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After debate over transparency and data, La Habra council votes to join North Orange County Chamber at $5,500 level
Summary
Following a lengthy question-and-answer session with North Orange County Chamber President Andrew Gregson and council debate about directory accuracy and past chamber financial issues, La Habra voted 3‑2 to accept the basic municipal membership at $5,500 and 4‑1 to begin the application process in the next fiscal year.
The La Habra City Council voted to pursue a basic municipal membership with the North Orange County Chamber of Commerce (NOCC) after extended questioning of the chamber's membership claims and concerns about transparency.
Andrew Gregson, NOCC president and CEO, told the council the chamber's eDirectory had 186,000 visits last month with 44,000 visits to membership pages and said the organization would share detailed analytics with staff on request. Gregson acknowledged legacy data and logos on the NOCC website that predated his tenure and said the chamber is actively cleaning and verifying directory records.
Council debate focused on fiscal prudence and trust: some members raised past local chamber controversies and asked for financial transparency and assurances the city would not be pressured to funnel businesses into membership. Others emphasized the potential regional marketing benefits and connections to businesses in neighboring cities and tourist corridors. One councilmember recommended starting with the lower‑cost municipal entity membership as a trial.
Councilmember motions produced two separate outcomes: the council voted 3‑2 to receive and file the staff report and join NOCC at the $5,500 municipal membership level, and later voted 4‑1 to begin the membership application process effective with the next fiscal year to allow the budget to include the membership appropriation.
