2017, 10-19 minutes
MINUTES
Spokane Valley Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
Thursday, October 19, 2017 8:00 a.m.
Spokane Valley City Hall Council Chambers
10210 East Sprague Avenue
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Attendance:
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Members: Staff:
Chair: Councilmember Sam Wood Chelsie Taylor, Finance Director
Bill Ames, the HUB Sarah Farr, Accounting Technician
Lee Cameron, Mirabeau Park Hotel Erik Lamb, Deputy City Attorney
Scott Peterson, Spokane County Fair Board Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk
Colleen Heinselman, Hampton Inn Suites
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Councilmember Wood opened the meeting at 8:09 a.m. Via his PowerPoint presentation, Deputy City
Attorney Lamb provided training to the LTAC members on the Public Records Act and the Open Public
Meetings Act. Committee members then introduced themselves, and Councilmember Wood turned the
meeting over to Finance Director Taylor.
Finance Director Taylor gave an overview of the materials in the agenda notebook, including the goals; and
use to keep track allocations. Ms. Taylor noted that each
presentation is scheduled for approximately ten minutes, followed by a time for questions and answers.
Chair Wood asked committee members if there were any motions. Mr. Lee Cameron stated that based on
objectives of Council to further review studies conducted by cities and to identify capital operating and
expenditures to support sports facilities to increase overnight visitors, he moved that $250,000 be deducted
from available LTAC funds for distribution in 2018, and move that into the 1.3 LTAC funding account
dedicated for large sporting venue or venues, thereby having a remaining balance to distribute of $322,000,
and to recommend final approval by Council. It was seconded by Mr. Bill Ames. Chair Wood asked if there
was any discussion, and there was none. Vote by acclamation: In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed: None.
Motion carried.
Ms. Taylor said she will update the records to show the corrected amount now as $322,000. Ms. Taylor
mentioned that a request has been received by the Museum, that due to a conflict, they would like to present
in the morning rather than in the afternoon. There was no objection and the Museum was moved to just
before presentor #4.
The applicants presented in the following order:
1. City of Spokane Valley Parks and Recreation
Mr. Ames recommended building nice restrooms instead of using port-a-potties and instead of building
more courts.
2. Spokane Oktoberfest; and 3. Crave NW
Chair Wood mentioned how he likes new events and how important they are for the valley. Mr. Cameron
mentioned TPA funding and Mr. Stebbins mentioned they did receive TPA funding. Mr. Cameron said the
City funds CenterPlace with $30,000 and he the thinks Spokane Valley could direct those funds in the best
manner and he encouraged Mr. Stebbins to present his pitch to the City like the fair does. Mr. Ames said
he calculated this event resulted in about 25 room nights and Chair Wood said that room nights are very
important but are not the only concern, that other criteria includes culture in the Valley and having
opportunities for families to have a place to go and share, which makes a stronger community. Mr. Cameron
LTAC Meeting Minutes October 19, 2017 Page 1 of 3
nights
in Spokane Valley; said the statistics need to be more carefully evaluated and done from an independent
source. Chair Wood asked Ms. Taylor how we verify this and Ms. Taylor explained that the City is not
responsible to verify this as we take the estimate; but at the end of the event, those who receive funds must
submit a report and a report from those figures is in turn submitted to the state; she further explained that
she would not know how staff could verify attendance figures or how that responsibility could be allocated.
Ms. Heinselman said her hotel surveys every guest. Mr. Cameron suggested putting together a directory
that could come as a suggestion to the hoteliers, to identify that information and maybe have a form attached
to ask the hotels to complete. Ms. Taylor agreed that is a great idea for moving forward, but of course,
9. Spokane Valley Heritage Museum
They spoke about the Smithsonian exhibit and their tourism marketing as mentioned in their application.
4. Spokane Co Fair and Expo Interstate Fair
After showing the video, the presentor discussed their marketing and advertising project.
Chair Wood called for a ten-minute recess at 9:54 a.m.; he reconvened the meeting at 10:06 a.m.
5. Spokane Sports Commission
Mr. Eric Sawyer spoke of their project to help support the development and marketing program to maximize
valley could use
a large facility, and Mr. Sawyer replied that it could.
6. HUB Sports Center
Mr. Champlin explained his proposal to attract and retain organizations through marketing and promoting
the HUB, and to help with operation of the facility; and said that their primarily focus is on youth who will
use the facility for their events; said they also continue with their own events and those events are growing.
7. Valleyfest
Ms. Doering explained that their request for $150,000 is to aid in the marketing of 2018 Valleyfest; said
the funds would be used to develop and promote additional activities within about a 500 mile radius,
including Boise, Portland, Seattle, and other areas. She said this event attracts 15,000 to the parade, and
over 30,000 to the weekend event. Ms. Doering explained that they ask for this very large amount because
at least four out of five committee members will allocate zero dollars to Valleyfest, therefore, if there is any
hope to receive funds as they did last time, one member of this committee must designate $150,000 for the
marketing of Valleyfest. Mr. Cameron said the hotels participate in sponsoring the event; said the hotels
started tracking this event in 2003, and he asked how she arrived at the 1500 room nights, and if she has
Mr. Cameron said there are four
from outside the area; he said since 2003, there have not been more than 25 room nights in all those years,
and the few they did get were from vendors who would have come anyway. Mr. Cameron also said he is
personally and ethically bothered by her rationale and mathematical ploy of asking for so much in the hope
that one committee member would allocate so much so Valleyfest would get a high amount; said we are all
here investing our time, and reading and preparing so we can make an honest contribution to the City of
Spokane Valley and do our very best to put the money where it would do the best good; and said she is
implying something he is not comfortable with.
8. Valleyfest Cycle Celebration
Ms. Doering explained that this proposal is to do such things as increase awareness of the Centennial Trail
Mr. Ames said he sees
LTAC Meeting Minutes October 19, 2017 Page 2 of 3
the cycling event becoming a valley event in the future. Mr. Cameron asked about the City allocations of
outside agencies for this year, and Ms. Doering said she does not know that amount. Ms. Taylor noted
those allocations are scheduled for the October 24 Council meeting. Mr. Cameron asked Ms. Doering how
much she requested and if she also sought funding through the TPA. Ms. Doering said she requested
$50,000 this year from the City for outside agency funding, and that she did not and has not applied for
funding through the TPA.
10. Visit Spokane
Ms. Kilday gave her PowerPoint presentation about their 2018 marketing and sales programming.
There were no other presentations and Ms. Taylor asked committee members to please complete their
spreadsheet allocations before the break. The meeting recessed at approximately 11:30 a.m., and
reconvened approximately ten minutes thereafter. Ms. Taylor went over the allocations per her spreadsheet
and asked if everyone was comfortable with the allocations (see attached spreadsheet), and they all nodded
in approval. It was moved by Mr. Cameron, seconded and unanimously agreed to accept the distribution
of funds and submit to Council.
It was moved by Mr. Cameron, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at
11:44 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Bainbridge,
Spokane Valley City Clerk
LTAC Meeting Minutes October 19, 2017 Page 3 of 3