Section 5. Tourism Advisory Committee. There is hereby established a Tourism Advisory Committee that shall assist in the administration and oversight of the use of HOT funds. The Committee shall be appointed by the City Council and shall consist of seven regular members and two alternates. In accordance with Section 2-186 of the Balch Springs Code of Ordinances voting members shall be selected from among the residents of the City. The Economic Development and Tourism Departments shall serve as staff liaisons for the Committee. The Committee shall select from its members a President and Vice-President and shall meet as-needed in order to carry out the purposes of this Resolution, and shall be assisted by City staff on a time-available basis. The Committee shall have authority to make a final decision regarding the use of HOT funds up to $2,500.00. Any requests exceeding $2,501.00 must be approved by the City Council. At no time shall a member of the Committee vote on any funding request in which the member is associated, either directly or indirectly, with the organization requesting the funding. The Committee Meetings shall be open to the public and shall follow the procedures provided by the Texas Open Meetings Act. At least annually, the coordinator shall give a written report to City Council of the status of the HOT Fund and provide a list of awardees of the HOT funds. Appointments shall be for two years.

Section 4. Use of HOT Revenue.

In order to attract tourists and visitors to the City of Balch Springs, the city shall promote certain activities by the payment of a portion of the municipal HOT revenue to the Balch Springs Tourism Advisory Committee subject to the following regulations:

• (a)The payment and use shall be subject to state law.
• (b)In general, the funds shall be divided for the following purpose and in the following percentages:
• i.Convention and Visitors Bureau purpose and/or program administration: twenty percent (20%); and
• ii.Advertising for tourism related advertising and promotion of the city fifteen percent (15%); and
• iii.Promotion of the Arts: ten percent (10%); and
• iv.Historical restoration and preservation ten percent (10%); and
• v.Maintenance and upgrades to the Civic Center twenty percent (20%); and
• vi.Eligible Tourism Events (City Events and City Sporting Events) twenty percent (20%); and
• vii.The remaining five percent (5%) shall be distributed amongst the above listed categories at the Committees discretion.
• (c)Funds currently available at the end of each fiscal year shall be allocated in the manner and percentages stated in subpart (b).

Section 5. Use of Tax Revenue for Convention and Visitor Center Purposes.

In order to construct, improve, enlarge, equip, repair operation and maintenance and use of convention facilities or visitor information centers in the City of Balch Springs, the City shall make available a portion of the HOT revenue to the Tourism Advisory Committee subject to the following regulations: