Chapter 1.108
TOURISM PROMOTION
Sections:
1.108.010 Tourism promotion area established.
1.108.020 Lodging businesses assessment rate.
1.108.030 Use of assessment revenue.
1.108.040 Tourism promotion area advisory committee.
1.108.050 Allocation of lodging business assessment revenues.
1.108.060 Administration and collection of assessment.
1.108.090 Prior acts ratified.
1.108.010 Tourism promotion area established.
A tourism promotion area shall be and hereby is established within the boundaries of the corporate limits of the city of Wenatchee. (Ord. 2010-11 § 1)
1.108.020 Lodging businesses assessment rate.
The assessment rate shall be $2.00 per room per day on lodging businesses located within the tourism promotion area. (Ord. 2020-29 § 1; Ord. 2010-11 § 2)
1.108.030 Use of assessment revenue.
The revenue from the tourism promotion area assessment shall be used as follows:
(1) The general promotion of tourism that benefits the lodging businesses and local tourism specified in the tourism promotion area business plan to be adopted annually;
(2) The marketing of convention and trade shows that benefit local lodging businesses and local tourism;
(3) The marketing of the tourism promotion area community to the travel industry in order to benefit the lodging businesses and local tourism; and
(4) The marketing of the tourism promotion area community to recruit sporting events in order to benefit the lodging businesses and local tourism. (Ord. 2010-11 § 3)
1.108.040 Tourism promotion area advisory committee.
A tourism promotion area advisory committee shall be appointed by the city council of the city of Wenatchee to advise the city council on the expenditure of the tourism promotion area revenues to fund tourism promotion. The committee shall be nominated by the Wenatchee hotel/motel association, and consist of seven members of which four members must be operators or employees of lodging businesses within the tourism promotion area, two members must be officials of the city of Wenatchee, and one member must be an operator or employee of a tourism-related activity within the tourism promotion area, but shall not be an operator or employee of a lodging business within the tourism promotion area nor an official of the city of Wenatchee. The initial members of the committee shall serve staggered terms, with one member serving a one-year term, three members serving two- year terms, and three members serving three-year terms. The length of term for each individual member of the committee shall be chosen by lot at the first meeting of the committee. Thereafter, all members subsequently appointed as the initial terms expire shall serve three-year terms. (Ord. 2010-11 § 4)
1.108.050 Allocation of lodging business assessment revenues.
All revenues from the lodging assessment collected within the tourism promotion area from lodging businesses shall be allocated by the city council in accordance with the annual budget for the tourism promotion area. The committee shall develop and oversee the tourism promotion area marketing plan and annual budget. The city council shall have the ultimate authority to set and approve all annual budgets. (Ord. 2010-11 § 5)
1.108.060 Administration and collection of assessment.
The city of Wenatchee previously contracted with the Department of Revenue for the administration and collection of the assessment provided for in WCC 1.108.020, which contract shall remain in full force and effect. (Ord. 2010-11 § 6)
1.108.070 Effective date.
The ordinance codified in this chapter shall take effect 30 days from and after publication as provided by law. (Ord. 2010-11 § 7)
1.108.080 Review.
This chapter shall be reviewed every three years from the date hereof to determine its continued efficacy and desirability amongst the lodging businesses affected by the tourism promotion area. (Ord. 2010-11 § 8)
1.108.090 Prior acts ratified.
All prior acts of the city in assessing, collecting, and utilizing the $1.00 per room per day assessment pursuant to Ordinance No. 2006-29 shall be and hereby are ratified. (Ord. 2010-11 § 9)