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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Spokane Valley TPA Commission Regular Meeting – October 23, 2025

City Council & Commissions — Thursday, October 23, 2025

BodySpokane Valley, Washington

SessionCity Council & Commissions

DateThursday, October 23, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:30:20

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:07

Yep, that's right.

0:13

Name now it's like Hoffert.

0:34

Chair Cameron, we're ready when you are morning, everyone.

0:40

Uh call the meeting to order.

0:43

And uh no guest comments.

0:50

No one has signed up.

0:51

Okay.

1:00

Um you want to start with financial.

1:10

Okay.

1:12

Okay.

1:17

Good morning.

1:18

Hopefully this will be quick and painless.

1:21

Didn't realize I was up first, but uh just really quickly looking at your screen.

1:27

Uh through August, we have collected uh 886,000 total collections for 2025.

1:37

Uh that is a year-to-date decrease of 2%, just about 2.5% we're looking at.

1:45

Um, still just a little bit of decrease for the year, but uh revenue collections still anticipated for 2025 to be roughly around 1.3 million.

1:55

That's still what we're projecting through the end of 2025.

1:59

Um, and just to note the 2026 budget is still under development and currently being finalized if you're in the loop on the the city's uh council meetings, and revenues are projected for 2026 to uh be slated for that 1.3 million as well.

2:18

Um if there are any anticipated changes to those projections, we will adjust that as the year progresses if necessary.

2:25

Do you have any questions on those collections?

2:28

That seems to be pretty consistent with how those projections have been going.

2:36

Not a lot to update.

2:38

Okay.

2:39

Told you it would be quick and painless.

2:41

Okay, thanks.

2:42

Thank you.

2:48

Okay, lastly.

3:04

Good morning, commissioners.

3:07

So in your packet today is the CoStar hotel data for August.

3:12

Occupancy for the city's hotels was about 76% in August, and that reflected a downturn of about five percent year over year, as you saw.

3:22

Hotels in Spokane averaged an occupancy rate of 71%, so about five percent less than what we're seeing in the valley, but that also reflected a decline of 4.1% year over year.

3:35

So we are seeing some decline in tourism generally within uh the spokane region.

3:42

Revenue was down about 9% in both the valley hotels and the spokane hotels.

3:48

Hopefully, we will see this trend reverse in September as we had more events, I think, in the region and this in that particular month.

3:56

I usually do not see this co-star data until about the 22nd or the 23rd of the month.

4:03

So that gives you an idea.

4:04

So hopefully the next time we meet, we can include this data uh for the month of September.

4:12

Uh we also just an update.

4:14

We do not have September website or social media analytics in the packet for you today.

4:20

Is this month's meeting is a little earlier than we generally do uh meet.

4:25

So we'll also include that information as it becomes available uh next month.

4:31

Uh just an update real quick on the TPA sunset.

4:35

Uh we I have met with Rose Noble again from Visit Spokane, and we've kind of outlined a plan for collecting that information.

4:43

It is a little bit of a challenge.

4:45

Uh the information that has to be collected and presented to the legislature is reflective of the two dollar uh or up to three dollar additional charges uh beyond the baseline of the two dollar uh fee.

5:02

And this fee was initiated in 2021.

5:06

And in 2021 and 2022, the city was still part of the regional TPA, right?

5:13

So for those two particular years, which was a $4 charge at that time regionally, the data for the valley will be included in what visit Spokane and Spokane Sports are probably kind of collecting.

5:28

Then for the years 2023, 2024, and into 2025.

5:36

So we'll be collecting data for those years.

5:40

But we will be working very collaboratively with Spokane Sports and Visit Spokane on that data.

5:47

And I'll be working with 116 and West to collect some data as well.

6:09

So we'll do our best over the next uh three weeks, three to four weeks to kind of pull this together.

6:17

Um our parks and recreation department is collaborate collaborating very closely currently with Spokane Sports on the final planning of the two events that will be held this fall at the course Spokane Valley.

