The borough assembly voted 7-0 on April 22 to approve the chamber of commerce moving into the Nolan Center — in the interest of closer collaboration between the borough and the chamber.
The move provides a more heavily trafficked site for visitor information than the chamber’s current offices in the Stikine Inn.
Although the vote was unanimous, a couple of assembly members raised questions.
“I’ve seen it go up and down too many times,” Assembly Member David Powell said of the chamber’s finances, adding that while chamber and Nolan Center staff have a good relationship now, staff members change over time.
He said it’s not a good idea to provide free space for a nonprofit organization, noting that others may want a similar deal. “I think this is very dangerous,” he said.
Powell succeeded in winning assembly approval to amend the resolution to require that the Nolan Center and chamber provide the borough with quarterly reports of the new arrangement.
Assembly Member Brittani Robbins, who in the past served as the chamber’s executive director, also spoke against the cohabitation arrangement in the Nolan Center.
The public already is confused that the chamber is part of the borough government, which it isn’t, she said. “Putting them in the same space is really going to muddle that message.”
After the discussion, Powell and Robbins voted along with their colleagues to approve the chamber move.
All seven members also approved a memorandum of understanding between the borough and the chamber, setting out areas of cooperation focused on economic development, supporting local businesses and improving visitor information services.
The chamber has operated out of an office at the Stikine since 2012. It plans to move into the Nolan Center as soon as possible.
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