City Council revamps HOT funds

The Orange City Council came up with new amounts for hotel/motel tax funds for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 after some tweaking at their regular meeting on Tuesday morning.

Last month, allocated the following HOT funds to various organizations:

Southeast Texas Arts Council $18,837

Heritage House $30,000

Friends of the Orange Depot $15,000

Chamber of Commerces $40,000

CVB Revised Proposed Budget $378,163

Gulf Coast Cajun-Annual Festival $3,000

Orange Trade Days $2,500

Riverfront Pavilion Alternatives $75,000

SETAC Off Ramp Magazine $2,500

Total $565,000

At the September 23 council meeting, however, many in support of Southeast Texas Arts Council, particularly the Lutcher Theater, requested the funding be reconsidered and increased.

For instance, Jim Clark with the Lutcher Theater reported that in 35 years the theater has been opened 800,000 have attended performances, many renting motel rooms in Orange for stays. “The Lutcher Theater has the greatest impact in hotel occupancy in Orange,” Clark said.

Others said the theater creates business development and downtown development.

The council tabled the motion at the September 23 meeting to take it up again at the October 14 meeting.

The council approved the new amounts as follows:

Southeast Texas Arts Council $30,000 and $2,500 for advertising and promotion of tourism

Heritage House Museum $30,000

Friends of the Orange Depot $15,000

Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce $65,000

Gulf Coast Cajun $3,000

Orange Trade Days $2,500

Keith Brice with the Granger 5K Walk/Run race held Oct. 4 thanked the city for their cooperation.He said the event was a big success and over $15,000 were raised in proceeds. Of all the participants, 158 signed up and 136 either walked or ran. Brice particularly thanked Jay Trahan, Orange Economic Development Corporation director, Orange Police Chief L.L. Martin, city staff, representatives from Lamar State College-Orange, school district volunteers, Baptist Orange Hospital, Phillips Chevron, DuPont, Sampson Energy, Sabine FCU for their help in getting everything ready.

Brice said they are planning for next year's race.

The city also executed an industrial district agreement with Cloeren Industries. The site is on Highway 62, north of Interstate 10.

The term of the agreement will be for 13 years beginning Jan. 1, 2015 and continue until Dec. 31, 2027, unless sooner terminated earlier.

The annual payment will be computed based on 100 percent of the fair market value of the company's properties together with the application of an industrial district rate of .6417 per $100 which is equivalent to 93 percent of the city's ad valorem tax rate of .6900 per $100.

An agreement was extended with Tim Richardson for a six month period for consulting work related to the city seeking BP Deepwater Horizon Restoration Funding for a variety of purposes determined by the city including environmental infrastructure improvements.

The term of the extension will be Oct. 1, 2014 and expire on April 1, 2015. The monthly invoice of $4,000 monthly and $48,000 annually as approved in the original agreement.

Councilwoman Essie Bellfield asked City Manager Shawn Oubre if anyone closer than Richardson, who lives in Washington, D.C., can do the work. Oubre there's no one who has his expertise.