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HomeMy Public PortalAbout09) 7E - TC Chamber Professional Services AgreementAGENDA ITEM 7.E. MANAGEMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT DATE: August 6, 2013 MEMORANDUM TO: The Honorable City Council FROM: Jose E. Pulido, City Mana(A By: Brian Haworth, Assistant to the City Manager SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF AN ANNUAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH THE TEMPLE CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RECOMMENDATION: The City Council is requested to: a) Approve a Professional Services Agreement with the Temple City Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) in an amount not to exceed $70,000 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013-14; and b) Direct the City Manager to work with the Chamber's Executive Director to prepare, as part of the City's FY 2013-14 mid -year budget process, an amended scope of services that directly aligns the Chamber's five-year strategic plan with the City's upcoming five-year economic development strategy. BACKGROUND: The City has a long history of supporting the Chamber, having provided funding through an annual contract since 1970. In the past few years, City staff and the Chamber's Executive Director have worked closely to refocus the Chamber's resources and energy from that of a "parade chamber" to a more business -oriented organization. The Chamber's Board of Directors seeks to renew its existing contractual agreement with the City for FY 2013-14. The City's annual contribution to the Chamber under terms of the proposed agreement is $70,000, payable in 12 monthly installments of $5,833.33. The Chamber is not seeking an increase from FY 2012-13 funding levels. Furthermore, the contract's proposed scope of services remains relatively unchanged from the prior fiscal year. The only exception is a requirement for the Chamber to City Council August 6, 2013 Page 2 of 3 complete capacity building with its Board of Directors to result in a performance-based five-year strategic plan, which is due December 31, 2013. The plan will ultimately serve as a blueprint for the Chamber to develop value-added programs and services for its members, while also defining a more concrete role for the organization in supporting the City's economic development endeavors—to be set in future annually contracted scopes of work. ANALYSIS: The Chamber's proposed service agreement (Attachment "A") retains measurable performance standards and tasks from the prior fiscal year, which include the following: • Monthly publication of the Temple City Life newspaper, online ads and e -blasts for members; • Hosting networking events, grand openings, annual business expo and ongoing delivery of informational welcome packets; • Communicating legislative updates to the City and business community on issues affecting Temple City; • Engaging in regional discussion of economic issues of importance to the City and surrounding region; • Fielding public inquiries and providing resources to business owners; • Assisting the City in communicating civic initiatives impacting or involving the business community (e.g., the Rosemead Boulevard and Las Tunas safety enhancement and beautification projects); and • Seeking new ideas and innovative ways to promote business members and enhance the image of the Chamber. Last year's accomplishments from these tasks are detailed in the Chamber's quarterly progress reports, provided as Attachment "B". Should the Council move forward in approving the Chamber's FY 2013-14 service contract, a key focus for the organization – especially in the next four months – is capacity building for its Board of Directors. This exercise, similar to those taken by the City Council over the past three years, engages the Board in discussions of how the Chamber will fulfill its mission over time, and how it will take its programmatic and financial maturity to the next level. City Council August 6, 2013 Page 3 of 3 The end product of this exercise is a five-year strategic plan for the Chamber, which will define expectations for Chamber staff, and articulate a comprehensive and performance-based work plan to Chamber members and the greater business community. The initiative would align with the City's upcoming economic development strategy, identifying projects and programs the Chamber would assume in its contracted role serving as the City's economic development arm. Tasks could include taking a lead role in developing a downtown business improvement district, implementing a business visitation program, etc. Furthermore, the plan would also look at possible service enhancements to meet the evolving and emerging needs of Chamber members. CONCLUSION: Approval of the Chamber's annual Professional Services Agreement allows the organization to continue its business -oriented role, while also initiating discussions for how it will fulfill its mission over time. Upon completion of the Chamber's five-year strategic plan, due by December 31, 2013, staff will recommend as part of the mid -year budget review process, an amended scope of services to the Chamber's Annual Professional Agreement. The amended scope will more than likely establish a more defined economic development role for the Chamber, toward supporting initiatives and programs to be identified in the City's upcoming five-year economic development strategy. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact as $70,000 in funds for the annual contract were appropriated in the FY 2013-14 City Budget. ATTACHMENT: A. Proposed FY 2013-14 Agreement B. FY 2012-13 Quarterly Chamber Performance Reports