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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.14.2000 (2)COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 14, 2000 5:30 p.m. Council Chambers Members present: Mayor Rooff, Anders, Jordan, Krizek, Murphy, Gronen, Getty, Berry. Moved by Jordan, seconded by Murphy that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Aye: Seven. Motion carried. Mayor Rooff stated that the purpose of the meeting is to review the hotel/motel tax recommendation from the Waterloo Convention & Visitor's Bureau. Linda Gowdy, Chairperson of the CVB Board, stated that the CVB receives $250,000 from the hotel/tax fund each year and makes recommendation to the council. The Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center receives $150,000 and the CVB reviews the applications and makes recommendation on the remaining $100,000. Ms. Gowdy stated that there were 16 applicants to divide the $100,000 and no one received what they requested. Ms. Gowdy stated that there was not a single organization that made an application for grant money that was not a good organization, that was not deserving of some money. Ms. Gowdy sated that they felt they were operating in good faith and made the best decision with the information they had. Ms. Gowdy stated that they have formed a committee to clarify and devise more specifications and clear rules regarding the applications so that everyone is comfortable with what is required during the application process. Ms. Gowdy noted that whittling the grant applications to the final recommendation was not easy, and it was made even more difficult because this is an inexperienced CVB Board that did not have time to set a clear direction for the future. Ms. Gowdy stated three of the applications were not recommended for funding because they did not meet the criteria. The City of Waterloo Welcome Sign application was received past deadline, the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony did not attach a budget to each application, and Hartman Nature Reserve Center did not include a budget or proof of tax-exempt status. Deadline and criteria are outlined in the grant application process. Ms. Gowdy asked the council how specific should they be and does the council want CVB to follow rules, which they did for the three recommended for denial. Ms. Gowdy requested direction from the council. Ms. Gowdy stated that they have created a sub committee and they would like more specific information on how organizations will spend the money. Ms. Gowdy stated that they use "generate overnight stops." Mayor Rooff stated that he feels CVB needs guidelines, and the council would like to understand the history, look at the need. Mayor Rooff stated that the city hasn't tinkered with CVB's recommendation too much, but this year we should look at this and let this be a learning experience. Mayor Rooff stated that the city always supports arts and cultural events. Councilperson Murphy stated that he was concerned about the Cedar Valley Soccer Association and asked if they will be open this summer or is this just for additional brick and mortar. Councilperson Murphy noted that brick and mortar are not supposed to be used for this. Martha Place, Executive Director of CVB, stated that this is where some of the confusion came. Ms. Place stated that at every convention and meeting, they ask how many people are you bringing into town. Councilperson Anders noted that soccer continues to attract a lot of people to town. Councilperson Murphy stated that when the complex opens then we should look at heads in beds, and that brick and mortar funding should come from somewhere else. Ms. Gowdy stated that it would be simple to help with grant if you said you are using this to bring people into town. Ms. Gowdy stated that we fund the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center, which is brick and mortar. Rebecca Klatt, acting Executive Director for the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony, noted that they were eliminated because they only submitted one copy of the budget rather than the 30 Council Work Session February 14, 2000 Page 2 requested. Ms. Klatt stated that she would hate to think after receiving funding from the city since 1995 that they would be disqualified for reason of a technicality. Ms. Place stated that was one of their questions, that those organizations that apply year after year, do we just give them funding or do we make them show why. Councilperson Krizek stated that the Waterloo Softball Association has been funded for many years, and we give them money to seek bids. Councilperson Krizek commented that you should write the bid documents to make revenue, and asked why don't they have enough left over from the bids each year. Ms. Gowdy stated that they agree, that these programs should not be funded forever, and that hopefully they will lower their requests each year. Ms. Place stated that sporting events and tournaments generate an unbelievable amount of money to the economy. Councilperson Anders stated that he doesn't think you will find another group in here that puts more heads on beds than softball. Ms. Gowdy stated that they want groups not just because of the hotels but also to spend at other places. Most people spend 40 percent at the hotel and 60 percent at other places. Mayor Rooff stated that we have dollars which are very limited, that CVB receives $250,000 to promote Waterloo, and that these dollars should be used by organizations to promote themselves. Ms. Gowdy stated that it makes sense that the money should be used to promote their programs and not bricks and mortar. Mayor Rooff questioned if applicants include the number that will be brought to the city, and Ms. Place stated that some applicants are very explicit and other events just estimate. Councilperson Anders stated that the National Cattle Congress brings a lot of heads to town, yet they only received $3,000.00. Councilperson Anders stated if CVB takes out the brick and mortar and uses heads and beds, it should make their job easier. Cammie Scully, Director of the Waterloo Cultural and Arts Commission, stated that it makes sense to tie grant to marketing. Ms. Scully stated that her concern is lack of balance this time around. Ms. Scully stated that she feels the arts and culture really got short shrift, and she is really sad about the lack of support for arts and culture. Mayor Rooff recommended the council use $25,000 in hotel/motel discretionary funds to increase funding to the Waterloo Community Playhouse form $3,000 to $10,000, raise the Symphony from no funding to $10,000 and Hartman Reserve from no funding to $5,000, and increase the Museum of Art from the $3,000 recommendation to $6,000. It was moved by Murphy, seconded by Anders to add $25,000 council hotel/motel tax discretionary fund to the recommendation by the CVB Board for funding for the above organizations. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Mayor Rooff asked that Councilpersons Krizek, Berry and Anders work with the CVB Board to create a working document for applicants. With no further business before the council, it was moved by Murphy, seconded by Berry that the meeting be adjourned at 6:25 p.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Nancy Eckert City Clerk