HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/12/2022 Meeting Packet
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Meeting
Tuesday, July12, 2022
3 to 5 p.m.
City Hall, 540 Water Street
City Council Chambers
• Join virtually at http://joinwebinar.com enter the 9 digit Webinar ID 474-483-579
•Join by phone in listen-only mode (360) 390-5064 ext. 5 access code: 823-019-247#
• Submit public comment emails to be included in the meeting record to:
publiccomment@cityofpt.us
I. Call to Order
II. Approval of Minutes - April 12, 2022
III. Lodging Tax Revenue Reports
IV. Fee Waiver Approach (Finalize)
V. Budget Development and Request Process
VI. Fee Waiver Requests
VII. Activity and General Updates
VIII. Adjourn
LTAC regular meetings are held quarterly, on the second Tuesday at 3 p.m. of the months
January, April, July, and October each year.
Next regular meeting:
October 11, 2022 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Mark your calendars and save the dates!
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) Fee Waiver Draft Policy Framework
v4.0 22.7.8
OPTION A: SIMPLIFIED
Given the likelihood that all or almost all requests for rental fee waives will be met by budget allocation and to
reduce complexity and barriers to access needed funds, requestors would need to affirm that their proposed
event is open to the public and expected to draw visitors to PT in alignment with RCW 67.28.1815-1816.
OPTION B: DETAILED
Purpose
This policy framework aims to ensure that lodging tax fee expenditures, including events that receive a fee
waiver, are in line with RCW 67.28.1815-1816 including being used for tourism promotion and/or operation of
tourism-related facilities. LTAC recommended and City Council approved a total amount of $10,000 for fee
waivers in 2022.
Criteria
All events approved for fee waivers must increase the number of people staying overnight, traveling 50 miles
or more, or coming from another state or country to Port Townsend and making a financial impact within the
City of Port Townsend. Events must also be open to the public. In addition, the following criteria will be used
to determine priority for waiving facility rental fees:
Key Criteria Criteria Points
Meet the criteria referenced above? Y: proceed
N: ineligible
Provide additional visitations to Port +3
Townsend in the offseason?
Provide a new (< 3 yr) offering to Port +2
Townsend?
Create local jobs or utilize local vendors +2
Increase overnight stays? +1
Increase overnight stays in the offseason? +1
Reflect partnerships with organizations and +2
businesses?
Leverage matching or in-kind funds? +2
Is the proposal from an
Does not have a board or staff member +1
represented by the LTAC?
Is a non-profit? +2
Has a track record of project success? +2
Did not receive funds the previous year? +1
Is attendance projected to
Up to capacity of the building? +1
Capacity and including surrounding environs? +2
Free? +1
Process
A call for applications (Attachment A, page 3) for facility rental fee waivers for any given year would be made
by the final quarter of the previous year to allow more greatest visibility and awareness of the opportunity,
coordination among yearly events, and fair and predictable review by LTAC early in the year.
City staff will review applications and score them according to this policy framework in advance of formal
discussion and decision-making by LTAC. City staff will then communicate the decision to fee waiver
applicants.
If the full appropriated fee waiver amount for the year is not met in the initial call, LTAC may decide to issue a
second call for applications and review half-way through the calendar year.
Current daily rental rate for Cotton Building and Pope Marine Building facilities is $20 per hour ($200 per day
maximum) with a refundable damage/maintenance deposit. Current rental fee structure:
https://cityofpt.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/parks_recreation_amp_community_services/page/7414/rental_fee_structure_c
The rate will be at the nonprofit level for any fee waiver applications.
otton-pope2.pdf.
The above process is meant to be a guide to awarding facility fee waivers and interested organizations do not
need to earn points in all categories to have an application approved.
Attachment A:
ApplicationforPort TownsendLodgingTaxFacility Fee Waiver
Aim is to get this form online similar to:
https://cityofpt.us/police/webform/special-events-permit-application
Facility:
Cotton Building
Pope Marine Building
Chetzemoka Gazebo
Other
Dates:
Organization/AgencyName:
FederalTaxIDNumber:
EventorActivityName(ifapplicable):
ContactNameandTitle:
MailingAddress:City:State:Zip:
Phone:EmailAddress:
Non-Profit
For-Profit
PublicAgency
CERTIFICATION
Iamanauthorizedagentoftheorganization/agencyapplyingforfunding.Iunderstandthat:
I am proposing a tourism-related event.If awarded, my organization intends to enter into a Facility Use
AgreementwiththeCityandprovideliabilityinsuranceforthedurationofthecontractnamingthe City
asan additionalinsured and inanamountdeterminedbytheCity.
