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Keizer releases $40,000 to Chamber of Commerce; council tables contract details for clearer metrics
Summary
The council directed staff to release $40,000 in transient-occupancy (TOT) funds to the Keizer Chamber of Commerce and asked staff and the chamber to refine a marketing plan with specific deliverables and metrics; the funding release passed unanimously and the contract refinement was tabled 4-3.
The Keizer City Council on March 17 directed staff to release $40,000 in tourism-related funding to the Keizer Chamber of Commerce and asked the chamber and staff to return with a more detailed marketing plan and measurable deliverables before executing a formal multi-year agreement. The motion to release the money passed unanimously; a separate motion to table the contract while staff and council refined metrics and timelines passed 4-3.
Nut graf: The cash release draws from contingency TOT funds and follows months of planning between staff and a council ad hoc group. Councilors said they supported the chamber's work but wanted clearer timelines, line-item budgets or measurable metrics in the marketing plan before finalizing a multi-year agreement.
Chamber President Jeremy Turner and Executive Director Corey Johnson briefed the council on outreach tactics (website, social media, targeted event promotion). Turner noted that, "even at $50,000, this represents less than 10% of the chamber's budget," and described the funding as seed money to pay overhead and marketing to attract visitors from outside a 50-mile radius. Staff said the city also provides an estimated $30,268 in in-kind support for events (public works, police, staff time) separate from the cash allocation.
Councilors pressed for specificity. Several said draft marketing materials lacked line-item costs and a timeline for deliverables; Councilor Star asked for quarterly milestones and data points the council could review. Staff and the chamber said they will return with a refined marketing plan and suggested performance measures such as web hits, social-media impressions and distribution of printed visitor materials.
Ending: The council released $40,000 from contingency to the chamber for the current fiscal year and directed staff to work with the chamber on a revised marketing plan and contract language; the final agreement and appointments will return to council in the coming weeks so the city can include any contract terms in the next budget cycle.
