Oregon City names four initial members to new Destination Oregon City board, to re-advertise remaining seats

The Oregon City Commission on March 4 appointed four community members to the newly created Destination Management Marketing Organization (DMMO) board and directed staff to re-advertise the remaining seats with a focus on retail, agritourism and arts and culture.

The commission voted to appoint Bryce Morrow, Holly (last name not specified in transcript), Corinne (last name not specified in transcript) and Lee (last name not specified in transcript) to the DMMO board. The motion passed with all voting members recorded in favor: Commissioner Rocky Smith, Commissioner Scott Wilson, Commissioner Mike Mitchell, Commissioner Adam Marl and Mayor Denise McGrath.

The DMMO is a newly formed nonprofit‐style entity the city approved in December to manage and market tourism in Oregon City. Commissioners said the board should start with a small, functional group that can begin oversight and hiring of an executive director, then expand through a second recruitment round to fill gaps in representation.

“I would like to have a voice with a destination management and marketing organization,” said Holly, who identified herself as the general manager of the Best Western Plus Rivershore Hotel and as co‑chair of the Clackamas County Tourism Development Council, describing experience in hotel operations and tourism stakeholder work.

Applicant Bryce Morrow, owner of Oregon City Brewing and organizer of the Oregon Trail Brewfest, told commissioners he sees the city "just getting started" in its tourism development and supported goals to prepare downtown and the Willamette Falls area for larger visitor numbers.

Corinne, who said she holds a recent appointment at the End of the Oregon Trail, emphasized board duties outside meetings including fundraising and serving as a resource to an executive director. On conflict of interest she said she would “fully disclose it immediately and probably back out.”

Commissioners discussed missing sectors among applicants, specifically retail and arts/culture representation and house‑museum stakeholders. Several commissioners said some long‑standing historic and museum volunteers have limited bandwidth to serve on a new board. To address those gaps, the commission voted to re‑advertise for the remaining DMMO seats and explicitly request candidates from retail, agritourism and arts/culture.

Staff and applicants discussed the initial funding plan for the DMMO. The commission indicated a phased funding approach: roughly half of available tourism dollars would be phased in, with an initial allocation described in the interviews as about $125,000 to start and additional funds contingent on the DMMO meeting agreed milestones and signing an intergovernmental agreement with the city.

The commission also agreed to keep two other applicants — Don Ramsey and Carol Dumont — as considered applicants while re‑advertising for the remaining positions.

Commissioners said the appointed board should move quickly to review the executive director job description, begin recruitment once the board agrees on the posting, and prioritize coordination with city economic development, the downtown Oregon City Association and the chamber of commerce.

The DMMO will oversee destination marketing and coordination; it will not operate or schedule shoreline tours or other private enterprises directly, commissioners said. The appointees will begin work with the stated goals of increasing overnight stays and coordinating hours, ticketing and promotion among museums and attractions so visitors spend more time and money in Oregon City.

The commission adjourned after voting and asked staff to re‑advertise immediately for the outstanding seats and return to the commission with any additional applications.