NorthBeach International Airport
Florida JOE-Air
Air JOE (michael Jordan, of Air Jordan's, could be the spokesmodel.)

__________________

We really need to think about the initials used for the airport. Something memorable ... something that reminds you of THE Beach ... like

SOB Airport (South and Just Off THE Beach Airport)

This site might answer some questions about "free" flights and the confusion there in.

Military Hops: Space-A Military Travel

__________________

SOB is out, it's already taken.

Saarmelleek/balaton Airport (SOB) Details - Hungary

Some available airport codes:

WTF
DUH
RNK Redneck
SOS
WHY
GOD <- this would deter atheists that might cause plane crashes

Just some thoughts.

__________________

What about JOE for airport code?

__________________

Cause Finland already has it?

Joensuu Airport (JOE) Details - Finland

__________________

"THE™ Airport" kills me ... I'm laughin' & droolin' over here ... thank you Shelly.

So even tho BayCo didn't succeed at getting the competition shut down, I feel it's still reasonable to simply steal their (new) name ... Northwest Florida Regional Airport is clearly the best choice. Unless anyone likes BayCo UFly.

Airport Authority Granted $4 Mil for State-of-the-Art Baggage System | pcbdaily.com
Airport Authority Granted $4 Mil for State-of-the-Art Baggage System

Airport Authority to Consider New Name for Airport — The New PFN

HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!

That's the most expensive electric baggage tug, remote control garage door, and conveyor belt I've ever heard of!

__________________

I believe that includes all of the x-ray machines and explosives detectors.

__________________

Airport Board

The link has a video discussing the grass. Believe it or not, but this is a HUGE issue.

__________________

St. Joe hires VP to market airport | bay, county, florida - Business - The News Herald

Two words....Astro Turf

.

__________________
But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

Nope, has to be natural. Astro Turf would burn in a crash.

__________________

I love it

__________________
"We have had no good comic operas of late, because the real world has been more comic than any possible opera." - The Quotable Chesterton

Just another reason to go with zero-scape.

__________________
"We have had no good comic operas of late, because the real world has been more comic than any possible opera." - The Quotable Chesterton

...from the looks of these photos taken of the airport last month--a burning crash doesn't appear to be a major issue (can you say "drainage problems?")

__________________
But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

Construction Update: 10/01/2009

by NewPFN on October 5, 2009
Contract 1: Heavy Civil and Airfield Lighting
The project is currently 92% complete with 78% of the contract utilized.

• Grading of the longitudinal ditches continues.
• In the General Aviation Area the taxiways are being regarded and limerocked. All 6 taxiways in the GA area will have final asphalt in two weeks.
• All of the General Aviation area and Terminal support area are expected to have asphalt by the end of October.
• Installation of light cans and conduits is underway on the South end of the airfield.
• Sod is currently being installed along the Runway Clear Zone.
• Of the project site’s 1,400 acre foot print, more than 1,000 acres has been either seeded or paved.

Contract 2: Terminal Building and Support Facilities
The project is 56% complete with 59% of the time utilized.
Terminal Building

• Completing the roof deck on the east side of Area B.
• Continuing installation of windows on the east side of Area A.
• Completing storefront installation down the west elevation of the building.
• Continuing installation of CFMF at interior walls in the Baggage Handling System.
• Continuing with MEP at Baggage Handling area.

Air Traffic Control Tower

• The tower cab is now in place bringing the height of the ATCT to 147 feet.
• Continuing installation of the exterior stairs up to tower cab.
• Beginning MEP installation.

Terminal Support Facilities (Air Cargo, Air Maintenance Facility, Air Maintenance Shed)

• Completing MEP installations.

Public Safety Building

• Beginning to set steel at administration roof.

Rental Car Facility

• Installation of exterior CMU walls continues
• Excavating for spread footings at fuel island canopy
• Site grading continues

Contract 3: Utility Contract
Utilities are 65% complete with 71% of the contract time utilized.

