BOARD OF ISLAND COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
MINUTES OF MEETING
DECEMBER 20, 1999
The
Board of Island County Commissioners (including Diking Improvement District #4)
met in Regular Session on December 20, 1999, at 9:30 a.m., Island County
Courthouse Annex, Hearing Room, Coupeville, Wa., with Mike Shelton, Chairman and
William F. Thorn, Member, present.
Wm. L. McDowell, Member, was absent.
By
unanimous motion, the Board approved and signed the following minutes: November 8, 1999, Special Session and Regular Session; November 15, 1999, Special Session and Regular Session.
VOUCHERS AND PAYMENT OF BILLS
The following
vouchers/warrants were approved for payment by unanimous motion of the
Board: Voucher (War.) #64902-65152……………………………. $ 605,995.65.
Appointments/
Re-appointments
By
unanimous motion, the Board reappointed Lyla Snover to the Conservation Future Citizens Advisory Board.
Liquor License No.
081096-4A
The
Board, having received a recommendation of approval from the Island County
Sheriff, by unanimous motion, forwarded a
recommendation of to the State
Liquor Control Board for
Liquor
License No. 081096-4A, application in lieu of current privilege by Kari S. and
Jonathan D. Soth, d/b/a Camano Island Inn.
Island
County Public Facilities Fund, 2% Hotel-Motel Lodging Tax projects/activities funding, 2000 Tourism
Program Year
Before
the Board at this time was the recommended Island County Public Facilities Fund
2% Hotel-Motel Lodging Tax-Tourism Promotion 2000 Program Year projects and
activities funded by 2% tax revenues,
recommended by the Island County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. By unanimous motion the Board approved the projects &
activities Funded by 2% Tax Revenues for 2000 program year in the aggregate
amount of $58,020.
ISLAND
COUNTY PUBLIC FACILITIES FUND
2% HOTEL-MOTEL LODGING TAX – TOURISM PROMOTION
2000 PROGRAM YEAR
ORGANIZATION AMOUNT
Camano
Island Map & Artist Tour Program
Camano Island
Lodging & Amenities Brochure
Cascade
Loop Travel Guide
Shoulder
& Off-Season Tourism and Tourism Promotion (Map
- $3,700,
off-island
distribution; Dance - $3,475, off-island advertising
Visitor
Information Center – Operating Costs (excluding staffing costs)
Waterways
to Highways Brochure
Off-Season
Tourism Marketing Program (Brochures, Rack
Cards,
Advertising)
Tourism
Marketing & Fulfillment Program
Distribution
of Brochures & Accommodation Referral Service
Annual Car Show
Marketing
Program – Off-Island advertising _________
TOTAL: $ 58,020
APPROVED By BOARD OF ISLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
DATE:
12/20/99 Mike
Shelton, CHAIRMAN
William
F. Thorn, MEMBER
[absent
Wm. L. “Mac” McDowell, Member]
ATTEST:
Margaret Rosenkranz,
Clerk of the Board
CONTRACT WITH ISLAND DISTRICT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
FOR 2% LODGING TAX 2000 TOURISM PROGRAM YEAR
Tom
Shaughnessy, Executive Director, Island District Economic Development Council
(EDC) was present in support of
proposed action to approve Contract #RM-BOCC-99-0028 between the County and EDC
for 2% Hotel-Motel Lodging Tax Revenues
2000 Tourism Program year in the amount of $19,125.00 for Off-Season
Tourism Marketing Program.
By unanimous
motion, the Board approved Contract
#RM-BOCC-99-0028 between Island County and EDC as presented.
1999 2% HOTEL-MOTEL
CONTACT WITH FREELAND CHAMBER
By
unanimous motion, the Board approved and signed Contract #RM-BOCC-99-0028D,
between Island County and the Freeland Chamber of Commerce, having now received
a letter dated 12/3/99 from the Freeland Chamber reaffirming letter of October
17, 1999 regarding the Chamber’s commitment to use the monies for the purpose
originally intended, which is $4,000 for preparation and distribution of brochures and $1,000 for the Visitor Information Center.
2000
Consolidated HEALTH Contract WITH STATE DSHS
The
Board, by unanimous motion, approved 2000 Consolidated Contract #C08611
between Department of Health and Island
County in the amount of $315,248.00 providing funding for a variety of public
health programs.
