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Council questions chamber contract reporting, reimbursement and options
Summary
At an Aug. 4 informal meeting, the Joplin City Council reviewed the city's contract with the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce. Councilors pressed staff on monthly written reports, whether the city reimburses vacant positions and whether to issue an RFP or bring economic-development work in-house; no vote was taken.
The Joplin City Council on Aug. 4 reviewed its contract with the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce and pressed staff for clearer reporting and procurement options.
City Manager Nick Jackson told the council the city reimburses the chamber monthly "based on actual expenditures," and said the contract sets performance measures and defined activities the chamber must perform. "We reimburse based on actual expenditures," Jackson said, describing monthly coordination meetings with the mayor and city staff to review economic development leads.
Councilor Carlin said she had not received the monthly written reports the contract requires. "It says that the JACC shall provide a written report to the Mayor and City Council on a monthly basis... Because I've never been given a monthly report," she said. Jackson replied the material the council receives resembles a running list and the quarterly packet rather than a formal monthly report, and staff said the city will work to ensure reporting aligns with the contract.
Several councilors asked whether the city is effectively paying for vacant positions. A councilor raised a concern that the chamber is funded for roles not currently staffed; Jackson replied, "We reimburse for actual expenditures," and said an interim is handling economic development duties in the meantime.
Councilors also debated whether the city should issue a request for qualifications or proposals to solicit long-term economic-development services or consider bringing those functions in-house. Jackson said he did not recall an earlier RFP for economic-development services and that staff can prepare one if the full council desires. One councilor urged casting a wider net "to see where we are in terms of what we are paying and services that would be rendered," while others cautioned about timing and staff capacity.
Longtime Councilor Shaw urged caution about rapid structural change, citing past problems when the city directly managed economic development. "Back years ago, our city manager tried to take care of economic development... we lost $15,000,000 on investments and things we weren't watching for," Shaw said, arguing for careful evaluation before replacing longstanding partnerships.
Councilor Coppell said staff capacity and current ARPA project timelines make immediate changes unwise; he suggested an RFP could be considered later.
The Mayor reminded councilors the chamber contract will be reviewed again during the upcoming budget "issues and options" session next month and invited additional concerns to be brought then. No formal motion or vote was recorded during the informal meeting.
What happens next: Staff said it can draft an RFP if the council requests one, and the contract will return for further review during next month's budget work sessions.
