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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-08-09 Tourism Commission MinutesTOURISM COMMISSION RIVERSIDE, MISSOURI Monday, August 9, 2010 6:00 p.m. The Tourism Commission for the City of Riverside, Missouri, met in the Board of Aldermen Conference Room at City Hall, 2950 NW Vivion Road, Riverside, Missouri on August 8, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. Chair Jason Rule called the meeting to order. Answering roll call were Jason Rule, Deana Winter, Dirk van der Linde, Jerry Pietsch, and Alderman Aaron Thatcher (non- voting member). Also present was Mayor Kathy Rose, Cindi Rice — Riverside Chamber of Commerce, and Meredith Hauck, Director of Community Relations (recorder). Motion to appoint a Commissioner Pietsch made a motion to appoint Jason Rule as Tourism Tourism Commission Commission Chair and Commissioner van der Linde seconded. Pietsch, Chair Winter and van der Linde voted in favor; Rule abstained. Motion carried. Tourism Fund Update Hauck handed out a memo from City Attorney Nancy Thompson regarding use of Tourism Funds. The memo stated that funds collected through the Tourism Tax can be utilized for: • Advertising to promote community assets (parks, recreation, shopping, dining, lodging, etc.); • Advertising to promote specific community activities; • General marketing of the City; • Promotion of special events, festivals & arts designed to draw people from outside the city limits (it's not tourism if it only attracts people from within the community); • Contracting with any person, firm or agency to advise and assist in travel & tourism promotion; • Financial support of activities designed to draw people to the community; • Publication and distribution of tourist promotional material such as brochures and booklets; • Cooperation with civic groups in developing programs which encourage educational tourism; • Articles and advertisements in magazines, newspapers, radio, television and travel publications; and • Establishment of promotional exhibitions In general, capital projects will not qualify for tourism promotion. However, a well articulated plan to draw tourists through construction of a unique attraction within the City could qualify. Hauck also handed out the FY 10/11 Tourism Fund Update. The Commission has a fund balance of $131,805 and $74,975 in the reserve fund. Projected revenues for the year are $157,500. Per the Tourism Fund Guidelines, 30% is allocated towards grants. The amount available for grants this year is $47,250. BLAST 2010 Hauck shared the feedback she received from internal after - action meetings regarding BLAST. Estimated attendance at the event was 2,000 people, and based on surveys done, 40% were from Riverside and 60% were from outside of the community. Although most were from the KC Metro area. There were no issues during the event and Public Safety and Public Works indicated the location was actually easier to control and monitor than some events at EH Young Park. The fireworks vendors asked for another date or another location so it would not negatively impact business. She provided a memo outlining the location options for next year's event — Option A: Intersection of Gateway and Vivion, Option B: Gateway Bridge, Option C: Vivion Road, Option D: EH Young Park. Winter said she liked not having in at EH Young Park because it made it different from Riverfest. Rule though EH Young Park might be more cost effective though, because all of the facilities have to be built at the other locations. The Commission indicated they liked the idea of keeping it in downtown, possibly moving forward with Option C to utilize Renner Brenner Park, but wanted to think about it until next month. Other dates were discussed since the event is not meeting its original goal of supporting the firework tents' sales. One option presented was moving the event to May and using it as a kick off event for summer. Commissioner van der Linde said he liked the idea of keeping it during fireworks season since that is something the community is known for. The Commission will revisit the date for next year at the September meeting as well. Another idea discussed was making the event more of a street dance and trying to get a bigger name act to perform. Hauck said she would research street party events and provide more details at the next meeting. Grant Application — KC Hauck provided the Commission with a copy of the Highland Games' grant Scottish Highland Games application and reported that due to a pending settlement with their insurance company for damage to the park, the City attorney recommended tabling the application until the issue was resolved. Commissioner Winter made a motion to table the Highland Games' grant application and Commissioner Pietsch seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Motion passed. Grant Application — The Commission reviewed the application and had noted that the budget Northland Ethnic Festival figures did not match up. They asked Hauck to follow up with the event organizers and get the budget clarified. Commission van der Linde motioned to table the