• Power systems are scheduled to be energized by September 15 and water will be provided to the terminal complex in October.
• Street light installation - 97% complete. Light poles being installed.
• 12″ water main - 99% complete.
• 8″ sanitary force main - 100% complete. 16,387 lf completed onsite and along CR-388.
• 3W2″ power distribution - 98% complete. Primary power energized.
• Street Light duct work - 34,165 lf installed on west side of main road.
• 6Wx4″ - 100% complete. 6,849 lf concrete encased communication duct bank.
• 30″ water main - 98% complete. Testing underway.
• 24″ water main - 98% complete. 7,878′ lf installed along Joyner Road.
• Lift Station - 55% complete. Plumbing installation continuing.
• Booster Pump station - 50% complete. Tanks complete, plumbing underway.
• Fuel Farm Facility - 45% complete. Slab poured, 110cy of concrete
• Triturator - 20% complete. Vault installation continuing.
• 68 fire hydrants installed

Contract 4: Landscape/Hardscape Contract:
The landscape contract is 45% complete with 23% of the contract time utlilized.

• Regrading swales on Main Access Road.
• Installing sod along the Main Access Road.
• Installing erosion control mat on site.
• Hydroseeding.

Contract 5: NAVAIDs

• * Contract awarded to Hypower, Inc.
• * Base bid amount $1,728,800.00.
• * Bid Alternate 1 for installation of RWY Centerline and Touchdown Zone Lighting $311,400.00.
• * Anticipated Notice to Proceed is September 1, 2009.
• * Construction duration is 180 days.

Project scope:

• RWY 16 Instrument Landing System - 90 days
• RWY 16 Medium Intensity Approach Light System - 120 days
• RTR Shelter & Tower Installation - 150 days
• Air Traffic Control Tower Equipment Installation - 150 days
• Automated Surface Observation System site preparation - 180 days

Project scope in process of being amended to include Airport Sponsor purchase and installation of all radio communications.

Great photos, especially of the tower being peiced together. It's like a GIANT lego!!

Who takes the aerial photos?

__________________
www.us98soccer.com

Awesome!

Any idea which major cities in the northern hinterlands might get direct flights to this airport? Which ones have direct flights now into PCB?

__________________
Proud to practice indoctrination
at least when it comes to the GATOR NATION

Yes I agree cool pics . Thanks for keeping us updated.

__________________
"We have had no good comic operas of late, because the real world has been more comic than any possible opera." - The Quotable Chesterton

Atlanta, Memphis.

__________________
But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

Not sure - I get them emailed to me and they are on their website for news/PR purposes.

I know they're commissioned by the Airport authority. I think they have access to planes and pilots.

__________________

Airport Authority Names New Airport — The New PFN

Northwest Florida – Panama City International Airport

I wonder how much money this brain trust flushed down a rat hole to come up with that snappy title? (Did they even consider my choices above?....I think not!)

47 letters (including the hyphen)...it kinda flys in the face of Southwest's 20-letters-or-less for billboard advertising and advertisements with "ding." When I read through that title I hear "the contents of a silverware drawer crashing on a tile floor"...definitely not a "ding."

Pensacola...you can start to unfoil the champagne.

__________________
But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

Pensacola really is the only logical SWA stop in these parts. They're just dancing with everyone else in order to get PNS to sweeten the pot even more.

They didn't spend any money. The Gmail address you could send your suggestions to was free. Did you e-mail your suggestions? That might be why they weren't considered.

They also mentioned the Big Airport Hidden in the Woods Intl. Airport suggestion.

__________________

New airport name 'confusing' - Okaloosa - Northwest Florida Daily News

"Brannon assured the Airport Authority that a recently passed half-cent bed tax in Walton County was meant strictly to help bring low-cost carriers to the new Bay County airport, and not other nearby airports such as Northwest Florida Regional.

“It’s just true that many of our infrastructure and transportation needs are linked to Bay County,” Brannon said after the meeting.

Brannon’s and Moliterno’s support of the Bay County airport came as a shock to Donovan.

“It was an absolute surprise,” he said. “Historically, Walton County and the Walton County chamber have been supportive of VPS (Okaloosa Regional).”

