HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.20.2003• •
COUNCIL WORK SESSION
October 20, 2003
4:30 p.m.
Council Chambers
Members present: Mayor Rooff, Kincaid, Welper, Clark, Jordan, Hurley, Getty.
Members absent: Greenwood.
Moved by Jordan, seconded by Welper that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Six.
Absent: Greenwood. Motion carried.
Michelle Weidner, Chief Financial Officer, reviewed the requests received for the council's
discretionary hotel/motel funds. The current balance in the hotel/motel tax discretionary fund is
$82,712.37. If the airport is awarded $6,000.00 that has been requested and forwarded to the full
council, the remaining balance is $76,712.37. The following funding requests have been
received from the following agencies:
Award
Request FYE02
Waterloo Jaycees — Fireworks Festival $ 5,000 $ 3,000
Waterloo Jaycees — Waterloo Open $ 10,000 $10,000
Waterloo Youth Hockey Association $ 2,500 None
Waterloo Police Department $ 25,000 None
Iowa Open ??? $25,000
National Cattle Congress $ 30,000 $13,000
Waterloo Community Playhouse $ 20,000 $13,000
Grout Museum $ 7,000 $20,000
Airport Marketing $ 6,000 0
Five Sullivan Brothers Re -opening $ 3,400 0
Folklife Festival $ 10,000 0
Total Requests $118,900 $84,000
The city is not expected to receive addition hotel/motel funds until approximately March 2004.
Lou Cutwright, Building Official/Maintenance Administrator, reported the grand re -opening of
the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center will be held on November 13, 2003. The total
budget for the event is $5,400.00. The main purpose of the grand re -opening is to showcase the
Center to potential clients at a luncheon. The cost of the luncheon will be approximately
$2,500.00 to $2,700.00. The Friday evening festivities include a ribbon cutting ceremony and
reception and then the free Navy Band concert. The Ramada Inn will charge its typical fee and
will also be contributing to the event. Martha Place, Executive Director of Waterloo Convention
& Visitors Bureau, reported that community leaders and business leaders are being invited to the
reception to try to recapture some of the business that has been loss over the years. The
Convention & Visitors Bureau will donate $2,000.00 and, Ramada Inn will donate some food
and services, as well as flower arrangements being donated by Flowerama and Petersen Tietz.
Councilperson Hurley commented that given the state of the General Fund Budget and the
State's reduction in revenue, this may be an opportunity to direct funding to city departments
already funded by the city such as the Police and Fire Departments. The state's regulations on
use of hotel/motel taxes says the funds must be used for tourism related events and Gateway
improvements. Councilperson Hurley feels the council should consider the Folklife Festival as
the Cultural & Arts Commission is a city department. Councilperson Hurley stated he feels
charity begins at home, and he supports those organizations in our home as the General Fund
could stand a little boost of its own. Councilperson Hurley stated he feels the discretionary funds
should first serve established city departments and functions. Councilperson Hurley stated he
would like city department heads to look at expenditures already incurred that would allow us to
use hotel/motel funds to cover those expenditures.
Council Work Session
October 20, 2003
Page 2
Mayor Rooff suggested that a council work session be scheduled to review the budget so that we
don't say the city is darn near broke because the city is in better shape than it has been for a few
years. The council can look at the use of hotel/motel funds for city departments at that time.
Councilperson Getty stated that it appears every year the same organizations ask for funding
from the council's discretionary hotel/motel funds. This funding was originally set up if
something came up, the organizations could ask for funding to get them over the hump.
It was the consensus of the council members to continue using the hotel/motel funds as
discretionary funds.
Mayor Rooff asked the council members to review the hotel/motel tax overage chart and
Convention and Visitors Bureau hotel/motel allocations and then hold another work session.
Moved by Jordan, seconded by Getty that the request of the Building Official/Maintenance
Administrator for $3,400.00 discretionary hotel/motel funds for the grand re -opening of the Five
Sullivan Brothers Convention Center be approved and placed on the October 27, 2003 council
agenda. Ayes: Six. Absent: Greenwood. Motion carried.
Councilperson Hurley stated that we have reduced the Center For The Arts and Library hours
and the Police Department is looking for funding, and why not look at our own house first.
Councilperson Hurley stated it is not his intention to do away with discretionary funding, but just
philosophically look at funding city depaitiiients before other organizations.
Cammie Scully, Executive Director of Cultural & Arts Commission, suggested that her request
for $10,000 for the Folklife Festival could be split with $5,000 from this year's funds and $5,000
from next year's funds.
With no further business before the council, it was moved by Getty, seconded by Welper that the
meeting be adjourned at 4:54 p.m. Ayes: Six. Absent: Greenwood. Motion carried.
Nancy Eckert
City Clerk
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