HomeMy WebLinkAboutCDN 2019-05-14 Item 2C - LTAC - $5,000 Lodging Tax Application from City of Tukwila for International Food Truck RoundupCity of Tukwila
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
TO: Community Development and Neighborhoods
FROM: Brandon Miles, Business Relations Manager
CC: Mayor Ekberg
DATE: May 7, 2019
SUBJECT: 2019 Lodging Tax Funding Request
International Food Truck Roundup'
ISSUE
Review of a lodging tax funding request from the City of Tukwila (the "City") for $5,000 to
support an International Food Truck Roundup.
BACKGROUND
The City collects a 1% lodging tax on certain qualifying overnight stays in paid accommodations
(hotels/motels/Airbnb) in the City. State law limits the use of these funds to tourism promotion'.
There is currently just over $1 million in lodging tax funds available for use.
The City's Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) reviews all requests, even by the City, for
use of lodging tax funds. LTAC then forwards a list of recommended applications to the City
Council for its review and consideration. If LTAC does not recommend an application be funded,
that application is not forwarded to the City Council. The City Council may approve or deny any
of the applications recommended by the LTAC. The City Council may also approve an
application and increase or decrease the dollar amount awarded3.
The City accepts applications on a rolling basis, with the LTAC reviewing requests monthly.
1 This is a working name only.
2 RCW 67.28.080 (6) defines "tourism promotion" as "...activities, operations, and expenditures designed to
increase tourism, including but not limited to advertising, publicizing, or otherwise distributing information for the
purpose of attracting and welcoming tourists; developing strategies to expand tourism; operating tourism
promotion agencies; and funding the marketing of or the operation of special events and festivals designed to
attract tourists."
3 On August 17, 2016, the Washington State Attorney General's Office issued an informal opinion regarding
whether a municipality could change the dollar amounts recommended by the local lodging tax advisory
committee. Specifically, the informal opinion states:
"When awarding lodging tax revenues pursuant to RCW 67.28.1816(2)(b)(ii), a municipality may award amounts
different from the local lodging tax advisory committee's recommended amounts, but only after satisfying the
procedural requirements of RCW 67.28.1817(2), according to which the municipality must submit its proposed
change to the advisory committee for review and comment at least forty-five days before final action on the
proposal."
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INFORMATIONAL MEMO
Page 2
Pending Applications
Following its April 23, 2019 meeting, LTAC has forward an application from City of Tukwila's
Office of Economic Development.
1. City of Tukwila, International Food Truck Roundup ($5, 000)
In 2017 the City Council adopted the "Tukwila Brand Guidelines and Strategy (Guidelines)" to
help the City focus its marketing and branding strategies to help with tourism development in the
City. As part of the development of the Guidelines the City conducted a destination audit to
determine the City's strengths and weaknesses for attracting tourist to the City. One of the
biggest weakness found in the audit was a lack of event and activities targeted at tourists.
Tentatively scheduled for July 214, the International Food Truck Roundup will feature food trucks
with food and goodies from throughout the world. The City has partnered with Westfield
Southcenter and Culinex, a local Tukwila business to develop and host the event. This will not
be an event put on by the City; however, the City will be a sponsor and help with marketing and
operations.
Hopefully, this event will be the inaugural event, and this will become an annual event. The
event also provides an opportunity for the City to engage food truck operators and work with
them to bring their trucks into the City on a more regular basis, outside of just doing events.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The total amount of funding requested from the lodging tax fund is $5,000.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the funding request, as recommended by
LTAC. Staff suggests that the application be placed on May 20, 2019 consent agenda.
ATTACHMENTS
A. City of Tukwila LTAC Application, International Food Truck Roundup
50 4 The date is subject to change.
Application to the City of Tukwila for Use of 2019 Lodging Tax Funds
Event or Activity Name (if applicable):
City of Tukwila, International Food Truck
Roundup
Amount of Lodging Tax Requested:
$5,000
Applicant Organization:
City of Tukwila, Mayor's Office
Federal Tax ID Number:
91-6001519
Mailing Address:
6200 Southcenter Blvd
Tukwila, WA 98188
Primary Contact Name:
Brandon J. Miles
Primary Contact Phone:
(206) 431-3684
Primary Contact Email Address:
Brandon.Miles@Tukwilawa.gov
Check all the service categories that apply to this application:
✓ Tourism promotion or marketing.
✓ Operation of a special event or festival designed to attract tourists.
Operation of a tourism -related facility owned or operated by a non-profit organization.
Operation and/or capital costs of a tourism -related facility owned by a municipality or a public
facilities district.
Check which one of the following applies to your agency:
Non -Profit (Note: Attach a copy of your current non-profit corporate registration from the
Washington Secretary of State Office)
✓ Municipality
Note: January 26, 2018: Application updated following Lodging Tax Advisory Committee meeting on
January 23, 2018. Changes are shown and reflect the approved request from the Committee.
I am an authorized agent of the organization/agency applying for funding. I understand that:
• I am proposing a tourism -related service for 2018. If awarded, my organization intends to enter
into a services contract with the City; provide liability insurance for the duration of the contract
naming the City as additional insured and in an amount determined by the City; and file for a
permit for use of City property, if applicable.
• My agency will be required to submit a report documenting economic impact results in a
format determined by the City.
Signature:
Printed Name
Date:
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1) Describe your tourism -related activity or event.
Tukwila Food Truck Roundup (working name) will be a celebration of the city's diversity and cultural.
