Tourism, Arts & Public Safety Initiative Approved by Bend City Council for Public Hearing on June 19

Several local business, arts and lodging leaders and public safety officials presented a proposal last night to request the placement of a measure on the November 2013 ballot. This measure would ask voters to increase Bend’s Transient Room Tax (TRT) rate by 2 percent, a change from the current rate of 9 percent to a new rate of 11 percent raising funds for public safety, economic development and art and cultural tourism.

Members of the Tourism, Arts & Public Safety Initiative including Pamela Hulse Andrews of Cascade Publications Inc., Ben Pearle of Oxford Hotel Group, Doug La Placa of Visit Bend, Chuck Arnold of Downtown Bend Business Association, Ray Solley of the Tower Theatre, Attorney Frank Goundwater of BendFilm, Kelly Cannon-Miller of Deschutes County Historical Society, Chief of Police Jeff Sale and Bend Fire chief Larry Langston made presentations on behalf of the TRT proposal. A lengthy list of supporters can be found at the end of the article.

Bend’s current TRT rate of 9 percent (plus an additional 1 percent for state tax) is lower than many similar cities and tourism destinations. By comparison, other destinations’ combined lodging taxes and fees include Spokane (14 percent), Boise (13 percent), Boulder (12.3 percent), Santa Barbara (12 percent), Portland (14.5 percent), Seattle (17.6 percent), South Lake Tahoe (15 percent), Santa Fe (15.19 percent), San Luis Obispo (12 percent), and Sunriver Resort (23 percent).

By leaving Bend’s TRT rate below industry standard, Bend is missing the opportunity to reinvest critical economic development, cultural and public safety dollars into our community.

If approved, this increased tax on overnight visitors would benefit virtually every segment of our community:

Public Safety: 30 percent of the revenue raised by this measure (approximately $250,000 annually), will be allocated to Bend’s police and fire departments to mitigate the city’s public safety funding shortfall and help ensure Bend’s police and fire departments can meet the demands of our growing population of visitors and residents.

Economic Development: As required by law, 70 percent of the revenue generated by this measure (approximately $600,000 annually) will be allocated to economic development through the promotion of tourism. Specifically, $400,000 annually will be used to expand Bend’s tourism marketing reach into Seattle and northern California to attract visitors and investment from these important, yet currently untapped, markets. This expansion of tourism marketing is estimated to generate an additional $53 million of visitor spending annually in Central Oregon.

Cultural Tourism Trust: The remaining $200,000 generated by this measure will further enhance Bend’s economy by establishing a long-term source of public funding for the arts through a cultural tourism trust. In addition to enhancing Bend’s quality of life, Bend’s arts and cultural assets are critical to diversifying our community’s tourism offerings and attracting new visitors, residents, and jobs.

Bend hosts over two million tourists annually who contribute over $500 million to the region. Tourism feeds every segment of Bend’s economy. If approved, this measure will enhance Bend’s economy and substantially improve our community – benefitting locals and visitors alike.

Hulse Andrews said: “We have carefully considered the potential risks associated with this proposed rate increase and believe them to be far out-weighed by the significant and certain benefits to our community and economy.

“Every dollar the City of Bend allocates to the promotion of tourism, public safety, and the cultivation of the arts impacts our economy and community in a very positive way. We believe it is time for Bend to take this important step in the evolution of our great city. We appreciate the Bend City Council’s consideration of this issue.”

The city council agreed in concept to the send the proposal to a roundtable workshop and then to a public hearing on June 19. Those in favor of sending it to a public hearing included Mayor Jim Clinton, Councilors Jody Barram, Doug Knight, Sally Russell and Mark Capps. Those opposed were Victor Chudowsky and Scott Ramsay.

