BY:  Councilmember Barsky

RESOLUTION NO. 09-31

A RESOLUTION STATING THE COUNCIL'S INTENT TO ALLOCATE $7,000 TO THE GRANVILLE FEDERATION FOR THE APPRECIATION OF THE BLUES IN SUPPORT OF THE ANNUAL HOTLICKS BLUESFEST TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2009

WHEREAS, the Granville Federation for the Appreciation of the Blues (hereinafter, referred to as "the GFAB") is a nonprofit organization that has a stated mission of promoting Granville, its businesses, and a variety of charitable organizations through the proceeds from an annual music festival; and 

WHEREAS, the 10th Annual Hotlicks Bluesfest, which is organized by the GFAB, is scheduled for Saturday, September 19; and

WHEREAS, the GFAB has requested funding assistance from the Village for the Bluesfest; and

WHEREAS, the Bluesfest is a significant community event that typically draws an estimated crowd of 4,000 to 4,500 for the one-day musical program; and

WHEREAS, a significant number of those attending the Bluesfest are visitors to the community and many of those visitors support other businesses and activities while they are in the community; and

WHEREAS, in addition to providing entertainment and promoting tourism within the Village, the proceeds from the Bluesfest in excess of the event's costs are donated to a Licking County not-for-profit social service organization; and

WHEREAS, the GFAB normally relies on private sponsors to provide the "seed money" that is used to contract for the headliner performer and to cover the other upfront costs that are associated with the staging and production of the show; and

WHEREAS, because of the current economic recession, the private funding for the show has not materialized.

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Council of the Village Granville, Ohio, that:

Section 1.  The Village Council hereby states its intent to allocate $7,000 in the form of an interest-free loan that may be forgivable but only if the production and associated costs for the Bluesfest exceed the income generated from the Bluesfest. 

Section 2. This allocation constitutes a public purpose for the following reasons:

a. It will promote the general welfare, prosperity, and contentment of Village residents;

b. It will promote tourism within the Village of Granville and stimulate the Village economy;

c. It will support an essential element of a special community event that will have significant public and community appeal; 

d. It will facilitate community awareness and exposure to the arts through activities related to the performing arts; and

e. Funding in support of community festivals is a common expenditure by other Ohio municipalities.

Section 3. The allocation of $7,000 shall be appropriated in the Contractual Services line item (230) in the Community Services program (A1-4-F).

Section 4. The Village Manager is hereby authorized and directed to enter into an "outcome" based agreement with the Granville Federation for the Appreciation of the Blues (GFAB) that will outline the amount of funds to be provided, the timing for the disbursement of the funds, the relative responsibilities of the GFAB and the Village of Granville, and the reporting that will be required, including a financial statement to document how the funds were spent as well as the program accomplishments. The agreement shall also note that this is a one-time allocation that is not intended to be ongoing. The agreement shall provide that some or all of the loan may be forgivable, upon approval by the Village Council, but only if but the production and associated costs for the Bluesfest exceed the income generated from the Bluesfest.  

Section 6. This resolution shall be contingent upon the adoption of a companion ordinance that would appropriate funds to cover this intended expenditure.

Section 7: This resolution shall take effect and be in full force immediately upon passage.

Passed this 6th day of May, 2009.