Kittitas Valley Event Center Barns & Bloom Pavilion Project-Kitt Co

Home Browse Search

specific resources such as lodging tax but with coverage Day weekend Rodeo is the responsibility of the nonprofit Ellensburg requirements that could require demonstration of cash flows well in Rodeo Association. excess of annual debt repayments.GO bonding backed by the full faith and credit of Kittitas County will buy far more indebtedness The opportunity to make major capital improvements often capacity than revenue bonding but is viable only to the extent that provides an opportunity to re-evaluate current ownership and sufficient resources are allocated within the County to make management arrangements -to assure that facility management is principal and interest payments over the full term of repayment.in alignment with capacity for increased financial outlays to pay for Unless revenue sources other than lodging tax can also be secured,capital improvements and expanded operations. non-voted debt should be expected to cover only a portion of the facility cost -at least in the short term.Following is a detailed comparison of alternative management options including examples of facilities owned and operated in a Special legislation -has proven to be a means for funding a wide similar fashion to the Event Center as well as a variety of hybrid range of event facilities across the state -especially for facilities approaches.The Event Center is operated as a county or publicly proven to of significance to the entire state and not just one owned approach for most on-site activities except for the annual community or region.Examples of such legislative appropriations Rodeo which is consistent with the county-owned and non-profit or tax authorizations have been made for facilities as diverse as operational model. Expo '74 in Spokane (including facilities that became the Performing Arts Center and Convention Center),Yakima Sun Dome,Tri-Cities There appear to be no identified models of a purely private owned Trade Recreation Agriculture Center (TRAC),the Washington State and operated fairgrounds-related event facility in the Pacific Convention Center in Seattle,and restoration of the Officers Row in Northwest.What are often considered as private operations Vancouver,While obtaining special legislation for communities typically fall into the category of non-profit ownership and/or outside the Puget Sound region can be challenging,these examples management. illustrate the role that legislation action can play in facilitating major event projects that likely would not occur without Examples of private operators operating under a management supplemental or non-local funding support.agreement with a public or non-profit facility owner are often convention and conference facilities rather than properties where Conclusion fair-related use is the dominant activity.Private ownership interest A multiplicity of funding sources will likely be required to fund the can be expected only when there is clear profit potential from all full range of Event Center improvements.As noted at the outset,operations.This is typically not the case for fairgrounds, funding will also not likely occur all at once,but incrementally.convention centers,and arenas that almost always require non- Success with each phase will provide stronger rationale and support project based funding support. for each subsequent round of funding. Fairground &Events Facility Management Options Management options Option Examples Pros &Cons Comments County •Kittitas Events Pros:Popular The Event Center is owned and managed by Kittitas County with or Center .Maintains public approach in some property portions owned by the Ellensburg Rodeo Publicly-(for non-control &Oregon and Association.Operating under the authority of the Kittitas County Owned &rodeo events)accountability with some Board of County Commissioners,the Fair Board is responsible for Operate •Spokane •Provides options large conducting the Annual Agricultural County Fair.The annual Labor County Fair &for multiple public fairgrounds 23