HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 06/21/2022 - RESOLUTION 2022-064 APPROVING FORT FUND GRANT DISB Agenda Item 16
Item # 16 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY June 21, 2022
City Council
STAFF
Jim McDonald, Cultural Services Director
Solara Martin, Business Support
Ted Hewitt, Legal
SUBJECT
Resolution 2022-064 Approving Fort Fund Grant Disbursements - Organizational Support Category.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to approve Fort Fund grants from the Cultural Development and Programming
Account for the selected community events in the Organizational Support category, based upon the
recommendations of the Cultural Resources Board.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
The Fort Fund grant program, established in 1989, disburses lodging tax revenues deposited in the City’s
Cultural Development and Programming Account and the Tourism Programming Account in accordance with
the provisions of City Code Section 25-244, where 25% of the revenue from the lodging tax fund is applied to
the Cultural Development and Programming Account and 5% of revenue from lodging tax is dedicated to the
Tourism Programming Account. Local non-profit organizations may apply to Fort Fund for cultural and/or
tourism event support. The Cultural Resources Board is authorized to review grant applications based on
approved guidelines and make recommendations for Fort Fund disbursements to Council, pursuant to City
Code Section 2-145. There are three funding programs available: Organizational Support, Project Support,
and Project Support II for smaller arts and culture organizations.
Fort Fund grants support arts and cultural events that enrich the creative vitality of the community, promote
local heritage and diversity, and provide opportunities for arts and cultural participation. The grants help
promote Fort Collins as a creative center and tourist destination and promote the health and well-being of all
residents and visitors.
May 26, 2022, Funding Session
At its May 26, 2022, funding session, the Cultural Resources Board reviewed eight Organizational Support
applications with total requests equaling $307,000. Eight applications were found eligible and recommended
for funding for $185,000.
The following table summarizes the Organizational Support requests, available funds and recommended grant
award amounts:
Grant Requests Available Funds Grant Awards
$307,000 185,000 185,000
Agenda Item 16
Item # 16 Page 2
The Cultural Resources Board scored each application using the funding criteria outlined in the Fort Fund
Guidelines and discussed the applications at its meeting. The 2022 grant application specifically included a
question on how applicants would produce their project if COVID-19 restrictions were still in place. This aided
the Board with their review of the project feasibility. The Board discussion is outlined in the draft minutes. The
Board is recommending disbursement of $185,000 to the eligible applicants as outlined in Exhibit A to the
Resolution.
CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS
The Fort Fund grant program, established in 1989, disburses lodging tax revenues deposited in the City’s
Cultural Development and Programming Account and Tourism Programming Account in accordance with the
provisions of City Code Section 25-244. This Resolution would distribute $185,000 from the Cultural
Development and Programming Account to local non-profit organizations. Each grantee organization must
provide funds to match the grant amount. These funds were budgeted and appropriated in the 2022 budget.
Lodging tax is collected pursuant to City Code Section 25-242.
BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
The Cultural Resources Board is presenting these recommendations to Council for programs and
organizations to receive funding at the recommended grant amounts from the Cultural Development and
Programming Account.
Exhibit A to the Resolution presents the allocations recommended by the Cultural Resources Board to Council
for Organizational Support funding.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Cultural Resources Board Minutes (draft) (PDF)
DRAFTCultural Resources Board
REGULAR MEETING
Thursday, May 26, 2022 – 5:30 PM
Canyon West Room – The Lincoln Center
3/31/22– MINUTES Page 1
CALL TO ORDER: 5:38 PM
ROLL CALL
•Board Members Present - Will Flowers (Chair), Jean McGinnis, Vicki Fogel Mykles,
Nandini Singh, Leslie Walker
•Board Members Absent – Jennifer Zidon (Vice Chair)
•Staff Members Present -Jim McDonald, Solara Martin, Jaime Jones
•Guest(s) – Katy Schneider
AGENDA REVIEW
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
•Approval of March 2022 minutes. Leslie Walker made a motion to accept the minutes. Vicki
Fogel Mykles seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
•Katy Schneider, Director of Marketing, Visit Fort Collins – Update
o Lodging tax collection for April is just below 2019 numbers.
o Jim McDonald reminded the Board of the relationship between lodging tax and
the Fort Fund Grant Program.
o Visit Fort Collins is pursuing a branding initiative that will involve the Cultural
Resources Board and will require full community effort.
o The July issue of Travel Leisure Magazine will include a feature on Fort Collins.
