05-16-2023 RAPZ Committee Meeting

- The committee reconvened after a database error revealed about $1 million in previously uncounted RAPZ/restaurant tax funds, and it reviewed both committee and council-member recommendations to update the funding plan before the council’s May deadline. - Members discussed the legal and policy purposes of the two taxes: restaurant tax funds should primarily support tourism and economic activity, while RAPZ funds are divided among recreation, arts/cultural uses, and the zoo. - American West Heritage Center was increased by $15,000 to fully fund its request at $105,000, and Cache Valley Civic Ballet’s floor replacement project was increased to a $12,500 total; the ballet’s separate program request was left unchanged. - Cache Valley Center for the Arts received full-funding increases on both projects, bringing them to $120,000 and $50,000, and the three theater company requests were each raised by $5,000. - Several city projects were boosted: Hyrum City to $200,000, Millville’s tennis court lighting to $23,144, Paradise parks to $59,000, Providence skatepark to $200,000, and Smithfield City projects to $200,000 for Central Park and $50,000 for the museum. - Logan Downtown Alliance’s Top of Utah Marathon was fully funded at $15,000, Unicorn Theatre was raised to $10,000, Utah Festival Opera operations increased to $450,000, and Utah Festival Opera marketing was increased to $70,000 after debate about tourism impact and future sustainability. - The committee approved additional funding for Zootah, bringing it to $175,000, and for Stokes Nature Center, bringing it to the full $30,000 requested. - The committee also raised support for smaller-community projects, including Cornish parking improvements to $65,000 and Newton projects to $45,000 for pickleball courts and $15,000 for playground equipment, citing per-capita fairness and project importance. - A notable public comment and committee discussion centered on a suicide prevention concert led by United Way; despite concerns about precedent and whether entertainment funding fit the tax purpose, the committee approved an additional $10,000, for a total recommendation of $25,000. - The committee declined to accept a late additional request from the American Festival Chorus and Orchestra because it came after the application deadline, and it left some funding unallocated in reserve for possible future needs, including a likely airport request next year.