Reportingrequirementsmeetingstateguidelinesoutlinedinthisapplicationmustbesubmittedwithfinal
requestfor reimbursement.
Signature:Date:
PrintedorTypedName:
ApplicationOverviewand Questions
Provideuswithanoverviewofyourrequest:
Attach:
1.Description of the event for which you are requesting a facility fee waiver.
2.Ifyouragencyisanon-profit,acopyofyourcurrentnon-profitcorporateregistrationwith
the WashingtonSecretary ofState.
3.Brochuresorotherinformationaboutyoureventinparticularitemsshowingrecent tourism
promotion efforts.
ThisproposalandalldocumentsfiledwiththeCityarepublicrecords.TheCitymaychoosetopostonitswebsite
copiesoftheproposalsand attached documents.
Telluswhoyouexpecttoattract:
TheStateofWashingtonrequiresanestimateforthefollowingquestionsbelow. LTAC will use these attendance
about the
organization and the event).
What method was used to
Asadirectresultofyourproposedtourism-relatedevent,providean estimate
determineattendanceinprevious
of:
years?
DirectCount
a.OverallAttendance
Predicted:
IndirectCount
Enter the total number of people predicted to
RepresentativeSurvey
attendthisactivity,andselect themethodusedto
InformalSurvey
determinetheattendance.
StructuredEstimate
b. Attendance,50+Miles
DirectCount
Enter the number of people who traveled greater
Predicted:
IndirectCount
than50milespredictedtoattendthisactivity,and
RepresentativeSurvey
InformalSurvey
selectthemethod usedtodeterminethe
StructuredEstimate
attendance.
c.Attendance,OutofState,OutofCountry
DirectCount
Enterthenumberofpeoplefromoutsidethestate
Predicted:
IndirectCount
and country predicted to attend this activity, and
RepresentativeSurvey
InformalSurvey
selectthemethod usedtodeterminethe
StructuredEstimate
attendance.
DirectCount
d.Attendance,PaidforOvernightLodging
Predicted:
IndirectCount
Enterthenumberofpredictedtoattendthisactivity
RepresentativeSurvey
and pay for overnight lodging, and select the
InformalSurvey
methodusedto determinetheattendance.
StructuredEstimate
DirectCount
e.Attendance, Did Not Pay for Overnight Lodging
Predicted:
IndirectCount
Enterthenumberofpredictedtoattendthisactivity
RepresentativeSurvey
without paying for overnight lodging, and select the
InformalSurvey
methodusedto determinetheattendance.
StructuredEstimate
Methods for Count/Estimation
Direct Count: Actual count of visitors using methods such as paid admissions or registrations, clicker counts
at entry points, vehicle counts or number of chairs filled. A direct count may also include information
collected directly from businesses, such as hotels, restaurants or tour guides, likely to be affected by an
event.
Indirect Count: Estimate based on information related to the number of visitors such as raffle tickets sold,
redeemed discount certificates, brochures handed out, police requirements for crowd control or visual
estimates.
Representative Survey: Information collected directly from individual visitors/participants. A representative
survey is a highly structured data collection tool, based on a defined random sample of participants, and
the results can be reliably projected to the entire population attending an event and includes margin of
error and confidence level.
Informal Survey: Information collected directly from individual visitors or participants in a non-random
manner that is not representative of all visitors or participants. Informal survey results cannot be projected
to the entire visitor population and provide a limited indicator of attendance because not all participants
had an equal chance of being included in the survey.
Structured Estimate: Estimate produced by computing known information related to the event or location.
For example, one jurisdiction estimated attendance by dividing the square footage of the event area by the
international building code allowance for persons (3 square feet).
Actual data will be required with your final reimbursement.
City staff and the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) wish to understand the following and will be scoring the
application accordingly (40% of total score; applications need not achieve total points or points in all categories to
be considered):
About the Event Points
Answer/Explanation
available
2
f. Is the event a new offering to Port
Townsend?
2
g. Will the event create local jobs or
utilize local vendors? How is this
determined/measured?
1
h. Will the event increase overnight
stays in the offseason (October May)?
