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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-12-05 Tourism Commission MinutesTOURISM COMMISSION MEETING RIVERSIDE, MISSOURI Monday, Dec 5, 2016, 6:00 p.m. The Tourism Commission for the City of Riverside, Missouri, met in regular session at Riverside City Hall, 2950 NW Vivion Road, Riverside, Missouri. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm. Answering roll call were Commissioners Jennifer Goering, Lori Locke, and Julie Rule. Also present were Board liaison Alderman Frank Biondo, City staff members Lori Boji and Stacey Rasco, (recorder). Guests present were Tim Kelly, Chamber of Commerce, April Roberson, Chamber of Commerce, Elaine Warren, Park Board Member. Motion to Approve Minutes from November 1, 2016 Deferred to the next scheduled meeting.  2017 Sponsorship Application Reviews Lori Boji presented the applications for review to the Commission. RiverFest - $$80,000 - discussed $80,000 with no staff request next year. Tim Kelley, Vice President Chamber of Commerce, reviewed the overall application noting that marketing will be more robust in the coming year. They also noted that the calendar is always a challenge as well and want to get on calendars in the area and with the bands in a more advanced timeframe. With regards to bands, they are looking at a variety of genre at this time. The primary event will be Music Fest. Will also be involved with Tour de Platte with the dollars being less than $2000. Commissioner Goering noted that April Roberson’s position will only be available this year as the last year of a 3 year commitment by the Tourism Commission. Mr. Kelly noted that they are working towards the goal of self funding. Alderman Biondo would like to have the requests broken out going forward. Park Board - $50,000 – discussed no funding Elaine Warren presented the Park Board application for a master park plan and assessment of E.H. Young Park for the purpose of revitalizing the park usage. The Park Board would like to hire an outside company for their expertise in how to more utilize our park and bring in more tourism dollars to our community. Commiss ioner Goering asked who would do the assessment. What tourism will be brought? Commissioner Locke asked if the Tourism Commission was to pay the entire amount. Yes. Commissioner Goering inquired if this would be the only request? The application stated “the first” request which lead the commission to believe there would be other requests regarding this study. Ms. Warren clarified that this was the only request and that verbiage was a misprint. Commission Goering stated that there was not an RPF and that she would have liked to see one in the packet. There seems to be no direction? What are you really requesting?? When would this RFP be advertised? When would the work start? Ms. Warren stated that the study was needed to determine what was needed in the park. That it could take 3-6 months to complete the study and that without the study it was not known what tourism would or could be brought to the city. Alderman Biondo asked if there was any way we could incorporate the other city parks into this study. Including Renner Brenner and Homestead would make more sense since we are asking to do one park already. This would require a revision of the application. Is it too late? Commissioner Rule stated that she is not a fan of supporting studies in general. This could come back and tell us something great about the park but have nothing to do with Tourism. Like more playground equipment. No impact on tourism. Would rather have them find funding elsewhere. At one time she knew that there was a group looking at E.H. Young park for a soccer center. It was too small. From past experience on our Park Board (County), we looked at this before and Horizons was more reasonable space but valuable as a retail area. So if the Riverside Park Board now wants to do a study regarding a soccer complex in E H Young, then tourism money would be useful to give. Still going to be too small of an area. Need the “what are you thinking” proposal, RFP. We need our money to fund accountability items and not something that might fall through. Commissioner Goering stated that without the RFP and direction the Park Board is going, there is not enough to go on. Need concrete something. A study is a study! This money would not be well spent. Alderman Biondo stated that as this commission has been doing, we are saving money for something big down the road, let’s keep going towards that. CameroFest - $7,500 – discussed $1,500 Have been here for 6 years. Never have asked for funding before. Trying to bring in more tourism dollars. Very easy to work with, no hassles, free event to the public. Commissioners Goering and Rule asked what are they doing with the projected profits? Does this event help with hotel money? Do these folks stay at Argosy? Where? Need some assurance about tourism promotion? An ad for Argosy, or eateries or gas stations, etc. would be nice to include. The Commissioners noted that for the future grant process there needs to be developed a piece in the application that asks them to show they are promoting Riverside and the community businesses. Dust Bowl - $44,900 – discussed $40,000 By far the best coordinator and event planner! After working with Jim, he has a great concept/idea and continues to tweak to bring in new and more revenue. Trying to work with Pokey to do a video for YouTube in Riverside. Main