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Ocean Shores LTAC approves event and capital grants, rejects large marketing contract; members call for an RFP
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Summary
The Ocean Shores Lodging Tax Advisory Committee on April 28 approved multiple event and capital grants — including convention-center restroom and camera upgrades, $20,000 for a summer country event and $10,000 for a wrestling attraction — while voting to decline a large, citywide marketing proposal and several small applications amid procurement and precedent concerns.
The Ocean Shores Lodging Tax Advisory Committee voted April 28 to award a series of event and capital grants while declining a major community marketing contract and several smaller requests, and members urged the city to put high-dollar marketing work out to bid before awarding it.
The committee approved a capital package for the convention center that included an interior camera system and facility repairs, and it cleared a $57,438.09 request that also covered a more durable event tent and a replacement fire-suppression system. City staff told the committee the city owns the convention-center restrooms under discussion and said camera footage retention would meet a minimum public-record standard (30 days, with some holdings kept longer). "They have to, be something that promotes tourism," a commenter, Don, told the committee during public communication, urging staff to verify title before awarding LTAC money for restrooms.
Why it matters: The committee is charged with spending lodging-tax dollars on activities that demonstrably draw tourists and fill local rooms. Members repeatedly emphasized that convention-center priorities and documented heads-and-beds impacts should guide allocations and that large, sole-source marketing contracts require transparent procurement.
Major approvals and conditions
- Convention-center capital request: Approved. The committee approved the $57,438.09 capital request for interior cameras, a sturdier tent for large events and a kitchen fire-suppression upgrade. City staff said signage and a 30-day minimum retention policy for video would be used for recorded footage.
- Scott Anderson / local media segments: Approved $33,000. The committee approved a continuation of locally focused tourism segments intended to showcase Ocean Shores attractions and businesses.
- Bytes/Grays Harbor video series (Jessica): Approved $10,240 with asset clause. The committee approved funding for three high-production episodes focused on Ocean Shores and required that produced assets be made available to the city (and Ocean Shores businesses) under the tourism-promotion agreement so the footage can be re-used by local partners.
- Harbor Havoc (professional wrestling): Approved $10,000. Organizers said marketing was the largest budget gap; the committee awarded the requested $10,000 to support talent, security and promotion.
- Country/Beach event (Butch Larson): Approved $20,000 (reallocated to $10,000 for bands and $10,000 for marketing). The applicant and committee agreed to split reimbursement categories so invoices match approved line items.
- Arts & Crafts Festival: Partial approval. The committee approved roughly half of a $6,000 request to support advertising for the long-running festival, citing uncertainty about weekend timing and the desire to see clearer marketing metrics.
- Coastal Interpretive Center (Highway 101 / outdoor activities): Partial approval (~$18,260). The committee scaled back a larger CIC request for billboards, radio and in-person staff-led outdoor programming and approved a focused package emphasizing digital, radio and selected physical advertising.
Denials and procurement concerns
The largest denial was a comprehensive, data-driven marketing proposal from AssetLab (presented by Jeffrey Kelly). The applicant sought a multi-component contract — including analytics, a mobile app, content production and an expanded business-directory effort — with an initial first-year budget discussed in the meeting materials (the application referenced roughly $309,000). Multiple committee members and the chair said such a large, multi-year undertaking should be procured through a competitive RFP rather than awarded directly. "I don't feel like I could vote appropriately and feel well with the community...an RFP would be appropriate," a committee member said during debate; another argued the committee should not rush into a sole-source contract. The motion to decline the AssetLab application passed.
The committee also voted to deny a $1,036.10 request for a privately operated ADA-compliant honeybucket for a boardwalk business (members cited precedent and liability concerns) and declined a tourism-banner LTAC application, recommending the organizer route the banner work through a city beautification fund or a nonprofit. A small Camino Walk application was denied as incomplete and lacking evidence of lodging impacts.
Claims, disputes and committee direction
- Procurement/RFP: Several members insisted that awarding large contracts requires an RFP to ensure transparency and community confidence. In response, the AssetLab presenter said the proposal was tailored to Ocean Shores and not a cookie-cutter product; committee members nevertheless asked that the city consider issuing an RFP before funding a contract of that size.
- Asset ownership: For commissioned media and video assets, the committee moved to include explicit language in agreements ensuring the city (and local businesses) would receive copies for tourism promotion.
Votes at a glance (select items)
- Convention-center capital request (camera/ tent/ fire suppression): Approved. Motion and approval recorded during discussion (approval motion at the end of that item). - Scott Anderson (local episodes): Approved $33,000. Motion passed. - AssetLab community marketing campaign (large proposal): Denied. Motion to decline carried after committee expressed procurement concerns. - Bytes/Grays Harbor video series (Jessica): Approved $10,240 with clause requiring the city receive promotional assets. - Harbor Havoc (Rogue Wrestling): Approved $10,000. - Country/Beach event (Butch Larson): Approved $20,000 (allocated 10k bands / 10k marketing); reimbursement categories clarified. - Arts & Crafts Festival: Partial funding (about half of requested $6,000). - Coastal Interpretive Center (Highway 101 and CIC-led activities): Partial funding (~$18,260) after reductions. - ADA honeybucket (boardwalk shop): Denied. - Tourism banners application: Denied (committee suggested alternate city/nonprofit channels). - Camino Walk: Denied (incomplete application / insufficient heads-and-beds evidence).
What comes next
Committee members asked staff to return with clarified procurement options and a possible RFP timeline for any large, multi-year marketing contract. For approved events and production work, the committee emphasized that reimbursement will be limited to the line items listed in approved applications and that recipients must supply invoices matching those line-item categories.
Key quotes
- "They have to, be something that promotes tourism," said Don, a member of the public, urging staff to confirm title and eligibility for the restroom project.
- "I don't feel like I could vote appropriately...an RFP would be appropriate," said a committee member during debate on the AssetLab proposal, summarizing a recurring procurement concern.
- AssetLab's presenter said of his proposal: "This represents not some sort of cookie cutter... This is very much specific to Ocean Shores and the gaps we see." The committee nevertheless prioritized a formal RFP process before awarding a large sole-source marketing contract.
Reporting details
All quotes and attributions come from committee meeting remarks and on-record applicant presentations during the Ocean Shores LTAC meeting on April 28, 2026. The committee set its next meeting for July 23, 2026.
