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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-01-06 Tourism Commission MinutesTOURISM COMMISSION RIVERSIDE, MISSOURI, Monday, January 6, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. At 6:00 p.m. on January 6, 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 Jason Rule, Jerry Pietsch, and Jennifer Goering. Alderman Aaron Thatcher and Meredith Hauck, Director of Administration (recorder) were also present. Motion to Approve Minutes The minutes from June 10, 2013 were accepted by the Tourism Commission. A quorum of members present at that meeting was not available to formally approve the minutes.  FY 2013-2014 Budget Update Hauck informed the Commission that their budget for this fiscal year is $175,000, which is equal to the previous year. No money from this budget has been spent to date. All funding requests are anticipated to be heard at this meeting and the February meeting.  2014 Tourism Funding Cycle The Tourism Commission released an RFP for Tourism projects in Fall 2013. Four responses were submitted for consideration. This is the only formal funding cycle that will take place for events happening in 2014. Northland Ethnic Festival - $2,000 The Northland Ethnic Festival received $1,400 in funding from the Commission in 2013. The Commissioners agreed this is a relatively small funding request and that the event does bring a wide variety of people into Riverside. Alderman Thatcher attended the 2013 event and shared that the City was recognized for its contributions at that event. Commissioner Rule made a motion to sponsor the event at $2,000. Commissioner Pietsch seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Motion passed. Heart of America Shakespeare Festival - $10,000 The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival requested a $10,000 sponsorship for its 2014 Team Shakespeare performance. This will be the third year this event has been held in Riverside. Hauck explained that this event originally came to Riverside as a contract event where the City contracted with Heart of America Shakespeare Festival to put on the event for $10,000. The funding request has stayed the same since. The Commission agreed that it does target a different audience than some of the other events and provides wide marketing exposure for the City. Commissioner Pietsch made a motion to sponsor the event at $10,000. Commissioner Rule seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Motion passed. Midwest All Truck Nationals - $10,000 The Midwest All Truck Nationals requested $10,000 in funding for its 2014 event. The Commission only funded the event at the $5,000 level in 2013 and because no new features are being proposed for 2014, discussed funding at this level again in 2014. Goering commented that the proposal outlined some items that “may” be added in 2014, but no specific details were provided. She would like to see a more thorough plan before agreeing to increase the funding level. The other commissioners agreed and instructed Hauck to share that if the event wanted to come back with details about expanded the event, they would consider providing additional funding. Commissioner Rule made a motion to sponsor the event at $5,000. Commissioner Pietsch seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Motion passed. Kansas City Scottish Highland Games and Celtic Festival The Highland Games requested $17,500 for their 2014 event, which is the same level the Commission has funded the event for a number of years. The Commissioners agreed that they feel the event has become somewhat stagnant and would like to see something new added for 2015. Commissioner Rule commented that he felt this event was the best fit for Tourism funding based on the goals of the Commission. Goering suggested that the event take advantage of being on Father’s Day weekend and have a special promotion for Fathers. Commissioner Rule made a motion to sponsor the event at $17,500. Commissioner Pietsch seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Motion passed.   2014 Tourism Funding Cycle The Tourism Commission released an RFP for Tourism projects in Fall 2013. Four responses were submitted for consideration. This is the only formal funding cycle that will take place for events happening in 2014. Northland Ethnic Festival - $2,000 The Northland Ethnic Festival received $1,400 in funding from the Commission in 2013. The Commissioners agreed this is a relatively small funding request and that the event does bring a wide variety of people into Riverside. Alderman Thatcher attended the 2013 event and shared that the City was recognized for its contributions at that event. Commissioner Rule made a motion to sponsor the event at $2,000. Commissioner Pietsch seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Motion passed. Heart of America Shakespeare Festival - $10,000 The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival requested a $10,000 sponsorship for its 2014 Team Shakespeare performance. This will be the third year this event has been held in Riverside. Hauck explained that this event originally came to Riverside as a contract event where the City contracted with Heart of America Shakespeare Festival to put on the event for $10,000. The funding request has stayed the same since. The Commission agreed that it does target a different audience than some of the other events and provides wide marketing exposure for the City. Commissioner Pietsch made a motion to sponsor the event at $10,000. Commissioner Rule seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Motion passed. Midwest All Truck Nationals - $10,000 The Midwest All Truck Nationals requested $10,000 in funding for its 2014 event. The Commission only funded the event at the $5,000 level in 2013 and because no new features are being proposed for 2014, discussed funding at this level again in 2014. Goering commented that the proposal outlined some items that “may” be added in 2014, but no specific details were provided. She would like to see a more thorough plan before agreeing to increase the funding level. The other commissioners agreed and instructed Hauck to share that if the event wanted to come back with details about expanded the event, they would consider providing additional funding. Commissioner Rule made a motion to sponsor the event at $5,000. Commissioner Pietsch seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Motion passed. Kansas City Scottish Highland Games and Celtic Festival The Highland Games requested $17,500 for their 2014 event, which is the same level the Commission has funded the event for a number of years. The Commissioners agreed that they feel the event has become somewhat stagnant and would like to see something new added for 2015. Commissioner Rule commented that he felt this event was the best fit for Tourism funding based on the goals of the Commission. Goering suggested that the event take advantage of being on Father’s Day weekend and have a special promotion for Fathers. Commissioner Rule made a motion to sponsor the event at $17,500. Commissioner Pietsch seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Motion passed.  2014 Meeting Schedule and Funding Priorities The next meeting will be the second Monday in February. The expected agenda includes a presentation from Riverfest, a funding request from the City, and potentially a funding request from a local hotel. The Commission will also decide at the February meeting if it would like to continue meeting every other month or go to quarterly meetings for the rest of 2014.  Adjournment – 6:55 p.m. Commission was adjourned.