2
i. Describe any partnerships with
organizations or businesses related to
this event.
2
j. Does the event leverage any funds
or in-kind?
1
k. The event must be open to the
public to qualify for LTAC funding. In
addition, is the event free or ticketed?
Points
About the Organization
Answer/Explanation
available
1
k. Is your organization represented
on LTAC by a board or staff member?
2
l. Are you a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization?
2
m. Briefly describe a relevant past
organizational success related to
this project/event
1
n. Did you receive funds for this
event/project last year? Have you
received LTAC funding of any kind
before?
ApplicationTimeline
ApplicationDeadline:First Friday of Februaryby4p.m.receivedatPort TownsendCityHall or by email at: xxxxxx
\[Not sure best timing here call for applications by final quarter of the year to get a more comprehensive sense of
the calendar, but also allow applications at any time of the year if the full $10k amount is not committed to?\]
SubmitaPDFandoneoriginalsignedcopyto:
CityofPort Townsend LodgingTaxFee Waiver
Emily Coler
250 Madison Street
Port Townsend, WA
Email:Ecoler@cityofpt.us
ƚǒƒǒƭƷĭƚƒƦƌĻƷĻğƓķƭźŭƓƷŷĻĭƚǝĻƩƭŷĻĻƷǞźƷŷƷŷźƭƦğĭƉĻƷ
ƚǒƒğǤǒƭĻğ{ǒƦƦƌĻƒĻƓƷğƌCƚƩƒƚƩƷǤƦĻƷŷĻƨǒĻƭƷźƚƓƭğƓķğƓƭǞĻƩƭƚƓƭĻƦğƩğƷĻƭŷĻĻƷƭƚŅƦğƦĻƩ͵
.
tƌĻğƭĻƓǒƒĬĻƩĻğĭŷƦğŭĻźƓǤƚǒƩƦğĭƉĻƷͲĻǣĭĻƦƷŅƚƩƷŷĻĬƩƚĭŷǒƩĻƭΉźƓŅƚƩƒğƷźƚƓ
Attachment B:
General LTAC Information
GeneralInformation
CityofPort TownsendLodgingTaxFundOverview
operations,
and expendituresdesignedtoincreasetourism.The fund has been used to market Port Townsend;
construct and maintain tourism-related infrastructure like public restrooms, winter lighting and
garbage facilities; offer sponsorships for events and organizations; pay fee waivers for use of City
facilities; and pay debt service, among other things allowable by state law
HIGHPRIORITY willbegiventotourismactivitiesthat:
Have a demonstrated potential or high potential to result in overnightstays by tourists in
lodging establishments within the City of Port Townsend. Preference may be given to stays
duringshoulder season.
Promote Port Townsend and/or events, activities, and places in the City of Port Townsend
to potential touristsfromoutsideJeffersonCounty.
Havedemonstratedorhighpotentialtoresultindocumentedeconomic benefitto Port
Townsend.
Have a demonstrated history or success in Port Townsend or are proposed by a group with
a demonstratedhistoryor highpotential ofsuccesswith similar activities.
Minimizeduplicationofserviceswhereappropriateandencouragecooperativemarketing
and/orincludesan element ofcooperation or partnership.
City Facilities are available on a first-come; first-serve basis. Please ensure that your
selected dates are availableby checking the City website. A facility-use scholarship will not
give you priority to use your selected facility or bump another event from the reservation
calendar.
StateLaw Excerpts
RCW67.28.1816UseofLodgingTaxFund.
Lodgingtaxrevenueunderthischaptermaybeused,directlybyanymunicipalityorindirectly
throughaconventionandvisitorsbureauor destination marketingorganization for:
Tourismmarketing;
a.
Themarketingandoperationsofspecialeventsandfestivalsdesignedtoattracttourists;
b.
Supporting the operations and capital expenditures of tourism-related facilities owned or
c.
operated by amunicipalityora publicfacilitiesdistrict createdunderchapters35.57and
36.100RCW;or
Supporting the operations of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by nonprofit
d.
organizationsdescribed under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3) and 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(6) or the
internal revenue code of 1986,asamended.
RCW67.28.080Definitions.
"Municipality"meansanycounty,city ortownofthestateofWashington.
"Operation"includes,butisnotlimitedto,operation,management,andmarketing.
