1. Tourism Business Improvement DistrictCharles A. Harball Office of City Attorney
City Attorney 312 First Avenue East
P.O. Box 1997
Kalispell, MT 59903-1997
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
MEETING DATE:
Mayor Pamela B. Kennedy
and Kalispell City Council
Charles Harball, City Attorney
Jane Howington, City Manager
Tel 406.758.7708
Fax 406.7.58.7771
charball@kalispell.com
Proposed Tourism Business Improvement District
September 14, 2009 — Council Work Session
The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce has been working with the owners of the hotels
in the city exploring the possibility of creating a Tourism Business Improvement District
within the City of Kalispell. Two years ago the Montana legislature amended the Business
Improvement District statutes to allow for the creation of a business improvement district
that does not comprise a contiguous area but rather only encompasses lodging facilities for
the purposes of encouraging and promoting tourism as well as increasing usage of those
facilities. Other Montana cities, such as Billings, Helena and Missoula have already
established such districts.
At this time it is contemplated that the district will encompass 16 hotels. The
proposed tax rate is 2.95% of total lodging revenues. The payment method is currently
under discussion and the petition is being prepared now for circulation.
Representatives from the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce and various hotels within
the city will present the current vision being shared by the parties for this district. The
City Attorney will discuss the statutory procedure with Council so that the parties and
Council will be well prepared for the next steps in this process.
Charles Har ifyAttorney Jane Howington, City Manager