Transient Lodging Tax Committee Minutes
September 20, 2018
Baker County Courthouse
Lea called the meeting to order at 10:00 am.
Members Present: Loran Joseph, Tori Brown, Kathy Reedy and Lea Gettle via teleconference
Guest Present: Timothy Bishop, Fred Warner, Laura Prado, Shelly Cutler, Laramie Shanks, Rick Stout, Mandy Clark, Lexi Shaw, Bill Harvey and Shelly Christensen
Approve Minutes:
The August 9, 2018 meeting minutes were reviewed. Loran moved that the minutes be accepted and Kathy seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Approve Agenda:
Changes to the Agenda; Event Update letter received from Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre. Loran moved that the agenda be approved with changes, Tori seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Penalty Abatement Requests:
Payment history was provided to the Committee in consideration of abatement of penalty for House 77, 30 and 158. House 158 previously provided a letter of explanation for their late payment of second quarter tax. The Committee reviewed the information and Loran made a motion to deny House #77and #30’s request and to grant House #158 abatement of penalty. Tori seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Grant Requests:
Last Hoorah Ranch Rodeo – Mandy Clark and Lexi Shaw requested $2,500 to be used for the concert, insurance, sanction fees and winning prizes. The Committee asked how the event was being marketed. Mandy indicated that tickets were being sold on Ticket Leap. Most of the marketing efforts were word of mouth at other like events and on Tri-State Rodeo’s Facebook page. Loran moved to approve $1,000 of the grant request to cover the cost of prizes, Tori seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Taste of Baker – Carol Phillips was unable to attend the meeting. Committee member Tori Brown recused herself from voting as the event is being lead by herself and Jenny Mowe-Joseph. The event is requesting $600 to be used to purchase four 4 x 6 banners and additional tokens for the event. Loran moved to approve the $600 request, Kathy seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Event Updates:
Carl Wendt Memorial Bronc Riding – Mandy Clark
Mandy reported that the event this year was the hardest and the most successful, after the tragic loss of her brother Casey who was a co-founder of the event which honors their grandfather Carl Wendt. A $500 Wendt Family Scholarship was awarded and the event made a profit of $124. There were 17 bronc riders, 8 steer riders and 21 mutton busters. The event was attended by locals and out-of-town friends and family. Mandy had several ideas to improve next years’ attendance which include additional advertising, better communication with the Fair Board and bringing in a beer garden and food vendors.
Sumpter Valley Days – Laramie Shanks
Laramie reported the results of Sumpter Valley Days as “way more than she could have hoped for”. The event drew 2,200 visitors from Boise to Hermiston. TLT grant monies were used to purchase advertising and sound system rental for the event. The sound system provided music, event announcements and even locating a lost individual. Locals as well as vendors were impressed with the attendance and are looking forward to next year. Plans for next year are to expand the event to two days, increase radio advertising and add more contests and games.
Floater Concert – Rick Stout
Rick reported good results from the Floater Concert. Three hundred and seven tickets were sold and according to Eventbrite 23% were sold to out-of-town visitors. The event resulted in a profit of $1,799.41. From that profit a $500 donation was made to Baker Youth Activity Center. Rick plans to add another band to next years’ event to increase attendance.
Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre – Aletha Bonebrake letter
Marketing Update: Timothy
Timothy reported that the summer event season went very well with strong attendance for most Labor Day weekend events. He noted that increased attendance at Pine Fest and Cycle Oregon brought a nice influx of visitors. The Halfway Fair had a record number of attendees on Friday and Saturday.
Upcoming events are the Taste of Baker, Huntington Haunted Forest, Sumpter Valley Railroad Halloween Trains, Val’s Veggies corn maze and pumpkin patch. Later this fall is the Idaho Snowmobile Expo in November and then Idaho Outdoor Expo in February. They are also working on the pre fam tour of Eastern Oregon for 12-16 tour operators attending Go West in Boise in February. The tentative dates are February 21st thru the 23rd. There may be another opportunity for a pre fam tour traveling from Seattle to Boise.
The two Travel Oregon small grant applications have been submitted for funding assistance for a pink bike magazine feature and to fund four additional delegates from Baker County to Go West. There have been 165 grant applications submitted requesting over $1 million of the $300,000 funds available. Needless to say the selection process will be quite competitive.
EOVA continues work to complete a RFP to remain Eastern Oregon’s RDMO. Some changes to program guidelines include stringent restrictions on how funds are required to be spent, such as 5% of funds committed to an opportunity or crisis fund and 10% allocation to a regional grant program. The Eastern Oregon District encompasses 11 counties which is 42% of the geography of the state. There was some discussion about re-designating the area to smaller districts but Timothy said Travel Oregon is not interested in doing that at this time.
Visitors Services Update: Shelly Cutler
Shelly indicated that the Visitors Center has been busy this summer and will be focusing on next years’ Miner’s Jubilee, Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally and the Eastern Oregon Tribute Fest. The two interns that were working this summer have now gone back to school which leave her and Diane in the office. Shelly discussed ongoing staffing issues and thanked the Committee for their part in purchasing the signs for the Visitors Center.
Financial Reports:
Second quarter tax payments are received with only two small houses delinquent. There was some discussion regarding the lodging establishment that has been under construction. This establishment is no longer under the Best Western franchise but is now a Comfort Quality Inn. Fred asked if Timothy knew if there was a procedure to contact a large lodging chain to request opening a new lodging establishment in Baker City. Loran referred Fred to Incline Management. Timothy volunteered to follow up with Greg Smith regarding this issue.
Citizen’s Participation:
None
Strategic Planning Update:
Laura Prado was present to highlight the changes from the draft Strategic Plan to the final plan. A Strategic Planning Steering Meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, September 25th @ 9:00 am.
Staff Comments:
None
Committee Comments:
A TLT work session was scheduled for October 4th @ 1:00 pm to discuss changes to the ordinance, work on creating by laws and restructuring the grant application process.
Next meeting:
October 25, 2018 @ 10:00 am
Meeting Adjourned 11:40
Respectfully Submitted:
Shelly Christensen