HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Economic and Community Development Committee - 01/09/2023Pending Approval
Economic and Community
Development Committee
CC ECDC Regular Meeting
Minutes
January 9, 2023
Date: January 9, 2023
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Place: Chambers
Members: Bill Boyce, Council President
Toni Troutner, Committee Chair
Marli Larimer, Councilmember
Zandria Michaud, Councilmember
Agenda:
1. Call to Order 4:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Attendee Name
_ Title jllg_
Status Arrived
Bill Boyce
Council President
Present
Toni Troutner
Committee Chair
Absent
Marli Larimer
Councilmember
Present
Zandria Michaud
Councilmember
Present
3. Agenda Approval
4. Business
A. Approval of Minutes
Approval of Minutes dated November 14, 2022
MOTION: Move to approve the Minutes dated November 14, 2022
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Marli Larimer, Councilmember
SECONDER: Zandria Michaud, Councilmember
AYES: Boyce, Larimer, Michaud
ABSENT: Troutner
5. Action Items
A. LTAC Grant to Economic and Community Development Department to
Support the Visit Kent Tourism Promotion Campaign - Authorize
Speaker Michelle Wilmot discusses the value Kent's Economic development
team has created through its work with Jay Ray since 2017 when the Visit
Kent Tourism Promotion campaign was established. This program includes a
website dedicated to highlighting Kent's unique destinations, diverse food
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Economic and Community Development January 9, 2023
Committee CC ECDC Regular Meeting Kent, Washington
Minutes
scene and recreational opportunities, pitches to local print media and
increasingly, establishing a robust social media presence across multiple
platforms to engage potential travelers from all over and generate traffic to
VisitKent.com.
2022 introduced a new advertising approach using geolocation technology to
identify markets uniquely receptive to marketing of Kent attractions, efforts
which earned an estimated 2.8 million dollars in revenue from lodging, dining
and events in our city.
The 2023 Program proposes to refresh the website design, increase the
number of social media posts on the most effective platforms, and fund
additional geolocation campaigns to capitalize on the renewed interest and
enthusiasm for travel and tourism further away from home.
MOTION: I move to approve a Lodging Tax Advisory Committee grant
to the City and its Economic and Community Development
Department in the amount of $133,500 to maintain the "Visit Kent"
tourism promotion program and web/media presence; and authorize
the mayor to execute a contract with 7ayRay, subject to final terms
and conditions acceptable to the City Attorney and Economic and
Community Development Director.
RESULT:
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
7:00 PM
MOVER:
Zandria Michaud, Councilmember
SECONDER:
Marli Larimer, Councilmember
AYES:
Boyce, Larimer, Michaud
ABSENT:
Troutner
[UNANIMOUS] Next: 1/17/2023
B. Appointments to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee - Appoint
Michelle Wilmot explains that many of the rules which govern the operations
of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee are mandated at the state level, and
this fact, coupled with the fact that Kent does not have a large number of
hotels for the leisure traveler, have made staffing this committee particular
challenging.
For that reason, the committee is recommending Council reappoint two two
recently expired, though long serving members, David Kwok, and Tim
Higgins. Mr. Kwok, who owns the Hampton Inn in Kent (among others) has
served since July of 2010, and Tim Higgins, General Manager of Kent's
largest sporting and cultural events venue, accesso ShoWare, since
September of 2013. Both are willing to continue participating in the work of
the committee.
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Economic and Community Development January 9, 2023
Committee CC ECDC Regular Meeting Kent, Washington
Minutes
Despite the challenges mentioned previously, we did receive a new and
uniquely qualified applicant in Burl Battersby, new director of the Kent
Campus of Green River College. He arrives at Green River after a long career
in the hospitality industry and is excited to work with this committee and get
to know the Kent community.
If approved, all three appointments will begin January 17, 2023 and expire
January 26, 2026.
MOTION: I move to reappoint David Kwok and Tim Higgins and
appoint Burl Battersby to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee for
three-year terms effective from January 17, 2023 thru January 16,
2026.
RESULT:
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
7:00 PM
MOVER:
Marli Larimer, Councilmember
SECONDER:
Zandria Michaud, Councilmember
AYES:
Boyce, Larimer, Michaud
ABSENT:
Troutner
6. Adjournment 4:26 p.m.
2 h.o-vw1a, 3yuvv
Committee Secretary
[UNANIMOUS] Next: 1/17/2023
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