Hiring Requests
& Personnel Actions
The Board, on
presentation and review by Dick Toft, Human Resource Director, approved by
unanimous motion, the following personnel action authorizations:
PAA
136/99 Engr Tech II, I #2227.02 Replacement 12/20/99
PAA
137/99 Plans Ex. Bldg In/Tr. #418 New Position 12/20/99
PAA
139/99 Adm. Asst. #2206
Replacement 1/3/00
PAA
138/99 Micro Cptr Spt Tech #706.02 Replacement 12/20/99
PAA
140/99 Network Adm. #710 New Position 12/20/99
PAA
141/99 Hydrogeologist #2425 Reclassification 12/20/99
Claim for Damages,
R99-045CD, Susan Hamilton
Betty
Kemp, Director, GSA/Risk Management, presented Claim for Damages #R99-045CD by
Susan Hamilton. The incident occurred
on September 10, 1999, on Honeymoon Bay
Road and had to do with a monument cover hitting her vehicle. Ms. Hamilton was traveling one direction and
an on-coming car hit the monument cover
which hit the Hamilton car and caused
$2000 worth of damage. It was Ms.
Kemp’s opinion that while unfortunate, this is a natural road hazard and the
claim should be denied.
Lew
Legat, County Engineer, explained that a monument cover is a cast iron cover in
the roadway. For a monument cover to
fly out is a rare occurrence. The
County’s survey had not been in that area and opened up that cover prior to the
incident. It could be that someone else
could have pried it open and did not
get it back in place.
Based
on the advice and recommendation of the Risk Manager and Public Works
Department, the Board by unanimous
motion denied Claim for Damages
#R99-045CD.
WSDOT Turnback
Agreement TB 1-0136
The
Board, by unanimous motion, approved Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Turnback Agreement #TB 1-0136 for State
Highway project in the vicinity of
Bayview Road to install signals and improve the channelization at intersection
of 525 and Bayview Road, including turn pockets.
WSDOT Turnback
Agreement TB 1-0135
The
Board, by unanimous motion, approved WSDOT Turnback Agreement #TB 1-0135 for a
project in the vicinity of Classic
Road; to widen and overlay existing SR
525, including bus pullouts, drainage, right turn pockets and other work.
AWARD OF BID FOR
Wilkinson Road Closure
Mr.
Legat reminded that bids had been opened for the Wilkinson Road Closure project
under CRP 99-01, W.O. 103, determining
low bidder Jones & Company.
That bid, however, was rejected based upon recommendation from Chief
Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney inasmuch as the bidder did not submit a
complete bid proposal and the exclusions were significant enough to disqualify
the bidder. Mr. Legat recommended the
Board award bid to the next lowest bidder,
Wyndham Designs, Inc., Renton, in the amount of $27,686.75.
By
unanimous motion, the Board awarded bid for the Wilkinson Road Closure project,
CRP 99-01, Work Order 103, to
Wyndham Designs, Inc. in the amount of
$27,686.75, awarding to next lowest bidder based on reasons so stated by
the County Engineer.
Resolution
#C-166-99 (R-44-99) - adjusting permit
fee schedule
to reflect changes in review process
Mr.
Legat presented proposed Resolution #C-166-99
(R-44-99) to adjust the permit
fee schedule to reflect changes in review process. Along with the proposed resolution, Mr. Legat for purposes of
comparison, provided the Board with copies of the proposed fee schedule along
and current fee schedule. This basically represents a clarification
of fees and not an increase in fees, because there had been some confusion when
people come in about the fees charged, etc.
By
unanimous motion, the Board adopted Resolution #C-166-99 [R-44-99].
BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
OF ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON
|
IN THE MATTER OF
REVIEWING AND AMENDING THE PUBLIC WORKS FEE SCHEDULE |
) RESOLUTION
NO. C -166 -99 ) R - 44 |
WHEREAS,
on November 23, 1998, the Board of Island County Commissioners adopted a new
Public Works Fee Schedule to address costs associated with the adoption of new
processes, procedures and official land use controls pursuant to RCW 36.70A,
the Growth Management Act; and
WHEREAS, the public and the staff have used the fee
schedule for one year and found that there are some confusing or inconsistent
descriptions that need to be clarified and some missing application processes
that need to be addressed; and
WHEREAS,
the previous Resolution, R-50-98, required that the fees in Exhibit A be
reviewed and updated on an annual basis; NOW,
THEREFORE,
BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED,
that the revised fee schedule attached as Exhibit A shall be established and
the fees paid to Island County for deposit, at the time of application or
submittal of approval, whichever is applicable.
