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TDC approves $150,000 for Día de los Muertos, $75,000 for Barrett‑Jackson fall auction and $200,500 in event funding recommendations
Summary
The Scottsdale Tourism Development Commission approved a $150,000 bed‑tax expenditure for Scottsdale Día de los Muertos, a $75,000 funding request for a Barrett‑Jackson fall auction event and adopted staff's recommended event funding package totaling $200,500 (staff had recommended reductions from $227,500 in requests).
The Tourism Development Commission voted Aug. 19 to approve several event funding requests and staff recommendations.
Día de los Muertos: Robert Ramirez, executive producer of Lore Southwest, requested $150,000 in tourism development (bed‑tax) funds to support an expanded Día de los Muertos festival in Old Town Scottsdale—including international artist installations, a theater production and a daytime festival and procession. Ramirez described international partnerships (states in Mexico and national Mexican tourism offices), use of Scottsdale Civic Center and Old Town activations, and emphasized social‑media reach and ticketed theater components. Heather Mulhern, director of sales for SpringHill Suites Phoenix‑Scottsdale, said the event produced nearly $20,000 in revenue for a single property over a few days and urged ongoing support. A commissioner moved to fund the event at $150,000 (SEG 1353, mover: speaker 5); after a second, the motion passed (ayes recorded).
Barrett‑Jackson fall auction: Megan Jones, senior vice president of marketing and content for Barrett‑Jackson, reviewed last year’s economic impact and described enhancements for a Scottsdale fall auction—additional family programming, an indoor 'fan zone' with air conditioning and youth pricing. The presentation included reported metrics from prior events (attendees, bidders and charity totals) and noted a funding request for event development (ask referenced in the packet as $75,000). The commission moved and voted to approve the funding request (ayes recorded).
Event funding package: Staff summarized 16 funding requests across three event funding programs, noting eligibility criteria and recommending reductions in some line items (for example, recommending $12,500 for the Arabian Breeders Finals Cup where $30,000 had been requested). Staff said the total producer requests equaled $227,500 and its aggregate recommendation was $200,500. A commissioner moved to approve staff's funding recommendation of $200,500 (SEG 1655, mover: speaker 5); after a second the commission voted in favor.
Votes at a glance: - Día de los Muertos — motion to allocate up to $150,000 in bed‑tax funds; mover: speaker 5; second: not specified; outcome: approved (ayes recorded). (presentation: Robert Ramirez; provenance SEG 608–SEG 1362) - Barrett‑Jackson fall auction — funding request (ask referenced as $75,000); mover/second: not specified in transcript; outcome: approved (ayes recorded). (presentation: Megan Jones; provenance SEG 1370–SEG 1550) - Event funding package — motion to adopt staff recommendation of $200,500 (total); mover: speaker 5; second: not specified; outcome: approved (ayes recorded). (presentation: Steve (staff); provenance SEG 1567–SEG 1666)
Commissioners and staff noted the strategic alignment of funded events with Scottsdale’s tourism plan (art outdoors, culture/creativity and sense of place). Staff will proceed with contract/expenditure steps and follow the city’s procurement and accounting procedures for bed‑tax allocations.
