The Room Tax Commission voted to ask City Council to expand the room tax to cover transient recreational sites like RVs and tents, aiming to boost revenue. Commissioners also put a temporary spending cap in place after a slow start to 2026 room tax collections and approved a small funding share for a Civic Brand site visit.
No public comments or communications recorded for this meeting.
Commissioners reviewed 2025 year-end numbers and early 2026 results and agreed to rein in spending because room tax revenue started the year slow. They set a temporary operations spending cap of $315,000 and reduced several specific expense lines (including grants, print, billboards/signage, travel, education, dues, logo wear, and professional services). The revised 2026 budget is slated to go to the Explore Two Rivers Board on April 9, with staff noting which cuts are “priority” to restore if revenue rebounds—an approach that’s practical, but also a reminder that tourism spending plans are only as stable as the revenue assumptions behind them.
Roll call vote
5 yes
Curt Andrews
yes
Mark Bittner
yes
Rick Carey
yes
Kyle Kordell
yes
Bill LeClair
yes
The commission discussed expanding the room tax to cover transient recreational sites (described as RV spots, tents, and potentially docks), arguing these visitors create similar local costs as hotel guests. Staff said other Wisconsin communities do this and projected $25,000–$30,000 per year in added revenue, while noting legal questions (including how “transient” is defined after 30 days and possible federal jurisdiction issues around waterways). The commission then voted to formally ask City Council to amend the ordinance—this is a significant policy push that could broaden who pays the tax and how tourism funding is sustained.
Commissioners reviewed Civic Brand’s scope for a visit by Ryan Short, including a keynote at the May 7 National Travel & Tourism event and three workshops on May 7–8. With the city’s Community Development Department putting up $4,000, the commission approved adding $750 to cover the proposed scope. It’s a relatively small spend, but it’s still room-tax-backed marketing work—residents should expect clear deliverables and follow-through, especially in a year when the commission is already tightening the budget.
The commission reviewed a draft conflict-of-interest policy and said it still needs changes before a vote. Three people—Rick Carey, Caitlyn Meola, and Joe Metzen—were assigned to revise it and bring it back for the Q2 meeting in June 2026. Given the commission’s role in directing public tourism dollars, leaving this unfinished keeps an avoidable governance gap in place longer than it should be.
Parks and Recreation Director Mike Mathis updated the commission on the Neshotah Beach concession stand renovation funding plan, saying progress is good but several grants still need to come through to fully map out how the project will be paid for. He also reported strong response to community surveys, with results expected to be shared publicly in April. This matters because the project’s final scope and timeline will hinge on outside funding, and residents should watch how the city adjusts if grants don’t materialize.
Staff outlined plans for an invitation community event on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 5:30 p.m., themed “I LOVE TR,” featuring Taste of Two Rivers and a brand ambassador program. This is a straightforward promotional update, but the “by invitation” framing is worth watching—tourism marketing works best when it’s broad-based and visible, not limited to insiders.