Dear Editor,
I followed the Edmonds City Council meeting via Twitter and I want to first thank My Edmonds News/Teresa for your tireless reporting of these extraordinarily long and difficult meetings. It’s a huge service you provide to our citizens and because of it, I’m actually informed of the city council business (sometimes more than I want).
In this week’s meeting, there was (again) a discussion about whether to waive a monthly rent for the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce. For some reason, the discussion and decision was postponed. If ever there was a no-brainer decision for the council, this would be it. The city receives far more economic benefit from the Chamber than the $713/month rent it is debating. The Chamber is exceptionally active in our community and is responsible for many of the major events many citizens have come to take for granted (and assume the city itself provides), including the awesome 4th of July Parade (and 5k), Downtown Halloween, Car Show and Tree Lighting ceremony — to name but a few.
These activities generate thousands of dollars of revenue for Edmonds businesses and also are key contributors to the specialness most of us have for Edmonds. The Chamber has obviously been hit hard by the pandemic (along with many businesses) and yet it continued to contribute to our local economy — by volunteering to dip into its Foundation reserve funds and issue dozens of $1,000 grants to local businesses who needed assistance.
There are many more larger pressing issues the council should address.
David Kaufer
Edmonds resident and business owner
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David, I was drafting a similar LTE on this topic. I absolutely agree with you. I worked for a Chamber of Commerce for 6 years in California, and the city/chamber partnership there was a $1/yr lease based on the very things you listed above: the chamber served as the visitor’s bureau as well as hosted/managed major community events. It is common in small/medium sized cities to have this type of partnership. I know this was brought to the city leadership a few years ago, and the idea was shot down. I really hope the current leadership will reconsider.
I’d be on board with a $1/yr lease!
I’m thinking that the Chamber leadership put together a list of neighboring cities and what those partnership/leases looked like. Hopefully they do and can share that as a point of comparison.
My sense was that there was full support from Council on this agenda item. Fast forward the meeting video (that discussion is toward the end) to see if you agree.
We have procedural things to figure out since one of the months proposed for waiver is already underway, and we did not know if the January rent payment had already been received.
THANK YOU for appreciating and speaking out for the Chamber. Their support of the business community during this crisis has been nothing short of heroic. Additionally, this organization is responsible for so many of the events that make Edmonds, “Edmonds”!
It may take the whole village to save the Chamber, but the Chamber will be saved. Go to http://www.edmondschamber.com to donate (direct contribution or to pay membership for a struggling business) or join (business, individual, family, and pet memberships available)!
A shout out to hard working President Greg Urban who is holding down the fort solo at this time— and a “we miss you and cant wait to have you back” to furloughed staff Erika Sugg and Alicia Moreno.
I watched the meeting in real time. I’m suggesting a permanent change as opposed to a months-long resolution that would revert back to the $700+.
The Edmonds BID should pay for the rent of the chamber.
The Chamber is such an asset and provides so much to the city, it seems like a no-brainer to make whatever adjustment is needed to their rent, and to continue that adjustment as long as is needed.