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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-12-13 Tourism Commission Minutes (2) TOURISM COMMISSION MEETING RIVERSIDE, MISSOURI Monday, Dec 13, 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 and Motion to Approve Commissioner Goering made a motion to approve the minutes as submitted. Commissioner Rule seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Minutes from . Motion passed November 1, 2016 2017 Sponsorship Lori Boji presented the applications for review to the Commission. Application Reviews RiverFest - $$80,000 – Granted $80,000 Jennifer noted that this is the 3 rd year for the staffing request and are all in favor of not earmarking funds for staffing purposes going forward. This sponsorship was broken out for RiverFest - $45,000 and the Chamber staff $35,000. Park Board - $50,000 – Declined. Mayor Rose and Greg Mills on behalf of the park board. The reason for focusing on EH Young is that we cannot move forward with a plan until we know what can be done with that park. Commissioner Goering noted that there was not an RFP and no needed direction to review for a study. What was going to be specific from the study? Would it be well spent money or come back as money down the drain. Mayor Rose noted this was a place marker. Just a place to start. The place is to define the RFP to define what will be needed and what a tourist attraction would and could be in the park. We have met before and we are not utilizing that park with the best capabilities that we can. Noting that we only have one access into that park, we know that what currently sets down there we cannot do much with. The shelter houses are not enough at that park. Mayor Rose noted that the day after Thanksgiving there were zero people in the park. Went to English Landing in Parkville and for comparison there were over 100 people. The same day, weather, etc but no people in our park. Commissioner Goering noted that there are challenges in E. H. Young Park with visibility, access, etc. Mr. Mills noted that the RFP was not included in the application as it was thought that from meeting with the Tourism Commission before it was understood what it was needed for. Doing a study for a jewel of the city and saying that it does not work is being short sided. Commissioner Rule noted that we are in favor of supporting some kind of tourism in the park. We just don’t support funding of studies and but do support outcomes of such studies or plans. I look at this and say that the best approach to this is it be funded outside these dollars and come back and say that the project from the study would best be funded from Tourism dollars. Mr. Mills noted that the intent had always been to develop an RFP with Tourism and Park Board to align ideas and structure in a way that brings in tourism. We believe there is no better use for the tourism money than bringing in money for the city. This would allow us to put our heads together and work toward a goal. This is in the purview of the Tourism Commission to allow for this money. There is no point to go out and create an RFP that does not benefit the Tourism Commission and move the park forward. Commissioner Rule noted that she would love to collaborate and say what goes into the RFP but from a spending perspective, she would like to see a more concrete, brick and mortar form of spending and not wasted in some way. Mr. Mills noted that we have saved for the big things in the future and we have saved over $400 thousand. We need to use that money or it continues to save. Mayor Rose noted that in government, we can do nothing without a plan. We have to be able to work collaboratively and if we don’t we are not responsible stewards. Commissioner Goering agreed with the Mayor in that we need to have a plan and flush this stuff out with all the groups involved. There are no bones to this plan. We could allocate to this plan if there are tangibles. Mr. Mills stated that this was the plan from the beginning. We met with the Park Board and the Chamber and this was a collaborative effort. Commissioner Rule noted that it would have helped to have more of a vision. I knew that a soccer field was an option and it was moved to Horizons. Would love to find a more draw to Riverside but do we know if it is EH Young? We don’t. These are the limitations to the funding. We are partners but at a different level. The Mayor is saying at the level of funding the study and I am saying that we should be at the level of development after the study, a project study. This may or may not involve EH Young park. Soccer was used as an example. Mayor Rose noted that if this is not the park to use for tourism, then why are we keeping it groomed and kept up. We need to see what is needed in this park. Alderman Biondo noted that his prior meeting comments were only to keep attention on the soccer possibilities for Horizons. Commissioner Locke noted that we did not understand from the beginning what this was intended for. If an RFP was written up would this be for tourism totally? Commissioner Goering asked if this had changed any thoughts for the others on the committee. Commissioner Rule answered no. Commissioner Goering asked if there were any other funding sources they could obtain. Mr. Mills noted that there were