Explanation
The 2015 North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) Gay Softball World Series will be held at Lou Berliner Park from August 14 through August 22, 2015. The event will feature approximately 180 teams and 2,700 attendees are expected to participate in nine days of events.
Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission (GCSC) project that NAGAAA will generate an estimated $5 million in visitor spending and nearly 10,000 hotel room nights which in turn will support the city's bed and income tax receipts as well as boost county sales tax receipts.
The City of Columbus, in partnership with Franklin County, Experience Columbus and the GCSC wish to capitalize on this opportunity to promote Columbus and central Ohio as an excellent destination for convention and leisure travel, and to further promote Columbus as an open and welcoming community by supporting the Gay Softball World Series.
With Council support, the $15,000 would match the commitment made by Franklin County.
Title
To authorize City Council to enter into grant agreement with the Greater Columbus Sports Commission for the purpose of supporting the 2015 North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) Gay Softball World Series; and to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $15,000.00 in the Cultural Services Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($15,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the 2015 North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) Gay Softball World Series will be held at Lou Berliner Park from August 14 through August 22, 2015; and
WHEREAS, the Gay Softball World Series will feature approximately 180 teams and 2,700 attendees are expected to participate in nine days of events; and
WHEREAS, Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission (GCSC) project that NAGAAA will generate an estimated $5 million in visitor spending and nearly 10,000 hotel room nights which in turn will support the city's bed and income tax receipts as well as boost county sales tax receipts; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, in partnership with Franklin County, Experience Columbus and the GCSC wish to capitalize on this opportunity to promote Columbus and central Ohio as an excellent destination for convention and leisure travel, and to further promote Columbus as an open and welcoming community by supporting the Gay Softball World Series; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the City in that it is immediately necessary to enter into said agreement so funding is in place for said expenditures and programming in advance of the scheduled event; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor be and is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $15,000 in the Cultural Services Fund, Fund 231, to City Council Department No. 20-01, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 200212.
SECTION 2. That City Council is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with The Greater Columbus Sports Commission and to expend the funds appropriated in Section 1 to promote the 2015 North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) Gay Softball World Series.
SECTION 3. That this contract is awarded pursuant to the relevant provisions of City Code Chapter 329 relating to not-for-profit contracts
SECTION 4. That for the reason stated in the preamble here to, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.