Northland Ethnic Festival's grant application until the September meeting and Commissioner Rule seconded. All voted in favor. Motion passed. Funding Request - Since 2000, the City of Riverside has offered Community Theater at the Community Theater Community Center through Fair Based Productions. In an attempt to formalize the relationship between the City and FBP, the City released an RFP for Community Theater Services this summer. FBP was the only group to submit a response. FBP proposal is for $6,510 and would provide a Christmas show and spring show at the Community Center. FBP would be responsible for all aspects of production, including ticket sales and advertising. FBP has had more than 9,000 attendees from the 75 mile radius since producing shows in the community. Commissioner Winter commented that she felt the amount requested was reasonable for the services provided and that she is a supporter of the performing arts in our community. Winter made a motion to recommend funding for Fair Based Productions and Commissioner van der Linde seconded the motion. Commissioner Winter voted in favor and Commissioners Pietsch, van der Linde and Rule voted against. Motion fails. Rule said he doesn't feel community theater is a tourism event and that it only draws family members of those involved in the production. He applied the same rationale to this decision as was applied when the Commission voted to not recommend funding for the Northland Symphony Orchestra. Funding Request — The City of Riverside has engaged Trozzolo Communications Group to Riverside Billboard prepare a Strategic Marking Plan for the 2010 -2011 fiscal year. The Campaign Riverside Image Campaign, part of the 2010 -2011 Strategic Marketing Plan, will consist of a four to six week billboard blast across the Kansas City Metro. The timing will be in Spring 2011 and coincide with the launch of the City's new website and beginning of the summer event season. The total campaign budget is $25,000, including buying billboard space and developing creative. Half of the budget can be covered by the marketing line item in the Operating budget, the other half would come from the Tourism Fund. Alderman Thatcher said that he loved this idea and Commissioner Winter agreed. They would like to see the billboards focus on three themes — live, work and play, and think the boards are a good step in starting the conversation about Riverside. Rule asked what the City hoped to accomplish through this campaign. He thought the campaign might be too broad and didn't think it would move people to action. In addition, there is no way to measure the results of the campaign. Pietsch and van der Linde agreed and Pietsch added that he doesn't see how this project promotes the goals of the Tourism Commission. Thatcher asked Hauck to provide the Commission with a copy of the overall marketing plan for the city at the next meeting. The Commission wanted to see the design of the billboards before they considered approval. Hauck explained that completing the design costs money and asked for the Commission to indicate whether they were favorable to the idea of funding such a campaign before she expended these funds. No indication was given. Commissioner van der Linde motioned to table the funding request until the September meeting and Commission Pietsch seconded. Commissioners Rule, van der Linde and Pietsch voted in favor and Commissioner Winter voted against the motion. Motion carries. Hauck will bring additional information to the Commission in September for their consideration. Funding Request — 60 On June 21, 2011, the City of Riverside will celebrate its 60th Anniversary. Anniversary The funding request for the 60th Anniversary Campaign is $10,000. This campaign will aim to attract attention and reinforce the City's brand positioning by highlighting the City's colorful history with its progressive future. The campaign will feature a combination of action - oriented activities that will engage both residents and visitors to the community and media placements. All Commissioners expressed their opinion that the 60 anniversary wasn't a milestone to celebrate. Commission Winter made a motion to recommend funding for the 60 Anniversary Project, Commissioner Pietsch seconded. All voted in opposition. Motion fails. Funding Request — Platte The Platte County Convention and Visitors Bureau partnered with the County /Kansas City Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association to create a marketing Partnership partnership for the county. The partnership will market tourism opportunities within Platte County and all participating cities will share the cost. Cost to participate in $6,000. Commission Winter commented that they didn't see a return on this investment the last time the City partnered with the County to promote tourism. Commission van der Linde made a motion to recommend funding for the Platte County /Kansas City Tourism Marketing Partnership, Commissioner Winter seconded. All voted in opposition. Motion fails. Adjournment — 7:57 p.m. Commissioner Winter made a motion to adjourn and Commissioner Rule seconded. All present voted in favor.