Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) Meeting - September 3, 2026

The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee met on September 3, 2026, at 9:00 AM in City Hall Council Chambers, with a recess at approximately 10:30 AM and adjournment following the vote. The committee reviewed an additional service fee for the Puyallup Gateways project, heard city-initiated proposals, and considered 2027 lodging tax applications from nine organizations. Total funds available for committee allocation were $853,690, derived from $1,897,100 in hotel tax revenue after a 55% reserve for city initiatives. The committee approved a final allocation package that fully distributed the available funds.

Discussion Items

• Puyallup Gateways Additional Service: Public Affairs Officer Eric Johnson presented a revised cost estimate of $72,581 for additional design work to relocate a water main and sewer line and to address geotechnical issues (liquefaction) requiring deeper posts at the two gateway arch sites (North Meridian near Fifth Avenue and the Blue Gate area). The committee acknowledged the work was necessary but took no formal action as it was previously council-approved; the item was presented for comment only.
• City-Initiated Proposals: Johnson outlined three city LTAC requests for 2027: (1) continuation of the "Always in Season" tourism campaign (increase from $100,000 to $150,000 in 2027), (2) additional downtown street furnishings (benches, receptacles, planters), and (3) fabrication of wayfinding signage. Mayor Whitting noted these were already council-approved for LTAC spending and were presented for committee comment only.
• 2027 Lodging Tax Proposals: Nine organizations presented their funding requests and answered committee questions. Key points from presentations:
  • All Things Fun Sports (Amy Wirtz): Manages multiple races (Puyallup Valley Half Marathon, Chocolate & Coffee Lovers 5K/10K, Daffodil Classic, Gobble Gobble). Received $8,000 of $20,000 requested in 2026; all events were still held. Entry fees range $30–$70. Requested $2,200 for 2027.
  • Arts Downtown (Nicole Martineau): All-volunteer nonprofit with 56 permanent artworks. Requests funding for upkeep, artist stipends, installation, and advertising. Requested $70,000.
  • Daffodil Festival (Bob Sud Earth): 90+ year tradition; parade draws >100,000 attendees. Requested $50,000 (up from $44,000 in 2026). Recovering from a 2026 date conflict that reduced entries.
  • Generous Influencers / First Pursuit (Patty Hoganson): Operates the Puyallup Night Market (Thursday evenings at Pioneer Park). Reports 1,000–1,500 regular attendance, 18,000–24,000 at special events, and over 20,000 annually. Requested $35,000 for tourism-focused marketing.
  • Foothills Rails to Trails (John Hopkins): Art event along the river walk for emerging artists. Uses City Bits analytics showing 34% of attendees from >50 miles. Requested $25,000.
  • Master Gardeners (Jan Lewis): Annual plant sale moved to the fairgrounds in 2026; 6,000 attendees from Everett to Olympia. Requested the same amount as 2026 to stabilize the transition.
  • Northwest Sinfonietta (Karen Chu): Professional chamber orchestra performing at Pioneer Park Pavilion (October–May). Brings patrons from multiple counties and states. Requested $30,000 (up from $23,000).
  • Puyallup Historical Society / Meeker Mansion (Shelly Schumpf): Operates one of four National Register sites in Puyallup. Hosts 15 annual events; technology investments key. Requested $68,000 (up from $49,000).
  • Puyallup Main Street Association (John Palmer): Runs farmers market, Meeker Days, SIP, Santa Parade, Holiday Market, and new Nashville Nights event. Reports ~250,000 participants annually, ~10,000 from >50 miles. LTAC represents 20–25% of event costs. Requested $236,000.
  • Puyallup Sumner Chamber of Commerce (Stephanie Shram): Requests for visitor center, Red White & Kaboom (July 3), and Brewallop. Red White & Kaboom saw 30% growth in 2026, fireworks costs doubled. Marketing reached 2 million eyeballs outside region. Requested $260,000.
  • Tacoma Regional CVB (Dean Burke): Destination marketing organization; books ~200,000 rooms countywide, ~35,000 specific to Puyallup. Supported transition at the fairgrounds. Amount requested not specified; fully funded in final motion.
• Allocation Discussion: A debate arose over methodology. Councilmember Grove advocated for an across-the-board percentage cut, while Mayor Whitting opposed that as a default and instead proposed specific amounts based on judgment and prior discussions. After detailed proposals from the mayor, the committee approved a motion to allocate funds as amended.

Key Outcomes

The committee passed a motion (unanimous voice vote) approving the following allocations for 2027 (requested amount in parentheses where known):

• All Things Fun Sports: $2,200 (requested $2,200)
• Arts Downtown: $70,000 (requested $70,000)
• Daffodil Festival: $46,000 (requested $50,000)
• Generous Influencers / First Pursuit (Night Market): $25,000 (requested $35,000)
• Foothills Rails to Trails: $25,000 (requested $25,000)
• Fred Oldfield Center: fully funded (amount not specified, same as prior year)
• Master Gardeners: fully funded (amount not specified, same as prior year)
• Northwest Sinfonietta: $30,000 (requested $30,000)
• Puyallup Historical Society / Meeker Mansion: $57,000 (requested $68,000)
• Puyallup Main Street Association: $209,700 (initially proposed $208,000; remaining $3,434 split equally between Main Street and Chamber; requested $236,000)
• Puyallup Sumner Chamber of Commerce: $236,700 (initially proposed $235,000; remaining $3,434 split equally; requested $260,000)
• Tacoma Regional CVB: fully funded (amount not specified)

The total allocated matches the $853,690 available. The committee directed staff to prepare final award documents.