HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 01/07/2000
CALL TO ORDER-
REGULAR MEETING:
ROLL CALL:
Approval of Minutes
Presentation by Troy
Woody, Red Lion Hotel
Marketing Plan Progress
Report
LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Port Angeles, Washington
January 7, 2000
Councilman Wiggins called the meeting of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee to
order at 2:00 p.m.
Members Present:
Councilman Wiggins, Councilman Campbell, Carol
Griffith, Jim Haguewood, Patty Hannah, Bob Harbick, John
McCullough, David Morris, and Steve Oliver.
Members Absent:
Zoe Bayton and Clay Oakes.
Staff Present:
Manager Quinn, Economic Development Director Smith,
and Clerk Upton.
Others Present:
C. McKeown, T. Griffith, B. Stepp, F. Gabriel, J. Beckham,
T. Woody, K. Agren, D. Vogel, Erl Hansen, Rick Hert, A.
Tucker, and Karen Hanan.
Approval of Minutes: John McCullough moved to approve the minutes of the
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee meeting of December 3,1999. The motion was
seconded by Patly Hannah and carried unanimously.
Presentation by Troy Woo4Y, Red Lion Hotel: Troy Woody made a brief presentation
in the interest of furthering the Red Lion commitment to growing tourism in Port
Angeles. Mr. Woody urged the committee members to continue in the direction of
promoting tourism. He submitted certain recommendations for consideration: that the
lodging tax be considered one, that guidelines for funding scenarios be established, that
consideration be given to the long-term ramification of decisions, and that event funding
be limited to 3 - 5 years. Mr. Woody discussed the current marketing program and
recommended that the marketing plan be continued for a second year. He felt progress
reports should be mandatory, perhaps on a quarterly basis. Additionally, Mr. Woody
distributed his recommendations for the Year 2000 funding levels.
Port Angeles Marketing Plan Progress Report: Rick Hert; Erl Hansen; and Ann
Tucker, Wendt Advertising, were present to submit an eighteen-month progress report
on the tourism marketing plan.
Mr. Hert reviewed the tax revenues during this IS-month period, noting that all areas
on the Peninsula were down with the exception of Port Angeles, which showed an
increase of 2.54%. Lengthy discussion followed with no specific explanation being
offered as to why this increase occurred. Mr. Hansen referenced a handout showing the
number of inquiries directed to the Visitor's Center, which Mr. Hansen felt was due to
the marketing plan.
Ms. Tucker distributed informational handouts and chronologically reviewed the
marketing plan since its inception. She summarized the objectives of the Spring 1999
campaign, the target audience, media placement, and conversion study results. Ms.
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LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE
January 7, 2000
Marketing Plan Progress
Report (Cont'd)
Break
Proposal by Councilmen
Wiggins & Campbell
Next Meetings
ADJOURNMENT:
Tucker further reviewed the Fall 1999 - Spring 2000 campaign, as well as inquiries to
the web site. Because the issue of accountabilily had been raised, Ms. Tucker offered
to provide monthly status reports so the City would know how the campaign is
proceeding. Lengthy discussion and debate followed with respect to the success of the
marketing program, the return on investment, and the need for more frequent status
reports.
Councilman Wiggins recessed the meeting for a break at 3 :25 p.m. The meeting
reconvened at 3:35 p.m.
Proposal by Councilmen Wiggins & Campbell: Councilmembers Wiggins and
Campbell submitted a proposal to the members of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
recommending that revenue be equally split between hard dollars for capital
improvements and related support, and soft dollars for activities and marketing; that
hard dollar support include capital projects for tourism facilities, responsibility for the
debt service on the Vern Burton Center, and the proposed funding of the Feiro Marine
Life Center. Further, the proposal recommended soft dollar support for tourism
marketing and related activities, with performance goals and measurement criteria
associated with the program to assess program success and impact upon lodging excise
tax generation; that a reserve allocation be dedicated toward future capital improvement;
and that the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee develop an accurate database reporting
the number of room stays in the community.
The proposal stimulated discussion and debate on such issues as funding the Marine
Life Center with lodging tax revenues, the lack of specificity as relates to capital
investment, the emphasis placed on increasing tourism in the shoulder season, the need
to make the downtown area attractive, the desire to make Port Angeles a destination, the
scenario of public versus private investment, the acceptable level of allocations to
different entities, potential support for the Estuary project, and the intended purpose of
the additional 2% tax.
Bob Harbick moved to: I) Continue with the three-year marketing plan at
$150,000 per year; 2) Retain the 1999 level of event/activity funding at $130,000;
3) Dedicate $50,000 toward the Vern Burton Bond payment; and 4) Add the
$20,000 remainder to the $99,000 reserve, to be discussed at a later date. The
motion was seconded by Carol Griffith which, after further discussion and
clarification, carried by a majority vote, with committee members Campbell,
Oliver, and Wiggins voting in opposition.
It was agreed the next meeting will be held on Friday, January 21, 2000, at 2:00 p.m.,
to discuss capital improvements and the reserve fund. At that time, further information
will be forthcoming on the Marine Life Center, as well as the Estuary project.
The committee agreed to meet again on Friday, March 24, 2000, at 2:00 p.m., to receive
the first quarter report on the tourism marketing plan.
The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
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Becky J. U " Clerk
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