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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBackground ReportATTACHMENT 1 BACKGROUND REPORT SUMMARY On November 15, 2011 the Council adopted a Resolution of Intention to Form the National City Tourism Marketing District. The NCTMD is being formed pursuant to the Property and Business Improvement District Law of 1994 (1994 Law). The 1994 Law requires submission of signed petitions from assessed businesses, adoption of a resolution of intention, a public meeting for comment, and a public hearing. After adoption of the resolution of intention, a notice of the public meeting and public hearing was mailed to affected lodging businesses. Mailing of the notice began a forty-five (45) day period in which lodging businesses may protest district formation. If, after the close of the forty-five (45) day period and the public hearing, no majority protest exists (a majority protest is defined as written protest submitted by 50% lodging businesses, which protests are weighted by the amount each business will pay), Council may adopt this Resolution. DISCUSSION Tourism improvement districts have been widely used throughout California; there are currently fifty-nine tourism districts throughout the state, and the concept has spread to other states including Washington and Montana. Tourism districts create a stable funding source for destination marketing tied directly to the lodging industry. Funds raised by the district are collected by the city and returned to a private non-profit corporation, which manages the funds in accordance with a written Management District Plan. The Management District Plan is attached hereto as Exhibit A. It is proposed that the National City Chamber of Commerce be the management corporation for the district. If the district is formed, the City would enter into a contract with the Chamber for management of the district funds. Adopting this resolution will create the district and place a two and one-half percent (2.5%) assessment on all hotels within the City. Lodging businesses within the City have requested Council begin the process of forming a tourism district. A listing of hotels proposed to be included in the district is attached to the Management District Plan. Businesses which will pay 70.4% of the proposed assessment have submitted petitions in favor of forming the district, which exceeds the legal requirement of 50%. The clerk has not received any opposition to the proposed district. Adopting this Resolution is the final step in the district formation process.