A RESOLUTION to initiate a Tourism Business Improvement Area.

WHEREAS, the owners and operators of the hotel businesses, subject to sixty percent (60%) or more of the special assessments that would be assessed filed a petition with The City of Seattle pursuant to Chapter 35.87A RCW, which petition is filed in C.F. 311423; and

WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed that petition, but determined it is in the best interests of the City to proceed, as permitted by Chapter 35.87A.030, under the Resolution method of creating a Business Improvement Area instead of the petition method;

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:

Section 1. The City Council of The City of Seattle declares its intention to establish a Tourism Business Improvement Area in accordance with Chapter 35.87A RCW to be known as the Seattle Tourism Improvement Area (STIA).

Section 2. The STIA shall be within the following boundaries as shown on the map attached as Exhibit "A" (when a street or alley is named, the area boundary is the centerline of the right-of-way including vacated portions unless otherwise specified in the description):

Beginning where Puget Sound meets W. Galer Street, continuing east as if Galer Street continued to 12th Avenue, south to South Royal Brougham Way, west as if South Royal Brougham Way continued to Puget Sound, continuing along the shore of Puget Sound to W. Galer Street.

In case of a conflict between the description of the area and the map, the map shall control.

Section 3. Programs. Special Assessment revenues shall be used solely and exclusively for domestic and international tourism promotion, advertising, sales and marketing activities (including, without limitation, the creation of a standing limited reserve solely to fund any such activities that arise unexpectedly from year to year) intended to encourage leisure tourism in Seattle in order to increase area hotel occupancies and for no other purpose. Promotion, advertising, sales and marketing services include, but are not limited to, strategic planning, market research, creative development, media placement, sales activities, hosting tourism industry events relating to promotion and marketing, and administrative and management support for such services. No funds raised by the special assessment authorized by this ordinance may be used to take, support or oppose any position taken by any entity in a labor dispute.

The initial estimated cost of these proposed uses and projects will be $6,000,000 Dollars in 2012.

Section 4. Ratepayers Advisory Board. There shall be an advisory board whose membership is comprised of Ratepayers representative of the variety of locations, sizes and classifications of Ratepayers in the District.

Section 5. To finance the programs authorized in Section 3, there is proposed to be levied upon and collected from the owners of all transient accommodations ("Ratepayers") with more than 60 rooms located within the boundaries of the Seattle Tourism Improvement Area described in Section 2, monthly special assessments as follows:

Assessment = (Occupied rooms X $2.00 per night)

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).

Property owned by governmental entities or public utilities shall not be assessed.

Adopted by the City Council the ____ day of ____________________, 2011, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this________ day

of ______________________, 2011.

_________________________________

President ___________of the City Council

THE MAYOR CONCURRING:

_________________________________

Michael McGinn, Mayor

Filed by me this ____ day of ________________________, 2011.

____________________________________

Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk

(Seal)

Exhibit A: Seattle Tourism Improvement Area Map

Carlton Seu/Nate Van Duzer LEG Tourism BIA Initiate RES July 5, 2011 Version #2

Exhibit A: Seattle Tourism Improvement Area Map