difference is the band. Has not been in the area of KC for some time. Taking out the car show. Scottish Highland Games - $12,500 – discussed $3,500 They have not put down a deposit. We no longer hold dates. Attendance is up and down and depends on the weather. They have been receiving grants since 2006. Requirement - Must list on website tourism locations. Riverside en Plein Air – KCAI - $5,220 – discussed no funding Have not received items from last MOU. Seems to be a disconnect from Riverside in general. Time to end ties.   2017 Sponsorship Application Reviews Lori Boji presented the applications for review to the Commission. RiverFest - $$80,000 - discussed $80,000 with no staff request next year. Tim Kelley, Vice President Chamber of Commerce, reviewed the overall application noting that marketing will be more robust in the coming year. They also noted that the calendar is always a challenge as well and want to get on calendars in the area and with the bands in a more advanced timeframe. With regards to bands, they are looking at a variety of genre at this time. The primary event will be Music Fest. Will also be involved with Tour de Platte with the dollars being less than $2000. Commissioner Goering noted that April Roberson’s position will only be available this year as the last year of a 3 year commitment by the Tourism Commission. Mr. Kelly noted that they are working towards the goal of self funding. Alderman Biondo would like to have the requests broken out going forward. Park Board - $50,000 – discussed no funding Elaine Warren presented the Park Board application for a master park plan and assessment of E.H. Young Park for the purpose of revitalizing the park usage. The Park Board would like to hire an outside company for their expertise in how to more utilize our park and bring in more tourism dollars to our community. Commissioner Goering asked who would do the assessment. What tourism will be brought? Commissioner Locke asked if the Tourism Commission was to pay the entire amount. Yes. Commissioner Goering inquired if this would be the only request? The application stated “the first” request which lead the commission to believe there would be other requests regarding this study. Ms. Warren clarified that this was the only request and that verbiage was a misprint. Commission Goering stated that there was not an RPF and that she would have liked to see one in the packet. There seems to be no direction? What are you really requesting?? When would this RFP be advertised? When would the work start? Ms. Warren stated that the study was needed to determine what was needed in the park. That it could take 3-6 months to complete the study and that without the study it was not known what tourism would or could be brought to the city. Alderman Biondo asked if there was any way we could incorporate the other city parks into this study. Including Renner Brenner and Homestead would make more sense since we are asking to do one park already. This would require a revision of the application. Is it too late? Commissioner Rule stated that she is not a fan of supporting studies in general. This could come back and tell us something great about the park but have nothing to do with Tourism. Like more playground equipment. No impact on tourism. Would rather have them find funding elsewhere. At one time she knew that there was a group looking at E.H. Young park for a soccer center. It was too small. From past experience on our Park Board (County), we looked at this before and Horizons was more reasonable space but valuable as a retail area. So if the Riverside Park Board now wants to do a study regarding a soccer complex in E H Young, then tourism money would be useful to give. Still going to be too small of an area. Need the “what are you thinking” proposal, RFP. We need our money to fund accountability items and not something that might fall through. Commissioner Goering stated that without the RFP and direction the Park Board is going, there is not enough to go on. Need concrete something. A study is a study! This money would not be well spent. Alderman Biondo stated that as this commission has been doing, we are saving money for something big down the road, let’s keep going towards that. CameroFest - $7,500 – discussed $1,500 Have been here for 6 years. Never have asked for funding before. Trying to bring in more tourism dollars. Very easy to work with, no hassles, free event to the public. Commissioners Goering and Rule asked what are they doing with the projected profits? Does this event help with hotel money? Do these folks stay at Argosy? Where? Need some assurance about tourism promotion? An ad for Argosy, or eateries or gas stations, etc. would be nice to include. The Commissioners noted that for the future grant process there needs to be developed a piece in the application that asks them to show they are promoting Riverside and the community businesses. Dust Bowl - $44,900 – discussed $40,000 By far the best coordinator and event planner! After working with Jim, he has a great concept/idea and continues to tweak to bring in new and more revenue. Trying to work with Pokey to do a video for YouTube in Riverside. Main difference is the band. Has not been in the area of KC for some time. Taking out the car show. Scottish Highland Games - $12,500 – discussed $3,500 They have not put down a deposit. We no longer hold dates. Attendance is up and down and depends on the weather. They have been receiving grants since 2006. Requirement - Must list on website tourism locations. Riverside en Plein Air – KCAI - $5,220 – discussed no funding Have not received items from last MOU. Seems to be a disconnect from Riverside in general. Time to end ties.   2017 Sponsorship Application Reviews Lori Boji presented the applications for review to the Commission. RiverFest - $$80,000 - discussed $80,000 with no staff request next year. Tim Kelley, Vice President Chamber of Commerce, reviewed the overall application noting that marketing will be more robust in the coming year. They also noted that the calendar is always a challenge as well and want to get on calendars in the area and with the bands in a more advanced timeframe. With regards to bands, they are looking at a variety of genre at this time. The primary event will be Music Fest. Will also be involved with Tour de Platte with the dollars being less than $2000. Commissioner Goering noted that April Roberson’s position will only be available this year as the last year of a 3 year commitment by the Tourism Commission. Mr. Kelly noted that they are working towards the goal of self funding. Alderman Biondo would like to have the requests broken out going forward. Park Board - $50,000 – discussed no funding Elaine Warren presented the Park Board application for a master park plan and assessment of E.H. Young Park for the purpose of revitalizing the park usage. The Park Board would like to hire an outside company for their expertise in how to more utilize our park and bring in more tourism dollars to our community. Commissioner Goering asked who would do the assessment. What tourism will be brought? Commissioner Locke asked if the Tourism Commission was to pay the entire amount. Yes. Commissioner Goering inquired if this would be the only request? The application stated “the first” request which lead the commission to believe there would be other requests regarding this study. Ms. Warren clarified that this was the only request and that verbiage was a misprint. Commission Goering stated that there was not an RPF and that she would have liked to see one in the packet. There seems to be no direction? What are you really requesting?? When would this RFP be advertised? When would the work start? Ms. Warren stated that the study was needed to determine what was needed in the park. That it could take 3-6 months to complete the study and that without the study it was not known what tourism would or could be brought to the city. Alderman Biondo asked if there was any way we could incorporate the other city parks into this study. Including Renner Brenner and Homestead would make more sense since we are asking to do one park already. This would require a revision of the application. Is it too late? Commissioner Rule stated that she is not a fan of supporting studies in general. This could come back and tell us something great about the park but have nothing to do with Tourism. Like more playground equipment. No impact on tourism. Would rather have them find funding elsewhere. At one time she knew that there was a group looking at E.H. Young park for a soccer center. It was too small. From past experience on our Park Board (County), we looked at this before and Horizons was more reasonable space but valuable as a retail area. So if the Riverside Park Board now wants to do a study regarding a soccer complex in E H Young, then tourism money would be useful to give. Still going to be too small of an area. Need the “what are you thinking” proposal, RFP. We need our money to fund accountability items and not something that might fall through. Commissioner Goering stated that without the RFP and direction the Park Board is going, there is not enough to go on. Need concrete something. A study is a study! This money would not be well spent. Alderman Biondo stated that as this commission has been doing, we are saving money for something big down the road, let’s keep going towards that. CameroFest - $7,500 – discussed $1,500 Have been here for 6 years. Never have asked for funding before. Trying to bring in more tourism dollars. Very easy to work with, no hassles, free event to the public. Commissioners Goering and Rule asked what are they doing with the projected profits? Does this event help with hotel money? Do these folks stay at Argosy? Where? Need some assurance about tourism promotion? An ad for Argosy, or eateries or gas stations, etc. would be nice to include. The Commissioners noted that for the future grant process there needs to be developed a piece in the application that asks them to show they are promoting Riverside and the community businesses. Dust Bowl - $44,900 – discussed $40,000 By far the best coordinator and event planner! After working with Jim, he has a great concept/idea and continues to tweak to bring in new and more revenue. Trying to work with Pokey to do a video for YouTube in Riverside. Main difference is the band. Has not been in the area of KC for some time. Taking out the car show. Scottish Highland Games - $12,500 – discussed $3,500 They have not put down a deposit. We no longer hold dates. Attendance is up and down and depends on the weather. They have been receiving grants since 2006. Requirement - Must list on website tourism locations. Riverside en Plein Air – KCAI - $5,220 – discussed no funding Have not received items from last MOU. Seems to be a disconnect from Riverside in general. Time to end ties.   Adjournment, 7:48pm  The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent.