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MEDFORD Council jostles over Travel Medford contract Wants to end "incestuous" relationship with chamber Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted May. 21, 2015 at 4:32 PM Updated May 21, 2015 at 6:19 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted May. 21, 2015 at 4:32 PM Updated May 21, 2015 at 6:19 PM » Social News A heated debate over a city contract with Travel Medford boiled over Thursday when city councilors shot barbs at each other and demanded greater autonomy for the organization, which one said has an “incestuous” relationship with the Medford/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. “A lot of angst comes from the relationship with the chamber,” Councilor Daniel Bunn said. After a lengthy debate, the council agreed to extend the Travel Medford contract for a year while other issues are ironed out. Travel Medford, which shares staff with the chamber and is housed in chamber offices, provides marketing support for the city's travel industry and receives about $750,000 annually from a 25-percent share of the lodging taxes received by the city. Councilor Dick Gordon said delays in extending the contract with Travel Medford have jeopardized the group’s ability to buy media ads to promote the region and attract visitors to events that fill up hotels and restaurants. He said he blames an ongoing battle of wills over the Travel Medford contract between the chamber and City Manager Eric Swanson. “This is more about the city manager and the chamber and who has the biggest b----” Gordon said. Mayor Gary Wheeler said Gordon’s remark was out of order and asked that it be stricken from the record. The council had previously questioned the accounting method used to detail Travel Medford expenses and asked that the organization align its reports with those used by the city. In an April meeting, some councilors said they wanted a clearer picture of Travel Medford’s finances, particularly how much of its budget goes to staff. Councilor Tim Jackle said Thursday the council has spent enough time on the issue, and he said he has trouble figuring out all the reasons behind the underlying tensions surrounding Travel Medford. “I’m a little tired of the fun and games on this one,” he said. Jackle made a motion to extend the Travel Medford contract for five years. “I’m calling for a five-year cooling-off period, and I hope it’s enough time,” he said. A majority of the council rejected the five-year renewal. Eventually the council unanimously agreed to end debate on the issue and went with a one-year extension that had been agreed upon at a prior City Council meeting. Other councilors expressed concern about the relationship of a sometimes political organization such as the chamber with Travel Medford, which is designed to promote a number of events in the city, even those not necessarily related to the chamber. Travel Medford is housed inside the chamber building and shares staff with the chamber, which includes chamber President Brad Hicks. The chamber takes positions on some political issues and works to influence issues at local and state levels. Councilor Clay Bearnson said the connection between the two posed problems. “There is an incestuous relationship between the chamber and Travel Medford,” Bearnson said. “That needs to change in the future.” Councilor Daniel Bunn said he would prefer Travel Medford were a completely separate entity and should be set up as separate nonprofit. Councilor Chris Corcoran criticized Bunn for claiming credit for the idea of making Travel Medford a separate organization from the chamber. Corcoran said he came up with the idea first. “I hear you taking credit, and I’m tired of it,” Corcoran said. Bunn responded to Corcoran by saying he was “sorry,” and that he wasn’t in any way trying to take credit for the idea away from Corcoran. Corcoran said he was growing weary of the disputes over the Travel Medford contract. “Let’s not just sit here and discuss this political battle that has no end,” he said. Councilor Kevin Stine said he had a problem with the noncompetitive bidding process the city engages in to choose Travel Medford. “I could find a whole bunch of firms that could do what Travel Medford does,” he said. Councilor Eli Matthews, who works for the chamber, abstained from voting on the issue, but he encouraged the council to resolve the issue because it is causing a lot of concern in the community. Anne Jenkins of Travel Medford, who was praised for her work by many councilors, said the current contract with the city expires in 40 days. As a result, she said she hasn’t been able to commit to media buys that have to be made months in advance. Travel Medford works closely with Medford Parks and Recreation to market events, including those at U.S. Cellular Community Park. About 20 hoteliers stood in solidarity at the council meeting to lend their support for Travel Medford. “It is troubling that the city would disrupt continued growth in our revenues,” said Don Anway, who is with the Neuman Hotel Group that runs Inn at the Commons. “The last thing we want is fewer heads in beds.” He urged the council to extend the contract or risk damaging the local hotel industry. 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 May. 21, 2015 at 4:32 PM Updated May 21, 2015 at 6:19 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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