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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[05] CVB 0 r [05]CITY OF ST,JOSEPH EDA Agenda Item J1 MEETING DATE: April 16,2019 AGENDA ITEM: Hospitality/Visitors SUBMITTED BY: EDA Director BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The EDA recommended and the City Council approved the implementation of a Lodging Tax in 2016. As a reminder 90%of the tax must be used to market and promote the City. During the creation of the tax,the City invited Julie Lunning from the St. Cloud Convention Visitors Bureau(CVB)to discuss how City contributed funds would be used to promote St. Joseph. Through continued discussion of the EDA,the Board decided it would be best for St. Joseph to form their own CVB. The St.Joseph CVB has been meeting regularly to establish a vision and branding. Mary Bruno will be present the EDA with an update of activities and thoughts for moving forward. BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: ATTACHMENTS: CVB Meeting Minutes Financial Summary REQUESTED BOARD ACTION: Provide direction Lodging Tax-Revnue Summary Rodeway Inn CSB 2016 2017 2018 2019 2016 2017 2018 2019 January 542.82 400.08 January February 806.10 710.28 February March 1,098.00 601.47 March April 700.00 979.47 April May 390.00 950.58 May 225.99 June 948.99 1,139.82 June 1,908.27 July 1,085.49 1,241.67 July 726.78 August 692.25 1,310.43 1,284.63 August 1,315.53 September 885.65 978.75 1,126.65 September October 682.26 886.17 1,209.69 October 5.70 November 530.98 499.41 720.60 November December 377.35 476.31 592.44 December Total $ 3,168.49 $ 8,373.55 $ 11,195.94 $ 1,110.36 Total $ 4,878.00 4,164.00 $ 4,182.27 $ - Estates B&B 2016 2017 2018 2019 Revenue January 25.95 109.97 Lodging Tax-Rodeway $ 23,848.34 February 27.73 68.04 Lodging Tax-Estates B&B $ 787.83 March 53.40 Lodging Tax-CSB $ 13,224.27 April 80.10 Interest-2016 $ 7.14 May 45.72 Interest-2017 $ 105.64 June 69.36 Interest-2018 $ 166.67 July 71.16 Interest-2019 $ 297.95 August 22.07 $ 38,437.84 September 29.36 October 16.00 37.73 Expenses November 20.25 56.43 HVS-Hotel Study $ (4,000.00) December 21.45 33.11 Billboard,Shop Small $ (1,800.00) Total $ - $ 57.70 $ 552.12 $ 178.01 $ (5,800.00) 31-Mar Available Fund Balance $ 32,637.84 First meeting to launch St Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau 5:30pm, Wednesday, September 26, 2018 Where: Bruno Press, 154 5th Ave SE, St. Joseph Present: Mary Bruno, Rick Schultz, Judy Weyrens, Aaron Rieland, Pia Lopez, Melissa Kolstad, Ann & Shawn Riesner, Leslie Lane, Kim Poganski. Absent: Tracy Smith (make sure we get her email and phone/text to add to group list). Introduction Mayor Rick Schultz said that this group would be a city-funded marketing leg of the city's Economic Development Authority. City Administrator Judy Weyrens indicated that funds come from the city's lodging tax. By law, 95% of the proceeds have to fund a local convention and tourism bureau for the purpose of marketing and promoting the city. The fund currently has $21,000. This group would have to come up with a budget. Discussion --Purpose: To bring more people to St. Joseph From the Twin Cities, from surrounding lakes (Chain of Lakes area around Richmond, Rockville, etc), from Brainerd, from Clearwater and Becker areas. --Start with promoting the Shop Small Crawl event (Saturday, November 24) Facebook Instagram Billboards (Melissa will look into billboard on 1-94) Everyone will come up with ideas to bring to next meeting E • •mic D-v-I. .m-n Au ori - -t r• Tu- • - • h month Set the CVB group meetings to be before that, so we can keep the EDA informed. . Meeting schedule• bpm, second Wednesday of each month Oct 10, Nov 14, Dec 12 Next meeting 6pm, Wednesday, October 10, at Minnesota Street Market, 27 West Minnesota St. Second meeting of St Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau 6:00pm Wednesday, October 10, 2018 Where: Minnesota Street Market, 27 West Minnesota St, St. Joseph Present: Mary Bruno, Rick Schultz, Judy Weyrens, Pia Lopez, Melissa Kolstad, Ann & Shawn Riesner, Leslie Lane, Tracy Smith. Not present:Aaron Rieland, Kim Poganski. What do we want to accomplish by the end of 2018? Background: City's lodging tax proceeds have to fund a local convention and tourism bureau for the purpose of marketing and promoting the city. The fund currently has $21,000. •Take existing events in St. Joseph and promote them better: Shop Small Crawl (November: Saturday after Thanksgiving), Rocktoberfest (last Saturday of September), Mill Stream Arts Festival (September: Last Sunday in September). Some discussion of Joetown Rocks Parish Festival (July 3-4). Decided that city funds shouldn't go toward an event which is a fundraiser for the Church of St. Joseph, and already has a large regional audience. •Start by enhancing promotion of the upcoming Shop Small Crawl (Saturday after Thanksgiving). The other events already have