It was as audacious a plan as any that Flagler County Tourism Director Amy Lukasik presented to the Tourist Development Council this morning: take out $10.3 million out of two tourism funds’ reserves, reducing those reserves to $1.2 million, and appropriate the money for construction of the ambitious Flagler County Visitor and Eco Discovery Center on State Road 100, near the metallurgic foot bridge.
The council went for it, voting 7-2 to recommend moving forward with Lukasik’s plan. The center would double up as the administrative home of the county’s tourism department, currently renting space at the county airport.
The vote is only a recommendation. It must be ratified by the County Commission. Based on today’s vote, there may be some opposition there: the two dissenting votes were from two of the three elected officials on the tourism board. Five other voting members are from the private sector. It’s a quirk of state law, which defines TDC membership. Flagler’s TDC includes a restaurant owner, resort, hotel or tourist attraction managers and a travel agent whose job primarily is to maximize bottom lines, not look after public treasuries. Their businesses would each have a lot to gain from the Discovery Center.
“It’s very aggressive,” Cooley said of Lukasik’s proposal. “My comments have nothing to do with the concept of an Eco Discovery Center. I think that’s great. I’m worried that this might be overly aggressive, wiping out almost all reserves.” Cooley said the county is in the midst of looking for new revenue for beach renourishment funding, with a portion of that money possibly coming from tourism tax money. “I worry this might be happening before that decision and might be out of order. That discussion on where tourism lies with the beach should probably happen first, so everyone has a clear idea of where the responsibility lies.”
Fellow-TDC member jumped in to defend the Lukasik approach, saying that Cooley was talking about a different fund. They were not grasping what he was saying, however: the county is considering changing the proportion of money that goes to each of the tourism bureau’s fund, which would impact all those funds. But today’s discussion was short on perspective and quick on trigger-pulling: it was clear that several members of the council had come prepared to vote for the proposal as quickly as possible, as when Pam Walker, one of the members, ended discussion by calling for a vote.
The third elected official on the panel, Palm Coast City Council member Nick Klufas, voted for the Lukasik plan. However, his city two years ago benefited from a huge TDC grant, it was in line again for another grant of the same size today (as was Flagler Beach). He couldn’t very well snub the members of the panel who’d supported the city and might support it again. (They did not: Flagler Beach got the grant nod.) And Klufas is running for a County Commission seat in a tight race: he cannot afford alienating private-sector supporters.
But the Eco Tourism Center is not a fly-by-night project without strong and long-standing support. The TDC approved building an Eco Discovery Center as part of its long-term goals in late 2019. The council subsequently pledged $1.6 million out of tourism tax reserves to pay a share of the construction cost. That $1.6 million is part of the $10.3 million Lukasik discussed today.
The Flagler County Commission approved inclusion of the Discovery Center in its wish list for legislative appropriations when it sought to take advantage of its own Paul Renner as House Speaker and the seniority and accrued power of Sen. Travis Hutson, the two Flagler County representatives. It worked: the Eco Discovery Center initially was slated for a $10 million appropriation. That got pared down to $5 million during the conferencing between Senate and House budgets. Then Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed the $5 million.
It was a big setback. Lukasik was undeterred. She is pursuing a $3 million grant from the National Scenic Byways Program to perhaps lower the amount of money needed from the TDC. But nothing guarantees the grant, and anyway it wouldn’t be enough to pay for what, at today’s prices, Lukasik estimates, perhaps optimistically, would be a roughly $10 million project. (The county just awarded a $14 million contract to a builder for a 23,000 square foot library. An enticing video rendering of the Discovery Center projects a more architecturally challenging and luxurious facility amid larger grounds.)
Plus, Lukasik argued, the health and wealth of the reserves should be looked at as proof of the tourism division’s good planning–not as a stick with which to beat back a project: “Typically, we wouldn’t have this bunch of money in reserves,” Lukasik told the council, hearing Cooley’s opposition. “”We know we’ve been kind of saving for this project. Never once have we had to go into the reserves, knock on wood, even through the pandemic. What we’re able to do thankfully, and because our office is able to be nimble, just like when there’s storms or the pandemic, we’re able to quickly adjust our budget right then and there where there’s things that we’re not committed to, that we’re able to pause and put on hold. And keep in mind too: Even though construction will still be happening, we’re still collecting. So by the time the project’s done, we’re probably looking at three years, we’re still collecting each of those three years. So the $400,000 will continue to increase just like it had in the past few years.”
