A resolution expressing the Metropolitan Council's support for the Music City Center state legislative package and requesting the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly to support the necessary state legislation to allow the Music City Center project to proceed.

WHEREAS, hosting visitors is one of Nashville's top industries; and

WHEREAS, the Nashville hospitality industry employs 57,600 people, or one out of every five workers in Davidson County, and contributes more than $1.6 billion in payroll to our citizens; and

WHEREAS, visitors to Nashville contribute more than $170 million in annual state tax receipts and more than $89 million annually in local tax receipts; and

WHEREAS, Tennessee and Davidson County are sales tax-based economies partially funded by the $3.5 billion spent by visitors to Nashville; and

WHEREAS, Nashville's economy needs to grow in order for the state and local government to generate sufficient tax revenues to support governmental programs and services; and

WHEREAS, a study performed for Nashville by the international consulting group KPMG in 2004 stated that the current Nashville Convention Center could not accommodate 80% of surveyed meeting planners due to its size and configuration; and

WHEREAS, the KPMG study cited convention business lost on a daily basis; and

WHEREAS, the Music City Center Coalition has prepared a convention center funding package that does not impact Davidson County residents; and

WHEREAS, the Music City Center Coalition has filed legislation with the State of Tennessee to support the funding of the Music City Convention Center; and

WHEREAS, the Music City Center Coalition's recommendation is to invest in a new center that will drive business, keep major conventions coming to Nashville, and continue to grow the tax base contributed by visitors.

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

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as supporting the state legislative package submitted by the Music City Center Coalition.

Section 2. The Metropolitan County Council further requests the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly to support the necessary state legislation that would allow the Music City Center project to proceed.

Section 3. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to each member of the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly.

Section 4. That this Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Charlie Tygard, Buck Dozier, Jim Shulman, Billy Walls, Ludye Wallace