2020, 10-15 minutesMINUTES
LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
October 15, 2020 8:00 a.m.
Spokane Valley City Hall Council Chambers
10210 East Sprague Avenue
Meeting Held via Zoom
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Attendance:
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Members: Staff:
Chair: Mayor Ben Wick Chelsie Taylor, Finance Director
Lee Cameron, Mirabeau Park Hotel Sarah Farr, Accounting Technician
Colleen Heinselman, Hampton Inn Suites Erik Lamb, Deputy City Attorney
Wayne Brokaw, Spokane County Fair Board Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk
Gregory Repetti, The HUB
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Chair Mayor Wick called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. and welcomed everyone, after which there were
self-introductions. Deputy City Attorney Lamb went through his Open Public Government PowerPoint
training for Committee members and he explained various portions of the Public Records Act, and the Open
Public Meetings Act. Mayor Wick made some opening comments about tax trends and what the COVID
pandemic /Motel
Association) request to the state legislature to change the room tax rates from its current $2.00 a night to
$5.00 a night and that there was a request from the Sports Commission to have the change at $4.00 a night
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) and said the goals have not changed from the previous year.
Finance Director Taylor went through the information contained in the Memorandum included with the
packet materials, about projected revenues and transfer of funds to Fund 104; followed by Deputy City
Attorney Lamb explaining the use of funds and any proposed changes as per RCW 78.28.1817; he noted
that for this LTAC meeting, committee members should think about how to award for 2021, keeping in
mind impact on 2020 and where the ending cash fund might be as well as uncertainty for cash collections
for 2020 and 2021. Mr. Lamb stated that comments Committee members might want to pass to Council
regarding funding include award recommendations for 2021, as well as any other motions or comments,
and that Council will take final action on 2020 through a 2020 budget amendment in December. Mr. Lamb
also noted that regarding the applications, some were for marketing and some for actual operations, and
due to Covid restrictions, some were not able to proceed as planned; he also reminded committee members
the LTAC funds are awarded on a reimbursement basis; so if some applicants used the funds for marketing,
those can be reimbursed, but we will not pay for events that did not occur. Finance Director Taylor said she
has been in contact with all awardees to let them know that the exact amount the City will be paying is
uncertain. Director Taylor also went over the contents of the meeting binder, and mentioned which events
some could still have
mentioned that the NW Winterfest event for this year is still uncertain; she noted the $30,000 set aside for
CenterPlace, which is allowed by state statute as it constitutes historic use of the tax. Director Taylor
mentioned the $710,000 anticipated amounts for 2021, minus the $30,000 to CenterPlace which leaves
$680,000 for award allocations.
LTAC Minutes October 15, 2020 Page 1 of 3
Presentations were made in the following order:
1. Historic Flight Foundation Mr. John Sessions
Chair of the Board John Sessions noted they seek $15,000 for marketing their Vintage Aircraft Weekend,
which will be a community and family event to celebrate vintage aircraft and history.
2. The HUB Mr. Phil Champlin
Mr. Champlin explained that the HUB seeks $45,000 for recruiting events to the facility.
3. JAKT Brews, Beats & Eats Mr. Tom Stebbins and Executive Director Ms. Katie Lee
Mr. Stebbins seeks $20,000 for the Brews, Beats & Arts community event, which is an event for all ages
celebrating local beer, food and music; and the funds will be used to assist in conducting the event as well
as with infrastructure costs.
4. JAKT Crave Mr. Tom Stebbins
Mr. Stebbins seeks $25,000 for the Crave event, which will include cost for a social media team that
includes photography and video assets and PR outreach.
5. JAKT Farmers Market Mr. Tom Stebbins
Mr. Stebbins seeks $20,000 to continue the Farmers Market at CenterPlace; that the requested amount is
for the market manager position, a position to maintain organized vendors to bring vendors and the public
to the community and the event and to boost attendance.
