HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Lodging Tax Advisory Committee - 04/14/2022�,T
Date: April 14, 2022
Time: 3:37 p.m.
Place: Chambers
Members: Bill Boyce, Chair
John Casey,
Gaila Haas, Executive Director
Tim Higgins,
Andrew Hutchison,
David Kwok,
Agenda:
1. Call to Order 3:37 p.m.
Pending Approval
Lodging Tax Advisory
Committee
Lodging Tax Advisory
Committee -Regular Meeting
Minutes
April 14, 2022
Council President and Chair Boyce called the meeting to order.
2. Roll Call
Attendee Name
I Title
Status
Arrived
Bill Boyce
Chair
Present
John Casey
Present
Gaila Haas
Executive Director
Present
Tim Higgins
Excused
Andrew Hutchison
Present
David Kwok
Excused
3. Approval of the Agenda
1. I move to approve the agenda.
RESULT: MOTION PASSES [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Gaila Haas, Executive Director
SECONDER: John Casey
AYES: Boyce, Casey, Haas, Hutchison
4. Approval of the Minutes
A. Approval of Minutes dated February 10, 2022
MOTION: Move to approve the Minutes dated February 10, 2022
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Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Lodging Tax
Advisory Committee -Regular Meeting
Minutes
RESULT:
APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER:
Gaila Haas, Executive Director
SECONDER:
John Casey
AYES:
Boyce, Casey, Haas, Hutchison
S. Business/Discussion Items
A. Evaluate and Score Lodging Tax Grant Applications
April 14, 2022
Kent, Washington
Chair Boyce led a discussion for the Committee to set aside $95,000 in funds
for future grant applications during 2022. Boyce, Casey, Haas and Hutchison
agreed.
Michelle Wilmot provided an overview of the grant process regarding
receiving and distributing lodging tax funds and advised that the LTAC will
make recommendations to the Economic and Community Development
Committee to formally request the Council approve and award the funds.
Jason Thompson from the Seattle Thunderbirds Hockey Club presented
details on the Thunderbird's request of $70,500 to promote Visit Kent and
Kent as a destination. The Thunderbirds estimated attendance is over
180,000 and they anticipate 2,500 attendees will spend nights in Kent.
Michelle Wilmot presented details on the Women in Manufacturing (WiM)
request that will be used to shine light on manufacturing jobs for women in
Kent. WiM has been a strong partner with the City - promoting it at local
events and across the country as a great place to work and do business.
Their educational program series features nine companies in Kent. Their
request is for $10K that will bring about 100 people to Kent each time they
hold an event. They anticipate 20-25 people will stay overnight in Kent for
each time.
Gaila Haas presented the Kent Downtown Partnership's request for $6,800
for a Meeker Street Nerd Party to be held in February of 2023. Funds will be
used for event logistics.
Gaila Haas presented the Kent Downtown Partnership's request for $10,000
for a Cajun Music Festival.
Zenovia Harris, President of the Kent Chamber of Commerce presented
information on the Chamber's request of $67,100 for tourism infrastructure
support of a visitor's center. The Chamber receives thousands of calls for
information and they wish to expand their information services for the entire
Kent community rather than just for members. They look to assist with local
events through the visitor center; prepare informational packages and make
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Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Lodging Tax April 14, 2022
Advisory Committee -Regular Meeting Kent, Washington
Minutes
them available to those staying in hotels, as well as hold a business Expo in
May at the accesso ShoWare Center.
Michelle Wilmot presented information on the Kent International Festival's
request of $10,000 to support this annual festival by allowing them to pay for
musical performances. The event is free and open to anyone.
Free to anyone to attend
Michelle Wilmot presented information on the Gut Check wrestling
tournament request for $30K to support the statewide wrestling tournament.
There are many overnight stays at Kent hotels during the course of the event
that is expected to attract 4-5,000 people to Kent in June.
Michelle Wilmot presented information on the request of $25,812 from Food
Northwest for a food processing hot topics forum. Approximately 500
representatives from businesses around the region are anticipated to attend
and possibly stay at Kent hotels.
Michelle Wilmot presented information on the Pacific NW Aerospace request
of $35,000 for a technology innovation conference at the accesso ShoWare
Center. This event will bring in people from across the state to help to grow
industry engagement. Approximately 350 people will attend the expo and it
is expected that 200 would stay in Kent hotels over the course of the event.
The committee agreed to not fund the Kent Downtown Partnership's request
for the Meeker Street Nerd Party and the Cajun Music Festival in this grant
cycle, but agreed they would move these two requests to the top of the list
for funding in the next grant application cycle.
The committee's recommendations for funding to each of the organizations to
move forward to the Economic and Community Development Committee for
formal action is as follows:
Seattle Thunderbirds Hockey Club $60,000
Women in Manufacturing
$9,000
Kent Chamber of Commerce
$50,000
Kent International Festival
$10,000
Gut Check Tournament
$25,000
Food Northwest
$19,000
Pacific Northwest Aerospace
$27,000
MOTION: I move to authorize the Council award a total of $200,000 to the
2022 Lodging Tax Advisory Grant Applicants at funding levels identified by
the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.
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Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Lodging Tax
Advisory Committee -Regular Meeting
Minutes
RESULT: MOTION PASSES [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: John Casey
SECONDER: Gaila Haas, Executive Director
AYES: Boyce, Casey, Haas, Hutchison
6. Adjournment 5:10 p.m.
Chair Boyce Adjourned the meeting.
Committee Secretary
April 14, 2022
Kent, Washington
Next: 5/9/2022 4:00 PM
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