Visitor Impact Task Force Regular Meeting of the Visitor Impact Task Force - This meeting will be located at the Austin Convention Center in Meeting Room 19ab
Visitor Impact Task Force March 28, 2017 3:00pm Austin Convention Center Meeting Room 19ab 500 E. Cesar Chavez Austin, TX 78701 CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Gavin Garcia - Music Industry Representative Catlin Whitington - Music Industry Representative Lulu Flores - Arts Community Representative MariBen Ramsey - Arts Community Representative James Russell - Special Events Industry Representative Julie Niehoff - Special Events Industry Representative Tom Noonan - Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau Representative Shelly Schadegg - Hotel Industry Representative Bill Worsham - Public Safety Community Representative Alyson McGee - Preservation Community Representative Dan Keshet - Parks Community Representative Mark Tester - Convention Center Representative Dewitt Peart - Downtown Commission Representative Ashwin Ghatalia - Tourism Workforce Representative Stephen Sternschein - Tourism Workforce Representative Jonathan Mahone - Community Member Representative Pam Thompson - Environmental Community Representative Skeeter Miller - Restaurant Industry Representative Richard Mendoza - Public Works Department Representative (ex-officio) Gordon Derr - Transportation Department Representative (ex-officio) AGENDA 1. CALL TO ORDER: 3:00pm 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. From the March 14, 2017 meeting 3. STAFF BRIEFINGS a. Discussion with PARD about their role in tourism/heritage/historic preservation-based tourism 4. NEW BUSINESS a. El Paso/San Antonio panel discussion about best practices in other cities 5. OLD BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action to make recommendations from initial ideas (post- it notes exercise) from each Task Force member on recommendations to deliver to City Council in future report. 6. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL a. Citizens wishing to speak will need to sign up ten minutes before the meeting calls for Citizen Communications at 5:30pm. Citizen communications will be limited to the first ten speakers and each citizen communicator will be given three minutes to speak. 7. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS a. Discussion and possible action to make recommendations on items for future agendas 8. ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Larry Schooler at Communication and Public Information Office Department, at 512.974.6004, larry.schooler@austintexas.gov for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Visitor Impact Task Force, please contact Felicia Ojeda at 512.404.4022, felicia.ojeda@austintexas.gov.
Visitor Impact Task Force March 28, 2017 3:00pm Austin Convention Center Meeting Room 19ab 500 E. Cesar Chavez Austin, TX 78701 MINUTES In Attendance: Gavin Garcia - Music Industry Representative Catlin Whitington - Music Industry Representative Lulu Flores - Arts Community Representative MariBen Ramsey - Arts Community Representative Julie Niehoff - Special Events Industry Representative Tom Noonan - Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau Representative Shelly Schadegg - Hotel Industry Representative Bill Worsham - Public Safety Community Representative Alyson McGee - Preservation Community Representative Dan Keshet - Parks Community Representative Mark Tester - Convention Center Representative Dewitt Peart - Downtown Commission Representative Ashwin Ghatalia - Tourism Workforce Representative Jonathan Mahone - Community Member Representative Pam Thompson - Environmental Community Representative Richard Mendoza - Public Works Department Representative (ex-officio) Absent: James Russell - Special Events Industry Representative Stephen Sternschein - Tourism Workforce Representative Skeeter Miller - Restaurant Industry Representative Gordon Derr - Transportation Department Representative (ex-officio) Staff and Others In Attendance: Mark Washington, ACM Larry Schooler, CPIO, Facilitator Felicia Ojeda, Austin Convention Center Department Bill Clabby, Austin Sister Cities International Jake Rosenberg, Austin Sister Cities International – donated time Rebecca Melancon, ABIA IBIZ Districts Dean Lofton, ABIA IBIZ Districts – donated time Bill Bunch, SOS Alliance JJ Langston, Parks Preservations Presentation Joanna Wolaver, Parks Preservations Presentation Staff and Others In Attendance: (con’t) Andy Gill, Parks Preservations Presentation – donated time Mike Cannatti, Parks Preservation Brian Ott, Parks Preservations Presentation – donated time Ted Siff, Parks Preservations Presentation – donated time Zenobia C. Joseph, Palm School Preservation Mary Guerrero-McDonald, Expansion of Convention Center AGENDA 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER a. Meeting called to order at 3:06pm by Vice Chair, MariBen Ramsey 2. