South Lake Tahoe Lodging Association

1. Call to order – Introduction of Members of the Board, Members and Guests

2. Vote: For LTVA representative from Lodging Association.

Nominees for Representative:
-- Pat Ronan – Lakeshore Lodge & Spa
-- Stefan Gruvberger – Embassy Suites
Ballots were presented to attending membership, only lodging members could vote. Vote was tallied: Pat Ronan was the new LTVA representative.

3. Presentations: Gale Sutton – South Tahoe Express:

Amador Stage Lines is offering South Tahoe Express. 14 Daily Departures, the only authorized Non-Stop Service from the Reno/Tahoe International Airport to Lake Tahoe, serving Caesars Lake Tahoe, Embassy Suites, Harrah’s Casino, Harvey, Horizon and Lakeside Inn. $20 One Way / $36 Round Trip (Residents, ID required - $15 One Way / $30 Round Trip), Children $10 & $18 with paid Adult; Children 3 an under, Free when traveling with Paid Adult. You may now make a reservation for the Express. Contact Info: 866-89-TAHOE (866-898-2463); Coming Soon – On Line Ticketing – www.southtahoeexpress.com. Groups Charters Rates available.

4. BID – Marketing Funding: Where do we go from here?

Dwayne Wallace presented a history of the Marketing funding: The voters of SLT agreed to a 2% increase in TOT, which was a “pass through” to marketing. It was not, at that time, part of the General Fund, and could not be touched by the City. However, the City asked that the Marketing Funds be brought into the General Fund so that they could be used to borrow against for the Redevelopment. This was agreed to, in order to help fund the Redevelopment. However, the City has since taken away that funding because of budget problems.

Now, what can we do? The Chamber of Commerce and the Lodging Association are suggesting a BID (Business Improvement District) to fund marketing. Jointly they have hired a Consultant, Rosenthall & Associates, to make a determination about the scope of the BID, cost to each business, and therefore how much could be raised to fund continued Marketing. Unlike an initiative, which requires a Yes vote of two-thirds of the voters, a BID will pass unless 51% of those effected say “No”.

The BID would not be under City control, and therefore the funds could not be taken at any time in the future. However, it does require the City Council’s cooperation to establish. The Chamber asked that the SLTLA sign a letter requesting the City to proceed with the steps necessary to form the BID:

July 6, 2004

Mayor and City Council
City of South Lake Tahoe
1052 Tata Lane
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

Re: Initiation of Business Improvement District

Honorable Mayor and City Council:

As the Council is aware, a consultant to the City is presently working on the financial data necessary for the formation of a business improvement district created for the purpose of the promotion of tourism.

While there has been discussion of moving forward with the proposed BID the necessary steps for formation have not yet been initiated. This letter is a request to the Council to commence that process by doing the following:

1. Agendizing for the July 20th Council meeting the creation of a BID Advisory Board as authorized by Streets and Highway Code Section 36560. The Board should be composed exclusively of persons who would be obligated to pay the assessment, if levied. The purpose of appointing the Board now is so that it can take the responsibility for drafting the Resolution of Intention to form the district and bringing it before the Council after the appropriate public notice has been given.

2. Requesting a Council subcommittee (Upton/Davis) to work with the signators to the letters, plus our counsel, to draft criteria for the membership of the Avisory Board, including appropriate application process, for review at your July 20th meeting with the Board to be selected in August.

3. Assuming information from the Consultant necessary to consideration of district formation is available by August, authorize the BID Advisory Board, when appointed, to prepare the Resolution of Intention in a manner consistent with that used for the Ski Run BID. To refresh the Council’s recollection, a copy of that Resolution is attached.

If there are any questions, please contact either of us, or Duane Wallace, at any time.

Signed:

Carol Chaplin, President, SLT Chamber of Commerce
Jerry Birdwell, President, SLT Lodging Associaton

Cc: David Jinkens, Cathy DiCamillo

There was discussion among members about the City, their upcoming request for a sales tax increase, and our position on the sales tax. The Board feels it’s very important to have the BID in pace before the sales tax is presented to voters, in fact the Board feels that until the BID is in place they will be unable to the sales tax proposal.

A vote was taken, and the members voted unanimously to send the above letter to the City.

UPDATES:

Blue Go: Ridership is up slightly, they are doing better being on time and are only receiving a couple of complaints per week (whereas when they first started, with the new system, there were more complaints.) If you get a complaint from a guest, please try and get specific info on complaints, really hard to follow through without specifics. Nifty 50 Trolley is part of BlueGo.
Lake Tahoe Central Reservations: Presented their numbers, you may contact them for your own copy.
SLT C of C: Discussed their three main goals for the year: 2007 Plan Review with TRPA – getting involved in the beginning; Economic Summit – bringing together all the entities; and last, but not least, Financial Independence for the Chamber.
LTVA: Special Events Funding – No money at this time. Will be discussing winter advertising, because they have partners in the winter advertising they should be able to keep the level of funding they have been. Celebrity Golf – next week.
City of South Lake Tahoe: No representative was present.
Other Speakers: Tahoe Marathon. Handed out posters and info. This year selling Aide Stations, $500 donation to STHS sports. Contact Les.
El Dorado County: Judy Harkin – County has passed a balanced budget; Film Commission has several groups filming, MTV at Camp Rich, Hallmark; Casino Lawsuit, judge has asked for more environmental impact reports; Working on the Vacation Ordinance.

IV. Adjournment

Next meeting will be August 12 at 9:30 a.m. Location to be advised.

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