passed in 2018. •Start brainstorming a name, mission statement and brand. Future • •Work on name, mission statement and brand. •Brainstorm new events in St. Joseph. Current events are concentrated in the fall. Goal is to have events conducive to overnight stays, such as two-day events. R- •I ten o •rin• • E •n•mic i-v-I. •m-nt ' th•rit T • . • o•-r 1 • m- - in. : To enhance promotion of the Shop Small Crawl on Saturday, November 24, we ask the City of St. Joseph Economic Development Authority to approve funding for two billboards to run for 3 weeks at a totoal cost of $2,100. APPROVED. Details Vendor: Lamar Billboards. Location of the two billboards:: Division & 33rd Avenue North and 4130 W Division @ Best Buy. Dates ads will run: November 3- November 24. Cost: $350 per week, per digital billboard. Total cost for 2 billboards for 3 weeks: $2,100.00. Meeting schedule• 6pm, second Monday of each month November 12, December 10 Next meeting 6pm, Monday, November 12, at Minnesota Street Market, 27 West Minnesota St. Meeting of St Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau 6:00pm Monday, December 10, 2018 Where: Minnesota Street Market, 27 West Minnesota St, St. Joseph Present: Mary Bruno, Pia Lopez, Ann Riesner, Kim Poganski, Rick Schultz, Judy Weyrens. Not present: Melissa Kolstad, Leslie Lane, Tracy Smith, Aaron Rieland. 2018 actions since first meeting in late September 'Goal: Take existing events in St. Joseph and promote them better. 'Discussion of our first effort in promoting Shop Small Crawl (November: Saturday after Thanksgiving). City's lodging tax fund paid for billboards. Lots of promotion through social media. For future: Ask people, how did you find out about Shop Small Crawl? Which businesses should be on punch card in future? For example, should Milk & Honey Ciders and Local Blend be on the punch card? Where should music venues be in 2019? Kudos to Mary Bruno and her committee for another successful Shop Small Crawl, each year better than the last. Collected the punchcards and drew for prize winners at the post-event gathering at Milk & Honey, but have not yet entered the phone & email info (Judy Weyrens said that city staff could take care of that). •Winterwalk (Friday, Nov. 30). Revived this year by St. Joseph Y2K Lions. Local businesses did sidewalk luminarias (all lit at 5pm) and punchcards for a prize drawing. Discussion of Nisswa event: Parade, all lights turn on at the same time, fireworks. Need for events in each quarter 'Current events are concentrated in the summer and fall. Goal is to have events conducive to overnight stays, such as two-day events. Existing events: 'Summer Quarter (July.August. September): JoeTown Rocks (July 4th weekend; no need for more promotion). Rocktoberfest (last Saturday of September), Mill Stream Arts Festival (last Sunday in September). -Fall Quarter (October. November. December): Shop Small Crawl (November: Saturday after Thanksgiving). Community Winterwalk (last Sunday in December). 'Year-round: Do a better job of leveraging of events at the College of St. Benedict, senior events, Rolling RidgeWedding & Event Center. Other? Discussion of possibilities for new quarterly events: Winter (Jan, Feb, Mar): Ice Fishing Contest & Sledding Hill with Warming Shed? Spring (April, May, June): Start a Free Film Night (Wed or Thurs) that would start in June and run through July and August. How about a Garage Sale for Kids (like Oakdale's, with a water-gun event with fire department that takes over a street)? Summer (July,August, September). Fall (October, November, December). Began discussion of name. mission statement and brand. •Mary Bruno to meet with Kristina Vonberge of the Little Falls CVB. •Kim Poganski read out the first line of the lodging tax ordinance: "In order to increase commerce and to provide for a vibrant city atmosphere that will attract tourism and convention business to the city, it is essential that the city be marketed and promoted by a local convention and tourist bureau." •Discussion: Let's stay true to who we are. Small, robust. What sets St. Joseph apart? How is St. Joseph different from other communities? Unearth our distinctiveness, distill it down. Sip, shop, stay. What is role of Joe Town Vibe (blog started by Jon Petters and other business people and residents)? Other cities: Explore xxx. Discover xxx. Visit xxx. The place to stay. The place to drink and dine. The place to shop. The place to play. The place to learn. Explore Minnesota has a list of Minnesota CVB & Travel Organizations, showing how they market their communities: https://www.exploreminnesota.com/travel-trade/cvb-travel-organizations Our organization should be separate from, but should look and feel part of the city. Can be promoted on city website. January meeting: Bring ideas for name. brand. mission — and activities for 2019. Next meeting: 6 pm. Monday, January 14. Where: Minnesota Street Market. 