HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 06/14/2006
.ALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF
MINUTES
DISCUSSION ON
ALLOCATION OF
$100,000 FOR
tiAPITAL PROJECTS
.
LODGIN~ TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Port Angeles, Washington
June 14, 2006
Mayor Rogers called the meeting to order at 3:03 p.m.
Members Present: Mayor Rogers, Bob Harbick, Jack Harmon,
Councilmember Munro, Dave Neupert, Bill Rinehart and
Brian Savage.
Members Absent: Pat Davis, Karen McCormick, Steve Oliver and Renee
Rux.
Staff Present: Manager Madsen and Sherry Wright.
Public Present: Brian Gawley, Russ Veenema, and Vanessa Shearer.
Motion by Dave Neupert to approve the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
minutes of May 30,2006. The motion was seconded by Bob Harbick and
carried unanimously.
Mayor Rogers reported to the committee that she had staff review previous
minutes to determine if a vote was taken on the issue of allocating $100,000 for
capital projects. She acknowledged that there was a discussion on this issue at
the August 3, 2005 meeting and the committee reached consensus on allocating
$100,000 for capital projects in 2006, but noted that an official vote did not take
place because there was not a quorum. However, since the Lodging Tax
Advisory Committee forwards recommendations to the full Council, the Council
approved the allocation of$100,000 for capital projects as part of the 2006
Budget.
Following a brief discussion on the history of funding capital projects, the
committee agreed to focus on how to allocate future lodging tax revenues.
Motion by Dave Neupert to recommend to the City Council to adopt guidelines
that lodging tax revenues collected annually be split in the following format: 1/3
for marketing, 1/3 for events and 1/3 for capital projects. The motion was
seconded by Bill Rinehart.
Several committee members were unsure about whether they should commit to
funding 1/3 ofthe lodging tax revenue on capital projects each year.
Councilmember Munro made the following friendly amendment to the motion:
The annual goal of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee would be to divide
lodging tax revenue into the three categories but the amount in each category
could vary from year to year.
Following further discussion, Mr. Neupert accepted Councilmember Munro's
amendment and restated his motion. Motion by Dave Neupert that the goal of
the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee is to recommend to the City Council that
annual lodging tax revenues be split into the following format: 1/3 for marketing,
1/3 for events and 1/3 for capital projects. Motion was seconded by Bill
Rinehart and carried unanimously 7 -0.
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
June 14, 2006
~VIEW
~COMMENDATION
OF POLICY ON
CAPITAL FUNDING
.
DISCUSSION
REGARDING
MARKETING
PROGRAM TO BID
.
Mayor Rogers noted that the committee should have a procedure in place to
make sure all capital funding requests are treated equally. She suggested that the
committee adopt criteria for reviewing and approving requests for capital project
funding.
Russ Veenema read language from RCW 67 related to capital project funding.
He noted that the sub-committee suggests sending out notice of the capital
projects application process via press, membership databases and personal
contacts and having two deadlines per year when applications will be reviewed,
possibly May and November. In order to be considered for funding, the sub-
committee recommends that applicants meet the following criteria:
. Must show a track record of similar projects done elsewhere with a
positive effect on tourism
. Requests must meet requirements ofRCW 67
. Facility should be within city limits, unless project can show that there
will be a significant tourism impact on Port Angeles even though event is
outside city limits
. Organization needs to have a viable business plan in place and funding to
maintain annual operations and maintenance
. Must show percentage of budget that the lodging tax money represents
The sub-committee was split on the issue ofproject length. For example, should
the committee fund long-term projects such as the Vem Burton center or limit
funding to a maximum of two or three years.
The committee reached consensus that the policy outlined by Mr. Veenema was
acceptable. The committee also agreed not to place restrictions on the time span
of projects. Staff will present criteria for funding capital projects at the next
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee meeting for review and recommendation by
the full committee.
Bob Harbick commented that it has been five years since the committee
reviewed the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee's marketing plan. Motion by
Bob Harbick to create a non-partisan sub-committee to review the marketing
plan. The motion was seconded by Brian Savage.
Mr. Neupert noted that the committee reviews the marketing plan at least
annually and he didn't see the need to review it again. Mr. Rinehart agreed that
the committee is already receiving sufficient information from the Chamber of
Commerce relating to events and funding and doesn't see the need for additional
information. Following further discussion by the committee, Mr. Rinehart called
for the question.
The motion failed 2-5 with Mr. Savage and Mr. Harbick voting yes. Mayor
Rogers, Councilmember Munro, Jack Harmon, Dave Neupert and Bill Rinehart
voted no.
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Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
June 14, 2006
eEXT MEETING
ADJOURNMENT
.
.
The next meeting will be held on either Tuesday, July 11 or Tuesday, July 18, at
3:00 p.m. in the Public Works Conference Room. Sherry Wright will e-mail the
committee members to determine which date works best.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:55 p.m.
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