PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles City Council approved the lodging tax advisory committee’s recommendation to fully fund 33 applications and denied the recommendation to partially fund or not fund 16 applications.
The partially funded and unfunded applications will be sent back to the lodging tax advisory committee (LTAC) for further review at its first meeting in 2025.
Tuesday night’s city council meeting, typically sparsely attended, was standing room only.
People weren’t just there to escape the storm that descended upon western Washington — they were advocating for lodging tax funding for the unfunded and underfunded requests.
This funding cycle, the lodging tax fund had $1,007,500 available for distribution, plus excess reserves of $736,500, according to a city memo.
Thirty-three applications were fully funded, including $250,000 for Field Arts & Events Hall operations, $210,000 for the city’s visit Port Angeles marketing, $122,342 for Port Angeles Visitor Center operations, $120,000 to replace the city’s Civic Field scoreboard and $108,000 for improving Port Angeles Fine Arts Center’s Webster’s Woods event and activity space.
The revenue is generated from a 2 percent excise tax applied to lodging for periods of less than 30 consecutive days and must be used for activities, operations and expenditures designed to increase tourism.
On Nov. 13, the lodging tax advisory committee (LTAC) reviewed 49 applications with requests for funding totaling about $1.54 million.
After over six hours of deliberation, LTAC voted 3-2 to recommend that the city approve a total of about $1.27 million for 42 requests.
Many individuals disagreed with LTAC’s recommendations.
“If there is money to be spent, then it should be spent,” Steve Raider Ginsburg, executive director of Field Arts & Events Hall, said during public comment.
Most of Tuesday night’s attendees, both children and adults, were there to support lodging tax funding for youth sports organizations, such as Port Angeles Youth Basketball (PAYB) and North Olympic Baseball and Softball (NOBAS), whose requests for funding were denied by LTAC.
“Youth basketball tournaments are the holy grail for heads in beds during the offseason,” PAYB president Howie Ruddell said. “These tournaments are crucial for youth sports and generating business for the area during a slow time in the year.”
Jackson Melnick, 11, said lodging tax funds would help make next year’s Cal Ripken state baseball tournament, which will be hosted in Port Angeles, “the best tournament ever.”
David Melnick, president of NOBAS, said the tournament would bring more than 2,200 attendees for four nights, generating more than 2,000 room nights and bringing more lodging tax revenue into the city.
“We have received zero funding from the city lodging tax, despite the impact it will have on this community,” he added.
In addition to PAYB and NOBAS, the organizations and events that had unfunded and underfunded applications were the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, the Port Angeles Community Players, Sequim Community Broadcasting, the Port Angeles Marathan Association, the Olympic Culinary Loop, the Elwha Bridge Run, the Port Angeles Rowing Series, the Spruce Railroad Run, the Lincoln Street Block Party, the Peninsula Regional Regatta, the Fall Development Regatta, the Spring Development Regatta, Fall Fest and Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports.
Five city council members approved the fully funded recommendations and rejected the unfunded and underfunded recommendations.
Council member Amy Miller had an excused absence, and council member Navarra Car recused herself because her partner had applied for lodging tax funding.
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Reporter Emma Maple can be reached by email at emma.maple@peninsuladailynews.com.
