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) where the occupant has stayed 30 or more days, (b) that are provided by a Ratepayer to guests without charge for promotional purposes, (c) that are available exclusively to members or guests of members of a private member-owned club or its reciprocal clubs or (d) that comprise facilities where accommodations are generally marketed and sold on a per bed, shared room basis (e.g. hostels).
Section 2. A hearing shall be heard on this matter before the Economic Development, Technology, and City Light Committee in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, 2nd Floor, Seattle, Washington 98104 (enter on Fifth Avenue), on March 23, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. Due to the COVID-19 civil emergency declared by the City and the State of Washington, persons who wish to participate in or attend the hearing may do so remotely. The City will provide instructions in the meeting agenda on how to participate remotely. The City Council will hear all protests and receive evidence for or against the proposed action.
Section 3. The City Clerk is requested to publish notice of this intention and of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in Seattle and mail a complete copy to each ratepayer within the proposed area, each at least ten days prior to the hearing. The notice shall include a statement that a copy of the proposed ordinance may be examined electronically at http://www.seattle.gov/leg/clerk/, or in paper form at the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, 3rd Floor, Seattle, Washington 98104, or will be mailed upon request.
Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2022, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2022.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2022.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)