Advisory board recommends disestablishing Carlsbad Golf Lodging BID, approves hotel reimbursements

The Carlsbad Lodging District advisory board unanimously approved grouped reimbursement requests for three hotels and voted to recommend that the City Council disestablish the Carlsbad Golf Lodging Business Improvement District, board members said at the meeting.

Matt Sanford, economic development manager for the City of Carlsbad, told the board staff’s recommendation is "to adopt a resolution recommending that the city council disestablish the Carlsbad Golf Lodging Business Improvement District that was established in 2012, and repeal the associated municipal resolutions." He said all reimbursement funds under the golf lodging district have been expended and that assessment funds accrued interest "approximately $47,049," adding that the figure continues to accrue.

Sanford said properties that opt to remain in the replacement program offered through the new Carlsbad Tourism Business Improvement District can still seek reimbursements for approved golf-related expenses through Visit Carlsbad, which "acts as the owners association" overseeing the new CTBID. He said the remaining accrued interest funds would be refunded to participating properties "at a level proportionate to what they paid since the fund's inception." Staff also said the advisory board’s approval would lead to scheduling a public hearing before the City Council to consider disestablishment.

Earlier in the meeting the board moved and seconded a grouped approval of reimbursement requests for the listed hotels. The chair called for public comment on the reimbursement item and on the resolution; no public comments were offered. The record reflects both the reimbursement approvals and the recommendation to disestablish the district passed unanimously.

The board took routine action at the same meeting to approve the minutes from Nov. 1, 2023. The advisory board did not record any additional substantive discussion or dissent on the disestablishment item; general counsel had no comment before the meeting was adjourned.