CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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To consider the four recommendations of the SECA Commission regarding changes to the Special Events and Cultural Amenities (SECA) Grant Fund Program and reach consensus on each for implementation in Calendar Year 2019 and Calendar Year 2020 award cycles.
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DEPARTMENT: City Clerk's Office
SUBMITTED BY: Pam Gallahue, PhD, Director-City Clerk
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
The SECA Commission received input from applicants, an ad-hoc community group, Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, members of the City Council, and staff to determine the four recommendations.
BACKGROUND:
History of the Culture Fund/SECA Grant Fund
In March 2004, Councilwoman Ellingson proposed the idea of creating the Culture Fund to be used to supplement, and cover, the expenses associated with hosting social and artistic events. Funds would be generated from a 1% Food and Beverage tax and city financial support of these events would be removed from the General Fund. The Food and Beverage Tax was adopted on April 1, 2004 and the Culture Fund was created on April 6, 2004.
In 2005, the Culture Fund was renamed the Special Events and Cultural Amenities Fund and the mission was amended to clarify that SECA was to be used "solely for funding special events, artistic entities, and cultural amenities in Naperville that express the character of the community and provide cultural amenities that are open to all residents and visitors."
The Food and Beverage Fund and the SECA Grant Fund Program have been reviewed regularly. Since 2013, both funds have been reviewed and refined almost annually as discussed below.
Most recently, in 2016, two SECA Grant Fund Program workshops were held. The first, in January, was designed to serve as a primer for the City Council while the second, in August, was held after a comprehensive review of the program and requested consensus on recommendations for changes to the fund. The City Council concurred with eight...
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