10/01/2019 - Minutes
City of Port Orchard
216 Prospect Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366
(360) 876-4407 • FAX (360) 895-9029
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
October 1, 2019; 12:30 p.m. at City Hall
Committee Members present: Chair Jay Rosapepe; Chan Park, Comfort Inn; Keith Woyshnis,
Saints Car Club; Matt Murphy, Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce; Jack Edwards, Days Inn;
and staff City Clerk Brandy Rinearson.
Introductions/Roll Call - Chair Rosapepe introduced himself and so did each of the committee
members and staff.
Chair Rosapepe reminded the committee that the City has allocated $100,000 for 2020 Lodging
Tax distribution.
Clerk Rinearson provided a summary of the two reports (Lodging Tax Financial Report and the
2018 Payment History) to the committee.
Applicants spoke to the committee explaining their proposal which are as follows:
Visit Kitsap Peninsula
Patty Graf-Hoke, Director, and Christine Stansbury with the Board of Directors presented
current and past marketing brochures featuring the City. They support local agencies by
leveraging the funds with other donors to focus on regional marketing such as radio,
broadcasts, television, Seattle magazines, invest in international print writers, print ads, etc...
This is done for all of Kitsap Region, including Port Orchard, to help support and fund events
and activities to attract tourists to the area. The marketing is done 365 days, not just during the
summer. They are making it known that Port Orchard is part of the destination of the Kitsap
Peninsula. The mission is to attract the leisure travelers. Lastly, showed a 15 second ad
promoting the Peninsula.
Amount of funding requested: $18,000.
Sidney Museum and Arts Association
Christine Stansbery, Treasurer, and Luella Hauenstein, President, presented to the committee.
The request for this year is slightly up from last year. The ask is to support the payment of the
website, sign on the State highway, and advertising. The advertising is distributed to other
visitor centers from Vancouver B.C. to Vancouver, WA. The other is in the Country Register that
is distributed in Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and British Columbia. The advertising is to bring
people to the City, the Museum, Log Cabin, and the Art Gallery.
Amount of funding requested: $6,460.
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Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce – Explore Port Orchard – Tourism Marketing
Christine Stansbury presented to the committee. She provided a brief history of how Explore
Port Orchard formed and the purpose of the group. The group does tourism marketing
encouraging people to come and spend the day or night in Port Orchard or to the South Kitsap
area. The funds being asked is to go towards Sound Publishing advertising and various
programs. Brochures about exploring Port Orchard are being provided at the airport, marina’s,
and other Chambers. Additional advertisement is done in the Discover Kitsap Peninsula. In
addition, providing memberships to Washington Tourism Alliance and Washington Festivals and
Events Association, to allow the consortium to advertise their events at the membership rates.
Lastly, maintenance for the website and Facebook notification boosts are some other expenses
being requested.
Amount of funding requested: $12,500.
Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce –Visitor Center
Matt Murphy, Executive Director, presented to the committee. He explained a little of the
operation side of the Visitor Center and what they provide in person, online, and through the
mail. In addition, costs associated with maintaining the website for visitors and potential
visitors. Although the Chamber services South Kitsap, the funds being asked are specifically for
City of Port Orchard businesses and tourism in the City.
Amount of funding requested: $10,000.
Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce – Seagull Calling Festival/Events
Matt Murphy, Executive Director, presented to the committee. Provided a brief history of the
Seagull Calling Festival and Wings Cook off. They have been testing Geofencing, specific
targeted advertisement, to people who attend festivals. The funds being asked for this year are
for operational expenses of events and for permits for the Seagull Calling Festival and the
Cornhole Tournament.
Amount of funding requested: $3,000.
The committee took a 15-minute break.
City of Port Orchard – Summer Event Foot Ferry Services
City Clerk Rinearson presented to the committee. She provided a brief history of the partners
participating in this service and the funds they contributed, as well as the overall estimated
expense for the service. In addition, provided a brief history of the ridership count over the past
few years. The ask is more this year due to the low ridership count.
Amount of funding requested: $7,000.
Saints Car Club – The Cruz
Keith Woyshnis presented to the committee. The ask for this year’s funds is for advertising, as
the cost has gone up. He provided a brief history of the event and the number of cars that
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participate and where they are coming from. In addition, he explained the method they use to
track visitors.
Amount of funding requested: $3,000.
The committee took a 15-minute break.
Fathoms O’ Fun Festival – Marketing and Operations of Events
Helene Jensen presented to the committee. She provided a brief history of what they have
been providing and how they track visitors to the community over the years. They are asking
for funds to market the events and general operation funds to help keep the event going. The
operation expense include maintenance to the float, musicians for the Concerts by the Bay
series, the rental cost for the barge to hold the fireworks show, and new tires for the vehicle
that hauls the float around the State.
Amount of funding requested: $32,500.
Kitsap Mustang Club – Mustangs on the Waterfront
Susan Stadshaug, Show Chair, and Len McCready, President, presented to the committee.
Provided a brief summary of what they used last year’s Lodging Tax Funds for and what their
event brings to the community. In addition, explained how they track visitors and were they
come from. The ask is for advertising and some operation costs for port-o-potties and to
improve the sound system.
Amount of funding requested: $2,500.
The committee took a 15-minute break.
Port Orchard Bay Street Association (POBSA) – Tourism Marketing
Kathleen Wilson, President; Dave Jeffcoat, Suanne Martin-Smith, and Christine Stansbery Board
Members presented to the committee. Ms. Wilson provided a history of their advertising
efforts and their printed brochure. The ask is for advertising, website, and printed brochures.
Amount of funding requested: $10,700.
Port Orchard Bay Street Association (POBSA) – Marketing and Operations of Events
Kathleen Wilson, President; Dave Jeffcoat, Suanne Martin-Smith, and Christine Stansbery board
members presented to the committee. Provided a brief summary of events that occurred last
year. The ask is for operations of the events and help to promote them. Provided an update on
events that will change and stay the same for the upcoming year.
Amount of funding requested: $28,345.
There being no further business, Chair Rosapepe adjourned the meeting at 3:35 p.m. Audio-
only, recording was successful.
Next meeting: October 2, 2019