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95. Regular Meeting July 26, 2004 Page 19 supplemented the income through increases in special events income, golf tournaments, publications, advertisement sales for publications, and other in-house projects served the membership and fundraisers. He stated the Chamber has gone without salary increases for about two years, because of a tight economy, and the overall Chamber budget has dropped about 2 percent over the last year to two years. Mayor Narvaiz inquired as to the membership decline. Mr. Neighbors stated the members who do exit surveys as members leave, stated business is closing and others state because of poor economy over the last two to two and a half years. Mayor Narvaiz inquired if the City funds more to Economic Development, would it be funding more into the cost of the shared staff and other expenses. Mr. Neighbors stated the Chamber does not change the overall Chamber budget or the individual contracts of the entities to the Chamber. He stated the primary reimbursement is office shared costs and salaries, which is reimbursed the following month. Mr. Thomaides inquired as to other expenses in the Chamber's budget increase. Dan Rogers stated the EDC is asking for $93,000.00 to be put into a special fund Mr. Neighbors stated in 2002-2003 the budget was $175,000.00 and in the FY2003-2004 budget there was a decrease to the EDC from $175,000.00 to $165,500.00 and an additional $100,000.00 the City Council had set aside for their EDC fund. He stated this year the Chamber is requesting an additional $100,000.00 which totals $160,000.00. Mayor Narvaiz stated if the Council takes their $100,000.00 from the Council's EDC fund and sets aside the same amount next year, this would solve the gap for the Conference Center Hotel Project funding. Mayor Narvaiz stated in 2002-03 the EDC was funded $175,000.00 and then reduced to $160,510.00 in the following Budget, but after they were funded an additional $83,000.00, EDC actually never received less money from one year to the next. Mr. Thomaides inquired as to the $19,000.00 request from the Chamber. Mr. Neighbors stated instead of calling it $19,000.00 the Chamber is requesting $280,000.00 versus what was received this year, which was about $243,000.00, and which included the $160,000.00. He stated after adding up the cost for travel increases, marketing cost increases, auto expenses due to the increase of gas prices and salary increases that totaled to $93,000.00. He stated then adding the $93,000.00 total equals $280,000.00. The Council agreed by consensus to bring back this discussion at the Special Meeting scheduled for August 2, 2004. Mayor Narvaiz inquired as to the percentage of the Administrative cost in the CVB Budget. Rebecca Ramirez, the Director of the Convention and Visitors' Bureau, stated thirty-four percent for administration expenses and a salary increase of a maximum of 3 percent. Mr. Thomaides stated he received a request for a second position. Ms. Ramirez stated this would be determined upon the outcome of the Hotel Conference Center. Mayor Narvaiz inquired as to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Membership. Richard Garza, the Director of Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, stated the Chamber has dropped 34 percent below last year. He stated the Chamber is currently at 271 members and they are trying to increase it to 350. Mayor Narvaiz inquired as to other income. Mr. Garza stated two years in a row the San Marcos River Fall Fest has been rained