•2022 Organizational Support – Discussion and Funding Recommendations
o The Board discussed and reviewed eight 2022 Organizational Support
applications and funding recommendations.
o The Board discussed the diversity of programs within applications and showed
support in the direction of the applications.
o Leslie Walker made a motion to accept the funding recommendations. Vicki
Fogel Mykles seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
•Fort Fund Grant Program Assessment
o Jim McDonald discussed with the Board that after further research and following
best practices, a recommendation to delay the implementation of the revised
guidelines until 2024, providing a transition year in 2023. There was additional
discussion about moving the informative public meetings from June of 2022 to
July or August of 2022 and releasing revised guidelines in the Fall of 2022.
ATTACHMENT 1
DRAFTCultural Resources Board
REGULAR MEETING
Thursday, May 26, 2022 – 5:30 PM
Canyon West Room – The Lincoln Center
3/31/22– MINUTES Page 2
o Nandini Singh made a motion to support having a transition year in 2023 and
implementing revised Fort Fund Grant Guidelines in 2024. Vicki Fogel Mykles
seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
o Jim McDonald asked the board to come to the June Cultural Resources Board
meeting prepared to discuss defining project/event grants versus programs
grants in the new Fort Fund Grant revisions.
o Will Flowers discussed and requested the Board revisit the wording of the
scoring questions in relation to the application questions, specifically focusing on
diversity, inclusion and community engagement.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
• Jim McDonald gave an overview of activities within the Cultural Services Department:
o The Lincoln Center 2022-2023 season was just released to the public with a
diverse slate of performances. The 2021-2022 season recently closed and was
very successful despite limitations due to Covid-19. Many rentals and weddings
are coming up for the summer. o The Gardens on Spring Creek just concluded their annual plant sale and broke
all previous records. They are opening an art show on June 3rd by local artists
Dan Huling and Todd Kundla called Bird House Village. The show will be on
display until February. o The summer concert series is taking place at the Gardens on Spring Creek in
collaboration with The Lincoln Center. Three of the six shows are already sold
out. o The Museum of Discovery is opening their new FOOD FOR THOUGHT exhibit
on June 19th for the summer. o The Cultural Services Department in collaboration with Americans for the Arts is
taking part in the Arts and Economic Study XI. Jim McDonald explained the study
to the Board and Fort Collins’ history of participation. o The City is currently in the budgeting process. The Cultural Services Department
currently has offers in for the facilities, Art in Public Places, and ARPA access
funding as well as some grants that would support the Recovery Plan adopted by
the City. The Department should know the direction of funding in late June.
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
• Will Flowers attended Sustain Music and Nature’s Trail Session at the Museum of
Discovery, Opera Fort Collins’s performance of The Magic Flute, and Centennial Children’s
Chorus Kids on Broadway performance where they gave Fort Fund the “Patron of the Year
Award”.
• Leslie Walker attended the Off the Hook Arts Performance of Trio Encuentros, Dance
Express Studio Concert 2022 and Sustainable Living Association’s Earth Day Celebration.
• Vicki Fogel Mykles attended Debut Theatre Company’s Alice in Wonderland Production.
DRAFTCultural Resources Board
REGULAR MEETING
Thursday, May 26, 2022 – 5:30 PM
Canyon West Room – The Lincoln Center
3/31/22– MINUTES Page 3
• Jean McGinnis attended the Northern Colorado Intertribal Pow-wow Association’s 2022 28th
Annual Spring Powwow and Indian Art Market, the Front Range Chamber Player’s concert,
and Larimer Chorale’s Longing for Light, Love & Hope performance.
