City of Columbia, Missouri  
Meeting Minutes  
Convention and Visitors Advisory Board  
300 S. Providence  
Road-Thomas G.  
Walton Bldg.  
Monday, February 26, 2024  
12:00 PM  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
The meeting was called to order at 12:02 by Board Chair, Richard Walls.  
II. ROLL CALL & INTRODUCTIONS  
10 -  
Present:  
Joan Beard, Barth Burgin, Melody Marcks, Rusty Strodtman, Aric Jarvis, Donald  
Laird, Richard Walls, Lisa Plakorus, Raman Puri and Kristopher Kunz  
2 - Heather Hargrove and Scott Cristal  
Absent:  
City staff present Amy Schneider, Julie Ausmus and Megan McConachie.  
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
The agenda was approved as written.  
Motion by Jarvis. Second by Strodtman, Motion carried.  
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
Minutes were approved as written.  
Motion by Jarvis. Second by Marcks. Motion carried.  
V. OLD BUSINESS  
Tourism Development Signature Series Application - 2024 Art in the Park  
Kelsey Hammond, Columbia Art League Executive Director, presented a  
Tourism Development application requesting $17,500 for the 2024 Art in the  
Park on June 8-9, 2024 at Stephens Lake Park. Tourism Development funds  
would be used to assist with regional and national advertising, music &  
entertainment, and creative space art installations.  
This is the 66th year for Art in the Park. At this time there are approx. 196  
vendors registered for 110 open spaces. In 2023 there was a record  
attendance with approximately 20,000 people up from the prior year of 14,000.  
The post event survey also had a great return response with 71 of 97 artists  
responding showing that 46% of artists stayed in area hotels for multiple days.  
The Maker's Tent was a new competent in 2023 and very successful for young  
and new artists to try out Art in the Park. They are able to use this free space  
for up to three years then are required to rent their own booth.  
There were questions about marketing and maximum growth of the festival.  
The application was scored. A motion was made to fund the application at  
$10,000 . The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.  
Motion by Marcks. Second by Strodman. Motion carried.  
VI. NEW BUSINESS  
None to discuss.  
VII. REPORTS  
February CVB Updates & Staff Report  
The February CVB Staff Report was distributed.  
Megan McConachie provided an update on the new CVB website. The CVB's creative  
marketing firm, Woodruff, is working with the city's I.T. department to complete the  
project. They have completed the discovery and design phase and are now in the  
development phase working through punchlists on the appearance and functionality of the  
site. Google API has been purchased and will be implemented so that any updates to  
listings can be done automatically instead of manually. The next step is testing and  
quality assurance before launching in April or May. The board will be notified when the  
new site is ready to launch.  
Update Report from The District  
There was no report to discuss.  
Update Report from Boone County Commission  
There was no report to discuss.  
VIII. NEXT MEETING DATE  
March 25, 2024  
The next board meeting is Monday, March 25, 2024.  
IX. ADJOURNMENT  
Meeting was ajourned at 1:00pm.  
Members of the public may attend any open meeting. For requests for accommodations related to  
disability, please call 573-874-CITY (573-874-2489) or email CITY@CoMo.gov. In order to assist staff in  
making the appropriate arrangements for your accommodation, please make your request as far in  
advance of the posted meeting date as possible.  
USB DRIVES PROHIBITED: Due to cybersecurity concerns, flash drives and other media devices  
are no longer permitted for delivering files or presentation materials. A speaker who desires to  
display a presentation must upload the presentation, in advance, to the city network using an  
upload portal. To upload your files and learn more, visit CoMo.gov/upload. (Effective Jan. 1,  
2023)