Lodging Tax Advisory Committee

Lodging Tax Advisory Board Meeting January 25, 2010 5:15 PM to 6:00 PM Members Present: Mayor Wendy Van Orman, Rita Santillanes, Dave Pier, David Himebaugh, Paul Sohal (on phone intercom) and Michelle Griffin Guest Present: Josh Johnson, Publisher of the Splash. The Lodging Tax Advisory Board met to discuss funding application requests for 2010. YEAR APPLICANT AMOUNT 2010 Spokane Regional Sports Commission $30,000 2010 Peridot Publishing, LLC $12,000 2010 Liberty Lake Farmers Market $ 5,000 2010 Friends of Pavillion Park $10,000 2010 Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau $10,000 Mayor Van Orman stated that staff received applications in the amount of $67,000 but the 2010 current Lodging Tax budget has only $60,000 allocated. The Board will either need to request a budget amendment or trim $7,000 from the requests. In 2010 $24,253 was received in the Lodging Tax fees, which is lower than the $36,000 average from previous years. Ms. Santillanes asked if there could be an audit performed to ensure all the Lodging Tax funds are being received. Mayor Van Orman said she would look into this. There was discussion from both hoteliers that business has been somewhat slower than in previous years but that it should be closer to the $36,000 figure. Board members discussed each of the applicant’s projects and the importance of tracking who is staying in Liberty Lake and the reasons that attracted them here. They discussed which projects would bring the best return for the investment and which ones would put “heads in beds” for Liberty Lake. Ms. Santillanes commented that she would like to see these groups work closely with the hotel managers to establish ways to help regenerate the fund, like bringing in out of town vendors and marketing outside of the area. She stated that the hoteliers also have 22710 E Country Vista Drive, Liberty Lake, Washington 99019 1 Phone: 509.755.6701 Fax: 509.755.6713 responsibility to track stays to make sure visitors continue to come back year after year to Liberty Lake. She reiterated the importance of keeping good records and being accountable by using profiles so when a guest checks in, they know why they are here. An idea was proposed to hold raffles at the large events to collect data for tracking purposes and that it is important that these applicants work with the hotels to draw more people from out of the area. There was a motion by Ms. Santillanes to exclude the Farmers Market and to fund the other four projects in the amount of $62,000. Mr. Pier seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. This recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council on February 2, 2010 for their consideration. The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 PM. 22710 E Country Vista Drive, Liberty Lake, Washington 99019 2 Phone: 509.755.6701 Fax: 509.755.6713