LTAC trims $32,500 media contract, reassigns $5,000 to local event grants

The Sunnyside Lodging Tax Advisory Committee voted April 3 to ask the city to approve a reduced $27,500 contract with Yeswaco after members agreed a full $32,500 scope would deplete the committee’s remaining funds and that some deliverables could not be completed before Cinco de Mayo.

The committee had $120,000 budgeted for 2026 and identified $86,500 in prior recommendations, leaving roughly $33,500 unallocated. “If we approve the $32,500, that would wipe us out,” said Monica Hoffstedder, an LTAC committee member, during the discussion about the vendor proposals. Members argued the video and photography components tied to Cinco de Mayo could not be delivered on the one-month timeline and proposed removing those items to free funds for community applicants.

Sierra Foster moved that LTAC recommend the council approve Yeswaco’s proposal with a $5,000 reduction; the motion was restated and clarified by Tom Dinley to set the contract at $27,500 and to remove work that could not be completed before Cinco de Mayo. The committee voted in favor of Tom’s motion.

The committee then used part of the freed funds to award community groups. Monica Ann (committee member) moved to allocate $3,000 to the Sertoma Club; the motion passed after voice vote with recorded yes votes and one opposing vote. Separately, the committee voted to withhold LTAC support for the Miss Sunnyside board’s application as submitted, citing LTAC’s tourism purpose and a history of preferential award patterns.

Representatives of Sort for the Cause described an event that brings out‑of‑town volunteers and lodging demand; they requested $10,000 to cover advertising, insurance and event costs. Sort for the Cause’s Connie Hover told the committee the group historically provides three nights of lodging for judges and volunteers and uses LTAC grants to help advertise and defray event expenses.

Committee members emphasized alternatives to direct grants for local nonprofits and volunteer-run events, including in‑kind city promotion and asking the vendor to reallocate the portion of its scope slated for Cinco de Mayo. “We can help by posting event materials on our city website and social channels as an in‑kind match,” said a member during debate.

Next steps: staff will present the committee’s recommendation to the city council on April 13 and attempt to negotiate the reduced Yeswaco contract. The committee directed staff to notify awardees and to issue letters or checks to approved recipients. The committee also asked city finance staff to reconcile carryforward balances before finalizing the year’s LTAC allocations.