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Council gives Visit Fergus Falls a 60-day extension to renegotiate contract and marketing plan
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Summary
The council approved a 60-day extension of the Visit Fergus Falls agreement to allow staff and the group to produce a draft marketing plan and contract terms; councilors asked for clearer spending plans for the organization’s roughly $240,000 in unrestricted funds and requested quarterly reporting.
City leadership and council members discussed the city’s agreement with Visit Fergus Falls (the local convention and visitors bureau), which is funded by a 3% lodging tax remitted to the city. Staff reported that Visit Fergus Falls had roughly $240,000 in unrestricted funds as of September and that the city wants a stronger partnership focused on marketing both tourism and conventions, including an updated Big Wood Convention Center website and quarterly reporting to the council.
Council members questioned why Visit Fergus Falls had accumulated a large reserve and asked that the organization bring a clearer marketing proposal and an accounting plan for how lodging-tax revenue would be used. Several councilors said they want a larger share of the current fund balance used for immediate marketing, while others urged a more deliberate approach to drafting a new agreement.
The council authorized the mayor and city administrator to extend or enter a temporary agreement with Visit Fergus Falls for 60 days to finalize a draft contract and marketing plan, and the resolution passed by roll call. Members said they expect a proposal back to the council with quarterly reporting and clearer commitments about how funds and lodging-tax dollars will be used.
Separately, staff and stakeholders noted the city terminated the existing contract effective Dec. 31 and said the extension is intended to give both sides time to negotiate new terms and a clearer accountability framework.
