Mountlake Terrace’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) recommended funding four local events with a combined $45,000 allocation for 2026 and asked council to place the committee’s recommendations on the Dec. 18 consent agenda.

Events Coordinator Andrew Atwick summarized that four applicants requested $80,000 against a $50,000 budget. LTAC recommended $10,000 for Friends of the Arts (Arts of the Terrace juried show), $20,000 for Making Local Markets' Wag Fest, $5,000 for Making Local Markets' GetSauced Hot Sauce Festival, and $10,000 to the city for a July 3 family celebration. The recommendation would use $45,000 of the $50,000 budget, leaving $5,000 unallocated.

Council members thanked the committee and urged careful monitoring of the lodging‑tax fund balance; several council members raised concerns about the city’s hotel situation and asked staff to identify tax remittances from short‑term rentals (Airbnb) and the likely lodging base going forward. One council member suggested using the remaining $5,000 to support World Cup‑related activations at a local park to attract overnight stays.

Next steps: staff recommended placing LTAC’s allocations on the Dec. 18 consent agenda and returning any recommended adjustments based on council direction.