AG 2003 01 27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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tax revenue for a track and field faclllty, Mr Day stated no additional information has been recelved from the developer and it appears unlikely the project will locate in Cabarrus County Finally, he asked the Board to authorize a study by Bullock Smith & Partners, Consultants ,n Fair,round and Design, at a cost of $1,250 00 to develop plans for the midway Improvements Commissioner Carruth reported on plans by the City of Concord to build a convention center ad3acent to a hotel to be const~cted by John Q Ha~nons The City has rec~/ested that the revenue from the two cents hotel OCcupancy tax generated at the Ha~mons Hotel be dedicated to the debt serwlce for the convention center Bureau, reported on a recent retreat of the Tourism Authority with the hospitality industry in Cabarrus County She stated the industry members are supportive of the Arena but a ma3orlty of the hospitality representatives feel the hotel occupancy t~ should be used for strictly tourlsm-related activities She Indicated that further discussions are needed with the hospitality industry to get their Input regarding the ~z~po funding proposal the County to compete with other C~tleS for events Ms Auble W Cook, Vice Chair of the Tourism Authority Board of D~rectors, presented comments concerning the use of the hotel occupancy tax revenue, the different t~es of events that would be held at a convention center and the Expo and the number of room nights that would be generated by each facility She Btated in her oplnlon the revenue from the t~ percent hotel Occupancy tax should be used toward advertlslng and marketing programs to promote tourism-related actlv/tles in Cabarrus County Mr Mark Chappuls, Expo general Manager, reported on recent a~d planned activities at the Expo and the hotel n~ghts associated with those eveRts Mr Mike Do~s, P~bllc Safety Services Director, and Mr Jonathan Marshall, Plannln9 and zoning Se~lces Director, reviewed the plans for constructln9 addltlonal parking at the Expo They also dlscussed the access road to be built to the School Administrative complex and parking at that facility Ms Cindy Fertembaugh, member of the Cabarrus County Board Educatlon, expressed concerns about ~he availability of parking and security Mr Joh~ Cox, Executive Director o~ the CabarI~us Reglonal Chamber of Commerce and member Of the Tour/sm Authority Board of Dlrectors, stated the Chamber's support of the Expo However, he expressed concern about the proposal to use the hotel occupancy tax r~venue resez~;e funds for improvements at the EXpo He stated that discussions are needed between the County a~d the Tourism Authorlty regardln~ the use of those reserve f%hnds There was lengthy discussion re~ardl~g the Expo facal~ty and use of the hotel occupancy t~ rese~-~e funds Issues addressed by the Board included the following (1) potential for ~our~sm-related events at the Expo, (2) ~he possibility of competition between a convention center and the Fz(po for the same events, (3) the need to proceed with the Expo improvements, (4) the need to work with the Tourzsm Authority concernlng the use of the hotel occupancy tax revenue, and (5} the zmportance of tourism to the County's economy Mr Hartsell responded to questions concerning the use of the proceeds from th~ flve percent hotel Occupancy tax He confirmed ~hat the revenue Mr RiC Starnes stated that as an event promoter he had done business with several convent/on centers aBSoclated with John Q Hammons fac/lltles Pe ob3ected to uslng any of ho~el occupancy tax revenue for a proposed convention center l~ Concord and stated in hls opinion the revenue should be used ~or the Expo facility and the prcmotlo~ of tourism in Cabarrus Co~ty UPON MOTION of Commissioner Prlvette, seconded by Vice Chalz~an Sugps and unanimously carrled, the Board approved $1,250 00 for the study to be