Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/329100
March 19 session. During that conversation, she continued, she told them of her con- cern that if the commissioners approved the request, "we would see a bleed that wouldn't stop," with their coming back for more fund- ing every subsequent year. They told her, Robinson explained to her colleagues, that if the board approved the sanctioning fee on a regular basis, they would not seek any other county grant funds except those avail- able to nonprofit organizations, for which all interested groups apply on a competitive annual basis. On Wednesday of this week, Parks and Recreation Director Brown pointed out to the commissioners, "[W]e learned that these [sanctioning] fees are more appropriately described as 'promoter costs.'" Although Super Boat International "will not sanction the race without the payment of these fixed costs," Brown added, the TDT money could not cover them all legally. Some expenses are associated with the rental of equipment, such as cranes and helicopters, Brown noted. However, $2,102.60 in charges associated with the live broadcast of the race could be paid for with the tourism funds, she said. Expenses have risen this year, Nicandri told the board, because more international inter- est in the race has led to more boats being registered for it. Race day this year will be July 6, and 40 boats already have entered the competition, she added — 10 more than the 2013 event featured. Because of the greater number of boats, she said, Suncoast will need two cranes instead of one, for example, to enable all of them to get into the water in time for the race. Another new expense is for two boats that will stay in the middle of the course with person- nel keeping an eye out for wildlife that could be endangered by the activities, she added. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stipulated that action. Barbetta pointed out because the costs Nicandri outlined are necessary to Suncoast holding the race, the county should cover the amount provided for in the 2014 agreement, $94,200. Robinson then brought up her discussions with Suncoast board members in 2013, add- ing, "The [resulting] agreement was pretty specific about limiting future requests." "I don't know how to fix it so that we know what's our responsibility and what's yours," Patterson told Nicandri. "It's a pretty loose interpretation at this point." A number of times during the discussion, board members did make a point of compli- menting Nicandri for her work and the charity for its assistance to special needs children in the community. "Lucy, you do a great job," Robinson said. "There's no reflection on you." "It's sort of a heart-wrenching thing," Patterson added, "because we all support the charity and we certainly all support the event." Just before the vote to allocate the $81,302.60, Patterson asked Nicandri if she could cover the extra expenses through an application directly to Visit Sarasota County, the county's tourism office. "I can certainly explore that option," Nicandri replied. % Sarasota News Leader June 13, 2014 Page 43