City Council - Community and Economic Development Committee

City of Bellingham Community and Economic Development Committee Minutes November 8, 2021, 11:15 AM Mayor Seth Fleetwood Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Council Members, Hollie Huthman, Chair www.cob.org/council Pinky Vargas, Michael Lilliquist All meetings are held in the City Hall Council Chambers at 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA, unless otherwise noted. Call to Order Roll Call Council Standing Committee Meetings: Open to the public to attend. Note: there is generally no public comment period for Committee sessions. Standing Committee Members receive reports and information, ask questions and, when appropriate, vote on a recommended action for consideration by the full Council at the Regular Meeting. The notice of Committee Meetings identified below also serves as notice of Special Meetings of the City Council at the times identified as Council Members who are not members of the committee routinely attend and participate in the Committee Meetings. Committee Chairs give a report of the Committee Meeting at the Regular Meeting in the evening prior to deliberation and formal vote in the order shown below: Community and Economic Development Hollie Huthman, Chair Pinky Vargas, Michael Lilliquist 23160 1. Consideration of an Interlocal Agreement Between the City of p. 3 Bellingham, Whatcom County and the Port of Bellingham Regarding a Coordinated Approach to Funding County-Wide Economic Development Since 2011, the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County and the Port of Bellingham have been funding economic development activities, including joint funding of the Western Washington University (WWU) Small Business Development Center (SBDC), through an Interlocal Agreement. In 2018, the Port expanded its focus on economic development by creating a department and hiring a director and additional staff. City staff recommended continuing this commitment of funding to the WWU SBDC and the Port of Bellingham's Economic Development Department by approving the three year Interlocal Agreement. Tara Sundin, Economic Development Manager, clarified that the City uses the General Fund, but the Interlocal Agreement specifies many agencies (Regional Economic Development is part of the Port of Bellingham). While the City’s share Community and Economic Development Committee Minutes Page 1 November 8, 2021  is $97,139 there is an additional > $1 million in other economic activities (Downtown Bellingham Partnership Tourism, etc.) Whatcom County collects a sales tax rebate (EDI Program) and these funds are used to invest in the program. Councilmembers moved approval of the interlocal agreement. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. 23161 2. Consideration of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee's 2022 Budget p. 23 Recommendations Tara Sundin, Planning and Community Development Manager, presented Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) proposed expenditures for 2022. This fund lost $850,000 last year. By law, you cannot change the funding level or add new projects to the list. Goal: to get the Theater and Whatcom Museum back to pre-pandemic levels. LTAC is recommending two new signature events: Northwest Tune Up (in 2022), and would like to submit an RFQ to launch a new music event to Bellingham LTAC wanted to make sure that Wayfinding is a high priority (set aside $250,000). $900,000 remains undesignated - the team would like to strategize with the TPA (Tourism Promotion Area)/future lodging tax revenues. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:55 AM Community and Economic Development Committee Minutes Page 2 November 8, 2021