Tillamook County schedules stakeholder meetings and hearings on proposed transient lodging tax ordinance

Commissioners reviewed the final draft and timeline for a proposed Transient Lodging Tax (TLT) ordinance and confirmed a stakeholder outreach plan that includes provider/property manager meetings and subsequent public hearings.

Staff said the draft is final for the current step and will be posted and noticed. Sarah explained the outreach timeline and that two stakeholder meetings for TLT providers and property managers are scheduled for January 16 and January 18. She told the board the county will mail invitations when it receives Commissioner Mary Faith Bell's invitation letter: "We have everything as soon as we get your letter already... it's 2,000 mailings, so it'll be tomorrow and Friday," the staff presenter said. Staff also said an email distribution list of roughly 500 addresses will get an immediate notice.

Sarah described an outreach sequence: stakeholder meetings to present the draft ordinance, invitations to provide feedback and then formal hearings. The draft timeline lists hearings on the 29th and the 12th (dates shown in the timeline circulated to the board). The board discussed adding an evening hearing — proposed for the evening of the 29th — to increase access and to demonstrate the county made multiple, well‑spaced efforts to notify the public.

Commissioners discussed how to present the initiative publicly. Several commissioners and staff agreed the ordinance is a commissioner‑led effort and recommended placing primary materials on the Board of Commissioners web pages while cross‑linking to Community Development’s pages to reflect community development staff support without making them the public face of the initiative.

Operational details: staff will send a physical mailing to property managers and providers and an email blast; staff will confirm meeting notices and logistics, secure meeting sites (including a possible Port facility), provide handouts and a virtual option, and include hearing dates in the invitation. Sarah said staff will follow the hearings with targeted CAC outreach and noted a potential political action committee (PAC) interest; a community member (Doug) has volunteered to participate in PAC planning and Commissioner Paul expressed ideas about how to allocate ninety percent or 70% (participants referenced a 70% allocation point for how TLT revenue might be invested) that staff said would be of interest to stakeholders.

Next steps: staff will send the invitation mailing and email once Commissioner Bell’s letter is finalized, post hearing notices on the board agenda, finalize meeting formats (hybrid options), and return with confirmed hearing times and the final ordinance for adoption consideration.