Flagler County’s tourism bureau is a division of county government. It is funded entirely through the 5 percent sales surtax on hotels, motels and other forms of short-term lodging, including vacation rentals like Airbnb. (No property tax or general fund revenue is involved.) The surtax is paid overwhelmingly by visitors. Last year it generated $4.6 million, a 3.5 percent increase over 2022. This year it’s projected to generate $4.4 million.
By state law, tourism revenue is split into three pots, or funds: every year, 60 percent ($2.64 million) goes to promoting the county through marketing and advertising, special grants to local, regional or national organizations whose local events attract tourists, and to pay for the tourism bureau’s staff and overhead; 20 percent ($880,000) goes to capital projects that attract visitors, such as the pier or Palm Coast’s Southern Recreation Center; and 20 percent goes to beach protection.
The operating and promotions pot has accumulated a $5.4 million reserve over the years. The capital projects fund has accumulated $6.14 million in reserves, including $1.6 million already pledged to the Eco Tourism Center. The beach fund has accumulated a $2 million reserve, but the County Commission has already pledged that money in next year’s beach management budget.
The County Commission is discussing the possibility of raising the proportion of money that would go to beach protection. It did so in 2017, temporarily. If it does so again, the proportions that go to marketing or capital projects, or both, would have to be lowered. Lukasik is not keen on the idea, and today proposed a joint meeting between the TDC and the County Commission so she can present her facts.
Dance, the chair of the TDC and the County Commission, was as leery as Cooley to go with the Lukasik plan on the Discovery Center–not out of opposition to the center, but for the same reasons Cooley discussed. Dance proposed merely moving the discussion to the end of the meeting, after a discussion item that was to take up beach management. He got no support.
“I personally don’t think we’re looking at it out of turn,” Felicia Cook, a TDC member and the park director at Marineland Dolphin Adventure, said, perhaps unsurprisingly: In the video rendering of the future visitor center, the main lobby is more handsome than Marineland’s own and is lavished with the Marineland Dolphin Adventure brand, which rises like a monolith from the center toward hanging dolphins and turtles. It is surprising that the county has not asked the private companies that will benefit most from the center to pitch in, if only to defray the costs of permanent, free advertising on public property.
Cook did not say who the mysterious “somebody” could be, or how, after so many years, no one had come in and taken the money, which cannot be “taken” by anyone without approval from the TDC and the County Commission. “For me I just think it’s time.”
Walker, of Walker Adventures, called for a vote, and Cook made the motion to recommend approval of Lukasik’s plan. Stephen Baker of the Hammock Beach Resort, Lisa Robinson of Hampton Inn and Suites, Daniel Mundrean of the Hilton garden Inn, John Lulgjuraj of Oceanside Beach Bar & Grill, along with Klufas, voted in the majority.
County Commissioner Dave Sullivan, a former chair of the TDC, was in the audience. The panel had approved the Eco Discovery Center on his watch in 2019. He was pleased with the vote, which he said he will support when it reaches the County Commission. “It’s not like normal reserves where we’re supposed to have two-twelfths of the budget in the reserves, that’s not the way it works on the tourist development side,” Sullivan said. “I think it’s OK because there’s new money coming in all the time. So I don’t have any problem with it.”
Jf says
Another perfect example of how the Flagler county government wastes money! I can think of a ton of things they could use that 11 million dollars for to better our county. How about something that will benefit us residents?
Chris says
Just cut all trees down and be done with already.
How about we use it help the beach renovation ?
People will spend more time at the beach than the visitor center. Plus, you’re gonna have to pay for maintenance on the building lawn care and everything else stop the madness.
Celia Pugliese says
Add the cost of personnel with all benefits as county employees managing front desks and cleaning bathrooms and grounds and building maintenance, cost of printed brochures, then tell me how much $$ left from the costly visitor center. They will get more money building a very needed paid parking of several floors up in Flagler Beach than this visitor center. Waste of money…Is just one more castle to themselves in our pockets! Of course voted yes by Mr. Klufas too, ill representing the City of Palm Coast in the TDC board. Then they will try to name it to one of themselves too for legacy…while depleting the TDC reserves that coukd be used for much better needs.
Johnny says
You cannot legally use that money for residents. Visitors pay that tax to attract more visitors and to help the businesses and parks that attract those people.
This is one of the rare government systems that self funds itself and projects.
Marek says
I absolutely agree.
Gary A Iversen says
I agree..waste of money..people use internet…not visitor center..that’s so 1970’s..
Been There says
There are specific criteria for what that money can be used for. This isn’t County general funds dollars.
I think its overkill. Who is really going to benefit from the visitor’s center? How many visitors are going to spend time there? Can the facility be multifunctional?
