1. At least five members, appointed by the legislative body of the municipality, unless the municipality has a charter providing for a different appointment authority. The Committee membership shall include:

Persons who are eligible for appointment under subsection (A)(1)(a) of this section are not eligible for appointment under subsection (A)(1)(b) of this section. Persons who are eligible for appointment under subsection (A)(1)(b) of this section are not eligible for appointment under subsection (A)(1)(a) of this section. Organizations representing businesses required to collect tax under this chapter, organizations involved in activities authorized to be funded by revenue received under this chapter, and local agencies involved in tourism promotion may submit recommendations for membership on the Committee. The number of members who are representatives of businesses required to collect tax under this chapter shall equal the number of members who are involved in activities authorized to be funded by revenue received under this chapter. One member shall be an elected official of the municipality who shall serve as chair of the Committee. An advisory committee for a city or town may include one nonvoting member who is an elected official of the county in which the city or town is located. The appointing authority shall review the membership of the Advisory Committee annually and make changes as appropriate. The City Council may remove a member of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee from office for cause, including but not limited to incapacity, incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.

2. Any proposals for the imposition or expenditure of hotel-motel/lodging tax funds, whether it involves the imposition of a tax, an increase in the rate of a tax, repeal of an exemption from a tax, or a change in the use of revenue received, shall be submitted to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee for review and comment. The submission shall occur at least 45 days before final action on or passage of the proposal by the municipality. The Advisory Committee shall submit comments on the proposal in a timely manner through generally applicable public comment procedures. The comments shall include an analysis of the extent to which the proposal will accommodate activities for tourists or increase tourism, and the extent to which the proposal will affect the long-term stability of the fund created under RCW 67.28.1815. Failure of the Advisory Committee to submit comments before final action on or passage of the proposal shall not prevent the municipality from acting on the proposal. A municipality is not required to submit an amended proposal to an Advisory Committee under this section. [Ord. 769 § 3, 2022; Ord. 580 § 7, 2014; Ord. 229 § 6, 2000; Ord. 133 § 1, 1997.]