Consider Directing the City Manager to Draft a Policy to Increase the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Above the Current Rate of 10%, with a Portion of All of Revenues Attributable to the Rate Above the Original 10% Dedicated to Specified Visitor-Serving Activities.  (Councilmember Daysog)
Considered directing the city manager to draft a policy to increase the transient occupancy tax above the current rate of 10%, with a portion of all of revenues attributable to the rate above the original 10% dedicated to specified voter serving activities. Visitor serving activity voting. April and. This is Councilmember de Suggs refer also I'll be passing on member Ashcroft. I before we even get started I would respectfully request that this matter be continued to another council meeting. The reason being late this afternoon we received what looked like very interesting exhibits that are about to be presented to us. But it means that the Council I certainly didn't have a chance to go over them and I can tell that my colleague De SA spent a lot of time and effort on them. I feel that to make an informed decision and in fairness to the public who should have the opportunity to look this over to. I would really like us to bring this back at another time, if that's okay. And also, I think today the council got a letter from a couple who owns a property I want to see in the 2100 block of San Jose Avenue resides in one of the units, rents another and does the other one through vacation rental by owner. I actually would like to see that letter attached as an exhibit to councilman. So if you didn't see it, you miss your madame looks quizzical. I'll offered it to you. I'm sure it went to the council, but like I said, I can tell you went to a lot of effort in this and I think there's some good information. I didn't have a chance to even get into it today. And or if I may, I actually mentioned to the city manager earlier today because she had indicated that that generally we we are to keep PowerPoint presentations as part of the official public record per the Sunshine Local Sunshine Ordinance. So when she mentioned that in bumping into her later on this afternoon, I actually said, you know, I'm okay with delaying this, it's no problem with me. So I'm actually fine with it. With proceeding without the PowerPoint. So what you're. Saying. No, no, no, no. I'm fine with pushing this off. I just want to know if we can if if there's time available for our second regular meeting this July or even. So, I'd prefer discussing that because it's so before we continue it, it's my understanding that any increase, the suggested increase, would have to be approved by the voters as opposed to a policy drafted by the city manager. So I would prefer that this come back when we will be looking at the proposed utility tax, which would also be approved by the voters or have it re re brought back in the manner that would be fair. Yes. I think before we have the discussion on whether we should do this or not. I'd like to be able to to absorb the information, and then we can have that discussion if we're going to either address it tonight or week. So I appreciate that. I would just like to educate everyone that this is could not happen as proposed. And if the council could share with us tonight. So then everyone is aware and we're looking at this, but we're actually looking at. Well. If I think I might be able to help clarify, I think it's because and we talked about this, Councilmember Desai, it's phrased as to draft a policy and that isn't actually what the council member is seeking in his referral. So it's not as clear as as probably would be would be good for the agenda, which can be fixed with the delay I believe. And the other the other part of it is to so council and the public understands that with referrals what the options are for the council because this is not really an agenda item with the full staff report and full information. The idea of a referral is for a council member to raise an issue that either the council can do one of three things. You can either say, No, we don't want to go forward and talk about this anymore and have staff spend any time. Yes, we believe we have enough information and we are willing to adopt it right here and now. And that kind of thing typically happens just with the letter of support of some kind of a thing or something like this, which is frankly a media issue that needs some consideration and will require staff work. If council wants to direct staff to do that, that would be your direction to to instruct staff to do that. But as has been discussed here, that decision, that discussion among you to even give that direction to staff, you're believing you want to postpone so people can absorb the information so we won't be coming back with have having staff draft a policy. Yeah. So I like the idea of the second regular meeting in. July, if that's okay. But the only question I'd probably want to bounce it off. Our interim city manager I glanced at. That's the July 21st meeting. It's a pretty hefty agenda, but what do you think? You've got to write, right? And I actually would prefer not proceeding in July with this. I would suggest that it come back, but not until September. I don't think we would be able to do this anyway. And because it actually has to be approved by the voters, it's not something that we would be able to implement. So I would prefer. To come. Back. If we're speeding a system. Yeah. Do you think that that would work? Yes. All right. But with the modification. So that it's something that we can consider. Thank you. Very. Sounds good to me. I'm fine. With that. Thank you. Counsel. Oh, all right. And we do have a speaker on side. And so let's go ahead and we'll call Karen Bay, please. Thank you. I was hoping that we would get a chance to talk about this tonight. I am totally in support of a hotel tax increase to pay for our visit alameda type campaign. I think it would be nice if you could all in addition, look at the oakland model. Oakland is doing quite well. They have increased their hotel tax to, I think 14% and a portion of that funds there. Visit Alameda. I'm sorry. Visit Oakland. Tampa. We appreciate that. And I mean, you know, I love to talk about the successes, over 300 restaurants. I don't know if you've been to Jack London Square lately, but it's pretty exciting. I went a couple weekends ago and I sat there looking over at Alameda just to see the possibilities. And I see so many possibilities. I mean, if Oakland can do it, we can do it. We've got a huge list of tourism assets. And, you know, the taxes that you make, the sales tax revenue that you bring in as a result of deciding that you want to be a destination city is incredible. This is low hanging fruit and that's what we need to go after, low hanging fruit. And if we can create an exciting visit Alameda campaign, I can assure you that we would be well on our way to increase in sales tax revenues and increasing. And you know, all that money can go towards our budget deficit. I mean, there's so many, so many wonderful benefits from becoming a tourism, a tourist destination. So I, I hope that we move forward and look at that look at this as a great possibility for Alameda. Thank you. Thank you. At this point. We'll continue with nine. Be your no objection. All right. Nine be. Um. We could. We could postpone it for the same reason. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. All right. This council communications note. I will not be making any additional nominations at this time. Oh. A nine beat. Did you want to speak? You make it. All right. Go ahead. So, Karen, be on nine P and then would you read about nine beers? Thank you. Thank you. Oh. I'm sorry. I heard this guy. Directing the city managers draft policies with regard to Airbnb and related temporary lodging activities in residential homes and zoning districts.