BE IT HEREBY FURTHER RESOLVED,
that Exhibit A shall become effective on December 31, 1999.
ADOPTED ADPOTED this
20th ____________
day of December ___________________,
1999
______.
BOARD
OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ISLAND
COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Mike
Shelton, CHAIRMAN
[absent
– Wm. L. McDowell, Member]
ATTEST:
Margaret Rosenkranz William F. Thorn, Member
Clerk of the Board
BICC 99-714
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Margaret Rosenkranz,
Clerk of the Board
Supplemental
Agreement TO Datum Pacific CONTRACT
FOR
Holmes Harbor Drainage Study
The
Board, by unanimous motion, approved Supplemental Agreement No. 1 to the
existing Agreement #PW-992025 with
Datum Pacific, Inc., for a drainage study for
Holmes Harbor Sewer District, under Work Order #281, extending contract
period to March 31, 00 in order to complete tasks assigned.
Waste
Management of Skagit County Contract Extension #3
The
Board, by unanimous motion, approved Extension #3 to existing Contract
with Waste Management of Skagit County
Contract, regarding recycling services on Camano Island, effective 1/1/2000
through 12/31/2000.
HEARING HELD: OPEN SPACE
APPLICATION #OPS 751-99 Mary M. Halsen
A
Public Hearing was held at 10:45 a.m. as legally noticed, to consider Open Space Application #OPS 751-99 by Mary
M. Halsen, requesting 13 acres of a
14.25 acre parcel be designated open space,
pursuant to RCW 84.34,
Assessor's Parcel:
R13106-45263460, off State Highway 20, on Cedar Hollow Lane, located in
Central Whidbey, in the Northeast ¼ of
Section 6, Township 31N, Range 1 East, W.M.
Phil
Bakke, Island County Planning Director, explained that in early 1999 Ms. Halsen
submitted application. The Planning
Department reviewed the application, determined that the property is currently
zoned Rural in the current zoning ordinance.
Subject property is completely surrounded by Washington State Park lands
zoned park and identified in the Island County Comprehensive Plan Land Use
Element as park lands. Mr. Bakke
pointed out the specific location of the property on a map posted on the wall
during the hearing. The property was
acquired through a land swap with Washington State Parks Department, segregated out the piece of property almost
in the center of the property owned by
the parks service, providing a 30’ wide access easement to the subject piece of
property. Several properties in this
area are currently in open space.
Mr.
Bakke recommended approval, subject to two conditions, and confirmed that the
applicant agreed with the conditions.
At
the time the Chairman opened the hearing for public comments, no one came
forward to speak either for or against approval of said application.
By
unanimous motion, the Board approved
Open Space application #OPS 751/99 by Mary M. Halsen, relating to
Assessor’s Tax Parcel #R13106-452-3460, subject to the recommended conditions
by the Planning Department:
1.
The outer
boundary of the property may not be fenced; and
2.
Native
vegetation and trees must be retained with the exception of the removal of
danger trees, construction of an access road to the building site and
development of nature trails.
Financial Reports
and General Comments
Treasurer’s Current & YTD Cash Report and County Investment Report
Maxine
Sauter, Island County Treasurer, briefed the Board from her November Statement of Cash Operations dated
December 14, 1999. She noted that
revenues in certain areas would probably exceed budgeted estimates, but Sales
tax equalization would be under budget. It appeared that expenditures would exceed
budget projection as will revenues, and
she hoped to end the year in a good
position. The Treasurer has invested
$61,338,000 as of December 11th; rates are running right around 5.75
to 5.9o% for the last three
months. As far as interest rates for
the coming year, she anticipated rates staying relatively the same.
Auditor Monthly Review of Revenues and Expenditures
Suzanne
Sinclair, Island County Auditor, provided her November report dated December
17, 1999.
