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Home My WebLink AboutCity Council Committees - Lodging Tax Advisory Committee - 10/14/2021 (3) Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Thursday, October 14, 2021 4:00 PM Chambers Masks are required regardless of vaccination status. To listen to this meeting, call 1-888-475-4499 or 1-877-853-5257 and enter Meeting ID 860-0130-5068 Chair Bill Boyce John Casey Gaila Haas Tim Higgins Andrew Hutchison ************************************************************** Item Description Action Speaker Time 1.Call to OrderChair 01 MIN. 2.Roll CallChair 01 MIN. 3.Agenda ApprovalChair 01 MIN. 4.Approval of the Minutes -Chair 01 MIN. 3/11/21 YES A. Approval of March 11, 2021 Chair 05 MIN. Minutes 5.Information ItemsChair 01 MIN. NO A. Report on Lodging TaxShane Sorenson 10 MIN. Revenue NO B. Recovery Outlook and Michelle Wilmot 15 MIN. Committee Priorities NO C. Recent Changes for Boards Michelle Wilmot 10 MIN. & Commissions and Impacts Unless other noted, the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee meets in April and September to review grant requests. Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held in City Hall, Council Chambers, 220 Fourth Avenue South, Kent, WA, 98032 For additional information please contact City of Kent at or via email at Cityclerk@KentWA.gov. Office at 253-856-5725 in advance. For TDD relay service all Washington Telecommunications Relay Service at 7-1-1. Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Lodging Tax October 14, 2021 Advisory Committee-Regular Meeting on Committee Membership 6.AdjournmentChair 01 MIN. 5/B Pending Approval Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Lodging Tax Advisory Committee-Regular Meeting Minutes March 11, 2021 Date: March 11, 2021 Time: 4:00 p.m. Place: THIS IS A REMOTE MEETING Attending: Bill Boyce, Chair John Casey, Gaila Haas, Tim Higgins, Andrew Hutchison, David Kwok Agenda: 1.Call to Order 4:00 p.m. 2.Roll Call Paula Painter is attending, Bridget Baeth from Jay Ray as well are guests Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Bill Boyce Chair Remote John Casey Remote Gaila Haas Remote Tim Higgins Remote Andrew Hutchison Remote David Kwok Remote Zenovia Harris Absent 3.Changes to the Agenda moving item #6 to item number 7 to allow more time for discussion. 4.Approval of the Minutes -June 18, 2020 1.Approval of Minutes dated June 18, 2020 Njovuft!Bddfqubodf;!Njovuft!pg!Nbs!22-!3132!5;11!QN!!)Bqqspwbm!pg!uif!Njovuft!.!4022032* Minutes of June 18th, 2020 were amended to reflect that Brian Powell was absent and other Committee Members were present. Motion to approve as amended made by J Casey and seconded by Gaila Haas. MOTION: Move to approve the Minutes dated June 18, 2020 Page 1 of 2 Qbdlfu!Qh/!4 5/B Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Lodging Tax March 11, 2021 Advisory Committee-Regular Meeting Kent, Washington Minutes RESULT: APPROVED AS AMENDED \[UNANIMOUS\] MOVER: John Casey SECONDER: Gaila Haas, Executive Director AYES: Boyce, Casey, Haas, Higgins, Hutchison, Kwok 5.LTAC Budget Review Hoteliers and Shane Sorenson from Finance feel like the projection is too high. 200K or 185 per David Kwok. 6.Suspension of Grant Program for 2021 Amend to suspend the spring grant application cycle and take a wait and see approach for the fall application cycle. MOTION: Recommend that other than funds already obliged and the maintenance of an established campaign, no other obligations shall be assigned to the lodging tax fund during 2021. RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED \[UNANIMOUS\] MOVER: Andrew Hutchison SECONDER: Tim Higgins AYES: Boyce, Casey, Haas, Higgins, Hutchison, Kwok 7.LTAC Grant to the City of Kent Economic and Community Development for Contract with JayRay for Tourism Promotion Campaign, Visit Kent - Authorize MOTION: Approve a lodging tax grant to the Economic and Community Development Department in the amount of $85,000 to be used for contracting with JayRay to maintain the Visit Kent tourism promotion program and web/media presence, and authorize the mayor to execute a contract with JayRay, subject to final terms and conditions acceptable to the City Attorney. RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE \[UNANIMOUS\] Next: 3/23/2021 4:00 PM MOVER: Andrew Hutchison SECONDER: John Casey AYES: Boyce, Casey, Haas, Higgins, Hutchison, Kwok Njovuft!Bddfqubodf;!Njovuft!pg!Nbs!22-!3132!5;11!QN!!)Bqqspwbm!pg!uif!Njovuft!.!4022032* 8.Adjournment 5:31 p.m. Committee Secretary Page 2 of 2 Qbdlfu!Qh/!5 6/B LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE 220 Fourth Avenue South Kent, WA 98032 DATE: October 14, 2021 TO: Lodging Tax Advisory Committee SUBJECT: Report on Lodging Tax Revenue SUMMARY: Shane Sorenson from Finance will report on Lodging Tax revenues returned to the City through August of 2021, and how that compares to projections made at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic regarding financial impacts to travel/tourism and other hospitality related businesses. Since the arrival of