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL (Split-3:07pm) a. Bill Clabby, Austin Sister Cities International b. Rebecca Melancon, ABIA IBIZ Districts c. Bill Bunch, SOS Alliance 3. Approval of Minutes from March 14, 2017 Meeting, all voters approved 4. STAFF BRIEFING a. Parks and Recreation Department, Kim McKnight presented Parks and Recreation Department Spending Plan for FY17 Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenue 5. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: Parks Presentation (Split-4:11pm) a. JJ Langston, Parks Preservations Presentation b. Joanna Wolaver, Parks Preservations Presentation 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Conference Call Discussion with the cities of El Paso (Benjamin Fyffe)/ and San Antonio(Mike Sawaya) for best practices in other cities in Texas. 7. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL (Split-5:30pm) a. Mary Guerrero-McDonald, Expansion of Convention Center b. Zenobia C. Joseph, Palm School Preservation …
From:Zenobia JosephTo:Richardson, AshleyCc:Ojeda, Felicia; Washington, MarkSubject:Thank you!_Re: Convention Center and Palm School District 9 Town HallDate:Tuesday, March 28, 2017 3:55:51 PMAttachments:image001.pngimage005.pngPalm School Preservation (VITF Citizens Communication)_28Mar2017-355pm_zcj.pdfTo: Ashley B. RichardsonPolicy AideMayor Pro Tem Tovo, District 91. Gratitude: Thanks tremendously for promptly sending the Palm School Town Hall weblink. I'm not surehow it's archived on ATXN, but I couldn't find it. So you've been a godsend. I'm actually listening to thevideo while sitting in the Visitor Impact Task Force (VITF) Regular Meeting at Austin Convention Centerand, thus far, appreciate hearing Commissioner Margaret Gómez share an overview of the site's historyin addition to Judge Sarah Eckhardt provide insight into the Palm School no longer serving aprogrammatic function due to movement of social services clients. 2. Pending: I copied Felicia Ojeda to share the link with VITF members and attached my CitizensCommunication testimony from today (March 28, 2017), noting archived Travis County CommissionersCourt weblinks that may be helpful to you as you prepare for the upcoming Palm School CommitteeMeeting. The genesis of my request for the link came from a VITF member asking if I thought PalmSchool could be used for an African-American Museum. I referred the member to my interest in theDedrick-Hamilton House and, too, with funding of the African-American Cultural and Historical Facility, Imentioned use of the Palm School as an African-American Museum may be unlikely. The member thenasked if I knew the history. I mentioned that Palm School had, in part, military history. Subsequently, Iread an Austin American-Statesman article that chronicled the site's changes over time. This resourcemay be helpful to you as well. Please send me the date and location once the next Palm SchoolCommittee Meeting is confirmed. You may also want to copy Ms. Ojeda, too. ~Thanks.Reference: Walsh, S. (2015, October 20). Should former Palm School site be sold to developersor preserved? Retrieved from http://www.mystatesman.com/news/local/should-former-palm-school-site-sold-developers-preserved/nysD5MjePakpbp5ziX8VmM/ Very respectfully, Zenobia C. JosephOn Tue, Mar 28, 2017 at 2:11 PM, Richardson, Ashley<Ashley.Richardson@austintexas.gov> wrote: Dear Ms. Joseph, This link will allow you to watch the Town Hall meeting that occurred on February 25,2017. http://austintx.swagit.com/play/03032017-548 I’ll be in touch soon regarding any future meetings related to Palm School. Best, Ashley Ashley B. RichardsonPolicy AideMayor Pro Tem Tovo, District 9City of Austin | City Council Staff – District 9301 W 2nd Street | Room 2199 | Austin, TX | 78701Main | 512.978.2109 | Direct | 512.978.2199Email | ashley.richardson@austintexas.gov March 28, 2017 Visitor Impact Task Force, …
