DEPARTMENT: San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Casandra Matej
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-Wide
SUBJECT:
This ordinance authorizes reimbursement agreements with San Antonio Local Organizing Committee regarding 2015 U.S. Masters Swimming Nationwide Spring Nationals, the 2015 USA Swimming Speedo Junior National Championships, and the 2015 USA Swimming Phillips 66 National Championships.
SUMMARY:
This ordinance is:
A: Authorizing a reimbursement agreement with San Antonio Local Organizing Committee (SALOC) in an amount not to exceed $125,420.00 for eligible expenses incurred by SALOC associated to the 2015 U.S. Masters Swimming Nationwide Spring Nationals.
B: Authorizing a reimbursement agreement with San Antonio Local Organizing Committee (SALOC) in an amount not to exceed $122,190.99 for eligible expenses incurred by SALOC associated to the 2015 USA Swimming Speedo Junior National Championships.
C: Authorizing a reimbursement agreement with San Antonio Local Organizing Committee (SALOC) in an amount not to exceed $143,871.04 for eligible expenses incurred by SALOC associated to the 2015 USA Swimming Phillips 66 National Championships.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of San Antonio partnered with San Antonio Local Organizing Committee (SALOC) to solicit, secure and host three significant swimming events in 2015: 1) the 2015 U.S. Masters Swimming Nationwide Spring Nationals on April 22-26, 2015; 2) the 2015 USA Swimming Speedo Junior National Championships on July 30-August 3, 2015; and 3) the 2015 USA Swimming Phillips 66 National Championships on August 4-10, 2015. San Antonio was selected for all three events through a competitive process by U.S. Masters Swimming and USA Swimming respectively.
The Events Trust Fund legislation (Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes, 5190.14) provides municipalities and counties the opportunity to obtain reimbursement for eligible expenses related to hosting and attracting high-visibility, high-tax-impact events to the state of Texas that could otherwise take place outside of the State. Reimbursable dollars are based on the anticipated tax gain for a particular event. In order to obtain reimbursement for eligible expenses, municipalities are required to match funds that are deposited in the Events Trust Fund on a 1:6.25.
The City of San Antonio has participated in this program for both convention and sporting events and has received tax reimbursement from the Events Trust Fund related to various sporting events including the 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball 2nd and 3rd Round Games, 2013 U.S. Track & Field Championships, and 2011 U.S Trampoline and Tumbling Junior Olympic Championships, amongst others. The same process was followed in obtaining the reimbursement for the referenced events.
ISSUE:
All of the events were held at the NISD Swim Center. The Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) partnered with SALOC on the events which afforded the San Antonio community a great opportunity to see and host swimming officials from both U.S. Masters Swimming and USA Swimming, as well as thousands of fans and athletes while receiving national exposure as the host city. In addition, hosting this event continued to afford San Antonio the opportunity for ongoing consideration of future amateur sporting and in particular swimming events.
In early and mid 2015, the Texas State Comptroller of Public Accounts notified the City and SALOC of the various events’ eligibility.
The Convention & Visitors Bureau worked with SALOC to submit qualified expenses in an amount sufficient to meet the reimbursement requirements set forth by the statute and authorized by the State Comptroller. The expenses incurred by SALOC included volunteer coordination and management, visiting team coordination and logistics, game management, marketing and community outreach, media services, medical services, and other ancillary services and expenses.
The expenses that were incurred by SALOC that were deemed eligible for reimbursement sum to $391,482.03 combined and when matched with the City’s total contribution of $62,637.88 affords the reimbursement from the Events Trust Fund totaling $454,119.91. The City has since been reimbursed its local match portion of $62,637.88.
ALTERNATIVES:
If the reimbursement agreement is not approved, SALOC would not recover eligible costs they incurred in putting on the event. Additionally, the City may lose its opportunity to successfully solicit future events and partnership opportunities with SALOC.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the reimbursement of $391,482.03 to SOLAC for expenses incurred during the 2015 U.S. Masters Swimming Nationwide Spring Nationals, the 2015 USA Swimming Speedo Junior National Championships, and the 2015 USA Swimming Phillips 66 National Championships. The City previously provided three separate local matches for the events summing to $62,637.88, which are requirements for participation in the Events Trust Fund program and have since been fully reimbursed back to the City by the Trust Fund. There are no other expenses or obligations incurred by City.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the reimbursement agreement with SALOC to assist in ensuring San Antonio continues to be a premier host city in attracting major amateur sporting events.