LTACmeeting 11 5 2026

The City of College Place Lodging Tax Advisory Commission (LTAC) meeting was held November 5, 2026. The commission approved the consent agenda, including the meeting agenda and August 6 minutes, with an amendment to correct a name. Its main business was reviewing eight applications for 2027 lodging-tax grant funding. The RFP had been published September 15 and October 15, and the commission reviewed applicants’ requests, budgets, and methods for estimating visitor attendance. Available funding was reported as $80,970.84, including consideration of a 15% reserve.

Applicants discussed included Powerhouse Theater ($20,000 requested), City marketing and advertising ($10,000), the Freedom Festival ($18,000), Fort Walla Walla ($10,000), the Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce ($20,000), Chamber Music Festival ($3,000), Visit Walla Walla ($25,000), and a local theater applicant. Members discussed fully funding several requests, reducing the Freedom Festival recommendation to $15,000 by removing $3,000 in contingency, and possible amounts of $15,000 for Visit Walla Walla and $5,000 for the Chamber of Commerce. The transcript ends before a final funding motion or vote is captured, so these amounts should be treated as discussion rather than approved awards. Members also discussed improving visitor-count data and the potential long-term purchase of a reusable stage to reduce event rental costs.