Donovan objected to Brannon’s characterization of the half-cent bed tax. He noted a resolution the Walton County Commission approved in March that calls for using the tax revenue to help attract a low-cost carrier either Okaloosa or Bay counties."

__________________

"If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them."
George Orwell

^^^Interesting article

I had kind of wondered what kind of tug of war Walton County might find itself in.

I also was wondering what this meant:
Airport Authority to Hold Special Meeting on Airport Name — The New PFN

How does a commission join and industrial district?

The new name kind of hurts my head...Can I just call it "NoFloPanCy Airport" instead?

__________________
My mind tends to wander... but fortunately, it's so weak, it doesn't get very far...

Doesn't quite fit on a bumper sticker.

Domain Name: NORTHWESTFLORIDAPANAMACITYINTERNATIONALAIRPORT.COM
Created on: 07-Oct-09
Expires on: 07-Oct-10
Last Updated on: 07-Oct-09

We could use
NoFloPanTi

is there a new airport code?

__________________
The mind is like a parachute, it works best when it is open.

Ah, the new airport code must be: NWFLPCIA

I know it is a little longer than the typical three letter airport code, but hey, so what.

__________________

I hope they secure a web address soon. Looks like NWF.com has already been taken, and not by the National Wildlife Federation. The Lebanese must be buying up all prospective names for the new airport.

__________________

Good early call and insight.

Brannon is not exactly telling the truth.

http://fl-waltoncounty.civicplus.com...w.aspx?DID=619

See Resolution on Page 3.

__________________
But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

I find it interesting that the majority of the people quoted in this article were from Okaloosa county. Wouldn't someone from the NWPCIA (wow, that is long) be more appropriate?

For all that they're slowly blending into one, there are still different FWB and PCB newspapers. Here's the Bay County version of the same article:

New airport has a name - UPDATED - The News Herald

Good think I was sitting down for that SHOCKER!

You'd think Brannon would want to be distancing himself from anything to do with places to park planes.

__________________
The enemy is ignorance.

Five names were submitted to board members for consideration: Northwest Florida International Airport, Florida International Airport, Emerald Coast International Airport, Florida Beaches International Airport and Beaches International Airport. Other names, such as Florida Beaches International Airport at Panama City, were also kicked around by the board Wednesday.

I think any of these would have been a better choice, but I wasn't on the board.

Come on...."BEACHES" International Airport???

Best alternative recommended in the comment section: "Girls Gone Wild International"

.

__________________
But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

Ok, maybe not that one, but Emerald Coast International Airport isn't that bad.

Emerald Coast International Airport is just fine FTLOC! Do "the powers that be" just have a hard time with making things simple?

__________________
My mind tends to wander... but fortunately, it's so weak, it doesn't get very far...

I think one of them owns a sign shop that charges by the letter.

__________________

Pledges growing for Southwest Airlines | county, airlines, brannon - News - Northwest Florida Daily News


“Commission Brannon doesn’t speak for the entire board of county commissioners and you would have to get further clarification from him as to what he meant on the specific quote,” said Chris Mitchell, Walton County’s public information officer. “I do represent what the board says, and what the board has said is in the resolution.”

__________________

"If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them."
George Orwell

The evolution of this "airport" stinks to high heaven. Starting with the developers lobbying congress to get VPS closed down to this County Commissioner playing lapdog to the same...and these are just the cocka-roaches we've seen.

Me thinks this airport isn't a reflection of the character and integrity that is at the heart of Southwest airline's corporate culture. They're fooling themselves if they think LUV isn't fully aware of what's going on out there.

__________________
But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

So more misdirection and near-lies from Bay County about the airport, which has become pretty par for the project.

Commissioner Brannon: bed tax funds not meant soley for airline (with DOCUMENT) | brannon, commissioner, county - News - Northwest Florida Daily News

What a compost heap of un-truth!

----------------------------------------------
Mr. Cramer: Are the funds designated for low-cost carrier in general, or low-cost carrier at our
new airport?

