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Home My WebLink About2014-12-08 Tourism Commission MinutesTOURISM COMMISSION RIVERSIDE, MISSOURI, Monday, December 8, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. At 6:02 p.m. on December 8, 2014, 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. Answering roll call was Alderman Aaron Thatcher, Commissioners Hope Carriger, Lori Locke, Jennifer Goering, and City staff member Jackie Carlson, and Stacey Rasco (Scribe) were also present. Commissioner Julie Rule was absent. Motion to Approve Minutes Commissioner Goering made a motion to approve the minutes from October 20, 2014. Commissioner Carriger seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Motion passed. Riverside MusicFest Final Report Holly Phillips and Keli Wenzel presented the highlights from the 2014 Riverside MucicFest Final Report. Overall they believed that the event was a success and met the goals challenged by the Commission. The RiverFest Committee completed two different surveys, pre and post MusicFest. In the future they would like to do an information booth for Riverside promotion. The event was scaled back to a one-day event. Launched a new website and increased social media as well. For future events the committee would like to have a block of rooms reserved at Argosy for attendees. This will allow for better tracking of the local impact from the event. 2015 Tourism Grant Applications The Tourism Commission reviewed the following grant applications for 2015. It was noted that $175,000 is available for grants this next year with over $256,000 requested. The question was posed as to how much money was in the reserve fund. Commissioner Goering believed it was nearly $300,000. The Commission discussed the 11 applications. As they went through the list they identified top priorities and established the grant allocation for the top 6 applications. The other 5 applications were ranked 1-5, with 1 being a higher priority. Funding was then determined for each of the 5 remaining applications. General Comments: The Tourism grant should be utilized to help initiate an event, not act as a continuous operating revenue source. Organizers should work to grow annual events and increase sponsorships. Applications should include a detailed budget, identifying specific items that Tourism dollars will fund. Utilizing tourism dollars for items like marketing and advertising are more favorable. Funding preference is given to events that are easily accessible to the public (i.e. – free or minimal cover/registration fees). Platte County Extension – Northland Ethnic Festival Asking $2000 (granted) Trying to grow event Unique Attendance not the biggest but over 1000 (most not from Riverside) Good ROI City of Riverside – Historical Marker Trail Sign Asking $3000 (granted) A focus for future activities Good ROI and one time opportunity Park Hill South Student Council – Bell Tower Charity Run Asking $9000 What is the cost per runner, sponsorships, expenses, etc? Bell Tower on School property; is it a landmark for Riverside? Needed more info Ranked #3, (granted $4,500) Heart of America Shakespeare Festival – Team Shakespeare Performance Asking $10,000 Ask them to start finding other revenue sources Grant to go to marketing and advertising to grow attendance Level attendance (800-1500) Want to see more advertising in 2016, less grant monies should go for managers/designers Ranked #2, (granted $8,500) Genuine GMC Truck Club of KC – Midwest All Truck Nationals Asking $10,000 Has grown year over year Gave $5000 last year Granted $6000 this year for marketing, advertising, materials Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, Inc – Lewis and Clark National Convention Asking $13,640 Re-enactment open to public? Advertising to whom?? Must open to public and advertise the re-enactments publicly. $350 registration fee is high and limits public attendance Granted $5000 for meeting space. Possible increase if re-enactments are open to the public Ranked #4 Kansas City Scottish Highland Games & Celtic Festival Asking $10,500 (granted) Statistics are good Growth over and over Unique event Park Hill South Student Council – Missouri Association of Student Council State Convention Asking $18,000 What is the public piece? Students are staying in homes in Riverside Ranked #5, (granted $5,000) Attache International – Dust Bowl Jamboree Asking $19,850 Organizer will give 110%, he has put on other events and done well Bluegrass bands and car show (Model A) First time event; like that it’s something new in Riverside Granted $18,200 Riverside Area Chamber of Commerce – Full-time staff position Ask $50,000 Cannot guarantee grant will be there year to year Where is the economic development in this request Possibly for Chamber to be more involved in MusicFest Ranked #1, (granted $35,000) Would need goals for 2016 and need to consider Tourism ROI Riverside MusicFest Asking $100,000 Collect a fee for the headliner act First part is free RiverFest, second part is MusicFest for a fee Want to see growth from other sponsorships Potential help from Chamber position Granted $77,300 2015 Tourism Grant Applications The Tourism Commission reviewed the following grant applications for 2015. It was noted that $175,000 is available for grants this next year with over $256,000 requested. The question was posed as to how much money was in the reserve fund. Commissioner Goering believed it was nearly $300,000. The Commission discussed the 11 applications. As they went through the list they identified top priorities and established the grant allocation for the top 6 applications. The other 5 applications were ranked 1-5, with 1 being a higher priority. Funding was then determined for each of the 5 remaining applications. General Comments: The Tourism grant should be utilized to help initiate an event, not act as a continuous operating revenue source. Organizers should work to grow annual events and increase sponsorships. Applications should include a detailed budget, identifying specific items that Tourism dollars will fund. Utilizing tourism dollars for items like marketing and advertising are more favorable. Funding preference is given to events that are easily accessible to the public (i.e. – free or minimal cover/registration fees). Platte County Extension – Northland Ethnic Festival Asking $2000 (granted) Trying