6. Northwest Winterfest Mr. Sam Song and Ms. Charity Doyl
The applicants seek $50,000 to assist with this event to include operation and marketing.
7. Spokane County Fair and Expo center Ms. Erin Gurtel and Ms. Rachelle Buchanan
The applicants seek $50,000 to market and advertise the Fair and interim events to an audience in and
beyond the Spokane area.
9. Valleyfest Ms. Peggy Doering
Ms. Doering seeks $18,000 for marketing Valleyfest in and beyond the Spokane region.
10. Valleyfest Cycle Celebration Ms. Peggy Doering
Ms. Doering seeks $5,000 for marketing the City of Spokane Valley as a destination to cyclists and their
families.
8. Spokane Sports Commission - Ms. Ashley Blake
The Sports Commission seeks $55,000 to support tourism events in 2021. There was some discussion about
the Sports Commission
Tax. Ms. Blake explained that the City of Spokane has had a bit of a delay in their process and she is hopeful
to secure a little more from them.
Chair Mayor Wick called for a five-minute recess at 11:04 a.m.; he reconvened the meeting at 11:09 a.m.
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee members develop funding recommendations
Ms. Taylor distributed a blank spreadsheet to each committee member; went over the actuals for 2016
through 2019 and 2020 as well as the 2021 budget figures; and mentioned the $163,000 minimum for cash
flow purposes. There as brief discussion about the minimum cash flow amount and Director Taylor
LTAC Minutes October 15, 2020 Page 2 of 3
explained she is hesitant to reduce that figure. There was also discussion about the budget and presumed
revenues, and the amount of the cash reserve. There was a great deal of discussion about the overall budget
for the lodging tax fund and fund 104 with discussion focused on whether to make any transfer of funds
into fund 104. Chair Mayor Wick recommended that there be no transfers in 2020 to fund 104. Deputy City
could be made based on the desire of the committee. There was ultimately consensus from the committee
that LTAC would cancel any transfers from fund 105 to fund 104 in the year 2020.
Lodging Tax advisory Committee members discussion and award recommendations.
Director Taylor then asked each committee member to complete the allocation sheet and that she and Ms.
Farr would be by in a few minutes to collect the sheets
allocation, after which Ms. Taylor would enter the figures on the spreadsheet. Mr. Lamb reminded everyone
that the meeting is still in session. Ms. Taylor entered the figures on the master spreadsheet, which figures
where then slightly modified by several of the committee members.
The final recommended amounts after calculating the averages, are as follows: Historic Flight Foundation
$15,000; HUB Sports Center $45,000; JAKT Brews, Beats & Eats $2,600; JAKT Crave $15,200; JAKT
Farmers Market $7,200; NW Winterfest $49,000; Spokane County Fair and Expo Center $49,000; Spokane
Sports Commission $27,000; Valleyfest $12,600; and Valleyfest Cycle Celebration $1,800 for a total of
$224,400. It was moved by Lee Cameron, seconded, and unanimously agreed to accept the average amounts
in the total amount of $224,400. Ms. Taylor said she would email a final distribution sheet to each
committee member.
Discussion resumed about the transfer of funds and the ending fund balance, which finally culminated in a
motion by Mr. Repetti as follows: It was moved by Mr. Repetti and seconded that all remaining funds be
transferred to fund 104 after complete adjudication of all awards and allowing a reserve fund balance of
$165,000 at the end of year 2021. Discussion included mention by Director Taylor that getting to exactly
moved
by Mr. Cameron and seconded to amend the motion by changing the reserve fund balance of $165,000, to
Vote by acclamation on the amended motion was unanimous in favor.
Committee members then voted by acclamation on the fully amended motion with all members voting
unanimously in favor. Director Taylor said an administrative report is scheduled to come before Council
November 24, with final action scheduled for the December 8 Council meeting.
It was moved by Mr. Repetti, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 12:46
p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Bainbridge, Spokane Valley City Clerk
LTAC Minutes October 15, 2020 Page 3 of 3