Title
Board/Commission Appointment - Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board (LTAB).
Recommended Action
I move that Council appoint Catherine Mockler to fill one of two lodging industry vacancies on the Lodgers' Tax Advisory Board, to complete a term beginning December 2, 2016 and ending on December 1, 2019; and appoint Elizabeth Allen to fill one of two lodging industry vacancies on the Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board, a term beginning December 2, 2014 and ending on December 1, 2017 and continue a term beginning December 2, 2017 and ending December 1, 2020.
Body
The purpose of this item is to fill two lodging industry positions on the Lodgers' Tax Advisory Board. Los Alamos County Code Chapter 8, Article 6, in accordance with the State statute NMSA 1978, 3-38-22, mandates that the Los Alamos Lodgers' Tax Advisory Board be comprised of five positions: one public at-large resident of Los Alamos County; two representatives from the tourism attraction industry; and two representatives from the lodging industry. Because of the code's required representation from persons with specific expertise, the board member recruitment process differs from that of other County Boards and Commissions.
The lodging industry representative board positions have been vacant for more than a year. This is despite the LTAB Chair's concerted efforts to fill these vacancies by building relationships with all Los Alamos lodging establishment proprietors. The LTAB Chair makes monthly contact with the general managers at all Los Alamos hotel properties, including the Comfort Inn & Suites, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites and the Hampton Inn & Suites to encourage them to attend meetings and apply for a position on the Lodgers' Tax Advisory Board. The LTAB Chair has also reached out, at least quarterly, to the owner/operators of the Los Alamos bed & breakfast (B&B) establishments, including the Canyon Inn, the North Road Inn and the Pueblo Canyon Inn & Garden, to encourage participation with and application to LTAB. These efforts have resulted in lodging representative attendance at LTAB meetings, participation in tourism events and packages, and applications from and interviews with the B&B proprietors named in this appointment. It is recommended that both nominees be appointed immediately so that LTAB may benefit from their experience and expertise.
One of the two vacancies represents an expired term vacated by Agatha Marquez [D] and ends on December 1, 2017. The applicant for this position is Catherine Mockler [I].
One of the two vacancies represents an expired term vacated by Jane Sizemore [N] and ends on December 1, 2019. The applicant for this position is Elizabeth Allen [D].
Party affiliations are noted as [D] Democrat, [R] Republican, [I] Independent, [G] Green, [L] Libertarian, [DTS] Declined to State, and [N] Not Registered to Vote.
This five (5) member board has three-year terms beginning December 2 and ending December 1. It is currently composed as follows:
Linda Deck (Vice Chair), Director, Bradbury Science Museum - tourism/attraction industry representative
Ryn Herrmann (Chair), resident - public at-large representative
Katie Bruell, Executive Director, Pajarito Environmental Education Center at The Los Alamos Nature Center - tourism/attraction industry representative
vacant - lodging industry representative
vacant - lodging industry representative
Appointing these nominees will not violate the County Charter restriction concerning political party majorities on Boards and Commissions.
Attachments
A - Board Member List
B - Application Packet for Catherine Mockler
C - Application Packet for Elizabeth Allen