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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-11-01 Tourism Commission DRAFTTOURISM COMMISSION and RIVERSIDED CHAMBER of COMMERCE JOINT MEETING RIVERSIDE, MISSOURI Monday, November 1, 2016, 7:00 a.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 7:06am. Answering roll call were Commissioners Jennifer Goering, Lori Locke, and Julie Rule. Also present were Board liaison Alderman Frank Biondo, Mayor Kathy Rose, City staff members Greg Mills, Lori Boji and Stacey Rasco, (recorder). Guests present were Tim Kelly, Chamber of Commerce, April Roberson, Chamber of Commerce, Elaine Warren, Park Board Member and John of the Dust Bowl Jamboree Event. Collaboratively discuss best ways to identify and support events which increase tourism within the City Mayor Rose noted we had Riverfest this year that pulled tourism in from 18 different states. There were 8 tickets sold on ticket master to Riverside residents. Tickets sold the last 3 days before the event. The goal was 2000 tickets with only 300 sold. It also rained almost every day before the event. Move stage to other side of the park in case of rain would help. What we do for that day would be helpful. Riverfest the festival part of it…the first part did not produce. We got behind in marketing as this was our first year doing on our own. Signage was late, flyers were late. We did a ton of social media and there could be more money behind that. The website was late in having to switch from the old site to the new. Big learning curve this year. Biggest piece is identifying the act in advance. Conducted a recap meeting with the city and would like to move forward with Musicfest and split the riverfest event with the city. The focus of the city would be the music part. Kathy noted that the community has asked for the old time event, where they could come play all day for free. This is not a free event. Maybe this is a time that we separate the event. Chamber does the Musicfest and the city does ice cream socials, and communities events. We don’t want to spend 25000 for an event that folks will not attend because there are soccer games. The board needs to help determine what they want for their wards. How is Tourism involved in the next generation? Greg Mills noted that we need to look at how we can change the focus and bring people to the city. City will have money put aside at the next budget year to help support events in the city. No one is utilizing the park. The city spends a lot of money to maintain the park. She would like to put together an arts commission for arts events, sculptures, etc. several locations that we can use. (KCAI) there are many arts festivals around the area. This would be commission people to do art. Blue Springs has a great program. These would be stationary things in the city. Jennifer noted that the challenge is the marketing to that hard to find place. With limited dollars we need to think big to get people to come here. Kathy noted that the trail system brings many into the area. There were many on Sat morning at 9am on the trails. This would be a new offering, sculpture and art on the trails. Tourism needs to think bigger. Greg noted that from the staff side we do want to think bigger and he encouraged tourism to start doing that as well. This commission was not developed to be a perpetual support for events. Mayor- Ideas for allocating tourism funds. Would like to see Arts commission or exercise stations along trail. Mentioned building complex for soccer or lacrosse. Is EH Young park large enough to accommodate a complex. Jennifer- Think big when planning a project such as soccer complex. Asked if community is planning any events on the river. Mayor- Not many people seems to be using park. See lot of people fishing. What can we do to drive people to the park? Greg P.-talked about Riverfest-8-10 people stayed at Argosy. Jennifer- asked Greg P. if they tap into Argosy market and promote Riverfest to argosy members. Greg said they market information to the guests in the hotel. Greg P.-People do not deal with change. Residence were not used to paying for Musicfest and complained about ticket price. Jennifer- Offer discount ticket prices for Riverside residents. Jennifer-Tourism funding - Grants are not guaranteed. Decrease in funds each year. Should not be available after the 3rd year. Julie-What is the Chamber’s plan and strategy for self funding the following; April’s position, bringing in tourism, developing membership, Greg P.-Membership is smaller than most chambers. Goal this year was to charge for big name band and make profit. Money would be put back into chamber from events. The attendance lower than expected. Jennifer- asked if Riverside Chamber partnered with Northland Chamber on bigger events to market on bill boards. April- asked about charging for Tour de Platte event to make money for chamber. Platte County Parks and Recreation does not charge for this event. Jennifer- stated people with pay $25 to ride and get t-shirt. Mayor-many chambers are struggling to retain memberships. Greg M- Since the Chamber has taken over Musicfest, this has taken the work load off of city staff. Greg P. - Why is the tourism budget process take place in December for tourism funds. This is difficult to plan in advance for events. Julie- Recommended changing funding cycles and would discuss at next tourism meeting.   