Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Marketing Contracts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
ELTAC to amend Street Sense contract; committee weighs marketing ROI, RFP and a possible TPA assessment
Summary
Staff told ELTAC it will amend the Street Sense marketing contract to cover unanticipated costs tied to a new state sales tax on creative services and a map refresh; members discussed metrics, an upcoming marketing RFP, budget projections for 2027–28 and the possibility of a Tourism Promotion Area to raise additional advertising funds.
City staff told the ELTAC in January that the Begin Bothell marketing and website contract with Street Sense (described in the meeting as a two‑year agreement totaling roughly $412,000) will be amended to cover unanticipated costs: a November 2025 Washington state sales‑tax change affecting creative services and costs to refresh the printed visitor map. Staff said an amendment amount was cited in the discussion as '12,95' in the transcript record (the precise figure was unclear in the meeting).
Committee members pressed staff on measurable returns: how website clickthroughs and email lead generation translate into hotel conversions and whether the current budget allocation represents the best use of limited ELTAC reserves. Staff said an RFP for marketing services will be run in 2026 (the current contract has been in place about five years) and that the March meeting will include a granular breakdown of 2025 revenue and expenses and recommendations for allocating 2027–28 funds among marketing, events and tourism facilities.
Staff also presented regional coordination efforts: quarterly meetings with neighboring tourism agencies (Bellevue, Redmond, Woodinville, Kirkland) and an introduction to a Tourism Promotion Area (TPA) assessment model, which collects a per‑room‑night assessment (typically $2–$5) and uses the funds for advertising. Staff said local hotels in King and Snohomish counties already contribute to other TPAs and that creating a King County TPA or annexing Bothell hotels into an existing structure could generate additional annual revenue (staff provided a rough estimate of 'a little over $100,000' from local hotels, but said administrative costs and hotel buy‑in would be needed).
In addition, staff reported on the holiday‑lights contract and suggested the committee consider whether newly installed permanent tree lighting affects the need for pole garlands; members raised longer‑term placemaking infrastructure needs (power, restrooms, permitting) for sustained activations.
Why it matters: ELTAC’s ability to fund marketing and events depends on limited hotel‑motel tax revenues and decisions about contract scope, reserve levels and potential new assessments. Committee members asked for clearer metrics tying marketing spend to hotel occupancy and requested a more detailed budget and RFP timeline at the next meeting.
Staff next steps include providing 2025 revenue reconciliation and an RFP schedule in March and returning to the committee with options for contract scope, potential reallocation of marketing dollars and further study of a TPA option.