Mr. Brannon: The funds, I believe, are designated for low-cost for the, for a low-cost carrier in general. I’m not sure exactly if it’s, you know, my understanding is we’re in a partnership with you guys trying to get this, I don’t know how the wording of the Resolution is, but it was designated. There’s some questions to make sure that it went specifically for, not to undermine any of our other promotional or tourism, you know, endeavors on our driving market, but it was specifically for the airline and to the need to know and the need for the transportation of the future airport, so. I hope that answers your question.

Mr. Cramer: With all due respect, I don’t think it did. I’m not being disrespectful, I think it’s a great idea and I love

Mr. Brannon: Well I didn’t understand your question. What was your?

Mr. Cramer: Well, the TDC bed tax, which was approved and authorized by the County Commission,

Mr. Brannon: Yes sir.

Mr. Cramer: Was for a low-cost air carrier. But my question is was the, for a low-cost air carrier designated for a specific airport or was it for a low-cost carrier at, say several different airports, or is it going to go to more than, to one specific airport or how is the money to be
designated?

Mr. Brannon: Well, I think the Resolution was in the region, is the way the Resolution read. I think that, now to the particulars of how that, the intention was, <shoulda stopped here, fool> I believe, to partner with this effort. I know there are other efforts going on in the region, <that being VPS as per the resolution> but as evident I think of you guys coming over and meeting with the other commissioners, I think that the Board of County Commissioners support of the Bay County International Airport is evident in that. <ZINGO! Whoops, there it is!>

Mr. Cramer: Thank you.

Mr. McKenzie: From your standpoint, that issue is put to rest, as to

Mr. Brannon: Yes sir.

Mr. Tannehill: Okay, good.

Mr. Brannon: Thank you.

-----------------------------------------------

From the exchange above, it's clear Brannon was the class Valedictorian from the Sarah Palin School of Political-Speak


.

.

__________________
But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

Southwest coming? We may know in December // LETTERS | panama, city, southwest - News - The News Herald

If it's been touted as an international/regional airport from it's infancy, why cling to the Panama City part of the name? If the airport wants to distinguish itself from the same old same old slogans of the past, why not call it The Emerald Coast International Airport. This seems like a no-brainer: a unique, interesting, inviting, progressive change from the blandness that has been the norm. Come on, guys!

__________________
My mind tends to wander... but fortunately, it's so weak, it doesn't get very far...

Isn't there someone famous or historical they could name it after?

__________________
The enemy is ignorance.

Albuquerque calls its airport Sunport. We could call it Sunport South. I'm not sure there's anyone all that famous around here, nor historical. Do people really have a problem with "Emerald Coast"?

__________________
My mind tends to wander... but fortunately, it's so weak, it doesn't get very far...

Panama City-Bay County International is just lame.

Emerald Coast International works for me - ECI even works as the 3 letter code, as Google doesn't tell me it is taken yet.

__________________
The enemy is ignorance.

TDC weighs in on airport name controversy | panama, airport, tdc - News - The News Herald

Ebro International taken yet?

__________________
www.us98soccer.com

I almost spewed coffee, DCFinSCB!!! That there is funny, and true!

Commissioner Jones (the girl) led the Board of County Commissioners' opening prayer last night and specifically mentioned Southwest Airlines, something like, "and let's pray that SouthWest Airlines lands where it will." I was rather shocked and surprised.

__________________

I agree it will be interesting to see what names they come up with.

__________________
"We have had no good comic operas of late, because the real world has been more comic than any possible opera." - The Quotable Chesterton

I think she said, "Let it land where You (God) wants it."

I bet if you put a poll for the five names being kicked around it would be 85% plus for Emerald Coast International Airport. Hey Kurt what do ya think about putting one on this thread ?? Im sure you don't have anythink better to do.

__________________
"We have had no good comic operas of late, because the real world has been more comic than any possible opera." - The Quotable Chesterton

Looks like someone already bought the new name being kicked around.

Northwestfloridainternationalairport.com - Northwest Florida International Airport

__________________

Cybersquatters moved in quickly there, eh?

And Pensacola wins the warm up round of Airport Wars:

United bringing new air service to Pensacola | pnj.com | Pensacola News Journal

Per WEAR, Bay County was also lobbying for that service.

