Tag: business

City Council would like a joint session with the Port over ownership

By Richard Uhlhorn

Airport:
City Administrator Wade Farris reported that he has been working “really hard” with the Port of Chelan/Douglas County on Option 2. This option transfers ownership of the Chelan Airport to the City with the Port making some financial contributions to its operation. “They don’t like that,” said Farris.

The City and Port are in negotiations over how the Chelan Airport will be managed and or owned in the future. They have extended their negotiations until September 30 with a possible joint session to discuss the issues.

Both parties have requested to extend the time frame for providing the notice of non-renewal until September 30. “My goal is to have an agreement by the end of August,” said Farris.

Tim Hollingsworth said he thought it would be useful to have a joint session with the Port. Farris replied that a joint session would happen in August.

Airsports is just one of the many businesess that work out of hangers at the airport. Airsports is a name change from SkyDive Chelan to take in all of its services offered.

Hollingsworth is a skeptic about the City being the lead agency of the airport in particular since the Port and City are looking at the largest infrastructure project in the region. “I would like to hear their arguments.”

Airport Environmental Impact Survey:
In preparation for moving ahead with the airport expansion project, Tim Ike, JUB Engineering, reported that they have been working on the EIS for some time. “We are three years into the project and should be wrapping up soon.” Ike stated that JUB hopes to be done by spring of next year.

Chelan Valley Housing/City MOU:
Chad Coltman reported on the Memorandum of Understanding between the City and Chelan Valley Housing Trust regarding a CHIP Grant application seeking approximately $2 million for infrastructure costs for the Anderson Road housing project.

Coltman reminded the council that the City has put $200,000 in the Sewer Capital Fund to contribute as needed with project design and engineering costs for the Anderson Road sewer line improvements.

QTR 2 Financial Report:
Finance Director Jackie Tupling reported that Quarter 1 financials were slow, but Quarter 2 has made up the difference. Her report stated the City is on track to meet its revenue goals of the adopted 2025 budget.

The City has collected a total of $978,705 in sales tax so far this year which is a decrease of $90,162 over last year. “We are on pace for $2,517,811 this year,” she said in her report.

Overall lodging tax receipts are on track for the $800,000 budgeted.

Parks revenue to date is up over prior years across general parks and its commercial enterprises.

To date Parks has received $1,675,075 over its operations.

Parks rules:
Parks Director Paul Horne reported that implementation and enforcement of park ruls this season has so far brought the attention for further refinement of the Code (CMC 9.22.020 – Parks Prohibited Acts) to ensure consistency, clarity and public safety. These revisions have been developed in consultation with the City Attorney.

Mark Ericks said that service dogs can provide emotional support. The current code is pretty broad and Quinten Bajar, city attorney, said he would take another look at it.

Bob Goedde asked about BBQs outside of the parks perimeter. Horne said that was outside of their jurisdiction.

Tim Hollingsworth said he was concerned about the variety of electric vehicles operating at a high rate of speed in the parks. Shari Dietrich asked what the City’s liability inside the parks were. Horne replied that the staff would look at those issues. “We are trying to balance that,” he said.

City administer/department reports:
Wade Farris remarked that the 2026 budget process was beginning and said, “Hats off to Chad.” Jackie Tupling that anyone who had a question concerning the city’s finances to give her a call. Jake Youngren said the Lakeside Trail project was underway and drivers could expect some traffic delays.

Mayor/Council comments:
Mayor McCardle reported that Representative Kim Schier was in town and she would be meeting with her to discuss the water project.

She also brought up a potential new road all the way to Union Valley Road as an alternative to Hwy. 150 and needs to be considered. “There was a grant application that was pulled back. I hope it comes back.” The road, if constructed would be an emergency access road.

The City will hold its monthly Workshop on Tuesday, August 5.

Chamber director presented 2023 statistics to Chelan Workshop

by Richard Uhlhorn

Mike Steele, executive director of the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce, presented an overview of the Chamber’s business to the City Council and Chelan staff at the City’s workshop on Tuesday, April 2.

Mike Steele, Chamber director, presented the Chelan councilmembers and staff statistics from 2023.

Steele told the workshop that the Chamber operates as a non-profit organization 501(c)3. He described how the Chamber utilizes lodging taxes (3% lodging tax for every head that hits a bed in Chelan) With a 1,000 hotel rooms in the Valley (not including STRS which also pay the 3% lodging tax) and the funding he receives from Chelan County’s 3% tax), Steele said, “This funding is designed to attract tourists.”

Currently, the Chamber is working for the second year in a row without a contract with the City. The City Council, which had one year to create a new contract with new criteria, authorized $700,000 for the Chamber to use this year. Another $±400,000 comes from the County’s 3% fund.

“Our visitor profile is pretty robust,” said Steele. “We see 8,000 to 9,000 people per day.”

His presentation entitled the Economic & Visitor Profile for 2024 included all the statistics for 2023 as follows:

  1. The Chamber serves over 400 members
  2. 5.3 million visitors to the Valley in 2023
  3. 4.1 million visitors came to the City
  4. 1.3 million visitors visited Manson
  5. The City’s service and accommodation workforce is 26% of the population. (Many travel from other communities to work in Chelan.)
  6. There are 1,075 hotel rooms in the Valley. STRs are not included in this number,
  7. $2.1 million dollars is generated from lodging taxes inside the City Limits.

The Chamber generated 15,302,710 reach on all of its platforms and website as follows:
     1. – Facebook, 42,000 followers
     2 – Instagram, 15,600
     3 – TikTok, 709
     4 – X (the old Twitter, 4,000
     5 – Subscribers, 45,907
     6 – Website generated 144,501 page views in 2023.

The Chamber spent $400,000 on marketing efforts last year and another $150,000 on staff.

July and August are the two highest visitor months in the Valley.

The Chamber distributes thousands of visitor guides, local maps and business brochures and manages local ticket sales for local non-profit fundraisers and events.

The Chamber distributes opt-in visitor guides across the United States and Canada. It assists with school projects and internships. Hosts community and non-profit events. Offers free conference room space for its members.

For more information on the Lake Chelan Valley visit the Chamber website at Lakechelan.com.