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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-002 - Imposition of Tourism Promotion Tax•.. ~- P ,. ,,: - . BILL N0.2005-02 ORDINANCE N0.2005-02 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE IMPOSITION OF A TOURISM PROMOTION TAX PURSUANT TO SECTION 67.1360, RSMO., TO BE EFFECTIVE UPON APPROVAL BY A MAJORITY OF THE QUALIFIED VOTERS IN THE APRIL 5, 2005 GENERAL ELECTION WHEREAS, the staff of the City of Riverside, Missouri ("City") has reviewed and studied the imposition of a tax on the charges for all sleeping rooms paid by the transient guests of hotels, motels, bed and breakfast inns and campgrounds, and any docking facility which rents slips to recreational boats which are used by transients for sleeping in the City, and has presented the findings of such studies and reviews to the Board of Aldermen; and WHEREAS, Missouri Revised Statutes Section 67.1360(28) authorizes the City to impose a tax on the charges for such rooms, campsites and slips for funding the promotion of tourism, and further provides that such tax may be imposed at a rate of at least two percent but not more than five percent per occupied room per night; and WHEREAS, the Board of Aldermen has reviewed and examined the issue of imposing a four percent (4%) tax on each sleeping room or campsite occupied and rented by transient guests and on any docking facility which rents slips to recreational boats which are used by transients for sleeping in the City, the proceeds of such tax to be used solely for funding the promotion of tourism, and deems adoption and imposition of such tax to be advisable and in the City's best interests for the promotion of the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the City; and WHEREAS, Missouri Revised Statutes Section 67.1360 states that such a tax does not become effective unless the governing body of the City submits to the voters of the City at a state general, primary or special election, a proposal to authorize the governing body of the City to impose the tax pursuant to the provisions of Sections 67.1360 and 67.1362, RSMo; and WHEREAS, Missouri Revised Statutes Section 67.1362 provides that the imposition of such a tax is not effective unless a majority of the votes cast on the proposal by the qualified voters voting thereon are in favor of the proposal; and WHEREAS, the Board of Aldermen desires to submit to the qualified voters of the City at the April 5, 2005 general election the question of whether to impose such a tax. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of Aldermen of the City of Riverside, Missouri, as follows: Section 1. Pursuant to Section 67.1360, RSMo., the City of Riverside shall impose a four percent (4%) tax on the charges for all sleeping rooms paid by the transient guests of hotels, motels, bed and breakfast inns and campgrounds and any docking facility which rents slips to recreational boats which are used by transients for sleeping in the City, the proceeds of such tax to be used solely for funding the promotion of tourism (the "Tourism Promotion Tax"). y~ Section 2. The Tourism Promotion Tax shall not be imposed, and this Ordinance shall not be effective, unless: (a) the City submits to the voters of the City, at the April 5, 2005 general election, a proposal to authorize the Board of Aldermen of the City to impose the Tourism Promotion Tax; and (b) a majority of the votes cast on the Tourism Promotion Tax proposal by the qualified voters voting thereon are in favor of the proposal. Section 3. The ballot question concerning the Tourism Promotion Tax proposal shall read as follows: Shall the City of Riverside, Missouri, levy a tax of four percent (4%) on each sleeping room or campsite occupied and rented by transient guests and any docking facility which rents slips to recreational boats which are used by transients for sleeping in the City of Riverside, Missouri, where the proceeds of which shall be expended for promotion of tourism? []YES []NO Section 4. If a majority of the votes cast on the question by the qualified voters voting thereon are in favor of the question, then the Tourism Promotion Tax shall become effective on July 1, 2005, and not before. Section 5. The Mayor, the City Clerk and other City officials or City employees are hereby authorized to place on the ballot for consideration of the voters of the City the ballot question language provided in Section 3 of this Ordinance, and are further authorized to take all actions reasonably necessary to carry out the intent of this Ordinance. Section 6. The sections, paragraphs, clauses, and phrases of the Ordinance are severable and if any portion of the Ordinance is declared unlawful by the valid judgment, decree, or injunction order of a court of competent jurisdiction, such ruling shall not affect any of the remaining phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs, and sections of the Ordinance and all provisions of the Ordinance not specifically declared to be unlawful shall remain in full force and effect. Adopted and passed this 10`h day of January, 2005. MAYOR OFT CITY OF RIVERSIDE ATTES I CLERK 2 T~ ,.. .. n 1, ., ~ z ,,