Toledo City Council roundup: Mayor swears in planning commission members

Members of the Toledo City Council convened for their second regular meeting of the month on Monday, April 20. During the meeting, Mayor Cherie Devore swore in three members of the South Lewis County community's planning commission - Rene Cabral, Tracy Navolynski and William Wilson.

Cabral and Navolynski had both already been serving on the planning commission, while Wilson was a newcomer taking the oath of office for the first time.

Aside from the planning commission members being sworn in, councilors also unanimously approved a budget funding request to complete the Toledo Shoreline Master Plan.

Devore explained the Shoreline Master Plan has been in the drafting process in 2017, but was "never completed due to COVID." She expected it to cost $26,102.25.

"This is something that we do need to finish up and have in with all of our codes," Devore added.

Toledo City Clerk-Treasurer Rachel Campbell stated that the Washington state Department of Ecology had offered to help complete the Shoreline Master Plan.

"So this quote was before they offered to help, so I don't think it will be that much," Campbell said.

Shoreline Master Plans are required by state law in accordance with the Shoreline Management Act, and lay out local land-use policies governing how shorelines can be used according to Ecology's website.

Aside from approving funding to complete Toledo's Shoreline Master Plan, councilors also unanimously approved the liquor license renewal for Toledo Market Fresh IGA.

Prior to Monday's city council meeting, councilors held a public workshop concerning a proposed gambling tax for businesses within city limits, specifically for businesses selling pull-tab gambling games.

Pull-tabs are a form of lottery ticket made up of two layers of cardboard, with the top layer having perforated tabs the player removes to see if they won, and councilors first discussed a possible gambling tax during their March 16 meeting as previously reported by The Chronicle.

While no councilors discussed the proposed tax during the April 20 meeting, Navolynski did speak during public comment in opposition to the idea.

"Centralia imposed one, and they're losing tons of money in business. Donna's Place, to single them out ... they're not making a bunch of money on these," Navolynski said.

Donna's Place owner Denise Shero wrote a letter last month to the city opposing the possible tax, in which she stated as far as she knows, Donna's Place is the only business in Toledo conducting gambling activities.

According to Shero, pull-tab gross sales at Donna's Place average about $9,700 a month, with around $6,700 being paid back out to customers in prize money.

Aside from being able to tax up to 5% of gross sales, or up to 10% of net sales receipts after prizes are redeemed, Shero estimated tax revenue generated from her business to be $485 per month under the gross sales tax, or $300 per month with the net sales tax.

Should a gambling tax be implemented in Toledo, Shero said she is likely to just stop selling pull-tabs altogether.

If councilors wish to enact a gambling tax, the soonest a resolution or ordinance establishing it can be on the council's agenda for consideration will be their next regular meeting scheduled for Monday, May 4, at Toledo City Hall.

To view meeting agendas, visit the City of Toledo's website at https://www.toledowa.us/AgendaCenter/City-Council-2.

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