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Home My WebLink AboutCommittee of the Whole - 16 Aug 2021 - Agenda - Pdf CITY OF RENTON AGENDA - Committee of the Whole Meeting 6:15 PM - Monday, August 16, 2021 Videoconference 1. ALLOCATION OF LODGING TAX FUNDING FOR 2021 a) AB - 2917 Community & Economic Development Department recommends approval of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee's proposed second round of 2021 Lodging Tax Fund allocations as follows: City of Maple Valley, Ironman 2021, $25,000; Randall Morris Foundation for Youth, Celebrity Golf Tournament, $20,000; AmPowering, Diwali Ball, $20,000; and REELRenton, 2021 Seattle Film Summit, $10,000. Total recommendation: $75,000. Currently, due to the spread of COVID-19, all regularly-scheduled committee meetings will be held as necessary via video-conference. City Hall is closed to the public. If you would like to attend this week's meeting remotely, you can do so by going to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86753290028?pwd=M2pOc09HWWNrY05uVnlIWnpGS1E4UT09 Zoom Meeting ID: 867 5329 0028, Passcode: 881839 You can call through Zoom at (253) 215-8782 and use the Meeting ID. AB - 2917 City Council Regular Meeting - 09 Aug 2021 SUBJECT/TITLE: Allocation of Lodging Tax Funding for 2021 (second funding round) RECOMMENDED ACTION: Refer to Committee of the Whole DEPARTMENT: Community & Economic Development Department STAFF CONTACT: Jessie Kotarski, Economic Development Specialist EXT.: 7271 FISCAL IMPACT SUMMARY: Expenditure Required: $75,000 SUMMARY OF ACTION: The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee met on June 30, 2021, to approve and set a timeline for a second round of Lodging Tax applications. Applications were due on July 23, 2021, and six applications were received. The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee recommends Renton City Council approve additional 2021 expenditures from the Lodging Tax Fund as follows: • City of Maple Valley, Ironman 2021: $25,000 • Randall Morris Foundation for Youth, Celebrity golf tournament: $20,000 • AmPowering, Diwali Ball: $20,000 • REELRenton, 2021 Seattle Film Summit: $10,000 Total Recommendation: $75,000 EXHIBITS: A. Issue Paper B. 2021 LTAC Fall Applicant Summary STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approve allocations for the second round of 2021 Lodging Tax Fund as recommended by the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute contracts with the successful applicants to expend budgeted funds on the proposed additional marketing initiatives. AGENDA ITEM #1. a) DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT M E M O R A N D U M DATE: August 2, 2021 TO: Randy Corman, Council President Members of Renton City Council CC: Armondo Pavone, Mayor FROM: Chip Vincent, CED Administrator (x6588) STAFF CONTACT: Jessie Kotarski (x7271) SUBJECT: Allocation of Lodging Tax Funding for 2021 (second funding round) ISSUE Should money from Lodging Tax funds be allocated to applicants to support tourism marketing and operations as recommended by Renton’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC)? RECOMMENDATION Support the recommendation of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee to allocate an $75,000 in lodging tax funding for a second round of funding in 2021 as detailed in the attached matrix and summarized below. Additionally, staff recommends that the Mayor and City Clerk be allowed to execute contracts with the successful applicants to expend budgeted funds on the proposed additional marketing initiatives outlined below. BACKGROUND SUMMARY In accordance with RCW 67.28.1817, the City of Renton has established a Lodging Tax Advisory Committee to recommend the allocation of lodging tax funds to Renton City Council. The Committee was chaired by Councilmember Corman and members include: • Cathy Martinez, Legacy Hospitality (Hampton) • Pina Purpero, Hyatt Regency Lake Washington at Seattle’s Southport • Menka Soni, AmPowering • Preeti Shridhar, City of Renton Council "may only choose recipients from the list of candidates and recommended amounts provided by the local lodging tax