SPANISH FORT, Ala.—The City Council covered a tremendous amount of ground during its two-hour work session prior to Monday’s regular meeting, discussing everything from a potential smoking ban and lodging tax to regional cooperation for future grant requests and the potential creation of regional transportation hubs.

Regarding adoption of a lodging tax, City Attorney David Conner presented a draft proposal to council members based primarily on the policies in place in Daphne and Fairhope. He said Fairhope, Daphne, Robertsdale and Foley each levy a 4 percent lodging tax; Loxley’s tax is 3 percent; Silverhill does not impose one; and Mobile’s is 8 percent.

The tax would apply to rented rooms and trailers for periods of less than 30 days.

Because the city wishes to remain on par with its neighbors and not price Spanish Fort out of consideration for some travelers, Mayor Joe Bonner suggested keeping whatever standard the city adopts in line with these figures. He also cautioned council members to remember businesses in the Spanish Fort Town Center already pay a 4 percent lodging tax by virtue of being included in the cooperative business district.

District 2 Councilman Mike McMillan said he has never changed travel arrangements based on a facility’s lodging tax, and District 1 Councilman Dennis Dismuke said rates outside the area typically range between 10 and 12 percent in comparison. Dismuke also said business travelers especially tend to make reservations based on brand loyalty above all else.

Conner also noted the draft ordinance—which borrows heaviest from Daphne’s policy—is based on a gross receipt licensing plan, while the city of Spanish Fort subscribes to flat-fee licensing. He said an alternative might be to move lodging establishments only to a gross receipts policy so as to “even the playing field across (Highway) 98.”

Discussion then turned to potential uses for the proceeds generated by the tax, and the clear front-runner use was to support a senior center, although the term “community center” was also tossed about to maintain more inclusiveness.

Smoke ’em if

you’ve got ’em

Conner’s draft proposal for a smoking ordinance—also based heavily on Daphne’s example—actually offers a little more leniency for business owners than its model policies.

For instance, the Spanish Fort proposal in its roughest form would allow smoking in bars, which it defines as a business receiving at least 60 percent of its revenue from the sale of alcohol.

It would also allow smoking in private clubs, 30 percent of lodging rooms designated for the practice and in open spaces such as patios, meaning restaurants could accommodate smokers outdoors if their gross alcohol receipts do not meet or exceed 60 percent of total revenue.

See the rest of this story in the April 9 Spanish Fort Sun.