Authorizing cities to establish self-supported tourism improvement districts

This bill authorizes a self-supported tourism improvement district (district). The bill allows a levy (assessment) upon lodging businesses for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, installing, or maintaining improvements and providing activities that will provide certain benefits to lodging businesses located within the district. The bill defines “activities” to include promotion of public events, promotion of tourism within the district, promotion of business activities, marketing, workforce development, and other related services. The district is created by action of the local governing body where the district is located. The bill establishes specific criteria including a map of the area that would comprise the district, the rate and structure of the assessment, and the expiration of the district. The assessments shall be assessed on the basis of the estimated benefit to the lodging business within the district. A protest of a district plan may be made by any interested person, and the bill specifies procedures for when a protest is made by a person. If the lodging business owners or their authorized representatives within the proposed district that collectively represent more than 50 percent or more of the assessments to be paid file a written objection, the bill establishes procedures for when such an objection is made. The bill allows a local governing body to modify the district, and establishes procedures for renewal of a district set to expire. The bill allows a local governing body to issue bonds by resolution to finance the estimated costs of the proposed improvements in the district. The bill requires the authorized representative of the district to file an annual report with the governing body establishing the district. The local governing body may repeal the existence of the district based upon law violations or malfeasance, if no indebtedness exists, and proper notification has been provided.