"Person" means the federal government or any agency thereof, the state or any agency,
subdivision,taxingdistrictormunicipalcorporationthereofotherthancounty,cityor
town,anyprivatecorporation,partnership,association, or individual.
"Tourism" means economic activity resulting from tourists, which may include sales of
overnightlodging,meals,tours, gifts, or souvenirs.
"Tourism promotion" means activities and expenditures designed to increase tourism,
including but notlimited to advertising, publicizing, or otherwise distributing information
for the purpose of attracting andwelcomingtourists;developingstrategiestoexpand
tourism;operatingtourismpromotionagencies;andfundingmarketingofspecialevents
and festivalsdesigned toattract tourists.
"Tourism-relatedfacility" meansrealortangiblepersonalpropertywithausablelife
ofthreeormoreyears, or constructed with volunteer labor, and used to support
tourism, performing arts, or toaccommodatetourist activities.
"Tourist" means a person who travels from a place of residence to a different town, city,
county, state, orcountry,forpurposesofbusiness,pleasure,recreation,education, arts,
heritage,or culture.
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) Process for Budget Request
V4.0 22.7.8
Purpose
This document aims to ensure that a) there is a clear, consistent and well-communicated approach to the
creation of the LTAC budget, and b) lodging tax expenditures are in line with RCW 67.28.1815-1816 including
being used for tourism promotion, acquisition of tourism-related facilities, and/or operation of tourism-related
facilities.
Criteria
All proposals must meet the minimum statutory requirements of RCW 67.28. Event organizers must
demonstrate that they have appropriately mitigated any potential impacts and acquired any required permits.
Further information and guidance can also be found at: https://mrsc.org/Home/Explore-
Topics/Finance/Revenues/Lodging-Tax.aspx. In addition, proposals will be evaluated against these following
weighted criteria, although proposals need not earn points in all categories:
Key Criteria Criteria Points
Does the proposal
Increase number of visits as per above? Y: proceed
N: ineligible
Provide additional visitations to Port +3
Townsend in the offseason?
Provide a new (< 3 yr) offering to Port +2
Townsend?
Create local jobs or utilize local vendors? +2
Increase overnight stays? +1
Increase overnight stays in the offseason? +1
Reflect partnerships with organizations and +2
businesses?
Include a capital project component? +3
Leverage matching or in-kind funds? +2
Is the proposal from an
Does not have a board or staff member +1
represented by the LTAC?
Is a non-profit? +1
Has a track record of project success? +2
Did not receive funds the previous year? +1
Is the project/event protected
Over 100? +1
Over 250? +2
..and include free attendance? +1
Budget Development and Budget Request Process
The development of the LTAC budget is part of the development of the City of Port Townsend budget. This
begins nearly 6 months before the start of the subsequent year and includes state-mandated statutory
milestones and deadlines.
The following approach is suggested for development of the LTAC budget:
1.Contracting & Review January (Q1 Meeting). The City initiates agreements with LTAC funding
!
recipients in accordance with recently-decided current-year budget, including terms, deliverables,
insurance requirements, and scope of work. LTAC reviews previous year and reporting and assesses
current year projections.
2.Priorities April (Q2 Meeting). Initial discussion of priorities for following year. Advertise for new
!
LTAC members (appointments through May on rolling cycle).
3.Call for priorities and RFPs June (no meeting). Call from Mayor/City Manager to LTAC (and all City
!
advisory boards) for workplan items and budget request (if applicable). Note that the overall LTAC
budget is forecasted by the City Finance team; LTAC makes a formal recommendation to City Council
for use of those funds. On behalf of LTAC, the City communicates a call for eligible LTAC funding
requests to be considered alongside workplanning and budgeting in advance of their final quarterly
meeting of the year.
4.Priorities and proposals July (Q3 Meeting). LTAC considers priorities and RFP applications.
!
5.Meeting with applicants & additional awards (if necessary) September (special meeting). LTAC
!
meets with applicants to ask questions and discuss with applicants. LTAC may also consider advancing
any allocations dependent upon lodging tax revenue trends for the year as well as issuing a
subsequent call for fee waivers.
6.Deliberation and recommendation to City Council & call for fee waivers October (Q4 Meeting).
!