not any identified. Lori suggested possibly $15,000. Commissioner Goering noted that we are setting a precedence of earmarking funds for future applicants for studies if we allow any funding at all. You can do an application and earmark funds and then the application then makes the budget non-compliant. Mr. Mills noted that there is a disconnect of what the Tourism Commission identifies as Tourism. Commissioner Rule voted no that we cannot set a precedence of earmarking money. Commissioner Locke has now voted no. Camero Fest - $7,500 – Granted $1,500. Jim Sharp and Steve ? were present for the Camero Fest Club. Mr. Sharp noted that they have used the park for the last several years. This brings folks from 7 states using Argosy, Hog Jaws, etc. in the city. Police and Fire help us and the people enjoy seeing them. Commissioner Goering noted that they are losing Hendricks $1,000. In looking at the application they are showing an overall budget and expenses. Asking for $7,500 from us. Why the difference? Some of the other sponsors they have are a hit or miss. They don’t make money on the show. Steve brought examples of invoices vs. awards for this event. Steve noted that this is the 50 th anniversary of the Camero and they want to go bigger and better. This funding will help with the extra push to go bigger. Commissioner Goering noted that this was all thought about from the initial meeting and application process. Commissioner Locke asked if they promote/market. They do on Facebook, the Star, etc. Steve noted that they look for sponsorships from over 200 locations. Dust Bowl - $44,900 – Granted $40,000 Jim Spawn presented the comprehensive package for this event. The magic in using this park is to keep tweaking what works and what has not. Interaction with the park and volunteers and vendors was remarkable. There was an open jamboree as well. The attendance was just not there. He attended the Park Board and Chamber meeting and wrote notes about how we need to go big. We need to increase the budget, for billboards, magazine ads, etc. Last year we spent money on Facebook and it did not improve the outcome. We have the talent but how many followers does the talent have. We tried to get Pokey last year and are planning on him this year. He has 65,000 followers. He is doing a movie this year as well. We have a penciled in agreement with Pokey and if he can come then the funding will be there. Some of the YouTube videos of Pokey have millions of views. If we do a video of Riverside we can get millions of views as well and that is priceless to Riverside. Continue with the open jam is planned. Car show will be different. We do not need another car show. Will be hand picking a few cars and will place them in the park sporadically. No return on this and money will be placed mainly on the concert and advertising. Commissioner Goering noted that he is very thorough. Commissioner Rule noted that we discussed if we had the right formula. Want to move forward with the right formula and ultimately we could see adjustments that would bring it forward. Scottish Highland Games - $12,500 – Granted $3,500 Christie Peterson and Paul. Have been at EH Young for many years. We have a new mission. Sometimes we get complacent and we are now investing in more social capital. Putting a price on volunteers and we will be working with a tighter ship. We have received a sponsorship each year that we have been here. We have competitors from all over the US and the close area. They are trying to get away from outside bands and focusing on local entertainment including Celtic bands. Any questions… Commissioner Rule asked if they promote any hotels? They do but Argosy is outside their patrons and competitors budget. Hotel 6 is normally out of rooms. Commissioner Goering noted that their biggest question was about their budget. Why do you need the larger sum of the budget? Ms. Peterson did not know this answer. Their finance person is the one that does the application. Commissioner Goering noted that when looking at the application, we have been giving grant funds for the last 10 years. You cannot rely on the grant funds alone. Last year was a nice year of funding with the increase in social media. When is it going to be that you are self sufficient? These are these biggest concerns. Ms. Peterson noted that they have other funding avenues they are pursuing and hoping to gather more funds this way. Wish she had an answer to when they will be more self sufficient. The Board changes and they have not a lot of control and they struggle with ways to make money, etc. it’s a constant uphill struggle. Used to do other fund raising efforts and some have been sanctioned and they can no longer do those events. They advertise Riverside in all ads and volunteer media, etc. as well as try to put their money back in to the local economy. They are aware of the improvements on the park that have benefited them. Commissioner Rule noted that the new park board procedures/policies and the deposit will make a difference in holding the park for a reservation. This will become more important as time goes on. Riverside en Plein Air – KCAI - $5,220 – Declined Commissioner Goering noted that with past discussions we are declining. Adjournment,7:07 pm The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent.