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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Developers donate 14 acres to Talent for open space ... Mail Tribune 100, Nov. 16,1915 ... Snow settles on passes as cold front hits Southern Oregon ... Developers donate 14 acres to Talent for open space ... Mail Tribune 100, Nov. 16,1915 ... Snow settles on passes as cold front hits Southern Oregon ... FROM THE COUNCIL From the Council: It's time Medford got serious about a conference center Comment By Gary H. Wheeler MailTribune.com By Gary H. Wheeler Posted Nov. 15, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Gary H. Wheeler Posted Nov. 15, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Medford has arrived at a time and place where decisions can be made to seriously look at the need for a conference center. Many attempts have been made over the years to address the reasons for such a center. The facilities should be able to have the flexibility to accommodate both small (20-100) and large (100-500) groups. The facility should also be configured to allow for customizing the spaces for different groups’ venue demands. We need a civic center to attract groups of all sizes to our Southern Oregon region. We are currently losing conference/convention business because we lack a dedicated meeting space. These groups have chosen to go to other areas with larger facilities even though our community may be more attractive to them. Many times, meetings are split between venues to accommodate either the size of the group or a specific need. For instance, vendors need space to display their wares. Why Southern Oregon? We are already an attractive tourist destination with many available activities. So, why not combine business with pleasure? Many business conferences include family activities and we have those amenities in abundance. This area has changed dramatically over the past few decades. We have, indeed, grown into a premier destination for people to come and enjoy what we have to offer. We have rivers, lakes, mountains, wine, food, theater, sports, parks and recreational activities. Sometimes we do not recognize what we have around our region. We have a great food scene (restaurants, food trucks and carts, farmer’s markets, chocolate, cheese and wine tasting to name a few). Great cultural activities abound (theater, music and dance). Add in the Sports Park, the Greenway and the shopping opportunities and you can see we have a great potential of attracting people to Southern Oregon. When do we start this process? How do we develop the road map? We have received a $100,000 grant from the state with the charge to develop a plan for a center. At the end of the study, we will have the road map to get us where we want to go. I want to thank Sen. Alan Bates and Rep. Peter Buckley for their efforts in getting this grant. The grant will allow us to do an in-depth study of the potential of this city and valley to support such a civic center. In the process, we will use both professional expertise and citizen involvement to formulate a plan. The questions we need to answer are where — the center needs to be close to our transportation hubs, hotels, services and amenities — and how. The study will provide us with the options for funding, and that is where the citizens committee comes in. Not only are there the upfront costs of land and construction, but also the ongoing fiscal commitment to allow for a financially sound facility. Most civic centers require some subsidy, and even established centers requires ongoing financial support. The study will provide details in that area. It does make sense, however, to have the people who are using the facility pay a portion of the cost. We have the availability of the transient lodging tax to help finance a portion or all of the subsidy. We have the necessary tools in place to make this project a reality. We can bring people together to give our area economic competitiveness. This is an attractive place to live, work and play. Let us have others discover what we already know. Medford: It’s time. Gary H. Wheeler is mayor of Medford. The views expressed in this piece are the individual's and do not necessarily represent the opinions or positions of the City Council. By Gary H. Wheeler MailTribune.com By Gary H. Wheeler Posted Nov. 15, 2015 at 12:01 AM » 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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