Tourism Commission Agrees on New Policy Financing Non-Profit Events

The new city council will consider a new tourism policy when it meets at City Hall on April 21. City Attorney Bob Sweeney drafted the policy because an increasing number of nonprofit organizations have asked the Tourism Commission to help manage fundraisers.

Tourism Commission members voted 8-0 to approve the policy in a commission meeting at City Hall on April 6.

Mayor Ron Counts asked that policy determine the commission’s standards for issuing money to organizations, Director of Administration Greg Hall said to commission members.

“The organizations cannot be political, and we cannot show favorites,” Hall said about the organizations requesting money. 

The policy also requires organizations to explain how their fundraisers will boost tourism and increase sales tax revenue from Arnold retailers, gas stations and restaurants, Hall said.

Hall said the commission will receive many requests but the policy, if the city council approves it, will create criteria to evaluate and compare proposals.

“The criteria will be similar to the bidding process for a city contract,” Hall said.

Organizations must also explain which city resources are needed—volunteers, security, location, money—the amount, and the days those resources will be used, Hall said. 

Tourism grants must increase the number of people visiting and spending money in Arnold, Mayor Ron Counts said in a separate council meeting at City Hall, at 2101 Jeffco Blvd, on March 29.

State law requires the city to spend tourism grant money only on events that bring people into cities’ boundaries.

The tourism funds cannot go toward the construction of a new building or toward remodeling an existing structure, City Administrator Matt Unrein said.