ORDINANCE NO. BL2010-726

An ordinance appropriating two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) to the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau to assist in post-flood tourism development and promotion efforts in the Music Valley area.

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan County Council (“Council”) adopted Ordinance No. BL2007-1557 authorizing the collection of an additional one percent Hotel Occupancy Tax (“Additional Hotel Occupancy Tax”); and

WHEREAS, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 7-4-102(b)(3) provides that the Additional Hotel Occupancy Tax derived in a secondary tourism development zone be deposited into the local government’s general fund; and,
WHEREAS, the Additional Hotel Occupancy Tax derived from the secondary tourism development zone has been deposited into a Account #01103260.502617 (“Hotel Occupancy 2007 1% Secondary TDZ”) in the General Fund; and

WHEREAS, between May 1 and May 2, 2010, unprecedented rainfall was experienced in the Middle Tennessee region causing extensive flooding and damage throughout the area of the Metropolitan Government; and

WHEREAS, the May 2010 flooding disaster caused extensive damage to the Pennington Bend area of the Metropolitan Government also known as Music Valley, a key component of the Music City brand, a nationally known tourist destination; and

WHEREAS, the May 2010 flooding disaster resulted in a drastic decline of tourism in the Music Valley area causing an economic hardship for the businesses and a loss of tax revenues for the Metropolitan Government; and

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Government contracts with the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau to provide services that brand, sell and market Nashville, Music City, to the world as a premier entertainment destination for leisure and convention experiences,; and

WHEREAS, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau requires additional funds to provide marketing services that combat the loss of tourism in the Music Valley area since the 2010 flooding disaster; and

WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau to use these funds for advertising, visitor transportation, marketing material production, event production, including a celebration promoting the return of the Opry to Music Valley in October, and other tourism promotion and development activities in the Music Valley area; and,

WHEREAS, it is necessary for the general welfare of the inhabitants of the Metropolitan Government to expedite and assist in tourism development and promotion efforts in the Music Valley area by appropriating two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) of the Additional Hotel Occupancy Tax collected and on deposit in a Account #01103260.502617 of the General Fund to the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau to provide such tourism promotion services.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1: The amount of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) shall be appropriated to the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau from the unencumbered fund balance of Account #01103260.502617 (“Hotel Occupancy 2007 1% Secondary TDZ”) for the purpose of advertising, visitor transportation, marketing material production, event production, including a celebration promoting the return of the Opry to Music Valley in October, and other tourism promotion and development activities in the Music Valley area.

Section 2: Prior to any disbursement of appropriated funds authorized by this Ordinance, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau shall certify the actual itemized expenses related to the tourism promotion and development activities in the Music Valley area in a report to be delivered to and accepted by the Director of Finance.

Section 3: This Ordinance shall take effect from and after its passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Phil Claiborne, Ronnie Steine, Erik Cole

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Introduced:	July 20, 2010
Passed First Reading:	July 20, 2010
Referred to:	Budget & Finance Committee Convention & Tourism Committee
Passed Second Reading:	August 3, 2010
Passed Third Reading:	August 17, 2010
Approved:	August 18, 2010
By: