Title
Tourist Product Development Interlocal Agreement with Alachua County (B)
This is a request to enter into an agreement with Alachua County to administer the Tourist Product Development Grant Program.
Explanation:
For the past fourteen years the City's Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs has administered County-funded programs for the expenditure of tourist tax funds to arts and eco-heritage non-profit agencies. For the past eleven years, the City has also created new programs under a tourism tax funded agreement. The most recent Interlocal Agreement was approved on September 3, 2009 for a period of three years, from October 13, 2009 through September 30, 2012.
Staff has been working with the Alachua County Visitors and Convention Bureau to establish terms for a new Interlocal Agreement. Under the terms of the FY 2012-2015 Interlocal Agreement, the City will enter into contracts with agencies awarded grants by the Tourist Development Council, review requests for reimbursement, and disburse funds for authorized expenditures on a monthly basis. In addition, the City will create marketing and/or tourist programs with the New Programs/Marketing portion of the funding as outlined in Exhibit A of the Interlocal Agreement. The City has the option to extend this agreement for up to two additional, one-year terms, pending satisfactory performance, negotiation of fees and appropriation of funds.
Fiscal Note:
The City will be paid 10% of the annual Tourist Tax allocation for its administrative costs. In addition, 10% of the annual allocation will be used for New Programs/Marketing.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) approve the Interlocal Agreement; and 2) authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the Interlocal Agreement on behalf of the City, subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form and legality.