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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.24.2002• COUNCIL WORK SESSION October 24, 2002 8:00 a.m. Council Chambers Members present: Berry, Welper, Clark, Hurley, Getty. Members absent: Greenwood, Jordan. Moved by Berry, seconded by Welper that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Five. Absent: Greenwood, Jordan. Motion carried. Items that have been placed on the council agenda of Monday, October 28, 2002, were discussed with Department Heads who have items on the agenda. Items discussed included: 1. Discussed roof project at Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center and the need for a change order. If a build up roof, do not need a walkway path. If a single ply roof, need to have a walkway path. 2. Vision Iowa funding. With no further business before the council, it was moved by Clark, seconded by Berry that the meeting be adjourned at 8:26 a.m. Ayes: Five. Absent: Greenwood, Jordan. Motion carried. Nancy Eckert City Clerk • • COUNCIL WORK SESSION October 24, 2002 8:30 a.m. Council Chambers Members present: Berry, Welper, Clark, Hurley, Getty. Members absent: Greenwood, Jordan. Moved by Berry, seconded by Clark that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Five. Absent: Greenwood, Jordan. Motion carried. The council reviewed the hotel/motel ordinance and the process for allocation of funds. Councilperson Getty stated that an Ad Hoc Committee has met several times in the past month. The reason for this work session is it is important to get council approval in order to get the application out for the organizations to go through the process. Martha Place, Executive Director of the Convention & Visitor's Bureau, reviewed the timeline for the application process. The goal is to bring a recommendation to the council in January. Ms. Place stated that Mayor Rooff appointed an ad hoc committee, which included council members, business owners, Main Street Waterloo and Convention & Visitors Bureau board members. The ad hoc committee has been meeting since September 2002 to discuss the process. Ms. Place reviewed the following changes to Sec. 33 3/4-18(d) of the hotel/motel ordinance: The revenue derived from any hotel and motel tax authorized by this article shall be used as follows: 1. Fifty (50) percent to the Waterloo Convention and Visitor's Bureau for the promotion of tourism. 2. Twenty (20) percent, or a minimum of $150,000, to the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center. 3. Ten (10) percent to the City Council for discretionary purposes. 4. Twenty (20) percent to recreation, culture, conventions, entertainment. Ms. Place stated it has been asked if this allocation will make it hard to plan, or what happens if revenue lags. Ms. Place stated she personally feels when running an organization you usually know by fourth quarter what is happening with revenues. Ms. Place stated that 70 percent of tax revenues goes for "heads on beds." If 70 percent goes for "heads on beds", the ad hoc committee felt we could be more flexible and less cranky about the other 30 percent and look at quality of life events. Councilperson Welper asked that with all the money going into the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center, should the city still have to spend so much at the center. Councilperson Getty stated that things continue to come up that need to be purchased such as furniture, kitchen items, etc. Ms. Place reviewed proposed changes to the application form. The maximum amount that can be requested has been increased from $7,500 to $10,000. The organization must be a not -for - profit qualified under IRS Section 501c. No more than two applications per organization will be considered. The program is designed to stimulate interest and participation in events and projects and not designed to supplement daily operating budgets. Projects should bring visitors to the Waterloo area, not just for the fiscal year but the long term. Projects that fall under the following categories will be considered: recreation, culture, convention and entertainment. Ms. Place reviewed the fundable and non fundable items. Ms. Place reviewed the general instructions for the grant application. The grant application has been streamlined. Hotel/motel funds cannot be the sole source of funding. Organizations must have other funding. Council Work Session October 24, 2002 Page 2 Grant moneys will be distributed in four quarterly payments, unless prior arrangements are made with the City of Waterloo Finance Department. All grant recipients must provide a final report within 60 days of the completion of the project to the Waterloo Convention and Visitors Bureau. Ms. Place stated that the maximum amount was raised to $10,000 because capital improvements has been added as a fundable item and they usually have a higher cost. Councilperson Hurley stated that hopefully with this change there will be a higher quality of applications. Ms. Place stated that council members discussed some type of application for the discretionary funds. The ad hoc committee also discussed establishment of an endowment fund and are waiting to gather information. Councilperson Getty asked that the ordinance change be placed on the October 28, 2002 council agenda. With no further business before the council, it was moved by Berry, seconded by Hurley that the meeting be adjourned at 9:00 a.m. Ayes: Five. Absent: Greenwood, Jordan. Motion carried. Nancy Eckert City Clerk • •