Biggest smile of the day. Thanks.

That's all good, but filling up the airport and leaving less room for Southwest doesn't strike me as a good move.

__________________

Pensacola is in the midst of an expansion of their airport and Southwest only buzzes in and buzzes out--no need to keep a bunch of jets sitting on the tarmac overnight.

...granted there will be PLENTY of room at NorthwestFloridaPanamaCityInternationalAirport--but I think Southwest will be more interested in filling up their seats on the planes and less interested in whether passengers have room to stretch out across 4 empty seats in the lounges.

__________________
But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

They aren't exactly filling it - 2 new flights every weekday (to DC) and 3 new flights each weekend day (1 to Chicago, 2 to DC) on 50 seat planes.

__________________
The enemy is ignorance.

Thanks to the perpetual pessimists. I keep forgetting that people won't change the airport they use for a $99 vs. $300+ flight.

/sarcasm off/

__________________

It gets confusing. Do I read correctly that Walton County Commissioner Scott Brannon says that the additional money being taxed to bring in a low cost carrier wasn't specifically for the NWFLPCIA? I was at the BCC meeting when the BCC approved the tax, and there seemed to be no question that it was specifically for the new airport. They had pitched it that Bay County had also contributed. If this Brannon is correct, then Walton County would be helping reduce those fairs even in P'cola.

__________________

The resolution that was passed specifically states "supporting low cost air service into the region at either Okaloosa County Airport or Bay County Airport."

If Southwest flies into Pensacola, I'm sure there will be many area visitors that will be making the journey to and from PNS to save the extra bucks.

After hearing the dismal Southwest Conference Call about their $16 million net loss for the last quarter; the fact that they cut 10 percent of their most unprofitable and least popular flights in the past year; and their plans to cut fourth-quarter capacity 8 percent; I don't think they'd take a chance setting up new operations flying into Airport O' the Pines.

Personally, I think Walton County should throw its weight behind VPS as I believe it is a strong second candidate--but considering how the county is joined at the hip (or regions there abouts) with JOE, it appears they have no choice than to do what JOE says they will do.

__________________
But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

Yes, I'm stuck in an airport rut because I don't care about prices - must be why I've flown through Pensacola, VPS, and PC in the last 6 months.

__________________
The enemy is ignorance.

Would that make the airport code DOG?

Southwest also failed to purchase those jets they were trying to buy, so maybe they don't have enough to fly at all. I'm trying to recall the number of acres which JOE owns in Okaloosa County. I think it is something like zero. Is that right?

__________________

I'd love to see you complaining about your recent flying issues down at the unemployment office. Don't expect too much sympathy.

__________________

That could work, but someone would have to check if it is available. It is a good BET that the drama behind this Airport Wars will continue. Some lawyers, lobbyists and handlers are stretched thin right now.

(FYI for new to SoWal or the area, Ebro is the well known dog racing track in the area. Ebro, along with the new airport, were once within the original borders of Walton County. They could have just called it the Walton County International Airport. That would name it after a historical famous place and person. Or, it could be named the SoWal International Airport to get that southern beachy feel into the marketing mix. )

If it was Sowal International Airport, does that mean the call letters would be SOW?

__________________
My mind tends to wander... but fortunately, it's so weak, it doesn't get very far...

Does anyone really know what Brannon says.

PAT RICE: Brannon can't fly around this airport turbulence | brannon, mastered, commissioner - News - Northwest Florida Daily News

__________________
Get Outdoors!

I attended the meeting when the resolution was approved by the Walton County BCC, and while it may be worded that the additional bed-tax would be used to attract and support low cost air-fares such as $99 flights, there was specific mention that Bay County had already chipped in (and we all know that Bay County wouldn't be contributing to any other airport), and there was no question from any one in attendance at that meeting, that these funds would be going to any other airport, only to the new NWFLPCIA.

__________________

...so that then implys that they wrote a bogus resolution meaning, the BCC was intentionally trying to trick the public/businesses into believing they were in support of bringing a low cost carrier to the area when, in reality, they were colluding with the developers of the new airport to send a bunch of money their way.

