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Home My WebLink About2015-04-16 Budget Committee MinutesEconomic, Cultural, Tourism & Sustainability Grants Citizens Budget Sub -Committee MINUTES April 16, 2015, 6:00 PM Civic Center Council Chambers 1175 East Main Street The meeting reconvened at 6:02pm. ROLL CALL Present: David Runkel John Stromberg Rich Rosenthal Pam Marsh Carol Voisin Stefani Seffinger Other Attendees: Lee Tuneberg Finance Director Kristy Blackman Administrative Assistant PUBLIC INPUT Pollinator Project Representative Cara Cruickshank appeared and requested time to present because her vehicle had broken down in California last night and she was unable to make the meeting. She was granted 2 minutes to present. Questions None DISCUSSION Stromberg proposed input from committee members as to how they came arrived at their allocation figures. Runkle asked Tuneberg how we got to the total allocation availability amount and if the increase is reflected in the amount available. Tuneberg answered yes. Runkel asked if there was an increase in the amount allocated and how much was it. Tuneberg responded it went up 5%. Non tourism held flat, tourism went up 19%. • Stromberg noted new organizations applying made worthwhile proposals and he decided to give the minimum amounts to each organization and distribute the remainder of the pot evenly. • Marsh based hers on consistent pillars of the community and then below that was the sub pillars and then considered family and child programs. • Voisin picks institutions who are contributing in many different ways and allocates half to them, and then she looks at the newer presentations and allocates less. Voisin said she feels like she would like to give at least the minimum. • Seffinger gave priority to sustainability and culturally looked at more diversity. She looked less at ones that were for older people except OLLI because of the variety of opportunities available and then allocated more to cultural programs that effected tourism e.g. Art center and gallery association that are year round programs. She also favored youth and more diverse programs. • Rosenthal's objective was to remove the subjectivity; read the applications over 2 weeks and opted to use the scoring sheet. Page 1 of 8 Voisin asked Tuneberg what the total increase in TOT was from last year to this year. Tuneberg responded 26.67%. Tuneberg went over the process of allocation with the subcommittee and explained that the upcoming year's contract will state that the applicant must let the city know if they are going to have an issue with using the allocated amount for tourism, before they sign their contract. ALLOCATIONS Ashland Art Center Marsh suggested rounding to $11,000 • Asked for $25,000 • Average allocation $10,861 • Tentative grant allocation $11,000 • Tentative tourism portion $3,520 Modern Roots Foundation • Asked for $13,000 • Average allocation $5,000 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $5,000 • Tentative tourism portion $500 RV Symphony • Asked for $15,000 • Average allocation $6,165 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $6,165 • Tentative tourism portion $0 Science Works Hands -On Museum Voisin would like to see them get more and commit less in other categories. Agreed to revisit RV Peace Choir Marsh suggested increasing to $5,000 Majority agreed to zero because amount was under $5,000 • Asked for $7,875 • Average Allocation $2,000 • Tentative Grant Allocation $0 OLLI Agreed to zero because amount was under $5,000 • Asked for $17,500 • Average allocation $3,000 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $0 Ashland New Plays Festival Seffinger suggested rounding up to $6,000 Page 2 of 8 • Asked for $25,000 • Average allocation $5,923 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $6,000 • Tentative tourism portion $2,160 Mt Ashland Stromberg encouraged awarding a grant so they have a leadership grant. Rosenthal concerned with land use permits not being ready. Marsh does not believe they are ready. Voisin would like to see a better business plan. Seffinger was concerned about special use permits and amount of debt. Stromberg noted that forest service has issued a directive to facilitate them to survive and have exempted the mountain from having to do environmental studies for these activities however there has been legal fallout from the expansion of the ski area and the litigants are trying to prevent further expansion. • Asked for $50,000 • Average allocation $2,000 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $0 SO Pride • Asked for $10,000 • Average allocation $5,000 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $5,000 • Tentative tourism portion $2,500 SO OR Repertory Singers Agreed to zero because amount was under $5,000 • Asked for $10,000 • Average allocation $1,000 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $0 Ashland Schools Foundation Agreed to zero because amount was under $5,000 • Asked for $5,000 • Average allocation $1,000 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $0 Ashland Independent Film Festival Voisin suggested increasing to $25,000 Agreed to revisit Ashland Bed & Breakfast Voisin would like to increase to $5,000 and noted this is all tourism. Rosenthal suggested coming back to this Agreed to revisit Dancing people • Asked for $11,000 • Average allocation $5,000 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $5,000 Page 3 of 8 • Tentative tourism portion $1,364 Lomakatsi • Asked for $20,000 • Average allocation $12,763 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $12,763 • Tentative tourism portion $0 St. Clair Productions Marsh suggested increasing to $5,000. • Asked for $11,200 • Average allocation $4,000 • Tentative grant allocation $5,000 • Tentative tourism portion $0 Ashland Gallery Association Marsh suggested increasing to $12,000. • Asked for $30,000 • Average allocation $11,837 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $12,000 • Tentative tourism portion $4,800 Thrive Voisin suggested decreasing to $17,000. Agreed to revisit Rogue Valley Farm to School Agreed to revisit Schneider Museum Marsh suggested $5,000. Voisin disagreed, believing that they have other avenues for funding. Stromberg agreed with Marsh, that they do need the money. • Asked for $6,000 • Average allocation $4,000 • Tentative grant allocation $5,000 • All agreed to tentative tourism portion $1,000 Sustainable Valley Technology Voisin believes this is too high because they have major changes in leadership that need to settle down first and suggested lowering to $5,000 • Asked for $25,507 • Average allocation $7,000 • Tentative grant allocation $7,000 • Tentative tourism portion $0 Page 4 of 8 Chamber Music Marsh suggested decreasing to $5,000 • Asked for $10,000 • Average allocation $5,233 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $5,000 • Tentative tourism portion $0 SOU Foundation Marsh noted that while she thinks this is a great program she doesn't believe it promotes tourism. Agreed to zero because amount was under $5,000 • Asked for $5,000 • Average allocation $1,000 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $0 Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon Seffinger suggested increasing to $5,000 • Asked for $8,000 • Average allocation $4,000 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $5,000 • Tentative tourism portion $250 Siskiyou Singers Agreed to zero because amount was under $5,000 • Asked for $6,090 • Average Allocation $1,000 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $0 Treehouse Secret Bookclub Agreed to zero because amount was under $5,000 • Asked for $13,850 • Average Allocation $2,000 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $0 (This was later revisited) Geos Institute Stromberg noted there is an unanswered question that will come up regarding an Add Package that may come up in the budget for a 2 year planning process. There is still uncertainty how these two requests will complement each other. Rosenthal directed a question to Tuneberg noting that this is contingent upon a municipal process and asked if we could we stipulate this in the grant contract. Tuneberg responded they could, however between now and the contract being signed a lot can happen. It was noted that this organization would be tentatively granted funds assuming that Council funds the process it is intended to compliment. Agreed to Revisit SOFaM • Asked for $24,000 • Average allocation $9,461 Page 5 of 8 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $10,000 • Tentative tourism portion $1,250 SO OR Bookkeepers Agreed to zero because amount was under $5,000 • Asked for $10,000 • Average Allocation $0 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $0 Klamath Bird Observatory Voisin suggested increasing to $12,000. Marsh stated if it's in tourism. Agreed to revisit Ashland Supportive Housing Stromberg said he toured the facility and believes this is a nice idea for people in need to get out and do something. Suggested increasing to $5,000. Agreed to revisit Pollinator project Agreed to zero because amount was under $5,000 • Asked for $10,850 • Average Allocation $2,000 