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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.28.2002March 28, 2002 The Council of the City of Waterloo, Iowa, met in Special Session at City Hall Council Chambers, Waterloo, Iowa, at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 28, 2002. Mayor John R. Rooff in the Chair. Roll Call: Berry, Welper, Greenwood, Jordan, Hurley, Getty, Clark. 116702 - Jordan/Welper that the Agenda, as proposed, for the Special Session on Thursday, March 28, 2002, at 8:30 a.m., be accepted and approved. Ayes: Six. Absent: Clark. Motion carried. 116703 - Jordan/Getty that copies of the Call be received and placed on file. Ayes: Six. Absent: Clark. Motion carried. Clark now present at 8:34 a.m. 116704 - Mayor Rooff stated that the Special Session was being held to approve allocation of hotel/motel funds and asked for comments from council members. Councilperson Getty stated that the Waterloo Convention & Visitors Board's recommendation is for total funding in the amount of $76,200, which includes $4,500 for the Waterloo Open, and leaves $23,800 unspent hotel/motel tax funds. Councilperson Getty recommended the council approve the list from the Convention & Visitors Bureau and add the remaining $23,800 to the council's discretionary funds. The council's discretionary funds currently total $57,564 plus $23,800 brings the discretionary hotel/motel funds total to $81,364. Councilperson Getty recommended the following organizations receive funding from the council's discretionary hotel/motel funds: Street Flags Iowa Open Metropolitan Tennis Association Waterloo Municipal Band $ 5,000 $15,000 $ 5,000 $20,000 Funding the above organizations totals $45,000, which would leave a balance of $36,364 in council discretionary funds. Councilperson Hurley stated he agrees mostly with Councilperson Getty, and he strongly agrees with approving the Convention & Visitors Board' recommendation of allocation of funds. Councilperson Hurley stated he would like the remaining $23,800 to stay with the Convention & Visitors Bureau to be allocated proportionately to all the organizations that received approval for funding. This would give some organizations the full amount. Councilperson Hurley stated the Iowa Open withdrew their requests for funding, but the council could use its discretionary funds for the Iowa Open. Councilperson Hurley stated he would like to move ahead with this year's funding, but would like discussions to be held on the criteria that will be used next year. Martha Place, Executive Director of the Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau, stated that the Board makes a recommendation to the council, but the council can disburse the funds as it sees fit. Ms. Place stated a new piece of information is the council is looking at remodeling the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center, including a new sound system. Originally the Convention & Visitors Bureau had recommended that the remaining amount be put towards a new sound system at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center. Ms. Place stated everyone agrees we have to visit the guidelines and make the funding more equitable, especially for sporting events. Councilperson Greenwood stated he agrees with Councilperson Hurley. The council charged the Convention & Visitors Bureau with coming up with a recommendation, and it is not the council's place to step on their toes. Councilperson Greenwood stated he would like to see tennis, soccer, flags and the Waterloo Open funded. Councilperson Welper stated he agrees with the Convention & Visitors Bureau's recommendation. Councilperson Berry stated she would like to go ahead and approve the recommendation of the Convention & Visitors Bureau, but that the council needs to look at the guidelines for next year. Michelle Weidner, Chief Financial Officer, reported that she wrote a memo to the council on March 18, 2002 informing them that they would have $57,500 discretionary funds available after the third quarter payment. The council will receive an additional amount in June. March 28, 2002 Page 2 Councilperson Berry stated she would like the additional $23,800 to be put towards the purchase of a new sound system for the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center. Mayor Rooff responded that the purchase of the sound system would be covered under the Capital Equipment Program. Getty/Jordan that "Resolution approving the Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau recommendation of allocation of funds in the amount of $76,200 of hotel/motel funds", be adopted. Prior to a vote on the above motion, the following comments were heard. Paul Huting, Leisure Services Open's application for funding Mr. Huting stated he realized using the funding for marketing Director, reported that he withdrew the Iowa because they did not meet the rules as stated. the Iowa Open could not meet the criteria of and advertising outside Black Hawk County. Ms. Place stated if the council combines the remaining $23,800 with the council's discretionary funds, the council could decide to fund the Iowa Open. The Iowa Open would not have to meet the criteria of using the funds for marketing and advertising outside of Black Hawk County. Bob Molinaro stated that the Convention & Visitors Bureau came up with rules and criteria for funding of the hotel/motel tax which do not meet their By -Laws and Articles of Incorporation. The Convention & Visitors Bureau are charged with distribution of the hotel/motel tax funds and defining the rules, and they came up with rules that place more importance on advertising. Mr. Molinaro stated that "destination" is part of the Convention & Visitors Bureau's By - Laws. There is no confusion where the money should go; the only confusion is in the application process and the capped amount of $7,500. The Convention & Visitors Bureau used different criteria for this year's funding, and the Iowa Open did not submit an application because of that criteria. Mr. Molinaro stated that the new criteria puts more weight on advertising than on heads on beds and overnight stays. The maximum amount any organization can receive is $7,500, but the list of allocation has four applications from the Grout Museum, and they got around the $7,500 maximum by saying each application stands on its own. Mr. Molinaro stated it seems to him that the Convention & Visitors Bureau does not want to fund golf as the Waterloo Open was cut back. The golf tournaments are some of the city's best showcases, with