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Clallam County approves hotel–motel tax agreements; some residents question paperwork for Neah Bay award
Summary
County commissioners approved two lodging‑tax contracts — $65,000 to the Forks Chamber of Commerce and $53,810 to the Neah Bay Chamber of Commerce — and authorized public notice for a $10,000 HHS environmental‑health budget revision; public commenters asked why the Neah Bay application packet omitted an 'Attachment E' and urged greater transparency.
Clallam County commissioners on Jan. 13 approved two personal‑services agreements funded by 2026 hotel‑motel (lodging) tax revenue and set a public notice for a small health‑department budget revision.
The board approved a $65,000 agreement with the Forks Chamber of Commerce and a $53,810 agreement with the Neah Bay Chamber of Commerce, both described by staff as standard lodging‑tax contracts to support visitor services such as websites, brochures and visitor‑center staffing. "The Neah Bay Chamber helps increase the number of visitors to Neah Bay… the website includes a downloadable brochure which features local businesses," a staff presentation summarized.
Some residents questioned the Neah Bay award during the agenda‑item public‑comment period. Mark Curtis (SWAMI) and Ed Bowen (Clallam Bay) said the Neah Bay application packet referenced an 'Attachment E' that was not included in the posted packet and asked what the $53,810 would fund. County staff responded that the full Lodging Tax Advisory Committee application is in the Nov. 13 committee packet on the county website and that the missing attachment had been uploaded; staff said the application would be attached as an exhibit to the contract and that grant objectives will be measured as part of follow‑up.
The board also authorized public notice that a $10,000 budget revision for Health & Human Services environmental health (lab equipment) will be considered for adoption on Jan. 27. Rebecca Turner summarized that the revision was needed because an invoice arrived higher than expected late last year and the department must seek the budget change.
Motions to approve the lodging‑tax agreements were moved by a commissioner (speaker 9) and seconded by the chair; both motions passed by voice vote. The transcript records "Aye" and passage for each but does not record a roll‑call tally.
Why it matters: Lodging‑tax funds are restricted to visitor‑promotion uses in many Washington jurisdictions; public commenters sought clearer paperwork to judge whether the proposed Neah Bay activities meet the stated visitor‑promotion objectives. The Neah Bay award drew sustained public scrutiny during the meeting despite staff saying the application materials were available online.
What’s next: The Neah Bay contract will proceed under the approved agreement; the county will consider the environmental‑health budget revision at its Jan. 27 meeting.
Sources: Public comment and staff presentations during the Jan. 13 Clallam County commissioners meeting.