Chairman
Shelton noted the difference between
the Treasurer’s Report and Auditor’s Report with respect to investment
interest, $968,000 shown on the
Treasurer’s report and the Auditor’s statement shows it at $792,000. Commissioner Thorn noted a substantial
difference shown in District Court,
Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff, Investment Interest, all substantially lower in the Auditor’s Report.
Ms.
Sinclair thought it was primarily a timing issue, or a
reclassification or reporting error,
but she needed to go back and review the figures.
Ms.
Sauter has the accountant compare what the Auditor shows, and agreed to provide
those
comparisons
for the Commissioners.
HEARING
HELD: ORDINANCE No. C-154-99 Establishing and Levying an
Additional Two Percent Special Excise Tax on Lodging for
Tourism
Promotion
A
Public Hearing was held at 1:30 p.m. as scheduled and advertised to consider
proposed Ordinance #C-154-99 Establishing and Levying an Additional Two Percent
Special Excise Tax on Lodging for Tourism Promotion. The proposed ordinance would establish and levy an
additional two percent special excise
tax on the sale of lodging in Island County to be used to promote tourism. At the time of hearing, approximately 14
interested people were in attendance.
Chairman Shelton recalled that Commissioner McDowell, previous Chairman of the Board, met last
year with the three mayors to consider
the adoption of an additional 2% tax
available under the law for the express purpose of putting together a tourism
promotion program. The meeting with the
mayors was subsequent to a meeting at
the Courthouse where a consultant presented to the Board of County
Commissioners the opportunities that would exist under the tourism promotion
program. Repeatedly, the Board has been advised that the Bed & Breakfast Association and the
Chambers totally support this, which has been further reaffirmed in testimony received by the various Town and
City Councils. The Board is now at the
point to consider adopting of the 2%
additional tax for those
establishments located in
unincorporated Island County. The Ordinance requires that the town and the two cities adopt an additional 2% lodging tax, and he noted
that Oak Harbor and Town of Coupeville
both had done so. The Langley City Council last week approved an additional 1% tax adding to the
3% Langley previously adopted. The
latest word he has received is that both Oak Harbor and Coupeville were contemplating leaving the existing 2%
in place which would, coupled with the county’s adoption of this, provide
adequate funds for the type of tourism
promotion that has been desired from the beginning.
Tamura Sipes, Oak Harbor Chamber of
Commerce, read two letters in the record, both under today’s date:
We at the Best
Western Harbor Plaza are for an additional 2% hotel-motel tax. Our main concern is that these additional 2%
monies be spent solely on an off-island advertising campaign promoting Whidbey
Island as a whole. Some items to think
about in regards to the additional 2%
tax:
1.
We are one of the few areas in the State of Washington
who haven’t already
started collecting the additional 2%
tax.
2.
In my career in the hotel industry, I have never had a
guest complain or say they
wouldn’t stay in a certain area
because of the tax.
3.
What better way to generate additional advertising
dollars than to have the
tourists coming to the area
supplement the cost.
4.
No one business could afford or generate the exposure
that a collective advertising campaign could bring to that particular business
or its area.
Please feel free to
call me with any questions regarding these
remarks for the proposed 2%
hotel-motel tax..
Sincerely, Desmond
Mueller, General Manager, Best Western Harbor Plaza.
I have been a member of the Hotel-Motel Advisory Board for the City of Oak Harbor and Island County. I strongly support the additional 2% tax increase. I will assist in any way to assure that the funds will be used for the benefits of our tourists and visitors. My slogan is
‘by the customer
for the customer’.
Sincerely, Joseph
Francine, owner of the Old Holland Inn.
Ms. Spies and
Loretta Martin, Langley Chamber
of Commerce, researched figures and numbers to provide an idea of what a
marketing campaign will cost based on what it runs in other cities and areas:
Roger
Brooks provided figure of about $127,000 just to get something
started
for a yearly basis.
Leavenworth
in 1994 spent $127,000 getting a marketing campaign off the
ground,
and now have a 3% Hotel-Motel tax amount to $250,000
a year, all
going
to the marketing campaign.
Bellingham
spends approximately $100,000
Grays
Harbor County spends $140,000
Ocean
Shores, Long Beach, Walla Walla and the Olympic peninsula
all
spend approximately $150,000 a year for
a marketing campaign
For Island County, she
estimated 2% additional [based on all entities @ 2% except for Langley
at 1%] to $161,000. Ms. Sipes has been
in contact with Oak Harbor City Council and indicated that the majority voiced
to her they are in favor of continuing on with the full 2% knowing that Langley
will only be able to pool 1%. The City
of Oak Harbor understands that a year ago Langley took that step. and Langley needs to continue to take care
of current facilities with that 1%. She
encouraged the Board pass the additional 2% tax.