between 400 and 500 people staying here over a ten-day period. The Convention & Visitors Bureau feels a lot of these visitors stay at personal homes, but Mr. Molinaro stated that is not true. Mr. Molinaro asked the council to use the $100,000 to promote tourism as it states in the Convention & Visitors Bureau's By -Laws and Articles of Incorporation, or instruct the Convention & Visitors Bureau to use the criteria that has been used in the past. Mr. Molinaro stated a lot of people have worked hard to get the Iowa Open to our city, and it does put heads on beds. Mayor Rooff stated that the Iowa Open will not be forsaken, and he agrees everyone has worked hard to get and keep the Iowa Open in Waterloo. Mayor Rooff stated the council will address the criteria at a later date. Councilperson Clark stated he agrees with Councilperson Getty to approve the Convention & Visitors Bureau Board's recommendation of allocation of the funds and to use the rest of the funds and the council's discretionary funds as Councilperson Getty proposed. Councilperson Clark stated he agrees that sporting events should be included in funding from the hotel/motel tax funds. Councilperson Berry stated she feels the council needs to revisit the guidelines. Councilperson Berry stated she was leaning towards funding for the sound system at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center, but she is flexible. Jay Crisp, a member of the Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau, stated that with the remaining $23,800 being combined with the council's discretionary funds, the Iowa Open could be funded. Mr. Crisp stated it does not make sense to redo the guidelines just before the Convention & Visitors Bureau is going to meet with the council to create new guidelines. Mr. Crisp stated that the current guidelines were developed with input from two former council members and the Convention & Visitors Board. Mr. Crisp stated he feels it is important that organizations wanting funding not be allowed to have a member on the Ad Hoc Committee that will look at the new guidelines. Councilperson Jordan stated that he feels the council should approve the Convention & Visitors Bureau's list, and he supports Councilperson Getty's list. • • March 28, 2002 • • Page 3 Don Hoth stated that he was at the meeting to request funding for the Iowa Open. Mr. Hoth reported that the Iowa Open has had to raise $50,000 each year. Mr. Hoth stated that everyone has worked hard to have the Waterloo Open and the Iowa Open back to back for two weeks. People come to our city and stay, and last year visitors from 23 states and 3 foreign countries attended the tournaments. Mr. Hoth stated that Councilperson Getty has suggested that $15,000 of the council discretionary funds be allocated for the Iowa Open, but he would like the council to consider committing $25,000 to the Iowa Open. Two sponsors have withdrawn from the Iowa Open, and a $25,000 bonus is offered to anyone who wins both the Waterloo Open and the Iowa Open. Mr. Hoth asked the council to please consider funding the Iowa Open for $25,000 as this event brings in more visitors than any event except the Two Cylinder Club. Ken Shawl, Golf Pro for Sunnyside Country Club, stated that the Iowa Open and the Waterloo Open have been back to back for three years. Mr. Shawl gave a history of the Iowa Open. The Iowa Open has been featured in the Golf Magazine and the Des Moines Register. Mr. Shawl asked the council to support the Iowa Open. Mr. Molinaro asked the council to consider increasing funding for My Waterloo Days and the National Cattle Congress to $7,500. Councilperson Hurley stated he could live with Councilperson Getty's recommendation. Councilperson Hurley stated that when the organizations applied last fall, there were rules and policy in place, and none of the applicants were denied funding. Councilperson Hurley asked the council to allocate the remaining $23,800 to entities already approved for funding. Mayor Rooff stated that it did not use to be this way. The council accepted the Convention & Visitors Bureau's recommendation and used their discretionary funds for other requests as they came in Following comments a vote was taken on the above motion with the following result. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2002-172. 116705 - Mayor Rooff stated that the council has about $81,000 in discretionary hotel/motel funds and asked the council to discuss allocation of those funds. Councilperson Jordan stated he agrees with Councilperson Getty's recommendation of allocation of discretionary hotel/motel funds. Councilperson Berry stated that with the success of the Iowa Open, she would have no problem recommending $25,000 for the Iowa Open. Councilperson Hurley stated he feels the council should have guidelines for allocation of the discretionary funds. Hurley/Berry that "Resolution approving funding in the amount of $5,000 for flags, $25,000 for Iowa Open, and $20,000 for the Municipal Band using the council's discretionary hotel/motel funds", be adopted. Prior to a vote on the above motion, the following comments were heard. Mayor Rooff stated that the council can back a recommendation. Councilperson Greenwood stated that the start tournaments in June. Councilperson appropriations for the Metropolitan Tennis Greenwood/Jordan review the other requests and bring tennis season is upon us, and they Greenwood stated he feels the $5,000 Association should be included. that the above motion be amended to include $5,000 funding for the Metropolitan Tennis Association. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 116706 Councilperson Hurley stated he feels the Grout Museums' request for additional funding of discretionary funds in the amount of $30,000 should be included in the original motion. The Grout Museum would use the funds for the Five Sullivan Brothers Museum and Veterans Museum. Councilperson Hurley stated he feels this would show other funding sources that the city is behind the Grout Museum. Page 4 March 28, 2002 Hurley that the original motion be amended to include funding in the amount of $30,000 for the Grout Museum. The motion died for lack of a second. A vote was taken on the original motion with the amendment to include $5,000 funding for the Metropolitan Tennis Association with the following result. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by the Mayor assigned No. 2002-173. 116707 - Getty/Hurley that the council adjourn at 9:30 a.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Nand' Eckert City Clerk • •