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Keizer chamber and concert organizers seek city support; committee discusses TOT and a $10,000 request for summer concerts
Summary
The Keizer Chamber of Commerce and local concert organizers asked the budget committee for tourism lodging-tax (TOT) support, a digital "play-stay-eat" guide and up to $10,000 to help keep the Keizer Rapids Amphitheatre summer concert series free.
Representatives of the Keizer Chamber of Commerce and the volunteer group that runs the Keizer Rapids Amphitheatre concert series attended the budget meeting May 20 to request city support for tourism promotion and event operations.
Jeremy Turner, president of the Keizer Chamber, and executive director Corey Johnson described work on a digital "play-stay-eat" guide to promote local lodging, restaurants and tournament needs at the city's new turf fields. Turner said the guide is open to all businesses in Keizer and will augment the chamber's printed directory. The chamber's FY25-26 budget request included lodging-tax (TOT) support as part of event promotion; staff and councilors discussed how recently approved late allocations (a $40,000 addition noted in the materials) were recorded and whether they appear in the chamber's fiscal-year reporting.
Separately, Tim Davis, representing the concert series organizers, asked the committee for a $10,000 cash contribution and to continue waiving park reservation fees (estimated previously at $8,000-$10,000 in waived fees). Davis said the concert series costs about $35,000 per summer to stage and that organizers aimed to keep performances free for attendees. Budget officer Tim Wood confirmed the cityhad previously waived park fees and paid a small promoter stipend in prior years; the city currently waives an estimated $8,000-$10,000 in park fees for the series.
Committee members and staff discussed alternative revenue strategies, including vendor royalties and parking fees, and potential use of TOT (transient lodging tax) funds for travel and tourism-related events. Councilors suggested the organizers document sponsorships, ticketing or vendor revenue forecasts and said the committee could consider a TOT allocation during the remainder of the budget process.
No final appropriation for the concert series was approved at the May 20 session; staff and the committee agreed to consider the request alongside other TOT and tourism-comms requests during subsequent hearings.