__________________
But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

Not necessarily intentional deception by the BCC -- the resolution may simply have been vaguely written, which I doubt is uncommon. Lawyers and politicians like vagueness in the rules.

__________________

"supporting low cost air service into the region at either Okaloosa County Airport or Bay County Airport."

this seems pretty specific to me, at least as to the where...they conveniently left out what criteria they might use to decide which one to choose...however. I tend to believe the members knew what they were going to do--as spoken by Brannon at the airport meeting--but rather than take a stand on it, they were just trying to pretend they were open to other possibilities...this kind of behavior happens all too often IMO.

__________________

"If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them."
George Orwell

Yes, that is specific. However, that is not the language I recall being given in the BCC meeting. Perhaps that is what they signed, but that is not what I recall being presented at the meeting.

__________________

I'm curious to see the minutes from that BCC meeting. Does anyone recall what date that was brought before the BCC?

__________________

I understood the resolution to be written by the TDC. I am pretty confident in my personal belief that they want SWA to go Bay County.

__________________

Nevermind. I found the item on the agenda of the BCC meeting which took place on Aug 11, 2009, but the minutes from that particular meeting are conveniently not available on the County's website, though they have every other meeting minutes posted.

Here is a link to the agenda item in detail, which addresses that it is to be used for our "region," not specifically Bay County airport, but if you didn't read this, it sure seemed to be pushed at the meeting as it would go toward the new airport.

__________________

So first we raise taxes to bribe an airline to come to the airport - then do we raise taxes again to continue to subsidize that airline and keep fares low?

Given the levels of fraud and back room deals these politicians are regularly involved in, it's quite a red flag to me that they can't even commit to where millions of dollars are going to go.

Once again there is a lot of public money going to private companies ........... and the elected officials they have bought!

__________________
The enemy is ignorance.

...that's a scary propositon. Any airline that comes to NorthwestFloridaPanamaCityInternationalAirport will require mucho dinaro for years to make it break even on the deal.

__________________
But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

Official Minutes of the Aug 11 2009 BCC meeting from Clerk of Courts. It cuts through the chase and doesn't include the chatter about Bay County approving their 2 cent bed tax which will go directly to the new airport, and was approved in the week leading up to this meeting (if I correctly recall).


The official minutes:



Chairman Comander called to order the public hearing to consider an Ordinance (2009-11) imposing and levying an additional half percent Tourist Development Tax (1/2 Cent Tax) in the existing South Walton Sub-County Special Tax District.
Mr. Sonny Mares, TDC Director, requested that the Board adopt the Ordinance as presented. Commissioner L. Jones clarified that this Ordinance is the same as the Resolution (2009-54) that was approved in May. Mr. Mares confirmed.
Chairman Comander asked for public comment.
Mr. Bob Hudson, Walton County Tax Payer’s Association, expressed concerns regarding the Ordinance. He questioned why an airline has not been announced. Ms. Dawn Moliterno, Walton Area Chamber President and CEO, commented that the negotiations with the airlines are confidential, but several airlines are interested. She stated that their arrival to the area will be based on their timeliness, not Walton County’s. Mr. Hudson questioned if the available funds in the TDC operating budget could pay for this instead of increasing the tax at this time. Brief discussion continued regarding the fact that the funds in reserve are for emergency situations.
Mr. Bill Bard questioned how this is attracting a low cost airline and how the money will be spent. Ms. Moliterno clarified that money will not be given directly to the airline, but the funds will be used on marketing plans and advertising in new markets that we currently do not have.
Ms. Suzanne Harris, Edgewater Beach Condominiums, questioned how much money the TDC spent after Hurricane Ivan and Dennis. Mr. Mares did not have that information. She expressed concerns with collecting more money from tourists in order to have more in savings/reserves.
Chairman Comander closed public comment.
Motion by Commissioner Brannon, second by Commissioner L. Jones, to approve Ordinance (2009-11) as presented. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Comander Aye, Brannon Aye, L. Jones Aye, Pridgen Aye, C. Jones Aye.

