TO: ADAM PIRRIE, CITY MANAGER
FROM: KATIE WAND, ACTING ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
DATE: OCTOBER 27, 2026
Reviewed by:
City Manager: AP
SUBJECT:
Title
CLAREMONT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VISITOR CENTER SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2025-26 (FUNDING SOURCE: GENERAL FUND)
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SUMMARY
The City of Claremont contracted with the Claremont Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) in 2025-26 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 Annual Report for 2025-26.
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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 per fiscal year for 2024-25 and 2025-26. The City entered into a new agreement with the Chamber for 2026-27 and 2027-28 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 2026-28 General Fund Operating Budget.
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 Report (Attachment) outlining the services it rendered to the City in 2025-26. 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 requirement 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 2025-26, the Chamber responded to 31,457 inquiries via phone, walk-ins, and brochure distribution.
• 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 164,000 page views in 2025-26.
• 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 total kiosk dissemination of material for 2025-26 was 1,250 brochures.
• The Chamber promoted the City and its businesses through a variety of outlets. In 2025-26, 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. The total material dissemination at all distribution points was 7,500 in 2025-26.
• The Chamber was responsible for developing, coordinating, and advertising events. The Chamber coordinated the annual Village Venture Arts & Crafts Festival, which included 383 vendors and was estimated to attract over 23,000 visitors. Other events include Friday Nights Live and ribbon cuttings, of which there were 16 of in 2025-26.
• The Chamber continued the Claremont Gift Card program with $62,136 in sales. The program currently includes 49 participating businesses.
• The Chamber worked with the Claremont Police Department to promote the Citywide Business Watch Program and sent out 10 crime alerts to Chamber members.
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 the 2026-28 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:
Katie Wand
Acting Assistant City Manager
Attachment:
2025-26 Visitor Center Services Report