2.80.020 Membership of commission and of lodging tax advisory committee.
A. The commission shall consist of no more than 13 members to be appointed by the mayor. Membership shall be representative of agencies directly involved in tourism and visitor and convention promotion and may include, but not be limited to, the following: the Bellingham/Whatcom County Chamber of Commerce, Western Washington University, Bellingham/Whatcom County hotel and motel owners, Bellingham/Whatcom County restaurant owners, port of Bellingham, the Bellingham city council. A designee of the Bellingham/Whatcom County Tourism Agency (or any successor agency) shall serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member of the commission. In addition, representatives of the following city departments/divisions, or their mayorally approved designees, shall be ex officio, nonvoting members of the commission: the city of Bellingham public works department, the city of Bellingham parks and recreation department, the city of Bellingham planning and community development department, Whatcom Museum of History and Art. Notwithstanding the other requirements of BMC 3.08.010, the mayor may appoint up to 50 percent of the tourism commission’s members from nonresidents of the city of Bellingham; provided, that all members of the tourism commission shall be residents of Whatcom County.
B. The mayor shall appoint a subcommittee of the commission whose members shall serve as the lodging tax advisory committee as described by RCW 67.28.1817. The subcommittee shall consist of at least five members and shall include:
1. At least two members who are representative of businesses required to collect the lodging tax;
2. At least two members who are persons involved in activities authorized to be funded by revenue from the lodging tax; and
3. An elected official of the city who shall serve as chair of the committee.
Persons who are eligible for appointment under subsection (B)(1) of this section are not eligible for appointment under subsection (B)(2) of this section. Persons who are eligible for appointment under subsection (B)(2) of this section are not eligible for appointment under subsection (B)(1) of this section. The number of members who are representatives of businesses required to collect lodging tax shall equal the number of members who are involved in activities authorized to be funded by revenue received from the tax. Members of the lodging tax advisory committee must be qualified electors of the city of Bellingham.
C. Organizations required to collect the lodging tax, organizations involved in activities authorized to be funded by revenue received from the lodging tax, and local agencies involved in tourism may submit recommendations for membership on the commission and the subcommittee. [Ord. 2018-03-006 § 10; Ord. 2005-04-038; Ord. 2003-09-061; Ord. 2002-12-103; Ord. 2001-12-104 § 2; Ord. 10890 § 2, 1997; Ord. 9432 § 2, 1985].