__________________

Official Minutes from the May 11, 2009 BCC Meeting
May 11, 2009 - Regular Meeting
Prepared by: Tina Earley:
By the way, Dawn Moliterno was recently appointed (at the Oct 13, 2009 BCC meeting) to the new airport (in PCB) Board. I believe she is the Walton Area Chamber President. Two seats were given to Walton County.

Note the sunset in five years for this tax, and annual reviews of the data.

Also interesting is that the additional discussion was not recorded in the official minutes.

__________________

....interesting, but not surprising.

Here's an article about the meeting from the Defuniak Herald. Maybe the BCC should just cut and paste it in their official minutes.

-------------------------------------
BED TAX TO INCREASE BY HALF-CENT IN OCTOBER
May 15th, 2009 | 0
By DOTTY NIST

In an effort to establish “The Beaches of South Walton” as a fly-to destination, in six months Walton County will begin collecting an additional “half- cent” in bed taxes on rental receipts from short-term accommodations in south Walton County.

The Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) approved the tourism tax increase at its May 11 regular meeting, in response to a request from South Walton Tourist Development Council (TDC) officials.
Sonny Mares, TDC executive director, and Maurice Gilbert, TDC chairman, presented the request. Gilbert commented on the “tremendous opportunity” for Walton County represented by the new Panama City-Bay County International Airport, which is now more than half-complete and scheduled to open in May 2010. The location of the 4,000-acre airport is the West Bay area, just a few miles from the Bay-Walton County line. Tourism officials and other community leaders are hopeful that the entry of at least one low-cost air carrier into the area will result from the airport opening. Gilbert said tourism officials have given pursuit of this opportunity high priority due to its potential to attract business to the local area.

The bed-tax increase was proposed as a funding means to promote Walton County’s beaches to areas outside the current market, composed predominantly of visitors who access the area by automobile, and to cooperatively market any new low-cost air service. The tourism officials reported research identifying a potential of 3.2 million households that could be targeted in such efforts by directing marketing just to four new areas. Bay County recently approved a one-cent (one percent) bed-tax increase for the same purpose.

Mares told the commissioners that Walton County needs the additional one percent in bed taxes because shifting existing funding from current marketing efforts would damage those efforts.

The resolution from the TDC that was presented to the commissioners stated the purpose of the increase as “supporting low cost air service into the region at either Okaloosa County Airport or Bay County Airport through promotion and advertising of Beaches of South Walton Tourism and such air service in new, developing markets.” However, there was no mention, either by the tourism officials or anyone else speaking at the May 11 meeting, of the Okaloosa County Airport or any specific air carrier other than Southwest Airlines.

More than two dozen people, including many tourism leaders and bed-tax collectors, stood when Mares asked for a show of support. Mares also presented the commissioners with letters supporting the half-cent increase, written by representatives of Hampton Inn & Suites, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Rosemary Beach, the Hilton Sandestin, Beach Rentals of South Walton, One Seagrove Place, Alys Beach, WaterColor, Seaside, and Resort Quest. Included was a resolution of support from the Walton County Chamber of Commerce, and Dawn Moliterno, chamber executive director/CEO commented that not one of her organization’s more than 1,300 members had indicated opposition to the increase.
Moliterno was of the opinion that the increase would result in more job opportunities in the local area. “We need to say yes to business and we need to say yes to Southwest,” she urged.

The Walton County Taxpayers Association (WCTA) had also gone on record in support of ” the initiative to partner with a low-cost airline which will open new markets and generate economic development for our entire coastal region,” as stated in a letter signed by association president Bob Hudson.

“The TDC exists to develop tourism, and a low-cost airline is a major step in tapping new markets,” Hudson’s letter added.

The WCTA’s support was the result of the recent addition of conditions to the imposition of the bed-tax increase, including the October 1 effective date, a sunset on the increase after a five-year period, and arrangements to escrow the new revenue for the specific purpose.

Hudson’s letter encouraged the TDC to “work toward eliminating this temporary tax earlier than five years, if possible.”

The letter added, “Should the low-cost airline deal not materialize, we would hope the sunset would expire immediately.”

