04/14/1975 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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W. Legislarion, Special Disrricrs for TV Translators - Councilman Williams re- ported that research indicated the proposed legislation (H. B.2651) which ",oul.d - provide special taxing districts to finance installation of TV translator systems would have no impact on rhe cd. ty' s current investigation regarding . possible translator service in this urban area. He said that adequate authority apparently exists under present legislation ro ~ccomplish thar if ir is de- sired, and there was no reason to further delay expressing the city's position in opposition to rhe legisl~tion. A.-- .,'. Comm 4/9/75 Affirm x. Use of Room Tax Funds - Councilwoman Beal raIsed the question of propriety of continuing to earmark rhe room tax revenues for special purposes. AL- though the types of things for which the funds were being allocated were very worthwhile, she said, it seemed inappropriate to spend money for "candy" ~hen the general city budget situarion was so. tight. She asked for co~en~ from others relative to whether this source of funds would 'betrer be used for general government purposes. Mayor Anderson suggested scheduling the question for a later meeting in, view of the lengthy discussion it was bound ro generate. Assistant, Manager cautioned that these funds as prescribed by charter were to be used for recreational, cultural, and tourist oriented ac,tivities all of which the city now has legal authority to engage in. 'He expressed concern that Council members were viewing these allocations as grants when in reality the city . entered into contractual arrangements for services provided for the'funds expended. It musr be kept in mind, he said, that rhe city is conrracting with the applicants to provide services that the city itself has the power to provide. The Council has the prerogative to set priorities if it feels other services should come first. -~ Councilwoman, Beal said she understood that, but she suggested the issue be taken to the people in order to change the charter provision earmarking these funds specifically for. the auditorium. She said the auditorium was the main purpose for the room tax charter.amendment, but now it was . apparent it would not be buil~. She felt the voters should decide whether the, formula for distributing the funds should be changed and put into the general fund for the "meat and bones" of government. ' Councilman Williams wasn't disagreeing wi th asking the voters what they wanted .to do, but he felt it was within 'the-power of the Council under the present charter provisions t~ authorize recreational, cultural, or tourist type activities through the parks department~ It would be better to use that power rather tha~ going through a charter revision. Mayor Anderson reminded that when the room tax proposal was taken to the voters and in trying to gain hotel/motel operators co-operation, it was understood that the funds derived would be used generally to improve' the occupancy of hotels and motels. That, he said, was pretty much the ob- jective of most of the programs for which the funds had been allocated. He suggested scheduling the issue at another meeting and development of background material for discussion. . It was understood that the use of room tax funds would be scheduled at a future committee meeting. Comm 4/9/75 Affirm e: 4/14/75 - 40 '~.2