LTAC weighs a range of objectives within the scope of the criteria. For instance, what portion of
lodging tax funding should be made available to tourism marketing, to eligible infrastructure, to debt
service, to event sponsorships? LTAC votes on a budget and submits a recommendation to City
Council in advance of a decision on the final City budget. City Council may choose to
approve/incorporate or may send the recommendation back to LTAC for further discussion. Also at
this time, on behalf of LTAC and if included in the budget recommendation, City staff put out a call for
fee waivers for the subsequent year.
7.City Council approval December (no meeting). City Council approves the annual budget, including
!
the LTAC budget, for the subsequent year by the end of December as required by state law.
Attachment A:
Applicationand Proposal forPort TownsendLodgingTaxFunds
Aim is to get this form online similar to:
https://cityofpt.us/police/webform/special-events-permit-application
Event:
Location:
Dates:
Requested Amount:Total Project Budget:
Organization/AgencyName:
FederalTaxIDNumber:
Event, Project or ActivityName(ifapplicable):
ContactNameandTitle:
MailingAddress:City:State:Zip:
Phone:EmailAddress:
Non-Profit
For-Profit
PublicAgency
CERTIFICATION
Iamanauthorizedagentoftheorganization/agencyapplyingforfunding.Iunderstandthat:
I am proposing a tourism-related event.If awarded, my organization intends to enter into a Facility Use
AgreementwiththeCityandprovideliabilityinsuranceforthedurationofthecontractnamingthe City
asan additionalinsured and inanamountdeterminedbytheCity.
Reportingrequirementsmeetingstateguidelinesoutlinedinthisapplicationmustbesubmittedwithfinal
requestfor reimbursement.
Signature:Date:
PrintedorTypedName:
ApplicationOverview and Questions
Lodging tax funds vary from year to year. An forecast of lodging tax revenue is made by City staff as part of the
City budget development processand determined by City Council with a recommendation fromthe Lodging Tax
Advisory Committee. Current lodging tax funds are distributed among a variety of initiatives, including marketing,
events, infrastructure, fee waiversand debt service. We anticipate that funding requests for new projects or
initiatives under consideration as part of this application process to be between $1000 -$10,000.
Provideuswithanoverviewofyourrequest.
Attach:
1.Description of the event or project being proposed for LTAC funding.
2.Ifyouragencyisanon-profit,acopyofyourcurrentnon-profitcorporateregistrationwith
the WashingtonSecretary ofState.
3.Brochuresorotherinformationaboutyoureventinparticularitemsshowingrecent tourism
promotion efforts.
4.Detailed project budget
ThisproposalandalldocumentsfiledwiththeCityarepublicrecords.TheCitymaychoosetopostonitswebsite
copiesoftheproposalsand attached documents.
TheStateofWashingtonrequiresanestimateforthefollowingquestionsbelow. LTAC will use these attendance
about the
organization and the event).
What method was used to
Asadirectresultofyourproposedtourism-relatedeventor initiative,provide
determineattendanceinprevious
an estimateof:
years?
DirectCount
a.OverallAttendance
Predicted:
IndirectCount
Enter the total number of people predicted to
RepresentativeSurvey
attendthisactivity,andselect themethodusedto
InformalSurvey
determinetheattendance.
StructuredEstimate
b. Attendance,50+Miles
DirectCount
Enter the number of people who traveled greater
Predicted:
IndirectCount
than50milespredictedtoattendthisactivity,and
RepresentativeSurvey
InformalSurvey
selectthemethod usedtodeterminethe
StructuredEstimate
attendance.
c.Attendance,OutofState,OutofCountry
DirectCount
Enterthenumberofpeoplefromoutsidethestate
Predicted:
IndirectCount
and country predicted to attend this activity, and
RepresentativeSurvey
InformalSurvey
selectthemethod usedtodeterminethe
StructuredEstimate
attendance.
DirectCount
d.Attendance,PaidforOvernightLodging
Predicted:
IndirectCount
Enterthenumberofpredictedtoattendthisactivity
RepresentativeSurvey
and pay for overnight lodging, and select the
InformalSurvey
methodusedto determinetheattendance.
StructuredEstimate
DirectCount
e.Attendance, Did Not Pay for Overnight Lodging
Predicted:
IndirectCount
Enterthenumberofpredictedtoattendthisactivity
RepresentativeSurvey
without paying for overnight lodging, and select the
InformalSurvey
methodusedto determinetheattendance.
