Sparks: City creates tourism, marketing fund

Sparks city government is creating a new tourism and marketing fund in the city.

The fund will allow Sparks to account for payments used to promote tourism in the city, along with capital improvements and work in redevelopment areas. The tourism and marketing fund will allow the city to funnel room tax revenues more directly from the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority to special events. These include Hot August Nights and the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off.

The money used to be put into a city redevelopment account, making it harder to track.

In March, the visitors authority said it had given the city's tourism and marketing committee $436,000 too much over three years. Both parties said the overpayment happened because of an accounting oversight. Sparks is repaying the money.

Sparks finance director Tom Minton said the creation of the fund is simply to make the process more transparent, not because of the overpayment issue.

In other business this week, the council:

Accepted the donation of two used Regional Transportation Commission transit buses. Councilman and RTC Vice Chairman Ron Smith proposed that the RTC donate two surplus buses to the city.

The buses will be used for a variety of functions, including shuttling people to and from special events, field trips with elected officials and dignitaries and for emergencies. City employees will receive training to drive the buses. The annual cost to maintain the buses is approximately $16,000, with an initial cost of about $12,000.

Approved a $35,000 sponsorship to fund the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada. EDAWN promotes the region for economic and business development.

Confirmed the appointment of Doug Voelz to the Regional Planning Commission for a term through June 30, 2012.

Confirmed Mayor Geno Martini's appointment to the Regional Planning Governing Board through June 30, 2012, and Councilman Mike Carrigan's appointment through June 30, 2011.

Also, Martini presented incoming Reed High School senior Jenelle Yee with a commendation for being awarded the 2009 Alexander Hamilton Citizenship Achievement Award. The award is given to tomorrow's leaders by the Alexander Hamilton Friends Association.

Martini presented a proclamation recognizing Kindness Day, sponsored by the Summit in an effort to promote kindness in Sparks and throughout the Truckee Meadows. The Summit distributed 20,000 "Karma Cards" to people in the region for performing kind deeds.