocean conservation organizations to it have uh interactive exhibits and also OSEarch, which is our conservation benefactor partner, which if you know anything about sharks, they are nationally and internationally known for their shark research and conservation.

They're gonna be on site and help us with marketing.

Hi, and I'm Michelle.

I'm the president of our board of Sharka Palooza, and I own a home in Clearwater.

I work in a business here in downtown Clearwater, it's called DirectMail 2.0.

We were actually the February business spotlight.

Thanks again, Tasha.

And uh I also am a yoga instructor on Clearwater Beach at Clearwater Beach Yoga.

I do the beach cleanups.

I've seen the mayor out there.

Uh we've partnered already with Keep Canellas Beautiful, they're gonna have a booth at Sharkapalooza.

We're cross-promoting with their May beach cleanup on May 8th, so that we can be there talking to people about Sharka Palooza.

They're gonna be talking about our event.

And um, I'm head of marketing at a direct mail 2.0, so I just have some marketing expertise as well, so we're just really trying to get this out there in the world.

I'm always walking around downtown Clearwater on my lunch break, and uh last Tuesday I went to all the downtown merchants, and I went to all of them, gave them our flyers and our posters and talked to them about ways that they could get involved with Sharka Palooza for May 16th, but then other ways that they can get involved like throughout the year, like this is like our main flagship event, but we want to maybe do things all throughout the year, maybe smaller events in downtown, maybe on the 400 block, the 600 block.

The possibilities are endless.

This is kind of just a starting point for us.

And in terms of marketing, as Michelle said, she's a vice president of marketing for her company.

I also have a design and marketing agency that's um been in existence for over seven years.

Prior to that, I ran the marketing design division for Mace Brand Pepper Spray, it's a very large brand.

Um, so I bring that up because all the materials in front of you and the website I actually designed.

Michelle helped create.

So, in terms of the budget, that's not gonna be a line item.

Any marketing dollars that come in from funding through you guys, um, and also our sponsors are gonna go to actual um paid advertisements, radio commercials, social media, and uh, I just want to say that this is not gonna be just a one-off event.

My goal, our goal, as crazy as it sounds, is to make this the next biggest art and ocean conservation festival nationally.

Um, the fact that OSEarch is our partner is massive.

Um, our goal is to do national advertising.

Clearwater is known as one of the best beaches in the world, so why not be known as one of the cities that actually cares about its health and its existence?

Thank you.

Okay.

Is anyone here from the public that desire to speak to this gym?

If not, is there any more discussion?

Just a quick question, and I'm sorry if I missed it.

Um have you thought of uh having a partnership with Ocean Allies?

We did reach out to them, um, and we actually for all of the nonprofits in the art and ocean conservation world, we are offering them a complimentary 10 by 10 booth.

So, based on our mission and our core values, we felt like it was important to have all of the community, you know, our pillars are art, education, conservation, and community.

So to offer to nonprofits a free space for them to come, you know.

Everybody's gonna play well in the sandbox.

So, yes, we did reach out to them.

Perfect, thank you.

Yes.

Okay.

Councilmember Cotton.

Yeah, I think this is a great idea, guys.

I know that uh my kid is going to love it.

Um, real quick with your goal and sponsorship donations down here.

These are secured sponsored, right?

So we're gonna be able to do that.

No, so if you and that's why I made this because I wanted to make it clear that you know, this is our first time doing it.

We don't know what we don't know, and we're not gonna recreate the wheel where it's not necessary, but there are areas that we're learning, and one of it was submitting this application to you.

Um that area is our goal, but if you actually look at the page previous to that, that's our bank account.

Talk about transparency.

I screenshotted it.

Uh it's our bank account and our savings account.

Uh I and with Michelle, you know, nonprofits can be started and run very poorly, and there's a lot of things done wrong, but we want to do things correctly.

So I wanted to be transparent, so this is currently the money that we have.

We are doing everything that we can, very gorilla marketing, boots on the ground.

We have these wonderful shirts that I cricketed because I also, you know, being an RC designer and craft stuff.

Uh we're out in the community every single weekend, going to events, meeting people, making those connections because we want to use our money wisely.

Uh the fact that I hit on that we're both in marketing is that those dollars are going to be strategically used, not willy-nilly.

Um if you get the 6700 versus the 15, what gets cut from that top budget?

I'm gonna be really honest because I I'm honest to a fault.

Um, in my own business, I often talk myself out of clients, but uh what we can't pay for uh will be going on a credit card in my personal name.

Not that I'm here to give you a sob story, but I believe in this work.

I've been doing it since 2008.

I'm originally from Cleveland, Ohio.

I moved to the area to do this work.

I feel very passionate that you don't have to be marine biologists to make a difference.

Um the health of our oceans is incredibly important.

You know, sharks are like the bees of the ocean in the sense that if all the sharks die, we are ultimately screwed to be blunt.

Um, so the things in the budget, obviously, we need to pay for the park, we need to pay for barricades, uh, for security and safety, police, uh, insurance, because I want to make sure that it is a safe event and that we do have our butts covered, but uh anything that we can cut will be cut.

