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Scottsdale council denies James Agency Old Town marketing contract after heated debate over redactions and budget split
Summary
After hours of public comment and council questions about redactions, media‑buy allocation and procurement transparency, Scottsdale City Council voted to deny awarding the city’s Old Town marketing contract (resolution 13562) to The James Agency. Merchants had pushed for a new vendor but several council members said the proposal needs more work.
Scottsdale City Council voted Dec. 2 to deny awarding a contract for Old Town Scottsdale marketing to The James Agency after a contentious public and council debate about transparency and how much of the budget would be spent on actual media buys.
City staff presented the results of a recent RFP and said the city’s FY25/26 Old Town marketing appropriation is $1,300,000; roughly $300,000 had been spent to date this fiscal year, staff said. The selection followed a Keane merchant engagement study that city staff folded into the RFP to improve local outreach and performance reporting. Rachel Smetana of the city’s economic development office told the council The James Agency was chosen because it is a full‑service local firm with a track record…
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