05/08/2017 - Minutes
City of Port Orchard
216 Prospect Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366
(360) 876-4407 • FAX (360) 895-9029
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
Monday, May 8, 2017; 7:00 p.m. at City Hall
Committee Members present: Chair Fred Chang; Kathy Michael, Cedar Cove Inn; Lorraine
Olsen, Mrs. Howe’s B&B; Bobbie Stewart, Port Orchard Bay Street Association; Sharron King,
Fathoms O’ Fun Festival, Inc; Christine Stansbery, Sidney Museum and Arts Association; and City
staff Clerk Brandy Rinearson.
Absent: Chan Park, Comfort Inn.
Roll Call – Clerk confirm there was a quorum and business can be conducted.
Review of the Tourism Strategic Plan
Chair Chang explained the reason for the meeting is to receive input from committee members
on the City’s proposed Tourism Strategic Plan.
Clerk Rinearson explained the copy they have is version B of what was discussed at the
Economic Development Committee on May 1, 2017.
Chair Chang added, the plan will help guide the committee in what the Council’s expectations
towards tourism are.
Clerk Rinearson said the Economic Development/Tourism Committee (ED) asks that score
sheets and certain elements be in the application. The criteria is outlined in the policy that will
be presented to the Council. Once adopted, the documents will be provided to this committee
for review.
The committee discussed how to increase the amount of people and dollars to the City. They
feel the Council should start the discussion on how to bring more lodging into the City, then
work on having a convention center to draw the people here.
The committee discussed the percentages of allocations stated in the Tourism Plan and had
concern that the predetermined percentages would weaken the committee’s allocation
process.
The Committee recommends the following changes:
• To add a definition for “Tourist”.
May 8, 2017, Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Page 2 of 2
• Better define which types of organizations/individuals are eligible to apply for lodging
tax.
• Removing the % language and replace with; awards should be prioritized based on the
goal of increasing tourism through tourism promotion, regional and cooperative
marketing, and first-time applications, events, or initiatives.
• Limit the amount of times the Committee meets now that funding will be available year-
round.
Clerk Rinearson will follow up on the following:
• Follow-up with Legal Counsel on who can apply for lodging tax funding.
• Follow-up or make clear what category organizations can apply for when it relates to
marketing of their own events.
• Follow-up on if the set-a-side funds for first-time applicants have been disbursed, will
more funds be made available.
There being no further business, Chair Chang adjourned the meeting at 8:48 p.m. Audio-only
recording was successful.
Next meeting: TBD
cc: Council/Mayor/Department Directors