Austin Parks Attract Tourists Get Outside! If you live for the outdoors, you’ll find Austin has plenty to offer. Get out there an explore our top picks. The Butler Trail @ Lady Bird Lake Austin Helicopter Tours Barton Creek Greenbelt Barton Springs Pool Deep Eddy Pool Zilker Park Mount Bonnell McKinney Falls Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Other Hill Country Ideas ACVB Uses Austin Parks to Attract Tourists Zilker Metropolitan Park is considered "Austin's most-loved park." This 351-acre park is home to a variety of recreation opportunities and special events for individuals and families. Austin City Limits Festival at(cid:1)Zilker Park. Credit Charles Reagan Hackleman, courtesy ACL.ACVB Uses Austin Parks to Attract Tourists Barton Springs Pool is always at or near the top lists of things to do in Austin. Locals and visitors hang out all summer long to socialize, swim, relax and most importantly, cool off from the hot Texas sun. The man-made pool is a three acre controlled reservoir, fed by a natural spring that keeps the water at a cool 68 degrees temperature. This is the best place in Austin to stay cool through the hot summers. Barton Springs Pool. Courtesy of Austin Parks and Recreation DepartmentACVB Uses Austin Parks to Attract Tourists Austin City Limits Festival alone brings over 325,000 guests to the City with nearly all participants enjoying our parkland “PARD estimates that more than 80,000 non-residents visited Barton Springs Pool in 2016 based on point of sale data.” (cid:29)(cid:33)(cid:30)(cid:32)(cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:26)(cid:18)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:11)(cid:26)(cid:1)(cid:8)(cid:15)(cid:21)(cid:11)(cid:18)(cid:1)(cid:3)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:1)(cid:29)(cid:33)(cid:31)(cid:32)(cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:11)(cid:24)(cid:26)(cid:21)(cid:20)(cid:1)(cid:8)(cid:22)(cid:24)(cid:16)(cid:20)(cid:14)(cid:25)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:21)(cid:21)(cid:18)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:11)(cid:26)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:21)(cid:27)(cid:25)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:5)(cid:16)(cid:25)(cid:26)(cid:21)(cid:24)(cid:16)(cid:12)(cid:1)(cid:4)(cid:21)(cid:28)(cid:20)(cid:26)(cid:21)(cid:28)(cid:20)(cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:24)(cid:27)(cid:25)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:8)(cid:23)(cid:27)(cid:11)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:11)(cid:24)(cid:26)(cid:21)(cid:20)(cid:1)(cid:8)(cid:22)(cid:24)(cid:16)(cid:20)(cid:14)(cid:25)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:21)(cid:21)(cid:18)(cid:1)(cid:6)(cid:16)(cid:20)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:1)Austin Parks Need Help (cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:18)(cid:18)(cid:13)(cid:24)(cid:1)(cid:3)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:1)(cid:11)(cid:26)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:11)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:11)(cid:24)(cid:17)(cid:1) DOWNTOWN HISTORIC SQUARES(cid:1)Austin Parks: Sample Repair & Improvement Projects TUDOR COTTAGE & RESTROOM AT PEASE PARK(cid:1)REHABILITATION OF BARTON SPRINGS BATHHOUSE Austin Parks: Sample Repair & Improvement Projects AUDITORIUM SHORES IMPROVEMENTS(cid:1)AND MORE...(cid:1)BUTLER TRAIL AT LADY BIRD LAKE IMPROVEMENTS(cid:1)Austin Parks Need at Least $100 Million in Repairs and Improvements (cid:29)(cid:33)(cid:30)(cid:32)(cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:26)(cid:18)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:11)(cid:26)(cid:1)(cid:8)(cid:15)(cid:21)(cid:11)(cid:18)(cid:1)(cid:3)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:1)VISITOR EDUCATION CENTER FOR ZILKER PARK NEW PUBLIC PLAZA AT 1927 TRESTLE, SHOAL CREEK & LIBRARY(cid:1)Austin Parks: Sample New & Enhancement Projects CHAIN OF PARKS ALONG WALLER CREEK(cid:1) ZILKER PARK TRAILHEAD & VIOLET CROWN TRAIL(cid:1)Austin Parks: Sample New & Enhancement Projects EXPANSION & ADDITIONS TO THE UMLAUF SCULPTURE GARDEN(cid:1)AND MORE...(cid:1) Please Support the Following Hotel Occupancy Tax Use Recommendations to the Austin City Council (Per the VITF charge in Resolution No. 20160818-075)) 1. Create a new “Parks & Historic Preservation Tourism Fund” to repair and improve qualifying city park and historic assets 2. Continue to fully fund the Tourism/Promotion Fund (for the ACVB) 3. Remove …
