HomeMy WebLinkAboutLTAC 2019-07-23 MinutesLodging Tax Advisory Committee
Minutes
July 23, 2019
Members Present: Kathy Hougardy (Chair), Ben Oliver, Ashley Messmer, Jim Davis, and Miesa
Berry
Members Absent: Asia Wen, Mike West, and Dan Lee, vacant position (one position is Curren
vacant and not tilled)
Staff Present: Brandon Miles, Mayor's Office and LTAC staff; Derek Speck Economic
Development, and Benton
Others Present:Lisa Schwartz, SSRTA.
Meeting Start Time: 1:09 P.M.
Meeting End Time: 2:30 P.M.
Agenda Item
Notes
Follow -Up
Welcome and Introductions
Chair Hougardy welcomed
everyone to the meeting and
asked everyone to go around
the room introducing
themselves.
Approval of Agenda
Consensus to approve agenda
as presented.
Approval of Minutes
Consensus by LTAC to approve the
May 28, 2019'LTAC minutes as
May 28, 2019
presented.
General
Business/Announcements
Economic Development Plan
D. Speck provided an overview of
the City's economic development
plan process. The City is currently '
working to create its first
City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188
economic development plan. D.
Speck outlined the goals,
schedule, and how businesses can
participate. LTAC members
provided input and thoughts
about the City's business
strengthens and weaknesses.
B. Miles passed around the
Lodging Tax Application
current LTAC application and
Staff will prepare three, draft
Format
noted some concerns and
applications for LTAC to
limitations with it. 1) the
consider. The idea is to have an
application is too long for small
application for 1) marketing
proposals 2) the application
and promotion 2) sponsorship
seems to focus on events and is
and 3) capital projects.
not easy to use for sponsorship
and marketing 3) the applications
is no easy to use for capital
projects.
B. Miles provided an overview of
Seawolves Partnership
the Seawolves and a possible
Staff will follow up with
partnership. There was concern
additional information, as
about the two games the City was
needed.
being asked to sponsor. LTAC was
open to a partnership, but wanted
to see more in the application and
also wants to ensure there is on
overlap with any agreement with
SSRTA.
Special Presentations
Virtual Sports and Tour
Note: The tour was postponed
until the end of the meeting.
Future of E-Gaming
Brian Deller, Managing Partner of
Virtual Sports, provided an
introduction into virtual sports
and the facility. Mr. Deller also
provided an overview of the rise
of e-gaming and it's rising
popularity worldwide. LTAC
members discussed their own
City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188
experiences and what they have
seen at some of their properties.
Lodging Tax Funding Requests
City of Tukwila: Visit Seattle,
B. Miles provided an overview
2020 Region Ready Conference
of the funding request. City
($5,000).
staff is requesting $5,000 to
sponsor the 2020 Region Ready
Conference to be held in
Renton. The Region Ready
Conference aims to prepare
the Greater Seattle area for
future large sporting events,
like a MLB All -Star Game, Super
Bowl, or World Cup matches.
Miles discussed that given
Tukwila being home to the
Sounders and Seawolves it
seems like a logical fit for the
City to sponsor.
LTAC voted 5-0 in favor of
supporting the funding
request.
Roundtable
LTAC members and staff went
around the table and provided
updates on items of
importance to the group,''
including:
City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188
• Reminder of the
upcoming Food Rally.
• City has been approached
about shared scooters.
• Retail Summit, a
Southcenter 50 event,
coming up this
September.
• A new climbing wall
businesses in going
through permit review
and should be open in the
fall or winter.
Adjoin
Meeting concluded at 2:19
P.M. Note, several LTAC
members went on a tour of
Virtual Sports. A quorum of the
LTAC was not present during
the tour.
City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188