Door County’s Sturgeon Bay City Council Notes

The Sturgeon Bay City Council took the first step Tuesday night toward supplementing the financial path of the Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center.

Aldermen voted on a first reading of a municipal code amendment that would increase the city room tax to 5.5 percent. The city will continue to retain 30 percent of the taxes collected.

The code amendment, if approved at the second reading — scheduled for Sept. 16 — would cap the city’s take of the room tax at $100,000 effective Jan. 1, 2009. If the city collects $148,000 next year, the SBVC will receive $48,000.

That money is contracted for tourism promotion and development.

The impetus behind this decision stems from the Tourism Zone Commission’s Aug. 21 decision to cease all marketing of the 152 Sturgeon Bay businesses that are DCVB members by Dec. 31, if the city does not join the tourism zone.

According to Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center Executive Director Todd Trimberger, this amendment allows the city to help fund the SBVC in 2009 without the fear of losing revenue.

“With this, we are eliminating a potential obstacle,” Trimberger said.

Based on projected revenues for 2008, the SBVC stands to receive $38,000 from the city.

The next hurdle for the city, which will likely be an emotional one, Trimberger said, is to decide whether to join the Tourism Zone Commission.

In other business:

• Aldermen voted 6-0 on the first reading of a proposed annexation of property at 3417 Lily Bay Road for the future construction of an electrical substation by Sturgeon Bay Utilities. The utility co-op concluded that the site is sufficient for its needs and would cause minimal impact on people, wildlife and property values.

• The council approved a five -year lease with Harbor Lady Cruises LLC owner David Graves. The lease allows Graves to anchor at the dock wall adjacent to Stone Harbor Resort and Conference Center for an annual fee of $6,500, with annual adjustments.