Collaboratively discuss best ways to identify and support events which increase tourism within the City Mayor Rose noted we had Riverfest this year that pulled tourism in from 18 different states. There were 8 tickets sold on ticket master to Riverside residents. Tickets sold the last 3 days before the event. The goal was 2000 tickets with only 300 sold. It also rained almost every day before the event. Move stage to other side of the park in case of rain would help. What we do for that day would be helpful. Riverfest the festival part of it…the first part did not produce. We got behind in marketing as this was our first year doing on our own. Signage was late, flyers were late. We did a ton of social media and there could be more money behind that. The website was late in having to switch from the old site to the new. Big learning curve this year. Biggest piece is identifying the act in advance. Conducted a recap meeting with the city and would like to move forward with Musicfest and split the riverfest event with the city. The focus of the city would be the music part. Kathy noted that the community has asked for the old time event, where they could come play all day for free. This is not a free event. Maybe this is a time that we separate the event. Chamber does the Musicfest and the city does ice cream socials, and communities events. We don’t want to spend 25000 for an event that folks will not attend because there are soccer games. The board needs to help determine what they want for their wards. How is Tourism involved in the next generation? Greg Mills noted that we need to look at how we can change the focus and bring people to the city. City will have money put aside at the next budget year to help support events in the city. No one is utilizing the park. The city spends a lot of money to maintain the park. She would like to put together an arts commission for arts events, sculptures, etc. several locations that we can use. (KCAI) there are many arts festivals around the area. This would be commission people to do art. Blue Springs has a great program. These would be stationary things in the city. Jennifer noted that the challenge is the marketing to that hard to find place. With limited dollars we need to think big to get people to come here. Kathy noted that the trail system brings many into the area. There were many on Sat morning at 9am on the trails. This would be a new offering, sculpture and art on the trails. Tourism needs to think bigger. Greg noted that from the staff side we do want to think bigger and he encouraged tourism to start doing that as well. This commission was not developed to be a perpetual support for events. Mayor- Ideas for allocating tourism funds. Would like to see Arts commission or exercise stations along trail. Mentioned building complex for soccer or lacrosse. Is EH Young park large enough to accommodate a complex. Jennifer- Think big when planning a project such as soccer complex. Asked if community is planning any events on the river. Mayor- Not many people seems to be using park. See lot of people fishing. What can we do to drive people to the park? Greg P.-talked about Riverfest-8-10 people stayed at Argosy. Jennifer- asked Greg P. if they tap into Argosy market and promote Riverfest to argosy members. Greg said they market information to the guests in the hotel. Greg P.-People do not deal with change. Residence were not used to paying for Musicfest and complained about ticket price. Jennifer- Offer discount ticket prices for Riverside residents. Jennifer-Tourism funding - Grants are not guaranteed. Decrease in funds each year. Should not be available after the 3rd year. Julie-What is the Chamber’s plan and strategy for self funding the following; April’s position, bringing in tourism, developing membership, Greg P.-Membership is smaller than most chambers. Goal this year was to charge for big name band and make profit. Money would be put back into chamber from events. The attendance lower than expected. Jennifer- asked if Riverside Chamber partnered with Northland Chamber on bigger events to market on bill boards. April- asked about charging for Tour de Platte event to make money for chamber. Platte County Parks and Recreation does not charge for this event. Jennifer- stated people with pay $25 to ride and get t-shirt. Mayor-many chambers are struggling to retain memberships. Greg M- Since the Chamber has taken over Musicfest, this has taken the work load off of city staff. Greg P. - Why is the tourism budget process take place in December for tourism funds. This is difficult to plan in advance for events. Julie- Recommended changing funding cycles and would discuss at next tourism meeting.