12/13/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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. and promote the tourist/convention business. He felt the way for coor- dination in this effort was to establish a committee which can consider e various ways to coordinate and decide on priorites which are complimentary. Commissioner Wood was thanked for his presentation before the Council. Manager said one basic concern was what organizational arrangement would ensure the City's interests being protected with respect to convention activities. He suggested that perhaps being under the head of one poli- tical board would not be the best assurance. Dean Bumgartner, Director of the Civic Center, said the primary concern of all involved parties is the non-biased disbursement and use of the funds. The process of collecting the existing transient room tax funds and the intergovernmental disbursement of these funds is well established. Of primary concern is the assignment of the additional one percent tax increase to the Fair Board Fund 21 by the proposed County ordinance, and the failure of the proposed ordinance in defininq how these monies will be used and the governing body which will be charged with determining who the" user will be. Since the room tax funds are collected on a county-wide' basis, it is necessary the disbursing body ensure the funds are used to benefit the entire county and not just one facility or one area. Further, the primary source areas for the collection of these funds must be the primary recipients of the benefits from the use of the funds in promoting convention business and tourist activities. He said, in general terms the most frequently used method for achieving the above-stated end product in other jurisdictions is usually a nongovernmental body which is established specifically to engage in promotion and solicitation of tour- e ism activity, convention business, and related activities. A board of directors representing the hotel/motel industry, tourist business, public convention and entertainment facilites, the general public, and appropriate governmental bodies, becomes the policy-making entity for the organization. A professional staff is hired and charged with the responsibility of per- forming within the policy guidelines established by the board. A govern- mental or intergovernmental agency is established to receive and disburse the room tax funds to the approved entity. He felt this would be the best approach to achieving parity in fund usage and achieving maximum desired impact from these monies. He suggested that the International Association of Conventions and Busi- ness Bureau in Champaign, Illinois be contacted for advice and counsel on the procedure. This organization can provide consultants and assis- tance in establishing and operating a visitor and convention activity for this area. Don Mason, Manager, Eugene Chamber of Commerce, said his group was con- cerned because it appears there will be three possible room tax increases: (1) The City; (2) the State; and (3) the County. He felt these increases may put Eugene to an unfair disadvantage with other cities. He said the fair ground efforts are more trade-show oriented, and do not always generate a great number of room sales. The Convention Bureau of the Chamber is more concerned about the total commununity. 12/13/78 - 6 e ",