City Council Meeting Date: November 17, 2026
To: Mayor and Members of Council
City Administrator
From: Scott Wopata, Community Development Director
Emery John, Interim Program Coordinator
Title
Consider Resolution Establishing an Ad-Hoc Committee to Review CVB Contract Performance.
Body
Action Requested:
The City Council is asked to approve a Resolution establishing an Ad-Hoc Committee to assess CVB performance under the current contract, in preparation for competitive RFP in the Fall 2027.
Summary Report:
The Northfield Chamber of Commerce has held the contract for the Northfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) since its inception in 1987. The initial agreement ended in 2012, when the City issued an RFP for the CVB contract. The City received three proposals – two from private marketing groups and one from the Chamber. The professional services contract was awarded to the Chamber, with subsequent renewals occurring on a three-year cycle. The contract was then renewed with the Chamber with minimal revisions for 2016–2018, 2019–2021, 2022–2024, and the current contract term of 2025–2027.
The CVB provides an annual presentation to the City Council. During the Fall 2025 presentation, Council members raised questions regarding the effectiveness of the CVB's social media expenditures, including audience engagement in addition to overall reach; the impact of specific marketing campaigns, including a regional road trip collaboration, on tourism in Northfield; and opportunities for the CVB to collaborate with local businesses to reach more targeted audiences.
The CVB has, and continues to be, primarily funded from lodging tax revenue generated by hotel and short-term rental stays in the City of Northfield. Under the current allocation structure, 95% of the lodging tax revenue generated is passed through to the CVB, with 5% retained for administrative costs. This mirrors the statutory provision allowing up to 5% of lodging tax revenue to be retained ...
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