03/14/1983 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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M I NUT E S - Eugene City Council City Council Chamber March 14, 1983 7:30 p.m. PRESENT: John Ball, Richard Hansen, Freeman Holmer, Mark Lindberg, Brian Obie (commencement to 8:25 p.m.), Emily Schue, Betty Smith, Cynthia Wooten. Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Eugene, Oregon, was called to order by His Honor Mayor Gus Keller. Mayor Keller reminded councilors of the Irish Festival Parade, to be held on March 17. Following a suggestion from Councilor Smith, it was agreed that Council Administrator Patrick Lynch would coordinate council participation in the parade. I. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Code Amendment Increasing the Eugene Transient Room Tax (memo, ordinance, resolution, additional information distributed) - City Manager Michea1 Gleason introduced Assistant City Manager David Whitlow. Mr. Whitlow said that the council would be considering two items: a change from the present three-percent Transient Room Tax to a four-percent tax and a change in the allocation of tax receipts to allocate that additional one-percent to promotion of convention and tourism. Mr. Whitlow said that the Room Tax Sub- committee had endorsed this proposal. He noted that the Lane County Commissioners were considering a proposal to increase the room tax by one percent, with the proceeds derived from each incorporated area being returned to that jurisdiction. He said that the County's proposal, if adopted, would not be effective until July 1, 1983. - Public hearing was opened. Michael Hartnett, Eugene-Springfield Convention and Visitors' Bureau, said that the members of the bureau believe that the proposed one-percent increase and allocation to promotion of convention and tourism would generate more occupancy in Eugene and would thus generate more revenues into the Room Tax Fund to be used for support of the Hult Center and local arts organizations. He felt that the City's proposal complements the proposal currently being debated by the County. He noted that if Eugene adopted the proposed ordinance and resolution now, funds could be available to the bureau by April, but that, under the County's proposal, funds would not be available until at least July 1983. Mr. Hartnett discussed the recent work of the bureau and said that the bureau had prepared a tour and travel package and brochure to promote visits to the area by individual tourists and noted that this was the first time such an effort had been made for Eugene-Springfield. He said that the bureau would use the additional funds generated by the proposed one-percent increase for such things as additional advertising, making personal sales calls, entering the MINUTES--Eugene City Council March 14, 1983 Page 1 iiIIf