FY 17 Hotel Occupancy Tax PARD Spending Plan and Horizon Issues Introduction City Council allocated Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funding to be directly spent by the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) in Fiscal Year 2016-17 to support projects and initiatives that meet allowable uses as defined under Chapter 351 of the Texas Tax Code. HOT revenue is an important tool for the promotion of tourism and supports the growth of the tourism, convention and hotel industry. PARD is an important partner in this effort as public parks, museums, and cultural centers are among the top tourist attractions in the city. PARD intends to strengthen our partnership with the Austin Convention Center, the Austin Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the tourism and hospitality sector through the enhancement and promotion of historic parks, museums and cultural centers. This document is PARD’s plan and recommended process for expending HOT revenue that was directly allocated in FY 2016-17. The amounts allocated in FY 2016-17: $ 5,370 Marketing and Promotions: Paying for advertising, solicitations, and promotions that attract tourists and convention delegates to the city or its vicinity $ 993,841 Capital Expenditures: Funding historical restoration or preservation programs 1 | Page FY 17 Hotel Occupancy Tax PARD Spending Plan and Horizon Issues Table of Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 3 Spending Plan: Advertising and Promotion of the Arts Program ..................................................... 4 Spending Plan: Historical Restoration and Preservation Programs ................................................ 5 Oakwood Cemetery Chapel ......................................................................................................... 6 Elisabet Ney Museum .................................................................................................................. 8 O. Henry Museum ...................................................................................................................... 10 Mayfield Park ............................................................................................................................. 12 Proposed Process for Transference of Funds and Status Reports ............................................... 14 Horizon Issues............................................................................................................................... 15 2 | Page FY 17 Hotel Occupancy Tax PARD Spending Plan and Horizon Issues Executive Summary PARD is the steward for more than 300 parks and maintains more than 20,000 acres of greenspace including local treasures like Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool, Brush Square Museums, Mayfield Park, Deep Eddy Pool, Butler Hike and Bike Trail, Mount Bonnell, Austin Nature and Science Center, and the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Each of these sites are visited by tourists and rank amongst the most popular and iconic destinations in the Capital City. With close proximity to downtown hotels, it is reasonable to conclude thousands of visitors frequent the City’s central parks and facilities on an annual basis. For example, PARD estimates that more than 80,000 non-residents visited Barton Springs Pool in 2016 based on point of …
PARD Spending Plan forFY17 Hotel Occupancy Tax RevenueKim McKnight, MSHP, AICP, CNU-AEnvironmental Conservation Program Manager Cultural Resource Management | Historic Preservation Planning Park Planning DivisionAustin Park Overview FY17: City Council allocated approximately $1 million in Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) Revenue directly to PARD:$ 5,370 Marketing & Promotions$ 993,841 Capital Expenditures: Funding historical restoration or preservation projectsPARD developed a spending plan for FY17 as well as horizon projects for consideration.Traditionally, PARD’s only access to HOT funding has been through a small grant program of the Austin Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. What is Hotel Occupancy Tax?Hotel owners collect local and statehotel occupancy tax from their guests who rent a roomThe City of Austin’s Hotel Occupancy Tax rate is 9 cents and is used primarily to fund: Austin Convention CenterAustin Convention and Visitor’s BureauCultural Arts Programs