Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. President. Celebrating the Colorado Convention Centers 25th anniversary. Whereas in 1987, the Denver City Council approved funding for the design and construction of the Colorado Convention Center and in partnership with the Colorado Legislature, which approved purchase of the land. Ground was broken on for the center in 1988 and opened in June. 1990 is the 10th largest convention center in America. Where is the building was designed in a way that it could accommodate expansion. And in November 1999, Denver voters approved an increase in the lodgers and car rental tax to expand the center. It is worth noting that the architect's design included input from more than 200 national meeting planners, and that no doubt made it a better center. Whereas in 2002, the groundbreaking for the center expansion set a world record as the largest groundbreaking in history with more than 4000 participants. Yes, and I was one of them. And it was indeed crowded in 2004. Open is the largest public building in Colorado. 2 million square feet. And. Whereas, in 2008, Denver voters approved that increase in the largest tax for funds to increase tourism and convention marketing. And in since that time, 2008, the investment has reaped rewards. In Denver's tourism and convention. Business has grown 48% compared to the national growth of only 15%. Where is the Colorado Convention Center? Is known nationally as one of the greenest convention centers in the country, being the first to meet the Accepted Practices Exchange Apex Standard in 2012 and improving its leadership in energy and environment design. LEED rating to gold in 2014. And. Whereas, The Convention Center is an economic engine for Denver, generating $500 million annually in local economic impact, employing 200 full time and more than 400 part time staff. Driving demand for downtown Denver's 9000 hotel rooms and welcoming nearly a million visitors in 2014. Whereas the CDC is known for its public art, including the center's favorite piece of public art, the Blue Bear. And. WHEREAS, The Convention Center is a hub of continuing education for diverse industries and professionals from around the United States and the world . Where is the convention center consistently places its professional reviews by meeting planners is one of the top ten convention centers in the nation. Now, therefore, be it or plain by the council, the city and county of Denver, Section one. That Denver City Council will recognize as the Colorado Convention Center on its 25th anniversary and celebrates the many contribution the center has made to the economy, education and well-being of Denver citizens. Section two that the clerk of the city and county of Denver shall attest and affixed the sale of the city, the seal of the city in county Denver to this proclamation and the copies be transmitted to Richard Schaaf, president and CEO of Visit Denver. John Adams, general manager of the Convention Center. And Clint Rice, director of Arts and Venues for Denver.
Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilman Brown. Your motion to adopt.
Speaker 2: I hope that we will address this this proclamation this evening. Mr. President.
Speaker 1: It has been moved in seconding comments. Councilman Brown.
Speaker 2: Well, thank you again, Mr. President. I've been honored to serve on the Visit Denver board for more than a decade. You know, if you think about it, we've all seen the TV spots that celebrate the importance of fishermen and hunters to our rural areas. And their tagline on line is Hug a hunter. You know, when you walk in downtown and we are filled with convention, people here are there. They wear badges. You can't say hug a badger because, you know, that's Wisconsin and we're Colorado. But certainly certainly we should thank those individuals who are spending their time and money. And our city. So thank them when you see a badger around our city. And so I am grateful and thankful to be able to present this proclamation this evening and hope my colleagues will approve it. Thank you, Mr. President.
Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilman Brown. Councilwoman Sussman.
Speaker 5: Thank you, Mr. President.
Speaker 8: I'd like to add my name to this.
Speaker 5: I didn't see that meant that message. But I also want to thank the Colorado Convention.
Speaker 4: Bureau and all that you do for tourism.
Speaker 5: In Denver and for the great economic benefit.
Speaker 4: That you provide and the hard work that you do. So we're so proud of your organization.
Speaker 5: Thanks.
Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilwoman Sussman. Councilman Monteiro.
Speaker 6: Thank you, Mr. President. I would also like to add my name to this proclamation. It's very hard to believe that the Colorado Convention Center is a quarter of a century old already. And so happy birthday. And thank you so much. We're happy anniversary.
Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilwoman Montero. Catwoman Ortega.
Speaker 9: Thank you. I want to thank Mayor Pena for having the vision of moving this forward in working with our state legislature. We saw that when the convention center first broke ground. We designed it so that we could add the second half later and a number of years later. We were successful in doing that and designing it so that our train system could go right through the center of it. And I also want to acknowledge colleagues that I served with who worked to place the issue on the ballot to expand the lodgers tax and thank the voters for their support in passing that that allowed part of those costs to to be covered. The work that our convention bureau does is incredible in terms of learning about all the different conventions that are out there that they could attract to this great city. And they do a phenomenal job in in bringing those visitors to this city and selling our city, our hotels or convention center . I don't know how many of you have been to Comic-Con. That was my most recent event that I got to enjoy, and it's just amazing, you know, the kind of interest that we have in the wide variety of activities and attractions that we bring here. So I want to thank my colleague, Councilman Brown, for bringing this forward and say thank you also to the employees that keep that facility running day in and day out. So thank you very much.
Speaker 1: And thank you, Councilwoman Ortega. Any other comments? Proclamation 427 59 Madam Secretary.
Speaker 4: Rocco Brown Hi, Fats. I can eat lemon lopez All right. Montero, I. Nevitt I. ORTEGA Rob Shepherd. Sussman Hi, Mr. President. Hi.
Speaker 1: BROOKS Madam Secretary, please, first of all, announce the results. 3939 is proclamation 47 has been adopted. Councilman Brown, is there someone you'd like to invite to the podium today?
Speaker 2: Absolutely. The man. Richard Schaff, please. President and CEO of Visit Denver. You're going to bring some colleagues. You bet. And as you're approaching the podium, Richard, would you please remind this audience how far in advance that you are working and your team is working to bring convention center business to Denver? Some of us don't know what we're going to do this coming weekend, but you're looking out ten and 30 years, which I've always been amazed by that. And welcome, Richard.
Speaker 10: Yes, thank you. Richard Schaap, president, CEO of Visit Denver. John Adams, general manager of the Colorado Convention Center. Of course, can't raise director of arts and venue. It really is a team effort. But to answer your question, Councilman, we have business booked out to 2031 right now. So give me an idea that's 5 to 10 years is our tomorrow and Comic-Con. We had 106,000 go through the turnstile, just to give you an idea of the economics on that. But anyway, I just want to, on behalf of everyone here, tell you how thankful we are that you recognize the value of the Colorado Convention Center and the value of conventions and tourism. So thank you very much.
Speaker 2: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.
Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilman Brown. All right. We are moving on to the resolutions. Madam Secretary, please read the resolutions.
Speaker 4: From business development. 372 resolution. Part of the mayor's report was then pointed to the Denver Convention Center Hotel Authority Board 387, a resolution approving the mayor's appointment to the facts. Mayfair Business Improvement District Board of Directors.
A proclamation celebrating the Colorado Convention Center's 25th Anniversary. A proclamation celebrating the Colorado Convention Center's 25th Anniversay.