Mares noted that more than a 54-percent occupancy rate had never been achieved for short-term accommodations in south Walton County. He saw the efforts toward a fly-to market as a means to boost occupancy.

A number of critics of the increase voiced their opinions.

“I feared this,” said Larry Gibson of Tops’l Resort, who was concerned that any tax increase on tourists would “ruin us.”

“How many people is this really going to put in hotels?” Gibson asked.
Suzanne Harris of Edgewater Beach Resort was of the opinion that the increase would not be needed if everyone who was supposed to be paying bed taxes were made to do so. (Martha Ingle, Walton County Clerk of Courts, later commented that a person on her staff is dedicated to collecting bed taxes from property owners who have not been paying them.) Harris warned that tourists were aware of plans for the increase and strongly opposed to it.

“It’s an insult to their intelligence,” Harris asserted.

She was very much in favor of Southwest Airlines and bringing them to the area but thought there were better ways to go about it.
“We need to look for an alternative,” agreed south Walton County resident and property owner Mary Nielson,
South Walton County resident Charlotte Flynt shuddered to think what tourist occupancy of more than 54 percent would be like. “We don’t have the infrastructure to handle it,” she told the commissioners.
“We all want Southwest Airlines,” countered Michael Chouri of the Sandestin Beach Hilton. Chouri told the BCC that the airline would not come to the area “unless you entice them,” adding that it will not be possible to do that without the bed-tax increase.

Citizen Bonnie McQuiston reasoned that, if one takes the position that more tourists are not needed, then there is no reason for a TDC. She added that if these efforts double or triple the occupancy rate, it may be necessary to sunset the increase sooner than the five-year period. She was upbeat about the possibility of Southwest Airline coming to the area, saying she was tired of paying more to fly on other airlines with service that was not up to Southwest’s standards.

District 3 Commissioner Larry Jones moved for approval on the half-cent increase with attached conditions, based on the 70-percent support of the measure among bed-tax collectors that Mares had indicated.
His motion was approved by unanimous vote.
------------------------------------------------------

__________________
But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

No I did not read all of this information, but the WCTA was told that if a low cost carrier was not secured for either of the airports, immediate steps would be taken to rescind the tax. We are watching and awaiting a decision so that we can take immediate steps to hold our officials accountable to their promises.

Personally, I figure between them, an upcoming election, and the four thousand email addresses I have, significant pressure can be exerted to have them follow through for a change.

And I had better not hear anything second hand from the TDC about my statements, you guys have my email address.

__________________

...I looked into my crystal ball and here's what I saw:

Headline: Southwest Gives Nod to Pensacola Regional Airport

TDC Speaking at BCC Meeting: Now that Pensacola has the edge of tourists flying into their area on Southwest, I think it's more important than ever to use this bed tax money to advertise Walton County....in addition to starting our marketing campaign in Pickensville, Alabama, Poduck Airline's hub city, we also need to buy full-page color spreads in the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Sun-Times and the Houston Chronicle. What's that....? Oh, yeah...sure, we know what was written in the resolution, but then those things don't mean anything, anyway...am I right Commissioner?...Am I right? <nudge-nudge wink-wink>

.

__________________
But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

I agree. Have always thought it would be Pensacola or VPS. PC has never had the traffic out of that airport and I do not believe someone like SWA is going to come in as a traffic builder. They strike me as the type that swoop in after the traffic has been established and bleed off the gravy leaving the less profitable routes to others. Sort of like a Walmart of the airways only with better customer service.

Bottom line, not enough people around PC to support the thing yet. Pensacola can draw from Mobile and Ft. Walton just as easy, creating a client base that will eclipse anything PC can do for years.

__________________

Exactly...that's why it would be smarter for Walton County to "partner" with VPS vs. that new airport in the woods. "If" LUV believes this is the year to make a move to the panhandle <I'm not overly confident that it would be prudent at this time> they're going to opt for a place that CURRENTLY services both tourist AND business traffic. From either PNS or VPS, they can easily make the move to Panamacitybaycountyinternationalairport if or when tourist AND business traffic picks up 10-15 years down the road.

__________________
But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower