Caldwell Chamber says Roger Brooks phase 2 planning continues; MOU still under review

The Caldwell Chamber of Commerce told council members on May 19 it is continuing work to bring tourism and downtown consultant Roger Brooks back to Caldwell for a phase-two engagement following the plaza project.

Travis Palmer, the chamber's executive director, said the chamber and the city are still finalizing a memorandum of understanding and a contract between the chamber and Roger Brooks' organization. The chamber previously presented the concept to council and is seeking to finalize agreements so Brooks can appear in June if scheduling and board approvals align.

Palmer said the chamber's board received the documents at a recent meeting but could not complete a vote because of late-arriving edits from the board attorney; the chamber anticipates an email vote once the revised documents are available. Palmer told council he expects the chamber will have a board decision soon and will coordinate scheduling so Brooks can make a public appearance in June if the agreements are finalized.

Councilors asked for copies of Brooks' prior recommendations; Palmer agreed to distribute the original report to council the following day. Councilors also asked for a final MOU and contract language as soon as the chamber and city legal teams complete review.

Why it matters: A Roger Brooks engagement is intended to guide downtown and tourism strategy, build community consensus around a destination plan and generate economic development momentum. The phase-two project would build on the plaza work and could include public workshops and a consultant visit scheduled to advise community stakeholders.

Next steps: The chamber will seek a board vote via email after edits are finalized, provide the council with the original Brooks report and return with final documents if the MOU/contract is ready.