Carson City CTA Board Meeting - October 12, 2026

The Carson City Culture & Tourism Authority (CTA) Board of Directors met on October 12, 2026, in the Robert "Bob" Crowell Board Room. The board unanimously approved updates to the room tax policy to accommodate short-term rentals, approved a contract amendment for the DRIVEN sculpture, and received presentations on the 2025 economic impact of tourism and the final year of the Arts & Culture Strategic Plan. Monthly reports covered record-high lodging tax revenue, successful events, and marketing efforts.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the September 14, 2026 board meeting were approved.
• Accounts Payable and P-Card Charges: The board approved the Statement of Accounts Payable checks totaling $159,023.44 and p-card charges totaling $22,546.29 for August 2026.
• FY 2027 Budget Report: The adjusted FY 2027 budget report was approved, showing adjusted revenues of $253,794.78, expenses of $364,969.44, and a fund balance of $1,458,604.02 across all CTA funds.

Discussion Items

• DRIVEN Sculpture Contract Amendment (Item 8/9): A board member requested discussion on the first amendment to Contract #2627-001 with Eccentric Designs, LLC. Executive Director David Peterson explained the extension was required due to geotechnical work, coordination with state lands, and the Nevada State Museum system. Staff expressed confidence the budget remains stable, noting additional funds were repurposed from other grant projects. The amendment passed unanimously.
• Room Tax Policies for Short-Term Rentals (Item 10): Peterson introduced updates to implement the new short-term rental (STR) tax, effective November 1, 2026. Changes added definitions for 'short-term rental property' and 'residential unit' and removed the 'four or more rooms' threshold. Deputy District Attorney Todd Reese confirmed individual property income data is considered confidential trade secrets, though aggregate data will be tracked publicly. The board approved the policy updates unanimously.
• Economic Impact of Tourism (Item 11): Peterson presented the 2025 calendar year data. Direct visitor spending reached a record $246.4 million, a 1.8% increase. The total economic impact was nearly $399 million, generating $30.8 million in state and local taxes. Tourism supports approximately 5.4% of all employment in Carson City.
• Arts & Culture Strategic Plan (Item 12): The FY2026 monitoring report confirmed the 2022-2026 plan is in its final year. Discussion focused on aligning the format of the next plan with the City of Carson City's strategic planning process. City Manager Stacey Giomi noted the city will initiate its own strategic planning, and future CTA plans should coordinate accordingly.
• Executive Director Update (Item 13A): Peterson reported on the Boulder City Adventure Center opening, the launch of Railbikes, new trail maps, the 175th Rice Family Reunion, and staff title changes (Lydia Beck to Senior Manager of Marketing and PR, Zach to Digital Content Producer, Casey to Visitor Experience Coordinator). Beck was also recognized for her 20 under 40 nomination.
• Transient Occupancy Tax Update (Item 13B): July posted a record $4.2 million in TOT, with August looking strong. TOT revenue is tracking 8.4% above the FY budget. Revenue from STRs was not factored into the budget but will be tracked as an aggregate category going forward.
• Events & Sales Update (Item 13C): The board received a recap of major events, including the Recoil Magazine tactical event (retained for a second year), NAFA Masters softball, the Bonanza Kennel Club dog show (600 dogs from 20 states and international entries), and boxing at Casino Fandango.
• Arts & Culture Update (Item 13D): The Murals and Music Festival resulted in 19 new murals, adding over $200,000 in value to the city's public art collection. The DRIVEN sculpture was successfully displayed at Burning Man. An application was submitted for recognition as a mural-friendly city.
• Marketing & PR Update (Item 13E): Lydia Beck reported nearly 66,000 website visits and 900 lodging referrals. Media coverage highlights included the Stewart Indian School's Remembrance Run and spooky season features. New video content promoting the Canine Challenge and fall tourism was shown.

Key Outcomes

• Votes/Decisions: The board unanimously approved the September 14 minutes, the consent calendar items (6 & 7), the DRIVEN sculpture contract amendment, and the Room Tax Policy updates for short-term rentals.
• Next Steps: An updated marketing campaign concept will be presented at the November 9th meeting. A formal presentation on the Carson City Adventure Center is anticipated at a future meeting. The City Manager will explore aligning the next Arts & Culture Strategic Plan with the city's format.
• Future Meetings: The next CTA Board meeting is tentatively scheduled for Monday, November 9, 2026, at 4:00 pm.