That answers your question.

No, it does, thank you.

Yes.

Um we are also in addition working with Cheryl Munday, who is the executive director of Wright Whale Festival, which has been going on for 17 years in Jacksonville.

They have grown massively over the years, so we have been shadowing her.

I personally have a business coach from Action Business Coaching uh that is donating their time because we're a nonprofit, so I'm going through coaching to build.

I've never built a nonprofit.

This will be my third company, but never a nonprofit one.

So we're getting all the expertise and help that we can from anyone that is willing to help.

And this is the fifth year that Jess has done Shark and Palooza, but it's always been at like a small venue, like a brewery or a winery or a private business.

And when she said to me that this year she wanted to make it a city festival, I just immediately thought of Clearwater.

She lives in South Tampa.

I've always lived at Clearwater.

We could do it in Tampa, we could do it in St.

Pete, Dunedin, Safety Harbor.

We thought about some of the other options, but I said we have to do this in Clearwater.

Like I think it'd be perfect.

So we just need the support.

Yeah, you can go on.

Thank you.

Appreciate you.

Um thanks for coming in.

Um I think you're in the right place.

I hope you don't move to Tampa with it.

Uh we know how important our beaches and waterways are here.

We depend on our tourism industry so vitally.

Um having an event like I talked to about earlier, free to the public is important to this board.

Family friendly is important to this board.

Uh environmentally, um, ocean conservative and educationally is very important to this board and to the region.

Uh I'm supportive of it.

I I like your marketing material.

I love your transparency.

Jeez, you gave us a snapshot of your personal bank account.

I don't think anybody does that.

In fact, they come in and they fib and and uh and and tell us lies all the time about numbers and expectations.

I hope you truly um are undervaluing your your turnout, a thousand people.

I think I know how many kids in the schools love sharks and shark shirts, and hope you find a way to really get the kiddos and the families.

I know Councilmember Cotton said his boy would absolutely love it.

So I'm I'm supportive.

I look forward to it and look forward to being down there.

Wish you the best.

Thank you very much.

And to that number, you know, I feel and we feel that we'd rather under promise on numbers than come in here and say we were expecting 10,000 and only five showed up.

That's obviously not gonna be the case.

I was just on Tampa Bay 10 this past week in this month, it's March.

I will be on O Search, their after hours program, which is televised nationally, internationally.

I'll be on there with Chris Fisher, who's the actual founder of OSERC.

So we're doing marketing initiatives with our partners that don't cost.

Um I actually on my way here, I was on the phone with Cheryl from Wright Well Festival, and she did a survey of 500 people, and they spent a lot of money on a print ad, and that one person responded that they heard that the print ad was how they heard about the festival.

So we really are trying to be best practices and knowing that we know marketing, you know, radio commercials, but boots on the ground.

Um so I'm really hoping that it probably will be more than a thousand.

I feel good about it, but again, I was gonna be honest.

Uh yeah, another thing, you know, just looking um down here again at your your food trucks and those types of things.

I think it's great, but I I think uh you've heard the tone that we all want to make sure that our brick and mortar downtown restaurants are being recognized and and people are uh utilizing those things.

Uh would you guys be willing to offer them one of these 10 by 10 booths or whatever the setup would be down there and no charge to them to give them exposure?

Yes, we could definitely do that, and uh this year it's gonna be a one-day event because no pun intended, we didn't want to bite off more than we could true chew.

Um last year we had 15 vendors and it was at a community center, so now to be taking over the entire and the first thing was just gonna be the upper or the lower park part of the park, and now we're like we're just gonna go big and take the whole thing over.

So um next year it will be a two-way day event, which means more heads and beds with the national marketing.

We'll have a full year of marketing done.

Um, but yes, we do want to work with local businesses and merchants, and we definitely want to plan other fundraising events, art events, conservation events, working with those businesses.

Uh the reason that we are going to have beer, wine, and the food trucks on site is let's be real, it's the beach, it's a Saturday, and it's also an art fest.

Uh that's gonna help our vendors by allowing people to get a beer, glass of wine, or slushy or whatnot, walk the event, they stay a little longer, they might buy more artwork because then that means that we're gonna have more vendors if the show is also successful for the artists.

And I just know from my personal experience.

I mean, I go to Market Marie every month, and we go to Clear Sky before we go to Market Marie and we have breakfast, and then we go to Market Marie and we'll get some snacks, and then we go to Tequila's after Market Marie, and we get tacos.

So the downtown businesses, I mean, they still get my business, even though I go and frequent food trucks at the Coachman Park, also.

But the food truck that we do have for Sharka Palooza is Gigglewaters, and so they're already down there for the sound at all the concerts.

So I'm happy that we just have them because they're like a known local fan favorite.

So I think that's cool too.

Okay, that's my um Albert.

So looking at this, I I love the the whole concept of it.

I feel like the it's kind of like the show Shark Tank, you know, up here.