6:30

Um just a reminder that includes the 2025 WCC Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships.

6:38

That is scheduled for Saturday, November 1st, and the 2025 NWAC men's and women's cross-country championships, and that is scheduled for Monday, November 10th.

6:49

Um both of those events are open to the public.

6:52

Um and we invite you if you have an interest um to go out and explore that.

6:58

Um the champion Northwest, uh, the NWAC championships, I believe is a ticketed events, and those tickets are available online on the NWAC website.

7:08

So we can get that to you if you need it.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Tourism Development█████████████████████████████████████████████48%

Economic Development█████████████████18%

Budget Equity Analysis████████8%

Technology and Innovation████████8%

Public Engagement███████7%

Parks and Recreation███3%

Public Transportation███3%

Procedural███3%

Engineering And Infrastructure██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Spokane Valley TPA Commission Regular Meeting – October 23, 2025

Note: The agenda and meeting materials date the meeting as October 16, 2025, but this summary uses October 23, 2025 as instructed.

The Spokane Valley Tourism Promotion Area (TPA) Commission convened a regular meeting to review financial and administrative reports, discuss the creation of an Opportunity Fund, approve a technology services expenditure, and recommend funding levels for 2026 consultant contracts for sports recruitment and destination marketing.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public signed up to comment.

Discussion Items

Financial Report (Lesli Brassfield)

Total TPA collections through August 2025: $886,000, a year-to-date decrease of approximately 2.5% from 2024.
2025 revenue projected at ~$1.3 million; 2026 budget under development with a similar revenue projection.

Administrative Report (Lesli Brassfield)

August 2025 hotel occupancy in Spokane Valley: 76% (down 5% year-over-year); Spokane hotels: 71% (down 4.1%).
Revenue per available room declined by about 9% in both markets.
Update on TPA sunset: Collaborating with Visit Spokane, Spokane Sports, and 116 & West to compile required data for the state legislature.
Cross-country course updates: WCC Men's/Women's Cross Country Championships on November 1, 2025; NWAC Championships on November 10, 2025; both free to attend (NWAC ticketed). Parking challenges discussed; shuttle service will be used for WCC event, utilizing a nearby business lot. Commissioners expressed concern about sufficient parking for future events.

Opportunity Fund (Action Item)

Lesli Brassfield presented a detailed proposal for a $250,000 Opportunity Fund to support destination events that drive overnight hotel stays. Criteria discussed included application from venue or event organizer, events scheduled within five years, minimum insurance, and a focus on shoulder/off-season.
Commissioners debated the level of detail in criteria. Some (e.g., Commissioner Hoffert) argued that overly prescriptive requirements could deter professional event organizers (e.g., NCAA, national motorcycle groups) and suggested more flexibility. Others noted that city legal and financial requirements necessitate clear criteria.
After discussion, the commission agreed to reduce the fund to $170,000 for 2026, given the uncertainty of immediate demand.
Public comment was opened; none received.

Technology Services (Action Item)

Staff proposed using up to $30,000 in TPA funds to purchase a software platform that uses cell phone, navigation, and camera data to measure event attendance, economic impact, and guide marketing. The base tier is ~$24,000; additional revenue impact module adds cost.
Commissioners expressed support; no public comments.

Consultant Proposals (Action Items)

Spokane Sports proposed a total of $796,000 for 2026: baseline $400,000 for managing already-secured events; $190,000 additional to secure 11 more events; $210,000 one-time for the cross-country course grand opening (branding, athlete experience). They reported securing four championship events for 2026 (over 21,000 visitors, 5,000 room nights), exceeding initial projections. Without additional funding, extra events may not proceed.
116 & West proposed three budget tiers: Good ($875,000), Better ($1,000,000), Best ($1,200,000). Their plan shifts focus from brand awareness to direct hotel promotion, including paid search, retargeting, OTA partnerships, and course promotion (social media, website). They emphasized supporting the valley's tourism brand and increasing bookings.
Commissioners discussed the need for collaboration between the two consultants and noted potential overlap. It was clarified that Spokane Sports focuses on event recruitment, while 116 & West handles consumer marketing. The city staff will facilitate coordination.
A spreadsheet was used to balance the budget, aiming to fund the Opportunity Fund ($170k), Technology ($30k), Spokane Sports ($700k – less than requested), and 116 & West ($875k – baseline good).