The Bend Tourism, Arts & Public Safety Initiative Supporters To-Date:

Bill Smith, William Smith Properties/Old Mill District

Mike Hollern, Brooks Resources

Oran Teater, former Bend Mayor, Financial Advisor

Bob Woodward, former Bend Mayor, Journalist

Bruce Abernethy, former Bend Mayor, Grant Writer

Kathie Eckman, former Bend Mayor

Jade Mayer, Brooks Resources

Bob Nosler, Nosler, Inc.

Les Stiles, Deschutes County Sheriff (Ret.)

Dick Ridenour, Chairman, Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District #2

Ben Perle, Regional VP of Operations, Oxford Hotel Group

Scott Woods, Senior Vice President of Finance & Operations, Greystone Hotels (owners of the two Bend Marriott Hotels)

Matt Williams, Owner, Pine Ridge Inn & Suites

Erick Trachsel, Director of Sales, Phoenix Inn & Suites

Annie Goldner, Owner, Hillside Inn Bed & Breakfast and Chair of the Central Oregon Bed & Breakfast Association

Brent McLean, Vice President Sales & Marketing – Brasada Ranch and Eagle Crest Resorts

David Bafford, Inn Keeper, Mill Inn Bed & Breakfast

Chuck Arnold, Executive Director, Downtown Bend Business Association

Dave Nissen, Owner, Wanderlust Tours

Doug La Placa, President/CEO, Visit Bend

Noelle Fredland, Marketing Director, Old Mill District

Teague Hatfield, Owner, Footzone

Aaron Switzer, Publisher, The Source Weekly

Pamela Hulse Andrews, CEO/Publisher, Cascade Publications (Cascade Business News, Cascade Arts & Entertainment)

Ray Solley, Executive Director, Tower Theatre

Bob Singer, Chair, Tower Theatre Foundation

Alison Hamm, Vice Chair, Tower Theatre Foundation

Steve Magidson, Secretary, Tower Theatre Foundation

Carly McFarland, Treasurer, Tower Theatre Foundation

Jim Davidson, Board Member, Tower Theatre Foundation

Cassondra Schindler, Board Member, Tower Theatre Foundation

Kevin Sparks, Board Member, Tower Theatre Foundation Brian Tompkins, Board Member, Tower Theatre Foundation

Doug Watson, Board Member, Tower Theatre Foundation

Sue Hollern, Art In Public Places

Cristy Lanfri, Art In Public Places

Jody Ward, Art In Public Places

Rene Mitchell, Art In Public Places

Romy Mortensen, Art In Public Places

Marcelene Trujillo, Art In Public Places

Arts & Culture Alliance of Central Oregon

Arts, Beautification and Culture Commission

Dave and Carla Fox, Founders, Art In The High Desert

Orit Schwartz, BendFilm, Executive Director

Frank Goundwater, BendFilm Board Chair, Bend Attorney

Pamela G. Paget-Wakefield, BendFilm Board of Directors

James C. Foster, BendFilm Board of Directors, Professor OSU-Cascades

Pat Clark, ScaleHouse Community Arts Center

Sandy Anderson, ScaleHouse Community Arts Center

Alex Anderson, ScaleHouse Community Arts Center

Adell Shetterly, ScaleHouse Community Arts Center

Cassondra Schindler, ScaleHouse Community Arts Center

Kelly Cannon-Miller, Executive Director, Deschutes County Historical Society

Mary Sue Penhollow, Board of Directors, Deschutes County Historical Society

Marsha Stout, Board of Directors, Deschutes County Historical Society

Courtney Luptin-Turner, Board of Directors, Deschutes County Historical Society

Nathan Pedersen, Board of Directors, Deschutes County Historical Society

Karen Green, Board of Directors, Deschutes County Historical Society

Cate O’Hagan, Executive Director, Arts Central

Gary Chandler, Board President, Arts Central

Joanne Mathews, Board Treasurer, Arts Central

Brenda Komar, Board Secretary, Arts Central

Paula Johanson, Board Member, Arts Central

Marsha Stout, Board Member, Arts Central

Rebecca Warner, Board Member, Arts Central

The Nature of Words

Howard Schor, Bend Experimental Art Theatre (BEAT)

