The City of Hoquiam will not contribute financially to Greater Grays Harbor Inc. — the regional chamber of commerce and economic development organization — after the City Council rejected its contract proposal Monday.
The vote was 7-4 against the one-year, $5,500 contract.
Voting against the contract were Council President Paul McMillan, Ward 1; Steven Puvogel, Ward 2; Shannon Patterson, Ward 3; Bill Nelson, Ward 4; Denise Anderson and Brenda Carlstrom, Ward 5; and Mary Stinchfield, Ward 6.
Voting yes were Jim George, Ward 2; Greg Grun, Ward 4; Dave Wilson, Ward 1; and Ben Winkelman, Ward 4.
Dave Hinchen, Ward 6, was absent.
Greater Grays Harbor funding comes from private, member businesses and from local governments.
Grun and other council members said they would like to see stipulations in the contract that more specifically showed the benefits of Greater Grays Harbor membership for the City of Hoquiam.
Greater Grays Harbor CEO Dru Garson was in attendance and told the council that the organization last year developed proposals with several potential investors regarding properties in Hoquiam, and there were “two or three” others already this year. He offered to meet with the council at any time to update members about Hoquiam-specific efforts.
Ward 2 Councilman Steven Puvogel said, “I am not opposed to Greater Grays Harbor, but to the agreement,” adding that comments from residents of his ward contributed to his decision late last year to cut city funding for Greater Grays Harbor, the majority saying the decision is “long overdue.”
Mayor Jasmine Dickhoff said in her experience with Greater Grays Harbor is they are very good at organizing photo opportunities and ribbon cuttings, but economic benefits to Hoquiam have not met the level of the city’s investment.
Dickhoff referred to a phone call between Garson and City Administrator Brian Shay the day following the council’s decision to not include Greater Grays Harbor funding in the city’s 2019-20 biennial budget, where Garson indicated the organization would take the city’s withdrawal of funding into consideration when pursuing projects in Hoquiam.
“Certainly I am of the opinion that Mr. Garson is within his rights to be disappointed. However, to say their focus would pull away from Hoquiam is a slap in the face to the over 50 businesses that pay fees to be a member,” said Dickhoff on Tuesday. “They certainly deserve to get the services they pay for. We would hope they take that into consideration.”
Garson told The Daily World on Tuesday that Hoquiam’s decision to not enter a contract meant the level of attention the city itself got from Greater Grays Harbor could be less than that given to municipalities that did, but it would not have any impact on current business members within the city. Garson ensured he and his staff will be available, as they have in the past, when Hoquiam businesses seek their assistance. And countywide economic development activities will continue.
Dickhoff said Tuesday that Greater Grays Harbor has had ample opportunity to offer up specific projects that have benefited Hoquiam and the city’s investment into the organization.
“Greater Grays Harbor has been given an opportunity on five separate occasions publicly to point to a project as an example of local investments and either cannot or will not do so,” said Dickhoff. “If you cannot point to a tangible project for an investor, it should come as no surprise that they would take the option to relinquish themselves of their commitment and choose to spend their money where it would better serve their citizenry.”
