[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6280841,"mediaKeyId","2610221-466bedde21d19e7ca3c483d2a42905a4","parentId",2610221,"title","County CIO says issued email addresses for citizen appointees are available after signed IT-use policy","audioSeconds",324,"startMs",631000,"endMs",955000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2610221-466bedde21d19e7ca3c483d2a42905a4&start=631&end=955","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2610221-466bedde21d19e7ca3c483d2a42905a4/thumbnail_631000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6280841/Escambia-County/Florida/County-CIO-says-issued-email-addresses-for-citizen-appointees-are-available-after-signed-IT-use-policy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280841-ad776bdb0f3ec53fc1180af493b76100/orig.mp4?Expires=1775208701&Signature=cHNkrOdtN2mG0IPhfHpS5y8qQxRm~IogQdB0oitaV8VmovjfmQA3oKOylxxUG37yX-2Ylu-HN3GgnfzkSWBPK4AEU4rTMPWgdjlSPAvGJZlISeR66djUBylR9ynPY63lQrulCd0bU2DAlPfiUOE~oQiiHrFdoZN4KFy7Wg6cU5SdoME4pOP9deJnCVZHKa2QQk3RKglTrfCW5AsJ-iJ9PpAuXmwXAGflOTqFg4XxBQkj8hxIeliijgXivKjV2lKMJG3skPDYY0cYpJz9GE5IcWXaFPc8lqLRCNJHFPwJ9TMdgV8uRzf5slcjoDex3dgJy6~gxI-64YaIyPIvMroe2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Escambia County, FL","date","2025-03-13T19:46:11Z","article","Escambia County’s new chief information officer, John Arar, told the Tourist Development Council on March 13 that the county can issue official email addresses to appointed non‑employee TDC members but will require a signed IT use policy before creating accounts.

Arar said a streamlined, three‑page advisory‑committee version of the county’s IT use policy has been prepared for non‑county employees; if members prefer, they may also sign the full county employee policy and only the sections relevant to non‑employees would apply. He said the Board of County Commissioners will consider a revised policy at the second meeting in March and members may wait for that approval before signing.

\"We don't see any issues with providing this board with email addresses,\" Arar said. He explained the county needs a signed IT use policy on file before provisioning addresses and indicated staff could provide an electronic signature workflow for convenience.

Council members said they sought county-issued accounts to ensure TDC-related correspondence is preserved under public‑records rules rather than relying on personal inboxes. Arar said once a signed policy is returned staff will generate county email addresses and that the timing depends on whether members choose the streamlined advisory version now or wait for the BCC-approved policy update.

Ending: TDC members were encouraged to review the draft policy and return a signed copy to staff; staff said they will distribute the streamlined policy and can enable electronic signatures to expedite account creation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","TDC 03 13 25","oneSentenceSummary","Escambia County’s new chief information officer told the Tourist Development Council that county-issued email accounts can be created for appointed, non‑employee members after they sign a streamlined IT use policy; members can wait for a BCC-approved policy in coming weeks or sign the current version now.","taxTitle","Escambia County, Florida","taxId",12773,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6280847,"Tourism council asks county to reconsider Chappie James memorial funding after economic-impact study",2090,3979000,6069000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2610221-466bedde21d19e7ca3c483d2a42905a4&start=3979&end=6069","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2610221-466bedde21d19e7ca3c483d2a42905a4/thumbnail_3979000.jpg","/articles/6280847/Escambia-County/Florida/Tourism-council-asks-county-to-reconsider-Chappie-James-memorial-funding-after-economic-impact-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280847-7104ad519591ea996e1f900548e58653/orig.mp4?Expires=1775208701&Signature=mIO~Q6EhD9bDz8U7hDEEa0RcynsO6hL3gESIc4IAyEgKl36CHZb2e0jmt-x7GD4rloF07IQvDHrD-NY3w-2pb6F4c3ZrmCaEWYfddW~MIs47uMdFxNqhjng52vEd-N-7wad5L3qYvCuMSMeEbrzNYopYxjess3kEwzSyTo7-LyWbNz3knoFSDQrQC1XylfHfU-1zlILqEy2~QbClkjpi9yVOlO67bNfI4sQQb4gftKPwvfutkDxipTW8cupjr9ev5mPIdIi3KEc5Ew9IXRf84zsOjje1pd84WJpGn7RiPuqbWcFPGbDgcukdWYT-Nzo2TROAkWo9BhmNZj1JrozK6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Escambia County Tourist Development Council voted on March 13 to send a signed letter to the Board of County Commissioners asking the commission to reconsider its recent vote to fund the General Chappie James memorial plaza with Tourist Development Tax (TDT) dollars.

