Bob Youngman, the man whose passionate efforts led to the creation of Sun Valley Resort Area Marketing, said he no longer stands behind the organization, claiming the latest turn—to merge with the local visitors bureau—halts any potential progress.
"The structure that they're proposing is not acceptable," said Sun Valley City Councilman Youngman during a council meeting on Thursday, Sept. 16. "I will not support any funding going to that organization whatsoever."
Prior to the merger, the City Council unanimously pledged to give $400,000 to the marketing board for the fiscal year starting in nine days, leaving the Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau with nothing, unless the marketing board wanted to share. Youngman was an outspoken proponent of the spending but is now saying it would be an "absolute waste of money" to give $400,000 to the now allied group. Ketchum made the same $400,000 pledge to the marketing board.
Youngman said he doubts that the marketing board can spur tourism and visitor spending. He said the committee—which he formed to investigate the north valley's failing economy and provide a solution—clearly recommended that the visitors bureau be relieved of its duty as the area's advertiser to the world, with a completely separate board being created to hire a professional marketer. But, he said, the merger returns the chamber to the marketing fold—a step backward in his eyes.
Plus, he said, the city wasn't even approached for advice about the merger, even though it's planning to provide half the budget. The council said the first that it heard about the merger was in a Sept. 14 press release.
"The fact they've been incommunicado and have taken such a long time to do a tiny bit of work, I've lost all confidence in the ability of this group to make any progress," Youngman said, later adding, "The marketing organization is moving at a snail's pace."
Sun Valley Councilman Nils Ribi said he was also dismayed by the board's straying from its original plan.
"They took everything that would've been a successful program ... and they just threw the damn thing out," Ribi said.
However, Councilwoman Joan Lamb said, a slow start is not unexpected.
"Organizational change is difficult," she said, "and it doesn't happen overnight."
Sun Valley hasn't given the $400,000 yet, though it's in the approved city budget. A contract has to first be drawn up explicitly stating how the money would be spent. And that can't be done until the marketing board has found a marketing agency and drawn up its strategic plan. The same goes for Ketchum.
Scott Montgomery, Sun Valley's representative on the marketing board, advocated patience.
"We need to be running but at the same pace and in the same direction," he said in an interview. "You aren't going to implement a marketing campaign and move the needle in less than a year."
He said that to have an effect on this winter would be "impossible," even with 10 times as much money. He said marketing efforts would have needed to start, at the latest, in March, not a couple weeks ago.
"I, a little bit, laugh when people talk about this winter," he said. "Because this winter's over. The only thing we can maybe do is pray for snow."
But Sun Valley city leaders can't wait and have authorized the mayor to draft a contract to hire someone, separate from the Sun Valley Marketing Alliance—the new merged group's name—to market the city of Sun Valley. The council and mayor said at the Sept. 16 meeting, in which this move was brought up, that this marketing specialist isn't meant to replace the marketing board, but to serve as an interim advertiser of the area's upcoming events until the alliance gets its ducks in a row.
Toni Bogue, chamber board member and one of the alliance's nine board members, said in an interview that the alliance supports the "temporary" hire but defended the merger.
"We're ready to end the age-old argument of us [the chamber and visitors bureau] versus them [the marketing board]," she said. "I'm really glad we're moving forward as one effort. It's time."
The entire Ketchum City Council and mayor shared Bogue's outlook, supporting the merger.
"Look," said Councilman Baird Gourlay. "It's one community, one body. Why cut the right arm off? It's not something you want to rush into, either."
"I'm quite surprised there's discouragement," said Councilwoman Nina Jonas.
But, would Ketchum still hand over its $400,000 if Sun Valley backs out?
"My recommendation would be to stay the course," Mayor Randy Hall said.
In response to that question posed to the council during its meeting Monday, Councilman Curtis Kemp said he refused to speculate on a hypothetical and the other council members remained silent.
Trevon Milliard: tmilliard@mtexpress.com
Bob Youngman