27 W Minnesota St. Meeting of St Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau group 6:00pm Monday, January 14, 2019 Where: Minnesota Street Market, 27 West Minnesota St, St. Joseph Present: Melissa Kolstad, Leslie Lane, Pia Lopez,Ann & Shawn Riesner, Rick Schultz, Judy . Weyrens. Not present: Mary Bruno, Kim Poganski, Tracy Smith, Aaron Rieland. DISCUSSION OF NAME.MISSION Name •Issue: If you google"St. Joseph,"you get lots of results from St. Joseph, Missouri. If you google "Joetown" and"St. Joseph,"we pop up first. Suggestion for name: "Destination Joetown." Other names are well-used (overused) in Minnesota: Explore..., Discover.... Mayor Schultz view: Going to Joetown - a special place to visit. See Explore Minnesota for a list of Minnesota CVB &Travel Organizations: https:// www.exploreminnesota.com/travel-trade/cvb-travel-organizations. Features that define us, make us unique in the region: Small village feel with historic downtown. Only walkable downtown in six-city area. Hidden treasures: Cool stuff you can't find elsewhere.Art, and eccentric arts. Unique one-of-a- kind food options (Chad Scheeler's Grilled Cravings, China One, etc). Bad Habit Brewery. New farm-to-table restaurant coming that will be across from new Bad Habit site. Coffee shop and. bars, stores each with their own character. Unique options for fresh foods: St. Joseph Meat Market, farmers market, small-town co-op grocery in 1899 building. Historic Benedictine monastic community with heritage of hospitality and community service. Historic Benedictine college, including fine cultural activities year-round. Outdoor music and arts events(Millstream Arts Festival, Joetown Rocks, etc). Lake Wobegon Trail. Frisbee golf course at Millstream Park. Rich mix of cultures, from mid-1800s German heritage to newer Somali immigrants, international students, seniors, young families. Safe city. Heritage, craftsmanship, hospitality, neighborliness, vibrancy, liveliness. Share, promote, spotlight our hidden treasures. NEXT STEPS 1. What does everybody in the group think of"Destination Joetown"as a name? Other suggestions? 2. Each of us come up with a sentence or two mission statement. Mary Bruno to report back on meeting with Kristina Vonberge of the Little Falls. Mayor Schultz to send along his yearly welcome letter to St. Joseph and power point on shared vision for city. Next meeting: 6 pm, Monday, February 11. Where: Minnesota Street Market. 27 W Minnesota St. Meeting of St Joseph Convention &Visitors Bureau group 6:00pm Monday, March 11,2019 Where: Minnesota Street Market,27 West Minnesota St, St.Joseph Present: Pia Lopez, Ann Riesner, Mary Bruno, Leslie Lane, Rick Schultz. Not present: Melissa Kolstad, Tracy Smith, Judy Weyrens, Kim Poganski, Aaron Rieland. FUTURE MEETINGS Do we need to change time? 6pm meetings not getting big attendance. How about noon on 2nd Monday each month? Also: Can we conduct some business by email in between meetings? We have 12 noon, Monday,April 8, penciled in for our next meeting. See tasks outlined below. If you do not have a task, can you volunteer something? NAMELMOTTO, TAGLINE, SLOGAN "Join us in Joetown: Small town warmth, big city cool." Can be shortened to: "Joetown: Small town warmth, big city cool." Task: Mary Bruno to work on logo. Brought a rough draft. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SUMMER EVENTS AT COLLEGE OF ST. BENEDICT Kim Poganski sent calendar of events to the group. Task: Kim Poganski and Ann Riesner to pin down which of the events on the calendar would be best for handing out bags with promotional materials — and coupons — from local businesses. CREATE A MAP OF JOETOWN PLACES/THINGS TO DO Like the map for the Mall of America City of St. Joseph did a map in the past Task: Pia Lopez to contact City Administrator Judy Weryens to get info on the past map — and get any graphics to then forward to Mary Bruno. CREATE A TRI-FOLD BROCHURE: JOIN US IN JOETOWN: SMALL TOWN WARMTH, BIG CITY COOL —Who will take on this task? FIGURE OUT MINNESOTA PUBLICATIONS WHERE WE CAN PROMOTE "JOIN US IN JOETOWN:SMALL TOWN WARMTH, BIG CITY COOL" Task: Leslie Lane to create a list of publications and deadlines for getting info in For most events, we will need to be six-to eight-months ahead. DO WE NEED A SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE? Task: Mary Bruno to contact Ben Halbert, who administers the St. Joseph MN Community Facebook page. Is this a possible Facebook vehicle for us? Has 1,000 Likes. EVENTS THIS SUMMER:WEDNESDAY MOVIE NIGHTS Task: Pia Lopez to contact Judy Weyrens to pin down dates and location. Group prefers a location close to downtown, so businesses can offer"Wednesday night movie specials"for before and after movie events. Discussion: How about Kennedy School for movie site? Could have a bus to drive up and down to drop people off at the movie site and downtown. Next meeting: 12 noon, Monday,April 8. Where: Minnesota Street Market. 27 W Minnesota St.