Mary Kilpatrick, Bend Experimental Art Theatre (BEAT)

Marney Smith, Les Schwab Amphitheater

Billye Turner, Bend Art Consultant

Scott Greenstone, President/Owner, Greenstone Financial Reporting

Jim Gross, President/Owner, Bend Radio Group

Barb Campbell, Owner, Wabi-Sabi

Melanie Fisher & Lev Stryker, Co-Owners, Cog Wild Bicycle Tours

Geoff Frank, Owner & General Manager, Tumalo Creek Canoe & Kayak

Dan McGarigle, Owner, Pine Mountain Sports

Melodee and Clay Storey, Owners, Boneyard Beer

Jesse Roberts, Artist, Rise-Up International

Megan McGuiness, Artist

Kevin Schwarting, Artist

Renee Patrick, Art Director, Cascade Business News

Rod Bien, Owner, Fleet Feet and Patagonia of Bend retail stores

Judy Campbell, President, Campbell Consulting Public Relations

Ann Golden Egle, MCC and President, Golden Visions & Associates, LLC

Beth Davies, Broker, Hasson Company Realtors

Lesley Truman, Design & Marketing Coordinator, Fratzke Commercial Real Estate

Joanne Sunnaborg, Owner, Desperado

Josie Juhasz, MA, LPC, EMDR Certified and EMDRIA Approved Consultant

David & Liz Rink, Bend Arts Advocates

Brad Ross, owner & president, VIVO Productions and Cyclocross Crusades

Chad Sperry, owner & president, Breakaway Promotions

Steve Johnson, President & CEO, USA Cycling

Linda Orcelletto, Orcelletto Communications

Lynnette Braillard, President, Lulish Design

Linda Heisserman, Partner in Red Chair Gallery, Bend, Oregon

Cheryl Howard, Community Volunteer Leader, Bend, Oregon

Ruth Williamson, Williamson Coaching, Bend, Oregon

Nadine Sims, Iyengar Yoga of Bend

Carol Wellock, Bend homeowner and Art in the High Desert board member

David Blair, Consultant, Bend, Oregon

Tim Underwood, President/Owner, Tim Underwood Productions, LLC, Bend, Oregon

Pamela Trowe Johnson, CEO, 501 Drive, Bend, Oregon

Andrew Boone, Bend Resident

CJ Colt, Bend Resident

Ryan Geser, Bend Resident

Eric Powers, Owner, Bend Velo bike shop, Bend, Oregon

Josh Wilhite, co-owner, Copperline Homes Inc.

Mark Wilhite, co-owner, Copperline Homes Inc.

Kyle Watt, Bend Resident

Chuck Kenlan, Academy Mortgage Company, Bend, Oregon

Karen Koppel, BendFilm Board Member; Arts and Culture Alliance

Ben Husaby, Executive Director, Bend Endurance Academy

Bill Warburton, Cycling and Skiing Coach, Bend Endurance Academy

Brenna Warburton, Cycling and Skiing Coach, Bend Endurance Academy

Dillon Schneider, Executive Director, Cascade School of Music

J.C. Nore, Owner, Connexion Printing Consultants

Jennifer Ortado, Marketing Manager, Compass Commercial, AdFed Board Member

Lisa Nielsen, Creative Director, Compass Commercial

Russ Porter, Retired Peace Officer

Ted Atlee, Active member of Chief’s Advisory Board

Darrell Fevergeon, Active member of Chief’s Advisory Board

Joe Gallagher, Active member of Chief’s Advisory Board

Tristan Reisfar, Mothers Against Misuse and Abuse

Jonathon Keith, Merlin Partners, LLC

Matthew Bowler, The Mandala Agency

Peter Werner, Attorney, Bend, Oregon