Title
RESOLUTION R-1617-35: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, APPROPRIATING $80,000 FROM THE ROOM TAX FUND BALANCE TO BE USED BY THE NORMAN CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU, INC., (NCVB or VISITNORMAN) TO FUND THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF A TOURISM IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT FOR NORMAN HOTELS AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A SPORTS COMMISSION.
Body
BACKGROUND: Pursuant to the Norman City Code, Section 8-521 (et. Seq.), the City Council has established a policy whereby room tax collections are distributed to three organizations to further the aims of the Transient Guest (Hotel/Motel) Room Tax: the Norman Convention and Visitors Bureau, doing business as VisitNorman (50%) for convention and tourism promotion; the Norman Parks Department for parks capital improvement projects (25%); and the Norman Arts Council (25%) for arts and humanities programs. On May 25, 1993, the Council approved contract K-9293-136 with the Norman Convention and Visitors Bureau (NCVB) to administer the portion of the room tax used to attract conventions and other meetings, and to promote visitation of Norman.
The adopted FYE17 budget projects revenue into the Room Tax Fund (23) to be $1,982,750. Using the apportionment set out above, after deducting a 5% administrative fee retained by the City, $940,000 was appropriated for use by Convention / Visitor Bureau (VisitNorman). This appropriation occurred with the adoption of the FYE17 Budget after having received the Scope of Work submitted by VisitNorman during the budget process.
As discussed in the attached memo from VisitNorman Executive Director Dan Schemm, The Board of Directors of VisitNorman has requested an additional appropriation of $80,000 of available Room Tax Fund balance for the planning and development of a Tourism Improvement District for Norman hotels, and for the establishment of a Sports Commission. This request represents an addition to the Scope of Work for fiscal year 2016-2017 that was approved by Co...
Click here for full text