Skip to main content
Loading…
This section is included in your selections.

It shall be the duty of the Lodging Tax Advisory Commission to evaluate all proposed uses of lodging tax revenue collected by the City, including any proposed change in use, and to make recommendations to the City Council regarding the proposed use of lodging tax revenue.

(1) The Lodging Tax Advisory Commission shall evaluate and make recommendations to the City Council on all applications for the discretionary lodging tax grant program established under PCC 4.95.030(2), or as amended, and as funded by the City Council through the City budget. The commission shall apply the following minimum criteria in evaluating all discretionary lodging tax grant applications:

(a) The anticipated number of nights of lodging in Pullman generated by the proposed grant.

(b) The anticipated economic impact on Pullman restaurants generated by the proposed grant.

(c) The anticipated economic impact on Pullman retail generated by the proposed grant.

(d) The anticipated economic impact on the surrounding area and towns generated by the proposed grant.

(e) The likelihood of return visits to Pullman by attendees at by the proposed grant.

(f) The length of time or number of days that activity funded by the proposed grant is anticipated to occur.

(g) As applicable to the grant application, the historical or anticipated success and financial expertise of the activity to be funded by the proposed grant, as demonstrated by data, actual or proposed budget, anticipated or prior reported impacts.

The commission shall develop scoring matrices based on the above criteria and shall provide for individual scoring of each application using such matrix.

(2) Upon completion of any review of the proposed use or change in use of lodging tax revenue, including but not limited to lodging tax grant applications, the commission shall forward a written recommendation to the City Council for its consideration and action. Recommendations shall include full and complete documentation of the commission’s evaluation process, and the detailed scoring data compiled by the commission. All commission recommendations forwarded to the City Council shall include an assessment by City staff of whether the recommendation is an eligible use of lodging tax revenues pursuant to Pullman City Code and Chapter 67.28 RCW, as adopted or amended.

(3) The Lodging Tax Advisory Commission shall establish an application process and eligibility criteria for the funding of annual community events or festivals such as Lentil Fest or the Fourth of July Festival and large sporting events such as tournaments or national competitions. The application process shall be conducted not less than every two (2) years on a schedule concurrent with the City’s biennial budget process. The commission shall evaluate all applications and shall recommend the amount and term of funding for the marketing and operations of recommended events and festivals, which funding shall be as approved and appropriated by City Council in its adopted budget. (Ord. 22-6 §2, 2022).