### Meeting Overview The Bellingham Tourism Commission met on November 26, 2024, with LTAC (Lodging Tax Advisory Committee) conducting funding decisions for downtown activation projects and signature events. The main focus was approving $235,080 in lodging tax funding for three downtown beautification projects and establishing a process for selecting a 2026 signature event. ### Key Terms and Concepts **LTAC (Lodging Tax Advisory Committee):** A subset of the Tourism Commission that makes funding recommendations for projects using lodging tax revenue. Has five members: Holly Huthman, Christine Jenkins, Nick Kelly, Mark Blake, and Stephanie Morrell. **Downtown Activation and Beautification RFP:** A Request for Proposals program using lodging tax funds to enhance downtown Bellingham's aesthetic appeal and create memorable visitor experiences. **Signature Event Grant:** A large annual tourism grant (up to $100,000) for events that draw significant visitor traffic and economic impact to Bellingham. **Projection Mapping:** Advanced technology that projects animated visuals onto buildings or surfaces, creating "living murals" that change and move. **Coast Salish:** The indigenous peoples native to the Pacific Northwest region, including the Bellingham area. **Paper Whale:** An organization that received funding in the first round of downtown activation grants and plans to collaborate on alley activation projects. **Jury Process:** A review panel including community development staff, arts commission representatives, tourism officials, and museum representatives who evaluate grant applications. **Recusal:** When commission members remove themselves from voting on projects where they have a conflict of interest. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Peter Frazier | Tourism Commission Chair | | Hollie Huthman | LTAC Chair, City Council Representative | | Darby Galligan | Senior Planner, City of Bellingham | | Tara Sundin | Community and Economic Development Manager | | Christine Jenkins | LTAC Member | | Nick Kelly | LTAC Member | | Marc Blake | LTAC Member | | Stephanie Morrell | LTAC Member (recused from signature event discussion) | | Dylan Deane-Boyle | Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism, ex-officio | ### Background Context This meeting represents the second round of downtown activation funding, following a successful first round that funded seven projects. The program aims to make downtown Bellingham more attractive to tourists and locals through art installations, events, and activation of underutilized spaces like alleys. The lodging tax revenue comes from taxes paid by hotel guests and is specifically designated for tourism promotion activities. The signature event grant discussion reflects the commission's strategy to fund one major annual event that can draw significant tourism revenue. Previous signature events have included large-scale festivals and cultural celebrations that bring thousands of visitors to Bellingham. ### What Happened — The Short Version LTAC unanimously approved three downtown projects totaling $235,080: a Coast Salish interactive mural with projection mapping ($160,000), a silent film festival with live orchestra accompaniment ($25,080), and a radio history celebration at Make.Shift art space ($50,000). They also decided to invite the top two signature event applicants—Artist Home and All Night Ball in Bellingham—to present in January rather than making an immediate funding decision. The full commission discussed forming a strategic planning subcommittee and unanimously supported drafting a letter endorsing a proposed Port of Bellingham pickleball facility. ### What to Watch Next • January Tourism Commission meeting featuring presentations from the two signature event finalists • City Council consideration of the downtown activation projects on December 9th • Formation of the strategic planning subcommittee to update the commission's strategic plan • Port of Bellingham decision on the proposed indoor pickleball facility ---