2022, 10-20 minutes MINUTES
LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
October 20,2022 8:00 a.m.
Spokane Valley City Hall Council Chambers
10210 East Sprague Avenue
Attendance:
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Members: Staff:
Chair:Deputy Mayor Rod Higgins Chelsie Taylor, Finance Director
Cherne Haskell,Alternate for The HUB Tony Beattie, Sr. Deputy City Attorney
Clint Branz,Alternate for Spokane County Fair Board Sarah Farr, Accountant/Budget Analyst
Grant Guinn, Trmi by Hilton Lesli Brassfield, Comm.Marketing Officer
Amanda Alcamo, Oxford Suites Christine Bainbridge, City Cleric
Chair Deputy Mayor Higgins called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. and welcomed everyone,after which
there were self-introductions. Deputy City Attorney Beattie introduced himself, and explained that as
appointed officials, members of this committee are subject to laws such as those dealing with open
government; and he went through his Open Public Government PowerPoint training for Committee
members,explaining the various portions of the Public Records Act,and the Open Public Meetings Act.
Opening Cornments: Accountant/Budget Analyst Ms. Farr and Finance Director Taylor gave an overview
of the contents of the notebook, including the Lodging Tax committee process, City Council goals and
Priorities for use of Lodging Tax Revenues, and the calendar for the 2023 process, including mention that
the 2023 meeting is set for October 19,2023. Communications and Marketing Officer Ms.Brassfield gave
a report on the Council's return of the 2021 Expo Center capital lodging tax award of$3,500,000,explaining
that in early 2022,the consultant determined the project cost had increased to at least$14 million,and that
Council voted to return the $3.5 million back to the capital lodging tax fund for another use in the future.
Ms. Brassfield also went over some of the history of the Tourism Study,strategies,and Tourism Promotion
Area(TPA)benefits and next steps.
Public Comment Opportunity: Chair Higgins explained that this is an opportunity for public comment and
that comments will be limited to three minutes each, Chair Higgins opened the floor for public comments.
No public comments were offered.
Chair Higgins called for a recess at approximately 8:50 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 9:00 a.m.
Presentations were made in the following order:
1. Spokane County Fair and Expo Center —Ms.Erin Gurtel and Ms. Racheile Buchanan
The Spokane County Fair and Expo Center seeks $100,000 to continue to enhance the fair marketing
program and bring in more guests and attractions.
2, Spokane County Avista Stadium, Capital Construction—Mr. Scott Simmons and Mr. Chris Duff
The applicants seek $3,250,000 over a three year period; although they did not have a PowerPoint, they
gave copies of the printed slides to the City Clerk who distributed them to committee members; followed
by an explanation of the slides by Mr. Duff,
3,All Wheels Swap Meet—Mr. Brian Anderson
The applicant seeks$6,000 for marketing the event, which will be held at the Fairgrounds.
4. CNC Productions—Mr. Chris Cody Bertholf
The applicant seeks $10,000 to market the annual RV show.
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5. Cody Productions—Mr.Chris Cody Bertholf
The applicant seeks$10,000 to market the Spokane Motorcycle Show and Sale.
6. Family Guide—Ms. Charity Doyl
The applicants seek$16,000 to promote their Diwali &Vegetarian Festival, also known as the Festival of
Lights;said the event will likely be held at the Mirabeau,Fairgrounds, or CenterPlace.
7. Filipino-American Northwest Association—Ms.Jacqueline Babol
The applicants seek$26,140 to market a five day Philippine Embassy Consulate Outreach event.
8.Hatch Advertising—Mr. Chris Cody
The applicant seeks $50,010 for their SHOP, EAT, STAY event, which would be a package event to
potential tourists,and would include the Spokane Valley Mall,Hampton Inn and Tru by Hilton.
Chair Higgins called for a recess at 10:16 am. The meeting reconvened at 10:30 a.m.
9.HUB Sports Center—Mr. Phil Champlin
The applicant seeks$55,000 to market their 2023 events.
10. JAKT-Crave—Ms.Katy Lee,and Ms. Karen Stebbins
The applicants seek$60,000 to continue marketing and operations of their event.
11. JAKT—Farmer's Market—Ms. Katy Lee,and Ms. Karen Stebbins
The applicants seek$26,000 to continue marketing and operations of their event.
12,North America Talk, Inc.—Mr. Jacob Luplow
The applicant seeks between$18,000 and$40,000 for his Community Mobile Branding Company to market
mobile users along the I-5 corridor. Mr. Guinn suggested that Visit Spokane might be a better venue or to
contact the TPA.
13.Northwest Winterfest Mr. Sam Song and Ms. Charity Doyl
The applicants seek$55,000 for the 2023 event,which they explained will be held indoors this year due to
winter weather.
14. Speed and Custom Productions,LLC—Mr.Brian Anderson
The applicant seeks $10,000 to market his Spokane Speed and Custom Show.
15,ValleyfestValleyfest.—Ms. Peggy Doering
The applicant seeks $30,000 to market and advertise the 2023 Valleyfest festival.
16. Valleyfest Cycle Celebration—Ms. Peggy Doering
The applicant seeks$5000 to market and advertise the 2023 Cycle Celebration event.
17. Spokane Valley Summer Theatre.—Ms.Yvonne Johnson,Executive Artistic Director
The applicant seeks$25,000 to market the 2023 SVST Season.
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee members develop funding recommendations
Finance Director Taylor said once the committee members have completed their individual
recommendations,to please hand them to Ms,Farr who will include all the totals on one spreadsheet. Chair
Higgins called for a recess at 11:47 a.m.He reconvened the meeting at 11:55 a.m.Ms.Taylor said that once
all figures are included on the spreadsheet,the average is the starting point in the discussion;that committee
members are free to discuss this, that they can stay with the average, or negotiate different values for
LTAC Minutes October 20,2022 Page 2 of
different events; and once completed, she will need a motion on the applicant allocations, followed by a
motion for the 1.3%tax.
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee member discussion and award recommendation
Members gave their recommendations to Ms. Farr who entered them on the spreadsheet, along with the
average for each item, It was then moved by M . Guinn, seconded and unanimously agreed to accept the
averages on the spreadsheet. The amounts are as follows:
All Wheels Swap Meet: $4,800
CNC Productions: $7,500
Cody Productions: $6,500
Family Guide: $7,000
Filipino-American NW Assoc. $9,000
Hatch Advertising $17,002
HUB Sports Center $55,000
JAKT-Cravel $35,000
JAKT-Farmer's Market $11,000
NorthAmerica talk,Inc.: $0
Northwest Winterfest: $33,000
Spokane Co Fair&Expo Ctr $73,000
Speed &Custom Productions $8,000
Spokane Valley Summer Theatre: $24,000
Valleyfest: $14,800
Valleyfest Cycle Celebration: $4,100
Concerning the 1.3% tax for capital projects, it was confirmed that this is a total over three years, so the
full amount if awarded,would be$1 million a year. It was moved by Mr. Guinn,seconded and unanimously
agreed to accept the$2 million coverage based on responses today.
It was moved by Mr. Guinn,seconded and unanimously agreed to rrc iow n. The meeting adjourned at 12:23
p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Bainbridge,Spokane Valley City Clerk
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