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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16pt">The following
is an overview of the position LAN has taken with regard to public monies
funding the Chamber. Included are a copy of the “<i>Agreement for the use of City general funds</i>” that the City has with
the Chamber and a copy of the letter LAN sent to the City in June. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16pt">LAN previously
expressed a desire to evaluate whether the City should continue to support the
Chamber of Commerce and offered suggestions. The City Commission recently
approved giving the Chamber $220,000 for this coming year. How does the existing
City/Chamber “<i>Agreement</i>” hold the
Chamber accountable for the use of these funds? </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16pt">Please read and offer your
opinions or suggestions to LAN, the City Manager, the Planning Department or
the City Commission. The City will be reviewing the <i>Agreement</i> in the coming months and consider meaningful updates. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16pt">Questions/Concerns:
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16pt">1) The Chamber
is a private advocacy organization. Would they continue to carry out their goals
for their members without public funding?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16pt">2) Is there a
conflict of interests between private and public funding? </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16pt">3) The Chamber
does not have the professional training to conduct routine economic analysis or
to carry out the work called for by the existing <i>Agreement</i>. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16pt">4) The <i>Agreement</i> contains no objective
benchmarks or measurable performance metrics against which to evaluate if the
Chamber is meeting the expectations of the <i>Agreement</i>.
How much economic development would happen without the Chamber’s effort? </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16pt">5) On what
basis will we know that public money is being used in the public’s best
interest? Does the City have adequate oversight of the Chamber?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16pt"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
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