vaccines, travel and tourism have made significant adaptations and taken steps toward recovery. However, the impact was significant and continues to this day with hotels in particular struggling with new or increased expenses, operating at reduced capacity and struggling to maintain appropriate staffing levels. For these reasons, the LTAC revenue outlook is trending very close to the high impact scenario predicted back in March of 2020. Exhibit: Lodging Tax Operating Revenue Report as of August 2021 SUPPORTS STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL: Sustainable Services - Providing quality services through responsible financial management, economic growth, and partnerships. ATTACHMENTS: 1. September 2021 Lodging Tax Operating Report (PDF) Qbdlfu!Qh/!6 Buubdinfou;!Tfqufncfs!3132!Mpehjoh!Uby!Pqfsbujoh!Sfqpsu!!)3983!;!Sfqpsu!po!Mpehjoh!Uby!Sfwfovf* 6/B/b Qbdlfu!Qh/!7 Buubdinfou;!Tfqufncfs!3132!Mpehjoh!Uby!Pqfsbujoh!Sfqpsu!!)3983!;!Sfqpsu!po!Mpehjoh!Uby!Sfwfovf* 6/B/b Qbdlfu!Qh/!8 6/C LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE 220 Fourth Avenue South Kent, WA 98032 DATE: October 14, 2021 TO: Lodging Tax Advisory Committee SUBJECT: Recovery Outlook and Committee Priorities SUMMARY: With a strong recovery in lodging tax revenue still not forecast until budget is not robust. With a lot of uncertainty related to matters of public health, a shortage of available workers and concerns for the overall economy, the committee will have to consider very carefully the types of initiatives it wishes to support with the funding available. SUPPORTS STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL: Sustainable Services - Providing quality services through responsible financial management, economic growth, and partnerships. Qbdlfu!Qh/!9 6/D ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Kurt Hanson, AICP, EDFP 220 Fourth Avenue South Kent, WA 98032 253-856-5454 DATE: October 14, 2021 TO: Lodging Tax Advisory Committee SUBJECT: Recent Changes for Boards & Commissions and Impacts on Committee Membership SUMMARY: of appointive boards, commissions, and committees. To enhance transparency and consistency, a standard set of general provisions, modelled after the Parks and Recreation Commission governance was created and adopted to govern the operations of all committees, except where state statute would supersede rules established by the City ordinance. These changes primarily impact recruitment of members, length of their term, and the number of terms they will be allowed to serve. While the lodging tax advisory committee is one of those commissions whose member make up is dictated by state statute, its current membership will still be significantly impacted by these changes. While there are eight seats on the committee, there are only five active committee members serving at present (this does achieve the minimum for a quorum). Of these only one will be eligible to continue as a member at the end of their current appointment. The other 4 will be ineligible to serve, UNLESS a proactive recruitment process fails to discover willing and qualified new committee members to serve and advise council on committee recommendations, and they still wish to serve. ordinance changes and membership impacts. Exhibit: Table summarizing 23 principle provisions of the Ordinance No. 4406, Chapter 2.5, included in Staff training PowerPoint. SUPPORTS STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL: Thriving City - Creating safe neighborhoods, healthy people, vibrant commercial districts, and inviting parks and recreation. Inclusive Community - Embracing our diversity and advancing equity through genuine community engagement. Qbdlfu!Qh/!: 6/D ATTACHMENTS: 1. Boards and Commissions - Staff Training 08.19.2021 4 (PDF) Qbdlfu!Qh/!21 Buubdinfou;!Cpbset!boe!Dpnnjttjpot!.!Tubgg!Usbjojoh!19/2:/3132!5!!)3992!;!Sfdfou 6/D/b Qbdlfu!Qh/!22 Appointed by mayor, confirmed by councilReq’d to disqualify self if conflict of interestSet meeting schedule, place, and timeConduct of public during meetingsHow a member can be removed from Comm’n Commissions All not req’d, — years ea. term, - Staff serves as Comm’n secretaryLength of service term: Generally, 3limited to 2 consecutive terms w/exceptionsAllows adoption of bylaws/rules to supplement (not alter or replace)Public commentbut at chair discretionWhen a quorum existsRecruitment efforts to seek diverse pool (flexible, but accomplish council goal to inform public of opportunity and allow Council to review apps and make recommendations) chair, secretary) Chapter 2.50 of the Kent City Code - New Action taken by motionAlternate members permitted (not required)Duties of officers (chair, viceConduct of members during meetingsCannot use public facilities/resources to support/oppose ballot itemHow vacancies filled - Establishes General Provisions that Apply to Generally applicable to allMayor may stagger terms as needed to balance Comm’n w/experienced and new membersElection of chair and vicechairRequirement to maintain minutesHow votes occur and what happens if member abstainsQualifications to serve