Finance Committee

City of Roswell Finance Committee Wednesday, January 08, 2014, 8:00 a.m. City Hall Conference Room Committee Members present: Steve Henderson, Chairman Jimmy Craig Art Sandoval Committee Members absent: None Other Elected Officials present: ------- Staff Present: Larry Fry Stacye Hunter Monica Garcia Renee Roach Elaine Mayfield Janice Self Barbara Patterson, City Attorney Others present: Allen Trever The meeting was called to order at 8:00 a.m. by Chairman Henderson. Committee members Steve Henderson, Jimmy Craig and Art Sandoval were all present, which represented a quorum. Councilor Craig moved to approve the December 3, 2013 minutes. Councilor Sandoval was the second, a voice vote was unanimous and the motion was carried. Regular Items: 1. Lodger’s Tax Funding Request – Sci-Fi International Film Festival The name of the Festival was clarified by Councilor Henderson; the name was changed from the “ Sci-Fi International Film Festival” to the “ Roswell Filmfest & Cosmicon” last year according to Elaine Mayfield. Councilor Henderson asked Janice Self if all the concerns with the previous 2013’s festival were addressed and corrected. Ms. Self explained that everything that was outstanding had been turned in and verified. Ms. Mayfield advised the committee that they had originally asked for $75K from the OTB Committee, which recommended $60K. Ms. Mayfield also advised the Committee that the date originally set for the Festival had been taken by Albuquerque, therefore splitting the Festival into two separate dates. The Filmfest would be at the end of June, 2014 and the Cosmicon the first weekend in July, 2014. The Cosmicon would fall into the UFO Festival which would work well. Ms. Mayfield also explained that doing it on two separate weekends would put more heads in beds. Councilor Craig elaborated he was not happy with how the Convention Center was being run. The Convention Center should be available for Festival’s like the Roswell Filmfest & Cosmicon to be held without concern that it has already been rented out for weddings, etc. Councilor Craig also asked if the Convention Center would be available during the Festival and was advised that since the UFO Festival was being held at the same time the Convention Center would be available. Councilor Henderson addressed the concerns of the Holiday Inn artwork in the official program guide inserted in the Roswell Daily Record. The ad did not include the “paid in part by Roswell Lodger’s Tax”, which is a criteria for the usage of Lodger’s Tax funding. After discussion and clarity, the committee agreed the insert would be eligible. Councilor Craig asked if the budget adjustment had been approved previously for more advertising could help with promoting the Festival. Renee Roach stated that the budget adjustment previously approved by the Council was to promote “The New Mexico True Campaign.” Elaine, Renee and Allen spoke of the positive things coming out of the Festival and how it was being welcomed with High School and College students. They felt they had a whole other demographic to reach out to as far as advertising was concerned. Larry Fry added that with increase of the Lodger’s Tax for the Convention Center, $48K was collected the first month. He also stated that Gross Receipts was continuing to climb at a steady rate. Councilor Craig added that we may have been able to approve the originally $75K requested by the Roswell Filmfest and Cosmicon had we not approved and extra $45K request for improving the men’s softball field. Barbara Patterson mentioned that a contractual agreement would be needed between the City of Roswell and the Roswell Filmfest and Cosmican. Councilor Craig moved to approve the request for funding of $60K. Councilor Sandoval was the second, a voice vote was unanimous and the motion was carried. Other Business: Councilor Henderson requested that Monica Garcia get have the non-profit organizations that the City helps fund, come before the Finance Committee to give presentations on how the money has been used. Councilor Henderson also commented on the raised water rates and the impact thus far. Meeting adjourned at 8:34 a.m.