City of Gainesville - File #: 110374.

• File #: 110374.
• Version: 1
• Name: Proposed Relocation of the Alachua County Fairgrounds to the City of Newberry and Proposed Use of Alachua County Tourism Development Tax Funds for Projects in the Cities of Newberry and Alachua (B)
• Type: Discussion Item
• Status: To Be Introduced
• File created: 10/17/2011
• In control: City Manager
• Final action: 10/17/2011
• Title: Proposed Relocation of the Alachua County Fairgrounds to the City of Newberry and Proposed Use of Alachua County Tourism Development Tax Funds for Projects in the Cities of Newberry and Alachua (B)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
10/17/2011	1	City Commission	Approved as shown above (See Motion)	Pass
10/6/2011	0	City Commission	Approved as shown above (See Motion)	Pass

Title
Proposed Relocation of the Alachua County Fairgrounds to the City of Newberry and Proposed Use of Alachua County Tourism Development Tax Funds for Projects in the Cities of Newberry and Alachua (B)

Explanation
BACKGROUND

The City Commission discussed the proposed relocation of the Alachua County Fairgrounds to the City of Newberry and the proposed use of tourism development tax funds in the cities of Newberry and Alachua at the September 15, 2011 and October 6, 2011 City Commission meetings. In addition, Commissioner Scherwin Henry hosted a community meeting attended by approximately 100 people on the proposed relocation of the Fairgrounds on October 10, 2011 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center. Attendees were provided with a presentation on: 1) Background on Fairgrounds & Tourism Development Tax, 2) Proposed Relocation Fairgrounds, 3) County Solicitation of Projects for Potential Funding, 5) What Can Concerned Citizens Do?, and 6) Citizen Comment.

Attendees were nearly unanimous in their opposition to the proposed relocation of the Fairgrounds. Objections were expressed about taking a key economic driver from East Gainesville and moving it to another part of the County as inconsistent with the County's commitment to Plan East Gainesville. There were also comments on the need to proceed with development of the new Fairgrounds at the Weseman property off Waldo Road purchased by the County for this purpose after an extensive site selection process.


REQUEST FOR LETTERS OF INTEREST - CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE TOURISM

Alachua County released a Request for Letters of Interest for Capital Projects that Promote Tourism with a submittal deadline of October 28, 2011. There currently are no available tourism development tax funds available for allocation. Of the additional 2% tourism development tax approved by the County Commission in 2010, 1% has been committed to the City of Newberry for the Nations Park project for up ...