The Solvang City Council reversed course and narrowly voted to hire a new marketing firm for at least the next six months after a heated debate Monday night.

Council members voted 3-2 to hired TJA Advertising through Dec. 31, with Mayor Mark Infanti joined by Councilmen Robert Clarke and David Brown in voting yes.

Councilwomen Claudia Orona and Elizabeth Orona voted against the hiring, worrying that the city was headed toward repeating the same situations that led to ending contracts with two previous marketing firms.

During the discussion, Clarke became heated, uttering, “Oh my God,” with Claudia Orona calling those questioning the hiring “naive” and saying they were playing “weird games.”

The Pismo Beach-based firm will be paid $108,000 for the work, which will include providing a much-needed website makeover, fall advertising campaigns to attract tourists and more.

John Sorgenfrei, president and owner of TJA, said the firm’s longtime clients include Pismo Beach and Avila Beach.

Last month, the council hired two firms — Stiletto Marketing for public relations and advertising for $38,600 and Islett Agency for social media up to $35,000 through Dec. 31.

Sorgenfrei said his team would work with both organizations and avoid duplication of services.

“We’re excited about having the opportunity to show you what could really be done,” he said.

TJA was the runner-up when the city hired Reno-based The Abbi Agency in 2022.

“I’m really glad you’re here right now because we could use somebody like you that has experience, not out of Reno, not out of San Francisco, but out of the Central Coast that knows this market,” Clarke said.

Council members asked who from the city would manage the contract with TJA.

“Initially, it would have to be me. We don’t have anybody else,” City Manager Randy Murphy said.

One reason that hiring the firm makes sense, Murphy added, is that the contractor would help the city analyze whether a marketing manager or coordinator would be needed along with other questions, such as the future of the Tourism Advisory Committee.

“I’d like to go on record and underscore what you just said, which is we’re doing pretty good right now,” Elizabeth Orona said in a response to a comment from Murphy.

“Dramatic improvement” has occurred with Stiletto and Islett, she said, calling it surprising to be considering hiring a marketing firm.

The decision to hire a marketing firm before filling the city’s vacant marketing position has been attributed to problems that led Solvang and The Abbi Agency to end their deal.

“This feels like a repeat of that,” she added.

A city marketing employee would be critical for major events such as Julefest.

“Those things have to be an internal coordinator who’s dedicated to doing that,” Elizabeth Orona said. “We need to commit to hiring that marketing manager. That’s work. I don’t know who’s doing it.”

Claudia Orona said she, too, remained skeptical about hiring a vendor without someone to manage the contract.

“We’re doing them a disservice by bringing them on board if somebody’s not going to support them,” Claudia Orona added.

She also questioned why a vendor would play a role in deciding how the city filled the staff marketing job or whether the TAC remained.

Sorgenfrei said he would need minimal direction.

“We can do this work without having a marketing director or I wouldn’t be here. Honestly, I would tell you, wait,” Sorgenfrei said. “With the things we’re proposing to do I know we can do those because they’re pretty cut and dry.”

Infanti said the firm would bring expertise to help the city determine whether it needs a marketing manager or TAC.

“I think we need somebody with their experience to give us that hand,” Infanti said.

“The challenge I have, and really genuinely, we are going to do the same thing, we’re going to hire multiple contractors,” Elizabeth Orona said.

“This is insane,” Clarke interrupted.

“And we don’t have oversight to make sure we’re getting the right deliverables for the money we’re spending,” Elizabeth Orona continued.

“Careful, Mr. Clarke,” the mayor said.

“I’m so worked up about this,” Clarke said, as the mayor commented at one point, “Easy now.”

Clarke served on the City Council when the homegrown tourism organization, the Solvang Conference and Visitors Bureau, was disbanded and defunded, and for the hiring of prior firms, The Abbi Agency and IDK Events.