Transient Lodging Tax Committee Minutes
May 19, 2022
Baker County Courthouse – Commission Chambers
Tyler called the meeting to order at 9:00 am.
Members Present: Tyler Brown, Shane Alderson, and Brian Vegter
Guests Present: Brian Cimmiyotti, Shelly Cutler, Matthew Koppenhaver, Becky Kaaen, Bryan Tweit, Lynn Weems, Bill Harvey and Shelly Christensen
Approve Agenda: Unable to approve agenda due to lack of quorum.
Approve Minutes: Unable to approve minutes due to lack of quorum.
Grant Requests:
Baker City Cycling Classic – Brian Cimmiyotti
Baker City Cycling Classic is requesting $5,000 to improve the race by adding chip timing, improve marketing in digital ads, printed material and in-person logistics with other events and cross promotion and improved equipment for on-course sponsor and community promotion. This event has an estimated 1,000 attendees with 350 participants spending 4 nights in Baker County. This is the 20th year of the event, which will be held on June 17th - 19th. This event is unique because it is the first race in the world where the prize money payout is the same for men and women. Bill Harvey recommended offering camping at the high school this year due to the estimated number of attendees. Brian Vegter shared the decline in camping due to the physical demands of the race and income level of participants. He said the event still utilizes high school organizations and contributes to their fundraising. The grant request was tabled for the next meeting due to lack of a quorum.
Grant Presentation:
Baker Heritage Museum Night at Old Auburn – Lynn Weems
Lynn thanked the Committee for their support of the event. She indicated five gambling tables were refurbished and three more were built for this year’s event. There were 133 tickets sold and 119 people attended the event. The event was held at and catered by the Elks Lodge. Unfortunately, there were only 10 attendees from out of the area. Lynn shared ideas to bring people in for the event by broadening advertising and partnering with another event to keep visitors in town for the entire weekend. The event raised a little over $9,000, which is the biggest year yet, since 2010. Tyler asked if the profit would be applied to expenses for the roof replacement. Lynn stated the funds would be deposited into the general fund but may be needed for the roof replacement. The event will be held next year at the Elks Lodge and is scheduled for the last weekend in February 2023. Lynn also thanked the TLTC for the cooperative ad purchase in the Eastern Oregon Visitors Guide.
Visitor Services Update – Shelly Cutler
Shelly provided the Committee with her April report indicating the Center saw 47 travelers passing through, 16 travelers seeking lodging, 38 travelers requesting County information, and 43 requesting City information. The Center also mailed 22 Visitor Packets, no Relocation Packets and received 66 visitor phone calls. Shelly also provided demographics of travelers.
Upcoming May events in Baker County include Sumpter ATV’s Second Annual Rally, Chautauqua Music Festival, Halfway Car/Quilt Show, Huntington Catfish Derby and the Sumpter Flea Market.
Shelly is working on the Miners Jubilee. There are less than 12 open vendor spaces in the Park at this time. The Bulls and Broncs event coordinators are “wheels on the ground”. Marketing to the Treasure Valley and Tri Cities area will be increased. There was discussion around what can be done to bring visitors to the downtown area during the event.
The Go Explore magazine is out and all agreed the quality this year is better than in the past. Distribution of the guides was discussed.
The Visitor Center is now fully staffed with two half time employees.
EDC Update: Bryan Tweit
Bryan is participating in the Business Oregon Rural to Rural three-day business conference. Baker County has an unemployment rate of less than 1%. There are currently 202 jobs open in the County. He continues to work on housing opportunities for workforce housing. There was discussion relating to signage at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center advising travelers of the co-location with the Heritage Museum. Lynn Weems indicated she will be meeting Sarah Sherman to design a billboard. Tyler reminded the Committee that the FY 2021-22 budget has a line allocating $12,000 for co-location wayfinding. There will be a ribbon cutting at the Heritage Museum on Thursday, June 2nd @ 11 am.
Hells Canyon Update: Becky Kaaen
Becky shared the Hells Canyon Journal with the Committee, which featured the Halfway boys track team’s participation at State competition. The ½ way ½ marathon was held and had 65 participants. Caleb, a senior at Halfway High School, raised $2,500 as a senior project. Proceeds from this event will be used to replace the track surface in Halfway. Becky provided the Committee with a Halfway Oregon & Pine Valley Quilt Block Trail and Hells Canyon Food & Drink guide.
Becky asked about unused grant funding. The Committee explained funds that are not expended in the fiscal year are rolled over into a contingency or beginning balance fund for the next fiscal year. She also shared event organizers are not aware there are funds available to help them advertise their event. She suggested more money be allocated for local business and event advertising. Shelly Cutler recommended local event coordinators use the Oregon Festival and Events calendar to advertise their event.
Shelly Cutler reported a local lodging establishment brand has been changed to Best Western and the establishment has a new chef. Operating hours of the bar are from 4 pm – 9 pm. They are not serving breakfast or lunch and do not offer a conference area at this time.
Tourism Marketing
Review Proposals – This agenda item will be addressed on May 27th or May 31st. Shelly will correspond with Committee Members to schedule. The Committee will meet in Executive Session to review proposals and then open the meeting to the public for a decision. Meeting date, once established, will be published in the Baker City Herald.
Financial Reports: Shelly Christensen
Shelly shared year-to-date financial reports, which reflect revenue in the past five months exceeding all years from fiscal year 2004-05 to current.
Citizen Participation
None
Staff Comments: None
Bill Harvey recommended the Committee reallocate more funds to the Event Grant line of their budget for the current fiscal year and increase grant funding for fiscal year 2022-23. Bill shared with the Committee the Hewitt/Holcomb parks, which is owned by Baker County is losing $50,000 per year. They have sold properties to fund the improvements made at the Parks and are seeking a grant to make ADA improvements in the restrooms and showers.
Transient Lodging taxes are not being collected from campers at the Parks but the expense is being paid from operating revenue, which is attributing to the annual loss. Bill asked the Committee consider issuing only Baker County’s Hewitt/Holcomb Parks an exemption of lodging taxes. This may require amending the current ordinance.
Committee Comments:
Tyler has noticed Bend residents looking for real estate in Baker County and has been amazed at the number of Sprinter vans in the area.
Next Meeting:
June 16, 2022 @ 9:00
Meeting adjourned at 10:47
Respectfully Submitted: Shelly Christensen