to grow event Unique Attendance not the biggest but over 1000 (most not from Riverside) Good ROI City of Riverside – Historical Marker Trail Sign Asking $3000 (granted) A focus for future activities Good ROI and one time opportunity Park Hill South Student Council – Bell Tower Charity Run Asking $9000 What is the cost per runner, sponsorships, expenses, etc? Bell Tower on School property; is it a landmark for Riverside? Needed more info Ranked #3, (granted $4,500) Heart of America Shakespeare Festival – Team Shakespeare Performance Asking $10,000 Ask them to start finding other revenue sources Grant to go to marketing and advertising to grow attendance Level attendance (800-1500) Want to see more advertising in 2016, less grant monies should go for managers/designers Ranked #2, (granted $8,500) Genuine GMC Truck Club of KC – Midwest All Truck Nationals Asking $10,000 Has grown year over year Gave $5000 last year Granted $6000 this year for marketing, advertising, materials Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, Inc – Lewis and Clark National Convention Asking $13,640 Re-enactment open to public? Advertising to whom?? Must open to public and advertise the re-enactments publicly. $350 registration fee is high and limits public attendance Granted $5000 for meeting space. Possible increase if re-enactments are open to the public Ranked #4 Kansas City Scottish Highland Games & Celtic Festival Asking $10,500 (granted) Statistics are good Growth over and over Unique event Park Hill South Student Council – Missouri Association of Student Council State Convention Asking $18,000 What is the public piece? Students are staying in homes in Riverside Ranked #5, (granted $5,000) Attache International – Dust Bowl Jamboree Asking $19,850 Organizer will give 110%, he has put on other events and done well Bluegrass bands and car show (Model A) First time event; like that it’s something new in Riverside Granted $18,200 Riverside Area Chamber of Commerce – Full-time staff position Ask $50,000 Cannot guarantee grant will be there year to year Where is the economic development in this request Possibly for Chamber to be more involved in MusicFest Ranked #1, (granted $35,000) Would need goals for 2016 and need to consider Tourism ROI Riverside MusicFest Asking $100,000 Collect a fee for the headliner act First part is free RiverFest, second part is MusicFest for a fee Want to see growth from other sponsorships Potential help from Chamber position Granted $77,300 2015 Tourism Grant Applications The Tourism Commission reviewed the following grant applications for 2015. It was noted that $175,000 is available for grants this next year with over $256,000 requested. The question was posed as to how much money was in the reserve fund. Commissioner Goering believed it was nearly $300,000. The Commission discussed the 11 applications. As they went through the list they identified top priorities and established the grant allocation for the top 6 applications. The other 5 applications were ranked 1-5, with 1 being a higher priority. Funding was then determined for each of the 5 remaining applications. General Comments: The Tourism grant should be utilized to help initiate an event, not act as a continuous operating revenue source. Organizers should work to grow annual events and increase sponsorships. Applications should include a detailed budget, identifying specific items that Tourism dollars will fund. Utilizing tourism dollars for items like marketing and advertising are more favorable. Funding preference is given to events that are easily accessible to the public (i.e. – free or minimal cover/registration fees). Platte County Extension – Northland Ethnic Festival Asking $2000 (granted) Trying to grow event Unique Attendance not the biggest but over 1000 (most not from Riverside) Good ROI City of Riverside – Historical Marker Trail Sign Asking $3000 (granted) A focus for future activities Good ROI and one time opportunity Park Hill South Student Council – Bell Tower Charity Run Asking $9000 What is the cost per runner, sponsorships, expenses, etc? Bell Tower on School property; is it a landmark for Riverside? Needed more info Ranked #3, (granted $4,500) Heart of America Shakespeare Festival – Team Shakespeare Performance Asking $10,000 Ask them to start finding other revenue sources Grant to go to marketing and advertising to grow attendance Level attendance (800-1500) Want to see more advertising in 2016, less grant monies should go for managers/designers Ranked #2, (granted $8,500) Genuine GMC Truck Club of KC – Midwest All Truck Nationals Asking $10,000 Has grown year over year Gave $5000 last year Granted $6000 this year for marketing, advertising, materials Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, Inc – Lewis and Clark National Convention Asking $13,640 Re-enactment open to public? Advertising to whom?? Must open to public and advertise the re-enactments publicly. $350 registration fee is high and limits public attendance Granted $5000 for meeting space. Possible increase if re-enactments are open to the public Ranked #4 Kansas City Scottish Highland Games & Celtic Festival Asking $10,500 (granted) Statistics are good Growth over and over Unique event Park Hill South Student Council – Missouri Association of Student Council State Convention Asking $18,000 What is the public piece? Students are staying in homes in Riverside Ranked #5, (granted $5,000) Attache International – Dust Bowl Jamboree Asking $19,850 Organizer will give 110%, he has put on other events and done well Bluegrass bands and car show (Model A) First time event; like that it’s something new in Riverside Granted $18,200 Riverside Area Chamber of Commerce – Full-time staff position Ask $50,000 Cannot guarantee grant will be there year to year Where is the economic development in this request Possibly for Chamber to be more involved in MusicFest Ranked #1, (granted $35,000) Would need goals for 2016 and need to consider Tourism ROI Riverside MusicFest Asking $100,000 Collect a fee for the headliner act First part is free RiverFest, second part is MusicFest for a fee Want to see growth from other sponsorships Potential help from Chamber position Granted $77,300 Tourism Commission Meeting Schedule The next Tourism Commission meeting will be on February 9 at 6 p.m. Adjournment, 7:20p.m. Commission was adjourned by unanimous consent.