StructuredEstimate
Methods for Count/Estimation
Direct Count: Actual count of visitors using methods such as paid admissions or registrations, clicker counts
at entry points, vehicle counts or number of chairs filled. A direct count may also include information
collected directly from businesses, such as hotels, restaurants or tour guides, likely to be affected by an
event.
Indirect Count: Estimate based on information related to the number of visitors such as raffle tickets sold,
redeemed discount certificates, brochures handed out, police requirements for crowd control or visual
estimates.
Representative Survey: Information collected directly from individual visitors/participants. A representative
survey is a highly structured data collection tool, based on a defined random sample of participants, and
the results can be reliably projected to the entire population attending an event and includes margin of
error and confidence level.
Informal Survey: Information collected directly from individual visitors or participants in a non-random
manner that is not representative of all visitors or participants. Informal survey results cannot be projected
to the entire visitor population and provide a limited indicator of attendance because not all participants
had an equal chance of being included in the survey.
Structured Estimate: Estimate produced by computing known information related to the event or location.
For example, one jurisdiction estimated attendance by dividing the square footage of the event area by the
international building code allowance for persons (3 square feet).
Actual data will be required with your final reimbursement.
City staff and the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) wish to understand the following and will be scoring
the application accordingly (40% of total score; applications need not achieve total points or points in all
categories to be considered):
About the Event or Initiative Points
Answer/Explanation
available
2
f. Is the event or initiative a new
offering to Port Townsend?
2
g. Will the event or project create
local jobs or utilize local vendors? How
is this determined/measured?
2
h. Will the event or project increase
overnight stays or overnight stays in the
offseason (October May)?
2
i. Describe any partnerships with
organizations or businesses related to
this event or project.
2
j. Does the event or project leverage
any funds or in-kind?
2
j. Does the event/project include a
capital project component? If so, what
is the approach to maintenance or
renewal?
1
k. The event or project must be open
to thepublic to qualify for LTAC
funding. In addition, is the event or
initiative free or ticketed?
Points
About the Organization
Answer/Explanation
available
1
l. Is your organization represented
on LTAC by a board or staff member?
2
m. Are you a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization?
2
n. Briefly describe a relevant past
organizational success related to
this project/event
1
o. Did you receive funds for this
event/project last year? Have you
received LTAC funding of any kind
before?
ApplicationTimeline
ApplicationDeadline:Calls for proposals will be made in June, with the deadline on June 30 and with consideration
from July through September. Applications may be received online (link forthcoming) or at Port Townsend City Hall.
SubmitaPDFandoneoriginalsignedcopyto:
CityofPort Townsend LodgingTaxBudget Request
Connie Anderson
250 Madison Street
Port Townsend, WA
Email:canderson@cityofpt.us
ƚǒƒǒƭƷĭƚƒƦƌĻƷĻğƓķƭźŭƓƷŷĻĭƚǝĻƩƭŷĻĻƷǞźƷŷƷŷźƭƦğĭƉĻƷ
ƚǒƒğǤǒƭĻğ{ǒƦƦƌĻƒĻƓƷğƌCƚƩƒƚƩƷǤƦĻƷŷĻƨǒĻƭƷźƚƓƭğƓķğƓƭǞĻƩƭƚƓƭĻƦğƩğƷĻƭŷĻĻƷƭƚŅƦğƦĻƩ͵
.
tƌĻğƭĻƓǒƒĬĻƩĻğĭŷƦğŭĻźƓǤƚǒƩƦğĭƉĻƷͲĻǣĭĻƦƷŅƚƩƷŷĻĬƩƚĭŷǒƩĻƭΉźƓŅƚƩƒğƷźƚƓ
Attachment B:
General LTAC Information
GeneralInformation
CityofPort TownsendLodgingTaxFundOverview
and expendituresdesignedtoincreasetourism.The fund has been used to market Port Townsend;
construct and maintain tourism-related infrastructure like public restrooms, winter lightingand
garbage facilities; offer sponsorships for events and organizations; pay fee waivers for use of City
facilities; and pay debt service, among other things allowable by state law.
HIGHPRIORITY willbegiventotourismactivitiesthat:
Have a demonstrated potential or high potential to result in overnightstays by tourists in
lodging establishments within the City of Port Townsend. Preference may be given to stays
duringshoulder season.
Promote Port Townsend and/or events, activities, and places in the City of Port Townsend
to potential touristsfromoutsideJeffersonCounty.