Mike & Linda Shimkus says
I live in Palm Coast and my wife and I are senior citizens. We originally lived in Bucks County just outside of Pennsylvania where they had several beautiful senior citizens centers within there local communities. These centers were strictly for seniors ONLY (age 55+) and had many various activities for both men and women, i.e. sewing, knitting, crocheting, painting, various card games, billiard tables, ping pong tables, darts, shuffle board, etc. and also held meetings once a month to bring them up to date on all new changes and relative information and news specific for them. Now that we retired and moved to Palm Coast (which we are very happy to be living here) we have one question, since there are so many senior citizens living here why haven’t Palm Coast developed a center just for them? In my opinion, a good location would adding on to the new activity center that was just built in the south end on Belle Terre.
Jon says
Because Palm Coast attempted to be a retirement city, but it became a large place for growing families and for how expensive their plans were they backed out the deal and now Palm Coast is what it is today
Skibum says
I concur with the majority vote, and think the use of that money to build a tourism center is a wonderful idea! People coming to this area really do need to have a tourism center where they can physically come and not only talk to someone about the area’s best spots for recreation and hotel and dining suggestions, but tourists and locals alike in Flagler County would be able to access more of the surrounding beauty directly from Rd. 100. This center would be a wonderful addition for those who are wheelchair bound or otherwise limited due to a disability. I cannot tell you how many times I have wished there was an accessible parking area adjacent to the recently built pedestrian bridge where I could park, unload my spouse’s wheelchair and walk beside him across that bridge to see and enjoy the pathway like others are able to do. But no, despite being a local and a taxpayer, like so many other non wheelchair-accessible spots here in our county, it seems as though elected county leaders have intentionally or unintentionally limited so many outdoor spaces only to those who do not have disabilities or mobility issues. Please build this center, make absolutely sure it is ADA compliant so EVERYONE can access and enjoy the surrounding beauty, and stop complaining about spending tourism money that is just sitting in some bank account, stagnant and NOT being used for tourism specific projects that will benefit all of us just like this will!
Celia Pugliese says
Exactly JF, wasting our hard earned taxes even when come from tourist still are taxes, to build castles to themselves and then seat to administer them as well in also HR paid in our dime. Meanwhile the residents needs are not served for the monies wasted.
Of course Mr. Klufas approving castles once again! Tourism have been coming here all along since 1991 that I have seeing it here. They dilapidate 11 millions to just start with, in this project because is not the whole cost for sure. Depleting the TDC reserves, 33 millions in city pickle ball (Flukas courts), 14 millions just to start on one more county library, but 1078 Palm Coasters members including special needs children and adults, elderly and families with limited income are kicked off the Belle Terre Swim Club pool over meager $50,000 annual budget shortage (if true). No the county, or the city of the school board that closed the usage gave a damn.
Keep using our hard earned taxes to build castles to yourselves!
Milo says
What the heck are you even talking about? Palm Coast and Flagler county are focusing on activities which all might enjoy.
Why don’t you get off that keyboard and visit them?
Joe D says
Maybe there could be a COMPROMISE. Start with $5 million. Do the basic foundations/parking/ Structure…don’t do the “elegant” decorations for now. Start with BASIC displays and recommendations for local businesses. Keep a BASIC educational set of conference rooms and available for rent by private events, which should include a SMALL commercial kitchen (expands the versatility of the rental space…which should have expandable walls for differing group sizes). That would generate more income internally. Like any other private business, start out with phase 1, then as things improve financially, a phase 2, for expanding the interior structure design, only THEN aim for the FANCY final decorating and final finishing touches as phase 3.
No organization should use such a MAJOR chunk of “reserves” for such an expansive project (that’s NOT what “reserves” means). Unfortunately the Governor decided to fund other “discretionary” programs, not our visitor center…but we simply shouldn’t deplete our funds so substantially all at once!
As a side job ( in addition to being a nurse) I ran a small historic Victorian Bed & Breakfast near a major urban tourist area (from the ground up). We started out with the common areas, and 2 rooms ( my wife was an interior decorator part time, in addition to teaching full time). Over the next 3 years we renovated and added 2 additional suite rooms, once the place was turning a profit. That process took 5 years.
Just because this project is being paid with taxpayer money doesn’t mean we can be any less CAREFUL with how it’s SPENT!
JimboXYZ says
Well it would be money better spent than it was on the Holland Park Splash Pad. as I recall there splash pad was funded with tourism tax money ?
The dude says
Why?
What’s wrong with the Holland Park splash pad?
My daughter loved it the three times we actually got to experience it. And it looks like the reopening was packed.
So why, then, is it a “waste of money”?
Because it’s not for you angry olds?
