Chamber May Bow Out of Visitor Center

It was Enumclaw's turn in front of the City Council at Wednesday's budget workshop as they answered questions about funds they're requesting from the city in next year's budget. Council heard from representatives of Enumclaw Youth and Family Services (EYFS), Plateau Outreach Ministries (POM), YWCA and King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KSARC). One agency who was missing representation this year was the Chamber of Commerce.

City Administrator Mike Thomas reported the Chamber this year did not submit the standard paperwork involved in requesting general fund support but in discussions with city leaders indicated that they would like financial support in order to keep the Visitor Center on Cole Street staffed; and should that funding not be available, they may not stay at the current location and therefore not continue to staff the Visitor Center.

However, the city does not have an official proposal from the Chamber, he said.

Last Friday, Teresa Luedeke, the Chamber's executive assistant, sent an email to members indicating that that was her last day. Former executive director  left her position in August.

At this point, Patch has not yet been successful in reaching Chamber Board President Timothy Pierick by email to see about the current status of Visitor Center.

The amount of $21,000 was used as an estimate for the Chamber's request, but Councilman Sean Krebs, liaison to the Chamber of Commerce, said he didn't want that figure to represent what the Chamber was requesting.

Krebs credited the Chamber's leadership with putting down on paper in the past year all of the operations connected to the Visitor Center (greeting walk-in traffic, helping tourists, etc.) and what operations were outside of the Visitor Center. Though he didn't have that data available Wednesday, he said it helps to give a better idea of what resources are needed to keep the Visitor Center open and functioning.

Councilman Rich Elfers asked if the $21,000 figure included the the Chamber currently receives from the city for the building. Thomas replied the $21,000 was a request to subsidize the Visitor Center portion of the Chamber of Commerce; the rent subsidy is a separate issue.

Mayor Liz Reynolds said there were businesses in town who were interested in picking up the responsibility of manning the Visitor Center or at least to provide some of the same resources the Center does for visitors and tourists.

While it's also possible the city could take over management of the Visitor Center, the Chamber is not a function of the city of Enumclaw, Krebs said.

Councilman Jeff Beckwith said he'd like to continue the discussion about these businesses at the next meeting. Additionally, if the Chamber did move out of the Cole Street location, what would it be used for, he asked.

City Attorney Mike Reynolds, in answering Councilman Jim Hogan's question regarding how much the city could charge for rent of the building on the open market, said probably about $750 a month.

Hogan said he'd prefer if the Chamber came to represent themselves during this year's budget discussions.

Click here to view the city's proposed 2012 budget.