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Forks council authorizes visitor data license and hears broad support for tourism uses of lodging tax
Summary
The Forks City Council authorized a contract to license geolocation visitor data and discussed using lodging-tax revenue to support the Visitor Information Center and the Forever Twilight in Forks festival after multiple residents and business owners urged expanded tourism support.
The Forks City Council on Jan. 26 authorized a license agreement to obtain geolocation data about visitors to the city and discussed requests to use lodging-tax funds to support the Visitor Information Center and the Forever Twilight in Forks festival.
Why it matters: Council members and local business owners framed tourism as an economic lifeline for Forks, urging the city to use lodging-tax revenue to bolster year-round visitation and support services that help local businesses capture tourist spending.
Attorney/Planner Fleck told the council the city had sought bids to analyze visitation patterns and received a single response. Council then voted to authorize the city to enter into a contract with CityData Inc. for access to geolocation data regarding visitors (motion by Council Member Soha; second by Patel; motion carried). The contract amount and reporting cadence were not specified in the meeting minutes.
Multiple public commenters urged action. Anna Matsche, owner of Native to Twilight and the Hard Rain Café, urged support for the Visitor Information Center and the Forever Twilight in Forks Collection as tools to sustain business activity. Lissy Andros, director of the Forks Chamber of Commerce, requested that lodging-tax revenue be available to hire staff to develop and run off-season events and presented rough statistics on tourist spending to the council. Pat Neal, a local fishing and river-rafting guide, and other residents said tourism has made Forks a year-round destination.
Fleck also recounted a prior letter the city sent to Representative Adam Bernbaum seeking greater lodging-tax flexibility for smaller communities; Bernbaum responded and introduced HB270 during the 2025–2026 session to address those concerns. The council discussed the bill and how greater flexibility could affect small jurisdictions; specifics of HB270 were not discussed in detail in the minutes.
Council members stressed the need to clarify how lodging-tax revenue can be used. Council Member Soha said he is frustrated by misinformation and misunderstanding about how lodging-tax funds are allocated and invited residents to speak with him about the issue.
What’s next: Council approved the authorization to contract with CityData Inc.; the minutes do not record a timeline for implementation or reporting requirements. Follow-up at future council meetings is expected for specific contract terms and any proposed reallocation of lodging-tax funds.
