Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget And Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pacific tourism commission reviews bed-tax budget, centennial plans and capital wish list
Summary
At a regular meeting, the Pacific Tourism Commission reviewed current bed-tax revenues and expenses, discussed Centennial 2026 events and a capital "wish list" that includes a penny press, Placer.ai subscription, and neon-sign park design; staff will return with a simplified budget and more detailed revenue numbers at a special meeting.
The Pacific Tourism Commission reviewed its current bed-tax budget, upcoming event costs and a prioritized capital wish list during a meeting where staff outlined revenue through February and proposed a follow-up meeting to finalize recommendations for the Board of Aldermen.
The commission’s director, Kelly, told members the commission oversees bed-tax funds and that bed-tax revenue "is the money that you direct how you would like to recommend the board allow you to spend it on your projects." Kelly said the commission budgeted $135,000 for the fiscal year and reported bed-tax receipts through February of $123,049.
Why it matters: the commission uses bed-tax money for tourism promotion, events and museum exhibits at Red Cedar. Decisions about how much to recommend to the Board of Aldermen will determine funding for the Route 66 Barbecue & Bluegrass Festival, Centennial projects and Red Cedar operations.
Discussion highlights included how to present the budget more clearly, which line items are revenue-neutral (for example, Iron Horse Rodeo contract costs that are later recaptured through gate receipts), and which activities do not directly generate bed-tax revenue (several partnership and facade-type projects). Kelly said she prepared an events worksheet and a separate packet with a capital-project wish list to help the commission plan for 2026 activities.
Commissioners and staff discussed specific items in the capital wish list and Centennial program: a one-year trial subscription to Placer.ai (cost-sharing proposed with other city departments), a penny-press machine for Red Cedar gift sales, a foam machine for events, an indoor ceiling sound system for the museum, additional part-time/event staff, a panic button for the Red Cedar building and a design grant application for a Route 66 "Neon Sign Park." Kelly said the Route 66 design grant is time-limited and would fund a design if the commission elected to pursue it.
Kelly said some Centennial items will be revenue-neutral or reimbursed by donors and event receipts; she listed the Route 66 interactive sign (installation about $19,200 with a $17,200 reimbursement expected), hometown hero banners funded by purchasers, and the Pacific passport program (participating businesses pay to join). Kelly described the $154,200 figure in the packet as a forward-looking wish list number ("I did put the $154,200 that's without the Iron Horse Rodeo money in there").
On events, commissioners heard updates that most major festival logistics are in place: the Route 66 Barbecue & Bluegrass Festival has bands booked and sponsorship outreach underway, and several new or returning events (Railroad Days, a 5K, a barbecue bash) will require up-front spending with the expectation of partial revenue recovery through ticketing or sponsorships.
Commissioners asked for clearer monthly reports. Staff agreed to provide a simpler, line-item budget and last year’s breakdown before the commission’s next meeting so members could mark proposed reallocations in advance. Kelly also proposed that commission members collect event revenue estimates (e.g., expected ticket or vendor income) to refine forecasts for the Route 66 and Railroad Days events.
Actions and next steps: the commission set a special meeting to finalize budget recommendations (transcript: "11AM on Tuesday the 20 second"); staff was asked to supply the February and March numbers and a breakdown of prior-year allocations and reimbursements. Kelly said she would notify the Board of Aldermen that the commission would provide finalized recommendations for the board’s May agenda.
Ending: Commissioners agreed to meet again to finalize bed-tax recommendations and event revenue projections; staff will return with updated budget worksheets and historical minute excerpts to guide reallocations.
