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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021/07/21 MASON COUNTY LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes 411 North 5t" Street, Shelton , WA 98584 Wednesday, July 21 , 2021 9 : 00 a . m . Members in attendance via Zoom : Chair Sharon Trask, Nathan Welch , Duane Wilson , Heidi McCutcheon , Pam Volz, Shaun Tucker and Liz Arbaugh . Also in attendance was Deidre Peterson and Rachel Hansen . Chair Trask called the meeting to order at 9 : 02 a . m . Approval of Minutes Duane/Nathan moved and seconded to approve the May 41 2021 meeting minutes. Motion carried. Review Visitor Welcome Center Information Rachel Hansen , NEO , provided her report on the Welcome Center proposal . She found five potential parcels and her top choice is 58 . 8 acres owned by Green Diamond located at Craig Road/ Highway 101 . It is currently zoned RR5 and could be rezoned in two parcels — Rural Commercial 3 and campground/event center . The Welcome Center will serve as a central location for visitor information and as a gateway to the Olympic Peninsula . Mason County has great potential for visitor growth ; lodging tax is trending up and Rachel believes that will continue . There are high traffic counts in the proposed area . The proposal allows expansion to include an event center . Rachel noted that existing Mason County events including Forest Festival , Oysterfest and community concerts are in need of space . The Welcome Center could include semi -truck parking which has funding available ; the total project construction cost for Welcome Center only is $ 4 . 5M to $ 5 . 8M . Next step is to purchase property and pursue re -zoning . Discussion topics : operating costs seem low; how would this be operated — divide property into two pieces, one is owned by a government entity which allows for certain funding, including lodging tax for operation and the 2 "d piece ( event center/campground ) operated by a long-term lease . Recommendations for 2022 Services Duane proposed the following funding : leave tourism development at 68 %; VIC' s at 20 %, put 10 % to Welcome Center; 2 % to reserves . Believes the Guide Books distributed around the County provides visitor information and that we need to continue to be aggressive for tourism development . Heidi likes the Welcome Center proposal ; because the County is already at max lodging capacity, she questioned if it makes sense to continue 68 % to tourism development but instead put more funding towards the Welcome Center . Liz agreed the Welcome Center is a great idea ; it' s the people at the visitor centers that bring visitors back; she hasn ' t seen a Guide Book, Rachel will drop one off at the museum . Liz expressed appreciation for the museum funding . Shaun doesn ' t believe it' s the time to reduce tourism development . Heidi suggested reducing tourism development and VIC funding by 5 % or 10 % and put that amount towards Welcome Center . It was noted that this is the year to put forth the proposal to the legislature for funding; LTAC Meeting Minutes — July 21, 2021 Duane supports some funding to the VIC' s and at 20 % of 2020 funding ( $ 520, 000 ) it is over $ 100K . Heidi — 50 % tourism ; 30 % welcome center; 20 % VIC' s Discussion of how much to fund to what service . Nathan is supportive of directing some of the VIC funding to the Welcome Center . Rachel agrees if there is a commitment from LTAC to move forward , it is the right time to request funding; believes it could host Oysterfest in 2022 if we move forward right away . Cmmr . Trask agrees it' s the right time to move the Welcome Center forward and has support of local legislature and congressional representatives . Heidi suggested 63 % to tourism development; 20 % to VIC' s; 15 % to Welcome Center; and 2 % to reserve . Shaun countered with 68% to tourism development; 2 % to reserves; 30 % to Welcome Center and drop funding for VIC' s . He is not a fan of VIC' s but did comment that it' s probably not the best idea to stop all funding for VIC' s . Rachel noted the Welcome Center will not be up and running in 2022 so some VIC funding is necessary, especially Hoodsport since they issue park passes . Shaun commented that a business would probably pick up the park pass business if there wasn ' t a VIC . Diane noted that the LTAC needs to make a recommendation today for 2022 services because all of the existing contracts end in 2021 . Nathan/Heidi moved and seconded to recommend to County Commissioners to issue RFP's for 2022 services at 63 % tourism development/festival support/Wild Side guide book maintenance; 20% VIC's; 15% Welcome Center; 2 % reserve . Motion carried. Diane clarified that the support of the Wild Side guide will be included in the tourism development contract . Diane will draft briefing documents for the August 2 briefing and will send to LTAC for review . Discussion of next steps for the Welcome Center . Rachel noted there will be a minimum of $ 51K to $ 10K for fees and earnest money is needed for the purchase of the property; and there may be a difference of opinion in the County Commission of what the Welcome Center will be used for . It was agreed the LTAC wants the County to move the concept forward and some type of professional service is needed . Heidi/Duane moved and seconded to recommend a professional services contract up to $100K for the next steps of the Welcome Center. Motion carried. 2 "d Quarter Reports Quarterly reports were previously distributed and reviewed by LTAC . Rachel will send her NEO report . Other Business - none Public Comment - none LTAC Meeting Minutes — July 21, 2021 Calendar - The next meeting is October 20 , 2021 at 9 : 00 a . m . Adiourn The meeting adjourned at 11 : 20 a . m . LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON ATTEST : LTAC CI rk Chair