04-12-14 Retreat/Special Meeting of La Porte City Council

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REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM Agenda Date Requested: April 12, 2014 Appropriation Requested By: Traci Leach Source of Funds: Hotel/Motel Department: Administration Acct Number: Report: Resolution: Ordinance: Amount Budgeted: Attachments: Requested: $50,000 Attachments: Budgeted Item(s): YES NO _____________________________________________________________________________________________ SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATION During this fiscal year, staff initiated a very aggressive tourism, hotel promotion, and marketing campaign to increase hotel revenues and bring tourists to La Porte. In looking ahead to next year, staff would like to propose the concept of a two-day tourism event for Council discussion and consideration.All events proposed below would be funded through the Hotel/Motel Fund. While staff brainstormed several event ideas, there are two that are being presented today for discussion- a sand volleyball tournament or an event supporting the City’s industrial businesses. Sand Volleyball Tournament: Proposed for late May or early June2015 Two-day event over a Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday No other event like it in the area Culminate in concert and/or fireworks, depending on budget(on Saturday if the Fri-Sat schedule or on Saturday if the Sat-Sun schedule) Ties directly to niche market of Sports tourism, as identified in the Marketing Plan presented to the Council in November 2013 and Goals 8 (Recreational Amenities) and Goal 10 (Projecting Positive Image of La Porte) in the Strategic Plan Location proposed is Sylvan Beach Park and Klein retreat property Staff is proposing that a third party firm be engaged to run the event and the City would work with that firm to provide support. Under this arrangement, the firm handles all facets of the event- such as sponsorship, logistics, and planning- and in return the firm typically receives all or a percentage of the profits at the gate. Given the scope for the proposed events below, this arrangement would be preferable, as the time and resources required to plan such an event would placea fairly large burden on department staff. Industry Barbecue Cook-Off: Proposed for either Spring or before October in the Fall 2015 One day event Would like to feature teams from La Porte industries (priority given to those teams in La Porte if there isenough interest) Concert (this is where the tourism piece would come into play)