CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Consider the SECA Commission recommendations as part of the 2019 Comprehensive Special Events and Cultural Amenities Grant Fund workshop
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DEPARTMENT: City Clerk's Office
SUBMITTED BY: Pam Gallahue, PhD, Director-City Clerk
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
The SECA Commission formed several task force groups to consider and make recommendations on certain identified concerns with the grant fund. The task force groups then reported out to the full Commission who now presents the recommendations for Council review.
BACKGROUND:
History of the Culture Fund/SECA Grant Fund
In March 2004 Councilwoman Ellingson introduced the idea of creating the Culture Fund (later renamed the Special Events and Cultural Amenities Grant 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.
Recent Comprehensive Reviews
Since its inception, the SECA Grant Fund program has been reviewed regularly and, including this 2019 review, has been updated four times in the past three years.
In 2016, two SECA Grant Fund program workshops were held. The first, in January, was designed to serve as a primer for the new City Council while the second, in August, was held after a comprehensive review of the program. The SECA Commission requested consensus on nine recommendations and the City Council concurred with eight of the suggestions. The 2016 Decision Matrix is attached.
In 2018, staff and the SECA Commission again conducted a review of the program and presented four recommendations. The City Council concurred with all four. The 2018 Decision Matrix is attached.
Current Review
After the 2019 allocations were approved by the City Council in February, the SECA Commission formed several task forces to review current and anticipated concerns facing the progr...
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