Hospitality Improvement District: Two Letters of Protest of the Hospitality Improvement District

ABSTRACT: For the City Council 7 August 2012 Meeting regarding Public Hearing and second reading of an Ordinance establishing the Carmel Hospitality Improvement District (HID), the Agenda Item Summary Description states: “For quite some time, local hotel operators have expressed an interest in creating a hospitality improvement district (HID) consisting of lodging establishments within the City that would focus on small conferences and public relations for Carmel.” However, Max Hoseit, owner of the Normandy Inn and the Best Western PLUS Carmel Bay View Inn made specific noteworthy comments in his protest letter including, but not limited to:
“Carmel has never been attractive to business or meeting groups simply because Carmel limited conference facilities.”
“I do not believe that there is a large market for attendants of conferences in San Francisco that would travel over 100 miles for a pre or post trip.”
“The best method of marketing is for the hotels to improve their products therefore gaining repeat guests and referrals from satisfied customers.”
“The proposed expenditure and results will not be testable as there is no way to determine how much if any business will be promoted by the program.”
The document consisting of the Agenda Item Summary, Ordinance, EXHIBIT “A” and letters of protest from Max Hoseit, owner of the Normandy Inn and the Best Western PLUS Carmel Bay View Inn and J Herbert Johnson, owner The Green Lantern Inn, is embedded. At the meeting, on a motion by Council Member Talmage, seconded by Council Member Hazdovac, the Hospitality Improvement District was unanimously approved by the City Council.

Ordinance Establishing the Carmel HID August 7, 2012 OCR Document

Document: Public Hearing and second reading of an Ordinance establishing the Carmel Hospitality Improvement District (HID)

ADDENDUM:

MINUTES 

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING 

CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA 

July 3, 2012 

II. ROLL CALL

PRESENT: Council Members Beach, Hazdovac, Talmage & Mayor Burnett
ABSENT: Council Member Hillyard
STAFF PRESENT: Jason Stilwell, City Administrator
Heidi Burch, Asst. City Administrator/City Clerk
Mike Calhoun, Interim Police Chief
Sean Conroy, Planning/Building Services Manager
Janet Bombard, Library Director
Mike Branson, City Forester

VIII. ORDERS OF COUNCIL

C. Public Meeting establishing the Carmel Hospitality Improvement District:

1) Consideration of Resolution declaring the City’s intention to establish the Carmel Hospitality Improvement District (HID) and

2) The first reading of an Ordinance establishing the Carmel Hospitality Improvement District.

City Administrator Stilwell presented the staff report.

Mayor Burnett opened and closed the meeting to public comment at 7:25 p.m.

Council Member TALMAGE moved to adopt the Resolution declaring the City’s intention to establish the Carmel Hospitality Improvement District (HID) with an amendment to delete all references to “recovery of City costs for noticing, hearings and meetings” and to adopt the first reading of an Ordinance establishing the Carmel Hospitality Improvement District, seconded by Council Member HAZDOVAC and carried by the following roll call vote:

AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: BEACH; HAZDOVAC; TALMAGE & BURNETT
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: HILLYARD
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONE