The Woodland City Council voted Monday night, Oct. 6, to send two tourism funding requests back to its Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) after a long debate about how $50,000 in hotel tax dollars should be split, while unanimously approving two smaller allocations for local events.
The council voted 4-2, with one member excused, to return Downtown Woodland Revitalization’s (DWR) $10,000 allocation and the Woodland Chamber of Commerce’s $40,000 Visitor Center allocation to LTAC for further review. Council members Terry Hall and Carol Rounds voted in opposition.
At the same meeting, the council unanimously approved $10,000 in tourism funds for the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens and $5,000 for the Woodland Planters Days Celebration Committee.
During the Monday meeting, council member Melissa Doughty said she felt DWR had not been given a fair opportunity during LTAC’s earlier review.
“In watching the entire LTAC meeting, I don’t feel that they were given a fair shot,” Doughty said. “They’re providing way more activities and events to our community than what the visitor center does. I think they need to review both of those amounts to have a better equal amount or even give them more than the visitor center at this time.”
Doughty argued that DWR’s events, such as Hot Summer Nights and Movies at the Park, which brought in thousands of visitors last year, have a more direct tourism impact.
Mayor Todd Dinehart said he wanted to see the two organizations collaborate rather than compete.
“My recommendation would be: Visitor Center and DWR sit down, come up with a plan together, and say what looks best here for Woodland,” he said. “How do we partner? What makes Woodland thrive on $50,000?”
Adonica Simpson, president of Downtown Woodland Revitalization, told the council her group’s request was about growth and unity, not competition.
“Our original ask of $50,000 was in no way trying to take funds away from the Chamber or Visitor Center,” she said. “The last thing we want to do is split our community. Our goal is to bring our community together and build on that — and then reach out and bring more people in.”
Simpson described DWR’s rapid growth since its founding two years ago and said the group has already proven it can draw crowds. She said DWR’s Hot Summer Nights and Movies in the Park events brought more than 1,000 people downtown, with another 500 attending last winter’s Winterfest.
“We did all of that with $5,000 and sponsors,” she said. “Every penny went to promoting Woodland.”
She said DWR’s vision includes expanding events to attract overnight visitors, redesigning its website to promote local businesses and nonprofits.
Councilmember Carol Rounds questioned whether the use of lodging tax funds could be used to rent a city-owned property, as funds would be transferred directly to the city’s general fund. Woodland City Attorney Emily Guildner said the expense is considered an appropriate use.
Simpson also questioned whether the Visitor Center’s current trailer setup and limited online presence are effective in reaching modern travelers, requesting the city split the $50,000 in half so both organizations could thrive.
“You try searching for them — they’re not there,” she said. “Let’s make that tourism center worth something. Let’s help them move forward, but let’s not hold us back.”
Woodland Chamber of Commerce President Neil Butler told the council the issue before them wasn’t about enthusiasm for local events but about maintaining a functioning visitor center and deciding who should operate it.
“We would be honored to continue to fulfill the wishes of the LTAC board,” Butler said. “They voted with their mouths and hands, saying that they would like the visitor center to be continued, and that we continue to run it as a Chamber.”
He said the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee had already recommended continuing the center under Chamber management, using the $40,000 in city lodging tax funds to cover operations. The center’s total annual budget, he said, is about $88,000, with additional support from county and private sources.
When asked by the council, Butler said the center could not realistically continue operations if the two split the $50,000 evenly.
He also praised DWR’s community efforts while questioning whether their events fit the narrow tourism criteria.
“I’m totally in favor of DWR … They do incredible events,” he said. “Sometimes they’re very local, and that’s still OK. I’m not sure they fit within LTAC funds, but increased and additional support to support the work they do in our community.”
The council’s vote sends both the DWR and Visitor Center proposals back to LTAC for reconsideration, with instructions to work together on a unified recommendation.
Editor's Note: This article has been updated to correct a statement about Downtown Woodland Revitalization’s plans. Downtown Woodland Revitalization does not plan to rent the city’s Civic Center for its efforts.
