NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE RENEWAL OF THE Visalia TOURISM Marketing DISTRICT AND Levy of AN ASSESSMENT ON CERTAIN lodging BUSINESSES WITHIN THE DISTRICT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on June 6, 2022, the City Council (the “Council”) of the City of Visalia (the “City”) adopted a Resolution of Intention to renew the Visalia Tourism Marketing District (the “VTMD”) and to levy an assessment on certain lodging businesses within the VTMD as set forth in the attached Resolution of Intention.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that at 7:00 PM on July 18, 2022, at the City of Visalia Council Chambers, 707 W. Acequia Avenue, Visalia, CA 93291, a public meeting shall be held pursuant to Government Code section 54954.6 to allow public testimony regarding the renewal of the VTMD and the levy of assessments therein as set forth in the enclosed Resolution of Intention and pursuant to Government Code section 54954.6.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that at 7:00 PM on August 1, 2022, at the City of Visalia Council Chambers, 707 W. Acequia Avenue, Visalia, CA 93291, has been set as the time and place for a public hearing at which time the Council proposes to renew the VTMD and to levy the proposed assessment as set forth in the Resolution of Intention.
Location: The VTMD includes all lodging businesses with twenty (20) rooms or more located within the boundaries of the City of Visalia (“City”), as shown on the map in the Management District Plan (“Plan”).
Services: The VTMD is designed to provide specific benefits directly to payors by increasing awareness and demand for room night sales. Marketing and sales promotions and destination development programs will increase demand for overnight tourism and market payors as tourist, meeting and event destinations, thereby increasing demand for room night sales.
Budget: The total VTMD annual assessment budget for the initial year of its ten (10) year operation is anticipated to be approximately $650,000. A similar budget is expected to apply to subsequent years, but this budget is expected to fluctuate as room sales do.
Cost: The annual assessment rate is two percent (2%) of gross short-term room rental revenue. Based on the benefit received, assessments will not be collected on: stays of more than thirty (30) consecutive days or stays by representatives or employees of a State or Federal government agency in the performance of their official duties as a representative or employee of the government agency paid for by the government agency.
Collection: The City shall be responsible for collecting the assessment on a monthly basis (including any delinquencies, penalties and interest) from each assessed business located in the boundaries of the VTMD. The City shall take all reasonable efforts to collect the assessments from each assessed business.
Duration: The renewed VTMD shall have a ten (10) year life, beginning January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2032. Once per year, beginning on the anniversary of VTMD renewal, there is a thirty (30) day period in which owners paying fifty percent (50%) or more of the assessment may protest and initiate a City Council hearing on VTMD termination.
Management: The Visalia Tourism Marketing District Corporation shall continue to serve as the VTMD’s Owners’ Association. The Owners’ Association is charged with managing funds and implementing programs in accordance with the Plan, and must provide annual reports to the City Council.
Protest: Any owner of a lodging business within the renewed VTMD that will be subject to the assessment may protest the renewal of the VTMD. If written protests are received from the owners of lodging businesses in the VTMD who represent 50 percent (50%) or more of the estimated annual assessments to be levied, the VTMD shall not be renewed and the assessment shall not be imposed.
You may mail a written protest to:
Office of the City Clerk
City of Visalia
220 N. Santa Fe St.
Visalia, CA 93292
You may also appear at the public meeting or hearing and submit a written protest at that time.
Information: Should you desire additional information about this VTMD or assessment contact:
Suzanne Bianco
112 E Main St
Visalia, CA 93291
(559) 334-0141
Dated: ________________________________ __________________________________________ City Clerk