In 2003, the Nevada Legislature enacted, and the Governor signed into law, Assembly Bill 205.  This legislation, subsequently codified in Chapter 432, Statutes of Nevada, Sections 6.6 to 6.9, imposed an additional tax at the rate of two and one-half percent (2.5%) on the gross receipts from the rental of transient lodging in the City of Sparks (Lodging Tax). The Lodging Tax is paid to the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, which distributes the proceeds to the Sparks City Council. The City Council may expend these proceeds after obtaining the “advice and recommendations” of the Sparks Tourism Facility and Revitalization Steering Committee (Committee), which was created by Section 6.8 of Chapter 432.

For the March 24, 2021 meeting of the Committee, its membership was comprised of:

-     Charlene Bybee, Sparks City Council, Chair

-     Mark Sterbens, General Manager, Nugget Casino Resort, Vice Chair

-     Ed Lawson, Mayor, City of Sparks

-     Representative from the RSCVA, Open Seat on Committee

-     Shannon Keel, General Manager, Grand Sierra Resort

The Committee is required to develop a master plan that identifies:

+    Proposed projects or capital improvements in Victorian Square, or that would provide a direct benefit to Victorian Square, that the Committee has determined would be advisable to promote tourism in Washoe County.

+    Method(s) pursuant to which the proposed projects and capital improvements identified in the plan will be financed.

The Committee first adopted a Master Plan in 2004, amended it in 2008, and amended it again in 2016. The 2016 update identifies purposes and projects for which Lodging Tax proceeds may be used, including the Victorian Square Infrastructure Improvement Project.  This project involves capital improvements for rehabilitation of the streetscape along: (a) Victorian Avenue between 15th Street and Pyramid Way; (b) Avenue of the Oaks between 11th and 14th Streets; (c) the areas adjacent to the north-south street couplet between Victorian Avenue and Avenue of the Oaks; (d) 13th Street between Avenue of the Oaks and Victorian Plaza Circle; and (e) the section of Victorian Square Plaza directly in front of the movie theater. The area for this project is defined in Exhibit 1 to the Master Plan.

In 2020, the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee produced a creative placemaking plan for downtown. Together We See Sparks Creative Placemaking Plan for Victorian Square was approved by City Council in May 2020. This plan is part of the renewed use of art to complement the downtown region as a gathering place for the citizens and visitors. One of the recommendations from the plan was a commissioned piece of art:

Recommendation #2: Commission a permanent work of public art in Victorian Square’s central plaza, the area of open space from the Nugget’s North Entrance to the Galaxy Theatre’s entrance. It is recommended that consideration be given to art that connects the plaza in some way. Since the artist will need to work with the planning department as they develop the site as a gathering space, this project is high priority.

Because the Plaza will be under construction, the site being considered is just south of the Plaza, the former site of the “Four Seasons” fountain. The fountain and concrete statues have been removed, and a 15-foot pedestal will be installed in this space. Because the area has both water and electricity, the possibilities are expanded on how the space can be used for art. The new pedestal can hold up to 20,000 lbs. This area would complement the upcoming “Urban Rooms” concept planned for the Plaza location. Other projects include murals, light pole metal signage, and landscaping projects to enhance the installed artwork.

On March 24 2021, the Committee considered and approved Resolution No. 6, which formally advises and recommends to the City Council that it expend up to $150,000 of Lodging Tax proceeds to commission a unique work of art and smaller related art projects for Victorian Square.

As discussed in the Background section above, the Committee’s Victorian Square Master Plan identifies the Victorian Square Infrastructure Improvement Project as appropriate for the use of Lodging Tax proceeds. In reaching its decision to adopt Resolution No. 6, the Committee reviewed and considered the staff report and map prepared in support of Resolution No. 6. Resolution No. 6 and the supporting documents provided to the Committee are attached to this staff report.

The City’s Victorian Square Lodging Tax fund had an unaudited ending fund balance at the end of fiscal year 2020 (June 30, 2020) of $4,838,018. The City’s current commitments for use of Lodging Tax proceeds total approximately $1,744,000, primarily for public art, three remaining annual payments to the Sparks Nugget for construction of the Nugget Events Center, and four remaining annual payments to Syufy Enterprises for renovation of the movie theater facility for Galaxy Theatres. The City thus has the financial capacity to not only expend $150,000 for Victorian Square to commission a unique work of art and smaller related art projects, but to also fund other projects as they arise, subject to Committee and City Council approvals.

City Council's acceptance of the Committee’s advice and recommendations as provided in Resolution No. 6 would enable the City to expend, through a separate action at a future City Council meeting, up to $150,000 of Lodging Tax proceeds to commission a unique work of art and smaller related art projects. The separate action is expected to take the form of City Council award of a commission for artwork and related projects in FY23.

1. City Council may accept Resolution No. 6.
2. City Council may reject Resolution No. 6.
3. City Council may direct the  Sparks Tourism Facility and Revitalization Steering Committee to reconsider or revise its recommendations.

I move to accept the advice and recommendations provided in Resolution No. 6 from the Sparks Tourism Facility and Revitalization Steering Committee regarding the expenditure of $150,000 in Lodging Tax proceeds for commissioned artwork in Victorian Square and related art projects.