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Council permits Lodging Tax Advisory Committee to recommend formal rules for its application review
Summary
The council approved first reading of an ordinance authorizing the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee to recommend rules governing the committee’s consideration of lodging tax proposals; staff said the change will let LTAC develop consistent review criteria for applicants.
Monroe — The City Council on May 13 accepted first reading of an ordinance amending Monroe Municipal Code Chapter 4.4 to permit the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) to recommend rules governing how it evaluates lodging tax proposals.
Staffer Liam McCorkle told the council LTAC members currently review applications using individual approaches and that many Washington cities have an adopted set of criteria to promote consistency between committee members and to inform potential applicants. The proposed ordinance does not adopt criteria; rather, it gives LTAC limited authority to develop and recommend rules for council approval. McCorkle said LTAC discussed the idea at its January 23 meeting and recommended the ordinance language.
Council member Beaumont moved to accept first reading of Ordinance 007/2025 to amend MMC Chapter 4.4 and authorize LTAC to recommend rules; Council member Fisher seconded. The motion passed 6‑0 (Council member Gamble was not in chambers at the time of the vote). The ordinance will allow LTAC to draft consistent review criteria that would be brought to council for final adoption.
McCorkle said the change is intended to increase transparency and predictability for lodging tax applicants and to align Monroe’s practice with other Washington jurisdictions that publicize scoring or evaluation criteria. The council did not adopt any specific LTAC criteria at the May 13 meeting; staff and LTAC will pursue a process to develop criteria and return to council for final approval.
