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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/17/1989 Adjourned Meeting 200 JULY 17,:.1989 ADJOURNED COUNCIL MEETING - YAKIMA CENTER , The City Council met in session on this' 'date at 11:00 A.M. the Yakima Center. Council members present were Mayor Pat Berndt, Clarence Barnett, Henry Beauchamp (present after 11:20 A.M.), Lynn Buchanan, Lynn Carmichael, Jerry Foy and Bernard Sims. Staff members present were City Manager Zais, Assistant City Manager Stouder, Glenn Rice, Director of Community & Economic Development, Don Skone, Planning Manager, Larry Lehman, Planning Associate, and Karen Roberts, City Clerk. County Commissioners present were Alex Deccio and Graham Tollefson. Also present were Kathy Coffey, Executive Director of the Yakima Center, and Gil Langley, consultant with Bucher, Ratliff and Willis. 1. PRESENTATION OF CONSULTANT REPORT REGARDING FEASIBILITY OF EXPANDING THE YAKIMA CENTER Glenn Rice stated, with the advent of the SunDome, the City thought it was prudent to conduct a feasibility study on the expansion of the Yakima Center. He introduced Gil Langley, in charge . of tourism facilities at Bucher, Ratliff and Willis. Gil Langley gave sane information on his firm and on his own education and professional background. He stated his firm was engaged by the City of Yakima to conduct a study on the feasibility of the expansion of the Yakima Center. The main tasks of the study were: 1) reassess Yakima's position in the convention and trade show market and an analysis of present facility utilization; 2) to establish a profile of state -wide and regional meetings and trade shows for which Yakima currently competes, as well as a profile of meetings that could be solicited with expanded facilities; 3) examine the impact of the Sun[ome on convention and trade show activities; and 4) evaluate number of available guest roans in Yakima related to serving the current facilities and an expanded Convention Center. He stated that overall they found there had been little change in the meeting market as far as Yakima is concerned. They noted the average size of meetings is increasing slightly. The local meetings in Yakima utilize about 19,000 sq. ft. of convention space, a bit more than what is available in the Center, so it's important that the hotels be located close to the Center to take advantage of their meeting roans. Speaking about the SunDome, he said it can accommodate 330 trade show or exhibit booths vs 108 10x10 at the Center. The SunDome is an asset to the package for marketing Yakima. He commented as far as he is aware, there are no plans to expand hotel roans in Yakima, which is important for conventions. In the City there are about 1100 hotel rooms used for marketing events. There is a total number of 1639 roans available within a 15 minute radius. He stated it is important to remember the purpose of a convention center is not necessarily to make money for the Center, but the economic activity is significant. (Council member Beauchamp present at 11:20 A.M.) Mr. Langley stated he does not believe there will be a significant growth in the number of meetings in Washington. He further commented, there are more communities entering the market, making everything more competitive. He reviewed the alternatives listed on page 18 of the report: 1) no expansion of the Center and 2) expansion of Center by approximately 20,000 sq. ft., double the size it is now, which would handle all but about 18% of the exhibit space requirements. The increase and demand would not come from larger meetings, but the capability of holding simultaneous events. He said that if the SunDome builds a conference center of about 20,000 - 40,000 sq. ft., there may be some possibility of the facility being competitive in nature. He commented that in order for the Yakima Center to maintain its position in the convention and trade show market, there would have to be a continuation of the superior marketing efforts and serious consideration to an increase in funding. If the Center were to expand 20,000 sq. ft., we think that would garner an increased number of meetings and conventions for the City; simultaneous meetings, not larger meetings. He estimated roan tax revenue would only increase by about $13,000. 2 0 �_ • JULY 171989 ADJOURNED COUNCIL MEETING - YAKIMA CENTER He stated the decision to expand the :Convention Center cannot be made based upon increased room tax, but rather the City, County and Fair Board should consider 1) maintaining a positive image in the meetings market; 2) prevent a decline in market share as a result of an inability to host simultaneous meetings; and 3) coupled with a successful marketing program, increasing the economic impact of tourism on the local economy. He stated he believes a single group should be responsible for the marketing of all the facilities in Yakima County.. Mr. Langley then reviewed._..the four recommendations found on page 22 of the report: 1) City and Bureau work closely with the County and ,Fair Board to .prevent construction of competitive meeting facilities in association with the SunDome; 2) that the Visitors .& Convention Bureau be .established as the clearinghouse for all meeting and trade show marketing; 3) complete an architectural evaluation of expanding the present Convention Center; and 4) if the Center is expanded, both nearby hotel facilities should be encouraged to add roans as well. • Mr. Langley responded to questions, beginning with Alex Deccio's question that even though the conference center is going to be constructed at the SunDome, is it still recommended the Convention • Center be expanded. Mr. Langley responded he .thinks expansion of the Center should be further explored. The City should proceed with the architectural evaluation and then do a further evaluation . on whether that expansion can be justified. Referring to pages 5, ll'and 13, Kurt Layman, Union Gap Council member, asked if the consultant's approach would be different ' if' all the data had been available. He further asked if the Center could do a better job of obtaining that data. Mr. Langley spoke about the improvements made as a result of new direction by the Board of Directors, .commenting he thought staff did an excellent job.•Assuming the meeting rooms are built at the SunDome and there is no expansion • to the Yakima Center, Mr. Zais asked how Mr. Langley views the economic growth of the Center. Mr. Langley referred to the report, stating the future would continue to see some growth, but that growth would be slow and in the long term, there would be a decline in business. Phil Lamb, .Yakima City /County Hearing Examiner, asked about the losses for the Center. Mr. Langley said there are • facilities which make money. We hoped get across in the report that anytime a community goes into the convention business they can't expect it to be self supporting. Mr. Deccio stated a lot of things have been said today and he would like to schedule a press conference to provide the public . with more information on the SunDome. He added he believes there has to be complete cooperation between the two facilities and would like to take the opportunity to expand on that at some other time. • It was MOVED BY CARMICHAEL, SECONDED BY BEAUCHAMP, THAT THIS MEETING BE ADJOURNED AT THE HOUR OF 11:55 A.M. - Unanimously carried by voice vote. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY• / Y 1 OA CIL MEMBER ' ATE � I . . I ■!/ - 4.1 i . , 1 ) ) - COUNCIL EMBER 41 DATE ATTEST: • 1<a) e---&-SeAta) CITY CLERK MAYOR • • • •