11/05/2018 - Minutes
City of Port Orchard
216 Prospect Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366
(360) 876-4407 • FAX (360) 895-9029
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
November 5, 2018; 5:00 p.m. at City Hall
Committee Members present: Chair Jay Rosapepe; Lorraine Olsen, Mrs. Howe’s Bed and Breakfast;
Keith Woyshnis, Saints Car Club; Kathy Garcia, Port of Bremerton; Jack Edwards, Days Inn; and staff City
Clerk Brandy Rinearson.
Chair Rosapepe recapped the previous meeting and reminded the Committee the outstanding
questions asked to the non-profits their preference on the allocated amount options.
Clerk Rinearson read the statements received in response to the question asking the non-profits and all
preferred to keep the fund distribution consistent, meaning $100,000 allocated over the next two years.
Committee member Woyshnis added, the Saints preferred the higher amount.
Clerk Rinearson shared an email from Committee member Olsen asking what the City of Bremerton and
Kitsap County does with their over projected/unspent funds and if the City ever specifically used the
reserve. Clerk Rinearson said, in reviewing the City’s files she found a few times the Council did open
the funds mid-year. Those times being for a marketing director in 2011, acceptance of the Saints Car
Club application in 2013, and other applicants in 2000 and 2001. In addition, found a memo from the
previous Treasurer defining what “surplus” funds meant. Kitsap County said they do have a little
reserve, but they try not to keep any funds and include them in the next year’s allocation. They did
share that they also charge their staff time to the account.
Chair Rosapepe shared that in speaking with the Mayor, and some councilmembers, they agree that a
policy needs to be in place and they would open the discussion for funds to be reviewed during mid-
year.
The Committee continued the discussion on the reserve amount, what it means, and how it would
affect the non-profits if we kept the $125,000 allocation recommendation.
In looking at the allocations, the Committee considered reducing or removing the foot-ferry. Asking; if
this what the businesses are wanting, are the ridership counts consistent, what happens if lodging tax
funds are not allocated, where would the funds come from, and could we increase the fares to help
offset the costs?
The Committee rated the applicants from 1-most likely to 3-not likely to put people in “heads in beds”,
rating Visit Kitsap at a 1; Sidney Museum and foot-ferry at a 3; and all others rated a 2.
Committee member Olsen arrived at the meeting.
Committee member Olsen reminded the Committee that Visit Kitsap and the Chamber have bigger
budgets and more resources. And know they have big plans for next year, but maybe financially this is
not the year. Committee member Edwards added that based on it is Visit Kitsap’s only job to put “heads
November 5, 2018, Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
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in beds” he fully supports them and reminded the Committee that the Council asked to look at who is
putting “heads in beds”. Committee member Olsen responded that there hasn’t been any scientific
evidence that supports any applicant is putting “heads in beds”. Some made the point that events do
put us on the map, get people here, and possibly stay in the hotels.
They also looked at what the applicants asked for in 2018 and what they were allocated.
In readdressing the fund allocations for the foot-ferry, some felt the service should be funded by the
government. Others felt it is used by some hotels and is getting people to Port Orchard for events.
What tends to be missing, on if it is successful or not, is the data on the ridership because the schedules
tend to be inconsistent from year-to-year.
The Committee looked at the allocation as if they took the applicants ask and reduce by 23% to see
were the allocations lay; with keeping the four smaller asks (Sidney, foot-ferry, Saints, and Mustang
Club) at fully funded. In looking at the funding allocations, from last year to this year, the Chamber was
the only one that still receives more than last year.
Motion: Committee member Olsen made the motion and Committee member Woyshnis second the
motion to accept the allocation as discussed. Upon vote, the motion failed as 2 in support and 2 in
opposition. Committee members Garcia and Edwards were in opposition.
Then they looked at what the numbers would be if all the applicants were reduced by 20%. In looking
at the reduction across the board, it impacts the smaller asks more than the larger asks. And more asks
are receiving less than last year.
The consensus of the Committee was to allocation the following for 2019:
2019 Lodging Tax Applicants Request Recommendation Revised
Visit Kitsap Peninsula-Tourism Marketing and Night-Life $24,000 $22,000 $16,918
Port Orchard Bay Street Association – Operation and Events $27,013 $20,000 $15,380
Port Orchard Bay Street Association – Tourism Marketing $10,925 $10,000 $7,690
Sidney Museum and Arts Association- Tourism Marketing $5,070 $5,070 $5,070
Fathoms O’ Fun Festivals-Events/Operations & Marketing $34,500 $28,000 $21,532
Kitsap Mustang Club-Mustangs on the Waterfront $2,500 $2,500 $2,500
Saints Car Club-The Cruz $2,400 $2,400 $2,400
Chamber of Commerce- Seagull Calling Festival; $30,203 $28,530 $22,010
Tourism & Visitor Marketing, and Visitor Center Operations
City of Port Orchard-Summer Event Foot-Ferry Services $6,500 $6,500 $6,500
Totals: $143,111 $125,000 $100,000
There being no further business, Chair Rosapepe adjourned the meeting at 6:06 p.m. Audio-only,
recording was successful.
Next meeting: TBD
cc: Council/Mayor/Committee Members