Title
Board/Commission Appointments - Lodgers' Tax Advisory Board
Recommended Action
I move that Council nominate and appoint Michael Wheeler to fill one (1) Tourism Business vacancy on the Lodgers' Tax Advisory Board for the vacant term beginning on December 2, 2022 and ending on December 1, 2025.
Further, I nominate Matthew Allen, Dana Even, and Trevor Shuman to fill the two (2) Lodging representative vacancies on the Lodgers' Tax Advisory Board and move that Council appoint two (2) nominees to the vacant positions as follows:
By roll call vote, Councilors vote for two nominees and the two with the highest vote total of four or more be appointed to fill terms beginning on December 2, 2022 and ending on December 1, 2025.
Body
The purpose of this item is to fill three (3) vacancies on the Lodgers' Tax Advisory Board: two (2) Lodging representative vacancies and one (1) tourism business vacancy as prescribed by County Code, Chapter 8.
The Board began the recruitment process and advertised over the last three months. State law states the Board consists of: two members who are owners or operators of lodgings subject to the occupancy tax within the municipality; two members who are owners or operators of industries located within the municipality that primarily provide services or products to tourists; and one member who is a resident of the municipality and represents the general public. Applications for the Lodging representatives were received from Ms. Dana Even, General Manager of Holiday Inn Express & Suites, who was interviewed on February 8, 2023; Mr. Trevor Shuman, General Manager of Comfort Inn & Suites, who was interviewed on February 8, 2023; and Mr. Matthew Allen, Owner/Operator of the Pueblo Canyon Inn and Suites who completed his first three-year term on December 1, 2022 and was interviewed for a second three-year term on February 9, 2023.
Mr. Michael Wheeler, member of the Los Alamos Historical Society, applied for the Tourism Business vacancy and was interviewed on February 8, 2023. All applicants were deemed qualified to fill the vacancies.
One lodging business vacancy represents a term vacated by Julie Ruud in October 2022, which expired on December 1, 2022.
One lodging business vacancy represents a term currently held by incumbent, Matthew Allen, that expired December 1, 2022. Mr. Allen is eligible for reappointment.
The tourism business vacancy represents a term vacated by Linda Deck that expired December 1, 2022.
The applicants for the lodging business vacancies are Matthew Allen [ I ], Dana Even [ R ], and Trevor Shuman [ D ].
The applicant for the tourism business vacancy is Michael Wheeler [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:
Jen Olsen,Tourism Business Representative 1 [D]
[vacant], Tourism Business Representative 2
[vacant], Lodging Business Representative 1
[vacant], Lodging Business Representative 2
Jennifer Jenson, Community At-Large Representative [D]
With the current configuration of the Board, only one more Democrat can be appointed. If Council chooses to appoint the only applicant for the Tourism Business representative slot as shown in the "Recommended Action," then for the Lodging Business representatives, Mr. Allen and Ms. Even, would be the only ones that could be appointed to not violate the County Charter restriction concerning political party majorities on Boards and Commissions.
Attachments
A - Lodgers' Tax Advisory Board Roster
B - LTAB Interview Panel Recommendations
C - Application Packet for Matthew Allen
D - Application Packet for Dana Even
E - Application Packet for Trevor Shuman
F - Application Packet for Michael Wheeler