The action followed a staff summary of a short Haas Center economic-impact assessment that found the study’s modeled effects were short-term construction impacts and did not show the project, as proposed, would directly and primarily support tourism once built.

The council’s packet and meeting discussion show the county commission at its Feb. 20 meeting voted to fund the plaza’s construction using roughly $750,000 in TDT (bed tax) revenues plus other local funds. TDC members who reviewed the Haas Center summary said the study characterized the economic output as construction-related and did not demonstrate sustained tourism promotion or heads-and-beds generation tied to the statue’s construction.

Tom Jardine, a member of the public who spoke during the item, urged the council to avoid using TDT for the plaza and framed the bed tax as a fund belonging to area residents. \"Every penny of the bed tax belongs to citizens,\" Jardine said during public comment. He acknowledged support for the memorial’s purpose but argued general-fund or private money should be used instead.

Council Chairman David Baer (recorded in the transcript as the presenting TDC chair) told members he had personally donated to the project but argued that the council’s statutory duties required it to report potential unauthorized use of TDT. “I don’t believe it’s an authorized use of the tourist development tax,” Baer said in the meeting.

Under the council’s policies and state law (the packet cites Section 125.0104, Florida Statutes), the TDC may report potentially unauthorized TDT expenditures to the county commission and to the Florida Department of Revenue. At the meeting the council debated whether to send a formal letter to both the county commission and the Department of Revenue immediately or to first send a signed letter to the county commission and ask the commission to reconsider before involving state authorities.

A motion that would have authorized the chair to sign and send the letter to the Department of Revenue and the county commission was made and seconded, but members then adopted a substitute motion. The substitute instructed the chair to sign and send the letter to the Board of County Commissioners only and asked the county to put reconsideration of the funding on the commissioners’ agenda; the substitute explicitly omitted immediate transmittal to the Department of Revenue. The substitute motion passed on roll call with all members voting yes.

Staff and the council’s finance director reviewed TDC policy language during the discussion and confirmed that if the council reports a potentially unauthorized TDT expenditure, the board would be expected to document its findings regarding allowability and how the expense meets statutory criteria for promoting tourism. County staff also noted that no construction expenditure had yet been made and that the county’s contingencies included a requirement for public ownership by the city of Pensacola and the completion of the Haas Center assessment.

Ending: The council’s signed letter will go to the Board of County Commissioners asking for reconsideration of the plaza construction funding and for the board to evaluate the project’s consistency with statutory TDT uses; the TDC will review any county response and may pursue further steps if the commission does not address the council’s concerns.","The Tourist Development Council directed staff to send a signed letter asking the Board of County Commissioners to reconsider its March decision to fund the General Chappie James memorial plaza with tourist development tax money after an independent study found no tourism-supporting impacts for construction.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":46,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6280851,"Tourism council trims Navy Days request to $50,000 after debate over room-night projections",2950,3905000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2610221-466bedde21d19e7ca3c483d2a42905a4&start=955&end=3905","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2610221-466bedde21d19e7ca3c483d2a42905a4/thumbnail_955000.jpg","/articles/6280851/Escambia-County/Florida/Tourism-council-trims-Navy-Days-request-to-50000-after-debate-over-room-night-projections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280851-05e31a7127c0abc21b2be91fc9c5f2e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775208701&Signature=ET88jRSbfL2kIdYFNesCtxl6a7qrgzcHGxFgvPn2YGkp-2fO93uCsZPpw1ru5cHXCWl9bqWFtC1OHGpp8xrrbqrYKMGFC5jajCeCUxP1Bn8uc9t~QCQqPDoHDUVFFemdzGW5AyrPByqXiJHDM-C9apMIxOCGo5C4LI5lKfASTGomMWzgD-RFi-zlqo1-8rfIfTBkjDGpWGT3wWQZRvdSQgt-3LQaCGhzkFq7qLldnTVJoyjTQBpnsD1xQKpftMRUIWfWzcNCj7GAp8WPREu4IwRp5zeshb-~wlTXawmus6h0kLKpeq3~3D2t4yAcxmkRoWDcZySZDvTMw7jAFSuZoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Escambia County Tourist Development Council voted to reduce a requested $100,000 funding contribution for Navy Days to $50,000 on March 13, after extended discussion over whether the event would generate enough hotel room nights and out-of-market visitors to justify the larger award.

