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Albany council approves lodging-tax rewrite, awards Deerfield Park contract and updates tourism grant rules
Summary
At its April 9 meeting the Albany City Council adopted an ordinance updating transient lodging tax (TLT) code, awarded the Deerfield Park renovation contract, designated annual newspapers of record, and revised the Cooperative Tourism Promotion grant application. Vote counts were recorded for the TLT ordinance; other actions passed by voice vote.
The Albany City Council on April 9 adopted several administrative and procurement items by ordinance, motion and resolution.
Transient lodging tax ordinance
The council adopted an ordinance amending Albany Municipal Code (AMC) sections 3.14.002 through 3.14.026 to update definitions and clarify collection language for the transient lodging tax (TLT). The council conducted a roll-call vote with the following recorded as voting "Aye": Councilor McLeod, Councilor Smith, Councilor McGee, Councilor Newton Azor, Councilor Thompson and Councilor Montague. The ordinance updates definitions and clarifying language; staff and a visitor-economy representative said collecting TLT from short-term rentals would broaden the revenue base and could generate an estimated $175,000–$250,000 annually.
Deerfield Park contract award
The council voted to award the Deerfield Park renovation contract to Durban Excavating LLC of Eugene in the amount of $662,431.65. Director Kim Ladain said the city received multiple bids and recommended Durban Excavating; the motion passed by voice vote.
Newspapers of record
The council approved a resolution designating the 2025 newspapers of record to include the Statesman Journal, the Albany Democrat-Herald and the Daily Journal of Commerce. City Recorder Eric Glover said the change broadens the city’s publication options for required legal notices.
Collaborative Tourism Promotion (CTP) grant process
The council adopted updates to the CTP program application and process; staff said revisions clarify eligible project types and explicitly identify public art (for example, murals and sculptures) as eligible uses. Rebecca Bond, executive director of the Albany Visitors Association, addressed the council in support of collecting lodging tax from short-term rentals and of clearer grant guidance.
What happens next
City staff said they will proceed with implementing the TLT code changes and begin contracting and project work for Deerfield Park once the required signatures and administrative steps are complete. The city will also advertise using the newly designated newspapers as needed.
