Spokane Valley TPA Commission Regular Meeting - January 15, 2026

The Spokane Valley Tourism Promotion Area (TPA) Commission held its regular meeting on January 15, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at City Hall with a Zoom option. Commission Secretary Holt presided because the previous chair's appointment expired in December 2025. The meeting included the election of a new chair, financial and administrative reports, mandatory Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act training, and a continued discussion of the Opportunity Fund code update. Commissioner Crane was absent.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made; no one signed up via Zoom or spoke in person.

Election of Chair

• Commissioner Jessica Glasson was nominated and seconded for the two-year chair position. With no other nominations, Glasson was elected unanimously by voice vote.

Financial Report

• Lesli Brassfield reported that November 2025 TPA revenue collections totaled $115,033, bringing the year-to-date total to $1,258,000. Last year's end-of-year total was $1,310,000, so staff anticipates a slight decrease but is not concerned about needing to use reserves.

Administrative Report

• CoStar data for November showed the city's 16 hotels at 53% occupancy, up about 3% year over year, with an average daily rate of $93. The 24 comparable Spokane hotels saw a year-over-year increase of about 10.6%, attributed partly to events at downtown venues.
• Website and social media analytics for December (from 116 and West) showed reduced website traffic after paid search was cut back due to decreased funding and lower Canadian visitation. Social engagement on Facebook and Instagram remained strong.
• A shop-local campaign cost the city approximately $29,000–$30,000 (about $20,000 for creative and the majority for media buy), used marketing firm Brandit, and partnered with the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce via QR codes to a Discover the Valley shopping page.
• The city purchased the Placer.ai geolocation/visitor spending platform using 2026 TPA budget funds. It can analyze visitation and spending trends going back 5–7 years. Staff is still learning the tool and noted some data quirks (e.g., a parking lot appearing as a top destination).
• Commissioner Grant expressed concern that hotel conversions from website clicks remain extremely low, and noted that if marketing doesn't lead to bookings, funds might be better spent elsewhere. Staff responded that 2026 campaigns will focus more directly on hotel pages, and that traditionally about 70% of visitors don't book through DMO websites.

Mandatory Training: Public Records Act & Open Public Meetings Act

• City Attorney Kelly Konkright led required training. PRA topics included the definition of a public record (broad, including emails, texts, and social media), the city's five-day response requirement, and potential penalties of per-page per-day fines. Best practices emphasized avoiding personal devices/emails for city business and preserving records if personal devices are used.
• OPMA topics included the requirement that meetings be open, the prohibition on serial meetings, and the nullification of actions taken in violation. Penalties include $500 for a first violation and $1,000 for subsequent violations.

Opportunity Fund Code Text Update

• The commission reviewed the revised proposed SVMC 3.21 update. One proposed change would place the commission's decisions on the next city council consent agenda, allowing council to override by majority vote; the decision would be final immediately after that meeting. Commissioners requested that the language clarify the override is all-or-nothing, not a reduction or amendment.
• Staff confirmed that consent agendas currently appear only at every other city council meeting (formal A meetings), so the language will be adjusted to provide a weekly review mechanism to avoid delays.
• Discussion covered budgeting: awards could be committed up to five years in advance, with funds set aside from the current year's budget, and the opportunity fund would be replenished through the annual TPA budget process. Commissioners emphasized the need to build the fund to meet potential multi-year event commitments.
• The commission did not take action. Members will send individual comments/edits to Kelly by the end of the following week (January 23). Kelly will be out of the country February 7–22, so Tony will present the revised draft at the next meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Jessica Glasson elected chair unanimously.
• Opportunity Fund code update was not approved; further revisions and individual commissioner comments were requested.
• Next regular meeting is tentatively scheduled for February 19, 2026, with possible rescheduling to the 26th to achieve a quorum.
• No public comments were made.
• Financial and administrative reports were received for information; no formal motions were made beyond the chair election and adjournment.