Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/170820
Sarasota News Leader September 13, 2013 museum. Museum staff undertook marketing research to show they could entice families to stay an extra day in Asheville to tour the improved facility. Before the children's museum was expanded, Haley said, research showed most visitors came to Asheville for one day, to see the Biltmore Estate. Then they headed on to other nearby destinations. Both the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway are in the vicinity of Asheville. Page 46 pointed out, adding that he felt the commission should set a base for TDT money allocated for specific purposes. Then, any funds generated above that base could be used for other tourism-related activities. Botelho clarified for Barbetta that any extra money generated by the 5-percent TDT tax automatically goes into the funds to which the five pennies are apportioned. "That's troublesome to me," Barbetta said. "That's a windfall to each of those recipients." The backers of the children's museum "had to have a rigorous marketing program outside the area to attract visitors," Haley also pointed out. In fact, Barbetta argued — as he had in earlier discussions — the percentage of the TDT penny going into the capital project pool Haley was addressing should be raised to 25 percent County Administrator Randall Reid, who was or even 50 percent, instead of staying at 12.5 the Alachua County manager before he came percent. to Sarasota in January 2012, noted that re- "For me, it depends on what the needs are," search in that community showed people typ- Patterson told him. ically came to that county on day-long trips. County officials worked to develop new tour- Finally, Patterson agreed to a later discussion ist attractions there to encourage people to of Barbetta's proposal. stay overnight, he added. One other amendment to the ordinance would Patterson told Haley she wanted to make sure allow TDT revenue to be used for the operathe emphasis was put on capital projects in tions of regattas at aquatic nature centers. Sarasota County, not destination events. Nathan Benderson Park, off University Parkway, has been hosting regattas since 2009. Last "It was very much the intention of my board week, it won the bid to host the 2017 World and the TDC," Haley said, that that would be Rowing Championships. the program's emphasis. However, her board felt flexibility should be allowed to fund "a Robinson agreed to vote to advertise the pubvery special event if something came along." lic hearing on the amendments to the ordinance, but she reiterated her concerns that "I tend to agree with Nora," Barbetta said. some eligible entities would not end up with Assistance for existing events should come funding. "I've got some heartburn over this out of the increasing TDT revenue, Barbetta whole process." %