Havedemonstratedorhighpotentialtoresultindocumentedeconomic benefitto Port
Townsend.
Have a demonstrated history or success in Port Townsend or are proposed by a group with
a demonstratedhistoryor highpotential ofsuccesswith similar activities.
Minimizeduplicationofserviceswhereappropriateandencouragecooperativemarketing
and/orincludesan element ofcooperation or partnership.
City Facilities are available on a first-come; first-serve basis. Please ensure that your
selected dates are availableby checking the City website. A facility-use scholarship will not
give you priority to use your selected facility or bump another event from the reservation
calendar.
StateLaw Excerpts
RCW67.28.1816UseofLodgingTaxFund.
Lodgingtaxrevenueunderthischaptermaybeused,directlybyanymunicipalityorindirectly
throughaconventionandvisitorsbureauor destination marketingorganization for:
Tourismmarketing;
a.
Themarketingandoperationsofspecialeventsandfestivalsdesignedtoattracttourists;
b.
Supporting the operations and capital expenditures of tourism-related facilities owned or
c.
operated by amunicipalityora publicfacilitiesdistrict createdunderchapters35.57and
36.100RCW;or
Supporting the operations of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by nonprofit
d.
organizationsdescribed under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3) and 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(6) or the
internal revenue code of 1986,asamended.
RCW67.28.080Definitions.
"Municipality"meansanycounty,city ortownofthestateofWashington.
"Operation"includes,butisnotlimitedto,operation,management,andmarketing.
"Person" means the federal government or any agency thereof, the state or any agency,
subdivision,taxingdistrictormunicipalcorporationthereofotherthancounty,cityor
town,anyprivatecorporation,partnership,association, or individual.
"Tourism" means economic activity resulting from tourists, which may include sales of
overnight lodging,meals,tours, gifts, or souvenirs.
"Tourism promotion" means activities and expenditures designed to increase tourism,
including but notlimited to advertising, publicizing, or otherwise distributing information
for the purpose of attracting andwelcomingtourists;developingstrategiestoexpand
tourism;operatingtourismpromotionagencies;andfundingmarketingofspecialevents
and festivalsdesigned toattract tourists.
"Tourism-relatedfacility" meansrealortangiblepersonalpropertywithausablelife
ofthreeormoreyears, or constructed with volunteer labor, and used to support
tourism, performing arts, or toaccommodatetourist activities.
"Tourist" means a person who travels from a place of residence to a different town, city,
county, state, orcountry,forpurposesofbusiness,pleasure,recreation,education, arts,
heritage,or culture.
FACILITY RENTAL FEE WAIVER
Rental information (to be completed by rental party)
Rental Party The Port Townsend Main Street Program dba Port Townsend Creative District
(organization/person)
Rental Date(s)From: August 21 st 8:00AMTo: August 22 nd 10:00AM
and
And hour(s)
From: August 25 th 8:00PM To: August 26 th 11:00AM
Event Name/Rental Soundcheck – we seek to use the Cotton Building for a Maker’s Market to
Purpose showcase local artists and indigenous crafters on August 21 st, and August 25 th to
th
26is a previously-scheduled event (Concerts on the Dock) that has a late night
component added to it, and the additional hours needed for this were not
originally budgeted when planning the standard Concerts on the Dock use hours.
Rental Facility The Cotton Building
Event Description Soundcheck is a multi-disciplinary, multi-venue arts festival with all events free to
the public, held by the Port Townsend Creative Districts in partnership with the
Port Townsend Main Street Program.
Reason why rental fee
Free event for the public/community
should be waived
(please check box)
Benefit to the City of Port Townsend
Benefit Description: This event serves to highlight the rich history of craftspeople
and artists in our region, and to promote our working artists and makers, as a
preamble to the Thing festival being held in late August. Soundcheck is our local art
festival – events include free outdoor movies, live performances throughout town,
social justice spoken word and poetry, literary events with local publishers and
booksellers, lindy hop dance instruction with world-class musicians and instructor,
and a songwriter’s showcase featuring burgeoning artists in the local music and
arts scenes.
Other
Please Describe:
Waiver Review (to be completed by City of Port Townsend staff)
Reviewed by City Manager Date
Value of rental
Decision
Meets waiver qualifications Does not meet waiver qualifications
Justification
Authorizing Date
Signature