2013, 08-15 minutes
MINUTES
Spokane Valley
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
Thursday, August 15, 2013
3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.
Spokane Valley Council Chambers
11707 E. Sprague Avenue, Spokane Valley, Wa. 99216
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Attendance:
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Members: Staff:
Chair: Councilmember Ben Wick Mark Calhoun, Finance Director
Member Herman Meier, Spokane Valley Heritage Museum Erik Lamb, Deputy City Attorney
Member Keith Backsen,VisitSpokane Chelsie Taylor, Accountant
Member Jeff Fiman, Sterling Hospitality/Quality Inn Chris Bainbridge, City Clerk
Member Lee Cameron, Mirabeau Park Hotel
Members of the audience: Rick Wilhite
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Chair
update our applications to clarify those changes. After self-introductions were made, Deputy City Attorney
Lamb briefed the committee on the recent legislative changes, which he said have been incorporated into the
application, noting that the new application is simpler and shorter. Committee members indicated they felt the
revisions were good changes.
Discussed included:
Mention from Mr. Cameron about requests for funds outside the normal application process, either as a second
e are set aside to
mostly use for cash-flow purposes. Mr. Lamb discussed the set aside amount of $30,000 for CenterPlace and
that the justification for this was that the use is not new or changed, as the law limits the amount to the most
recent use; therefore, although funds of up to $90,000 were set aside in the past, the most recent was $30,000.
Committee members appeared to be in agreement with that process.
Notification of available funds was mentioned with Mr. Fiman stating some entities indicated they were not
notified, and how do we make sure everyone is notified. Mr. Calhoun explained that a letter is sent to every
Spokesman Review as well as the Valley News Herald, and that most recipients realize the funding is done at
the same time every year. Mr. Cameron agreed the letters are a courtesy.
Discussion moved to potential City Council goals and priorities with Mr. Calhoun adding that the Council will
be reviewing those at the August
comparison; said Valleyfest should be
very sustainable, and it could be much bigger than it is currently. Mr. Wick said in addition to the overnight
stays, Council is also considering the economic impact on shopping and dining and said he feels we should have
a balance. Mr. Lamb said there are no legal requirements to award only based on those potential goals and
priorities.
Mr. Calhoun went over the upcoming schedule and noted the November 5 council meeting has been cancelled as
that is election night. Mr. Calhoun said this committee will actually be voting at the October 16 meeting on
which entity to award funds, and how much to award; which prompted a question from Mr. Backsen about
recusing oneself from voting on their own establishment. Mr. Lamb said he will research that. Mr. Calhoun said
that City employee Sarah Farr will send out reminders about the October 16, 8:30 a.m. meeting; and said this
year each applicant is being asked to submit 15 copies.
The meeting ended at 3:55 p.m. Chris Bainbridge, City Clerk