The Mountlake Terrace City Council approved the distribution of Lodging Tax funds totaling $24,670.95 at its Jan. 5 meeting.

The City Council recommended allocating the funds to help provide tourism related events and programs in 2015. The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee reviewed the requests and recommended funding for Tour de Terrace at $17,409.95, Arts of the Terrace at $4,561 and Snohomish County Tourism Bureau Visitor Information Center Program at $2,700 for a total of $24,670.95.

Lodging tax funds are derived from the hotel-motel taxes collected by the city’s only hotel, Studio 6, an extended stay facility located in the Gateway Place Business Park. The funds must be used toward the operational or promotional expenditures of programs and events that provide an economic benefit to the community and promote overnight stays in Mountlake Terrace.

This year the City Council appointed Ayesha Sheikh, Studio 6 Hotel General Manager, Laura Peckinpaugh, Studio 6 Hotel Operations Manager, Carol Brickel, Member of Tour de Terrace Organization, Carol McMahan, Friends of the Arts and Mayor Pro Tem Laura Sonmore, who served as Chair.