The Philomath City Council plans to continue its discussion this coming Monday on how to distribute $17,700 in available funding through the Transient Lodging Tax grant program. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Oct. 28 at Philomath City Hall.
The city received $35,400 in transient lodging tax funds to spend this fiscal year, which are collected through a citywide TLT established in 2021 and an annual allocation of tourism-related dollars from Benton County and other state or federal funding partners. The money is split with half retained for city tourism activities and the other half distributed through the grant program.
The Philomath Frolic and Rodeo had requested $15,000 to go toward its grandstands renovation project at Skirvin Park. The Benton County Historical Society asked for $1,500 for maintenance needs and the Philomath Area Chamber of Commerce requested $1,200 to assist in the development of a business location map and the establishment of a second chamber information site at the library.
However, during the Oct. 14 meeting, the council opted to table the issue because of the possibility that the Frolic and Rodeo knew how much money was available and the other two agencies did not. Mayor Chas Jones was tasked with contacting the historical society and chamber to see if the organizations wanted to submit updated applications.
The historical society increased its ask to $7,500 with the extra funds also going toward maintenance of its 1860s-era Philomath College building. The chamber increased its request to $3,000 to help cover the cost of events such as the Samaritan Awards, Sip and Stroll, Trunk or Treat and the Tree Lighting ceremony in addition to the map development and new chamber information site.
The Frolic and Rodeo did not change its original request of $15,000.
Based on an agenda item summary created for the meeting packet, it appears that a topic of discussion may be to interpret key definitions that revolve around the meanings of tourism-related promotion and facilities, which are requirements connected to the distributions.
Also on the agenda:
• The council will consider approval of a letter of support for the Willamette Valley Jaguars basketball team. Team owner Marion Clark had approached the City Council at its meeting earlier in the month. Clark more recently asked the city if the team could use the city’s seal on the Jags’ new jerseys (the team is relocating from Eugene to Albany and is in negotiations to play some of its games in Philomath and Corvallis). Other conceptual jersey designs include the city logos for Albany and Corvallis.
• The council will consider the approval of funding to bring Oregon Black Pioneers’ executive director to Philomath to speak during a Black and African American Heritage Month program.
• The council will vote whether to update municipal code related to the operation of the Park Advisory Board.
• The council will consider two psilocybin-related ordinances — one to impose reasonable time, place and manner regulations on an operation and the other that declares a ban with the issue to be referred to voters.
City Hall is located at 980 Applegate St. with the meeting taking place in the council chambers. The meeting can also be viewed live on the city’s YouTube channel.