Hotel-Motel Tax Board Minutes 2019 August 22

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Hotel-Motel Tax Board Minutes 8/22/2019 Pg. 5 Jarnecke reported significant progress on the $1.26 million capital improvement projects for the building. Landscaping, digital boards, entryway, storage decks, lifts and smallwares are complete. Offices, wayfinding/softscaping and security are nearly finished. The only remaining projects that have not started include: the North restrooms to be bid in August, the North elevator to be bid in September and the parking lot entry off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard will be re-bid because the first bids were higher than expected. That work is anticipated to be completed in Spring 2020. Jarnecke shared the strategy and new logo designs for the Bendix Arena which were designed by a local firm who are gamers and excited about the project. Chris DeWitte contacted Jarnecke after the news first broke and has been great assistance. A letter was shared from United Youth Theatre Group, an existing client who uses the Bendix Theatre for performances and practices, which states that with the planned investment, they will use the space even more. A letter of support was shared from Bethel University President Gregg A. Chenoweth. A letter from CSL International, INGAME, and Simply New expressed interest on the reimagination of the space. Currently there are 130 NCAA member institutions sponsoring esports and another 20 are expected in 2020 with 1100 members. Staff will continue to work to identify the Bendix Arena niche and positioning in the market to ensure a diverse revenue stream. The next step is the budget approval from the City of South Bend Common Council and the St. Joseph County Commissioners. It is anticipated to start work on January 2, 2020, by removing carpeting and installing new seats and infrastructure to be able to start bringing in tourna- ments June 2020. A sample Bendix Arena branded gaming chair was available. Bendix Arena shirts and caps were given to board members. An esports game was demonstrated by a group of gamers. OLD BUSINESS McDonnell updated on tax legislation that formalized allocations to the Potawatomi Zoo and the Mishawaka sports complex. He thanked Greg Downes and Dan Parker for their work on this. The board is dipping into the reserve fund to allocate the money for this year as well as the 2020 budget. McDonnell and Kurth will engage friends at the Indiana Restaurant and Lodging Association and ask lobbyists to keep an eye on room tax bills so the Board can act in a proactive manner. The State Board of Accounts has indicated that there should be written authorizations with the agencies that funds are allocated. Anthony commented that how the money is allocated and invested in the community is important. NEW BUSINESS Anthony discussed the article published by the Journal Gazette of Fort Wayne on August 16 that a website link was previously sent to board members “Hotel Tax to Increase by 75 Cents Per Night” which was voted to increase the Hotel-Motel Tax from 7% to 8%. St. Joseph County Hotel-Motel Tax is 6% which is one of the lowest rates in Indiana. It is important to have more funds to re-invest in tourism. To receive approval to raise the tax is probably a couple year political process with bringing a long-range master plan to grow tourism in the community to state officials. Increasing communication with state legislators is important. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Anthony called for a motion to adjourn. It was moved, seconded, and the motion carried. JA:mes