PORT ANGELES — The city Lodging Tax Advisory Committee will wait until Aug. 16 before recommending what the City Council should do with a 20-year, $100,000 annual subsidy for the conference center and hotel project.
The committee has scheduled a 3 p.m. meeting that day to hear project developer Randal Jay Ehm give his latest progress report.
“It’s more appropriate to let Randal Ehm come here on Aug. 16 and explain why you shouldn’t take my advice,” said city Economic Development Director Tim Smith.
Smith has said he will recommend that the city reconsider its support of Ehm’s project based on lack of proof of project financing.
Array of meetings
Ehm is scheduled to visit Port Angeles in two weeks to meet with city officials, Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Port Angeles Business Association.
Ehm has said representatives from Hospitality Real Estate Counselors — referred to him by the company slated to manage the conference center — will accompany him on Aug. 16 to explain a potential public-private funding mechanism.