As far as the interlocal agreements, she was confident entities were
resolving major differences and it was now just a matter of only a few minor
details.
Dan Currier, Coupeville, owner of Garden
Isle Guest Cottage and starting Whidbey Tourist, spoke in favor of the Board
adopting the additional 2% tax in accordance with the Brooks Report. He thought Whidbey Island was one of the
most beautiful islands in the country; people do not know about it and if the Island can be promoted there will
be more tourists and help relieve some of the tax burdens on the people.
Robert Whitlow, Coupeville, read the
following letter into the record:
I am a member of
the Island County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, president-elect of the
Whidbey Island Bed and Breakfast Association, (also a past president), and owner
of The Colonel Crockett Farm Bed and Breakfast Inn.
I wish to speak in
favor of the Two-Percent Tourism Tax collectable by the overnight
accommodations industry. Without a
doubt, Whidbey Island is one of the most beautiful areas in Washington State. It
is also one of the best-kept secrets in the state. There is o much to do and so
much to see that we can boldly and honestly encourage our guests to stay
longer. Our challenge is to bring tourists to Whidbey Island and to encourage
extended overnight visits.
The ‘Chandler and
Brooks report’ states that each overnight guest spends an average of $141 per
day. A few years ago the State realized the positive economic impact of tourism
on our communities. Thus the State provided a 2% rebate of the overnight-accommodation sales tax to each
incorporated and unincorporated area to be used for tourism. They have now
permitted the overnight-accommodations industry to charge a 2% Tourism Tax and
have issued strict guidelines on how this money is to be spent.
It is not uncommon
for tourists to help pay tourism-related expenses as we all pay additional taxes on airline tickets and accommodations
in many cities. This 2% tax is a great boon for our county if spent entirely on an all-county marketing and advertising program, prepared and
maintained by
off-island professionals. The majority of our counties has already instituted
this tax and is realizing extremely favorable results.
It is honest and
fair to ask those who use services to help pay for the costs of providing those
services including advertising. And, in order that only tourists pay this tax,
it will be collected only by the overnight-accommodations industry.
It is a clean tax, as it does not tax non-users.
It is an inexpensive tax, as it will only add $2.00 per $100.00 to the
overnight stay.
It is a beneficial tax, as all of the non-accommodation business owners
will also
benefit greatly from
increased tourism and will not be collecting this tax.
It is a cohesive tax, if used properly to provide one comprehensive program
for
Island County and will
move our communities into promoting our entire
county in a common
effort. Too often we are prone to see only our bit of
the county.
It is an efficient tax as it will prevent the overlapping and doubling of
advertising
and marketing efforts,
emphasizing the whole county and re-enforcing
off-season months if the
program is designed by off-island professionals
who can view us as
tourists view us.
It is a democratic tax, as it will be balanced by input from:
Professional design and
fulfillment,
A collector and user
oversight committee and
Our Island County
Commissioners Board.
The following
entities, among others, have
recommended the implementation of this tax:
The Island County Lodging Tax
Advisory Committee
The Whidbey Island Bed and Breakfast
Association
Oak Harbor City Council
The Island County Chamber of
Commerce Coalition
Coupeville City Council
Langley City Council
How often have we
had such an opportunity for;
A professionally-designed and
executed marketing and advertising program,
An all-county effort,
A program paid by those who will be
using those services,
Creating a far-reaching tourism
vehicle,
Expanding job and business
opportunities, and
Benefiting every business owner in
Island County?
I ask the Island County Board of Commissioners to seize this ‘once-in-a-county’ opportunity by authorizing the 2% Tourism Tax, and to work with the incorporated areas in signing an Interlocal Agreement for the use of this tax for a Countywide Professional Advertising and Marketing Program executive by an off-island professional agency.
Thank you for your
time and consideration.
