Everett Calls Time Out On Doubling Tax On Tourists To Pay For Indoor Sports Venue

Citing a lack of information the Everett City Council put on hold a vote to approve doubling the tax on visitors hotel bills in Everett and a majority of Snohomish County. The city currently collects $1.00 per room per day on hotel stays to pay for the improvement and development of tourism attractions, and promote tourism and marketing of events that bring overnight stays to the area. That money is administered by the board of the Snohomish County Tourism Promotional Area or TPA. There is an agreement between Snohomish County and area cities including Everett, Arlington, Bothell, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Marysville, Mountlake Terrace, Monroe and Mukilteo to make up Zone A of the TPA.

The City of Everett was approached to approve doubling the amount collected to $2.00 per room per day. The extra money would be put into a capital fund for construction of an athletic facility specifically designed to attract sporting events that generate overnight stays in Snohomish County.

This summer TPA hired Hunden Strategic Partners to conduct a preliminary market study and analysis of what such a facility may look like. A preliminary study was scheduled to be presented to the TPA Board on September 21st. During Wednesday night’s city council meeting both council members Brenda Stonecipher and Scott Murphy said they had not been presented with requested information to see the scope of the facility and were not in favor of moving forward unless presented with more information. (Editor’s note: As of this writing the TPA board had not posted an updated copy of their meeting minutes since August 21st.)

Tammy Dunn with the Snohomish County Sports Commission told the council that the initial feedback is for an indoor facility that could hold 8 basketball courts and also be used for volleyball, wrestling, power lifting and lacrosse. There are four possible sites in Everett, two in Marysville and two in unincorporated Snohomish County. Dunn promised to get back to the council with more information from the first phase of the study.

At least one council member also wondered if the new indoor facility would have an impact on the Angel of the Winds Arena already in downtown Everett and able to host most of the events mentioned.