Council amends IGA with Visitor & Convention Bureau to realign transient lodging tax uses

The Coos Bay City Council on July 1 approved an amendment to the intergovernmental agreement with the Coos Bay–North Bend–Charleston Visitor and Convention Bureau (VCB) that adjusts the city's TLT contribution and restores some lodging-tax dollars for city projects. City Manager Nicole summarized the change as aligning Coos Bay’s contribution to the same arrangement used by the VCB’s other partners and continuing to fund the visitor information center (VIC) management while returning a portion of the city’s TLT share to be used locally. Nicole said that, averaged over recent years and accounting for pandemic distortions, the city could see roughly $100,000–$275,000 that could be returned to city discretionary use, and she estimated “about $140,000 could potentially come back into our dollars” for tourism-related amenities like the boardwalk. The amendment keeps the VIC operations funded while allowing the city to use a portion of TLT revenues for local capital projects. Councilors who spoke during the item praised the VCB’s improved performance since hiring an executive director; the record names Janice as the VCB executive director who helped increase revenues. One councilor urged focusing returned funds on boardwalk improvements and suggested contracting for work if in-house staff capacity is limited. Nicole and councilors discussed metrics and history of the prior funding approach; a council member noted the city previously increased its share to help the VCB when it lacked an executive director. A motion to approve the amendment was moved, seconded and passed by voice vote; no roll call was requested. The council did not specify a dollar-by-dollar reallocation at the meeting; staff said they would recommend priorities for the returned funds (for example, boardwalk projects) at a future time.