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Council amends lodging‑tax allocation and selects Pullman Chamber for tourism services
Summary
Council amended city code to shift lodging‑tax allocations to 50% tourism promotion, 25% special events and 25% grants, and voted to name the Pullman Chamber of Commerce the successful respondent to a multi‑year tourism and special events RFP; a formal contract will be returned to council for approval.
The Pullman City Council on Tuesday approved changes to the lodging‑tax allocation in city code and selected the Pullman Chamber of Commerce as the city’s tourism and special‑events services partner following a competitive request for proposals.
Jeff Albrecht, interim city administrator, told council the ordinance (25‑12) clarifies percentages used to allocate lodging‑tax revenue and establishes a three‑year averaging period for calculating the amounts. The amended language changes the longstanding split from a 25% tourism/50% special events/25% grants formula to 50% tourism/25% special events/25% grants to align with the city’s existing tourism contract and anticipated contract proposals. The ordinance amendment passed on a voice vote.
Albrecht said the city issued an RFP in May to select a partner to provide tourism promotion and special‑event coordination for a minimum three‑year term. The city received one proposal — the Pullman Chamber of Commerce — which four of six members of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) scored; two LTAC members recused due to conflicts. Council members expressed support for the chamber’s new leadership and the organization’s proposal. Council voted to select the Pullman Chamber as the successful respondent; staff will work with the chamber to draft a contract for future council approval.
Council members and LTAC participants praised the chamber’s outreach and signaled an interest in new initiatives such as recruitment for medium‑sized businesses and a ‘‘red‑carpet’’ experience for new downtown businesses. The selection and code amendment change how lodging tax dollars are earmarked and will affect funding for tourism promotion, Fourth of July and other special events and grant programs that rely on lodging‑tax revenues.
The selection vote and ordinance were approved by voice vote; details of the forthcoming contract and implementation timetable will be presented to council in a future meeting.