Laurel says
You know Dude, why didn’t you move to Gainesville where there are jobs, cheaper housing and a large population of young people, and keep your bigotry there instead of throwing YOUR anger at us?
Jennifer says
you recall incorrectly
Billy says
Another huge scam of stealing the public funds! Wasteful spending and greasing there own pockets! Vote these criminals out!
The Sour Kraut says
Disingenuous is the word that comes to mind. This project will take every dime, including the reserve, and this leave us with a bill for a few million more. Those pushing for the project KNOW this but are moving forward anyway.
Lance Carroll says
My question is about beach protection for tourists that are actually footing the money described within this article.
Is there any part of the TDC funds allocated to the Lifeguard program in Flagler Beach?,.. As for the tourist tax collected by the hotels/motels…..
Is there any allocation of said funds that goes, specifically, to the Lifeguard Program in Flagler Beach?
If that answer is ‘no,’ there should be, at least, a million dollars per year, allocated, from the tourism tax, to the Flagler Beach Lifeguard Program.
After all, that program is the only ocean lifeguard program in Flagler County.
I could be mistaken….
But, I am almost certain that I am not mistaken.
Flagler Beach City Commission, please make a motion to get the proper monies to fund beach protection…meaning, Lifeguard Program.
Respectfully,
Lance Carroll
FLF says
If you don’t have a beach, you don’t have tourists. We need 7 million a year for beach re-nourishment, there’s your first installment. How about a parking garage for tourists AND residents in Flagler Beach? Why do we need a tourist welcome center? Looks like another fleecing and misappropriation of funds. When will we learn?
Protonbeam says
Parking garage for beach goers and tourists is an idea worth discussing more – that is a definite need that would enhance tourism and capacity for sure – great thought – a garage would or could generate money- this eco center and building will coast probably 100k per year to insure, maintain and operate –
jake says
Colossal ( extraordinarily great in size, extent, or degree; gigantic; huge),
waste of money. Take about 2 0r 3 million and add this display to the new
library. More people will see and engage it there.
Greg says
Will you have the money when the project comes in at 1.5 million more than allocated? Nothing ever comes in at cost when building.
Mischa Gee says
If they can’t build a visitor center for half that money, they don’t know how to budget money.
They don’t need a monster sized center. I have travelled by car to many states and visitor centers don’t need to be monstrous buildings to be effective in attracting tourists.
Our current city commission has been misspending money and putting the city deeper in debt for years now. The only way they will understand we don’t approve is to vote them all out of office and start fresh.
Jay Tomm says
Yes waste of money. there is zero need in 2024 for a physical building. Everything related to Flagler is online & accessible on your cell phone.
Roxanne says
Wonder how many more trees will be cut down and animals displaced. Ugh!
HayRide says
deplete the funds, and then what, everyone knows, all well-planned budgets always overrun, and when they come back and ask for several milllions more, WHAT WILL YOU DO??
BillC says
Reality knocking. Does anyone fly down from NY/NJ other points because they heard about the new Flagler Visitor Center? Unless they want to tour runaway housing development and reckless land clearing, this *Eco Discovery Center* makes no sense.
A Concerned Observer says
This stinks of the Tourist Development Council members voting for what would have the most financial benefit to increase their own individual fortunes, “a restaurant owner, resort, hotel or tourist attraction managers and a travel agent whose job primarily is to maximize bottom lines, not look after public treasuries. Their businesses would each have a lot to gain from the Discovery Center”.
This is kind of like Mayor Alfin (a realtor) pushing for more and more huge new housing complexes the vast majority of local residents have commented ad nauseam in this venue that they do not want. Two of the three elected officials on the tourism board voted against this wasteful, self-centered expenditure of 89% of two tourism funds’ reserves. Nick, you really disappointed me.
Tourist information centers are always located along the local interstate highway at state borders where they would be seen by the majority of tourists driving into our state. That’s where they have the most visibility to tourists and the least negative impact on our rapidly diminishing local forests, wildlife, wetlands and the quality of life we all chose Palm Coast as somewhere we wanted to live. I find it ironic that the location for this boondoggle is proposed to be right next to yet another wasteful eyesore, the metallurgic foot bridge.
Pogo says
@The “rendered in a video” screenshot is missing something
A colossal white elephant, astride the building, with a taxpayer being swallowed. Who wouldn’t pay 10 cents for a postcard of that?
Concerned tax payer says
10 million plus on a visitor center that practically nobody will visit? Are you kidding me here? How about more sidewalks and streetlights or repave s0me of the crumbling roads I am seeing? How about becoming more business friendly and accessible? How about expanding west? This is unacceptable!
