Commission recommends streamlined event funding programs with new seasonality and charitable criteria

The Scottsdale Tourism Development Commission recommended a set of revisions to the city event funding programs, endorsing a red‑line package that adds a charitable component to applications, tightens seasonality criteria and clarifies eligibility rules.

City staff presented changes to the four event funding programs (matching event, community event, venue fee and event development programs). Staff said the red‑lined revisions add a required charitable component to application materials, define the seasonality funding period as July through September for certain seasonality criteria and add expos to the list of ineligible event types. Staff also reported a parks department input that venue-fee funds will not be dispersed for fields that are reserved but not used to capacity, as determined by Parks and Recreation.

Another eligibility change makes applicants who have participated in community event funding programs ineligible to apply for the larger event development funding program. Staff said the seasonality change would affect about eight events if adopted. Commissioners thanked staff for addressing prior comments, and a commissioner moved to adopt the streamlined program changes; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Staff said the revised program documents and the recommended changes will be forwarded to City Council as part of the annual event‑funding process and that staff will provide quarterly and post-event reporting to the commission moving forward.