DEPARTMENT: Tricentennial Office
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Edward Benavides, Interim Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Tricentennial Celebration Commission Funding Agreement
SUMMARY:
The City of San Antonio is requesting the authority to execute a funding agreement with the Tricentennial Celebration Commission, a public, nonprofit, local government corporation authorized by the City Council on June 18, 2015. The Tricentennial Celebration Commission is responsible for coordinating all Tricentennial celebration planning, identifying potential partners, approving and disseminating a unique identity for San Antonio’s 300th anniversary, and integrating existing events into the Tricentennial framework.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
San Antonio will celebrate its 300th anniversary on May 5, 2018, a milestone that can be matched by few cities in the United States. Specifically, May 5, 2018, will be the 300th anniversary of the founding of the San Antonio de Béxar Presidio and the Villa de Béxar civil settlement that became the city of San Antonio. From Yanaguana settlement to the Villa de Bejar to the 7th largest city in the United States, our remarkable journey tells the story not just of our people and place but of larger forces that shaped the world we live in today. Our Tricentennial year will be an opportunity to discover our roots, commemorate our storied history, recognize our progress and collaborate on our bright future.
In April 2015, Mayor Taylor appointed Father David Garcia, Archdiocese of San Antonio; Kelso Director of the San Antonio Museum of Art, Dr. Katie Luber; and Hilton Palacio del Rio General Manager Robert Thrailkill had been invited to serve as chairs of the San Antonio Tricentennial Commission. In late July 2015, Bexar County identified Lionel Sosa and Dr. Alfonso Chiscano to also serve as co-chairs for the Tricentennial commission. Collectively, the City and Bexar County appointed 19 Commissioners on August 13, 2015.
A public, nonprofit local government corporation, 501(c)3, was established for Tricentennial on June 18, 2015. The Tricentennial Commission will be supported by the Tricentennial Organizing Committee, composed of individuals from the public sector, non-profit and philanthropic communities. The City of San Antonio’s Tricentennial Office will serve as lead coordinator.
To ensure the Tricentennial commemoration is as inclusive of this community as possible and to ensure the significant amount of work associated with the Tricentennial commemoration can be fully accomplished by 2018, the Commission will accomplish its work primarily by working through subcommittees, which are Arts and Culture, Marketing and Branding, Event Coordination and Community Engagement, External Affairs, History and Education, and Fundraising.
ISSUE:
Staff is recommending the execution of a funding agreement between the City of San Antonio and the Tricentennial Celebration Commission.
ALTERNATIVES:
If a funding agreement is not approved, all activities and events planned by the Tricentennial Celebration Commission will be subject to City Council approval, thereby not fulfilling the purpose of the Tricentennial Celebration Commission, which was to coordinate all Tricentennial events and activities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The City of San Antonio, Bexar County and private donors will fund the Tricentennial Celebration Commission. The City of San Antonio will contribute approximately $260,000 to the Tricentennial Commission fund for fiscal year 2016. This funding will be used for marketing and the development of a commemorative Tricentennial book.
|
FY 2016 Budget |
|
|
Marketing and Branding Efforts |
200,000 |
|
Contract to develop San Antonio History Book |
60,000 |
|
Total |
$260,000 |
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the Funding Agreement between the City of San Antonio and the Tricentennial Celebration Commission.