The Hope Tourism Commission met for their June meeting tonight in the Hope City Board Room and discussed establishing protocols on enforcing penalties for late tourism tax payments. With around ten businesses two and three months behind on a recurring basis, and the dollar amount numbering tens of thousands in unpaid tax collections, the commission discussed what options might be available to remedy this issue. Mayor Don Still asked if City Attorney Randy Wright could participate in the next meeting for legal counsel, and City Manager JR Wilson said he would meet with Wright before the next meeting to discuss possibilities of said protocols that follow due process. Wilson also mentioned the amount of man hours that go into trying to collect these payments. When asked about notifying the businesses, Parks Director/Tourism Secretary Summer Powell said that she, too, has spent a substantial amount of time with calls and letters to the businesses, but to no avail.
Among the options discussed, suggestions for penalties such as fines, fees, and permit cancellations were on the table, as well as a possible change in policy for the time allowed to pay the taxes, but all agreed that a meeting with Wright was necessary before moving forward with any decisions.
In other business, John Sitzes with the Hope Downtown Network addressed the commission and shared results from Hope Trade Days. He thanked them again for their support, handling the cost of the insurance, and combining the two organizations for Hope Train/Trade Days, plus shared results of the event. Sitzes reported a net profit of $873.50 and gave them a check for that amount.
Sitzes also presented a new event to be held in the fall called A Taste of Hope. Twenty to thirty restaurants will be set up around downtown Hope, each with single servings of select dishes, while local clubs and organizations will host games, art stations, and more. Participants will enter with $30 arm band and have an all-you-can-eat experience. He asked the the commission for a sponsorship in the form of $500, which he said will probably go to insurance. If insurance could be handled another way, then the sponsorship would go to promotion and advertising. The request from Hope Downtown Network to sponsor A Taste if Hope for $500 was approved.
Powell closed the meeting with an update on Sparks Fly in July and said 14 vendors hosting a variety of foods are booked, as of now, and around $12,000 in fireworks have been ordered for the July 1st (Saturday) event. She also shared that in addition to the previous youth activities and games, a climbing rock wall, a trampoline bungee jump, and inflatables (obstacle course and bounce house) will be included in this year's lineup. Pafford is donating the use of their generator again for the stage where Jeff's on Main and Nighthawk will perform. Powell said the Hope Police Department will be assisting with vehicle traffic flow.