This event will occur in summer or early fall on a Friday or Saturday evening. The exact date is still
being explored and researched. Initial discussions are for the rodeo to be at Westfield Southcenter.
However, if this venue is not able to be secured other venues in the City will be examined, which could
include Baker Blvd or Tukwila Village. Secondary activities may include a stage for music.
2) If an event, list the event name, date(s), and projected overall attendance.
A Friday or Saturday evening in the summer or early fall. Total attendance, 500-1000 people.
It is hoped that this will be the first of many future food truck events in the City. With other possible
events being evening events or small daytime evens.
3) Is your event/activity/facility focusing on attracting overnight tourists, day tourists, or both?
This event is about building the overall tourism destination of Tukwila. This event will be marketed at
people within 20 miles of the City and existing hotels guests in the City. The event is consistent with he
adopted brand guidelines and recommendations prepare by Bill Baker. One of the recommendations
was for the City create events and activities that promote the City's multi -ethnic and diversity
population. This event will hopefully do just that.
4) Describe why visitors will travel to Tukwila to attend your event/activity/facility.
Tukwila is conveniently located at the intersections of 1-405 and 1-5. Over 150,000 people come to the
City everyday to work, play, and stay. This event will cater to the people in the south King County area.
Food truck gathering, such as this, are extremely popular.
5) Describe the geographic target of the visitors you hope to attract (locally, regionally,
nationally, and/or internationally).
With 20 miles of the City and people staying at Southcenter District hotels.
6) Describe the prior success of your event/activity/facility in attracting tourists
The City has partnered with Cullinex for this event. Cullinex operates a large commercial kitchen
operation in the Southcenter and has access to food trucks. It's the City intention to have Cullinex
manage securing food trucks for the event.
The City has experience operating large events. However, the City will not be directly putting on this
event.
7) If this your first time holding the event/activity/facility provide background on why you think
it will be successful.
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For the City yes, Cullinex has experience managing food truck events.
8) Describe the media strategy you employ to promote your event/activity/facility to attract
overnight and/or day tourists? Please list any digital or print media (newsletters, e-blasts,
social media, etc.) your agency uses or intends to use to promote your event/activity/facility.
If the event is at the Mall, the City intends to have Westfield take the lead in marketing the event.
Local media will be used to market the event. The City will also work with area hotels and SSRTA to
ensure that hotel guests are aware of the event.
9) Describe how you will promote lodging establishments, restaurants, retailers, and
entertainment establishments in the City of Tukwila.
This event will cater to food trucks that work within and near Tukwila.
10) Is the City able to use your digital and print media for collaborative marketing?
N/A
11) Describe how you will use the name, "Tukwila" in publications, promotions, and for your
event?
Tukwila will be in the name of the event and the location will be marketed as being in "Tukwila."
12) Measurements and Metrics (Note: You will be required to report these metrics as part of the
close out of the agreement between your organization and the City.)
As a direct result of your proposed tourism -related service, provide an estimate of:
a.
Overall attendance at your proposed event/activity/facility.
500-
1000
b.
Number of people who will travel fewer than 50 miles for your
event/activity.
800
c.
Number of people who will travel more than 50 miles for your
event/activity.
200
(existing
hotel
guests in
the
area).
d.
Of the people who travel more than 50 miles, the number of people
who will travel from another country or state.
25
(existing
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hotel
guests in
the
area).
e.
Of the people who travel more than 50 miles, the number of people
who will stay overnight in Tukwila.
200
f.
Of the people staying overnight, the number of people who will stay in
PAID accommodations (hotel/motel/bed-breakfast) in Tukwila.
200
g.
Number of paid lodging room nights resulting from your proposed
event/ activity/facility (for example: 25 paid rooms on Friday and 50
paid rooms on Saturday = 75 paid lodging room nights)
0 (no
direct
hotel
bookings
as a
result of
the
event.
The
event
will
cater to
hotel
guess in
the area.
13) What methodologies did you use to calculate the estimates and what methodologies will you
use to track outcomes, such as total participants, estimated visitor spending, etc?
These are estimates based on similar type events in the area.
14) Are you applying for lodging tax funds from another community? If so, which communities
and in what amounts?
No.
No.
15) Are you applying funding from Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority (SSRTA)? If so, in
what amount?
16) What is the overall budget for your event/activity/facility? What percent of the budget are
you requesting from the City of Tukwila?
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Total requested funding is $5,000 for the City to help support marketing and operations at the event. It
is envisioned that other third parties will help provide in -kind operations.
17) What will you cut from your proposal or do differently if full funding for your request is not
available or recommended?
The event will not likely occur.
Applications are considered on a rolling basis. Please contact staff to discuss the process for having the
application reviewed by the City's Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.
Completed applications should be submitted to:
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
c/o Brandon Miles
City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd
Tukwila, WA 98188
Or,
Brandon.Miles@Tukwilawa.gov
Questions?
LTAC Contact:
Brandon J. Miles
(206) 431-3684
Brandon.Miles@Tukwilawa.gov.
Updated: March 21, 2017
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DRAFT
City of Tukwila
International Food Truck Roundup
2019 Scope of Services
As outlined the budget above, funds will be used for a International Food Truck Roundup. Funds will be
used as followed:
1. Support marketing and advertising for the event;
2. Support for event's operation; and
3. Other costs needed for the event to occur.
Note, the expectation is that other third parties will provide in -kind and/or cash support for the event
and the event's marketing.
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