CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION declaring the intention of the City Council to hold a public hearing relating to changing the assessment rate for the Seattle Tourism Improvement Area.
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WHEREAS, in 2011, through Ordinance 123714, the City established the Seattle Tourism Business Improvement Area (STIA), providing for the levy of special assessments upon participating hotels within the defined area for the purpose of promoting leisure tourism in order to increase area hotel occupancies within the business improvement area; and
WHEREAS, the travel and tourism industry is a significant contributor to the local economy, generating $8.1 billion in economic impact in Seattle/King County in 2019, resulting in $837.5 million in state/local tax revenues, and creating over 80,000 jobs; and
WHEREAS, the travel and tourism industry has been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in 54 percent fewer visitors in 2020, 56 percent less state/local tax revenues, and 40 percent fewer jobs supported; and
WHEREAS, on January 14, 2022, the STIA Ratepayer Advisory Board voted to increase the monthly special assessments, with new assessment values taking effect in 2022;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAT:
Section 1. The City Council declares its intention to modify the special assessment rat for the Seattle Tourism Business Improvement Area in Section 3 of Ordinance 123714, as follows:
Section 3. Levy of Special Assessments. To finance the programs authorized in Section 2, there is levied upon and shall be collected from the owners of all transient accommodations ("Ratepayers") with more than 60 rooms located within the boundaries of the Business Improvement Area described in Section 1, monthly special assessments in an amount equal to (($2)) $4 per night per occupied hotel room for each such Ratepayer.
The special assessments shall not be imposed on rooms (a...
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