Supporters said Navy Days — a multi-day community celebration recognizing the military that includes a run, parade, gala and family festival — brings regional visitors and civic recognition for Pensacola’s military presence. Opponents said last year’s weather and the event’s limited demonstrated hotel-night generation made the full $100,000 request hard to justify.

The council’s decision came after presentations from event organizers, including Dan McCourt, who described the weeklong plan and said, “we are asking for a hundred thousand dollars of support.” The Navy Days budget in the packet was listed at just over $250,000; organizers said they had secured sponsorships to cover part of that total.

In the meeting, organizers cited last year’s attendance of roughly 6,700 people despite widespread bad weather and said the event attracted out-of-area visitors: “At least 20% of those people came from out of state,” McCourt said. Organizers projected much larger numbers this year — figures cited in the discussion included an attendance projection of about 20,000 and an aspirational estimate of up to 500 room nights in year two — but multiple council members and invited reviewers said those projections lacked convincing documentation.

A representative from Visit Pensacola and Pensacola Sports reviewed the application before the council and shared a written commentary (included in the meeting packet) urging caution: the reviewers said they could not justify the $100,000 request given current evidence. A representative who reviewed the request told the council that, under their grant processes, similar events typically would be funded on a sliding scale tied to verifiable room-night or marketing conversion metrics.

Media partners and local broadcasters who supported the event described the paid and in‑kind media last year. Brent from Cat Country 98.7 said the event drew roughly $37,415 in paid media and about $59,350 in in‑kind support, adding, “We had about $100,000 worth of media that went into this.” Organizers and media partners said that paid out‑of‑market promotion would be essential to drive visitors from places such as New Orleans or Jacksonville.

Council members pressed organizers for clearer evidence linking ad clicks or marketing metrics to hotel bookings. One council member noted the wrap report showed strong click-through rates but did not demonstrate conversion to hotel stays; organizers said Google tracking limitations complicated last year’s conversion data but that they believe tracking will be improved this year.

After debate the councilwoman (name recorded in transcript as \"Councilwoman\") made a motion to reduce the award to $50,000; a second was recorded and a roll-call vote followed. The council recorded seven yes votes and one abstention; one member had earlier announced a recusal from the topic because of prior participation in the event’s planning.

Votes at a glance: Navy Days funding request (original ask $100,000) — approved for $50,000 by a 7–0 vote with 1 abstention. The meeting packet shows the event budget at just over $250,000; organizers said sponsorships and prior seed funds would cover the remainder.

Organizers said they will continue to refine tracking and reporting and that future funding requests will be processed through the regular grant process and calendar. Council members said they expect clearer metrics tying out‑of‑market promotion to verified room nights if further awards are requested.

Ending: The council’s $50,000 award came with discussion-level expectations that Navy Days organizers provide improved metrics on marketing conversion and room-night generation in subsequent grant applications. The council also noted that next-year requests should follow the regular application schedule rather than late submissions.","Escambia County Tourist Development Council voted to cut a $100,000 Navy Days funding request to $50,000 amid disagreement over projected room nights and marketing return on investment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County CIO says issued email addresses for citizen appointees are available after signed IT-use policy

Tourism council asks county to reconsider Chappie James memorial funding after economic-impact study

Tourism council trims Navy Days request to $50,000 after debate over room-night projections