...Title
Adopt Joint City Council/Municipal Improvement District Board Resolution Approving First Amendment to Memorandum of Agreement with Noyo Center for Marine Science and Authorizing City/District Manager to Execute Same
...Summary
On the November 8, 2016 General Election ballot, the voters of Fort Bragg approved Measure AA to increase the Transient Occupancy Tax (a bed tax paid when overnight visitors rent a room) from 10% to 12% effective April 1, 2017. The voters also approved Measure AB, a companion advisory measure, by which the voters advised the City Council to use the additional Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenues in the following manner: (i) One-half of the revenues to substantially increase promotions, events and marketing for Fort Bragg; (ii) One-quarter of the revenues to enhance Coastal Trail maintenance and security; (iii) One-eighth of the revenues to support establishment of the Noyo Center for Marine Science as a premier visitor attraction; and (iv) One-eighth of the revenues to undertake special projects that support tourism and benefit the community, including, but not limited to, repair and enhancement of local athletic fields. The FY 2017/18 Budget allocates $54,257 for the Noyo Center from Measure AA funds for FY 2017-2018.
The City of Fort Bragg and the Noyo Center for Marine Science non-profit entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in December 2015 that articulates the many agreements and understandings that have developed between the two parties as the Noyo Center transitioned from a City-sponsored economic development initiative to a non-profit organization governed by an independent Board of Directors. Staff recommends that the MOA be amended to include a provision that addresses the grant of Measure AA funds to the Noyo Center and specifies that funds will be transferred on a quarterly basis and that the Noyo Center will provide mid-year and annual reports to the City Council to identify progress towards its goals.