HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.26.2002 (2)• •
COUNCIL WORK SESSION
August 26, 2002
4:15 p.m.
Council Chambers
Members present: Mayor Rooff, Berry, Welper, Greenwood, Clark, Jordan, Hurley, Getty.
Moved by Jordan, seconded by Berry that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Seven.
Motion carried.
Requests received for hotel/motel discretionary funds were reviewed.
Michelle Weidner, Chief Financial Officer, stated that half of $500,000 received in hotel/motel
taxes is allocated to the Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau, $150,000 for maintenance at
the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center and $100,000 is allocated by the Convention &
Visitors Advisory Board to non-profit organizations. Ms. Weidner stated that it will likely be the
third or fourth quarter before the city receives additional hotel/motel funds that would be
allocated to the council's discretionary account.
Funding requests have been received in the total amount of $100,000, and the current balance of
discretionary funds is $69,243.35. There also is $28,300 available that the Waterloo Convention
and Visitors Bureau recommended that the city use to upgrade the sound system at the Five
Sullivan Brothers Convention Center.
The request from Metro Taxi, Inc. for $10,000 discretionary hotel/motel tax funds was discussed.
Metro Tax, Inc. is a for -profit commercial entity. It was the consensus of the council that the
discretionary hotel/motel funds would not be allocated to for -profit organizations.
Council Members reviewed the following requests for hotel/motel discretionary funds:
Grout Museum $30,000
Waterloo Community Playhouse $20,000
Waterloo Youth Hockey Association
National Cattle Congress $20,000
Waterloo Jaycees - July 4, 2002 Fireworks $ 5,000
Waterloo Jaycees - Waterloo Open $15,000
The Waterloo Youth Hockey Association did not submit a specific dollar amount.
Councilperson Getty stated he feels that the funds should be used to put heads on beds as that is
where they money comes from.
Councilperson Clark stated that they are all good programs, but the 4th of July fireworks probably
does not put heads on beds. Councilperson Clark stated he supports the request from the
National Cattle Congress as they are fixing up buildings which can be seen from Highway 218.
Councilperson Hurley stated that the Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau has suggested that
the city look at criteria other than just heads on beds. Councilperson Hurley stated that the Grout.
Museum would not need $30,000 all at one time.
Mayor Rooff suggested that the council not allocate all the discretionary funds at this time as we
may have later requests.
Councilperson Jordan suggested that the council allocate a percentage to each request. Mayor
Rooff suggested that each organizations be allocated 67 percent of their request for a total of
$59,000 leaving a balance in the discretionary funds for later requests.
Moved by Getty, seconded by Jordan that each organization be allocated 67 percent of their
request for hotel/motel discretionary funds.
Prior to a vote on the above motion, the following comments were heard.
Council Work Session
August 26, 2002
Page 2
Councilperson Getty commented that some of the organizations do not put heads on beds.
Councilperson Berry stated she thought the council all agreed to look at quality of life.
Councilperson Getty called for the question. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
Following comments a vote was taken on the original motion with the following result. Ayes:
Five. Nays: Clark, Getty. Motion carried.
Councilperson Berry suggested that the council needs to decide if the criteria should be heads on
beds, quality of life or both.
Mayor Rooff stated that he will be appointing an Ad Hoc Committee to review applications for
the $100,000 hotel/motel grant funds.
With no further business before the council, it was moved by Getty, seconded by Clark that the
meeting be adjourned at 4:45 p.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
Nancy Eckert
City Clerk
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