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Sweetwater board authorizes retail recruiting contract with Retail Strategies
Summary
The mayor and board approved hiring Retail Strategies (Lacey Beasley) on a contract structured for up to three years at $50,000 per year, with annual termination options; the firm will update Sweetwater’s 2019 market analysis, provide traffic/demographic deliverables and represent the city at industry recruitment events.
The Sweetwater mayor and board of commissioners voted to authorize pursuing a contract with Retail Strategies to lead retail recruitment efforts for the city.
Jessica, a city staff member and member of the review committee, told the board the firm’s proposal is $50,000 per year and that the contract would be structured for three years with the option to terminate at the end of each year. "It is $50,000 a year," she said, and added that the firm will update the city’s gap analysis from 2019 and provide a market guide with traffic counts and daytime‑population data.
The consultant will contact retailers that match Sweetwater’s demographics, represent the city at the International Council of Shopping Centers and perform on‑site property reviews during the contract term. The committee highlighted vacant commercially zoned parcels—near Walmart and at the interstate corridor—as targets for recruitment.
Commissioners discussed timing and competing priorities. One commissioner said the town already has major projects underway and asked whether the consultant could be deferred; another argued the contract is an up‑front investment that will help grow the city’s sales tax base. The committee noted the contract can be funded only after a budget amendment because it was not included in the adopted budget.
Before signing, city attorney John Cleveland requested minor contract edits, including a clause setting litigation venue. The board approved the recommendation and authorized staff to finalize and sign the agreement after the attorney’s revisions. The motion carried with a majority aye and one commissioner voting no.
Board members asked staff to return final contract documents for the file and to identify the funding source for the budget amendment prior to the first payment.