We're we were literally gonna say my name is Chess, and I'm Michelle, and of course Sharka Palooza.

There you go.

We're taking $15,000 of your grandmother.

Our nonprofit.

No, I love the concept, and and you know, years ago thinking of and hearing for years all the different concepts that come up here wanting money for things.

I really like the I really like what you're doing, but I can I tell you honestly, yes, as a DDB member.

This is your first go run.

And uh we're you know, we're a little hesitant on giving full amounts of money on first time.

You know, if you have a history and you could show us, yeah, look at we brought we thought a thousand people came like next year, 1,500 came or 3,000 or 1200 or whatever.

Then it's a it it's we think about it a little bit better.

And is that gonna be a success?

Is are we just giving because we're basically we're giving taxpayer money here?

Uh it's I think it's a great thing, but we gotta be careful about that.

So you know, on this one, I think I would go probably what the staff rec recommends on it.

Um that's kind of where I'm heading right now.

So I'll let everybody else finish.

Yeah, um, I like this idea.

I like the fact that um, you know, they've got some conservation initiative going.

I don't know if anybody realized what this weekend of honeymoon island was a juvenile of gray white, that's kind of unheard of.

So that was interesting, a little fun fact.

Um, I could see this as being a big draw for families with uh, you know, young little kids, boys and girls that just love animals, aquatics.

You already have some big names that you are saying are are coming down in the um aquatic area, you know, being Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Um did you say Port Marine Aquarium?

We have all three.

Florida is perfect.

Yeah, clear water and moat.

Yeah, so you know, I know that I've been uh Mr.

Wonderful today, but I think with this one, um I would be more apt to give the whole 15.

It is a first-time event, I know that.

Um but I think that this one has promise.

So just like Sean.

You can see where we're going.

If we're giving out 2500 for toilets, um then I'm good with giving 15 for this first time event and seeing how it goes.

And you know what?

She's giving us her bank account.

I think that she's gonna be honest when she sees that the event either did well or it didn't do well, and realize that if she's gonna come back again and we say no, well, the numbers don't lie, and she'll probably be more understanding of that.

But for you know, fifteen thousand dollars versus some of the money that we've already spent, um, I would be okay with going with this one for that event.

So I'll have I will not make a motion yet.

I will continue this discussion, but that's where I'm at.

Go ahead, Mike.

Uh I'm with you, Mr.

Wonderful.

I I agree.

Um I think you might be um you might be kind of being punished on that because of what you're saving yourselves as professionals in an industry.

Um so often we see these budgets come in, and uh marketing advertised print and media side is really easy to fluff and pad that and I think you girls came in, and because you can save yourself so much money in that, it's not reflective in this budget, and the what's reflecting it is what you're saving.

And I think that's if we took 20% of what you're actually probably putting into it and spending, that number wouldn't be 6,000.

It would probably be closer to that.

Well, full transparency, I charge clients 125 dollars an hour for my work.

I have eight national and international design awards.

Um, I'm very modest about that, but you are correct.

The budget line for professional quality design and our website, it's top of the line.

Um I'm not saying I'm the best, I'm not, but I'm damn good.

So I I agree with you.

I think you're you're kind of being punished on the dollar amount for it.

Um I believe in the event, I believe in what you girls are gonna do.

I look forward to being a part of it.

I'll support I'll support you at the full uh 15.

And um, I think uh net next year we'll have a better idea on how successful it was, and we'll go from there.

Oh, it's gonna be two days next year is gonna be bigger.

Um I agree.

I think um by not having your expertise uh as a line item.

I think you're your uh your your budget is really low.

Um, and I will be continuing to be miss fabulous and uh recommend 15,000 as well.

Thank you.

I'm consistent.

Okay.

Before before we vote, I just want to make it clear for the millions of visitors that come to Clearwater Beach next year.

Every year.

I guess that the juvenile black short was spotted Great White Sharp was spotted in honeymoon island.

Yeah, I need it.

Which is the name, which is very far away.

That's my third one.

Just for those who don't know the geography.

Very far away.

Okay, so is there a motion?

I'll make a motion to approve uh $15,000 for shark reports.

Second.

Okay, all those in favor?

I can I can count.

You don't want to throw an Aver.

I've been doing it all day.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Sorry.

Thank you a lot.

Okay.

With that move to item 5.1, the DDB director's report for March.

Good afternoon.

Hey, Susanino, CRA executive director for the record.

Uh, just because it's so late.

Your reports have been submitted for uh in your agenda item.

So I'm just gonna go ahead and forego in type of report, but I'm here for any questions.

Okay.

No, thank you.

Okay.

Oh, well say uh, you know, we really can recap and shell those continue to be very helpful to me.

And I think I saw some head nods when she was presenting.

So thank you for helping pull those together.

Those are helpful.

Yeah, great.

Thank you.

Okay.

Thank you.

Nothing else to come for the DDB.

We'll adjourn the March 2nd, 2026 meeting.

No.

And take a short recess while we switch some plates on that.

Oh my god.