JoAnn Lechtner, Eagle’s Nest Inn, Langley, agreed with everything Ms. Sipes and Mr. Whitlow said. She added that the matter had come a long
way since Chandler-Brooks presented
ideas for the Island. She viewed the action before the Board today as a wonderful
needed step. The coming together of the
ideas as far as presentation of interlocal agreements has been wonderful and
she knew there were only minor details yet to be agreed on. The important thing was to keep in mind the
workable goal: needing between $125,000 and 150,000 a year to make
it work. Langley is not in the position to ante up the
additional 1%, but with the other
commitments, she saw the ability to be
able to put together a fine and workable program, a goal worth going for. As an individual business owner and
out-going president of Whidbey Island
Bed and Breakfast Association she asked that the Board adopt the additional 2%
hotel-motel excise tax.
Loretta Martin, representing Langley Chamber of Commerce, some approximately 62 accommodations in the County, over 40 located in
unincorporated Island County, told the Board that in polling the
members, the vast majority agreed with
adoption of the additional 2% tax,.
They realize that the benefits are not only to their own industry but
also that by having more people on the island
overnight would increase retail
sales pool, increasing monies into the general fund and help the entire county
and its citizens. They have expressed
a desire to encourage, at least in the
beginning stages, hiring of an
off-island marketing firm because of the expertise and also to eliminate
any appearance of favoritism. The other
concern that has been expressed is that all the funds be used for the campaign.
Rita Kuller, representing
her two businesses in Coupeville, Rita’s Rainbow and Rainshadow Public
Relations, a board member of the
Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce, now president-elect, praised Langley for having been progressive
enacting 1% and using it already and because of that were making Whidbey Island a little more friendly
for visitors. She too has remained in
touch with Roger Brooks and added the following information to that already
provided by Ms. Sipes. In the first
year of a campaign there is probably about a $15,000 one time expense for
planning the campaign itself. In the
first year there will also be about $15,000 worth of public relations, about
$1500/mo. retainer for the firm selected;
somewhere between $25,000 and $30,000 for the cost of printing materials
to be distributed and some hard distribution costs. A good web site is needed which will take several more
thousand. She believed that $150,000 would be necessary. The Chamber was asked by the Coupeville
Mayor for a letter of support before
she presented the matter to the Town
Council, which was done. In that letter
the Chamber expressed the support of
the tax with the condition that Mr. Brooks’ suggestions be followed in general,
particularly with respect to make up of
the committee.
Sandy Roberts, Coupeville, representing the
Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce, recognized over a year ago this was
something they wanted to follow through to the end. The Chamber wanted to
back the Mayor and Town Council and sought the opinions of the folks the
Chamber represent, some 170 members
from San de Fuca to Greenbank.
They found only a few people who
were against the proposal. The
Chamber testified in favor before the Town Council and the Council voted
favorably. He asked that the Board of
County Commissioners support the full
2%.
Mark Hansen, Attorney in Oak Harbor, a Freeland
resident, and Board member of the
Greater Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, stated that over the last 18 months to
2 years he had participated with the Chamber Coalition in deliberations
throughout the county about this tax; had observed the 2% committee; talked
with members of the lodging industry; and attended the Greenbank summit in the
Fall of 1998. The vast majority of
people interested in this issue support adoption of the additional 2%
hotel-motel excise tax . It improves
economy with minimal impact. Tourism is
the second largest industry, the third largest industry in the State of
Washington and this is an opportunity to promote and enhance tourism without
spending money form the general fund and without taxing constituents directly.
From the Chandler-Brooks Report dated 8/3/98 [copy on
file with the Clerk of the Board BICC
99-716-B] Mr. Hansen quoted the following:
It is our opinion
that the lack of marketing has hampered the tourism industry in Island County
Imagine
the power a $100,000 annual marketing effort; imagine the power of a $250,000 marketing
effort. Island County through a coordinated professional marketing effort
could easily bolster its tourism
industry from 90 million a year to 150 million,
focusing on tourism during the
shoulder season, October through March, when it is needed the most.
In
summary, communities who are following these guidelines are seeing 15% to 20%
annual increases in lodging
revenues, three times the State’s annual average increase. Retail sales
and other related businesses are also seeing
increased revenues. Island County has a great deal
to offer and strong potential to build on
its tourism industry. Tourism does not
require new development and if
marketed properly can produce minimal impacts by targeting audiences that can travel when visitors are most
needed.
He learned from Roger Brooks