Subject:
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Appointments to the Tourist Development Council (Board of County Commissioners as whole).
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Recommended Action:
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Approve four appointments to the Tourist Development Council (TDC) for a term of four years beginning on November 1, 2026, as well as up to two Ex-Officio members. These appointments are made by the Board of County Commissioners as a whole.
• Appoint at least one, no more than two applicants from the Motel/ Hotel/ Recreational Vehicle Park/ Tourist Accommodation Membership Category.
• Appoint at least one, no more than two applicants from the Tourist Industry & Development Category.
• Appoint one of the nominees submitted by the BIG-C to represent them on the TDC.
• Appoint Ex-Officio members; no more than two.
• Applicants’ applications and resumes are attached.
• The Clerk will disseminate the ballots.
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Background Information:
The Tourist Development Council (TDC) makes recommendations to the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) for the effective operation of tourism-related special projects and uses of the tourist development tax revenue and may perform such other duties prescribed by law. The TDC must continuously review all expenditures of tourist development tax, make expenditure reports (at least quarterly), and report any expenditures believed to be unauthorized under the law to the BCC and Department of Revenue (DOR).
The Commission Chair of the BCC, or any other County Commissioner designated by the chair, shall serve as the Chair of the Council. Four members of the council shall be elected municipal officials, one from the most populous municipality in Pinellas County (St. Petersburg), one from the municipality in which the greatest percentage of tourist development tax revenue is generated in Pinellas County (Clearwater), one of whom shall be from among the cities of Belleair Beach, Belleair Shores, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, Madeira Beach, North Redington Beach, Redington Beach, Redington Shores, St. Pete Beach, and Treasure Island, and one of whom shall be from a city in Pinellas County that is not specifically named in this section.
Additionally, seven members of the council shall be persons who are involved in the tourist industry and who have demonstrated an interest in tourist development, of which not less than three nor more than four members shall be owners or operators of motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks, or other tourist accommodations in the County and subject to the bed tax.
All members of the TDC must be registered to vote in Pinellas County. Appointed members of the council serve for staggered terms of four years.
Attachments:
Press Release
Board Roster
TDC Vacancies Memo 9-29-26
BIG-C TDC Nominations Letter
Applications and Resumes
Ballot
Partner(s):
Brian Lowack, President & CEO, Visit St. Pete-Clearwater