10/22/2018 - Minutes
City of Port Orchard
216 Prospect Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366
(360) 876-4407 • FAX (360) 895-9029
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
October 22, 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.
Introductions/Roll Call - Chair Rosapepe introduced himself and so did each of the Committee
members and staff.
Chair Rosapepe provided a review of the Committee’s last meeting. Then shared the feedback
from the Council meeting; saying the Council rejected the recommendation, primary due to
funds may not come in as anticipated and spending them ahead of time. The Council asked the
Committee to reconsider only allocating $100,000; however, should the Committee continue
with the $125,000 allocation; then next year’s allocation will be $75,000, with a biennial budget
they are looking to allocate $100,000 each year. The Council did stay that when the Committee
is looking to cut or deciding what you would stay with, is to look at one-time items.
Clerk Rinearson added, that another concern is they didn’t want to set a precedence that the
$125,000 was sustainable and that the expectation is there will be more money each year.
Chair Rosapepe added, with the fact we are not getting any more rooms; unless there is a
tremendous increase in cost of the rooms, they do not anticipate the revenues coming in higher
than what is being budgeted. Committee member Edwards added, during his attendance at the
ED/Tourism Committee meeting he heard that too much money was given to weekend or
onetime events, as their missions are to put on events, not heads into beds.
Committee member Olsen shared she was able to watch the October 9, 2018, Council meeting
video and that by not setting a precedence that we are underestimating our non-profits; and
why not step outside the box. In listening to the Council, she was shocked to hear among the
discussion that there was not a common knowledge among the Council of what the reserve
meant. She questions why not show good faith to the non-profits working hard to bring these
events; she feels the Council can do that but, falls into a pattern of being status quo. At that
moment, she realized it is clear why it is important for the Lodging Tax Committee do what we
do, and to be clear on what we do and why. She was pleased to hear that they are interested in
creating a policy on the reserve funds.
Clerk Rinearson explained, in response to Committee member Edwards, that the fund balance
of $95,000 is just that, the balance of the account as of 1/1/2019. They expect to receive an
additional revenue of $100,000 throughout 2019. In addition, fund balance helps with cash
October 22, 2018, Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
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flow, in that if everyone submitted their reimbursement at the first of the year, cash would be
an issue.
Committee member Woyshnis said that historically the reserve, based on the sheet provided,
has been at $70,000 for the last few years and using the additional $25,000 will maintain the
reserve of $70,000. The extra funds could be used to help the organizations.
Discussions continued around what is the extra money, a reserve or an escrow; and if those
funds are truly available and just sitting in an account for use.
Committee member Olsen reiterated that this is showing good faith to our non-profits. If we
were to use the $25,000, that is in a reserve, and hasn’t been touched in years; it doesn’t lower
the reserves lower than is has been in the last 6 or 7 years.
Committee member Garcia said she appreciates the non-profits and what they are doing. It
would be nice to see what they could do with the extra money and what they could bring in,
but hesitates as she doesn’t want to risk them having less funds the following year.
The Committee discussed when the funds could be reviewed by the Council, how the funds
could be distributed if they came in higher than expected; and the possible effects on the non-
profits. In addition, how the reserve built up to be so high and why weren’t funds allocated
after the annual review of the account.
The Committee didn’t feel comfortable making the decision to keep it at $125,000 or reduce to
$100,000, without the input of the non-profits. The Committee agreed to meet again after they
heard back from them.
Follow Up– The Committee asked staff to reach out to the applicants and get their input as to if
they would rather have more funds in 2019 and a chance of less funds in 2020, or have equal
funds distributed for 2019 and 2020.
There being no further business, Chair Rosapepe adjourned the meeting at 5:56 p.m. Audio-
only, recording was successful.
Next meeting: November 5, 2018; at 5PM
c: Council/Mayor/Department Directors