OTHER BUSINES
ADJOURNMENT:
Leslie Walker made a motion to adjourn at 6:43 PM. Jean McGinnis seconded the motion.
The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Solara Martin
Business Support lII
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RESOLUTION 2022-064
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROVING FORT FUND GRANT DISBURSEMENTS –
ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT CATEGORY
WHEREAS, providers of lodging accommodations in the City are required by Section
25-250 of the City Code to pay three percent of all revenues derived from such lodging
accommodations to the City as a lodging tax; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 25-244 of the City Code, twenty-five percent of those
revenues are reserved for cultural development and programming, and seventy-five percent of all
revenues received by the City from lodging tax are reserved for promotion of convention and
visitor activities; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 25-244 of the City Code, the Community Cultural
Development and Programming Account was established for the purpose of funding cultural
development and programming activities, and the Tourism Programming Account was
established for the purpose of funding tourist-related special events; and
WHEREAS, the City disburses funds from the City's Cultural Development and
Programming Account and Tourism Programming Account in accordance with Sections 2-145
and 25-244 of the City Code through its Fort Fund Program; and
WHEREAS, there are three Fort Fund funding programs available for applicants:
Organizational Support, Project Support, and Project Support II for smaller organizations; and
WHEREAS, the City's Cultural Resources Board reviews applications from the
community for Fort Fund monies and makes recommendations to the City Council in accordance
with Section 2-145 of the City Code, and in accordance with the administrative guidelines for the
Fort Fund program (the “Fort Fund Guidelines”); and
WHEREAS, at its meeting on May 26, 2022, the Cultural Resources Board
recommended funding for various proposals in the Organizational Support category based on the
criteria and considerations set forth in Section 2-145 of the City Code and the Fort Fund
Guidelines; and
WHEREAS, the use of lodging tax revenues will provide a public benefit to the Fort
Collins community by supporting cultural development and public programming activities within
the City that promote the use of public accommodations within the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to approve Fort Fund grant disbursements as set
forth in Exhibit “A”.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
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Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and
findings contained in the recitals set forth above.
Section 2. That the City Council hereby finds that the distribution of funds through
the Fort Fund program as set forth on Exhibit “A” will promote the cultural and economic health
of the community and in doing so will serve a recognized and valuable public purpose.
Section 3. That funds in the total amount of ONE HUNDRED EIGHT-FIVE
THOUSAND DOLLARS ($185,000), from the City’s Cultural Development and Programming
Account, are hereby approved for distribution as set forth in Exhibit “A”.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this
21st day of June, A.D. 2022.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
EXHIBIT AAPPLICANT PROPOSED EVENT/DATEFUNDING REQUESTSCULTURAL DEVELOPMENT & PROGRAMMINGTOURISM PROGRAMMINGUNFUNDED BALANCEPERCENT OF REQUEST FUNDEDBas Bleu Theatre2022-2023 SeasonDates: September 2022- June 2023$27,000 $17,048 $9,952 63%Canyon Concert Ballet2022-2023 SeasonDates: August 2022- June 2023$40,000 $25,256 $14,744 63%Fort Collins Museum of DiscoveryNonProfit Partner2022-2023 ExhibitionsDates: July 2022- June 2023$40,000 $25,256 $14,744 63%Fort Collins Symphony Association2022-2023 SeasonDates: July 2022- May 2023$40,000 $25,256 $14,744 63%Larimer Choral Society2022-2023 SeasonDates: October 2022- May 2023$40,000 $21,468 $18,532 54%Museum of Art Fort Collins2022-2023 ExhibitionsDates: July 2022- June 2023$40,000 $25,256 $14,744 63%OpenStage Theatre & Company, Inc.2022-2023 SeasonDates: October 2022-July 2023$40,000 $22,730 $17,270 57%The Center for Fine Art PhotographyAnnual Programming FundingDates: July 2022- June 2023$40,000 $22,730 $17,270 57%Totals$307,000 $122,000 60%Scores are based on application materials and Fort Fund's "Criteria for Funding."$185,000FORT FUND GRANT PROGRAM2022 Organizational SupportApproved Funding EXHIBIT A