administered by the Economic Development Dept.Expenditures must meet two-part test for HOT expenditure:Criterion #1: Every expenditure must DIRECTLY enhance and promote tourism AND the convention and hotel industry. Criterion #2: Every expenditure must clearly fit into one of nine categories under Texas Tax Code Chapter 351 for expenditures of local hotel occupancy tax revenues. Advertising & Promotion of the Arts Total Amount: $ 5,370Proposed Expenditure: Updating and printing PARD’s History, Arts & Culture GuideHighlights cultural amenities such as the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center as well as historical exhibitions at Austin’s Brush Square MuseumsProvides guidance to accessing Austin’s popular parks and trails Guide will be regularly distributed at hotel accommodations, tourist centers, and the convention center Historical Restoration & Preservation ProjectsTotal Amount: $993,841 Proposed Expenditures: Restoration projects for PARD historic sites that are open to the public on a regular basis and are frequented by tourists:$319,140 Oakwood Chapel$205,000 O. Henry Museum$389,701 Elisabet Ney Museum$ 80,000 Mayfield Park Oakwood Cemetery ChapelCity of Austin Historic Landmark,Historic Texas Cemetery, National Register of Historic Places1914 Gothic-Revival Chapel; Final resting place for many prominent TexansClose proximity to the Texas Capitol, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, State Cemetery, and the UT campusChapel to become visitor center and community spacePromoted as visitor destination for tours and heritage tourism programming Elisabet Ney MuseumCity of Austin Historic Landmark, State Antiquities Landmark, National Register of Historic Places1892 Classical Revival Sculpture Studio with more than 80 pieces of Ney’s original workCenterpiece of Hyde Park Historic District43% out of town visitors in 2016Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios ProgramTours for national and international conferences O. Henry MuseumCity …
Visitor Impact Task Force Frequently Asked Questions ●What is the hotel occupancy tax? The hotel occupancy tax is charged for “Any building or buildings in which members of the public obtain sleeping accommodations for consideration” for less than 30 days, including a hotel, motel, tourist home, tourist house, tourist court, lodging house, inn, rooming house, or bed and breakfast facilities” (Texas Hotel and Lodging Association). Groups or people who provide such services are tasked with charging the tax towards guests and also reporting and filing the tax. Texas Law declares that a statement is required in a conspicuous location referencing the application of the tax to stay nights. ●What are the state laws governing hotel occupancy tax, in terms of how much the City can charge or collect? The Texas State Tax Code states that a municipality cannot impose a tax if the result of the adoption is the combined state, county and municipal hotel occupancy tax that exceeds 17 percent of the price of the room. For the City of Austin, Hotel Occupancy Tax is currently 9 percent of the price of the room and for the State of Texas the hotel occupancy tax is 6 percent. Legally, the city could raise its hotel occupancy tax by as much as two percent. ● What can the HOT revenue be spent on? The hotel occupancy tax revenue can only be spent on allowable activities that directly promote tourism, the convention and visitor's bureau and the hotel industry. Hotel occupancy tax revenue expenditures must put “heads in beds” (i.e., attract visitors that pay to stay overnight ) and must also fit into any one of the 9 categories of outlined by the Texas legislature a) convention center facilities and visitor information centers b) convention registration c)advertising the municipality and its vicinity as a destination to attract visitors d) promotion of the arts e) historical restoration f) sporting events in county with under one million in population g) enhancing or upgrading existing sports facilities or sports fields (only in certain cities) h)tourist transportation systems and i) signage directing the public to sights and attractions that are visited frequently by hotel guests in the city. ●How are we spending hotel occupancy tax dollars now? Currently the hotel occupancy tax is split into four parts. Of the 9 percent City of Austin charges, 1.05 percent is allocated to the cultural arts, 4.50 percent is …
