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Needles council to pilot earlier visitor‑center hours after traffic data
Summary
After reviewing October–December visitor traffic data showing morning peaks, the council directed staff to pursue a contract amendment that would shift visitor‑center hours to 8 a.m.–1 p.m. (with seasonal adjustments) and return for formal action in April.
The council directed staff to return in April with a formal amendment to the visitor‑center contract that would move operating hours earlier, based on data showing peak visitation in the morning.
A chamber/visitor‑center presenter showed visitor counts broken into hourly blocks for October through December and said the majority of traffic came between 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. "We have an actual decent amount of people who come in between 8 and 9," the presenter said. The visitor center is operated under contract with the chamber, and the subcommittee recommended aligning staffing to match demand to capture travelers, weekend visitors and festival traffic.
Some council members expressed concern about asking chamber volunteers or small‑business staff to cover early hours; others emphasized the importance of posting accurate hours on the city website and being able to adjust seasonally. The working consensus was to try 8 a.m.–1 p.m. (Thursday through Monday) and return with a formal amendment at the next council meeting in April for final approval.
Why it matters: Aligning service hours with visitor patterns may increase tourism capture and spend in local businesses while making more efficient use of limited staffing resources.
Next steps: Staff will draft the amendment, confirm staffing and seasonal flexibility with the chamber, and bring the formal change back to council for a vote in April.
