HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/15/2011 - Joint Minutes City CouncilMINUTES OF THE JOINT MEETING WITH
THE CITY OF BRYAN, BRAZOS COUNTY,
CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU,
AND THE COLLEGE STATION CITY COUNCIL
AUGUST 15, 2011
STATE OF TEXAS §
COUNTY OF BRAZOS §
Present:
Nancy Berry
Council:
Blanche Brick
Jess Fields, absent
Karl Mooney
Katy-Marie Lyles, absent
Julie Schultz
Dave Ruesink
Citv Staff:
David Neeley, City Manager
Frank Simpson, Deputy City Manager
Sherry Mashburn, City Secretary
l.. Call to Order and Announce a Ouorum is Present
With a quorum present, the Joint Meeting with the City of Bryan, Brazos County, Convention
and Visitors Bureau, and the College Station City Council was called to order at 9:45 a.m. on
Monday, August 15, 2011 at the College Station Hilton, 801 University Dr. East, College
Station, Texas 77842.
2. Presentation and discussion re2ardin2 the "Bryan-College Station Destination
Development Report" and associated recommendations.
Scott Joslove discussed the use of local hotel occupancy tax (HOT). This is a restrictive law, and
cannot be used for just any public purpose. Expenditures must fit in one of several specific
categories; it is statutorily mandated that HOT must promote convention and visitor programs.
These categories include:
1. Convention or visitor center: over 50% of the usage needs to be for conventions and
meetings involving tourists
2. Registration of convention delegates
3. Advertising and promotion, must spend at least 117th of funds received
JM081511 Minutes Page I.
4. Promotion of the arts, cannot just be a local event; the cap is 15% of funds received
5. Historical restoration and preservation, cap of 50% of funds received
6. Tourist wayfinding signage
7. Shuttles between convention center and area hotels
8. Sporting related events and infrastructure improvements (the amount spent on
improvements cannot exceed the hotel revenue generated in five years)
Sarah Page and Penny Ray, with Indigo Resource Group, presented the results of their study on
the best use of hotel occupancy tax. The seven executive summary recommendations are as
follows:
I . The City of College Station should adopt a new funding strategy that releases its current
occupancy tax reserves and award future collections entirely to organizations that meet
state occupancy tax law requirements and demonstrate a healthy return-on-investment.
2. Reserve funding should be allocated to the CVB for the collection of research to track
visitor speeding, point of origin, length of stay and other relevant data.
3. Reserve funding should be allocated to create and implement a way-finding master plan.
4. An investment should be made in utilization of technology to promote Bryan-College
Station to potential business and leisure travelers and enhance their visitor experience.
5. The current "Rewards Program" should be expanded to create immediate opportunities
for group business in both the convention and sports markets.
6. Funding an additional CVB staff person to create and implement strategies for cross-
promotion, cooperative advertising, stakeholder information sharing and product
development.
7. Adoption of a clear, easy-to-use and compare, occupancy tax funding request process.
A draft Hotel Tax Fund Expenditure Grant Application Packet was provided, and input from the
stakeholders was requested. The entities were requested to agree to a grant funding process that
is transparent and easy to understand. It was stressed that the CVB is not asking for funds to be
released to them, but rather asking that the fiends be released to those organizations that meet
state occupancy tax law requirements. They want the process to be more efficient and
accountable.
3. Adiournment
MOTION: There being no further business, the Joint Meeting with the City of Bryan, Brazos
County, Convention and Visitors Bureau, and College Station City Council was adjourned at
11:50 a.m. on Monday, August 15, 2011.
Nancy Berry, Mayor
ATTEST:
Sherry Mash6m, City Secretary
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