TO: ADAM PIRRIE, CITY MANAGER
FROM: JAMIE EARL, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
DATE: SEPTEMBER 23, 2025
Reviewed by:
City Manager: AP
SUBJECT:
Title
CLAREMONT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VISITOR CENTER SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2024-25 (FUNDING SOURCE: AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUND)
Body
SUMMARY
The City of Claremont contracted with the Claremont Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) in 2024-25 to provide Visitor Center services on behalf of the City. As a requirement of its agreement with the City, the Chamber must prepare an annual year-end report on its Visitor Center services.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council receive and file the Claremont Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center Services Annual Report for 2024-25.
Body
ALTERNATIVE TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Request additional information from the Claremont Chamber of Commerce and/or City staff.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Compensation under the previous agreement between the City and the Claremont Chamber of Commerce was $60,000 for 2023-24. The City entered into a new agreement with the Chamber for 2024-25 and 2025-26 in which the City will continue to compensate the Chamber $60,000 per fiscal year for Visitor Center services. This funding was included in the adopted 2024-26 Operating Budget using the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fund. On November 26, 2024, the City Council appropriated $60,000 for the 2025-26 costs through the obligation of available ARPA Funds by approval of the Inter-Agency Agreement (IAA) with the City Manager’s Office to obligate these funds according to the Obligation Interim Final Rule requirements from the US Treasury.
The staff cost to prepare this report and administer this contract is estimated at $600 and is included in the operating budget of the Administrative Services Department.
ANALYSIS
The Chamber has prepared an Annual Visitor Center Services Report (Attachment) outlining the services it rendered to the City in 2024-25. Staff has evaluated the Chamber’s report and finds the Chamber to be in compliance with the terms of the agreement. The annual report is broken down into sections according to the agreement and provides actions taken to meet each requirements during the year, with corresponding quantitative data where applicable. Below is an outline of the services provided by the Chamber:
• The Chamber continued to respond to inquiries from the general public by providing information on a variety of subjects including, but not limited to, business and business opportunities, City government services and procedures, City projects, visitor and new resident information, and demographics, particularly as those inquiries related to business. In 2024-25, the Chamber responded to 13,300 inquiries via phone, walk-ins, mail, and email.
• In addition to managing several social media pages, the Chamber managed a website with a full range of information, including links to City Council, Commission, and Committee meeting schedules and special events. The Chamber website had 254,000 page views in 2024-25. The Chamber also posted a total of 1,597 social media postings over three Facebook pages and two Instagram accounts.
• The Chamber produced and distributed City, visitor, and business information materials. The information disseminated included, but was not limited to, the Chamber's Business and Community Directory; City and Village maps; and Friday Nights Live band listings.
• The Chamber promoted the City and its businesses through a variety of outlets. In 2024-25, the Chamber promoted both the City and its businesses at Claremont Heritage, the Claremont Colleges, Claremont Hotels, shopping centers, and many stores and other facilities that have materials available to the general public. In total, 3,200 brochures were disseminated.
• The Chamber was responsible for developing, coordinating, and advertising events. The Chamber coordinated the annual Village Venture Street Faire, which included 407 vendors and was estimated to attract over 10,000 visitors. Other events included Friday Nights Live and ribbon cuttings, of which there were 13 in 2024-25.
• The Chamber continued the Claremont Gift Card program with $23,560 in sales. The program currently includes 35 participating businesses.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated the agenda item in relationship to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds that it applies to the following City Planning Documents: Council Priorities, General Plan, and 2024-26 Budget.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact the City Clerk’s Office.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Jamie Earl Katie Wand
Assistant City Manager Deputy City Manager
Attachment:
2024-25 Visitor Center Services Report