Miss Williams, a Gulf County TDC official, told commissioners the council had "finished the year up nearly 3 and a half percent over last year, collecting more than $4,900,000," and summarized the short-term rental licensing program: "We have more than 1,200 properties documented within the system, and about 1000, 60 licenses have been issued."

The presentation prompted questions from commissioners about properties that are not remitting bed taxes. Commissioner (speaker 5) said enforcement remains a challenge because some rental owners "are playing cat and mouse with us" by listing on multiple platforms and not registering. County staff reported the tax collector estimates roughly 1,800 properties remitting bed taxes countywide, leaving a gap the TDC is continuing to investigate.

Commissioners focused on Windmark and other high-rental neighborhoods where rental density and false alarms are concentrated. Commissioner (speaker 5) proposed a decal or sticker program in the county's tourist corridor that would let deputies and code officers identify rental fleet vehicles and hold rental companies accountable; county staff and law-enforcement participants recommended a joint workshop with city officials and the sheriff. An unidentified former city police chief (speaker 12) described St. Joe Beach's current ordinance and inspection affidavit and urged the county to consider similar requirements, including equipment checks and insurance for low-speed vehicles.

Public-safety concerns also included false alarms and emergency access. Commissioners asked that short-term rental inspections require an obvious, centralized location for elevator keys and a local emergency point of contact. County staff recommended adding those items to the inspection checklist and routing licensed-property contact information to dispatch so responders can reach a keyholder during alarms.

TDC and inspection staff described recent compliance work that located many previously unregistered properties. Mark (speaker 7), who oversees inspections, said targeted review of BRBO/online listings and field checks uncovered "close to 200" properties that had not previously paid or been registered; staff said enforcement and inspections will continue through the winter months.

The board did not adopt an ordinance at the workshop; instead members asked staff to draft options and to schedule a follow-up workshop that includes city code enforcement and the sheriff to discuss decal programs, permit language and any legal constraints.