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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services, April 12 Public meetings: April 13-17 Gold Hill may get a full-time police officer Staffing shortages keep vets waiting at SORCC VA clinics statewide can't compete with private sector Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, April 12 Emergency services, April 11 Jury awards more than 200K in Rogue River dog-barking case, orders dogs debarked Alleged subscription scammers may be violating state restraining order Central Point police pull attempted theft suspect from prickly hiding spot Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Former state Senate President Brady Adams dies Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for one year Arthur I. 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Talent Middle School to launch School of Design and Innovation ... Guest Opinion: Removing barriers to walking, biking benefits everyone ... MEDFORD Medford City Council at odds over Travel Medford contract City wants better accounting of marketing dollars Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 5:39 PM Updated Apr 9, 2015 at 6:07 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 5:39 PM Updated Apr 9, 2015 at 6:07 PM » Social News A testy exchange erupted among City Council members Thursday over renewal of an increasingly expensive contract with Travel Medford, a division of the Medford/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce that helps market the city to attract tourists. Travel Medford, which shares staff and is housed in the offices of the chamber, receives about $750,000 annually from a 25 percent share of the lodging taxes received by the city. Some councilors said they wanted a clearer picture of Travel Medford’s finances, particularly how much of its budget goes to staff. Other councilors praised Travel Medford and the chamber for their work in marketing the city and questioned why the contract renewal has become such an issue. “Are you accusing the chamber of misusing funds?” Councilor Dick Gordon asked Councilor Daniel Bunn. “Where did that come from?” Bunn responded. Bunn said he just wants Travel Medford to provide a clearer accounting of its expenses, which he thinks is particularly important for a no-bid, five-year contract that will result in increasing amounts of money to Travel Medford as lodging taxes increase. “As their dollars increase, the financial reporting and scrutiny increases,” he said. Because the new contract is in limbo, Travel Medford has decided not to line up advertising and other contracts, some of which it books a year in advance. Travel Medford works closely with Medford Parks and Recreation to market events, including those at U.S. Cellular Community Park. Gordon and other councilors said Travel Medford does provide financial statements, just not in a format that the city uses. Travel Medford’s financial reporting exceeds the requirements of its existing contract, which expires in June. “Have we received the annual reports that are required?” Councilor Chris Corcoran asked Finance Director Alison Chan. “Yes, we receive them every year,” Chan said. Chan said she would prefer to get an accounting breakdown that matches those used by the city. Chan recommended to the council that the new contract with Travel Medford require competitive bidding for subcontractors who provide $5,000 or more in service. Chamber President Brad Hicks and Anne Jenkins of Travel Medford both said they already follow a competitive bid process but they would provide the information if the city wanted it. Councilor Tim Jackle said the city routinely opts out of its own rules about competitive bidding so he thought it would be a hardship to place that requirement on an outside firm. Corcoran said he didn’t think it appropriate to force Travel Medford to provide more information about bids. “Are we putting an undue burden on them to do this?” he asked. Councilor Kevin Stine said he wondered why government agencies disclose salaries but groups such as Travel Medford don't. “Why would one be transparent, and the other not transparent?” he asked. Hicks said the chamber would be happy to provide more information to the council. He said he estimated that the costs for salaries for Travel Medford totaled about $300,000, including benefits. “Nobody’s getting rich working in Travel Medford,” he said. Hicks said other communities, such as Bend, devote 30 percent of lodging taxes to a marketing effort, plus some additional dollars. “There’s a reason why their marketing stands out,” he said. Hicks said Travel Medford spends about $32,000 for the shared space at the chamber offices. About five Travel Medford employees are full-time, but several others, including Hicks, work part-time for the chamber and for Travel Medford. Councilors also wondered how much of Travel Medford’s budget is earmarked for marketing U.S. Cellular Community Park. Jenkins said about $12,000 annually is devoted to the park’s promotion, but she said it is difficult to quantify all the costs because she and others are promoting the park wherever they go. “It’s an everyday job,” she said. Mayor Gary Wheeler, who called for a temporary one-year extension of the contract with Travel Medford, said the issue will have to come back to the council at a later date before any action is taken. “This is a lot to digest,” he said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at @reporterdm .   By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 5:39 PM Updated Apr 9, 2015 at 6:07 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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