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Palm Beach County commissioners approve funding for feasibility studies on 10 tourism "big ideas"
Summary
The county commission voted to fund full feasibility studies for all 10 of the tourism master plan's big ideas, approving a plan to split study costs between Tourist Development Council funds and a private contributor; commissioners debated scope, cost and timelines before the 5–1 vote.
Palm Beach County commissioners voted to fund full feasibility studies for all 10 "big ideas" identified in the county's tourism master plan, authorizing work that consultants estimate will cost about $100,000 per study and take roughly three to six months.
The motion, made by Commissioner Marino and seconded on the floor, passed 5–1 with Vice Mayor Woodward opposed and one commissioner absent. Mayor Baxter told the board that a private contributor identified in the meeting as "Dave" agreed to pay half of the study costs, with Tourist Development Council (TDC) dollars covering the remainder.
The vote follows a two-hour presentation by Conventions Sports and Leisure International (CSL) and a public discussion of the plan's priorities. Richard Cutting Miller of CSL said a "rigorous feasibility study for any of these projects will be in the range of $100,000" and outlined the typical work program—site selection, market demand analysis and regulatory review.
Supporters said full studies will yield the factual foundation commissioners need to weigh large capital projects. "I would like to see a feasibility study on all 10 items," Commissioner Marino said during debate, arguing the master plan is a 20-year framework and that detailed studies are necessary to determine return on investment and land needs.
Opponents urged a more phased approach. Vice Mayor Woodward voted against the motion, saying public-private partnerships require careful due diligence and caution about perceived giveaways to private interests. Commissioners also debated "mini" assessments versus full feasibility studies and whether the county could build in-house capacity or purchase analytical tools.
Consultants said the master plan already contains detailed analysis and that the full technical report (about 525 pages) includes initial capital and operating estimates, KPIs and partner roles. The board directed staff and the consultant team to pursue the studies and to return with results and funding recommendations; consultants and staff indicated they could begin delivering feasibility reports within roughly 12 months in many cases.
Next steps: staff and consultants will proceed with feasibility work, coordinate funding mechanics for the studies, and return to the board with recommended prioritization, timelines and funding options.
