Agenda

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City Council Regular Meeting

Meeting Date:

06/22/2021

BACKGROUND

The Schertz Civic Center was built in 2006 as part of a CO bond from 2004. The facility cost $3 million to build and is currently being used for rental space and office space for Public Affairs staff. Since it was built, there have not been any major upgrades done to rental equipment and until recently there had not been any major improvements to the facility since it was built in 2006.

Over the past two years, staff has made a concerted effort to complete necessary maintenance and upgrades to the facility including the replacement of the A/V system and a remodel of the Grand Ballroom and Bluebonnet Hall Kitchens. In FY 2020-2021, the Civic Center Grand Ballroom is scheduled to have the flooring replaced as the current flooring is damaged and worn down over 10+ years of use. In addition to the flooring replacement, staff is recommending the purchase of 450 new chairs for the Grand Ballroom. As the facility ages, upkeep of the facility and also equipment has become increasingly important in order to maintain an attractive and functional gathering space for the community and local businesses.

Staff has researched various chairs for the ballroom and has found an appropriate replacement for the current chairs. This chair is an upholstered stack chair and has a cushion in the seat and on the back of the chair. This equipment will be more comfortable, suitable, and appealing to our renters. The purchase of 450 chairs will cost $44,887.50. This purchase supports Public Affairs’ mission to promote Schertz, provide a high quality and fully functioning Civic Center for the community, and attract out-of-town guests/businesses.

Under Section 351.101(a)(1) Use of Tax Revenue in Texas Local Government Code, this project is qualified to use the City’s HOT fund for this purchase. Upon approval of the budget adjustment, the estimated timeline for delivery of the new chairs is about 60 days, depending on the manufacturers' availability. Civic Center staff will work with purchasing to complete the purchase through a Group Purchasing Cooperative contract which offers the best value/pricing on the chairs.

A portion of the current Grand Ballroom chair inventory will be reassigned to the Facilities Division to help support in-house functions which require seating for staff. The remainder of the inventory will be sold on Gov Deals.

GOAL

The goal of this ordinance is to amend the fiscal year 2020-2021 budget to provide funding for 450 new chairs in the Civic Center Grand Ballroom.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT

Upgrading the facility and inventory benefits the customers of the Civic Center internally and externally and helps attract guests, and increase hotel occupancies and additional rental opportunities.

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTION

Council approved this item at their meeting of June 8, 2021. Staff recommends the approval of Ordinance 21-T-25 on final reading authorizing the budget adjustment.

FISCAL IMPACT

This ordinance will allocate $44,887.50 from the City’s HOT Fund account. As of June 1, 2021 the HOT Fund account balance is $2,035,000.00.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends approval of Ordinance 21-T-25 on final read

Attachments
Ordinance 21-T-25
Chair Quote