Chapter 2.75 LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Chapter 2.75
LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Sections:

2.75.010 Lodging tax advisory committee created – Purpose.

There is hereby created a city lodging tax advisory committee consistent with RCW 67.28.1817, to serve the functions as prescribed in Chapter 67.28 RCW.

(Ord. No. 23-960, § 37, 6-20-23; Ord. No. 98-322, § 1, 11-17-98. Code 2001 § 2-95.1.)

2.75.020 Membership and appointment.

(1) The membership of the lodging tax advisory committee is governed by RCW 67.28.1817 and shall consist of at least five members appointed by the city council: one member shall be an elected official of the city who shall serve as the chair; at least two members shall be representatives of businesses required to collect the tax, and at least two members shall be persons involved in activities authorized to be funded by revenue received from the tax. The number of members who are representatives of businesses required to collect tax under this chapter shall equal the number of members who are involved in activities authorized to be funded by revenue received under this chapter.

(2) All members of the committee shall serve a two-year term, except that the initial committee shall have one member representing the lodging industry and one member representing organizations receiving the funds serve a one-year term in order to establish a staggered term of the office.

(3) Each member has a responsibility to disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest prior to being appointed and as they may arise at any time thereafter.

(4) The council may review the membership of the committee and make such changes as the council may deem appropriate. The total number of members may be increased or decreased by motion of the council duly adopted, but the number of members shall not be less than five and the number of members representing businesses that are taxed and those members representing activities that may be funded by the tax must be equal at all times, consistent with subsection (1) of this section and RCW 67.28.1817.

(Ord. No. 23-960, § 38, 6-20-23; Ord. No. 04-477, § 1, 12-21-04; Ord. No. 98-322, § 2, 11-17-98. Code 2001 § 2-95.2.)

2.75.050 Officers – Staff – Operations.

(1) The committee shall operate in accordance with its duly adopted bylaws. The committee shall provide the city clerk with a copy of current bylaws which shall be maintained as part of the city’s official public records, and shall provide an updated copy to the city clerk whenever amendments are approved.

(2) The mayor shall appoint appropriate staff to assist the committee in preparing reports and records and performing other functions as may be necessary for the proper operation of the committee.

(3) The committee shall meet in accordance with the commission’s bylaws. The committee shall hold open public meetings and keep a written record of its proceedings which shall be a public record, all in accordance with state law.

(4) Civility and decorum shall be observed by commission members and attendees and shall be enforced by the chair.

(Ord. No. 23-960, § 41, 6-20-23; Ord. No. 98-322, § 5, 11-17-98. Code 2001 § 2-95.5.)

2.75.060 Duties and responsibilities.

(1) The city council shall submit to the lodging tax advisory committee, for its review and comment, proposals on:

(a) The imposition of a tax pursuant to Chapter 67.28 RCW;

(b) Any increase in the rate of such a tax;

(d) A change in the use of the revenue received from such a tax.

(2) The city council shall submit such proposals to the committee at least 45 days before taking final action on any such proposal. Comments by the committee should include an analysis of the extent to which the proposal will accommodate for tourists or increase tourism, and the extent to which the proposal will affect the long-range stability of the special fund created for the lodging tax revenues. The recommendation by the committee to the city council shall be a nonbinding recommendation.

(3) The committee may establish bylaws for the conduct of meetings, voting, review, analysis, and preparation of comments. The committee shall provide the city clerk with a copy of current bylaws which shall be maintained as part of the city’s official public records, and shall provide an updated copy to the city clerk whenever amendments are approved.

(Ord. No. 23-960, § 42, 6-20-23; Ord. No. 98-322, § 6, 11-17-98. Code 2001 § 2-95.6.)