HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/15/1993 Work Session
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City of Springfield
Work Session Council Meeting
MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF
THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, MARCH 15, 1993
The City of Springfield Council met in Work Session in the Springfield City
Hall Meeting Room 2, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, March
15, 1993, at 7:00 p.m., with Mayor Morrisette presiding.
ATTENDANCE
Present were Mayor Morrisette, Councilors Adams, Berg, Walters, Burge and
Schanz. Councilor Maine was absent (excused). Also present were City Manager
Michael Kelly, Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, City Attorney Joe Leahy,
City Recorder Eileen Stein, and members of the staff.
1. Room Tax Allocation Process
Mike Kelly summarized this issue. He indicated that due to the 2% increase
in the metropolitan room tax rate, the city will have more room tax money to
appropriate next fiscal year. This is because the 2% tax rate increase will
be used to fund the operations of the Eugene/Springfield Visitors and
Convention Bureau directly. In the past, the city paid a portion of the
Bureau's budget directly through its share of room tax revenues. This will
create an additional funding capacity of approximately $114,000 in 93/94.
Mr. Kelly noted that traditionally Requests for Proposals have been sought
for community-initiated uses of the city's share of room tax money. This
year, enough uses have been identified that conceivably the RFP process is
not necessary. Staff was asking for Council direction on this issue.
He introduced Susan Daluddung, Development Services Director who presented
the staff report. Ms. Daluddung reported that there will be a total of
$182,118 available for appropriation next year. Again, a significant
portion of this comes from not funding the Convention and Visitors Bureau
contract.
Ms. Daluddung presented a list of proposed uses for the room tax money for
1993/94. She noted that the projects on the list were projects identified
by staff and Council advisory groups. She noted the total list of uses
amounted to $224,721 which is greater than anticipated revenue. She
indicated that traditionally the RFP process is used to provide an
opportunity for community groups to access room tax money for projects that
would generate tourism and overnight stays in Springfield. However, this
year the list of city projects was so extensive that, conceivably, the RFP
process may not be necessary. Projects on the list included the Oregon
Rivers Museum ($50,000 challenge grant), Springfield Museum Permanent
Historic Exhibit ($56,000 challenge grant), Filbert Festival contribution
($13,000), Arts Commission projects ($30,000, including an $15,000 mural
dedicated to the Oregon Trail). Ms. Daluddung stated Council direction was
sought whether to deviate from the RFP process, or whether to continue the
process and compare the list of city projects with whatever proposals were
received. If the decision was made to not go through the RFP process, then
direction was needed on which projects to fund.
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Work Session Minutes
March 15, 1993
Page 2
Councilor Berg asked what the County's policy was on distribution of the
amount of money generated in the current fiscal year from the increase.
Mayor Morrisette replied he had attended a meeting where this was discussed
and it was made clear to him the revenue generated this fiscal year belonged
to the County. He indicated the County would like to develop a working
capital reserve for the Visitors and Convention Bureau, but that anything
above that may be distributed to the cities for use on tourism projects. He
noted he endorsed this approach. The Council discussed how the room tax
money could be used and distributed.
The Council then discussed the projects on the list in the staff report.
Ms. Daluddung noted that many of the projects were previous directives from
the Councilor were ideas generated by the Council's advisory bodies. She
stated that two of the projects, the Oregon Rivers Museum and the
Springfield Museum permanent historic exhibit, had been given much attention
by the Council in the past month. The Council discussed how to commit room
tax money to both projects without breaking their commitment to provide a
challenge grant to either one. Mayor Morrisette suggested a two year
funding commitment could be made for challenge grants, with the
understanding that which ever project met the challenge first would receive
the first year appropriation of room tax money. If both projects met the
challenge the first year, perhaps a loan could be made to the Room Tax Fund
from another fund which would be repaid the next fiscal year.
Mike Kelly suggested the decision about funding projects could be made this
evening or could be incorporated into the budget process. If it was
delayed, the RFP process could be initiated. Council members indicated they
would like to make funding commitments that evening. Mr. Kelly suggested
the Council could make some commitments now but leave an remaining amount
and go through an RFP process. Those projects not committed to would then
be evaluated against any proposals that came out of the RFP process. The
Council discussed these alternatives and decided to forgo the RFP process.
They noted the unusual nature of having such an extensive list of projects
as the reason to forgo the process this year. However, it was understood
that in future years the RFP process would be used again. Mr. Kelly
commented the Council should make funding decisions in the regular meeting
later that evening.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:33 p.m.
Minutes Recorder - Eileen Stein
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