Baker City Council on July 22 approved a request for proposals (RFP) to hire a firm to build and run a city tourism and marketing program and appointed five members to the city’s Transient Lodging Tax committee.

The RFP, introduced by Community Development Coordinator Karen Miller, asks bidders to provide brand development, market research, social media and website management to help the city “stand up the whole city tourism program,” Miller said. The council voted to approve the RFP during the meeting and instructed staff to proceed with the procurement.

The council also completed selection of five citizens to sit on the TLT advisory committee that helps guide the use of lodging-tax revenues. After council members cast ballots and a follow-up run-off vote, the council appointed Tyler Brown, Michael Wilson, Ryan Dooley, Alicia Bowers and Robin Nudd to the TLT committee. City staff then said they would notify appointees and circulate the RFP to prospective vendors.

Why it matters: the RFP and the newly constituted TLT committee together establish the city’s next step in using lodging-tax revenue to fund downtown projects, events and tourism promotion. Councilors and staff said they expect the program to target nearby metropolitan markets to draw visitors and increase lodging and visitor spending in Baker City.

Details: Karen Miller said the city is seeking contractors with experience targeting metro-area visitors and managing integrated marketing programs. Gary Hecox, the county’s economic-development director, was cited by staff as an advisor on likely visitor source markets. Councilors spoke in favor of trying a different marketing approach for Baker City and Baker County.

On the committee appointment vote, councilors cast ballots for multiple candidates; after one tie the council held a final selection and then moved to appoint Michael Wilson to fill the final slot. Staff will forward the RFP to the new TLT committee and proceed with procurement steps.

What’s next: staff will issue the RFP and accept proposals; the council and the TLT committee will later review proposals and make recommendations about contracting and program priorities.