EDC work plan presented: sports complex usage, hotel tax reporting, Airbnbs and downtown streetscape discussed

Jim Cowles presented the Chickasha Economic Development Corporation’s work plan to the Chickasha Industrial Authority, reviewing priorities, recent data on events and hotel-motel tax, and early-stage ideas for downtown streetscape and a business improvement district.

Cowles said the sports complex is "down significantly this year compared to last year," and described one recurring issue: a single organization leases the complex for much of the year and treats Chickasha as backup, which he said reduces the city’s hotel and hospitality revenue. "So we're either way too cheap or we should not allow that to occur. They should be guaranteeing an x amount of funds coming into the city," a board member said during the discussion.

On hotel-motel tax reporting and short-term rentals, Cowles and others discussed whether Airbnb and VRBO listings were being captured in local tax reporting. Cowles said the city has recorded only two Airbnbs previously and that "Airbnb does take hotel hotel tax out of our portion of the receipts." Board members requested staff follow up on reporting and consider creating a local registry or license for short-term rentals; one board member suggested a small annual fee (cited in the discussion as "$15 fee a year") to create a registry.

Cowles summarized emerging streetscape work that would connect a proposed downtown park, a pedestrian bridge and improvements on Choctaw Avenue (Highway 62). He said the plan envisions two districts — an Old Town District from First to Fourth Street and an Arts District from Fourth to Seventh Street — and that the city hopes to know by November whether a grant will fund the downtown park. He also said the EDC has discussed grant-writing help from a consultant referenced in the meeting as "half an associates."

Cowles and board members discussed options to increase tournament bookings and the need to consider marketing, staffing and the director’s local connections; Cowles said the city could run tournaments in-house to collect gate revenue and keep funds local. Ideas to increase downtown shade and pedestrian comfort included traditional trees, shade structures or hanging umbrellas; one board member referenced Dollywood-style umbrellas as an example.

The presentation was informational. Board members requested a follow-up that includes hotel-motel tax detail, a registry of short-term rentals if appropriate, and additional metrics on sports complex usage for the next meeting.

No formal votes or motions were recorded on these topics during the meeting.