2021-07-12 Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Packet4XSPECIAL MEETING NOTICE
EDMONDS LODGING TAX
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Edmonds Lodging Tax Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on Monday,
July 12, 2021 at 1 p.m. The agenda is attached, miscellaneous items may be discussed
and there will be an opportunity for audience comments.
The meeting will be held via Zoom.
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The public is welcome to attend the meeting.
Posted/Emailed: July 8, 2021
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AGENDA
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
Edmonds City Hall
Virtual Meeting
Monday, July 12, 2021
1 - 3 P.M.
Zoom Meeting:
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Meeting ID: 999 4823 3755
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1. Approval of March 1, 2021 Meeting Summary (5 minutes)
2. Public Comment
3. Budget and Funding Requests for 2022 (including discussion on 2021 and 2022
revenue projections)
4. Miscellaneous
Set next meeting date
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
Via Zoom
Draft Summary Notes from 3/1/21 Meeting
Committee members present: Kristiana Johnson, City Council, Chair
Frances Chapin, Edmonds Parks, Recreation, & Cultural Services, Mgr.
Pat Moriarty, The Studio
Benjamin Mason, Best Western Harbor Inn
Joe Mclalwain, Edmonds Center for the Arts Executive Director
Committee members absent: None
Guest: Ellen Hiatt, Hiatt Studios
Staff present: Patrick Doherty, Economic Development & Community Services Director
Megan Luttrell, Economic Development
Chair Johnson called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m.
1. Approval of October 26, 2020 meeting minutes. Pat moved and Frances seconded to approve
the 10/26/20 meeting minutes. Motion passed unanimously.
Approval of agenda; Patrick suggested adding a new agenda item 3; Marketing and Tourism
Promotion Update as Ellen Hiatt was present to update the Advisory Committee. Pat motioned;
Frances seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
2. Public Comment: None.
3. Marketing and Tourism Promotion Update: Ellen led the discussion. 2020 was a challenging
year and numbers were down due to COVID but that was expected. An updated Visit Edmonds
website has been launched; the new site has a story telling platform. Ellen was able to eliminate
the calendar from the previous website that cost $5,000 a year and has switched to a calendar
that meets the needs at zero cost. She walked the Committee through the updated website.
Megan is reaching out to each business that is being profiled on the website to communicate
the content that is out there and to make sure that we're representing the business
appropriately. Ellen explained that each article is dated and will have an updated date as
content gets revised. The links in the articles take you to the business's website and will show
their current content and information. Pat asked how we can profile more of the AirBnB and
VRBO's; Ellen agreed more should be added and will be overtime. Kristiana asked if AirBnB and
VRBO are paying their Lodging Tax. AirBnB, yes, because they automatically take it out of the
rent, per Pat; VRBO, unknown, we could take this on as a project to research, if necessary.
Kristiana, asks that all Advisory Committee Members to review the website and provide staff
with any additional venues that are missing from the site. Each month is assigned a theme (see
editorial calendar). Ellen also shared the online analytics. Competitive positioning map shows
where Edmonds stands amongst other common Edmonds -centric websites. This information
proves that Facebook ads are effective and do drive people to our website. Janine's
photography is getting good engagement numbers. Patrick asked the Committee to share any
ideas they have regarding website content with staff. Kristiana mentioned profiling the Rotary
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events and there's a photography event in September that would be good to profile. Frances
requested the Editorial Calendar to be sent out to the group to review.
4. Review of 2020 Expenditures and Projected Revenue: Benjamin shared that they're up 1S%;
the future hard to predict as people are still booking only a week or so out but feeling more
optimistic than a year ago. Pat has someone staying through April and she's well booked
through the summer. Patrick shared the budget spreadsheet with the Committee and walked
through how 2020 appears to be wrapping up. He mentioned that we will be dipping into the
fund balance for 2021. Frances shared that expenditures for Fund 123 will be less than
anticipated because several of the organizations that we sent contracts to will not be able to
meet the requirements. Joe requested the budget spreadsheet be sent out. Kristiana,
summarized; revenues have gone down, we've dipped into the reserves and Fund 123 expenses
will go down, we're in okay shape.
5. 2022 Tourism Promotion Grants Press Release: Frances led the discussion. Megan and Frances
will send the Press Release in the 3rd week in March. Grant requests will be due in May. The
grants will need to be approved prior to July for the budget. Kristiana will make an
announcement at Council once the Press Release goes out. The Committee agrees that the Press
Release can go out in March. Committee members should let Frances know if they know of any
new groups to notify of the opportunity. Joe mentioned he has several rental clients that would
be good, he will let Sarah know to notify them.
6. Economic Development Update on Tourism Promotion: Patrick led the discussion. In addition
to the LTAC funds, the Economic Development has earmarked $10,000 additional funds to
support tourism promotion. Congress is working towards a COVID Relief package that would
support City governments. The current package (passed only by the House) would allocate
$9.2M to Edmonds. Last year's funds only supported new expenditures not lost revenue; this
package could potentially fund lost revenue. Joe shared that the ECA still has some staff working
to keep in touch with audiences and is moving towards reopening. Exploring the first phase of
reopening with outdoor events on the lawn in the spring. The ECA has started a blog, which
could collaborate with the new story telling platform that the Visit Edmonds website is doing.
ECA is actively brainstorming how to engage the audiences. One idea is to have two showings in
one evening, to accommodate more folks to view a live show. Another thought is a hybrid
model; live/online. They're hoping to try some of these options once the restrictions loosen to
50% capacity.
7. Miscellaneous: Kristiana opened the item to the group. Pat asked what the process is for future
meetings. Patrick shared we must meet in July to review grant applications but we could meet
again in May if the group would like to. Joe asked for a budget summary prior to July. Joe also
asked Frances about the $2,600 cap on the small grants; does that need to be decreased and
France responded no, the total will be subsidized with ending cash as we did this year if needed.
Patrick mentioned that he gets inquiries regarding the trolley. There was an LTAC approval of
funds to subsidize the trolley purchase; we may want to discuss this in the future. He still
believes this is a good idea to explore. The type of trolley that we've explored is semi open air
and lends well to the COVID safety. Pat agrees it's worth revisiting in July. Two vendors have
approached Patrick recently and the cost of trolley's are much more affordable in the current
climate than a year ago.
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8. Set next meeting date: After a brief discussion it was decided to meet on July 12, 2021, 2pm-
3:45pm.
9. Adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 3:31 p.m.
21 03 01 LTAC minutes