06.10.13 MINUTES - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Regular Council Meeting June 10, 2013 Page 4 in a projected fund balance of $48, 917.48. Ms. Cook said the fund balance would be dedicated to maintenance. Mayor Hashmi wanted to know the total amount of money that the VC &C and Civic Center received from hotel /motel tax. Mr. Anderson said about $475,000 was sent to them this year. A Motion to approve the budgets for Love Civic Center and VC &C was made by Council Member Frierson and seconded by Council Member Grossnickle. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays. 13. Discuss and act on an Agreement between the City of Paris and Lamar County Chamber of Commerce for management of the Municipal Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund. City Attorney Kent McIlyar explained that the Chamber of Commerce maintained a Visitors and Convention Council for the purpose of managing the Municipal Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund to maintain and operate the Love Civic Center and to promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry. He said the Chamber had requested a provision to the agreement which would allow Paris Junior College three free uses of the Love Civic Center each year and that was written in the Agreement. Mr. McIlyar said this was a one year agreement and was automatically renewable unless sixty days written notice of termination was made by either party. Ms. Cook said they would also like to discuss future re- paving of the parking lot. Chamber Chair Elect Eric Roddy presented a slide show of the Civic Center depicting the history of the center and needed maintenance. He said there were approximately 95,000 cars that used the parking lot every year. Mr. Roddy also said the civic center contributed out of their fund reserves around $250,000 to assist in the sports complex pavilion and ball field construction. He asked Council to consider options as to how to address the re- paving of the Civic Center parking lot. Council Member Drake inquired about the costs and Mr. Roddy replied that three or four years ago he thought that it was around $100,000. Chamber Board Chairman Robert High said if there were other projects going on around Collegiate Drive or that area, maybe they could be bound together and it would be cheaper to have both projects done at once. Council Member Frierson said everyone benefitted greatly from having that facility. Mayor Hashmi inquired about the history of the relationship between the Chamber of Commerce and VC &C. Mr. Anderson said the hotel /motel tax could only be spent for certain types of activities, such as promotional. He said at some point, the City made a decision to outsource management of those funds through the Chamber. Mayor Hashmi confirmed that if the City had not had an agreement with the Chamber that the City would have been responsible for maintaining the parking lot and the Civic Center. Mr. Anderson answered in the affirmative. Mayor Hashmi inquired if the Chamber benefitted from continuance of this agreement or if they were just helping out the City. Mr. Roddy answered in the affirmative. He said the Chamber had contracted services with the Civic Center and the VC &C and received $15,000 annually at the Civic Center, and for managing it they received $36,000. Mr. Roddy also said it was critical for the function of the Chamber to be able to manage those entities. He said the groups worked well together and the Chamber offered volunteer services for the events. Mr. High added that they would have been able to re -pave the parking lot had they not expended funds to assist with the pavilion and sports complex. Council Member Wright inquired if this arrangement was legal. City Attorney Kent McIlyar answered in the affirmative. Council Member Frierson confirmed that the parking lot