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $0 Stories alive Rosenthal suggested increasing to $5,000. Marsh agreed believes she is on the cusp of being stable in her programming. Seffinger agreed. Voisin disagreed. • Asked for $12,000 • Average allocation $3,000 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $5,000 • Tentative tourism portion $0 ALLOCATION OF REMAINING FUNDS TOTALLING $9,875 AND REVISITS: Science Works Hands -On Museum Revisited: When deciding what to do with the remaining unallocated funds at the end of the meeting, Rosenthal expressed he believes Science Works Hands -On Museum should be increased because they have performed well. Marsh suggested adding $2,206 Science Works Hands -On Museum. Tuneberg suggested asking Lindsay if he could spend a total of $20,000 on tourism to which he agreed. This is reflected in the amounts below. • Asked for $48,000 • Average allocation $30,782 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $33,194 • Tentative tourism portion $20,000 Ashland Independent Film Festival Revisited: Page 6 of 8 Voisin later suggested adding $2,206 of remaining funds in the tourism category; this is reflected in the amount below. • Asked for $40,000 • Average allocation $24,048 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $25,000 • Tentative tourism portion $14,834 Ashland Bed & Breakfast Revisited: Marsh suggested allocating $5,000 and phasing out future support because she doesn't believe that the funding is required for advertising for Ashland and that they are promoting the business only and that the income from that should be funding advertising. Voisin disagreed and believes they are promoting Ashland and doesn't want to phase this out. Stromberg asked Marsh if her objection is because it is for profit activities that they are asking money for. • Asked for $29,965 • Average allocation $4,337 • Tentative grant allocation $5,000 • Tentative tourism portion $5,000 Thrive Revisited: Stromberg believes that despite the fact that they are inconspicuous they are providing infrastructure. Voisin suggested increasing to $20,000 • Asked for $40,000 • Average allocation $17,037 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation after re -visit $20,000 • Tentative tourism portion $200 Rogue Valley Farm to School Revisited: Marsh believes this is a great program. Voisin suggested increasing to $10,000 • Asked for $11,000 • Average allocation $8,200 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation after re -visit $10,000 • Tentative tourism portion $2,727 Treehouse Secret Bookclub Revisited: When deciding what to do with the remaining unallocated funds at the end of the meeting, Seffinger suggested allocating $5,000. Seffinger likes the family downtown aspect and believes this could bring more tourism. Marsh Voisin & Stromberg agreed. • Asked for $13,850 • Average Allocation $2,000 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $5,000 • Tentative tourism portion $1,805 Geos Institute Revisited: Seffinger raised the fact that Geos Institute is an uncertainty and perhaps they should be reduced. Page 7 of 8 Marsh suggested allocating $10,000 to Geos Institute. • Asked for $27,040 • Average allocation $13,000 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $10,000 • Tentative tourism portion $0 Klamath Bird Observatory Revisited: When deciding what to do with the remaining unallocated funds at the end of the meeting, it was asked if Klamath Bird Observatory thought they could use $6,000 for tourism. They responded yes. This is reflected in the amount below • Asked for $25,000 • Average allocation $11,626 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $12,000 • Tentative tourism portion $6,000 Ashland Supportive Housing Revisited: Rosenthal suggested remaining at zero and recommended that they apply next year. Agreed to zero because amount was under $5,000 • Asked for $3,000 • Average Allocation $2,000 • All agreed to tentative grant allocation $0 M/S Voisin/Stromberg To accept all tentative allocations as proposed. All Ayes MOTION APPROVED COMMITTEE COMMENTS • Tuneberg thanked the committee and staff for their efforts and stated that the allocations would now be conveyed to the full Budget Committee. • Rosenthal noted that he would like to see the meeting spread further apart. • Voisin suggest more citizen representative involvement in the committee. • Marsh suggested talking about the process in the off year. • Stromberg thanked the committee. Meeting was adjourned at 7:33pm Respectfully Submitted Kristy Blackman Administrative Assistant Page 8 of 8