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MINUTES Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) Special Meeting Minutes May 1, 2024 – 11:00 a.m. Jefferson County Commissioners Chambers (Hybrid) Members: Chair Greg Brotherton, Diana Smeland, Amy Neil, Kevin Wooley and Tara McCauley
Staff: LTAC Clerk Adiel McKnight
CALL TO ORDER Chair Brotherton called the meeting to order at the appointed time. Members Smeland, Neil, Wooley and McCauley were present. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: No comments were received
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Special Meeting Minutes of April 11, 2024: Member Smeland moved to approve the minutes from April 11, 2024 as presented. Member Wooley seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote.
DISCUSSION re: Jefferson County Code (JCC) 3.25 Lodging Tax: The Committee reviewed
Jefferson County Code 3.25 and discussed strategic planning for and implementing a Public Facilities District (PFD) to oversee the Community Centers and tourism. Chair Brotherton stated he would like the Committee to think about moving from the Tourism Coordinating Council (TCC) and Olympic Peninsula Tourism Committee (OPTC) to a PFD that would oversee tourism.
It was noted that without OPTC and TCC there would be no marketing outside of Jefferson
County. The Committee agreed to table this conversation for a future meeting and staff will invite TCC and OPTC to a future meeting. DISCUSSION re: Capital needs for the Gateway Visitor Center: The Committee discussed
the needs of the Olympic Gateway Visitor Center. After discussion, the Committee agreed to
table this discussion for a future meeting to allow time for more research. CONTINUED DISCUSSION re: Request for Proposal (RFP) process for 2025, and annually funding certain programs: The Committee discussed options to annually fund certain
organizations. This annual funding would not stop the organization from also applying for the
regular annual RFP. The Committee discussed the 2024 budget, with an annual Cost of Living Allocation (COLA). The proposed 2025 LTAC annual funding amounts were as follows:
• $60,000 Forks Community Center
• $50,000 Jefferson County Parks and Rec
• $72,000 Jefferson County Historical Society
• $66,000 North Hood Canal Chamber of Commerce
• $92,000 Olympic Gateway Visitor Center
• $30,000 Quilcene Historical Museum
• $295,000 Tourism Coordinating Council
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After discussion, Member Neil moved to approve the proposed slate of funding for 2025 and send recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners. Member McCauley seconded the motion. Chair Brotherton opened the floor for public comment and one comment was received. Chair Brotherton called for a vote on the motion. The motion carried by a unanimous vote. CONTINUED DISCUSSION re: Managing supplemental funds available: The Committee discussed the available budget and if a Supplemental RFP should be granted. After discussion Member Wooley moved to not grant supplemental funding and wait for the normal annual RFP process for 2025. Chair Brotherton seconded the motion. Chair Brotherton opened the floor to allow for public comments and two comments were received. Chair Brotherton called for a vote
on the motion. Member Wooley voted in favor of the motion. Chair Brotherton, Members Smeland, Neil, and McCauley voted against the motion. The motion did not pass. Member McCauley left the meeting early. Member Smeland moved to recommend a supplemental RFP process for 2024 funds and to
continue working on the rules and process. Member Neil seconded the motion. Chair Brotherton opened the floor to allow for public comments and no comments were received. Chair Brotherton called for a vote on the motion. Chair Brotherton and Members Smeland and Neil voted in favor of the motion. Member Wooley voted against the motion. The motion carried. FUTURE MEETING AGENDA ITEMS
• Workshop re: PFD; invite TCC and OPTC, advertising and marketing to be discussed.
• Continued discussion re: Capital needs for the Gateway Visitor Center CLOSING REMARKS: Chair Brotherton thanked the members for their participation in strategic planning. Staff will send out a doodle poll for reoccurring meeting dates to review RFP process. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Brotherton adjourned the meeting at 12:14 p.m. until the next regular or special meeting as properly noticed. Respectfully submitted by:
_______________________________ _______________ Adiel McKnight, LTAC Clerk Date