advisory committee." However, Council does not have to fund the full list as recommended by the LTAC and can choose to make AGENDA ITEM #1. a) Randy Corman, Council President Page 2 of 2 August 2, 2021 awards in the recommended amounts to all, some, or none of the candidates on this list. The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee met on June 30, 2021, to approve and set a timeline for a second round of funding through the 2021 Lodging Tax application process. Applications were due on July 23, 2021, and six applications were received. The Committee heard presentations from qualified applicants on August 2, 2021, and conducted a debriefing following the interviews to finalize its recommendations. The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee recommends Renton City Council approve additional 2021 expenditures from the Lodging Tax Fund as follows: • City of Maple Valley, Ironman 2021: $25,000 • Randall Morris Foundation for Youth, Celebrity golf tournament: $20,000 • AmPowering, Diwali Ball: $20,000 • REELRenton, 2021 Seattle Film Summit: $10,000 Total Recommendation: $75,000 These expenditures are recommended at a level less than anticipated in the 2021-2022 Renton City Budget as adopted by Council. Staff appreciates the thorough review given to each application by the Committee and finds their recommendations are consistent with the goals of the City’s Business Plan and Economic Development Strategic Plan. AGENDA ITEM #1. a) Grant Applicant Event NameContact Information Date of Event Summary of Project or EventAmount Requested Amount Recommended1AmPowering Festival of Lights ‐ Diwali BallMenka Soni soni_menka@hotmail.com 425301‐2255 425‐418‐7181 (cell)Nov 1‐30, 2021 A celebration of the Festival of Light or Diwali. Previously hosted in other Eastside cities (Bellevue, Kirkland and Redmond), AmPowering is proposing the Diwali Ball be held in Renton to celebrate the beginning of festive season. The event will feature traditional decorations, henna art, cultural performances, decoration with lights, traditional clothing, and will encourage tourist participation from around the region. The goal of the projectis to celebrate arts and culture, promote diversity and bridge cultural gaps, promote tourism and provide entertainment options to community and celebrate festivals.$20,000 $20,0002 City of Maple Valley 2021 Ironman WashingtonLaura Philpot laura.philpot@maplevalleywa.gov 425‐413‐880019‐Sep‐21 Funds requested to help fund the bid fee of $50,000 for the 70.3 mile Ironman event to be held in September 2021.$25,000 $25,0003Randall Morris Foundation for Youth and Families 15thAnnual Golf Tournament & Auction/GalaRandall Morris rmorris43@comcast.net 206‐255‐048312‐Sep‐21The tournament includes two public events for the public including a dinner and auction and a celebrity golf Tournament. The program includes an auction with proceeds funding the Randall Morris Foundation and local charities who support youth, families and community byproviding financial support and scholarships to youth.$80,000 $20,0004reelRenton 2021 Seattle Film SummitBen Andrews bena@seattlefilmsummit.com 253‐861‐7755 Sept. 3 ‐ 11, 2021 The Seattle Film Summit has received a previous, unused, 2021 grant. This application is a request to meet with the LTAC Committee on an exception basis. The growth and maturation of the event between the last LTAC session and now warrants a request to add funds for the 2021 event.$25,000 $10,0005Renton Chamber of Commerce Renton Neat ‐ Whiskey or Coffee TractDiane Dobson diane@gorenton.com 425‐226‐4560 Oct 8 and 9, 2021 An event to encourage people to get downtown and into businesses and storefronts by participating in a multi‐tract "crawl" opportunity (like a pub crawl or wine walk) but using whiskey and coffee. $4,000 $06Renton Chamber of Commerce Street Grand Re‐Opening Celebration and Street FairDiane Dobson diane@gorenton.com 425‐226‐4560 TBD Street Grand Re‐Opening Celebration and Street Fair with the goal to welcome everyone back to downtown, re‐invigorate retail and show off the new street. $85,000 Pending further discussionTotal$239,000$75,000AGENDA ITEM #1. a)