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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-09-15 Tourism Enhancement Grant Committee Minutes MINUTES TOURISM ENHANCEMENT GRANT COMMITTEE RIVERSIDE, MISSOURI Monday, September 15, 2008 6:00 p.m. The Tourism Enhancement Grant Committee for the City of Riverside, Missouri, met in the Board of Aldermen Conference Room at City Hall, 2950 NW Vivion Road, Riverside, Missouri, on September 15, 2008. Chair Deana Winter called the meeting to order. Answering roll call were Jerry Pietsch, Linda Casey, Ruth Roth, Cindi Rice, Debbie Leader, Sandy Gardner. Also present were Meredith Hauck, Communications and External Affairs Coordinator, and Jason Rule, Tourism Commission Chair. Tourism Enhancement Grant Meredith Hauck gave an overview of the grant guidelines and talked Process Discussion about the timeline, i.e., July 31 is the deadline for determining the amount of funding available for the grant program; certification is due on August 31; certification results reported to the grant committee by September 15; on or before September 30 notice of approval or disapproval will be sent to applicants; October 31 is the deadline for grant applications; on or before November 30, the grant committee reports to the Tourism Commission; and the approval of the board of aldermen and the announcement of the grant recipient(s) will be made no later than January 20. The committee decided to set the next meeting for November 12 at 6 p.m. Winter confirmed that she and/or Pietsch would need to make a presentation to the Tourism Commission on November 17 and Board of Aldermen on December 2 reporting the results. Copies of the grant application were also handed out and reviewed with the Committee. Hauck explained this meeting is only the first step applicants must be certified before they are able to turn in a grant application. Actual applications, which will contain more details (budget, project description, etc) are due October 31. Grant Application Pietsch explained that the Tourism Commission takes the Discussion recommendations of this committee very seriously as does the Board of Aldermen, something that took them a few meetings to figure out. Winter agreed and added that it is important the committee look at these applications critically because their recommendations will be taken with weight. Platte County Arts Council The committee agreed that the mission of this organization was a big selling point. Winter expressed her interest in expanding the arts offered in Riverside; Gardner, Roth and Rice agreed. All members expressed that the Arts Council needs to have an advertising component in their grant application few had heard of the program other than by word of mouth. The committee consensus was to certify the program Tourism Enhancement Grant Committee Minutes 09/15/2008 Page 1 Northland Symphony Orchestra Winter explained that the Tourism Commission had funded NSO for $2,000 in this fiscal year and the City had funded the organization at the same level in the past. Hauck added that in the future, NSO would only be going through the grant process and would not receive money from other portions of the Tourism Fund unless the Tourism Commission sought that out. Winter and Gardner both agreed that it would be nice to have another place to host events like this instead of always using the high school. Gardner pointed to Gladstone and its events in the park as an example. Rice expressed concern that with the event being at the high school, it would not actually bring people into Riverside. Hauck said that this type of event would build a buzz about advertising could be a benefit. The committee agreed that advertising would be key and asked Hauck to inform NSO that they would like to see information about Riverside be prominent in their advertisements. The committee would also like to see details about how this organization advertises its events. The committee consensus was to certify the program. Bell Road Barn Players The committee expressed the same concern as with NSO that hosting this event at Park Hill South would not bring people into the main part of Riverside. Leader asked Hauck to investigate if the back gate to the high school could be left open during these types of events so that attendees could be directed through town instead of just using 9 Highway to access the high school. The committee would like to look at different places signs could be placed around town that would inform people just driving through of events happening at the high school and inform people going to the high school about Riverside. Rice said that the fact that Bell Road Barn Players indicated that Riverside would have a prominent place in their advertising was important for her. The committee also agreed that Bell Road Barn consensus was to certify the program. Highland Games, Inc. Winter reca Commission and explained that although the Commission had recommended it be funded for $15,000, the Board of Aldermen chose to fund it for $7,500. Hauck explained that based on information from the past year, $7,500 would only cover the security required at the event. Everything the City requires in its agreement with the Highland Games, including insurance, electricity to the park, portable facilities, etc. costs more than $15,000. Winter added that although HGI had initially asked for a five-year contract, the Tourism Commission felt that they did not provide enough information to justify their financial requests and funding them for one more year would allow them time to collect that information. Winter also said she had asked around and had heard from a number of people what a great event it is. Gardner Tourism Enhancement Grant Committee Minutes 09/15/2008 Page 2 added that she sees a lot of advertising for it as well. Rice said that this is one event that is proven to bring people into the community from all over the world. Pietsch asked Hauck to check if the Highland Games was a 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 organization. Winter said that she thinks it would be great to keep this event one more year to get a more educated view on the event and revisit it after the 2009 games. The committee agreed and the consensus was to certify the program. Motion to certify Platte Leader made a motion to certify the Platte Council Arts Council Grant County Arts Council Grant Application. Gardner seconded and all voted in favor. Motion carried. Application Motion to certify Northland Winter made a motion to certify the Northland Symphony Orchestra Symphony Orchestra Grant Grant Application. Rice seconded and all voted in favor. Motion Application carried. Motion to certify Bell Road Rice made a motion to certify the Bell Road Barn Players Grant Barn Players Grant Application. Casey seconded and all voted in favor. Motion carried. Application Motion to certify Highland Pietsch made a motion to certify the Highland Games, Inc. Grant Games, Inc. Grant Application. Winter seconded and all voted in favor. Motion carried. Application Motion to Adjourn Leader made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Gardner seconded. All voted in favor and the motion carried. ______________________________ Meredith Hauck Communications/External Affairs Tourism Enhancement Grant Committee Minutes 09/15/2008 Page 3