Citizen Communications Handout 5 — original pdf

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From:Karen CannattiTo:Ojeda, FeliciaCc:Schooler, LarrySubject:letter for Visitor Impact Task ForceDate:Wednesday, April 19, 2017 4:41:10 PMAttachments:winmail.datDear Visitor Impact Task Force Members:On several occasions, Mayfield Park has been recipient of funds fromthe Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB) for preservation ofits house and grounds. We are quite grateful for this, as it hasaided us in maintaining this historic asset, which is a delight forvisitors from all over the world as well as for a great many Austinresidents.The funding has been allocated from Austin's Hotel Occupancy Tax(HOT), as allowed by State law. The law allows up to 15% of HOTrevenues to be allocated to historic preservation, but we are awarethat only a tiny portion of this potential allocation has been usedcity-wide to this end.Austin is rich with historic lands, structures, and traditions, all ofwhich contribute to the City's attraction of visitors, and all ofwhich require significant expense to maintain. Austin's parks aloneare home to many of these assets: Zilker Park with Barton SpringsPool, the Sunken Garden, and Eliza Springs; the Norwood residence;Hancock and Lions Golf Courses, the four original downtown parks;among many others. Many other very special assets are in private orState hands. All contribute greatly to Austin's tourism economy andare visited by millions annually. Yet many of these precious assetsare falling into decay for lack of adequate maintenance funding. Someare being allowed to deteriorate to ruin.Why, then, when the law endorses such significant expenditures fromthe HOT tax, should the City not allocate the full 15% annually to thethings that define Austin's heritage and make Austin an especiallyattractive place, both to tourists and residents?As you consider how Austin can best utilize its HOT tax revenues,please recognize that Austin's historic legacy is a major contributorto Austin's tourism industry, and that it contributes to the culturalrichness not only to visitors' experiences but to the lives of its owncitizens. Please fund preserving this legacy to the full extent thatthe law allows.Karen CannattiPresident -- Friends of the Parks of Austin, a 501(c)(3) non-profitserving Austin's parks since 1985