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Council keeps $55,000 placeholder for Chamber funding after public comments
Summary
Council set a $55,000 placeholder in the 2025 budget for the Del Rapids Chamber of Commerce while scheduling further discussion; local business owners urged maintaining prior funding because events support Main Street businesses.
Council members and staff discussed a Chamber of Commerce funding request originally for $75,000; staff and a Finance & Public Works committee met with Chamber leaders to identify roles and expectations. Finance staff said the council placed a placeholder of $55,000 in the budget and will reconvene a working group next Monday to try to reach consensus on details.
A local business owner addressed council during public comment, urging the city to consider downstream effects of reducing Chamber support on Main Street businesses and local special events. The commenter said some local businesses helped underwrite last year’s street dance and asked the council to consider continuity for businesses that rely on special events. "I'm coming as somebody that shares a home with somebody that's on the chamber now...it ultimately impacts us, the business owners," the commenter said (public comment).
New volunteers to the Chamber also spoke, asking the council to give new leadership a chance and consider that the Chamber will put "new skin in the game"; one volunteer said if the council re-evaluates next year it would be acceptable. Council member Ted moved to leave the $55,000 placeholder in place; the motion was seconded and carried. The council scheduled further chamber budget discussions in a small working group to determine expectations and potential staffing implications.