Hmmm says
NEWS FLASH… nobody comes to vacation in Flagler County, unless you know someone already living here or come for a youth sports tournament. We dont need a tourist center. Thats what the internet is for. This isnt the Orlando area. And an eco center? For what? To decide what land to level and build on? Lets not continue to try to make this place something its not.
Laurel says
Well, it will be close to the demolished eco system aka “The Preserve.”
I’m sick of tourists. Seen it all my life. It’s all about precious green paper for some, and the ruin of Florida’s true beauty and wildlife for those of us who care. It brings in pollution, excessive traffic, clear cuts land and loses natural character. Same old chain stores looking like anywhere else. But money is the most important thing, right?
JF says
@FLF you took the words right out of my mouth. Why can’t they use that money to put up a parking garage. Also we do need more lifeguards and it is only seasonal at that! Someone please tell me where most of the TDC money comes from? I would be willing to bet that most of that money comes from ppl visiting the beach. I mean where else to tourists go? Also we only have lifeguards in Flagler Beach. In my opinion we should extend that to the Beverly Beach and Hammock Beach areas. And Klufas is a joke. If he truly cared he wouldn’t be trying to spend money as he wishes/pushes for. I have lived here for almost 30 years and this has got to be the biggest SCAM I have ever seen here.
larry krasner says
Would it make more sense to locate the visitor/info center on the Eastbound lane of SR 100, rather then the westbound lane? You know, catch them on their way *into* town instead of *leaving*?
christopher romaine says
Quite possibly the most misguided proposal and absolute waste of public funds I’ve seen in Flagler County. Nobody goes to visitor centers, let alone on 100.
How does this work: “Hey (grand)kids, let’s all get in the car and drive to Flagler County’s Visitor Center to see whether we want to visit Flagler Country!”
People use visitor centers as a pit stop, to use the restrooms, enjoy AC and stretch their legs. Period.
We should be investing in digital resources to promote county tourism- Social Media, Internet, Other Marketing.
I almost never ask this, but here I go: “Who is making money off this horrible proposal??? What is the Return on Investment (in actual dollars) – was a financial analysis performed?”
And by the way – who is paying for staffing and maintenance? Hopefully not future tourism revenue.
Really. Really. Really. Bad. Idea.
Lw says
I don’t know who’s the stupid idiot that came up with idea!
My question is WHY!
Let fix the roads.
You all know the roads that are looking like up north roads after winter (potholes)
But our are from all the building. STOP BUILDING!
HayRide says
I hope a tourist center would be more spectacular than the video, especially with the way they depict how the buses are parked up against the tree line, and the displays inside, but nice try
LoomeD says
I would locate the Visitors Center next to the Green Roof Inn.
Celia Pugliese says
Well most here like myself disagreeing with this waste of a tourist center, one approving it is City of Palm Coast Mr. Klufas in the board and now he is running for county commissioner…so watch who you vote for as his opponents is Kim Carney! So lets give Kim our vote! All incumbents need to go as these are the nonsense they approve wasting our hard earned taxes and we do not experience the benefit but instead more taxes to sustain these castles to themselves. This is not the final building cost and see the incoming “change orders” to pay, lets see manning and maintenance. Bad bad Ms. Lukasic plan.
Celia Pugliese says
Add the cost of personnel with all benefits as county employees managing front desks and cleaning bathrooms and grounds and building maintenance, cost of printed brochures, then tell me how much $$ left from the costly visitor center. They will get more money building a very needed paid parking of several floors up in Flagler Beach than this visitor center. Waste of money…Is just one more castle to themselves in our pockets! Of course voted yes by Mr. Klufas too, ill representing the City of Palm Coast in the TDC board. Then they will try to name it to one of themselves too for legacy…while depleting the TDC reserves that coukd be used for much better needs.
Gail Downs says
This is one of the worst ideas the TDC has come up with yet.
We are Not Orlando, Thank the good Lord for that. We moved here from Daytona Beach area 25 years ago to get away from that kind of thinking.
Ask people visiting, what brings you here? Answer is almost always, visiting family, visiting friends, or on our way south, on our way north, but the beach! The beach is our strongest selling point, an our tourism dollars should be spent on enhancing the beach. Think about the new pier being built. How about a beautiful boardwalk for people to walk on and Enjoy? Think about other beachside communities and their boardwalks. How about safety when swimming, Lifeguards, parking lots.
How about something that enhances our area?
THINK people, please.
Dredging sand to rebuild the beach is also a terrible idea, but that may be a different letter for another time.
The first few storms to hit it and that sand will be gone.
Better to think about where to relocate A1A, and redesign the coastline.