The request for proposals (RFP) for a destination marketing organization (DMO) was put on hold at the January 20 city council meeting after a very long discussion was held regarding the direction the city is planning to take related to looking for an organization to handle tourism marketing for the town.

As Mayor Ken Budge introduced the agenda item to the council, he first acknowledged making a mistake with the process over the past several months related to the city negotiations of a DMO with Bisbee Forward. Mayor Budge said the process which started out as talks about Bisbee Forward being an advisory board to the city and working with them to promote Bisbee as an overnight destination turned into the suggestion that Bisbee Forward become the DMO. Budge said after the city received a complaint that the DMO could be a violation of the city charter because it did not follow the procurement process which is required. Budge said because the city was negotiating a contract over $5,000 with the group to promote Bisbee it needed to go out for an RFP.

After hearing from Mayor Budge, the council rescinded the offer to further negotiate an agreement with Bisbee Forward and agreed to move onto the second part of the agenda item which was discussion and approval of going out for solicitation for an RFP to find a group to become the DMO for Bisbee.