HomeMy WebLinkAbout042825 email - PUBLIC COMMENT_ Proposed LTAC bylaws and compositionALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Commissioners,
Following up on the bare 2 minutes allotted for public comment on the subject of LTAC at your meeting of April 21, 2025, I am expanding my remarks.
The proposed LTAC bylaws are not well crafted and will not serve the county well.
First, the proposed requirement that a county commissioner, and only a county commissioner, must be the chair of the LTAC is unsupported by Chapter 67.28 RCW.
RCW 67.28.1817 states,
“(1) Before proposing imposition of a new tax under this chapter, an increase in the rate of a tax imposed under this chapter, repeal of an exemption from a tax imposed under this chapter,
or a change in the use of revenue received under this chapter, a municipality with a population of five thousand or more shall establish a lodging tax advisory committee under this
section. A lodging tax advisory committee shall consist of at least five members, appointed by the legislative body of the municipality, unless the municipality has a charter providing
for a different appointment authority. The committee membership shall include: (a) At least two members who are representatives of businesses required to collect tax under this chapter;
and (b) at least two members who are persons involved in activities authorized to be funded by revenue received under this chapter. Persons who are eligible for appointment under (a)
of this subsection are not eligible for appointment under (b) of this subsection. Persons who are eligible for appointment under (b) of this subsection are not eligible for appointment
under (a) of this subsection. Organizations representing businesses required to collect tax under this chapter, organizations involved in activities authorized to be funded by revenue
received under this chapter, and local agencies involved in tourism promotion may submit recommendations for membership on the committee. The number of members who are representatives
of businesses required to collect tax under this chapter shall equal the number of members who are involved in activities authorized to be funded by revenue received under this chapter.
One member shall be an elected official of the municipality who shall serve as chair of the committee. An advisory committee for a county may include one nonvoting member who is an
elected official of a city or town in the county. An advisory committee for a city or town may include one nonvoting member who is an elected official of the county in which the city
or town is located. The appointing authority shall review the membership of the advisory committee annually and make changes as appropriate.”
Note that the statute requires “an elected official” to serve as chair. A far better choice for that position in the Jefferson County LTAC would be the county Treasurer, Auditor, or
Assessor because, unlike Commissioners, those elected officials have neither policy making authority nor final authority on the disbursement of LTAC funds and thus would not be nearly
as likely to have conflicts of interest.
Second, the notion that the LTAC would follow Robert’s Rules of Order is simply absurd. Strict adherence to those rules would be utterly impractical – have you read them? The way your
own BoCC meetings are run shows that you haven’t, or at least you haven’t fully understood them. For example, the way that you perpetually misuse the term “call the question” – look
it up!
Even the more compact subset of those Rules for “Small Assemblies” is probably overkill for the LTAC. There are many more practical guides for small committees. For some guidance, consult
MRSC.
Finally, much of what is proposed is redundant, and sometimes at odds with the county’s own policy, Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) Guidelines for Boards and Committees <https://test.co.jefferson.wa.
us/WeblinkExternal/DocView.aspx?id=4113019&dbid=0&repo=Jefferson> .
It is a given that every public agency, including all committees of the county, will comply with state law. All that the bylaws need to address are the questions of term limits (which
I oppose for volunteer organizations) and removal from office for non-attendance.
Simplify!
Thank you,
Tom Thiersch