Brookings residents press council on tourism funding and reconstituting TPAC

Several residents told the Brookings City Council on June 23 that the city should do more to distribute Transient Lodging Tax (TLT) dollars and to increase public outreach. Michael Frederick, who gave his address as 1683 Delaware, said funding caps on small event grants have eroded purchasing power and discouraged new organizers. “Six, seven years ago … we got $3,000. That was the cap. Reducing that to $2,000 now we’re down to 67% of spending power,” Frederick said, urging the council to reconsider grant caps and to foster local events such as the mushroom festival and Art on the Coast.

Resident Laura Brown, who identified herself as the organizer of “Ireland Coast” in the transcript and gave her address as 9713 Lansmore, said she and other organizers had been told TLT dollars were available but had not seen outreach or clear application guidance. Brown said she had been told by local business contacts that funds might be accessed but had not received clear direction from city staff. “We hear nothing about it,” she said.

City staff responded that a tourism grant application exists and that staff recently discussed the Key Pack/TPAC funding; the manager said there may be an item at a future council meeting to provide additional details. Councilors spoke in favor of reassembling a TPAC (tourism promotion advisory committee) or a similar panel to advise on downtown improvements, event promotion and how funds are spent. The council president asked staff to develop suggestions for an advisory panel and for a possible agenda item.

The discussion did not include a council vote on changes to grant amounts or program rules. Next steps described during the meeting included staff follow-up and a likely return to a future council agenda for further action.