Key Outcomes

Technology Services: Motion to recommend city council approve up to $30,000 for technology services (passed unanimously).
Opportunity Fund: Motion to recommend city council place $170,000 of 2026 TPA revenue into an Opportunity Fund and grant the TPA Commission administrative authority to award funding (passed unanimously).
Consultant Contracts: Motion to recommend city council authorize the city manager to execute contract amendments up to $700,000 with Spokane Sports for sports recruitment and $875,000 with 116 & West for destination marketing services (passed unanimously). These represent a reduction from the full requests but provide significant funding for the course opening and hotel promotion.

Next Steps: City council will consider these recommendations on October 28, 2025, with potential final approval on November 5, 2025. A city code amendment for the Opportunity Fund will require three readings and a public hearing.

Meeting Transcript

Yep, that's right. Name now it's like Hoffert. Chair Cameron, we're ready when you are morning, everyone. Uh call the meeting to order. And uh no guest comments. No one has signed up. Okay. Um you want to start with financial. Okay. Okay. Good morning. Hopefully this will be quick and painless. Didn't realize I was up first, but uh just really quickly looking at your screen. Uh through August, we have collected uh 886,000 total collections for 2025. Uh that is a year-to-date decrease of 2%, just about 2.5% we're looking at. Um, still just a little bit of decrease for the year, but uh revenue collections still anticipated for 2025 to be roughly around 1.3 million. That's still what we're projecting through the end of 2025. Um, and just to note the 2026 budget is still under development and currently being finalized if you're in the loop on the the city's uh council meetings, and revenues are projected for 2026 to uh be slated for that 1.3 million as well. Um if there are any anticipated changes to those projections, we will adjust that as the year progresses if necessary. Do you have any questions on those collections? That seems to be pretty consistent with how those projections have been going. Not a lot to update. Okay. Told you it would be quick and painless. Okay, thanks. Thank you. Okay, lastly. Good morning, commissioners. So in your packet today is the CoStar hotel data for August. Occupancy for the city's hotels was about 76% in August, and that reflected a downturn of about five percent year over year, as you saw. Hotels in Spokane averaged an occupancy rate of 71%, so about five percent less than what we're seeing in the valley, but that also reflected a decline of 4.1% year over year. So we are seeing some decline in tourism generally within uh the spokane region. Revenue was down about 9% in both the valley hotels and the spokane hotels. Hopefully, we will see this trend reverse in September as we had more events, I think, in the region and this in that particular month. I usually do not see this co-star data until about the 22nd or the 23rd of the month. So that gives you an idea. So hopefully the next time we meet, we can include this data uh for the month of September. Uh we also just an update. We do not have September website or social media analytics in the packet for you today. Is this month's meeting is a little earlier than we generally do uh meet. So we'll also include that information as it becomes available uh next month. Uh just an update real quick on the TPA sunset. Uh we I have met with Rose Noble again from Visit Spokane, and we've kind of outlined a plan for collecting that information. It is a little bit of a challenge. Uh the information that has to be collected and presented to the legislature is reflective of the two dollar uh or up to three dollar additional charges uh beyond the baseline of the two dollar uh fee. And this fee was initiated in 2021. And in 2021 and 2022, the city was still part of the regional TPA, right? So for those two particular years, which was a $4 charge at that time regionally, the data for the valley will be included in what visit Spokane and Spokane Sports are probably kind of collecting. Then for the years 2023, 2024, and into 2025. So we'll be collecting data for those years.

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