HomeMy Public PortalAbout2015.01.13 Special Minutes MINUTES
McCall City Council
Special Meeting
McCall-Donnelly High School Commons
401 Mission Street, McCall
January 13, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.
Agenda
Call to Order
Work Session
Adjournment
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Aymon called the Special meeting of the McCall City Council to order at 6:30 p.m.
Council members Mayor Aymon, Councilor Giles, Councilor Scott, Councilor Swanson,
and Councilor Witte were present.
City Staff present were Gene Drabinski, City Manager; Michelle Groenevelt, Community
Development Director; Peter Borner, Public Works Director; Meg Lojek, Library Director;
Dennis Coyle, Parks and Recreation Director; Erin Roper, Communications Coordinator;
BessieJo Wagner, City Clerk; and Lisa Kundrick, Deputy City Clerk.
PUBLIC FORUM
Public Forum—LOT Community Discussion and Workshop
Gene Drabinski, City Manager, began the discussion by explaining the history of LOT. In 1978
the Legislature recognized that resort cities could not possibly keep up with the infrastructure
costs on property taxes alone, that certain things were needed by resort cities that were not
needed by cities of like size who simply were not resort cities, so in 1978 the Legislature passed
legislation that enabled cities of fewer than 10,000 people whose economy was based
significantly on tourism to be able to pass a Local Option Tax with 60% of the vote.
Mr. Drabinski then explained how McCall's 3% Local Option Tax on short-term rentals is
facilitated. He explained about how the Local Option Tax Advisory Committee meets and listens
to presentations by organizations who are requesting funds. It then makes a recommendation to
the City Council. This tax revenue is allocated by the City Council in certain categories. Mr.
Drabinski then reviewed the LOT categories as they are listed in the Ordinance.
Mr. Drabinski then presented a slide showing a timeline of different LOT tax initiatives that had
been considered since 1982. There was a combination of different percentage amounts on a
variety of taxable items (bed tax, liquor by the drink, sales tax, restaurants, etc.). Some initiatives
passed, such as 2005 (3% bed tax on hotels and short-term rentals for seven years) and 2012
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January 13, 2015
(renewed 2005 tax for seven years). In 2014 the proposal for a 1% sales tax fell short of the 60%
required vote.
LOT money can only be spent according to the voter-approved ordinance.
LOT spending has been divided into three categories -- City projects, community projects (things
that are good for tourism and the community), and "Heads in Beds" (to promote and market
McCall to bring in more visitors). The amount spent in each category varies from year to year
depending on different LOT Commissions, the types of LOT funding applications submitted, and
opinions of City Council.
The attendees (approximately 40 community members) were then split out into five discussion
groups. Each group was facilitated by a Council member and a City Department Head. The
groups performed three group exercises.
First Group Exercise: The groups were asked to share what they had learned about LOT from
the presentation.
Second Group Exercise: Each individual was given ten $100 bills in play money and asked to
distribute the money to three GENERAL LOT categories. The amounts were tallied and recorded
below. Then, each table was asked to describe how they divided up and "spent" their money in
each category.
Third Group Exercise: Each individual was given a green dot and a red dot. They were asked
to place the green dot on the category MOST important to them. They were asked to place a red
dot on the category that was LEAST important to them, or the category that could "go away."
Community members were encouraged to ask others who were not in attendance to participate in
a similar survey online via the City's web site.
(See following page for survey results.)
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January 13, 2015
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January 13, 2015
ADJOURNMENT
Without further business, Mayor Aymon adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m.
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January 13, 2015