TAMRMS#: B06
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Tourism Supports
Notice given by: Mayor Heron
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BUDGET POSTPONED MOTION:
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That the operating budget be reduced by $57,600 to reduce tourism supports temporarily.
[Comment from the Mayor: I may amend this motion after questions about the airshow and sponsorship to snowflake festival. I am also considering just lowering the funding to the Visitor Centre and not entirely eliminating.]
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Administration’s Understanding of the Intent of the Motion:
That the Economic Development operating budget be reduced by $57,600 and that tourism services offered by the department and the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce be temporarily suspended.
Operational or Organizational Impacts if Motion is Approved:
That the following services be cut:
• Discontinue printing the Must See and Do Guide from 2021 forward. The guide promotes local tourist destinations and hospitality/retail businesses. 10,000 guides are printed and distributed throughout Alberta annually.
• Discontinue printing maps from 2021 forward. Currently three types of maps are printed and distributed:
• a large fold-out street map that is distributed at City facilities and a few local businesses (Alberta Motor Association, Visitor Welcome Centre, local hotels/motels and RV Park); this is the only street map printed for the City and is used by all City departments
• a tear off map that shows St. Albert amenities and is distributed at City facilities, the Visitor Welcome Centre and at events
• Trail running map that is distributed at City facilities
• No longer offer Park n’ Ride for the Edmonton Airshow for the 2021 event and onward.
• Cut funding for the Visitor Welcome Centre. This funding is provided to the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce. This cut would take effect as of January 2021.
• No longer sponsor the Snowflake Festival and the St. Albert Chamber Lifestyle Tradeshow and Expo as of 2021. The City sponsors the horse and carriage at the Snowflake Festival which relies on sponsorship for the event to happen.
Financial Implications of Motion:
$32,150 of the budget dollars directly support the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce through funding of the Visitor Welcome Centre and two of their events. The St. Albert Chamber of Commerce relies on the funding they receive from the City for Visitor Services to help reduce their cost of rent; the Chamber pays the City $39,999.99 for lease of the Visitor Welcome Centre where their offices are located. This may make it difficult for the Chamber to pay their lease, thus reducing the amount of income the City receives. The remaining $24,450 of the proposed temporary suspension is allocated directly towards visitor guide, maps, Air Show, etc.
Stakeholder Consultations:
Consultation with the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce to determine the impacts cutting funding for the Visitor Welcome Centre and sponsorship of two of their events will have.
Background:
The City of St. Albert has a Tourism and Welcome Services agreement with the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce to provide visitor services at the Visitor Welcome Centre and market the City of St. Albert to visitors at the St. Albert Lifestyle Expo, Rock’n August, Northern Alberta International Children’s Festival and St. Albert Farmers’ Market. The City’s current agreement with the Chamber has expired and was to be renegotiated in 2020 to determine other services the Chamber could offer. Pending a new agreement, the Chamber has continued to offer Visitor Services and the City has continued to pay the Chamber for the services.
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Report Date: December 1, 2020
Author: Sean McRitchie
Department: Economic Development
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer: Kerry Hilts
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble
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