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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-04-10 Budget Committee Minutes BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 10, 2008-PAGE 1 OF 3 Economic and Cultural Grant Allocations Draft Minutes April 10, 2008 7pm Civic Center, Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street CALL TO ORDER The Citizen’s Budget Subcommittee meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm on April 10, 2008 in Council Chambers at 1175 East Main Street, Ashland Oregon. ROLL CALL Committee members Chapman, Douma, Navickas, Silbiger, Stebbins, Hartzell, and Everson were present, Heimann was absent. STAFF PRESENT: LEE TUNEBERG, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES/ FINANCE DIRECTOR BRYN MORRISON, ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE COMMITTEE DISCUSSION The Committee was asked to provide their proposed allocation and the allocations were provided for all present to view. See attached. The Committee discussed the Southern Oregon Visitors Association (SOVA). It was identified that they are a non profit organization that receives 1% of the lodging tax from the State. The Committee discussed how they developed their allocations. It was suggested in the future that the City will need to help these organizations determine the return on the investment from the City’s funding. The Committee members spoke of allocating based on the largest impact for the dollars awarded and trying to keep the allocations diverse. The Committee members voiced that the current Resolution helped them to allocate the funds better than past Resolutions had. The Committee discussed whether or not they should be granting funds year after year to organizations or whether they should grant organizations for start up costs. It was encouraged for the City to look at working with SOVA and the grantees that applied to combine resources to market Ashland. Attendance, dues, capacity, uniqueness, past investment, and diversity were all criteria that were used in the Committee’s discussion of the allocations. The Committee discussed the possible increase in the Transient Occupancy Tax and that Council will have to determine how those funds are used. ALLOCATIONS Southern Oregon Concert Band- This is not a reoccurring grant request, they provide multiple concerts, and do not have a high level of contribution. Nuwandart- They have a minimal children’s program, not clear what they wanted to do, they are diverse, and good family friendly Halloween event. Youth Symphony- They have withstood test of time, reliable long term, they should look for sponsors, and are imbedded in the schools. BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 10, 2008-PAGE 2 OF 3 St. Clair Productions- They have come along nicely. Oregon Stage Works- They are pretty successful as a business and would be fine without receiving the funding. Ashland Bed and Breakfast Network- They receive marketing through the Chamber already, want to promote home grown businesses, and work with SOVA. Siskiyou Singers- The members need to contribute more in dues. Ballet Rogue- Successful and the people will contribute when they can. Ashland Galllery- Cornerstone, the Taste of Ashland gets people out and promotes the downtown, and the administrative costs are too high. Public Arts Commission- They are not authorized yet, do not have the permit needed yet. Jefferson Center- Diverse and audiences are small. Ashland Independent Film Festival- They are performing well but at what point will they no longer need funding from the City. They need to begin to seek other sponsorship; they are an economic powerhouse and leading the way in independent media. Repertory Singers- Need to talk to Oregon Shakespeare Festival and can the City Council direct OSF in their use of funding. Ashland Artisan Gallery- They help artists to create businesses. The grant was unclear of what they wanted. Lithia Arts Guild- They may be able to charge admission and the potential for funding is not being tapped. Peacehouse- The Committee felt it was a powerful event, however due to the limited funding, did not grant. Scienceworks- They draw families to Ashland and enhance the livability in Ashland. THRIVE- They are a strong economic development organization and provide for the common person’s needs. Multicultural Association- They have done well with the little bit of money they have had, there is potential for growth. Artwork Enterprises- They are very careful with their money and they have only asked now because they are in need. Hartzell ms to give $2,500 to the Ashland Bed and Breakfast Network. Motion died due to lack of second. Silbiger/Chapman ms to give $5,000. Motion passed 5 yes, 2 no. Navickas/Chapman ms to give $2,500 to Dancing People. Motion passed 6 yes, 1 no. Silbiger/Hartzell ms to give $0 to the Southern Oregon Concert Band. Motion failed 5 no, 2 yes. Navickas/Douma ms to give $2,500 to Nuwandart. Motion failed 5 no, 2 yes. The Committee discussed taking the three highest allocations and reducing. Douma/Stebbins ms that an equal amount be reduced from AIFF, Scienceworks, and THRIVE to reduce the allocation by $1,300. BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 10, 2008-PAGE 3 OF 3 Navickas/Hartzell amended the motion to include the Ashland Gallery Association. Douma/Stebbins accepted amendment. Amendment failed 4 no, 3 yes. Motion passed 4 yes, 3 no. Douma/Chapman ms to accept the allocations as presented on the projector. Motion passes 6 yes, 1 no. FEEDBACK ON PROCESS The Committee discussed the need for the City to see a return on their investment. The City should look at ways to identify how the funds are used more accurately and encourage applications to speak to it at the next process. The City also needs to look at the return on investment from the funds granted to the Chamber and how they could work with SOVA. It was suggested to look at Economic Development of the City more closely in the future. It was suggested to ask the grantees to provide the actual numbers, not percentages of people on the demographic page of the application. The front two pages of the application will be photocopied front to back, a logic model will be provided for the applicants to complete, and only one copy of the 990 will be asked for from the City and retained on file along with any audits that may be submitted. This meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Bryn Morrison Account Representative