The following resolution was presented to Lancaster City Council by President Julianne Dickson during the City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 27, 2006.

This resolution was not scheduled to be on the agenda; instead it was added DURING the meeting, which limited the public's opportunity to be present and respond. Although Robert's Rules of Order allows for items to be added to the agenda at the last minute, considering how controversial this project has been over the last seven years calls into question whether City Council is avoiding public input.

This resolution contains several exaggerations and outright lies. Particularly offensive is the statement that "limiting the collection of hotel room taxes would damage the economy of Lancaster County", which has no basis in truth. The statment "drastically and negatively impact tourism marketing dollars" is also untrue, since the County Commissioners have vowed to increase funding for the Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau by increasing the separate "excise tax" on hotel rooms in all of Lancaster County. And to compare multipurpose venues in surrounding municipalities with the proposed limited purpose convention center in Lancaster City is like comparing apples and oranges.

WHEREAS, in 1999 a previous Board of Lancaster County Commissioners approved a 3.9-percent tax on hotel room rentals to generate funding to construct and market a publicly owned convention center; and

WHEREAS, since that time public/private funding mechanisms have been used to build indoor event spaces throughout South Central Pennsylvania including the Giant Center in Hershey, the Sovereign Center in Reading, the York Expo Center, and expansion to the State Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg; and

WHEREAS, these are clear examples of successful public/private partnerships that have strengthened the ability of surrounding Counties to compete for tourism and event dollars; and

WHEREAS, Lancaster County Commissioners have adopted a comprehensive plan which states that "the development of tourism products in the City of Lancaster is an exciting and vital component of the future of tourism in Lancaster County"; and

WHEREAS, public confidence is diminished and the credibility of government is compromised when elected officials are unwilling to uphold policies and honor commitments made by predecessors; and

WHEREAS, the room tax as adopted is a reasonable way to raise revenue by taxing only those individuals who elect to stay in hotels or motels in Lancaster County.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Lancaster does express its strong conviction that to limit the collection of such taxes would work to damage the economy of Lancaster County, drastically and negatively impact tourism marketing dollars, and undermine our efforts to establish the City of Lancaster as a tourism destination for years to come.